My line-up...
EvdS, Verm, Bale, Ivanovic, Lamps, FloMal, O'Hara, Utaka, Elk, Lando, and Fagan.
Live chat after the jump.
Late Fitness Test
DJ please... pick up your phone. I'm on the request line.
Just feel the need for a quick post. Spent the whole day going down every conceivable 2-match rabbit hole I could find. Really the worst of all possible Friday trading. I had been leaning towards getting the "sure" 2-gamers on my team. Cech. Ivanovic. Lampard. I even had Baird and Barmby for that reason. But I started trading... Lamps to Elk. Baird to Garcia. Baird to Fagan to move Barmby to O'Hara. Back and forth. Forth and back. But in the end it was deck chairs, as we like to call it. Just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
So I've canceled all those possible trades and I'm back to a saner place. Cech. Ivanovic. Lampard. Baird. They'll get two matches. Hopefully they'll give me a steady points return for the week.
But.
So tonight... so tonight I'm deciding that there's no upside to Barmby. I'm in a 4-4-2. The least I can do is fail upwards. So I'm switching to a 4-3-3 and trading Barmby for Kamara. I don't know if Kamara starts. He's just coming back from injury and Gera is more likely to take the second/support striker role, playing off Zamora. But I can't afford Gera. So maybe Kamara gets 50 minutes over the course of two games. Maybe he gets a start. But how much am I going to miss from Barmby? On average, 4 points over 2 matches. I'm clearly willing to leave points on the table if I'm not selling Vermaelen this week. So maybe, just maybe Kamara comes up with a goal. Hey, it worked for everyone who took a gamble on Kalinic last week. (And yes, I'm looking at you, Y!AM!)
So my line-up for this week:
Cech
Vermaelen Bale Baird Ivanovic
Malouda Utaka Lampard
Kamara Tevez Donovan
Vermaelen Bale Baird Ivanovic
Malouda Utaka Lampard
Kamara Tevez Donovan
I still don't like the team, but I think I can live with it. At least, I'm not sure I can significantly improve it at this point without running the risk - even the likelihood - of making some really stupid decisions. I mean, I already have Utaka and Kamara... how much dumber do I need to be?
Good luck to all of you. See you on the Barn Door Live chat... daughters permitting.
Injuries and Suspensions
Premier League Team News - Barclays Premier League - ESPN Soccernet
The really big fantasy news is that Drogba and Kalou apparently won't be considered for action until the trip to Hull on Tuesday. This makes Lamps, FloMal, and Elk the most attractive attackers for Chelsea (depending on what price you have them at).
The big news in the real world is that Vidic will return to give ManYoo at least one first team central defender with Rio out. It still seems unlikely that Verm will play for Arsenal who will have Song and Eboue back from ANC action. You probably don't want to go for either Evans or Sol as replacements because Evans is pretty expensive and Sol doesn't seem too likely to do positive things in such a big match.
Looks like Arteta is struggling with fitness again as he re-engages in strenuous exercise so he goes from being a "maybe" for this week to being doubtful. Still worth a look for next week but he's not quite ready.
Ditto Jummy who would have been a great pick-up for the 2-match stretch if healthy but he's not quite ready nor does Zaki appear to be as he is listed as likely to be "on the bench" for this weekend's match.
Lennon is still sidelined for Spurs and King/Bassong is definitely a question mark.
Aurelio and Agger out for Liverpool.
Still lots of key injuries at Sunderland with Cattermole, KRich, Bardsley, Ferdinand, and Turner all on the sidelines. Could be good times for Stoke attackers with Fuller and Sidibe likely to continue in the roles that saw them successful against Arsenal in the FA Cup last weekend.
Carlton Cole is expected to start which might be interesting against Rovers although slightly less so with Samba returning from his red card suspension to combat the target forward. Basturk is not ready for Rovers so he won't play.
O'Hara is a Pompey player again until the end of the season although Yahoo didn't have him listed yesterday and they don't appear to have changed that as of this writing. Assuming he comes back and plays he devalues KPB and probably sucks up a fair percentage of the few points Pompey is likely to get across their two matches.
Not too much else of interest.
The really big fantasy news is that Drogba and Kalou apparently won't be considered for action until the trip to Hull on Tuesday. This makes Lamps, FloMal, and Elk the most attractive attackers for Chelsea (depending on what price you have them at).
