Injuries and Suspensions

Premier League Team News - Barclays Premier League - ESPN Soccernet

You can check either the link above or yesterday's The Week Ahead post for a complete listing of those missing through suspension after the Premier League's refs.  As I mentioned yesterday, the interesting opportunities that will result from suspensions are O'Shea being a line-up definite and Frazier Campbell deputizing for Kenwyne Jones.  Hard to imagine guys like Nigel Reo-Coker or Paul Robinson (the defender) doing much for their fantasy managers regardless of the opportunity to start.

Elsewhere in injury news...
Looks like Rovers have kicked the H1N1 thing and are fully healthy - that may put Brett Emerton's place in the midfield in doubt (although I'm not sure Big Sam actually knows what his best line-up is).  I'd downgrade Emerton from "very promising risk" to "a big gamble."

K2 and Kolo back for Citeh making both expensive but potentially strong picks.

Sunderland have no holding midfielder with Cana suspended and Cattermole still injured.  Could be a good thing for the Spurs attack who are likely to get Lennon back and will definitely get Defoe back.  SeaBass is out but Woody may be ready to go.

Clichy, Bendtner, Traore, Vela, Denilson, and Walcott are out for Arsenal - the big question is "which of Rosicky, Nasri, and EdS are likely to join the clearly first choice Cesc, Song, Arshavin, RvP, and (seemingly) Abou Diaby?"  Nasri has been playing well but he's only just returning from injury.  EdS would be a more natural fit as a third player up top in the 4-3-3.  Rosicky has probably performed the best of the three thus far.  Hard to handicap this race so I'm going to stay away.

For ManYoo - Rio is out but Vidic is back.  Berbs is good to go (make your own joke about whether that's actually a positive or negative for ManYoo).  Park is also out.

For Chelsea's part, it looks like Zhirkov and Bosingwa are the only injury doubts meaning that the only real questions are related to which midfielders will start.  Lamps aside, your guess is as good as mine...

No word yet on Carlton Cole for this week's match.  Zavon Hines would be an interesting play but probably not worth it unless news comes out that CCole is definitely out.  Just so I have it written down somewhere, I think Hines is going to be a nice solid fantasy player at some point in the next couple of years.

No AJ or Murphy for Fulham and Duffman (who has been a good fantasy player) is facing the dreaded "late fitness test" - I'm not a big fan of Fulham on the road and even less so with those guys missing.  The only guy this really benefits is Clint Dempsey who is almost certain to start in an attacking role.

OK - that's about it.  Good luck with your Friday moves and we'll look forward to seeing you on the Live Chat tomorrow.

Cheers - Neal