The Pre-season Friendly Hub Part 2
Pre-season preparations are now well and truly underway. All Premier League teams have played and depending on where you are in the world and what your sports subscription is, you may have had the opportunity to view first hand, a number of them. Be aware though that most managers see the first two or three games as purely an exercise to blow away the cobwebs and to get the joints moving once again. This is the reason a lot of the time you will see 22 (or more) players playing in a game. In short, you shouldn’t concern yourself if one of your fantasy picks only played 45 minutes in a game. This is not a reliable indication of manager intent or a forewarning to the season. Usually. The US seems to be the market everyone is trying to crack this pre-season and we know a number of site members have been lucky enough to go to some of these games. Manchester City, Manchester Utd, Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City are all in the world’s latest soccer (sic) market. Heck, even Arsenal nipped out for five minutes to face the Red Bulls last night. World Cup fever has caught stateside and the Premier League teams are dipping their bread in.
Newcastle and West Ham are in Oceania, with contrasting opening results and Chelsea are back-packing around Europe, whilst the rest seem to be preparing closer to home.
Today/Yesterday has been a massive day of action with no less than nine Premier League clubs continuing their preparations. Here is a rundown on the games involving Premier League teams from Wednesday to last night…
WEST HAM UNITED
West Ham United V Wellington Phoenix
23 July 2014
GOAL: Mauro Zarate (assisted by Matt Jarvis) 71 mins
Jaaskelainen
Demel, Reid, Collins, Cresswell
Kouyate, Noble, Diame, Nolan, Jarvis
C Cole, Nolan
Subs:
60min Zarate, Downing on – Cole and Kouyate off
68min Tomkins, O’Brien on – Collins and Demel off
77 min Potts on – Cresswell Off
81min Whitehead on – Diame off
83 Fanimo on – Nolan off
CHELSEA
Wolfsberger 1-1 Chelsea
23 July 2014
GOAL:
Jeremie Boga (assisted by Branislav Ivanovic) 84 mins
Cech
Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Luis (Ake 60)
Van Ginkel (Romeu 60), Matic (Chalobah 81); Salah (Swift 85), Baker (Boga 45)
Brown (Christensen 77); Bamford (Solanke 60)
HULL CITY
York City 0-2 Hull City
23 July 2014
GOALS:
Sone Aluko (unassisted) 50 mins
Yannick Sagbo (unassisted) 79 mins
Allan McGregor
Ahmed Elmohamady (Liam Rosenior 46), James Chester (Alex Bruce 46), Paul McShane (Curtis Davies 46), Conor Townsend
Robert Snodgrass (Sone Aluko 46), David Meyler (Tom Huddlestone 46), Stephen Quinn (Jake Livermore 46), Robbie Brady (Tom Ince 46)
Shane Long (Yannick Sagbo 46) George Boyd (Joe Dudgeon 68)
SUNDERLAND
Hartlepool Utd. 0-3 Sunderland
23 July 2014
GOALS:
Carl Lawson (assisted by Mickael Mandron) 70 mins
Andrew Cartwright (unassisted) 73 mins
Andrew Cartwright (unassisted) 77 mins
Sunderland 1-61 mins
Pantilimon
Watmore, Ferguson, Roberge, O’Shea
Cattermole, Larsson, Ba, Johnson
Fletcher, Clayton
Sunderland 62-90 mins
Cartwright
Pickford, T Robson, Harrison, Beadling
Agnew, Honeyman, Smith, Gooch
Lawson, Mandron.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Toronto 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur
24 July 2014
GOALS:
Erik Lamela (assisted by Roberto Soldado) 15 mins
Erik Lamela (assisted by Roberto Soldado) 39 mins
Andros Townsend (assisted by Lewis Holtby) 84 mins
First Half:
Brad Fridel
Kyle Naughton, Younes Kaboul, Milos Veljkovic, Ben Davies
Ettiene Capoue, Ryan Mason
Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Aaron Lennon
