Game 7 vs Aston Villa(A) 1st October: A Reflection

Starting Line-Up:

(4-5-1)                                  Al-Habsi

Boyce                 Caldwell                       Figueroa                Van Aaaholt

                                             Watson

                          McCarthy                         Diame

Stam                                                                                           Moses

                                             Di Santo

Result: 2-0

Man of the Match: Franco Di Santo

Aston Villa’s strikepower simply proved too much in what was Wigan’s poorest performance of the season so far. Having rarely threatened the Villa goal, the prospect of the Latics scoring enough goals to stay in the division this time around will be something for Martinez to consider. Having suggested Agbonlahor was the player to watch in this game he didn’t disappoint, returning a goal and an assist. Having just returned from injury and perhaps not fully fit, Emmerson Boyce struggled to contain the jet-heeled forward down the Villa left. At the other end, Franco Di Santo became increasingly isolated as the game wore on. The difference between the sides was evident in that Agbonlahor, Ireland and Bannan supported Bent at every opportunity whilst Moses, Stam and Diame struggled to get close enough to Di Santo.

Villa’s opening goal arrived after James McCarthy gave the ball away in midfield, allowing the home side to break quickly and effectively. Agbonlahor received the ball and attacked Caldwell, who backed off rapidly, before rifling a shot into the top of Al-Habsi’s net from just inside the area. Villa deserved the goal and in truth the Latics were fortunate to find themselves just one goal down at the interval. Just after half-time the most contentious incident of the game arrived, with Di-Santo battling his way into the Villa area before going down after what looked to be a push by right-back Alan Hutton. However, Stuart Atwell waved away the appeals of the Wigan players.

It was obvious that the Wigan players felt aggrieved by this decision not to award a penalty and shortly after their mini-revival seemed to lose some momentum. The introduction of Heskey, replacing Stephen Ireland, allowed Villa to regain the momentum, Darren Bent eventually putting the result beyond any doubt with a neat finish after Agbonlahor again beat Boyce for pace on his return from injury and delivered an inch-perfect cross.

The Opposition from a Fantasy Premier League Perspective

From a Fantasy League Perspective, Villa’s opening to the season as served as a considerable disappointment. Despite their unbeaten start to the campaign, those who have invested in the likes of Given, Collins and Warnock have been rewarded with just two clean sheets. Richard Dunne’s own goal during injury time in their last fixture at QPR will have annoyed several Fantasy Premier League managers who had banked on a Villa clean sheet, particularly given that the opposition had been reduced to ten men. Moreover, Villa’s attacking options from a Fantasy Premier League perspective have also flattered to deceive thus far. Darren Bent has returned just one goal in five at a hefty starting price of 10.0 whilst much-fancied winger Charles N’Zogbia has failed to register either a goal or an assist despite starting all six of Villa’s Barclay’s Premier League games.

However, all is not lost and the home fixture with Wigan Athletic provides the perfect opportunity for some Villa players to start justifying the significant investment in them on the game. Bent is listed on the Fantasy Premier League site as having a 75% chance of making the Wigan game. Should he recover in time, his owners are entitled to expect a goal and bonus points at the very least in this favourable fixture. Should he fail to register on the scoresheet, Bent’s already declining 5.4% ownership across the game is likely to decrease even further despite a relatively good run of fixtures in the next five including home games against West Brom and Norwich.

Should Bent fail to pass a late fitness test, it is likely that Gabby Agbonlahor will continue in the central striking role, supported by Charles N’Zogbia, Stephen Ireland and Barry Bannan. Having been initially priced at just 6.5 in the game, Agbonlahor has risen to 6.9 after a string of impressive performances and returns which have made him Villa’s stand out player from a Fantasy Premier League perspective after six games. Transferred in by over 50000 managers this week alone, Agbonlahor will be looking to continue this run of form this coming weekend and build upon his three goals and two assists.

