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
Still no word on Kun?
not yet!
I see he’s dropping tonight.
yup, lots of people offloading him. trouble is, i bought him at 11.0 so not gonna loose profit unless its longer than 3 weeks
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sergio-aguero-injury-manchester-city-2931372
I have just sold Aguero for Rooney.
It was a transfer I was going to do anyway to be honest as Rooney has a nice Christmas schedule and may be captain material for a few of those games.
You were going to sell Aguero anyway?? That’s punchy…..well would of been if he wasn’t injured of course!
Yep that was my plan this week. Unfortunately now it’s about 2m other peoples plan as well!
When do you plan on making the transfer Init?
I will probably wait until after the Carling Cup game (or whatever it’s called now). I like to play safe and minimise hits even if it means suffering a drop in value on Aguero – you never know – I don’t expect Rooney will play but we shall see.
Welcome to the club, Cookie 😉 …
Did it yesterday, myself…
Though, I had Rooney already, so my swap was for Lukaku …
:beer:
HL, I’m surprised. I think if I already had Rooney & Goofy, I would get Negredo.
EVE have good schedule ahead…and I needed the money to upgrade my mid/defense a bit…
If the reports are true, 6wks is a very long time,mate…
No matter how good team City are, I don’t see Negredo outscoring Lukaku…
Actually, I expect the opposite – think we will see different people scoring for City, like Silva/Nasri/Dzeko even + off course Negredo…
Just don’t see City putting oll of their money on him to score, playing/focusing the game only for him to score…
Having said this – I might even try 3-5-2 with Lukaku on bench for a week or two…
Bold/crazy words, I know…
HL, if there is a positive to be taken from a player’s injury, at least it spices things up a bit in ff terms. Changes of formation, different striker options, makes it more interesting than most people having a combo of Rooney/Goofy/Aguero +1 other.
Cookie – Yeah, mate – although now front 3 in almost everyone’s teams would be Roo/Luk/Goofy…
If u ask me – the choice of mids will spice things up…
Now, with Silva & Wally back – players like Yaya/Ozil/Ramsey will start to earn less pts per game, as the pts will be divided between them…anyone can score.assist etc…
Yaya will start playing more defensively, Ozil may become a way expensive option …
Shifting to 3-5-2 sounds very good to me, now…But, we’ll see…
EVE / Man. UTD have good schedules ahead…Add Goofy in there with his Insane form – choosing the Cpt will be tougher in the next 3-4 wks than people think…
So, all in all – by NY, think the best 100K will get away a bit with pts from the rest…
Hope we will be one of those 100K/50K…Then the WC can do miracles…
Haven’t seen the United game. But have checked some stats. After first somewhat minutes Villa had like 4 shots on target and United 0. At end time Villa had 10 shorts on target and United just 6. Enough of that, how was the game? I wonder if Rooney is worth it at 11m even if he is one of the best strikers in the EPL.
My reply was meant for Cookie whom just transferred in thingy, Rooney.
Raz, you clearly don’t rate United or Rooney, so get someone else!!!!
I rate United and Rooney mate. Just not this year. I think Moyes made a terrible mistake by letting Meulensteen go. His own people obviously don’t have the same magic touch. Was no reason to let him go really. Also heard RvP can’t cope with the way they train physically (unsure if that’s the truth but last season he was way fitter for sure).
I rate United high just not the team and how it is at the moment. From what I’ve seen this season. So I’m asking you. You’ve watched todays game, how were they?
And I actually do like Rooney. 😉
Raz, I agree re Meulensteen – together with Fellaini, that could be Moyes biggest cock-up, this far.
I didn’t watch the game today mate, unfortunately. But spoke to a mate who was at the game who said Rooney ran the show. West Ham at home next……
yeah rooney played really well, so did valencia
I heard he ran the game but uncertain if he got the striker role. Picked up many balls from midfield I think… not sure though. Him not scoring does help that view. Anyone watch the f-ing game or what? 😛
Was Rooney used as a striker? A 10? Creative mid or whatever?
Something else, I think someone showed a match thingy with heat signatures where Rooney was playing. And he wasn’t that much in the box today? Or did I get that thing all wrong? Just had a brief view.
no your right, watched motd. welbeck was the main striker. rooney sat in a deeper role- had a few shots but overall didnt get good service
Rooney gives the good balls or he creates his own chances. Delivery at United has been poor all season. Sighs. His stats are nearly perfect though, if United were in better form he’d be up there with Kun and Suarez. >.<
Hmm, it’s just for 3 games now. Rooney will play all games, that’s sure. Negredo should play everything. Maybe he will be a bit more selfish now Kun is off or maybe Dzeko will run away with the shine (don’t hope so).
Hmmm, just noticed ROoney did something in every match (goal/assist) except against Chelsea and Everton.
what does everyone think on
terry—-> mertesacker
lallana—> cabaye
my team at the moment:
Mignolet. Given
Zabeleta, terry, coleman, turner, gabbidon
hazard, yaya, ravel, ramsey, lallana
aguero, suarez, lukaku
Not sure about Mert without Kos……
ohh yeah fair point, his fixtures look ok now, and vermaelean isnt bad
making lallana for cabaye now though, shall i go ahead??
Why tonight? Neither player moving in price
someone said cabaye was rising tonight??
Nope Cabaye not anywhere close to a rise. Lallana -63% so both should be fine
anyone please?? need to go soon.
If agueros out for anymore than a week or two I’d drop him for Rooney (creative I know lol). I like the team tbh, well balanced. How much money in the bank? I don’t think terry to Mert this week is worth it. I think both teams are gonna score next week
yeah thats true, thanks. got 0 in the bank, so not much use there. lallana to cabaye will give me 0.3. mert has better fxtures after next week, so will probably wait until then to do it.
Anyone else think Hooper might be a good form punt to replace Aguero?
Yeah Poorly, fixtures are ok and he’s in good form. My concern would be the lack of creativity from those around him.
Kun replacement, no. Decent cheap striker option so you can buff up defense/midfield, yes. This year I won’t take any cheap strikers though, they’re essential imho. Lukaku will be my cheapest.