The Week Ahead/Injuries & Suspensions Combined Entry

 The blog is coming to you live from London today.  That's right, the heart of it all.  The birthplace of footie, the cradle of the Prem and all that.  I'm hoping that by tipping my toes in (metaphorical) holy waters, I'll be reborn (again, metaphorically) and this communing with all things footie-related will only take my powers of fantasy soccer prognostication to a new level.  Wishful thinking I'm sure but can't hurt to try.

The week started off with a visit to World Soccer Magazine and editor Gavin Hamilton who has given Jeremy and I our first opportunity to write about fantasy soccer - in this case, the World Cup - in an actual print publication.  As far as I can tell, our article and team-by-team fantasy ratings will appear in the US edition of World Soccer's The complete unofficial guide to World Cup 2010.  Very cool to see our names in print.  Also great to have a chance to chat with Gavin for a while yesterday as he has been with World Soccer for 15 years and has great insight into the world of writing about soccer.

The next step on my footie journey will be tomorrow (Saturday) when my wife and I travel to the Emirates to see Cesc-less, Arsh-less, and Gallas-less Arsenal host Wolves.  I know the Wolves supporters who regularly show up on the Live Chat will be hoping I come away disappointed but how could I possibly after having a chance to worship at the alter of one of football's great cathedrals.  I'm thrilled for the experience and while I hope that the outcome is a positive one for the home crowd, I'm more excited just to be there as they say.  (A side note - I actually played a match at Highbury but the season had ended so I didn't get to see Arsenal play a match there).  From the Emirates it will be on to Craven Cottage on Sunday for Ful/Wig and then Selhurst Park for Palace vs. Preston North End and a taste of life in the Championship.  Good times.

OK, on to the compressed week ahead/injuries and suspensions posting...


Schedule
Obviously the big headlines this weekend will be about ManYoo vs. Chelsea and rightly so.  With Rooney out for the match we all have to assume that the edge must go to the visitors but with SAF likely to batten down the hatches and try to play extremely tight defence, this one has all the makings of a match with limited fantasy points on offer.  With both teams being extremely unpredictable for top two sides, all the more reason to stay away outside of those players you have at a deep discount.  For those with Rooney, remember that there isn't much of the season left so holding on to him for a few weeks even at a deep discount is a high price to pay.  I'd ditch him if I were you but you probably already knew that.

Elsewhere, Arsenal hosting Wolves WAS shaping up to be the recommended match of the week to load up on but with so many Gooners, and highly important ones at that, injured I wonder if they'll be able to muster what they need to win comfortably.  In all fairness, Wolves have been on a nice roll as well so even with Cesc/Arsh/Gallas the task wasn't going to be as easy as one might have thought earlier in the season.  The one upside is that the likely sources of points for the Gunners - Denilson, Diaby, Bendtner, Walcott, and Nasri are a) pretty assured of playing and b) not terribly expensive.  If you believe Arsenal will score a few, cashing in and still having money to spend elsewhere is quite within reach.

Other matches that look favorable for the home side are Fulham vs. Wigan, Everton vs. WHU, and Stoke vs. Hull while Citeh (@Burnley) and Spurs (@Sunderland) are the road teams worth looking at based on match-ups.

Forwards

• Torres - With Rooney out and Drogs going up against ManYoo, Nando is the clear favorite among the elite strikers. @Brum isn't a great match-up but they've been fading and he's been ascending so probably your best bet if you're looking to replace Rooney;
• Drogba - A higher risk move but how can you say no to a guy who comes through in big matches? Especially given what we know about Vidic and his ability to deal with elite strikers;
• Bendtner - has cooled slightly and the price has gone up but he looks more the part of a serious contributor to a top team after a lengthy run in the side this season.  Plus, the price isn't THAT high and the match-up certainly isn't daunting;
• Berbs - In Rooney's absence ManYoo will likely leave him alone atop a 4-5-1 so I guess we'll see what he's made of, huh?
• Crouch - Still pretty solid value even after a good weekend last weekend;
• Eidur/Pav/Defoe - No injury reports yet from the Lane so check back later before making a decision on who you think Spurs 2nd striker will be - Defoe is probably a bit too expensive if he's going to be back (which PhysioRoom predicts he will);
• JRob - if you're looking for someone on the cheap, Roberts going against Pompey isn't a bad bet at all;
• Zamora - home to Wigan SHOULD be a nice opportunity to bring him into your line-up for under 10; Hard to tell if the team news has any information or not but according to that source, Zamora and Duff may be rested in advance of Fulham's Europa Cup second leg in Germany next week.  Again, if Zamora stays, he'll be worth the money but he may be rested.
• Tevez - can't be ignored despite his expense and the fact that Citeh are playing on the road where they haven't been great this season;
• Fuller/Sidibe/Tuncay - all inexpensive with a good match-up, I'd go Sidibe if it were my team with Fuller second choice and Tuncay the third choice (because he has started so infrequently this season);

Midfield

• Walcott - under 9; seems to have some confidence; at home; strong match-up; can't see any alignment where he doesn't start - what's not to like?
• Nasri - see Walcott above, he's been at his best when he's been in Cesc's role so if I were you I'd pick him up now and keep him for the rest of the season as he's likely to see his fortunes rise in his most comfortable position;
• SWP - call it a hunch but I think he's due for a serious breakout match;
• Duff - he's quietly been having an excellent season for Fulham, not quite back to the form of his glory days but not as far off as you'd think from someone who is aging and even when younger had lots of injury problems;
• Dunn - always linked to Duff in my mind but @Pompey is a nice match-up where he should do well;
• Spurs Attacking Midfielders - picking amongst this group (Kranj, BFDB, and Modric really) is not easy but while all three are equally likely to have strong matches, Modric is the value as his price is 2/3rds that of the other two.  If I end up with one of them, he'll be the guy.
• Eth - nice match-up and is price is at a reasonable level - if you don't have the money for him then Lawrence is an affordable alternative;
• Arteta - if you can afford him by buying some of the less expensive guys (Lawrence, Sidibe, JRob, etc) then he's been well worth the effort as it appears he'll be back from the (unannounced) groin strain that kept him out last weekend; Looks like Arteta may be held back for one more week - if he plays, he'll be worthy of the recommendation, but the team news indicates he may not make it back in time.

Defenders

• Still on Verm, Bale, and Hutton (who won't be playing due to his loan agreement) but if you're thinking outside that group...
• Jagielka - nice match-up; reasonable price; 'nuff said;
• Campbell - still hasn't had a great match but still cheap and having OK matches;
• Hangeland - reasonably priced, good match-up, and hasn't done anything yet going forward this season - I'm saying he's due;
• Onuoha - with Zabaleta suspended two matches for accumulation and Lescott still crocked, here's a starting central defender who has shown promise for under 6;
• Bale - I know I mentioned him above but he's just been SO good...

Keepers

• Schwarzer - price isn't too high and while I'm always at least a little wary of FUL getting a clean sheet, this is probably one of their real opportunities this season;
• Brown - nice start last weekend with a clean sheet and the trip to Pompey provides a reasonable chance at more value on a price just above 6.00;  Looks like Robbo is likely to be back making him an interesting option but eliminating Brown from contention;
• Almunia - as much as it would make me a nervous wreck, if you're going to spend more money this weekend then he's probably your guy;

As I'll be at matches, no Live Chat this weekend - enjoy and look for me on your television screen at the Emirates!

Cheers - Neal