Analysing the Opposition

Despite being unbeaten so far in the Premier League, the jury is still out on Alex McLeish amongst the Villa faithful. This is in no small part due to the fact that out of the opening six games five have resulted in draws, with just the solitary win coming against Blackburn in gameweek two. McLeish’s reputation for moulding team’s into draw specialists does not sit very well with the Villa fans, and the pressure will really begin to mount should the home fixture with Wigan produce anything less than three points.

Villa began the seasons with a 4-2-3-1 system, McLeish evidently believing that this would bring the best out of the players he had to hand. Surprisingly, Emile Heskey was given the role ‘in the hole’ operating behind lone striker Darren Bent. The 3-1 victory over Blackburn in the second gameweek suggested that the formation could deliver success. However, four straight draws later and Villa fans are beginning to question just how well their players are suited to this set-up. For instance, Darren Bent has just one goal from five this season and has struggled to adapt to the new system. Last season, Bent had Stewart Downing and Ashley Young supplying him from the wings in a fluid 4-3-3 system which suited his tendency to make runs beyond defenders. Conversely, this season he is now being asked to play as a more of a target man and hold the ball up with his back to goal to allow runs from midfield by players such as Emile Heskey and Stephen Ireland. Moreover, the main disappointment for Villa fans has been the failure of major new recruit Charles N’Zogbia to have any sort of immediate impact. Like Bent. N’Zogbia is more used to playing in a fluid 4-3-3 system where is able to concentrate on the attacking side of the game rather than worrying about defensive duties. It should also be noted that the majority of N’Zogbia’s best moments at Wigan came whilst he was playing on the right hand-side, allowing him to cut in on his favoured left foot. Should McLeish want to see the best N’Zogbia has to offer, moving him from the left to the right could be an option worth exploring.

Having assessed Villa’s start to the season and their current position, I don’t think it’s unrealistic to believe Wigan could secure at least a point from this fixture. If Darren Bent remains on the sidelines, Villa may struggle to score goals whilst Latics’ main striker Franco Di Santo is currently in a rich vein of form which he will hope to carry into this fixture. Hence, I have predicted a 1-1 draw for this match, which I believe should be an entertaining encounter ultimately resulting in yet more frustration for the home side.

Game 7 vs Aston Villa(A) 1st October

Possible Starting Line-Up:

                                            Al-Habsi

Lopez                   Caldwell                       Figueroa                Van Aaaholt

                                             Watson

                            McCarthy                         Diame

Gomez                                                                                           Moses

                                             Di Santo

Prediction: 1-1

Game 6 vs Tottenham(H) 24th September: A Reflection

Starting Line-Up:

(4-5-1)                                  Al-Habsi

Gohouri                 Caldwell                       Figueroa                Van Aaaholt

                                             Watson

                            McCarthy                         Diame

Gomez                                                                                           Moses

                                             Di Santo

Result: 1-2

Man of the Match: Mohammed Diame

The return of the Barclay’s Premier League to the DW Stadium, following a month’s absence, ultimately ended in disappointment for the home side. Yet things could have been oh so different had Steve Gohouri remembered the fact he was already on a yellow card and not made a rash challenge on Gareth Bale in the sixty third minute.

A disastrous start to the match saw the Latics go behind in just the third minute following an error by makeshift centre half Maynor Figueroa who gifted possession to Emmanuel Adebayor, allowing the Tottenham forward to find Rafael Van der Vaart waiting in acres of space in the Wigan area. Van der Vaart finished in typically emphatic fashion, opening his account for the season, and from then on the away side began to find space with ease, Adebayor going close to extending his scoring run. After riding their look for half an hour, Wigan eventually subsided to the relentless Spurs pressure, Gareth Bale appearing unmarked at the front post to glance home a Luka Modric corner. The second half required a reaction from the Wigan players and it arrived almost immediately in the form of a Mohammed Diame goal on fifty minutes.

