The Pre-season Friendly Hub
Pre-season friendlies have begun. The time of year where you sit down to watch a game and then it is ruined in the second half by subs being made every two minutes of the second half. You forget who is playing where and generally drift away to write an article about it! This happened yesterday – Preston North End v Liverpool had 43 substitutions and so as my interest waned, I checked out all the Premier League teams and how their pre-season either shaped up or had begun. From a fantasy point of view, it is worth while keeping an eye on these matches regardless of how meaningless you think they are. They often throw up little nuggets of information which can help you settle your initial squad and prepare you for future transfers. Bear in mind though that it has been known for players to play all pre-season and then the search party is out for them on GW1! But it is better having pre-season information and basing your selection policy and your transfer strategies on them than going in completely blind. Here follows some information on what has already gone on. Our grand plan here is that you use this article to post as normal for now but then refer back to it as and when tou have any relevant pre-season info to add and post relevant comments to keep it updated over the next few weeks. So please take it upon yourself to add in the comments, any information from pre-season games, training or whatever… You might just be helping one fellow manager with a nugget of information but that’s what FF247 is all about.
ASTON VILLA
Mansfield Town 1-3 Aston Villa – 17th July 2014
First half team:
Given
Lowton, Okore, Clark, Bennett
Bacuna, Carruthers
Delph, Tonev, Cole
Agbonlahor.
Second half team:
Steer
Hutton, Herd, Baker, Richardson
El Ahmadi, Westwood, Gardner, N’Zogbia
Bent, Weimann
GOALS:
Darren Bent (assisted by Alan Hutton) 61 mins
Craig Gardner (assisted by Darren Bent) 85 mins
Darren Bent (assisted by Andres Weimann) 90 mins
Aston Villa now travel to the USA to meet Dallas and Houston Dynamo. They will play Groningen in Holland which is sandwiched between trips to Chesterfield and Walsall before finishing off their preparations at home to Italian Serie A side Parma.
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ARSENAL
Boreham Wood 0-2 Arsenal – 19th July 2014
First Half:
Szczesny
Jenkinson, Ajayi, Hayden, Monreal
Ramsey, Coquelin, Zelalem, Willock
Toral, Sanogo
Second Half:
Martinez
Miquel Plequezelo Bellerin Gibbs
Rosicky Diaby Flamini Olsson
Akpom Afobe
GOALS:
Kris Olsson (assisted by Tomas Rosicky) 68 mins
Benik Afobe (PENALTY won by himself) 85 mins
Arsenal will now travel Stateside, for a meeting next Saturday with a familiar face in the form of Thierry Henry and his New York Red Bulls. After this they welcome Valencia, Benfica and Monaco for the Emirates Cup where they will play the Portuguese and French across the 2nd and 3rd August.
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SOUTHAMPTON
EHC Hoensbrook 0- 4 Southampton – 15th July 2014
Kelvin Davis (Paulo Gazzaniga 46), Calum Chambers (Jason McCarthy 46), José Fonte (Jack Stephens 46), Jordan Turnbull (Jos Hooiveld 46), Nathaniel Clyne (Matt Targett 46), Jack Cork (Jake Flannigan 46), Harrison Reed (Steven Davis 46), James Ward-Prowse (Dušan Tadi? 46), Jake Sinclair (Lloyd Isgrove 46),
Sam McQueen (Billy Sharp 46), Emmanuel Mayuka (Sam Gallagher 46).
GOALS:
Sam McQueen (no assist) 11 mins
Calum Chambers (assisted by Sam McQueen) 44 mins
Billy Sharp (PENALTY won by Steven Davis) 62 mins
Steven Davis (no assist) 64 mins
Sporting Hasselt 0-6 Southampton – 17th July 2014
Southampton: Kelvin Davis (Artur Boruc 46), Jason McCarthy (Calum Chambers 46), Jack Stephens (José Fonte 46), Jos Hooiveld (Maya Yoshida 46), Matt Targett (Jordan Turnbull 46), Jack Cork (Jake Flannigan 46), James Ward-Prowse (Harrison Reed 46), Steven Davis (Billy Sharp 46), Dušan Tadi? (Sam McQueen 46), Lloyd Isgrove (Emmanuel Mayuka 46), Graziano Pellè (Sam Gallagher 46).
