The bookmakers have stooped taking bets on Rafael Benitez of Liverpool becoming the next Premier League manager to lose his job. If he does leave Anfield, will it have an impact on your PlayTheGame team? It just might.
The recent departures of Luix Felipe Scolari from Chelsea and Tony Adams from Portsmouth appeared to bring instant success, as both teams won their next league matches while keeping clean sheets. So you had an instant dividend if you owned defenders from those two teams. But will either effect continue? After all, Portsmouth could only draw 2-2 in their next match.
It is worth looking more closely at the effect that the new management teams have already had on their new clubs. In an exclusive interview with The Times, to be published in the next few days, Deco, the Chelsea midfield player, reveals that training under Guus Hiddink is more Dutch in style, and more aimed at keeping possession. And he expects Chelsea to revert more to the winning mentality seen under Jose Mourinho, with a 1-0 lead usually being enough, and an extra midfield player being brought on when the team is ahead..
So, based on a view from within the Chelsea camp, the team's defenders should become more valuable, and the midfield players should make more passes - but the forwards could be reined in.
The situation at Portsmouth could prove to be similar. It was noticeable that, once Portsmouth had scored in their 2-0 win over Manchester City, Brian Kidd, the assistant manager, directed Peter Crouch and David Nugent, the forwards, to fall back into positions where they could tie down the City full backs. That was very different from the gung-ho attacking style under Adams, when the team simply could not hang onto a lead. Once again, the suggestion is that Portsmouth's defenders will become more valuable, while the attacking players may lose some of their worth.
But, you say, what about Portsmouth's 2-2 draw at Stoke, who are hardly famous for a free-scoring style? The significant factor here is the apparently random one of poor refereeing decisions. Glen Johnson was incorrectly ruled to have handled the ball to concede a penalty, and the team's understandably fragile confidence was temporarily shaken, resulting in a second goal conceded. Without that decision, a 1-0 win looked entirely likely - although the outcome was good news if you owned James Beattie, who scored both Stoke goals.
So watch carefully to see what happens at Anfield this week. And depnding on who - if anyone - takes over from Rafa, plan accordingly..
Comments (2)
Defensive Points Scoring - has this been re-interpretted? OK, I wasn't at the game, but surely Gareth Barry must have made at least one tackle or block, in whatever position on the field (or is this the problem, are interceptions and actions gaining and maintaining possession in opponents half being ignored?)???
PTG - The scoring for Gareth Barry had been uploaded incorrectly, but this has now been rectified. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Posted by Jon Wilkinson | March 1, 2009 7:53 PM
Posted on March 1, 2009 19:53
Will Chelsea's defender Mancienne become available for selection after starting against Wigan soon please.
He may well play again tomorrow v Portsmouth and with your 48 hour notice ruling that will be another match nobody can select him for.
PTG - Mancienne will be added at around 5pm GMT as is usual on a Monday afternoon for new players. Watch the blog for confirmation....
Posted by Bill | March 2, 2009 3:13 PM
Posted on March 2, 2009 15:13