Although the sending off of Gohouri effectively ended Wigan’s hopes of rescuing a point from this fixture, there are still numerous positives which Martinez will be able to take from the spirited fightback which his team displayed. However, the results show that this is now Latics third defeat in a row in the Premier League and this is something which they will be looking to rectify when they travel to Aston Villa next Saturday, where I believe a point would represent a good result.

The Opposition from a Fantasy Premier League Perspective

If Tottenham can continue with their recent revival and put together a consistent run of form, there are several players within their squad who can be effective from a Fantasy Premier League perspective. The three I wish to highlight as potential targets for Fantasy Premier League manager are Kyle Walker, Rafael Van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor. Although he is currently Tottenham’s second dearest defender on the game, coming in at 5.4, if Walker can cement the right-back spot ahead of Vedran Corluka then he could see some investment from Fantasy Premier League managers. He displayed his attacking credentials during his time spent on loan at Aston Villa last season, returning one goal and three assists. If he gets the game time, I can see Walker’s forays down the right hand side seeing him improve significantly on last season’s returns, when he was part of an uncharacteristically poor Villa defence.

In midfield, I would always advise to fork out the extra money and get Van der Vaart instead of Gareth Bale. Alhough Bale is obviously hugely talented, he can often be an extremely frustrating player from a Fantasy Premier League perspective. For instance, he registered just three assists last season despite playing the majority of it on the left wing. Conversely, Van der Vaart is a proven Fantasy Premier League performer whose consistency makes him a serious consideration for any Fantasy Premier League manager whenever Spurs have a favourable run of fixtures. Last season Van der Vaart returned thirteen goals and nine assists despite missing a significant proportion of the season due to a recurrent hamstring injury. This injury has already troubled him once again this season, causing him to miss the trip to Wolves. However, he is widely anticipated to return to the starting line-up against Wigan this coming weekend.

The recent capture of Emmanuel Adebayor on a season-long loan from Manchester City has brought Tottenham forwards back on the radar from a Fantasy Premier League perspective following their reliance on midfield players to contribute goals during the last campaign. Peter Crouch, Jermaine Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko all failed to reach double figures for Premier League goals last time round, meaning the contributions of Rafael Van der Vaart and Gareth Bale proved to be vital. Harry Redknapp will hope he has found a solution to this problem with the capture of Adebayor, a proven Premier League goalscorer with a point to prove. Adebayor has been nothing short of sensational in his first two Tottenham games since his arrival at White Hart Lane and will be looking to continue his prolific form. If he manages to do so it wouldn’t be so difficult to imagine him replicating or coming close to his best ever Premier League goals tally for a season of twenty four during the 2007/08 season whilst still with Arsenal. Should Adebayor produce what we all know he is capable of when he applies himself he could well prove to be a bargain, currently priced at just 8.2 in the game.

Analysing the Opposition

Tottenham arrive at the DW Stadium in two days time on the back of two very impressive displays following a slightly shaky start to the season. Harry Redknapp’s side appear to have been revitalised by the signings of Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor. Redknapp’s failure to enter the market earlier on in the transfer window had left a few die-hard Spurs fans somewhat disgruntled. However, their fears were allayed with the acquisitions of these two proven Premier League performers on Deadline Day. Parker and Adebayor are like for like replacements for Wilson Palacios and Peter Crouch, both of whom departed for Stoke, with several pundits commenting that these changes have allowed Tottenham to improve.

Significantly, since the introduction of Parker and Adebayor, Tottenham have recorded back to back victories over Wolves and Liverpool. Redknapp’s side comfortably overcame what seemed a tricky trip to Molineux, winning 0-2, before easily dispatching 9-man Liverpool last Sunday. Parker has quickly developed an effective partnership with Luka Modric in the centre of midfield in Redknapp’s favoured 4-4-2, whilst Adebayor already has three goals to his name in just two Premier League appearances. Should the form of their new additions continue, Spurs fans will be entitled to expect another three points this coming Saturday against a Wigan side depleted by injuries to key men such as Emmerson Boyce, Antolin Alcaraz, Mohammed Diame and Hugo Rodallega.

