Fantasy Premier League

Wed Oct 25 10:35PM by Jeremy

Neal and I followed today's Carling Cup matches online, so you wouldn't have to.

[11:51] Jeremy Spitzberg: bentley must not be too hurt
[11:51] Neal Thurman: playing vs. CHE?
[11:51] Jeremy Spitzberg: yes
[11:52] Jeremy Spitzberg: savage isn't though
[11:52] Jeremy Spitzberg: fyi
[11:53] Neal Thurman: in case I was going to put him in my line-up?
[11:53] Jeremy Spitzberg: just in case
[11:53] Jeremy Spitzberg: berbs on the bench for tot
[11:53] Jeremy Spitzberg: good
[11:54] Jeremy Spitzberg: murph starts
[11:54] Jeremy Spitzberg: for what that's worth
[11:54] Jeremy Spitzberg: as does huddlestone
[11:54] Neal Thurman: things Jer wishes had been true on the weekend
[11:54] Neal Thurman: (well, except for Hud)
[11:54] Jeremy Spitzberg: at the least
[11:54] Jeremy Spitzberg: nufc starting asti spumonti
[11:54] Jeremy Spitzberg: matins and rossi
[11:55] Jeremy Spitzberg: por with kranjcar on the left
[11:56] Neal Thurman: wow, Rossi finally gets a game - he'd probably have gotten as much time at ManYoo if he hadn't gone out on loan
[12:01] Jeremy Spitzberg: how does he fall behind sibierski in the pecking order?
[12:02] Neal Thurman: maybe he's just not THAT good
[12:02] Neal Thurman: (as much as that breaks the hearts of every USA fan who thinks he's the answer)
[12:02] Neal Thurman: remember that Kenny Cooper was Rossi not too terribly long ago and he barely made it to double figures in goals in MLS this year
[12:02] Jeremy Spitzberg: if he was the answer, it would be the italians holding out hope
[12:02] Jeremy Spitzberg: were the answer
[12:03] Neal Thurman: he still hasn't been capped
[12:04] Neal Thurman: (at the senior level)
[12:04] Neal Thurman: theoretically, still a "free agent"
[12:04] Neal Thurman: internationally speaking
[12:04] Jeremy Spitzberg: i understand...
[12:04] Jeremy Spitzberg: just saying that if he were SO good...
[12:04] Jeremy Spitzberg: he'd make the italian team
[12:04] Jeremy Spitzberg: and wouldn't bother with the US
[12:05] Neal Thurman: true - I guess we're really hoping he's pretty good but not Italian national team good
[12:06] Neal Thurman: or he realizes that Gilardino will be ahead of him in the pecking order for all of his prime years
[12:08] Jeremy Spitzberg: kalou che's forward
[12:08] Jeremy Spitzberg: flanked by robben & cole
[12:08] Jeremy Spitzberg: dogboy on the bench
[12:08] Neal Thurman: hmm - death match to determine who plays on the weekend?
[12:08] Neal Thurman: 4-3-3?
[12:09] Jeremy Spitzberg: has to be
[12:09] Jeremy Spitzberg: though it's more like a 4-3-3-0
[12:10] Neal Thurman: lol
[12:10] Neal Thurman: 4-6-0
[12:10] Jeremy Spitzberg: right
[12:11] Jeremy Spitzberg: odds on cha/bol going to extra time scoreless?
[12:12] Neal Thurman: 2-1 if they're playing w/ full squads
[12:12] Neal Thurman: can't even fathom the notion of either playing with a "reserve squad"
[12:12] Jeremy Spitzberg: 70-30 each
[12:13] Jeremy Spitzberg: thompson gets his yellow out of the way
[12:13] Jeremy Spitzberg: now just the assist to come
[12:14] Neal Thurman: lol
[12:15] Jeremy Spitzberg: first blood to ogs
[12:28] Jeremy Spitzberg: bent from jfh
[12:28] Jeremy Spitzberg: that was supposed to happen a bit more than it has so far this season, eh?
