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
Krul, Marshall
Chester, Koscielny, Coleman, Jagielka, Vlaar
Ravel, Ramsey, Nasri, Hazard, Ward Prowse
Lukaku Aguero Suarez
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3 injured players.
2.4 in the bank.
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Suggest something. Prepared to take hit though.
I can do Aguero out – Negredo in
Nasri out – Silva in
Ravel out – Walcott in
Evening ladies. Apologies inuit. I wasnt ignoring you earlier. Iv bn weighing up the move all day!
Go back to weighing sweets…..
Dont get cockie!
Right – when’s the play group Xmas bash?
Lol. Thursday. They wont invite u. :pimp:
:whatever:
Aaarghh, f that shit. I’ll decide later on Kun.
The good news: 74pts and already broke through 1000 total. The bad: red arrows all round despite that.
Great stuff gkw, those red arrows can be harsh eh?!!
gkw – Yep,same here,77 and dropped haha,poxy Suarez.
I’m very tempted to take another hit this week,Aguero&Brady >> £8.5mFWD/Walcott or Silva,what are peoples thoughts on Hooper? Norwich have some okay games and he’s been doing well,Aguero > Hooper doesn’t feel right haha..
Not sure NIN – how bout Aguero to Negredo, Morrison to Wally/Silva?
The only thing that puts me off Silva is his YC situation
Cookie – Cheers,that would be the ideal switch but unfortunately i’m 0.6m short so it’s out of reach,8 point hits are for special occaisons haha.Brady has to go too,it’s not happening for the kid at the moment,shame.I’m planning a big overhaul in January so just looking for a cheap forward to get me through and get Walcott in..Gouffran/Remy are also options,or a punt on Welbeck/Hernandez but i think that’s a bit too dodgy.
United do have some tasty fixtures – if it’s only 2/3 GWs could gamble on Welbeck, Hernandez, Hooper, J Rod?
Cookie – Yeah it’s just short term,Welbeck would be perfect if he was a sure starter,there’s a decent chance after his good game yesterday i suppose,still seems a bit risky though,i haven’t had a single United player all season haha.
I’m tempted to do Aguero > Welbeck, it’d be only until the Jan WC that I’ll prob play quite early as I still have the season’s one.
This would raise me funds to bring in SIlva + Wally in the next 2 GWs. Sounds good?
Albertini – Howdy,i’m thinking along the same line as you,cheapie until JanuaryWC and then play it early and downgrade my defence to get Silva&Rooney if possible,should be able to too,so yeah..i think those are good moves,Welbeck is quite risky though..
NIN – I believe he will play the next games after his great game yesterday. But I know it’s a risky option, there is Hernandez, Kagawa, Nani and others that could play and also Rooney can play as striker and push Welbeck to the left wing… The other option would be Negredo, prob it’s safer but wouldn’t allow me to get Silva and Wally later.
Albertini – Yeah,i think it’s too dodgy,Hernandez is unbelievably good value at 7.2m but same problem,too risky.I suppose it has to be Gouffran/Remy,Rodriguez/Lambo,Hooper, tough call.
You’re prob right NIN and I already have a few injured players to deal with. Maybe Negredo is the safer bet for me.
For me it’s between:
Rooney + 8.3 mid (-4H)
Negredo + 10.6 mid (-4H)
Albertini – Negredo&Walcott sounds splendid!
It does, doesn’t it?
I’m going to make the move with Aguero tonight, can’t afford to loose more money.
Also I won’t loose too much with him, my selling value is 12.2!
Albertini – Yeah it sounds bloody great to be honest haha,if i had the fundage i’d make the exact same moves mate,unfortunately i have to leave the likes of Negredo/Rooney etc until JanuaryWC,Brady has to go,he’s a 1 point merchant these days haha,anyway, logging off now,good luck mate.
Good luck to you too mate, thanks for your help NIN. :beer:
Do I make the Aguero – Negredo move tonight?
This will allow Lallana – Walcott for a -4 or I can save this move.
Mignolet (Marshall)
Ridgewell, Coleman, Distin (Dawson, Rosenior)
Aguero, Suarez, Lukaku
0.3 Bank
Rip, do you need Wally this week?
No they have Chelsea
Yaya, Hazard, Ramsey, Lallana (Ravel)
I could Rooney but then saves cash for other upgrades until Jan WC
Dawson/Ridgewell worry me but wouldn’t take a hit. I plan on some Arsenal coverage there as well.
Rip, I really like the Negredo angle – decent fixtures, bound to play, City scoring for fun, Aguero dropping tonight! Do the one tonight, contemplate the other!
Thanks