One contentious debate that currently exists amongst Spurs fans is just where Dutch maestro Rafael Van der Vaart will fit into the team once he has fully recovered from injury. In Tottenham’s last two Premier League games, the emerging partnership of Adebayor and Defoe in a 4-4-2 system has provided the basis for their success. Whether Redknapp will revert to last season’s 4-4-1-1 in order to accommodate Van der Vaart remains to be seen, with the Dutchman expected to be fully fit to take on Wigan this coming weekend.  Should he choose to do so, it is likely that Jermaine Defoe would be the man to drop out. Alternatively, Redknapp could choose to play Van der Vaart out wide on the right instead of Niko Kranjcar, although he is less effective in this role. Whatever formation Redknapp ultimately opts for, Wigan will need to be at their best in order to avoid defeat against a resurgent Spurs outfit.

Game 6 vs Tottenham(H) 24th September

Possible Starting Line-Up:

(4-5-1)                                 Al-Habsi

Lopez                 Caldwell                       Figueroa                Van Aaholt

                                            Watson

                          McCarthy                      Gomez

Moses                                                                                    Maloney

                                            Di Santo

Prediction: 1-3

Game 3 vs QPR(H) 20th August: A Reflection

Starting Line-Up:

(4-5-1)                                 Al-Habsi

Boyce                 Caldwell                        Lopez                Figueroa

                                            Watson

                           Gomez                         Diame

Moses                                                                                Rodallega

                                           Di Santo

Result: 2-0

Man of the Match: Franco Di Santo

I think it’s probably fair to say that Franco Di-Santo took even himself by surprise with his match-winning display in this fixture. Although Roberto Martinez continues to insist that the only thing that was missing from his game was goals, several Latics fans were against seeing him becoming a regular fixture in the side prior to this game. Though the majority of supporters can appreciate his honesty and hard work in leading the line whenever he is called upon, many doubted whether he had the ability to succeed at this level, with Chelsea seemingly displaying little fight to retain his services.

The game opened in typically tentative style for the home side, with QPR making the early pressing, culminating in talisman Adel Taraabt striking a post with a well-placed curling effort from the edge of the area. Just as the home crowd began to grow restless with the Latics lack of penetration, a wonder strike from Di-Santo delivered a much-needed lift immediately before half-time. From here, Wigan pushed on in the second half and began to dominate possession with the much lauded passing style instilled by Martinez. The home fans were to be shocked for a second time in one afternoon with the arrival of another Di-Santo rocket midway through the second-half. Although admittedly both of Di-Santo’s shots took significant deflections, he appears to be carrying a far greater goal-threat than he did in his debut season at the DW Stadium.

Roberto Martinez will now rue the arrival of the international break, particularly with the importance of momentum in the modern game. A daunting trip to free-scoring Man City awaits the Latics on their return to Premier League Action in a fortnight’s time and few will predict anything but a Home win. Yet if the Wigan side can display the resilience which they have relied on for clean sheets in the last two games, anything could be possible if a goal can be scored on the counter.

The Opposition from a Fantasy Premier League Perspective

The QPR squad perhaps offer the Fantasy Premier League manager the most cause for excitement from the three promoted. Moreover, it appears the authorities at FPL Towers have been generous in their pricing of QPR’s squad. For instance, regular right back Bradley Orr can be picked up for a mere 4.0. If the QPR defence can replicate the resilience they displayed at Everton for the remainder of the season then this could prove to be excellent value for a player who has been known to regularly get forward from full-back and provide assists in the Championship. However, for the moment, many Fantasy managers may be more willing to take a punt on Newcastle’s Ryan Taylor as their 4.0 budget defender.