[12:29] Neal Thurman: yeah, and JFH has been a bit of a non-entity in terms of actual scoring - they are SO missing the Murph
[12:29] Jeremy Spitzberg: who isn't?
[12:29] Neal Thurman: Spurs apparently ;-)
[12:30] Jeremy Spitzberg: speaking of which...
[12:30] Jeremy Spitzberg: mido from zirk ziegler
[12:30] Jeremy Spitzberg: playing too well to drop him?
[12:37] Jeremy Spitzberg: ha! Marcus Bent
[12:37] Jeremy Spitzberg: not Darren
[12:37] Jeremy Spitzberg: for accuracy
[12:38] Jeremy Spitzberg: now defoe from mido
[12:38] Jeremy Spitzberg: i'm telling you, berbs gonna have a hard time getting off that bench
[12:39] Neal Thurman: finally Spurs with problems that aren't bad to have
[12:42] Jeremy Spitzberg: robben running the show (4 shots) but to no avail yet
[12:43] Neal Thurman: good times, hopefully that gets him additional PT on weekend
[12:43] Jeremy Spitzberg: he'll have earned a rest
[12:44] Neal Thurman: grr
[12:57] Jeremy Spitzberg: liv close the half w/ quick goals from fowler (asst by pennant) and riise
[12:57] Jeremy Spitzberg: manu doubles their...
[12:58] Jeremy Spitzberg: oh, wait
[12:58] Jeremy Spitzberg: rossi for NUFC ;-)
[12:58] Jeremy Spitzberg: por have yet to win a game after trailing
[12:58] Jeremy Spitzberg: ha!
[12:58] Jeremy Spitzberg: nobby with a headed goal
[12:59] Jeremy Spitzberg: how often does that happen?
[13:00] Jeremy Spitzberg: cross from duff, who came on for martins at the half
[13:00] Jeremy Spitzberg: patience wearing thin on tyneside?
[13:05] Jeremy Spitzberg: defoe from that man...
[13:05] Jeremy Spitzberg: tom huddlestone
[13:05] Jeremy Spitzberg: who also picked up a yellow at some pt in the first half
[13:12] Jeremy Spitzberg: mpg "injured"
[13:12] Jeremy Spitzberg: something to watch for come friday
[13:15] Neal Thurman: well, if MGP is injured, it becomes easy to get from him to Lamps on the current budget :-)
[13:15] Neal Thurman: or to...TH :-)
[13:15] Jeremy Spitzberg: ballach at 4 really helps, eh?
[13:15] Neal Thurman: ballack at 4, hilario at 8.4, hud at 4, AY at 5ish
[13:15] Neal Thurman: that's a lot of quality at not much $
[13:15] Jeremy Spitzberg: and we have a breakthrough for CHE
[13:16] Jeremy Spitzberg: cole from kalou
[13:16] Jeremy Spitzberg: hilario?
[13:16] Neal Thurman: dammit - not good for Robben
[13:16] Neal Thurman: will go to Carlo when he's official for the weekend
[13:16] Jeremy Spitzberg: don't forget to count that $
[13:16] Jeremy Spitzberg: against your "lamps & th" monies
[13:17] Jeremy Spitzberg: but you're the mba
[13:17] Neal Thurman: heh - can easily get to Lamps from MGP with plenty of $ left over - not so much TH
[13:18] Jeremy Spitzberg: pennant w/ another assist
[13:18] Jeremy Spitzberg: corner that paletta scores
[13:18] Jeremy Spitzberg: gonna have to blog this conversation
[13:18] Jeremy Spitzberg: mido from defoe
[13:18] Neal Thurman: "conversation" is a generous term for it since I haven't been participating that much
[13:19] Neal Thurman: Wow, Mido is on fire
[13:19] Jeremy Spitzberg: gotta keep that pairing at the weekend
[13:21] Neal Thurman: you'd think
[13:21] Jeremy Spitzberg: crewe levels
[13:22] Jeremy Spitzberg: lennon on for huddlestone
[13:22] Jeremy Spitzberg: figure he's not trying to run up the score (lennon being more attacking)...