The big news in the real world is that Vidic will return to give ManYoo at least one first team central defender with Rio out. It still seems unlikely that Verm will play for Arsenal who will have Song and Eboue back from ANC action. You probably don't want to go for either Evans or Sol as replacements because Evans is pretty expensive and Sol doesn't seem too likely to do positive things in such a big match.
Looks like Arteta is struggling with fitness again as he re-engages in strenuous exercise so he goes from being a "maybe" for this week to being doubtful. Still worth a look for next week but he's not quite ready.
Ditto Jummy who would have been a great pick-up for the 2-match stretch if healthy but he's not quite ready nor does Zaki appear to be as he is listed as likely to be "on the bench" for this weekend's match.
Lennon is still sidelined for Spurs and King/Bassong is definitely a question mark.
Aurelio and Agger out for Liverpool.
Still lots of key injuries at Sunderland with Cattermole, KRich, Bardsley, Ferdinand, and Turner all on the sidelines. Could be good times for Stoke attackers with Fuller and Sidibe likely to continue in the roles that saw them successful against Arsenal in the FA Cup last weekend.
Carlton Cole is expected to start which might be interesting against Rovers although slightly less so with Samba returning from his red card suspension to combat the target forward. Basturk is not ready for Rovers so he won't play.
O'Hara is a Pompey player again until the end of the season although Yahoo didn't have him listed yesterday and they don't appear to have changed that as of this writing. Assuming he comes back and plays he devalues KPB and probably sucks up a fair percentage of the few points Pompey is likely to get across their two matches.
Not too much else of interest.
Early News on the Double Doors
Wait for me over there, over by the Humber Bridge.
Which is my two-clever by half (get it, two?) way of introducing some important team news regarding our friends with two-matches this week. Wow... never post before you've had your coffee.
O'Hara returns to Pompey
Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara has joined Portsmouth on loan until the end of the season...
The 23-year-old briefly returned to White Hart Lane earlier this month when his loan deal expired but has been persuaded to return to Fratton Park by Pompey boss Avram Grant.
Ancelotti set to rest star pair
It is a measure of Carlo Ancelotti's confidence that he is prepared to travel to Burnley without star strikers Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou.
The Ivory Coast pair have returned from African Nations Cup duty but will not be considered for the Barclays Premier League game at Turf Moor.
The Italian coach wants to give them more time to recover from their return journey from Angola and insisted the Burnley game has arrived too early for them.
"Didier and Kalou came back [on Thursday] and they are well and fit," said Ancelotti. "But they need to work for some days and so will not able to play. They will play on Tuesday against Hull.
"Didier will stay here to train. He has come back very well, also Kalou. They are fit but we don't want to take the risk for the next games."
The Week Ahead
So maybe you're wondering what those crazy sounds were that you heard over the last 24 hours. Well, they were my cries of anguish as the news emerged that Arsenal had not only dropped 2 points to Villa on Wednesday but that they had potentially lost Verm long-term to a broken leg. That initial sound was followed today by the equally loud sigh of relief when it was revealed that the leg was not broken and he went from doubtful for the rest of the season to a possibility (albeit a small one) of playing on Sunday. Talk about your roller coaster of emotions. Throw in the added news today that his opposite number Rio Ferdinand would definitely miss this weekend's clash as well as the three matches following and I went from feeling like Arsenal's season was once again coming to a pre-mature end in February to feeling like disaster had been narrowly avoided and there should still remain a reasonable amount of hope that a serious title drive could be mounted well into the Spring.
Am I entirely over the mid-week blues? Not at all, my fantasy team - coming off of a really nice week last week - was either not present (Degen, Kranjcar, Aquilani, and Valencia) or they might as well have been (I'm looking at you Anelka). Throw in the fact that I didn't have Rooney and it was one of those situations where I just managed to pick around the points. It happens but its never fun when it does.
Am I entirely over the mid-week blues? Not at all, my fantasy team - coming off of a really nice week last week - was either not present (Degen, Kranjcar, Aquilani, and Valencia) or they might as well have been (I'm looking at you Anelka). Throw in the fact that I didn't have Rooney and it was one of those situations where I just managed to pick around the points. It happens but its never fun when it does.
Rio handed four-game ban
Easy come, easy go.
Rio Ferdinand has been handed a four-match suspension after being found guilty of violent conduct by the Football Association.However, Vidic was on the bench against Manchester City, so likely he'll step into the starting eleven at the Emirates.
