The Pre-match Preamble – Gameweek 19

With the majority of the press shelving their predicted lineups for today’s matches, our hunt for reassurance and validation amongst the papers is a futile one. Nonetheless, there are some nuggets of news, notably as a result of the words spilling from a cast of Premier League players, which could have some bearing on today’s teamsheets.

The Times were the first to break quotes from Wayne Rooney last night, as the United striker lamented (does Rooney lament?) his woeful output in the 1-1 draw at Swansea on Sunday. Nothing came off for the striker on the day and it was no surprise to see him withdrawn to jeers from the Liberty faithful with 12 minutes remaining.

Rooney has acknowledged his abject performance, whilst suggesting that he’s keen to get back on the pitch against Newcastle today to re-assert himself….

“I could feel it [was not going to be my day] on the pitch…Some days you have an off day I could feel that and I couldn’t complain at being substituted….I think the thing about football, and especially over the Christmas period, is that you have games and this game has gone for me and it is certainly not one I will remember, but I will relish the next one.”

The quotes and the story has been published by a number of new sources this morning, all hinting that Newcastle need to prepare themselves for Rooney’s backlash. An interesting assumption given that us Fantasy managers are braced for rotation up front in the United lineup. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side face West Brom at Old Trafford on Saturday, before travelling to Wigan on Tuesday; that’s followed by an FA Cup tie at West Ham on January 5. Presumably we’ll see Ferguson rotating for that Cup encounter, with his strongest side fielded at Wigan, having tasted defeat at the DW Stadium last term.

That will see rotation, either today against the Magpies or, more likely perhaps, against West Brom in three days time. We’re presuming that Rooney and Robin Van Persie will be benched for one of these two matches and it will be interesting to see if Ferguson opts for Rooney today, in order to give him the opportunity to rid himself of the demons from his showing in Wales. A first choice strike pairing may well be on show later today, then, with Danny Welbeck perhaps handed a wide role and then called in to action up front, along with Javier Hernandez, against West Brom on Saturday.

David Luiz’s new position in central midfield for Chelsea has generated some attention, not least because he also stroked home a superbly executed free-kick in the 8-0 demolition of Villa on Sunday. Today’s trip to Norwich will surely see Rafa Benitez rotate his resources once more, however, and Mikel’s availability after serving a three-match ban, certainly threaten’s Luiz’s chances of earning another start in midfield.

As Mikel points out, he will depart for the African Cup of Nations after Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge clash with QPR on January 2, giving him just a few matches to play out whilst he remains with the squad.

“After the Norwich match there are only two more games and I’ll be away again, as I think we have to meet up on January 4, and the manager said he wants to rotate the team and bring in fresh legs…I’ve been playing since he started, so it’s probably been good to have a week or two off to recover a little and get the legs going again, but it will be good to come back for the Norwich game.”

We could well see Mikel start at Norwich then and with Ramires and Frank Lampard impressing against Villa, it’s feasible that Luiz will find himself either benched, or shifted back to a centre-back role with Branislav Ivanovic back at full-back.

Jan Vertonghen’s position in the Spurs lineup is another contentious issue that has drawn headlines in this morning’s press. The Belgian has stated that, while he has enjoyed his tenancy at left-back, allowing him to lend his abilities to the Tottenham attack, he is pushing Andre Villas-Boas to restore him to a centre-back role…

“Yes (I’m frustrated), and the manager knows. But we needed some height in the team (against Stoke City) for the set plays and he knows I prefer centre-back, but that is enough for me. He respects me but tells me whenever I need to play left-back. I want to help the team….I love to attack and I love to go up front…It is a little more difficult than when you are playing centre-back. If you play the way that I want to play, I think my influence is better as a left-back. For the team, it is best that I play as a centre-back. I like to bring the ball out. You need to move the game quickly, and that is one of my qualities as well.”

Spurs travel to face Villa today, with Vertonghen’s compatriot, Christian Benteke, undoubtedly providing the main threat to their chances of three points. Vertonghen is quick to point out that he knows Benteke’s game only too well…

“Benteke is very good in the air and he can score. He will be a very tough player to play against…I know him quite well from Belgium, in the league and playing for the national team. It doesn’t surprise me that he has done well at Villa.”

A thinly veiled plee to Villas-Boas to let him play centre-back against Benteke, perhaps? That move would likely see Kyle Naughton drafted in at left-back with one of Michael Dawson, William Gallas or Steven Caulker given the slot alongside the Belgian in the centre. With Caulker and Dawson starting against Stoke, it would seem likely that we’ll see Gallas restored at Villa Park today.

Of course, this is all speculative stuff. There’s clearly logic we can apply to the evidence dug up by such reports and quotes but, as we saw with Roberto Mancini’s team-sheet against Reading, such logic can sometimes be worthless.

Edin Dzeko did not start against Brian McDermott’s side, City struggled to defend set-plays and Dzeko ended up coming on after the hour-mark. Presumably, we’ll see the Bosnian start at Sunderland today, only to be benched again at Norwich, even though Chris Hughton’s side and Sebastian Bassong in particular, have been a real threat from set-pieces of late. Go figure.

Of course, it’s not for me to tell Mancini how to pick his team but, like most of us, I’m quite happy to have a go and vent my anger when the logic falls short. Us Fantasy managers are always on the look out for a scrap of evidence to back our theories or justify our selections. It’s just so hugely frustrating when the decision makers that matter refuse to play along.