[13:22] Jeremy Spitzberg: just giving lennon a run
[13:23] Jeremy Spitzberg: but maybe jol's a real jerk
[13:23] Neal Thurman: Go Crewe
[13:23] Jeremy Spitzberg: time for columbus to add an "e"?
[13:23] Neal Thurman: (and a few good players)
[13:24] Jeremy Spitzberg: no, they already have...
[13:24] Jeremy Spitzberg: ...
[13:24] Jeremy Spitzberg: ...
[13:24] Jeremy Spitzberg: um...
[13:24] Neal Thurman: Eddie gaven?
[13:24] Neal Thurman: Danny "I could have been a contender" Szetela
[13:25] Jeremy Spitzberg: both in the "could have been" category
[13:25] Neal Thurman: Gaven not done yet (I don't think)
[13:25] Jeremy Spitzberg: hmmm...
[13:25] Jeremy Spitzberg: rossi to start @Cha?
[13:27] Jeremy Spitzberg: 3 shots on, 1 goal
[13:27] Neal Thurman: I'd have been starting him for a while if I were NUFC just to see what he's got - otherwise, why bring him in? Not like Martins is lighting it up
[13:29] Jeremy Spitzberg: he's cheap enough i could afford a D
[13:30] Jeremy Spitzberg: and yes, that is what it has come down to as i didn't BD ballack on sat
[13:32] Neal Thurman: ouch (although I'm not convinced I'm going to be happy about Ballack come Monday morning)
[13:32] Jeremy Spitzberg: that's why i didn't jump at the chance
[13:33] Jeremy Spitzberg: bentley is my 4th middie
[13:33] Jeremy Spitzberg: which i'm happy with
[13:33] Neal Thurman: excellent 4th middie (esp given the match-up)
[13:33] Jeremy Spitzberg: but can't upgrade the D if i also have a $7 3rd forward
[13:34] Neal Thurman: right
[13:34] Neal Thurman: btw, nail biting time at Alexandra stadium
[13:34] Jeremy Spitzberg: mgp's replacement, sergio peter...
[13:34] Jeremy Spitzberg: 5.04 middie
[13:35] Jeremy Spitzberg: had some decent games last year, IIRC
[13:35] Neal Thurman: hmm
[13:35] Neal Thurman: will have to remember for the blog if MGP looks doubtful
[13:36] Jeremy Spitzberg: keep it under your hat though ;-)
[13:36] Jeremy Spitzberg: solano w/ his 2nd of the match
[13:36] Neal Thurman: right
[13:36] Jeremy Spitzberg: this time from milner
[13:36] Jeremy Spitzberg: solano playing as a 2nd striker?
[13:36] Neal Thurman: BFJM - where have you gone?
[13:37] Neal Thurman: btw, looks like I might be able to go Hilario to Carlo AND MGP to TH if necessary :-)
[13:37] Jeremy Spitzberg: wow
[13:38] Jeremy Spitzberg: all b/c of ballack at $4
[13:38] Neal Thurman: pretty much
[13:38] Jeremy Spitzberg: i guess it'll be ballack v. cron
[13:38] Neal Thurman: and Hud at 4
[13:38] Jeremy Spitzberg: and hope for the best
[13:39] Jeremy Spitzberg: cron @bol
[13:39] Jeremy Spitzberg: oy!
[13:39] Neal Thurman: and with a bad hammy ;-)
[13:39] Jeremy Spitzberg: hammy or flu?
