Injuries and Suspensions

Premier League team news - Barclays Premier League - ESPN Soccernet

Last I&S of the season and wouldn't you know it, there are a lot of injuries that are being reported that sound suspiciously like things that the players and management would be ignoring if there were still something left to play for...

Among the teams you're most likely to be focused on...

• Valencia is out for ManYoo;
  
• Only the long term absentees (Essien, Bosingwa, Carvalho) plus Mikel are out for CHE;
• Clichy is questionable for Arsenal with Sicky, Song, Bendtner, Cesc, Gallas, Vermaelen, Denilson, Ramsey, and Almunia all out (not a bad 10 player line-up really);
• On the plus side, it does indicate that RvP and Arsh will likely start as Arsenal look to secure 3rd;
• The news from Spurs seems to indicate that they're pretty happy to stick with 4th place with King and Gomes possibly missing out despite (or maybe because of) playing in mid-week;
  
• The possibly interesting turn of events there will be Bassong as a reasonably inexpensive choice in defence;

Elsewhere

• Villa field a full squad in their attempt to stay in sixth (and avoid Europa League play-in matches);
• Fulham will be without Zamora and Duff for sure and likely a bunch of others as they prepare for their Europa Cup Final on Wednesday in Germany;
• Rovers are likely to give a start to Amine Linganzi who will be motivated by creating an impression headed into next season and could be worth a punt;
  
• Stuart Holden is similarly hoping for a call-up coming back from injury for Bolton at home but he doesn't sound like a "no-doubt-about-it" starter so might be too much risk there;
• Kirkland, Moreno, and Bramble out for Wigan but N'Zogbia returns;
  
• Heitinga could return for EVE which could impact Yobo's place in the starting line-up - hard to know how EVE will configure themselves at the back for this one;
• O'Hara could come back for Pompey at least for a while to get back some match fitness before the FA Cup Final;
• Bullard and Folan out for Hull;
• Maxi and Glen Johnson out for LIV increasing the chances that Babel will get a start on the left of the attack;
• At Wolves Geoffrey Bia likely to be replaced in the starting line-up by the returning Matt Jarvis;

Not a ton of important news there but just some final thoughts to keep you going headed into the weekend.  Unfortunately, the scheduling of the final matches of the season at the same time as brunch on Mother's Day means that we won't have a final live chat of the season.  Look for some season wrap up stuff early next week though.

Cheers - Neal