The Reds' defender was involved in an off-the-ball incident during United's 4-0 victory over Hull City and will now miss the next four matches against Arsenal, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Everton.
Vermaelen Suffers Suspected Broken Leg
UPDATE:
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen did not suffer a broken leg during the Gunners' goalless draw at Aston Villa in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old, who has made a huge impact at the Emirates after his move from Ajax last year, limped off after 35 minutes.
But the Belgium international still may miss Arsenal's Premier League clash with Manchester United on Sunday.
"There is no fracture in Thomas' leg but his injury still has to be assessed. There is still a good chance he will not play on Sunday," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
---
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen suffered a suspected broken leg during the goalless draw at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old Belgiium international, who has made a huge impact at the Emirates after his move from Ajax Amsterdam last year, limped off after 35 minutes.
"His leg is numb, it might be a nerve, or it might be a fracture of the fibula, we hope not, but we will check it in the morning," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports.
Matchday Open Thread
Big guns edition with Chelsea and Arsenal in league action and the Manchester Derby Part Deux in the Carling Cup.
As always, consider this your matchday open thread.
Matchday Open Thread
Here's your pre-match look in, blog roundtable style:
Update: For the rest of the conversation, follow the link to read more.
OK, kick-off in the early matches. Consider this your matchday open thread.[11:21] JSpitzberg: so what does 20 million get you these days?
[11:21] JSpitzberg: a back up attacking middie, if you're LIV
[11:21] JSpitzberg: Gerrard fine and dandy, so Aquaman back on the bench
[11:22] buttonmoulder: working on Rooney +0 as my team this week
[11:22] JSpitzberg: i'm on Elk/Drogs/Tevez + no one over $4
[11:24] JSpitzberg: it's surprisingly easy
[11:29] JSpitzberg: i think barmby is a better choice than Aquilani
[11:29] JSpitzberg: what a world
[11:30] buttonmoulder: i hope leeds gets promoted just so i can buy a guy names snodgress
[11:30] JSpitzberg: ;-) i'm in
[11:30] JSpitzberg: all name team always looking for good players
[11:30] buttonmoulder: felt so empty since windass left
[11:39] JSpitzberg: taylor makes the starting XI!
[11:39] JSpitzberg: unless it's another taylor
[11:40] JSpitzberg: bfdb for spurs. kranc not on the bench
[11:40] JSpitzberg: but o'hara is
[11:40] JSpitzberg: with seabass
[11:40] buttonmoulder: kranc hurt?
[11:41] JSpitzberg: to the google!
[11:41] buttonmoulder: he's been all of their width when lennon's out
[11:41] JSpitzberg: no word
[11:41] JSpitzberg: but there is this...
[11:41] JSpitzberg: "The Tottenham manager conceded that it is time to hand over the responsibility and named Tom Huddlestone and Niko Kranjcar as prime candidates. "
[11:42] JSpitzberg: i guess defoe missed v. leeds
[11:42] buttonmoulder: responsibility for what?
[11:42] JSpitzberg: PKs
[11:42] JSpitzberg: uh oh...
[11:42] JSpitzberg: bair at right back?
[11:42] JSpitzberg: baird
[11:42] buttonmoulder: can't be. i have him in my team
[11:42] buttonmoulder: he must be on the bench
[11:43] JSpitzberg: well, he's a good central middie
[11:43] JSpitzberg: but a lousy right back
[11:44] JSpitzberg: actually...
[11:44] JSpitzberg: ful in 3-5-2
[11:44] JSpitzberg: from their line-up at least
[11:44] JSpitzberg: sorry... 3-6-1
[11:45] JSpitzberg: 3 center backs - hang, hughes, smalling (who manu just bought)
[11:45] JSpitzberg: gera and duff wide
[11:45] JSpitzberg: murphy, dikgacoi and baird holding the middle
[11:45] JSpitzberg: and zamora up top
[11:45] JSpitzberg: murphy, dikgacoi, riise and baird holding the middle
[11:46] JSpitzberg: maybe it is a 4-4-2 in an alternate universe
[11:46] buttonmoulder: ha
Update: For the rest of the conversation, follow the link to read more.