In midfield, Adel Taarabt is the obvious one to consider from QPR’s squad. Although Taarabt is the most expensive Rangers player on the game, weighing in at a costly 6.5 for an unproven player at this level, he has been tipped by many onlookers to justify this simply by being on all of QPR’s set-pieces, including penalty kicks. One thing to consider regarding Taarabt will be how well he slots into the new, more-direct, 4-4-2 system which Warnock has been employing in recent weeks. A prolific supplier of both goals and assists in last season’s 4-2-3-1, Taarabt has found himself pushed out to the left hand side of a midfield four in the opening two Premier League fixtures. Although he still has a licence to create, this role inevitably forces him to be more disciplined and help his left-back where possible.

If you are going for a QPR striker, it is a straight choice between DJ Campbell and Jay Bothroyd. If they can stay fit, I expect both to offer real value as budget forwards, though for now I would be inclined to go with Campbell given that he has already proved himself an able goal-getter at this level. Furthermore, the powers that be have strangely priced Campbell at 5.5, 0.5 cheaper than his strike partner. Registering 13 goals and 4 assists in a relegated Blackpool side last time round, those that invest in him will be entitled to expect similar returns this season, particularly if QPR are able to handle the difficulties of Premier League football better than his previous club and maintain their top flight status.

Analysing the Opposition

Tomorrow sees the second consecutive home game against a promoted side. This time it is the turn of QPR to travel to the DW Stadium. Having won the Championship seemingly at a canter last season, one might deduce that they have the best chance of all of the promoted sides of maintaining their Premier League status. However, the opening fixture saw Bolton provide Neil Warnock’s side with an emphatic reminder that they are now going to be pushed to their limit every week. None would benefit more so from heeding this reminder than their temperamental playmaker Adel Taarabt.

Championship Player of the Season for 2010/11, Adel Taarabt played an instrumental role in QPR’s promotion-winning campaign. Occupying the free-role behind the sole striker, often Heidar Helguson, in Neil Warnock’s preferred 4-2-3-1, Taarabt was given a license to express himself and inject himself into the game whenever he saw fit, without worrying too much about any defensive duties. Combined with the support of Wayne Routledge and Tommy Smith from the wings, Taarabt’s playmaking abilities made the 4-2-3-1 an effective system for Warnock to utilize. However, the signings of DJ Campbell and Jay Bothroyd in the close season have allowed Warnock to experiment with a more direct 4-4-2 in the opening two fixtures of the Premier League.

Warnock’s decision to deviate from the tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation inevitably came into criticism following the opening day 0-4 home defeat to Bolton. However, last week’s fixture away to Everton saw Warnock persevere with his new 4-4-2 with great success. A Tommy Smith strike was enough to give QPR a victory in what seemed an extremely tough fixture on paper, particularly given how Rangers were so easily dismissed by Bolton the following week. This could perhaps indicate that QPR may become a slightly inconsistent side this season in the mould of Blackpool last season. From a Wigan perspective, Roberto Martinez will certainly hope it is the Rangers which looked so poor and out of their depth against Bolton which turns up at the DW Stadium.

Game 3 vs QPR(H) 27th August

Possible Starting Line-Up:

(4-5-1)                                 Al-Habsi

Boyce                 Caldwell                       Lopez                Figueroa

                                            Watson

                          McCarthy                      Diame

Gomez                                                                                Moses

                                           Rodallega

Prediction: 1-1

Areas for Improvement

With Transfer Deadline Day looming, Wigan’s only notable signing is that of Goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi on a permanent deal. This has created a cause for some concern amongst fellow Wigan supporters. With Dave Whelan promising to reinvest every penny of the N’Zogbia money, fans are understandably becoming a little anxious with how late the club are leaving it to secure new players. The most obvious areas for improvement are on the wings and upfront. Martinez clearly sees the right wing as the most urgent priority, with the Latics heavily linked with both Shaun Wright-Phillips and Vladimir Weiss in recent days.

