Fantasy Premier League

Choose 'em: Manchester City stopper Shay Given (10.85) may be a touch on the expensive side, but Burnley simply do not score away from home. Well, that's not strictly true, but nevertheless their paltry tally of just two goals on their travels this season tells all you need to know. And yes, the Fantasist knows...More

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Here's an update of the latest injury news around the Premier League clubs, with West Ham have to deal with the loss of Carlton Cole. ClubWeek 11 Status PlayerInjuryArsenalOUTNicklas BendtnerGroin  Theo WalcottKnee  Johan DjourouKnee  DenilsonBack  Gael Clichy Back QUESTIONABLECarlos VelaKnee  Lukasz FabianskiThigh  Jack WilshereAnkleAston VillaOUTCurtis Davies Shoulder  Stewart DowningFoot QUESTIONABLEWilfred BoumaAnkleBirmingham OUT Martin TaylorAnkle  Giovanny EspinozaAnkle  David MurphyKnee QUESTIONABLEFranck QueudrueHamstring  Keith FaheyAnkle  Gregory VignalHamstring Stuart ParnabyThighBlackburnQUESTIONABLEVince GrellaThigh  Steven...More

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Genoa shot stopper Alessio Scarpi (10.96) has been in fine form since taking over from the injured Marco Amelia (9.23) but with the Grifone's number one (or should that be 32?) possibly returning for the weekend's home clash with bottom club Siena., he could be a better deal. Livorno have only managed to find...More

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During the season our regular feature will detail whose value is rising and falling. UP Aruna Dindane (FW, Portsmouth 15.23) +7.88If you had Dindane, you are a genius, a lucky so-and-so or a liar. Whichever category you fall into, a massive haul of 45 points made the Ivorian this week's top player. Graham Alexander (DF, Burnley, 9.82) +4.06Two...More

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It's time for our regular Monday post-mortem where we evaluate The Fantasist's Choose 'em or Lose 'em picks.Goalkeepers - choose: Edwin van der Sar (12 points) wasn't cheap but he came through with that clean sheet we promised. Shay Given (25 pts) was spectacular for Manchester City, saving a penalty...More

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The North London derby often means goals - and plenty of them - so swiftly confine your Arsenal and Tottenham defenders to the scrapheap and look further afield. Manchester United and Chelsea look prime candidates for guaranteed points. United face swine-flu stricken Blackburn at Old Trafford but have a potential defensive crisis...More

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Burnley's Premier League honeymoon was ended once and for all when goalkeeper Brian 'The Beast' Jensen went down with an ankle injury just 15 minutes into last weekend's match against Wigan. The big Dane was stretchered off, and Wigan also waved goodbye to their 100 per cent home record. It's...More

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The Fantasist will avoid any tired bus analogies and simply say that Real Madrid's Copa del Rey humiliation at minnows Alcorcon on Tuesday was the first of three derbies in quick succession; the next comes when they host Getafe this weekend. With Cristiano Ronaldo (30.67) still out, Esteban Granero (15.40)...More

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During the season our regular feature will detail whose value is rising and falling.UPSteve Simonsen (GK, Stoke, 10.00) +3.85Blimey, bet you didn't see that one coming. A late stand-in for Thomas Sorensen, Simonsen bagged 26 points at Spurs.Hugo Rodallega (FW, Wigan, 14.43) +3.63The Colombian's excellent two-goal salvo at Burnley pushed...More

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