If this is any indicator of starting line-ups - minus injuries (Rafael/Chicharito) or late returnees from tournaments (Aguero) - then we might make the following assessments about both teams:
- Micah Richards started at RB and is priced very reasonably at 7.35 in the Yahoo game - not bad for a starting RB for a top 4 team. Especially a team starting at home against a newly promoted team. Just saying.
- Anderson looks like he'll finally get his chance to shine and prove Jeremy right (or horribly wrong) once and for all. Jeremy has been holding out hope that the Brazilian will make the big step up for a few seasons now and with Scholes gone he seems to have his chance.
- Welbeck has apparently earned a promotion up into consideration for serious playing time. With Chicharito out, I have to admit I was surprised that he got the start over Berbs who doesn't appear on any injury reports. With Chicharito likely out for a while longer, you'd think this would be SAF's chance to get the first team playing together - you don't think that means Welbeck has moved past Berbs, do you?
- Looks like all of the "DDG is not necessarily our #1" talk from Ferguson was just a motivational tactic to make sure that the kid kept playing and training hard. I can't think of a single reason they'd start him in this match and then not do it again when the curtain raises for real.
Set Pieces
- United: They seemed to go mostly to Ashley Young with Nani taking the occasional attempt - particularly the direct kick from about 25 or 30 yards in the middle of the first half that deflected off Dzeko and ended up going just a shade wide.
- City: Silva and Kolarov split duty with Silva taking most of the attempts from the right side of the field and Kolarov from the left. Silva's cross for Lescott's opener was very nice.