GOALS:
Graziano Pellè (assisted by Lloyd Isgrove) 5 mins
Graziano Pellè (assisted by Jason McCarthy) 32 mins
Sam McQueen (assisted by Calum Chambers) 59mins
Weerts own-goal (no assist) 67 mins
Emmanuel Mayuka (PENALTY won by a handball) 78 mins
Sam Gallagher (no assist) 87 mins
Saints now play Swindon Town (21st July) and then two teams from the south coast in Bournemouth (25th July) and Brighton & Hove Albion (31st July). They will complete their schedule by welcoming Bayer Leverkusen to St. Mary’s on 9th August.
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MANCHESTER CITY
Dundee 2-0 Manchester City – 13th July 2014
First half:
Caballero
Bossaerts, Boyata, Denayer, Kolarov
Navas, Fernando, Rodwell, Huws
Jovetic, Guidetti
Second Half:
Caballero
Richards, Mastasic, Rekik, Leigh
Nasri, Garcia, Zuculini
Sinclair, Negredo, Huws
Heart of Midlothian 1-2 Manchester City – 18th July 2014
First half:
Wright
Richards, Leigh, Nastasic, Rekik
Garcia, Zuculini, Sinclair, Nasri,
Navas, Negredo
Second half:
Caballero,
Bossaerts (Clichy, 71′), Boyata, Kolarov, Denayer,
Fernando, Rodwell, Sinclair, Huws,
Jovertic, Guidetti.
GOALS:
Scott Sinclair (assisted by Alvaro Negredo) 24mins
Alexsandr Kolarov (PENALTY for foul on Emyr Huws) 79 mins
Having begun their preparations in Scotland, including helping commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Main Stand at Hearts’ Tynecastle Stadium, the Citizens now head across the pond to face-off Sporting Kansas City for the ‘Summer in the Soccer Capital – Champions Shield’ . But you knew that already, right? This is all a warm-up for the International Champions Cup where they are in a group with Liverpool, AC Milan and Olympiacos. If they win the group and only if they win it, they will face a final against Roma, Real Madrid or their chums from across the way, Manchester United!
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LIVERPOOL
Brondby 2-1 Liverpool – 16th July 2014
B Jones (Ward 81)
Kelly (Wisdom 45), Ilori (Stewart 22), Agger (Skrtel 45), Smith (Flanagan 45)
Lucas (Peterson 45), Rossiter (Coady 45), Coutinho (Allen 45), Suso (Adorjan 45)
Borini (Phillips 45), Teixeira (Ibe 45).
GOAL: Kristoph Petersen (assisted by Jordan Ibe) 47 mins
Preston North End 1-2 Liverpool – 19th July 2014
B Jones
Kelly (Robinson(Enrique)), Flanagan (Coates), Skrtel (Stewart), Wisdom (Coady)
Lucas (Peterson), Allen (L Jones), Can (Ibe), Coutinho (Rossiter)
Lambert (Suso), Borini (Adojan).
GOALS:
Suso (assisted by Jordan Ibe) 75 mins
Peterson (assisted by Jordan Ibe) 78 mins
Liverpool will now face Ashley Cole’s AS Roma (23rd July) in the US, where they will also take part in the International Champions Cup against Olympiacos (27th July), Manchester City (30th July) and AC Milan (2nd August). They could play one more game in the form of the final if the win the group. A glamour home friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 10th August rounds things of for Brendan Rodgers’ men.
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SUNDERLAND
Darlington 1883 1-5 Sunderland – 19th July 2014
First Half:
Mannone
Watmore, Jones, Roberge, O’Shea
Cabral, Ba, Larsson, Honeyman
Clayton, Fletcher.
Second Half:
Pantilimon
Mavrias, Ferguson, Diakite, Brown
N’Diaye, Cattermole, Gomez, Moberg-Karlsson
Giaccherini, Wickham.