I believe the acquisition of Shaun Wright-Phillips would represent a significant improvement on Wigan’s current options on the right of Martinez’ preferred 4-5-1 formation. As highlighted in the previous article, the jury undoubtedly remains out on Gomez claims for a regular starting role. With his tendency to cut inside, the pitch becomes narrower and Wigan are left to rely on Emmerson Boyce to provide the width from full-back. In contrast, Shaun Wright-Phillips more direct style would instantly provide the team with more width, in turn improving the supply to the central striker, whether that be Di Santo or Rodallega.

I have to confess to knowing relatively little about what Vladimir Weiss would bring to the table. This is perhaps due to the fact that he has never really had a consistent run in a Premier League side. Like Wright-Phillips, he would appear to be a small, tricky type of player. Although I don’t believe him to possess the pace of Wright-Phillips, I certainly believe his trickery and crossing skills from the right-hand side could be of enormous benefit to Wigan should they be beaten to the signature of Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Two Games In...First Impressions

It pains me to say that Wigan’s first two games have served to highlight the void which the loss of Charles N’Zogbia has left in the side. A lack of penetration has been evident against both Norwich and Swansea. Although Hugo Rodallega’s lack of fitness and consignment to the bench hasn’t helped matters, more often than not it was N’Zogbia who proved to be the key in unlocking stubborn defences last season. Yet Martinez retains a belief that Jordi Gomez and particularly Victor Moses will compensate for the loss of N’Zogbia this time round.

Admittedly, there have been several promising signs from Martinez’ two chosen wingers in the opening fixtures. Without setting the world alight Gomez looks to have improved from last year, displaying a resurgent enthusiasm in his new right-wing starting berth. Despite gaining several plaudits for his most-recent performance against Swansea, Gomez will need to improve on his overall effectiveness and output going forward to retain his place in the starting line-up. On the other hand, I firmly expect Moses to keep his position on the left wing throughout the current season. Although he has yet to register a goal or assist, he has undoubtedly looked like Wigan’s most potent source of attack post-N’Zogbia.

One positive to take from the opening two fixtures for Martinez must be the assuredness of his defence. Unlike last year, Martinez clearly already has a first-choice back four established in his mind and this has enabled the defenders to develop on field relationships which in turn have led to a tighter defence. Whilst Wigan were often criticised from the fragility on their travels last season, the resilience of their defence was plain to see for all at the Swansea fixture. However, it remains to be seen how the defence copes in the absence of stalwart central defender Antolin Alcaraz, who wants stretchered from the field just half an hour in at the weekend and looks set to miss a significant chunk of the run-up to Christmas.

Game 2 vs Swansea(A) 20th August: A Reflection

Starting Line-Up:

(4-5-1)                                 Al-Habsi

Boyce                 Caldwell                       Alcaraz                Figueroa

                                            Watson

                          McCarthy                      Diame

Gomez                                                                                Moses

                                           Di Santo

Result: 0-0

Man of the Match: Jordi Gomez

It is safe to say that my prediction’s for this fixture did not come to pass. Having expected an open, end-to-end fixture with several goals, I was ultimately disappointed by the quality of this match. Whilst Swansea dominated possession in the opening stages, they rarely posed a real threat to the Wigan goal. Interestingly, on the rare occasions which Swansea managed to translate their possession to chances, it was often Nathan Dyer who created them down the right-hand side with Scott Sinclair cutting a peripheral figure out on the left. This could be something to consider for Fantasy Premier League managers.

Roberto Martinez sprung a surprise with his team selection by recalling Antolin Alcaraz following his Copa America exertions. However, it later emerged that his reintroduction was enforced by Antonio Lopez’s failure to recover from the Basil Fawlty style knock to the head he suffered against Norwich on the opening day. The fact that Martinez may have been forced to rush Alcaraz back sooner than planned became plain when the Paraguayan was forced off with a serious looking calf injury.

One positive to emerge from this game for Wigan was the performance of Jordi Gomez. Often a much maligned player amongst the Wigan faithful, Gomez looked Wigan’s most likely source of a goal in the absence of Hugo Rodallega, who was again resigned to the bench for the best part of seventy minutes. Gomez even upstaged the much discussed Victor Moses in this particular fixture. Furthermore, there is a small possibility that Gomez could benefit from Ben Watson’s missed penalty. Martinez has been known to switch unsuccessful penalty takers in the past and Gomez has been known to take them on occasion for both Wigan and Swansea.