Roberto Soldado
Second Half:
Friedel
Walker, Dawson, Fryers, Rose
Carroll, Holtby, Ceballos, Townsend
Falque, Kane
CRYSTAL PALACE
Columbus Crew 2-2 Crystal Palace
24 July 2014
GOALS:
Glenn Murray (assisted by Yannick Bolassie) 36 mins
Jake Gray (assisted by Marouane Chamakh) 70 mins
Speroni (Hennessey 45)
Ward (Mariappa 51), Dann, Delaney (Ramage 60), Jerome Williams (Boateng 60)
Puncheon (Gray 60), Jedinak (O’Keefe 51), Ledley (Jonny Williams 60 {Ledley 73}), Bolasie (Bannan 60)
Murray (Chamakh 51), Gayle (Guedioura 60)
LIVERPOOL
Liverpool 0-1 Roma
24 July 2014
Jones
Kelly (Coady), Skrtel, Coates (Agger 60), Enrique (Robinson 48)
Lucas, Allen (Henderson 80)
Coutinho (Phillips 85), Borini (Can 11), Ibe (Suso 80)
Lambert (Peterson 60)
MANCHESTER CITY
Sporting Kansas City 1-4 Manchester City
24 July 2014
GOALS:
Bruno Zuculini (unassisted) 3 mins
Dedryck Boyata (assisted by Jesus Navas) 44 mins
Aleksandr Kolarov (PENALTY won by Scott Sinclair) 72 mins
Kelechi Iheanacho (assisted by Jesus Navas) 88 mins
Caballero
Richards (Clichy 46), Boyata, Rekik (Nastastic 75), Kolarov
Navas, Fernando (Javi Garcia 65), Zuculini (Huws 74), Kelechi Iheanacho (Denayer 90)
Sinclair (Leigh 88), Jovetic (Guidetti 65)
ASTON VILLA
FC Dallas 0-2 Aston Villa
24 July 2014
GOALS:
Andreas Weimann (assisted by Darren Bent) 44 mins
Charles N’Zogbia (unassisted) 49 mins
First Half:
Given
Hutton, Okore, Stevens, Baker
Herd, Bacuna, Gardner, Grealish
Weimann, Bent
Second Half:
Given
Lowton, Senderos, Clark, Bennett
Westwood, El Ahmadi, Delph, N’Zogbia
Agbonlahor, Richardson
MANCHESTER UTD
LA Galaxy 0-7 Manchester Utd.
24 July 2014
GOALS:
Juan Mata 13 mins
Wayne Rooney (PENALTY won by Valencia) 41 mins
Wayne Rooney (unassisted) 45 mins
Reece James (assisted by Ashley Young) 62 mins
Reece James (assisted by Shinji Kagawa) 84 mins
Ashley Young (assisted by Ander Herrera) 88 mins
Ashley Young (assisted by Ander Herrera) 90 mins
First Half:
De Gea
Smalling, Jones, Evans
Valencia
Fletcher (c), Herrera, Mata, Shaw
Welbeck, Rooney
Second Half:
Lindegaard
James, Fletcher, Keane M
Rafael, Blackett, Kagawa, Cleverley, Herrera
Nani, Young
SOUTHAMPTON
AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Southampton
25 July 2014
GOAL:
Lloyd Isgrove (assisted by Nathaniel Clyne) 20 mins
Boruc
Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida (Hoiveld 60), Targett
S. Davis (Reid 60), Ward-Prowse (Stephens 74), Tadi? (McQueen 60), Ramírez (Cork 45)
Isgrove (Mayuka 74), Pellè (Gallagher 74)
WEST HAM UTD
Sydney FC 3-1 West Ham Utd.
26 July 2014
GOAL: (Petkovic OG, assisted by Matt Jarvis ) 51 mins
Adrian (Howes 81)
Demel, O’Brien (Potts 72), Reid, Collins
Noble (Whitehead 68), Diame (Poyet 68), Nolan, Downing (Fanimo 81)
Jarvis (Vaz Te 59), Cole (Zarate 45)
NEWCASTLE UTD
Wellington Phoenix 0-1 Newcastle Utd.
26 July 2014
GOAL: Yoan Gouffran (assisted by Vurnon Anita) 41 mins
Rob Elliot
Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (Haris Vuckic 78), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Lubo Satka 65) Massadio Haidara (Paul Dummett 76)
Vurnon Anita, Mehdi Abeid (Rolando Aarons 46), Jack Colback, Yoan Gouffran (Adam Campbell 85),
Emmanuel Riviere (Adam Armstrong 65), Siem de Jong (Ayoze Perez 33)
CRYSTAL PALACE
Philadelphia Union 0-1 Crystal Palace
26 July 2014
GOAL: White (OG, assisted by Scott Dann) 20 mins
Speroni
Ward (Mariappa 50), Dann (McCarthy 54, Ramage 65), Delaney, Jerome Williams (Boateng 65)
Puncheon (Bannan 54), Jedinak (O’Keefe 50), Ledley (Gray 65), Bolasie (Thomas 54),
Chamakh (Guedioura 65), Gayle (Murray 50).