GOALS:
Steven Fletcher (assisted by Max Clayton) 10 mins
Steven Fletcher (assisted by George Honeyman) 20 mins
Emanuele Giaccherini (assisted by Connor Wickham) 55 mins
Connor Wickham (assisted by Charis Mavrias) 77 mins
Jordi Gomez (no assist) 88 mins
Sunderland have two further matches on 22nd and 23rd July against Carlisle Utd. and Hartlepool Utd.
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CHELSEA
Wycombe Wanderers 0-5 Chelsea – 16th July 2014
First-half:
Mark Schwarzer
Todd Kane (Kurt Zouma 20), Nathaniel Chalobah, Andreas Christensen, Nathan Ake
Oriol Romeu, Marco van Ginkel; Lucas Piazon, Lewis Baker
John Swift; Patrick Bamford.
Second-half:
Mark Schwarzer (Mitchell Beeney 73)
Branislav Ivanovic, Kurt Zouma, John Terry (c), Jay Dasilva
Oriol Romeu (Jordan Houghton 73), Nemanja Matic; Mohamed Salah, Jeremie Boga
Izzy Brown; Dominic Solanke.
GOALS:
Patrick Bamford (assisted by Nathan Ake) 20 mins
Izzy Brown (assisted by Jay Disalva) 47 mins
John Terry (assisted by Jeremie Boga) 50 mins
Branislav Ivanovic (assisted by Jeremie Boga) 66 mins
Izzy Brown (no assist) 86 mins
Wimbledon 2-3 Chelsea – 19th July 2014
Chelsea
First half:
Mark Schwarzer
Ola Aina, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christiansen, Nathan Ake
Marco van Ginkel, Nemanja Matic
Mohamed Salah, Jeremie Boga, John Swift
Patrick Bamford.
Second half:
Mark Schwarzer (Mitchell Beeney 69)
Branislav Ivanovic, Nathaniel Chalobah, John Terry (c), Jay Dasilva
Oriol Romeu, Marco van Ginkel (Jordan Houghton 69)
Mohamed Salah, Lewis Baker, Izzy Brown
Dominic Solanke.
GOALS:
John Terry (assisted by Lewis Baker) 74 mins
Mohamed Salah (assisted by Lewis Baker) 82 mins
John Terry (assisted by Lewis Baker) 89 mins
Chelsea set off on a mini-European tour in preparation for the new season. They will be calling at Wolfsberger (Austria, 23rd), Olimpija (Slovenia, 27th), Vitesse (Netherlands, 30th), Werder Bremen (Germany, 3rd August), Ferncvaros (Hungary, 10th) before signing off pre-season at home to Real Sociedad on the 12th August.
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SWANSEA CITY
Chivas Guadalahara 1-1 Swansea City
Swansea
First Half:
Lukasz Fabianski
Angel Rangel
Kyle Bartley, Chico Flores, Stephen Kingsley, Jazz Richards,
Jonjo Shelvey, Josh Sheehan, Wayne Routledge
Alex Bray, Bafetimbi Gomis.
Secnd half:
Gerhard Tremmel
Dwight Tiendalli, Jordi Amat, Ben Davies, Neil Taylor
Leon Britton, Adam King, Josh Sheehan (Alex Bray, 72; Jazz Richards, 82), Nathan Dyer
Rory Donnelly, Marvin Emnes.
GOAL: Nathan Dyer (assisted by Marvin Emnes) 57 mins
Minnesota Utd. 2-0 Swansea City
Swansea:
First Half:
Gerhard Tremmel
Angel Rangel Chico Flores, Kyle Bartley, Stephen Kingsley
Jazz Richards, Adam King, Jonjo Shelvey, Nathan Dyer
Rory Donnelly, Bafetimbi Gomis.
Second half:
Lukasz Fabianski
Dwight Tiendalli, Chico Flores, Kyle Bartley, Neil Taylor
Leon Britton, Jonjo Shelvey, Marvin Emnes, Wayne Routledge,
Alex Bray, Bafetimbi Gomis (Josh Sheehan, 59).
Swansea will now face Plymouth Argyle on the 27th July, Exeter City on the 29th, Bournemouth on the 1st August and Reading on the 2nd– all away from home before rounding off at home to Villarreal on the 9th August.