The Opposition from a Fantasy Premier League Perspective

If you are investing in Swansea City as a Fantasy Premier League manager, it is highly likely that you are investing in Scott Sinclair. The dynamic winger, who never quite made the grade at Chelsea, enjoyed a prolific season in the Championship last year. He is now firmly established as Swansea’s ‘main man’, reflected by the decision in the second-half of last season to hand him penalty-kick duties. Priced at 6.0 as a player from a promoted team in the game, it is evident that much is expected of him on his return to the Premier League.

Sinclair certainly appears to have matured since his last Premiership spell, ironically with Wigan, adding goal scoring prowess to his game in the process. This is evidenced by the 23 strikes he registered as Swansea’s top scorer during their promotion-winning campaign. Notably, Sinclair displayed his ability to perform on the big stage by scoring a hat-trick at Wembley in the scintillating 4-2 Play-Off Final victory over Reading. His ability to replicate this sort of goal scoring form in the Premier League will be significantly boosted by the fact that he is now first-choice on direct free-kicks and penalties.

If you are still yet to be convinced by Sinclair’s potential as a Fantasy Premier League prospect, maybe his next two fixtures will convince you to sample him in your team. If Sinclair is going to deliver, his next two games look good places for him to start. Firstly, he finds himself coming up against one of his former clubs, Wigan, and their admittedly leaky defence in a home tie. Next up after this weekend is another home tie, this time against a Sunderland side which presumably will still be gelling following the number acquisitions they have made during the off-season. I envisage Sinclair giving those who have invested in him plenty of early reward for doing so in the next two Gameweeks.

Analysing the Opposition

Swansea’s chosen style of football is extremely similar to that which the Wigan side has adopted in recent seasons. This is no surprise given that Roberto Martinez enjoyed an extended spell at Swansea prior to jumping ship to Wigan. It has even been said that Martinez effectively laid the foundations for the Swans’ promotion to the top flight. Rather than attempting to fix something which isn’t broken, Brendan Rogers has built upon the back of Martinez success and continued to encourage his team to play an attractive style. Whether this will result in Swansea enduring the difficulties Wigan have over the last few seasons remains to be seen.

The wide players are crucial to Swansea’s attacking 4-3-3 system. More often than not this season, these wide players will be Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer, despite the arrival of journeyman Wayne Routledge from Newcastle. Having seen Swansea play on numerous occasions on Sky last season, notably the Play-Off Final, it appeared that Sinclair was given more of a licence to attack from the left than Dyer on the right. Cutting inside onto his favoured right-foot, Sinclair was able to inject himself into the gain at crucial moments to devastating effect. Rogers will undoubtedly be looking to Sinclair to similarly effective in the Premier League.

Whatever the score on Saturday, this should be an entertaining game for the spectators, given that both sides play a brand of football that is both aesthetically pleasing and open. The openness of both sides style of football inevitably leads to defensive deficiencies and this could result, in my opinion, a high scoring game. On a side note, it will be interesting to see the reception which Martinez receives from the Swansea supporters. After being worshipped while he was there, Martinez cast a shadow on his own reputation in the eyes of some die-hard supporters by leaving on a slightly sour note.