Transfer Window Geeking Out
As has probably become apparent to most of you during the course of reading this blog, I'm a bit of a geek about not just the Premier League and the Fantasy Game (which would be even worse if better statistics were readily available) but also about the economics of the sport. We have talked about the financial pressures on ManYoo and Liverpool well before it became apparent in selling off players and not signing new ones. We've talked about the potential impact of Stan Kroenke selling off his NFL franchise as he potentially looks to take over at Arsenal. You get the idea - not everything ends up being about the action on the field.
Why do I mention this? For no other reason than I have another bit of economic randomness to share (whether you want to read it is another story entirely)...
Why do I mention this? For no other reason than I have another bit of economic randomness to share (whether you want to read it is another story entirely)...
Good Times for Arsenal
Report: Egypt vs Cameroon - African Nations Cup - ESPN Soccernet
Everyone who watched Arsenal's makeshift attempts to stop mediocre opposition with their mix-and-match holding midfielders (Denilson, Diaby, and Eastmond) will be left with no doubt that today's result in the ANC provides a huge lift to Arsenal's title hopes. The return of Song to their midfield will improve things all over the park. Denilson will be able to move farther up the field and combine with Diaby to supplement Cesc as a creative force in midfield. Denilson moving up will also push someone like Theo Walcott (who just isn't ready for the big stage) into a reserve role rather than a critical one.
It will be interesting to see how things go this week against Villa (not sure if Song will be back in time for that one) but with ManYoo, Chelsea, and Liverpool next up on the Premier League schedule they'll need Song as the anchor.
In other ACN news, the Ivory Coast's shocking loss to Algeria means that Drogba and Kalou will be back for Chelsea's two match week next week as well. The major players still gone for next week will be Yebda, Belhadj, Mikel, Yakubu, Yobo, and Essien.
Everyone who watched Arsenal's makeshift attempts to stop mediocre opposition with their mix-and-match holding midfielders (Denilson, Diaby, and Eastmond) will be left with no doubt that today's result in the ANC provides a huge lift to Arsenal's title hopes. The return of Song to their midfield will improve things all over the park. Denilson will be able to move farther up the field and combine with Diaby to supplement Cesc as a creative force in midfield. Denilson moving up will also push someone like Theo Walcott (who just isn't ready for the big stage) into a reserve role rather than a critical one.
It will be interesting to see how things go this week against Villa (not sure if Song will be back in time for that one) but with ManYoo, Chelsea, and Liverpool next up on the Premier League schedule they'll need Song as the anchor.
In other ACN news, the Ivory Coast's shocking loss to Algeria means that Drogba and Kalou will be back for Chelsea's two match week next week as well. The major players still gone for next week will be Yebda, Belhadj, Mikel, Yakubu, Yobo, and Essien.
Drogba Coming Back
Didier Drogba and his Ivory Coast team-mates will be returning to their clubs earlier than expected after the favourites were dumped out of the Africa Cup of Nations by Algeria in a dramatic quarter-final in Cabinda last night, losing 3-2 after extra time.Bad news for Portsmouth who will remain without Yedba and Belhadj for their upcoming two match week.
What? That's not the first thing you thought of when you read that? Oh, you're more interested in DROGBA'S POTENTIAL RETURN FOR CHELSEA'S DOUBLE GAME WEEK?
Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou could face Burnley on Saturday following Ivory Coast's elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations.UPDATE: One more Chelsea related note:
The strikers are expected back at Chelsea by Wednesday following the 3-2 defeat to Algeria in the quarterfinals yesterday...
While their return will be too late to face Birmingham in two days, they should be ready to play at Burnley, which means they will have only missed four games.
There were concerns Drogba would have to serve a one-match ban having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Fulham, but the Football Association have deemed that he served the suspension against Watford on 3 January, even though he had already left the country to join up with the Ivory Coast squad.
Chelsea are confident Frank Lampard will be fit to face Birmingham, even though he limped off in the 2-0 FA Cup win against Preston with a slight calf strain. Juliano Belletti is expected to miss the game after twisting his knee.
Leftback Ashley Cole joins Essien on the sidelines because of an ankle problem but will be replaced by Russia international Yuri Zhirkov and should be back in action early next month.So Zhirkov becomes a nice, cheap midfield option. It breaks the rules as he's a defender listed in midfield, but in this case I'll allow it.
Barn Door Update
As you are working on your team, keep in mind that Chelsea (@Burnley, @Hull), Hull (Wolves, Chelsea), Fulham (Aston Villa, Portsmouth) and Portsmouth (@Manchester City, @Fulham) SHOULD be two-gamers.