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Sacramento Republic 1-3 West Bromwich Albion
26 July 2014
GOALS:
Saido Berahino (assisted by Victor Anichbe) 13 mins
Yousseff Mulumbu (assisted by Saido Berahino) 30 mins
Victor Anichebe (unassisited) 62 mins
Foster (L Daniels 45)
Wisdom, Dawson (D Daniels 69), Olsson (A Nabi 83), Pocognoli
Baird (Atkinson 85), Yacob (O’Neil 45), Mulumbu
Berahino (Roofe 63), Anichebe, Dorrans (Garmston 67).
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Red Bull Leipzig 2-0 Queens Park Rangers
26 July 2014
First half:
Green
Simpson, Ferdinand, Dunne, Hill
Phillips, Barton, Wright-Phillips, Doughty, Henry
Austin
Second half:
Green
Caulker, Collison, Dunne (Sendles-White 69), Onuoha,
O’Neil, Faurlin, Petrasso, Wright-Phillips (Ehmer 69)
Zamora, Sutherland.
BURNLEY
Accrington Stanley 0-1 Burnley
26 July 2014
GOAL: Jason Gilchrist (assisted by Scott Arfield) 73 mins
First half:
Gilks
Mee (Conlan 41), Shackell, Anderson, Trippier
Taylor, Hewitt, Marney, Hall
Ings, Sordell.
Second Half:
Cisak
Lafferty, Duff. Long. O’Neill
Arfield, Howieson, Jones, Hewitt (Lowe 70)
Gilchrist, Jutkiewicz.
HULL CITY
Barnsley 1-1 Hull City
26 July 2014
GOAL: Shane Long (unassisted) 47 mins
Steve Harper (Eldin Jakupovic 45)
Liam Rosenior (Joe Dudgeon 63), Ahmed Elmohamady, James Chester, Paul McShane
Tom Ince (George Boyd 63), Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore , Robert Snodgrass (Stephen Quinn 63),
Sone Aluko (Robbie Brady 63) Shane Long (Yannick Sagbo 63)
STOKE CITY
1860 Munich 2-0 Stoke City
26 July 2014
First Half:
Sorensen
Wilkinson, Shawcross, Wilson, Muniesa
Shotton, Ireland,Whelan, Arnautovic
Bojan
Diouf
Second Half:
Bachmann
Bardsley, Huth, Teixeira, Pieters
Walters, Adam, Nzonzi, Sidwell
Shea
Crouch
ARSENAL
New York Red Bulls 1-0 Arsenal
26 July 2014
First Half:
Szczesny
Jenkinson, Hayden, Monreal, Gibbs
Arteta, Wilshere,
Zelalem, Ramsey, Cazorla
Rosicky
Second Half:
Martinez
Bellerin, Monreal, Miquel, Gibbs
Coquelin, Flamini
Diaby, Rosicky (Toral 70), Cazorla (Olsson 70)
Akpom
MANCHESTER UTD
Manchester Utd. 3-2 Roma
26 July 2014
GOALS:
Wayne Rooney (assisted by Juan Mata) 36 mins
Juan Mata (assisted by Wayne Rooney) 39 mins
Wayne Rooney (PENALTY, won by Danny Welbeck) 45 mins
First Half:
Johnstone
Jones, Evans, Blackett
Valencia, Cleverley, Herrera, James
Mata
Welbeck, Rooney
Second Half:
Amos
M Keane, Smalling, Blackett
Young, Cleverley (Hernandez 70), Kagawa, Shaw
Nani
Lingard, W Keane
ASTON VILLA
Houston Dynamo 0-1 Aston Villa
27 July 2014
GOAL: Joe Bennett (assisted by Andreas Weimann) 41 mins
First Half:
Steer
Herd, Senderos, Baker, Lowton
Bennett, El Ahmadi, Delph [Richardson, 30] N’Zogbia
Agbonlahor, Weimann
Second Half:
Steer
Hutton, Richardson, Herd, Clark, Stephens, Gardner, Westwood, Bacuna, Grealish, Bent
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Chicago Fire 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
27 July 2014
GOALS:
Harry Kane (assisted by Lewis Holtby) 5 mins
Aaron Lennon (assisted by Roberto Soldado) 84 mins
Friedel (McGee, 78)
Walker (Naughton, 46), Dawson, Veljkovic (Fredericks, 80), Rose (Davies, 46)
Capoue, Mason; Holtby (Falque, 64), Lamela (Eriksen, 46)
Townsend (Lennon, 46); Kane (Soldado, 46)
CONCLUSIONS
HOT:
Man Utd started the van Gaal era impressively with a 7-0 win against LA Galaxy. Granted this was only an MLS side but any 7-0 deserves some credit. It would have been pleasing for Wayne Rooney owners to see him scoring so early (four goals in two games including sticking away two penalties) and they’ll be hoping it continues to the start of the season, especially as Man Utd. have some really attractive opening fixtures, as is well documented.
