Bargain Shopping

So, if I want Bellamy for the weekend - which I do - that leaves me 6.03 for a fourth middie or defender.  Who to choose?  And of course, the caveat here is that whomever I pick will be wrong.  The candidates after the jump.

Everton Down to Bare Bones

Everton lost badly today, but their injury situation is what will worry fantasy managers.

To add to Moyes' injury woes, Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov ended the match with a strapping to his thigh and is doubtful for the Barclays Premier League match at Bolton on Sunday.

Moyes added: "We will need to assess him when we get back as well. I am not sure either yet who might be fit for the weekend."

So that just adds to the long list... Neville, Arteta, Jagielka, Pienaar, and now Yobo and Osman. Bily was a very popular pick up - attacking middie, taking kicks - especially after his goal last weekend. At Bolton was a decent fixture as well. But now, we'll likely have to look elsewhere for that spot. If you got him at 4-something your options are VERY limited. Rodwell, Kightly, Mok... Brown is suspended. Is Scholes back yet? Something to look at. Kilbane playing at center back? Sidwell?

Save money. Live better.

Steven Gerrard is currently 21.33 and has been producing well, but there are cheaper alternatives producing better results, especially across the front line. But to get those players - Rooney, van Persie, Kuyt, etc - you'll need that Gerrard money. So as a quick experiment in lieu of the Monday Morning Manager - for now as I just don't have the time to write the MMM at the moment - let's see if we can put together a half-decent midfield for this week's matches spending no more than 21.33.

Knee injury woe for Neville

Passing of the torch? Neville and Rodwell against Arsenal earlier this season.

via Yahoo!UK/Eurosport:

Everton captain Phil Neville damaged knee ligaments in Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Fulham and could face a "lengthy lay-off", the club have confirmed on their website.

Neville was stretchered from the field and club physiotherapist Mick Rathbone confirmed that the player could now be out for some time.

"An MRI scan on Monday morning has confirmed our fears and it has revealed that Phil has damaged ligaments at the back of his knee," Rathbone told www.evertonfc.com.

So Rodwell becomes a viable, and cheap, middie. He's been playing and producing well for his price, but now he's seemingly a sure starter. Though to be fair to him, he's been a sure starter all season.

Programming note:  The Monday Morning Manager will likely be an evening affair today.

Injuries and Suspensions

One in, one out.

Not much new news this morning, the latest being the casualties from yesterday's Europa League matches.  Those claimed Andy Johnson and will force Jack Rodwell and Steven Pienaar into the dreaded "late fitness test".

Spurs have lost Gomes for a while and so Cudicini will sit behind their make-shift back line.  Presumably King will be back to partner Bassong with Corluka moving to right back and Hutton dropping to the bench.

Rio will be out for a month, but Manchester United have Vidic back.  That should solidify the back-line though presumably Brown and O'Shea will be the candidates for center and right back.

Ilunga is a doubt for West Ham meaning a likely start for Spector.  N'Zogbia is a doubt for Wigan.  Sunderland have questions over Lee Cattermole, Steed Malbranque and Martin Fulop.  The latter is interesting if it gives Gordon a chance to claim the number one jersey.  Doesn't sound likely, however.

Manchester City have some mixed fitness news after their 1-0 win over Barca midweek.  Adebayor, Robinho, and Bridge are slight doubts but Tevez looks good to start against Wolves.  Wolves themselves are missing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, but could have Berra and Doyle back if only from the bench.

Finally, Birmingham's Cameron Jerome turned his ankle.  This may give Christian Benitez his first start, but I'm not sold on that as his play has been so limited in games and warm-ups.  That being said, he's an interesting pick at home to Stoke for 6.04.

All the gory details at the links below:

• Team news: Tevez set to start
• Ferdinand out "for three to four weeks"
• Premier League Team News
• Johnson facing five weeks out
• Altidore in line for Hull bow
• Diop blow for Pompey
• Nelsen boost for Rovers
• Vidic back for United
• City wait on strikers
• United's Ferdinand out for a month with injury
• Bruce's options may be reduced
• Evra does forward role
• Wigan wait on N'Zogbia
• Duo set for bench roles
• Wenger 'cautious' over Walcott
• Two injury doubts for Blues
• Steinsson in contention

Early Doors

Your first look at the rumour, innuendo, injuries and team news ahead of tomorrow's pre-match press conferences.

Zola closes on Chamakh

Meanwhile, left-back Herita Ilunga's facial injury means he is rated as doubtful to face Tottenham on Sunday in the Barclays Premier League clash at Upton Park. Jonathan Spector is a likely replacement but Fabio Daprela, the Switzerland Under-19 international, impressed in a behind-closed-doors practice match against Watford.

It will be great to have another budget striker in the game, and certainly the buzz has been good on Chamakh since Wenger was sniffing around him. But in the immediate term, Spector becomes an option in defence.

Santa Cruz on course for derby date

Roque Santa Cruz is in line to make his debut in next month's Manchester derby... And, while Hughes is reluctant to put a timescale on the 27-year-old's availability, the September 20 showdown with Sir Alex Ferguson's men at Old Trafford is a possibility. "We are talking about two or three weeks," Hughes told www.mcfc.co.uk.

Fulham sign Greening on loan from West Brom
Fulham complete Duff signing
I don't see much fantasy value in these signings... at least not with Murphy, Dempsey and Gera fit and Davies on the mend. But I do think these are great real world signings for Fulham and will allow them to reasonably compete in multiple competitions without stretching themselves too thin. Kudos to Hodgson and co.

Johnson out for up to eight weeks

Furious Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has blasted the challenge that has left Andy Johnson out for up to eight weeks with a dislocated collarbone.

Hodgson was livid after Amkar Perm defender Dmitry Belorukov executed a cynical body-check that left Johnson sprawled on the pitch in the second half of Thursday's 3-1 Europa League play-off victory.

"It was a good win against a difficult team but the game has been marred by the unbelievably blatant challenge on Andy Johnson," said Hodgson.

"It has dislocated his collarbone and put him out for a long time.

More Fulham news, and this no good. But there may be a silver lining for fantasy managers in the form of 4.99 Erik Nevland. He looked capable when called upon last season. However, Fulham have a bit of a rough run over the next few weeks - Chelsea, @Amkar (Russia), @Villa, Everton, @Wolves, Arsenal. Nevland will be interesting for consideration but certainly isn't an automatic selection.

Hot Rod shines as Everton stroll

Rookie midfielder Jack Rodwell became Everton's youngest goalscorer in European competition with two spectacular long-range goals in their emphatic Europa League play-off first-leg victory over Sigma Olomouc at Goodison Park.

Louis Saha also weighed in with a brace, as manager David Moyes got the response he was looking for after the 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal last Sunday.

I've certainly been hyping Everton and now Rodwell has entered the picture as a budget midfielder. I would think there are better options in the side, but at 4 cheaper than Fellaini, or 7 cheaper than Baines he might be worth consideration as a midfield enabler.