However, Wolves and West Ham are NOT two-gamers as Wolves now have an FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace.
However, Wolves and West Ham are NOT two-gamers as Wolves now have an FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace.
Injuries and Suspensions (sort of)
BBC Sport - Football - Man Utd v Hull
Hard to do justice to this column with FA Cup matches between now and most of the scheduled Premier League matches for the week but we do know that Rio Ferdinand is going to re-join the starting line-up at ManYoo meaning that either Johnny Evans or Wes Brown will be grabbing some pine (I guess that analogy doesn't really work in the Prem anymore with Audi providing individualized comfy seats to everyone on the bench - for those who are unaware "grabbing some pine" refers to sitting on the bench which traditionally has been made of pine wood here in the States). My bet is that Brown will make way for Rio in an effort to ensure his workload isn't too heavy after his injury issues. As for the right back situation, who knows...
Also worth noting that Berbs has recovered from his dead leg (no word on whether he has recovered from sucking all season but at least he'll be in the line-up if you care to have him in yours).
What a shock, Zaki is short of fitness and not ready to start for Hull...
Here is the list of Premier League clubs who have FA Cup matches this weekend (putting their players at risk of injury/suspension between now and mid-week)
Against "top competition" (most likely to field a full squad) - Birmingham, Everton, Sunderland, Pompey, and Stoke.
Against "less than top competition" (line-up probably sprinkled with reserves/kids) - Arsenal (because its what they do), Bolton, Fulham, Burnley, Chelsea, Wigan, Villa, Wolves, Spurs, Citeh
I guess the best advice I can give is not to worry too much about the things you can't control (injuries and suspensions that happen between the roster deadline and when your players play). If you want to look at the FA Cup injury lists for the weekend, they might help a little bit too but hard to say how much.
Cheers - Neal
Update: Some bits and bobs from the FA Cup team news.... FWIW.
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is set to make wholesale changes for the home FA Cup fourth-round clash with Brighton on Saturday.
Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon is still nursing a groin injury and will miss the FA Cup clash against his former club Leeds (kick-off 5.15pm). Tom Huddlestone is also out of the tie at White Hart Lane as he has a knee injury but midfielder Jamie O'Hara is available, while Jermaine Jenas should continue in midfield.
Midfielder Leon Osman returns for Everton's fourth round FA Cup clash with fellow Premier League side Birmingham at Goodison Park on Saturday. The 28-year-old missed last week's victory over Manchester City with a hamstring problem.
Everton's long-standing injury list appears to be shortening with Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling (both hamstring) likely to return for next week's league visit of Sunderland.
The Black Cats, who have been plagued by injuries and suspensions in recent weeks, will welcome back defender Michael Turner from a four-match ban.
Bruce has confirmed that keeper Craig Gordon, who has been out with a broken arm since November, will start and Lee Cattermole and Andy Reid (both hamstring) and Kieran Richardson (calf) are fit, although Cattermole has complained of soreness following his exertions in training.
Roberto Mancini intends to use two-goal hero Carlos Tevez sparingly at Glanford Park if at all.[07:37]
Rio Ferdinand is expected to partner Jonny Evans in the centre of Manchester United's defence against Hull at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Dimitar Berbatov has shaken off a dead leg and should also return after missing Tuesday's Carling Cup defeat at Manchester City.
Cole is suffering from an ankle problem and will be replaced by Yury Zhirkov. Goalkeeper Hilario will replace the rested Petr Cech.
Michael Essien has been ruled out for up to six weeks following the knee injury he sustained on duty with Ghana
Birmingham newcomer Michel could finally make his debut in the FA Cup fourth-round clash with Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday
Kevin Prince Boateng will miss out, though, as he is struggling with an ankle knock.
The Week Ahead
What can you say, Cesc is the man (at least when he's healthy). One of the commentators for the Sunday Bolton/Arsenal match called Fab4 "just short of world class" leaving the nice people at Bolton to wonder what exactly would have happened if he were ACTUALLY world class? Maybe it is the lack of any one defining characteristic - he doesn't have the speed on an Henry, the technical excellence of a Bergkamp, the tricks of a CRon, the power of a Drogba, the long distance thunderbolt of a Gerrard, or the close control of a Messi - that keeps people from giving him his due credit but he just makes winning plays. We'll see how it goes once the schedule gets harder here in the next month but he's neck and neck with Drogba for player of the year this season.