Luke Shaw appears to be lined up for the wide left position of a five in midfield as Man Utd’s default 3-5-2 formation. This in essence, makes him prospectively, the first and biggest, Out Of Position (OOP) player this season.
Ander Herrera began his Man Utd. career by dictating the LA Galaxy match and assisted two goals for Ashley Young (no mean feat!) and he may be a more attractive player in fantasy terms then first anticipated. A midfield destroyer he isn’t and never was, he is a classy player who although may play in a deep role, can unpick defences and may continue his assist scoring into the season.
The question is will Robin van Persie be used sparingly at the beginning of the season due to the burden able to be shared between Rooney, Mata, Valencia, Shaw and Herrera?
Enjoy discussing . . .
NOT
West Ham Utd. have now lost both their games against ‘A’ league opposition, in the form of Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC. OK, so it is pre-season, they have travelled a long way but you would have to be flag these two results as ‘warning signs’.
Andy Carroll has now been ruled out through injury (again). This time for a reported four months so their main striker being out and it has been one heck of a trip for Sam Allardyce and his men. Add to this the hullabaloo surrounding who he actually wants to sign / retain (Ravel Morrison) and can’t, and who he didn’t (Mauro Zarate) and did. This is all alleged of course but there usually is no smoke without fire.
Big Sam has already agreed with the owners that to appease them he will finish in the top half of the table minimum. Also, and to appease the Hammers’ support, he has promised a more attractive style of football. A return to the ‘West Ham Way’ (whatever that may be, like some, I have no idea).
The pressure is already on Big Sam and it could be argued that he now needs results (even though it is pre-season) against Schalke 04 and Malaga in Germany next weekend.
Hope you are enjoying these reviews and happy tinkering to all . . .
Ramsey, Ozil, Silva or Fabregas?
Ramsey or Silva depending on who else you have, Wenger said Ozil will be rested at the start of the season and I reckon Fabregas wont hit overly big points.
Yeah good call. I don’t have any City, I have one arsenal defender. I think I’ll go with Silva. Just wanting to see him perform in friendlies first. Has he been playing in them do you know?
He hasnt but I can only assume he’ll be starting the BPL. The fact that they arent playing Aguero, Kompany or Yaya suggest they are only pissing about early on so I’d take the risk.
Do you see Silva and Erikson out scoring Hazard and Paulinho at the start of the season? Going Hazard and Paulinho might be risky as I don’t have Man City or Arsenal mids, I just don’t want to loose a Chelsea mid. Maybe I should for the start?
Aggggh too hard to choose haha.
Thats a difficult one, I reckon it’ll be very close though! No matter what you do youre going to kick yourself at some stage, oh the joys of Fantasy Football!
Fellas, you should get a gravatar, they help a lot to identify you easier, and also give you a chance to stand out. JS.
Anyway, thought I’d give some input on the above posts.
4 mil defenders that look like they could start are: Duff, Wisdom, Hooiveld. Possibly a few more, and none of those are guaranteed. Duff and Wisdom are my picks.
Don’t worry about captain picks at this stage, concentrate on building your team.
Fabregas and Costa are great options, I see Costa as a must have. On some of the above teams, I see midfields built up of 9mil+ players, and 6 mil mids to fill the gaps. I would look at some of the mid priced mids to spread the cash a little further.
Some of the ones on my watchlist are; Schurrle, Tadic, Herrera.
If Schurrle starts, he is a great buy. What I was considering doing was playing schurrle first round, and if he didn’t play I would bring Tadic in second round, after SOTON’s difficult first game.
A gravatar is the picture I assume? I’m new to all this social side of FPL haha.
Duff is my pick aswell, just off the bat of last season/
Mourinho will build the team around Costa so he will be a machine this year! I had Herrera but thought he’d be lying deep, the same reason I dont have Fabregas, I dont want a mid fielder who will pull me one assist every 3 games.
That would be a very smart move, Im going to try hit the ground running with a few Newbies, if I dont pull well by GW3 I’ll wildcard it and jump on the early season bandwagons to get some extra cashflow!
Morning all Hi East have you sorted your Gav out just go on the HELP page & follow the link
Morning Silverback, how’s tricks mate?
Morning Calvin busy wknd how you still undecided if I should have one cheap FWD to bolster my Def as its quite poor what do you think
Might be an idea if you have no premium defenders at all and a strong mid and strike-force, though I think there are better cheaper options in midfield than attack. I’ve gone with Rooney and two 8.5 forwards, which is cheaper than a lot of options out there but still gives me 3 proven forwards (each with great supply lines) and the cash to balance the defence reasonably well.