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Seattle Sounders 3-3 Tottenham Hotspur – 19th July 2014
Tottenham Hotspur
Friedel
Naughton (Fredericks, 46), Dawson (Kaboul, 46), Fryers, Rose (Veljkovic, 46)
Carroll, Capoue (Mason, 63)
Holtby (Falque, 68), Townsend (Lamela, 46), Lennon (Ceballos, 46)
Kane (Soldado, 46)
GOALS:
Lewis Holtby (assisted by Harry Kane) 10 mins
Roberto Soldado (PENALTY won by himself) 55 mins
Yago Falque (PENALTY won via handball) 82 mins
Tottenham next visit Toronto FC (23rd July) then Chicago Fire on the 26th. After that they play Celtic in Helsinki, Finland on 2nd August and then finish at home to Schalke 04 at the Lane on 9th August.
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STOKE CITY
Borussia Moenchengladbach 1-1 Stoke City
First Half:
Butland
Wilkinson, Shawcross, Wilson, Muniesa
Shotton, Nzonzi, Ness, Ireland
Arnautovic; Diouf.
Second Half:
Sorensen
Bardsley, Huth, Teixeira, Pieters
Walters, Sidwell, Whelan, Adam
Shea; Crouch.
GOAL:
Crouch (assisted by Jonathan Walters) 65 mins
Stoke kicked off with a decent draw against Borussia Moenchenflapjack (sic) today and will continue preparations with two more games in Germany 1860 Munich on 26th July and then Schalke 04 on 29th. They return to England to take on Burton and Blackburn in two days (2nd and 3rd August) before their ‘glamour’ home friendly on 6th August against relegated Real Betis. Strangely, they then go back to Germany to meet SC Freiburg on the 9th to cap a busy pre-season schedule.
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I’ve never understood why people pick popular 4.0 keepers that won’t play. I understand that you need the money, but if you are ok with the fact that he is unlikely to ever be used than why not pick one that is not selected much. I least that way he is unlikely to drop in price if people start selling him off. And if you do have a keeper for 4.0 try to I least make it the back up to whoever you have if possible, I least that way you are guaranteed a playing keeper.
I agree mate, I was considering Guzan and Given until earlier today, but I went through all of last season with 2 playing keepers. Just out of interest tho, how many non playing keepers lost value last season? I can’t remember, but were there 3.9 mil goal keepers around?
There were a couple actually, so yeah what your saying is correct, and those considering a non-playing keeper should look for someone with low ownership.
I’m pretty sure there were a couple PVR, normally a few defenders fall through to the 3.9 mark though strangely mids don’t seem to drop any lower than 4.
Totally agree Mito, good points made. If they go with a 4.0 with the lowest percentage ownership though, surely a lower number would have to sell him for a price drop, so it’s effectively the same..
Rotating keepers never do well for me, I always leave the points on the bench and concede with the playing keeper, so am going with De Gea this time and just playing him for each fixture. I still have a cheaper starting keeper for 4.5 though as Lindegaard has been known to make the odd cheeky appearance.
I’m considering these two options atm, any input would be appreciated. “A” looks better fixture wise, but Dawson may not even start anyways so B could be better. Everton’s first game against Leicester could bring in some good returns, but they have Arsenal and Chelsea after that.
A: Kolarov and Dawson
B: Baines and Hooiveld
What’s your full defence PVR?
Currently it’s
Rosenior, Baines, Vlarr, Hooiveld, Duff.
A little on the weak side, I know.
It is mate yeah, but only because of so much tied up in Baines, who doesn’t have a particularly nice set of opening fixtures either. It is dependant on whether or not they will play too, as you said, but I think there are few teams that have a set first-team defence at the moment so it’s hard to say. I can’t ever condone Kolarov though, as he is often rested.
Are your cheaper defenders in a good rotation with each other? If not, you could downgrade Baines to a cheaper def that still plays for a top team and then upgrade Vlaar as well, for example Baines + Vlaar –> Debuchy + Shaw/Luis.
Yeah, I think I will downgrade Baines. Debuchy is a good option, hadn’t really considered him. Thanks a lot mate, always nice to get someone else’s input.