OK, on to my weekly rant. I want to know what has become of the wide midfielder at the top of the table. It used to be that the prevailing wisdom was that any Best XI would be made up entirely of players from the Big Four. Now? I'd argue that there are better wingers playing out of position or sitting on the bench at clubs outside of the "Big Four" than any starting for ANY of those clubs. Crazy? Let's see...
OK, on to my weekly rant. I want to know what has become of the wide midfielder at the top of the table. It used to be that the prevailing wisdom was that any Best XI would be made up entirely of players from the Big Four. Now? I'd argue that there are better wingers playing out of position or sitting on the bench at clubs outside of the "Big Four" than any starting for ANY of those clubs. Crazy? Let's see...
Matchday Open Thread
Team news is in. Arsenal have Fab starting consecutive games for the first time in a while and welcome back Clichy and Denilson as well. Bolton drop Klasnic to pack the midfield.
Liverpool have Aquilani and Riera supporting Kuyt with N'Gog on the bench. Aurelio doesn't even make the sixteen, which is just brutal for me fantasy-wise. Spurs bring in King for Bassong in an otherwise unchanged eleven.
Line-ups:
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Degen, Mascherano, Lucas, Riera, Aquilani, Kuyt.
Subs: Cavalieri, Maxi, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Pacheco.
Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, King, Bale, Modric, Jenas, Palacios, Kranjcar, Crouch, Defoe.
Subs: Alnwick, Hutton, Pavlyuchenko, Keane, Giovani, Bassong, Rose
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby, Rosicky, Arshavin, Eduardo.
Subs: Fabianski, Vela, Walcott, Silvestre, Traore, Eastmond, Emmanuel-Thomas.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee, Mark Davies, Muamba, Cohen, Taylor, Kevin Davies.
Subs: Al Habsi, Samuel, Elmander, Klasnic, Ricketts, McCann, Andrew O'Brien.
And for the completist:
Aston Villa: Guzan, Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Petrov, Milner, Downing, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Heskey.
Subs: Friedel, Luke Young, Sidwell, Albrighton, Delfouneso, Delph, Beye.
Blackburn: Robinson, Chimbonda, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Emerton, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Olsson, Dunn, Kalinic.
Consider this your matchday open thread.
Manchester Derby, Carling Cup Edition
Looks like everyone is at full strength.
1950: Manchester City v Manchester United line-ups:I think Petrov is an injury caution from the weekend, but interesting that Mancini has Bellamy and SWP supporting Tevez in a front three. I guess it was to match United's similar formation.
Man City: Given, Zabaleta, Richards, Boyata, Garrido, De Jong, Kompany, Barry, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Bellamy.
Subs: Taylor, Onuoha, Ireland, Robinho, Sylvinho, Petrov, Mwaruwari.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Brown, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Valencia, Rooney, Giggs.
Subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Owen, Park, Scholes, Fabio Da Silva, Diouf.
Update: On behalf of fantasy managers everywhere I'd like to personally say f.u. to Citeh for saving this performance for the League Cup. I guess it was inevitable and we should have taken the schedule into account before the Everton match.
Injury Update
Arsenal midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Samir Nasri both face three weeks on the sidelines after picking up injuries during training last week.I guess Cesc is going to have to play each and every game now. I thought maybe he'd be rested for the Bolton "rematch" but now it seems that Arsenal can't afford that.
Welshman Ramsey suffered a thigh injury during Friday's session while Nasri picked up a hamstring strain.
How did it go?
I am suffering through a lousy sports weekend. Mostly because I'm getting crushed in fantasy football. But certainly the San Diego Chargers didn't help.
I'm on 67.5 for the week. The big disappointments were Given and Tevez. Combined, as Neal has kindly pointed out, they scored as many points as Salgado. No Almunia; no Cesc. I didn't pick Malouda because I was worried about Sturridge getting the playing time. And while my two-gamers did okay, and I'm happy to have them in the next round. I'm not expecting anything but more heartache - and fewer points than those with Almunia; Cesc; etc - on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, I have the week to think about Given and Tevez and how the f'd me this weekend. Do I keep them with NO GAMES this week because they have a good run - POR, @Hull, Bolton, @Stoke - upcoming?
What would you do, how did you do this week?
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