Fantasy Premier League

The Fantasist

Air miles update

Tue Nov 17 03:07PM

Managers have relatively few selection dilemmas this week concerning players returning from long-haul trips.

This Wednesday sees many internationals given the night off, while South Korea and Serbia have been kind enough to stage their friendly at Craven Cottage.

The following weekend Premier League fixtures involve players returning from out-of-continent trips.

Liverpool v Manchester City

Rafa Benitez faces his usual post-international midfield worries, with Javier Mascherano returning from Argentina's friendly in Nigeria, and Lucas Leiva currently in Oman with the Brazil squad. The return of Steven Gerrard and a possible start for Alberto Aquilani should help Benitez. City also have players with the South American giants; Carlos Tevez of Argentina, and Robinho of Brazil - expect ructions if the 'injured' forward features for the Selecao.

Birmingham v Fulham

Richard Kingson is now Brum's third choice goalkeeper, so he won't be missed if he takes a day or two to get back from Ghana's trip to Angola. His compatriot John Pantsil plays a rather more significant role for Fulham, while Roy Hodgson also has South African midfielder Kagiso Dikgacoi coming back from a long trek.

Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Injury-hit Chelsea are already without Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, so they will do everything in their power to make sure Michael Essien is fit following Ghana's friendly away to Angola. Fellow midfielder John Obi Mikel also travels back from Africa, with Nigeria playing Argentina in Abuja.

Hull City v West Ham

Hull's Seji Olofinjana could feature for Nigeria against Argentina, otherwise neither side has any major concerns.

Manchester United v Everton

Joseph Yobo and Ayegbeni Yakubu could both be in action for Nigeria against Argentina, and given Everton's injury problems they could be pressed quickly back into action. Yobo will probably start against United with Yakubu on the bench.

Bolton v Blackburn (Sunday)

Benni McCarthy is another South African international, but he has hardly featured for Blackburn this season.

Tottenham v Wigan (Sunday)

Spurs' Wilson Palacios and Wigan's Hendry Thomas can share a taxi to White Hart Lane on their return from Honduras' friendly against Peru in the early hours of Thursday. Palacios was detained at a World Cup qualification party on the orders of the president last month - this time the game is in Miami so the chances of a repeat are slim.

Stoke City v Portsmouth (Sunday)

Aaron Mokoena is expected to skipper South Africa in the 2010 hosts' game against Jamaica in Bloemfontein, before making the long trip back to the northern hemisphere. Nadir Belhadj has less far to go, but it could be an emotionally draining weekend for the left-back, as his Algeria side face Egypt in a highly-charged World Cup play-off in Sudan.
  • Comments1 - 14 of 14
  1. why is this the first we hear of drogba having a serious enough injury not to play? i think he will play. else 48% of fantasy managers will have to make a serious loss. dilema

    mdmonoyoudisFrom mdmonoyoudis on Tue Nov 17 04:51PM

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  2. @1 So I take it you did not read the previous thread which stated Drogba will play no part this weekend.

    iansanderson197From iansanderson197 on Tue Nov 17 06:12PM

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  3. @1 It's old news mate!!! It came out LAST WEEK that he has broken ribs.

    morreypaulFrom morreypaul on Tue Nov 17 07:30PM

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  4. This is @#$%. it is full of inaccuracies. for instance Nigerria never played any friendly with Argentina in Abuja, rather Nigeria played Kenya in a world cup qualifier at Nairobi

    lexafandoFrom lexafando on Tue Nov 17 09:06PM

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  5. is saha gonna play?

    longmjFrom longmj on Wed Nov 18 12:56AM

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  6. whatabout Ballack?

    twomjcFrom twomjc on Wed Nov 18 01:51AM

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  7. Yes...the fantasist has demonstrated that he all can make us laugh with every new blog post! I have never read such absurd @#$% on any other blog...

    Nigeria versus Argentina... :) Can we also get what the score was? Is Tevez a good "pick em" because he scored?

    What about the obvious trips fantasist?
    The ENTIRE england team that was in Quata..(oh wait..that isn't a 'different continent'
    The ENTIRE Man City team that was in Abu Dhabi (The fatasist things the middle east is in the middle east of England)
    RYAN NELSON (Blackburn) who captain New Zealand (He traveled the farthest to far flung New Zealand, but the fantasist was busy doing his research to know that)

    rainmaker1_sgFrom rainmaker1_sg on Wed Nov 18 04:54AM

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  8. morreypual..Can you please post a comment to defend the fantasist?? :)

    rainmaker1_sgFrom rainmaker1_sg on Wed Nov 18 05:10AM

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  9. this is ridiculous, when and where is Nigeria playing Argentina? Im a Nigerian and we not playing no international. Poor blog, poor news!

    lennoxmalloryFrom lennoxmallory on Wed Nov 18 08:32AM

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  10. Some posters have really made themselves look rather foolish.
    Nigeria ARE playing Argentina tonight.
    A quick google reveals it was announced back in August.
    You guys make the Fantasist look like a...er...guru!!

    iansanderson197From iansanderson197 on Wed Nov 18 10:27AM

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  11. Rainmaker just read comment 11!!! You fools!!! HaHaHaha.

    Fantastist 1 Vs 0 Rainmaker.

    morreypaulFrom morreypaul on Wed Nov 18 11:15AM

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  12. @11 So what was the final result of the match?
    A deluded blog post and a moron reader...match made in heaven!!

    rainmaker1_sgFrom rainmaker1_sg on Thu Nov 19 02:22AM

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  13. morreypaul... Are their aliens on earth? is the world ending in 2012?...cos you believe everything that is written on the internet...IDIOT!

    rainmaker1_sgFrom rainmaker1_sg on Thu Nov 19 02:23AM

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  14. Find all info you need to prepare a team this week.
    fantasyfootball.sareewan.com
    Be a great fantasy football manager!

    ohcedFrom ohced on Sat Nov 21 11:25AM

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