Aston Villa 0-3 Man Utd
Man Utd were dealt a huge blow midweek with the news that Robin van Persie would be side-lined for about a month with a thigh injury. Aston Villa were without the influential Fabien Delph who was serving a one game suspension and the Villains were hoping to end their abysmal home run against Utd, their last league win against Utd was 18 years ago. Sadly for Villa after just 18 minutes of play they found themselves two nil down thanks to Danny Welbeck. The first came after Adnan Januzaj had hit the post and Welbeck was first on hand to slot home, the second came three minutes later following great work from Antonio Valencia down the right who produced a pinpoint cross into the path of Welbeck to convert. Man Utd keep up the pressure in the first half and both Welbeck and Wayne Rooney came close to increasing the lead. Villa on the other hand failed to test David de Gea. The second half was a feisty affair, de Gea and Gabriel Agbonlahor had a handbags moment shortly after the re-start which resulted in both being booked. Agbonlahor will therefore miss Villas next fixture away at Stoke. Utd kept up the pressure and were rewarded on 52 minutes when Tom Cleverley (yes that is correct!) finished off a Wayne Rooney assist to make it three nil. Mathew Lowton was the next name in the referee’s book when he caught Januzaj and shortly afterwards Utd supporters rose in unison to welcome the return of Darren Fletcher following serious illness. Rooney was unfortunate when he found himself clean through only for the referee to bring play back following more handbags by Welbeck and Nathan Baker. The remainder of the match just petered out with no more clear cut chances, Villas Ciaran Clark was booked and Christian Benteke was missing in action again and is clearly short of confidence. Man Utd will take some positives from this result, three crucial points, a comfortable win and signs that when they attack down the flanks the Red Devils can be a handful, Villa though will be very concerned with their poor run of form.
Bonus points: Welbeck (3) Cleverley (2) Jones & Valencia (1)
Norwich 1-1 Swansea
This intriguing encounter at Carrow Road saw Swansea without the industrious Chico Flores who was suspended and the home side were without their influential midfield pair of Robert Snodgrass and Anthony Pilkington due to injury. Fantasy managers were hoping this game would be as action-packed as the previous six meetings which have produced 25 goals and the signs at first were promising when Nathan Dyer put Swansea ahead on 12 minutes following a great passage of play from Ashley Williams. Michu should have doubled the lead but took a wild stab and saw his effort sail over the bar. The turning point in the first half came shortly after Dyer was stretchered off the field with a nasty ankle injury, when deep into stoppage time Johan Elmander found Gary Hooper and the former Celtic Forward unleashed a 25 yard volley that gave Michel Vorm no chance. The second half was a messy affair, Swansea were frustrated by The Canaries and picked up silly yellow cards, Angel Rangel, Michel Vorm and Jose Canas were all booked by the referee. Hooper was denied late on following great work by Leroy Fer and Michael Turner headed against the bar. Norwich will be disappointed not to have taken all three points, they were denied by the woodwork and outstanding goalkeeping by Vorm.
Bonus points: Hooper (3) Dyer & Williams (2)
Tottenham 0-5 Liverpool
Sundays stand out game was the visit of Liverpool to White Hart Lane who had their captain Steven Gerrard missing due to injury. Spurs had enjoyed a small run of form but have won only one of their last five home league matches. The first 45 minutes showed a side to Liverpool that has been lacking away from Anfield. They were relentless at times against Spurs, Phillipe Coutinho had a great chance after just 2 minutes following good work from Liverpool’s Stand in Captain Luis Suarez but the Brazilian scuffed his shot. Liverpools passing was played at a high tempo and was slick and they broke through the Spurs defence on 18 minutes when, following a period of extended pressure, Michael Dawson lost possession to Jordan Henderson and his pass found Suarez who obliged with a brilliantly well placed finish. Liverpool now had the bit between their teeth and Coutinho saw an effort hit the crossbar and Spurs were then forced into an early substitution when Sandro retired injured. To compound his departure more sustained pressure from Liverpool saw Henderson calmly volleying into the goal for Liverpool’s second after an effort by Suarez had been saved. Just before the break Simon Mignolet was fortunate when an effort by Roberto Soldado was disallowed following a shoulder barge. The second half performance by Liverpool showcased their potential, and the result was devastating to Spurs. Goals from Jon Flanagan, Raheem Sterling and Suarez were no more than Liverpool deserved and Spurs’ job was made all the harder when Paulinho was red carded in the 63rd minute for a foul on Suarez. The standout performance has to go to Suarez, 2 goals and three assists says it all, the home fans had long gone as the sound of You’ll Never Walk Alone reverberated around White Hart Lane. The result moves The Reds up to 2nd place, just 2 points off top spot. Sensational!
