Brown helps United to set punishing pace in the crocks' league

As everyone makes their final dream-team selections for a host of fantasy leagues, how about this winning formation?

In goal, Fabien Barthez, behind a back four of Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, whom Sir Alex Ferguson considered superior to Ferdinand before spending £30m on the Leeds captain, and Christian Ziege, part of the German squad which made it to the World Cup final.

In midfield, we have Fredrik Ljungberg and Robert Pires, the two men who inspired Arsenal to the Double and whose goalscoring record would be envied by some specialist forwards. Supporting them is the South American combination of Gustavo Poyet and Juninho, who just shades in ahead of Newcastle's Laurent Robert. For top-quality strikers, look no further than Craig Bellamy, the young footballer of the year, and perhaps the finest finisher in England, Robbie Fowler. Simply fill the form in, return it to whichever newspaper or pub is running the competition and collect your winnings in May.

In truth, these players, who cost their clubs more than £70m, would take you to the bottom of any fantasy league for the very good reason that none of them is available for the Premiership's opening round of fixtures and most can expect to be absent for several months beyond.

No club have suffered more than Manchester United. After a season in which they conceded more goals than in any other Premiership campaign, Ferguson had at his disposal three of the finest young central defenders in England – of whom only John O'Shea will be fit to start against West Bromwich at Old Trafford today.

Ferdinand's ankle injury, sustained against Boca Juniors a week ago, should be quickly healed but the broken ankle Brown suffered in the stunning defeat to Zalaegerszeg on Wednesday will require United to fund a replacement. With Neville, still the country's best right-back, not yet match fit, their defence looks more vulnerable than last season.

Without both Pires and Ljungberg, who have only partially been replaced by Gilberto Silva, Arsenal may prove vulnerable.

When Terry Venables arrived at Leeds he remarked that no club he had managed, including Barcelona, had boasted such an array of strikers – six if you include Harry Kewell. Since Fowler, the jewel in their attacking crown, will miss two months of the season with a hip injury, this is just as well. However, now that Ferdinand has gone, Venables is suddenly exposed defensively with doubts over both Dominic Matteo and Jonathan Woodgate for today's game with Manchester City.

City have signed the 35-year-old Tim Flowers from Leicester on a three-month loan, to cover for a back injury to the even more-venerable Peter Schmeichel, whose deputy, Nicky Weaver, will be missing for three months after an operation on his knee. As both Paolo Wanchope and Shaun Goater are unavailable for the first round of games, it is probably just as well Kevin Keegan spent all that money in the summer.

There is no Matt Jansen for Blackburn, no Paolo Di Canio when West Ham visit a Robert- and Bellamy-less Newcastle on Monday. The delight Teesside felt on Juninho's third coming was quickly cut short when the Brazilian's cruciate ligaments gave way in a pre-season friendly in Italy. There will be no sombreros or Brazilian flags at the Riverside probably until Christmas.

It should, however, surprise nobody that neither Duncan Ferguson nor Darren Anderton are likely to be seen today. The seasons may come and go but some occupants of the treatment table stay the same.