Injuries and Suspensions

Premier League Team News - Barclays Premier League - ESPN Soccernet

Quite a bit of news to be had this weekend.  Some of it may even be relevant to your team...

Looks like Vidic will finally make his 2010 debut against Everton - the increased likelihood of him playing twice boosts his potential value greatly and reduces that of Evans who is likely to give way to Rio Ferdinand in midweek as his suspension will be up.

ManYoo will also be missing Nani and Giggs from their midfield for both matches due to suspension and a broken arm respectively.  The two absences mean Valencia and Park are very likely to start both matches for ManYoo.  Both are excellent value for the price as a result.

Lots of injuries in the Arsenal/Sunderland match with Sunderland missing BFAR, KRich, Anton Ferdinand, Mensah, Cattermole, and Meyler with Malbranque also unlikely but not ruled out entirely.  For Arsenal, the goalkeeping situation remains up in the air but I have to bet that Almunia will get the start after Fabianski's disaster against Porto.  Diaby, Arshavin, and Gallas will also be out but Song is set to return.  What does all of that mean? I'm not sure but looking at the names of the missing, I'm going to guess that there will be goals going both ways and that Cesc, Bendtner, and DBent will all be worthy picks.  I am also going to reverse myself on recommending that you have the Arsenal keeper.  I think ARS will get the win but with Sol and Clichy at the back I have a hard time seeing a clean sheet.  The only hope is that Sunderland don't have any quality midfielders to exploit Arsenal's defensive frailties.

Benni McCarthy is doubtful with a knee injury but Franco and (really?) Kieron Dyer are both fit after some strong training sessions.  The big downside here is that WHU now have something of an excess at forward with Diamanti, CCole, Franco, et al - could mean bad things for rotation.

In Barn Door news, looks like Jummy might be on the bench this weekend which means that you probably want to think about picking him up on the cheap (unless he injures himself again getting up off the bench to warm up).  Ditto for Arteta from Everton.  Two traditionally excellent fantasy point producers who are returning after long layoffs and can be had on the cheap.  Feels like we're all Pompey and the Transfer Window has opened out of season, huh?

At Chelsea, the injuries continue to mount with Lamps and Alex joining ACole, Essien, Bosingwa, Belletti, and Deco on the sidelines.  Presumably this means that the starting back four will be Zhirkov, JT, Carvalho, and Ivanovic making Zhirkov and Carvalho more valuable than usual.  The injuries will also mean that the most likely midfield line-up will be FloMal, Mikel, Ballack, and JCole.  The increased likelihood of starting (and against Wolves no less) dramatically increases the value of Ballack and Cole especially.

Eth remains out for Stoke with the knee injury that caused him to miss the mid-week match and Abdoulaye Faye is also gone via suspension picked up in that same match. As Pompey is this week's opposition, it is somewhat relevant to fantasy managers that more of the attack is likely to go through Liam Lawrence with Eth sidelined although I'm more inclined to believe that, like midweek, his absence will really just serve to stagnate the attack.

Gabby and Heskey are questionable but it sounds like both will play on Sunday while Warnock will also shake off the knock he picked up in FA Cup action to feature.

Finally, some news from the Citeh/Liverpool clash where Vieira is suspended for the next three matches (nice to see his time in Italy hasn't changed him too much), MPet follows up three matches of nothin' with a knee injury that could keep him out for a month and Carlito is still at home in Argentina.  On the Liverpool side, Benayoun may return but Kyrgiakos, Nando, and GJohn are all out.  What does it mean? Well, it certainly means that Adam Johnson will continue to start so for those who didn't pick him up cheap earlier should consider doing so now - he's looked good.  It also likely means that Bellamy will start vs. Liverpool.  Speaking of Liverpool, Yossi's price has dropped below 10 (9.51 to be exact).  With him coming back against strong competition, my strategy will be to hope he does poorly and his price falls a bit more for next week.  An affordable midfield that includes Adam Johnson, Jummy, Arteta, and Benayoun for a combined price under 35 seems like just the thing to allow me to keep going with Rooney, K2, and Drogba up top and EvdS in net.

Good luck picking your squad for this weekend.  Please join us for the Live Chat for the Everton/ManYoo match early tomorrow although I may not be able to keep it going for the afternoon matches.

Cheers - Neal