The Week Ahead, Part Two - Player Picks

Sometimes we, and by we I mean the blog, pay the price for this not being a full time job.  There are times when the job that pays the bills takes precedence over the enjoyment of bringing you blog posts so long that your bosses, significant others, non-fantasy-playing friends, and children complain about the time spent on them on occasion.  I enjoy writing them as much as (I hope) you enjoy reading them.  Unfortunately, Wednesday and yesterday found me focused from dawn until dusk on my day job and with only enough energy to write part 1 of The Week Ahead.  Because I'm guessing you'd rather have the player picks as soon as I can get them to you versus waiting until I come up with a good-sized rant to open the column, I'll dispense with the usual prelude and get right to the picks.

Petr Cech out for a month

After some good news on the injury front, here's some surprisingly bad news.

Petr Cech out for 3-4 weeks with medial knee ligament injury suffered in training. Courtois on loan, time for Hilario or Turnbull to step upless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyESPN Soccernet
ESPNSoccernet

We'll post more information as we have it, but for fantasy this is a blow with Chelsea having a good matchup, home to West Brom. I don't think I'll take a gamble on Turnbull or Hilario against Long (and maybe Odemwingie) who's already drawn blood against the top teams. It would also give me pause if I had the likes of Cole, Bosingwa or Terry in my fantasy team.

Chelsea struggling for defenders

Chelsea's Andre Villas-Boas struggling for defenders after Branislav Ivanovic injury | Mail Online

Branislav Ivanovic will miss Chelsea’s first game of the season with a thigh injury, leaving Andre Villas-Boas with a defensive headache ahead of Sunday’s trip to Stoke.

Ivanovic has not trained fully since pulling a muscle in pre-season and missed Serbia’s friendly in Russia.

His absence leaves Villas-Boas low on central defensive cover against Stoke’s aerial attack because Brazilian pair Alex and David Luiz have both had their pre-season programmes interrupted.

Chelsea have a winnable, if tough, match at Stoke but then face West Brom and Norwich at Stamford Bridge. For me, this news makes Bosingwa a viable option at the back. Though it worries me that Ferreira has gotten time at right back this preseason too, including the latest match against Rangers.

Alex Doubt for Villa Match

ALEX WITHDRAWN FROM BRAZIL SQUAD | Latest Chelsea News | Team & Transfer News | Chelsea FC | Chelsea

[Alex]underwent medical assessment on a thigh muscle injury sustained in the closing moments of Sunday's win over Arsenal, after he had scored Chelsea's second goal.

It is estimated he will be out for three weeks.

Thanks to a yellow card in his substitute appearance at the weekend, Ferreira is back down to 6.14. Of course we'll also be monitoring Bosingwa's return, which is rumoured to be the Villa match. He's just 6.59 and would be a tasty addition to your fantasy side if he is indeed Chelsea's number one number two.

Bosingwa on at Halftime

Bosingwa on for Ivanovic at the half - leads me to believe that neither man is fully fit and Anceloti doesn't have a presumptive starter in mind yet. If it were me, I'd stay away from both in Week 1 unless a definitive statement is made about who will be starting...

Chelsea close in on Boswinga deal

Chelsea have beaten Manchester United to the signature of Porto full-back Jose Bosingwa, according to reports emerging in Portugal.The talented defender has demonstrated in the Champions League over the past few seasons that he is one of the continent's finest in his position...

However, it has now come to light that Chelsea are desperate to add the player to their ranks and have stolen a march on their Premier League rivals.

A fee of €20million (£15.8million) is thought to have been concurred between Porto and Chelsea, with Bosingwa to pen a five-year deal with the west London club.

Bosingwa +10!