Bonus points: Suarez (3) Henderson (2) Flanagan (1)
This article was written by Eddy
Evening guys
evening gpriley
With AVB out of the picture, Spurs are now a closed book esp in the MF so it wouldn be a good idea to bring in a Spurs MF
Any tips please? 1FT, 0.9 in the bank. Vorm & Vidic may not play and Oscar has been annoying me.
Vorm
Vidic Dawson Coleman
Ozil Oscar Ramsey Henderson
Suarez(c) Rooney(v) Lukaku
Bench: Boruc, Morrison, Baker, B.Turner
Thanks!
EBC – Id move Vidic on. Given you already have an Everton defender, maybe Zab comes into play?
+1
Decent shout. It is worth waiting a couple of weeks though? Man Utd have very good fixtures at the moment.
Or what about Vorm to De Gea this week then take Vidic out?
…as in take Vidic out at a later date.
EBC – only decent fixtures if Vidic actually plays. Guess it also makes sense to move in DeGea but a lot of money for a keeper really
Anyone else worried about how deep Rooney played? He is the obvious to bring in for Aguero
TheDreamers – I wouldn’t be worried at all mate,it will happen every now and then when United need him to do it to counter certain systems,it worked a treat for us as he ran the game.Even in games like that he’ll be taking a lot of set pieces so i wouldn’t worry about it.
thanks Nin.
I guess trying to weigh up the options of a cheaper player, while strengthening elsewhere
TheDreamers – That’s the route i took mate,wanted to get Negredo/Rooney but couldn’t afford it as i needed another premium mid so i used the extra cash for that.
Nin – who did you bring in then? Was looking at Welbeck given his two goals or Remy (poor return last couple of games but have 2 home games coming up). Just team needs a bit of surgery but trying to limit the hits (my mini league finishes in GW 20 and top by 8 points). Want to bring in Silva in midfield. He has done something in pretty much every game he has played
TheDreamers – Aguero&Brady >> Hooper&Walcott,i have my eye on Silva too,wont be able to get him just yet though.
Hooper is interesting. Not for me though. Guess if he scores, he is likely to get the 3 points
TheDreamers – If i could afford negredo then i would have bought him for sure,i just feel that my midfield was more important just now,JWC is just around the corner so i’ll get a big striker then.
how much will aguero drop in price before Friday
id say he will drop the max of 0.3m
Thanks dreamers would you mind taking a look at my team
Krul (Henderson)
terry Chico distin (Demel and chambers)
Ramsey Yaya toure Brady hazard (Amalfitano)
Suarez aguero lukaku
this my sound crazy I was considering Rodriguez as a replacement of aguero so I could then upgrade Brady to silva but then I have double city coverage I could always go for someone else this move gives me 6 mill to play around with but it will be hard getting aguero back in a month
I might just for Rooney but he was playing a deep roll in the villa game but think he will be good as I am a utd fan
Anyone
Hi Am4
I have Terry and would like to move him on when the opportunity arises. I don’t like Swansea defenders , conceding too much for my liking. Demel has not been completing games – is he half injured? Chambers is a short term player only while Clyne is out.
Brady and Amalfitano to go would also on the chopping block, maybe Stephen Ireland as a cheap option or Bannan for one.
Rodriguez is certainly an option. If going the cheaper route, then also Welbeck or Dzeko (6.7m) come into play.
depends on your position in leagues I guess.
am4r77 – He’ll cap out for sure,0.3m drop every week for the next 3 weeks i’d say.
I agree with NIN, he will drop at least 0.6 if not more over the period he is out and therefore should be affordable to buy back which I think could be sometime and maybe just in time to use your Jan WC. wouldn’t be to worried about Wayne, with RVP out he will be amongst the goals for sure. saying that I reckon Negredo is the best shout to replace Kun.
Uhhh Lukaku>Negredo & Aguero>Rooney for a -4hit, think its worth it? I’m not really sure about Lukaku being worth it to be honest lol
Not sure it is worth a 4pt hit personally but agree with you to an extent about Lukaku, there are a few Everton players who are a little greedy and quite rightly as they have been scoring which will limit how many Lukaku will get, not sure all the hype is justified. Of course I am probably wrong and I will eat my words.
Abood
I wouldnt take a hit to get rid of Lukaku. Negredo is the obvious choice for Aguero, but if City play just 1 up front with Silva behind, he could be rotated with Dzecko. Lukaku will always play imo