Game 2 vs Swansea(A) 20th August

Possible Starting Line-Up:

(4-5-1)                                 Al-Habsi

Boyce                 Caldwell                       Lopez                Figueroa

                                            Watson

                          McCarthy                      Diame

Gomez                                                                                Moses

                                           Di-Santo

Prediction: 2-3

Game 1 vs Norwich(H) 13th August: A Reflection

Starting Line-Up:

(4-5-1)                                 Al-Habsi

Boyce                 Caldwell                       Lopez                Figueroa

                                            Watson

                          McCarthy                      Diame

Gomez                                                                                Moses

                                           Di Santo

Result: 1-1

Man of the Match: Victor Moses

I am disappointed to say I was wrong with my pre-match prediction of a 2-0 victory for Wigan. Although the home side started brightly, culminating in a successfully-converted Ben Watson penalty after a foul on Franco Di-Santo, an unusual error from goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi provided the Canaries with a route back into the contest. Norwich playmaker Wesley Hoolahan was able to capitalise on Al-Habsi’s rare mistake and from then onwards Wigan found it difficult to break down a resilient Norwich defence.

This was despite the best efforts of Man of the Match Victor Moses. Having picked him out as a player to watch from a Fantasy Premier League perspective Moses didn’t let me down, giving the Canaries right-back a torrid time throughout the afternoon. Had it not been for a goal-line clearance late on in the second-half, Moses’ points tally would have been boosted significantly with the points from a goal, and presumably 3 Bonus Points. How he failed to secure any Bonus Points in any case is something which leaves me slightly bewildered.

The Opposition from a Fantasy Premier League Perspective

I would be lying if I said the Norwich players provided much inspiration from a Fantasy Premier League point of view. Admittedly, I currently have no Canaries in my chosen fifteen. However, this isn’t to say that Norwich players should be dismissed totally from our thinking. In this article, I will analyse the potential of the two most obvious Norwich prospects for Fantasy Premier League managers, Grant Holt and Wesley Hoolahan.

Grant Holt, captain, penalty-taker and free-kick taker, is held in the same esteem of that of Delia Smith by the Norwich faithful. One of the main reasons Norwich were able to gain Promotion was Holt’s ability to find the net prolifically at Championship level. If he is able to come somewhere near to replicating his effectiveness in the Championship, Holt may well become a bargain basement Fantasy Premier League game, priced at a mere 5.5. Rumours of Paul Lambert adopting a 4-5-1 for the step-up, with Holt as the spearhead, would make the striker a more appealing prospect providing he is given the required service from the Norwich midfielders.

This is where Wesley Hoolahan may come into his own. A tricky, on first glance unorthodox, little player, Hoolahan was often the key to breaking down resilient Championship defences on Norwich’s way to Promotion. Playing at the tip of Lambert’s midfield diamond, Hoolahan reached double figures for both goals and assists in last year’s campaign. Should Norwich change to a 4-5-1 this time round, it is easy to see him slotting into the playmaking role ‘in the hole’ behind the lone striker, presumably Holt.

Analysing the Opposition

Given that this will be Norwich’s first game in the Premier League since gaining automatic Promotion from the Championship, many onlookers may be expecting a relatively comfortable victory for Roberto Martinez’s men. However, a promoted side’s opening fixture can often be a difficult one to predict. Wigan can certainly expect a tough test from a determined Norwich side.

Paul Lambert carefully moulded a 4-4-2 diamond during Norwich’s promotion campaign. In this formation, Wesley Hoolahan was given licence to attack from the tip of the midfield four and support a front line usually consisting of Grant Holt and one other. It remains to be seen whether or not Worthington will persist with such an attacking formation in the Premier League. Several Norwich fans had expected Holt to perhaps be given a lead role in the Canaries attack. However, the signing of Millwall top-scorer Steve Morrison would appear to suggest otherwise.

Roberto Martinez will be desperately hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s similar opening fixture, in which a lacklustre Wigan side lost 0-4 at Home to newly-promoted Blackpool. The recent 1-0 victory over Spanish team Villarreal would indicate that the Latics are better prepared this time round, with the return of several key players delayed by the World Cup last season.

Game 1 vs Norwich(H) 13th August

Possible Starting Line-Up:

(4-5-1)                                 Al-Habsi

Boyce                 Caldwell                       Alcaraz                Figueroa

                                            Watson

                          McCarthy                      Diame

Gomez                                                                                Moses

                                           Rodallega

Prediction: 2-0