***PRE-SEASON NEWS***
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Sydney 0-4 Newcastle Utd.
22nd July 2014
GOALS:
Siem de Jong (assisted by Emanuele Riviere) 19 mins
Emanuele Riviere (assisted by Yoan Gouffran) 26 mins
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (unassisted) 33 mins
Adam Armstrong (assisted by Adam Campbell) 82 mins
First Half:
Rob Elliot
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Massimo Haidara
Vurnon Anita, Jack Colback, Yoan Gouffran, Siem de Jong
Emanuele Riviere, Rolando Aarons
Second Half:
Rob Elliot
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Fabricio Coloccini (Adam Campbell 81), Steven Taylor (Lubo Satka 75),
Massimo Haidara (Paul Dummett 75)
Vurnon Anita, Jack Colback (Mehdi Abeid 68), Yoan Gouffran (Adam Armstrong 75), Haris Vuckic
Emanuele Riviere (Ayoze Perez 54), Rolando Aarons (Sammy Ameobi 68)
Gp,
Quite an entertaining game. How’s your team shaping up?
I do like the look of Riviere since he was at Monaco. I am going to keep a close on him.
***PRE-SEASON NEWS***
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Sacramento Republic 0-1 West Bromwich Albion
GOAL: Graham Dorrans (PENALTY, won by Victor Anichebe) 13 mins
(* Craig Gardner – RED CARD 81 mins*)
Myhill
O’Neil, Baird, Olsson (D Daniels 81), Pocognoli
Gardner, Mulumbu, Yacob
Dorrans Berahino, Anichebe (Roofe 77)
***PRE-SEASON NEWS***
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Josh721 says:
July 22, 2014 at 5:18 pm
So West Brom beat my Sacramento Republic last night 1-0. The goal was scored by Graham Dorrans on a penalty (won by Victor Anichebe). West Brom didn’t look convincing at all though. They were outshot 21-11 I think and they got dominated in the second half. We should have scored a few goals and Myhill had 9 saves. Their starting lineup: Myhill, O’Neil, Baird, Olsson, Pocognoli, Gardner, Mulumbu, Yacob, Dorrans, Berahino, Anichebe. And Gardner got a second yellow in that game too.
***PRE-SEASON NEWS***
EVERTON
Tranmere Rovers 2-2 Everton
22nd July 2014
GOALS:
Steven Naismith (assisted by Luke Garbutt) 26 mins
Leon Osman (no information for assist) 72 mins
First Half:
Joel
Browning, Garbutt, Duffy, Distin
Lundstram, Barry, Kennedy, McAleny
Pienaar, Naismith
Second Half:
Joel
Coleman, Hibbert, Alcaraz, Stones
Gibson, McCarthy, Long, Osman
McGeady, Hope
Cheers GP, sounds like we were taking that one super seriously then! Just hope that Naismith goal doesn’t lure more punters into his trap!
Trap? That puppy has bite! I have started a second team, just so I can have him twice. Building both my teams around him. Just like EFC.
Init,
That is a fairly strong second half side eh?
Hoping Naisy does start the season well for selfish reasons. That he can be firing for our qualifiers against Germany and Georgia in Sept/Oct.
***PRE-SEASON NEWS***
LEICESTER CITY
Ilkeston Town 1-6 Leicester City
22nd July 2014
GOALS:
Wes Morgan (assisted by Gary Taylor-Fletcher) 34 mins
Chris Wood (assisted by James Pearson) 44 mins
David Nugent (assiste by Ryan Watson) 46 mins
Tom Hopper (assisted by Anthony Knockaert) 54 Mins
David Nugent (assisted by Danny Drinkwater) 79 mins
Laurie Wilson (OG) (assisted by Ritchie de Laet) 84 mins
First Half
Schmeichel
Pearson, Konchesky, James, Morgan
Sesay, Barmby, Taylor-Fletcher, Wood
King, Albrighton
Second Half
Hamer
de Laet, Schlupp, Wasilewski, Moore
Watson, Drinkwater, Hammond, Knockaert
Nugent, Hopper