Fantasy Premier League

Fri Apr 11 03:51PM by Neal Thurman

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Apparently the nice people at Everton, in an attempt to show themselves to be "just like the big four" are mimicing Arsenal and having a full-fledged midfield injury crisis.  Word from Goodison Park is that Arteta, Osman, and Pienaar are all in various stages of injury-related distress.  Throw in Tony Hibbert as another "doubt" and the ever-present danger of Andy Johnson having some body part or another fall off or spontaneously burst into spasms and you have a crisis that makes Everton players potentially much less interesting despite being two-gamers...

Does it make sense to spend money on Yakubu if there won't be anyone to get him the ball?  Might the money be better spent on a Chelsea player? (Anelka? Ballack? Kalou?)  If Everton are going to be wounded for the first, and far easier, of their two matches and playing Chelsea for the second, how much do you really want to invest.  Not telling you what to do here but something to think about before you make your final choices...

No word yet from Chelsea on their injury situation.  Certainly all of the indicators are that Hilario will start in the absence of Cech and Cudicini and that he will likely be needed for both matches.  Here's my assessment of what that means for your fantasy team...

1) In my estimation, Hilario is MUCH more likely to give up a soft goal than Cech or Cudicini - in fact, I'd say he's 50% more likely to give one up than Carlo; 75% more likely to give one up than the post-injury version of Cech; and approximately 200% more likely to give up a bad goal than the pre-injury version of Cech that didn't have to wear that funny head-thingy...

2) Hilario's propensity for giving up bad goals also diminishes the value of Chelsea's back four.  Given that all four are very expensive, I'd think twice before spending my money there.  I'm much more likely to move that money further up and spend it on Chelsea attackers (SWP, JCole, Kalou, etc).

Elsewhere, there aren't too many compelling injuries...

Carew is a doubt with a painful groin (never good) - if MON tips his hand on a replacement (Maloney or Harewood) then you might get a bargain starting against Derby.

Not sure I'd bet on any Citeh player on the road but old favorite Sun Jihai looks likely to get a start and, as always, comes cheap.

With news of the Flamini injury, you have to think that ManYoo's attackers just got more valuable. If I were Arsene Wenger, I'd deploy Toure in Flamini's place with Gallas and Senderos behind him at Centre Back (anything is preferable to Gilberto trying to keep up with CRon, Roonaldo, and Carlito).

Not too much else of note really.  There are some tweaks of secondary players here and there and, of course, some long term absentees but there are remarkably few issues with high profile players for this late in the season.

Barn Door Report

I know I've fallen down on the job with the separate Barn Door post in the last month or so - chalk it up to the day job getting busier and wedding preparation heating up as well.  Anyway, with Chelsea and Everton both off next week after playing two games this week, it seems like a good time to re-introduce the BDR since you'll definitely need to make some changes...

The guys I'll be tracking most closely come from Boro, West Ham, Liverpool, and Arsenal.  For Boro and West Ham it will be the presumptive first choice XI and for Liverpool and Arsenal I'll be looking at the younger guys who are likely to get some playing time as the season winds to a close (Bendtner, Walcott, Hoyte, Traore, Lucas, Crouch, Babel, etc.).  

I'll also be checking in on Wigan and Sunderland matches over the weekend to see if there are any players having exceptional weekends who I need to buy before their prices go up in order to have them as cheap options next weekend.  If Koumas starts, he'll be in that group.  Ditto Valencia, Reid, and KRich.

Good luck to all... 

Team News

1. Gilberto set to stand in for Flamini
2. Taylor returns to boost Toon squad
3. Team news: Robbo doubt
4. Ferdinand fit for Gunners showdown
5. Southgate set to name unchanged side
6. Arteta and Osman doubtful for Blues
7. Mascherano missing for Rovers clash
8. Brown and Koumas return for Latics
9. Roberts faces late test for Rovers
10. Yorke and Etuhu miss out for Cats
11. Defoe returns to lead Pompey attack
12. Carew fighting to make Rams clash
13. Matejovsky returns for Fulham clash
14. Sven set to shake up City defence
15. Nolan returns to lead out Trotters
16. Robinson doubtful for Boro clash
17. Upson set to slot back in for Irons
18. Blues duo return for Toffees test
19. Flamini out of United clash
20. Toffees' top man Arteta struggling
21. Convey ready to boost Royals
22. Kapo set for Birmingham return
23. Hilario Granted Chelsea Chance

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