Personally i feel Rooney is more a must have then Costa, Rooney is a proven points machine and seems to flourishing under LVG. I think its difficult to have both Rooney and Costa as you leave yourself with an average 3rd striker, i have gone with rooney and 2 8.5 forwards, i am currently happy with this, each to their own though i guess!!
I really Like Schurrle as an option. Costa is a must but didn’t want to have to spend 10mil on Hazard as well.
Can you rate my team please.
Have loaded up on ManU, Chelsea & ManC, with a sprinkle of Newcastle as backup.
DeGea (Krul)
Luis, Debuchy, O’Shea/Coloccini (Wisdom)
Silva, Mata, Schurrle. Sigurdsson (Tiote)
Rooney, Costa, Dzeko
I’m not 100% convinced to start with Silva, Ramsey is an option.
BUNDEENA,
I prefer Ramsey to Silva – I’d do that one.
I like the rest of your squad with the following two points though:
Wisdom – I personally think he will play but bear in mind West Brom have signed another four defenders this summer so just have maybe another £4.0M defender as a Plan B.
Tiote – there will be more attractive attacking options that become apparent the closer we get to the season. I’d be on the look out for another 4.5M who plays more offensively.
Thanks GP, if Schurrle doesn’t get much of a start to the season, it will need a shake up.
Wisdom could be any 4.0mil defender, I was going to try and stick with Luis & Debuchy and then rotate O’Shea & Coloccini (who rotate perfectly).
Tiote could be any other 4.5mil Midfielder. I like how he is VC at Newcastle this year and should play most weeks, back up only.
Bundeena, it’s good having two cheap defs that rotate perfectly but try and ensure that your third cheap def covers most of the rotating pair’s difficult home games if possible.
good thinking. at this stage i’ll take a 4.0mil defender who is going to play. might look at the Duff-man.
what if I change my keeper & Defender.
Luis >> Shaw
DeGea >> Courtois
does this give me a stronger team?
Courtois (Gilks)
Shaw, Debuchy, O’Shea/Coloccini (Wisdom)
Ramsey, Mata, Schurrle. Sigurdsson (Tiote)
Rooney, Costa, Dzeko
Bundeena
De Gea is safer I think. Cech isn’t going to lie down to Courtois and they could be rotated.
Bund I’ve was thinking the same thing due to Cech being apparently injured as I could see the Chelsea line-up for the first few GWs and then go for the best nailed-on def and DDG again with an early WC. Tricky to call now though with Cech there as GP has just said. Even if Courtois is to be the number one, it could take some time to break in, a la Lloris and Friedel at Spurs last season.
***PRE-SEASON***
MANCHESTER CITY
Milan 1-5 Manchester City
27 July 2014
GOALS:
Stevan Jovetic (assisted by Jesus Navas) 11 mins
Scott Sinclair (assisted by Gael Clichy) 13 mins
Jesus Navas (unassisted) 23 mins
Kelechi Ihenacho (unassisted) 26 mins
Stevan Jovetic (assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov) 58 mins
Caballero
Clichy, Boyata (Rekik 77), Nastasic, Kolarov (Richards 69)
Navas (Leigh 77), Fernando (Javi Garcia 60), Zuculini (Rodwell 77), Sinclair
Jovetic (Guidetti 69), Iheanacho (Huws 60)
LIVERPOOL
Liverpool 1-0 Olympiacos
27 July 2014
GOAL: Raheem Sterling (assisted by Daniel Sturridge) 5 mins
Jones
Johnson (Kelly 62), Skrtel, Toure (Coates 62), Enrique (Robinson 45)
Henderson, Gerrard (Lucas 62), Can (Allen 45)
Sterling (Ibe 75), Sturridge (Lambert 75), Markovic (Coutinho 45)
Great work as always GP, much appreciated. Navas, if you balls things up for Dzeko I’ll be pissed!
Calvin
I brought Dzeko in just last night so hoping he sees the necessary game time. Jovetic played well and finished his goals well last night which is a bit of a worry for me.
*yes, obviously meant Jovetic, not Navas! #hadn’thadmorningcoffee
Hi Calvin just as a matter of interest how do you send a reply but want to leave reply button back not there???
Below each comment there should be a pretty clear reply button (apart from comments with so many replies there aren’t room for any fresh ones, in which case just scroll up to the last available reply button and your comment will still join the end of the conversation).
If you aren’t seeing these for some reason then perhaps log out and back in again?
Hi Bund like your team good balance not sure if Schurrle & Wisdon will get game time if Schu dos he will be good also might be someone better than Tiote