[13:40] Jeremy Spitzberg: i read both at one point or another
[13:40] Neal Thurman: I thought he was tweaked
[13:42] Jeremy Spitzberg: "We're doing very well considering we don't have most or our recognized team yet," Ferguson said. "Players like Gabriel Heinze and Mikael Silvestre are not 100 percent and Cristiano Ronaldo missed the game today because of illness.
[13:43] Neal Thurman: hmm
[13:43] Jeremy Spitzberg: Cristiano Ronaldo should be fully fit too after watching the Liverpool game from the safety of the bench, after running up a temperature at the back end of the week.

"He was still a bit drawn when he came into training on Saturday, so we told him to go home to bed and only come in for the game if he felt like it," revealed Ferguson.

"He is such an important player for us, we felt we could risk having him on the bench, knowing we would only put him on if we really needed to in the last 20 minutes."
[13:44] Neal Thurman: this was last weekend?
[13:44] Jeremy Spitzberg: yes. after the liv game
[13:44] Neal Thurman: Keane gets in on the fun for Spurs
[13:44] Jeremy Spitzberg: kalou from swp. peter booked.
[13:44] Neal Thurman: Kalou for CHE
[13:45] Jeremy Spitzberg: dogboy on for robben on 83mins
[13:45] Neal Thurman: Reading w/ signs of life but still not so good down 4-2
[13:46] Neal Thurman: wow, Crewe takes ManYoo to extra time
[13:46] Jeremy Spitzberg: less chance of heinze being ready for the weekend
[13:46] Neal Thurman: yup
[13:47] Neal Thurman: btw, what happened to pompey? who would have guessed they would miss Sol so badly in the center of defenCe
[13:47] Jeremy Spitzberg: or their fullbacks
[13:47] Neal Thurman: or them
[13:47] Jeremy Spitzberg: goals coming from wide areas?
[13:47] Neal Thurman: but NUFC manages to play every weekend without a center back or fullbacks
[13:48] Neal Thurman: Reading w/ a 3rd - shades of the Boro opener?
[13:49] Neal Thurman: what a 2nd half
[13:49] Jeremy Spitzberg: rafa must be sweating
[13:49] Neal Thurman: can't be a pleasant sight
[13:52] Jeremy Spitzberg: kuyt hits the bar
[13:53] Neal Thurman: SO wish I were at this one
[13:55] Neal Thurman: Pool seems to have the advantage going down the stretch
[13:56] Neal Thurman: Royals with signs of life
[13:58] Neal Thurman: sadly, not to be today - lesson, liverpool are no Boro
[13:58] Jeremy Spitzberg: no cinderalla
[13:58] Jeremy Spitzberg: ella
[13:59] Neal Thurman: well, other than CHA
[13:59] Jeremy Spitzberg: or columbuse
[13:59] Neal Thurman: and whomever it was who beat Citeh and WHU in successive rounds
[13:59] Jeremy Spitzberg: that's so yesterday's news
[13:59] Neal Thurman: lol
[14:09] Neal Thurman: wow, random League One guy 'bamboozling' Heinze in the 110th
[14:09] Jeremy Spitzberg: still looks fresh ;-)
[14:09] Neal Thurman: HA
[14:14] Jeremy Spitzberg: tough way for heinze and smith to come back from injury
[14:14] Neal Thurman: true, SAF should have subbed them out - chances Ole is going to be ruined by going 120?
[14:15] Jeremy Spitzberg: ruined? probably not. but probably not expected to play @BOL either
[14:15] Jeremy Spitzberg: isn't otsemobor a liv player?
[14:15] Jeremy Spitzberg: or former, at least
[14:15] Jeremy Spitzberg: he'll want this match
[14:16] Neal Thurman: just mean that given injury history this is like sending a pitcher coming off Tommy John surgery out there for 130 pitches in the middle of the summer
[14:16] Neal Thurman: and some dude named Lee saves SAF the embarrassment of a loss to Crewe early in the competition
[14:17] Jeremy Spitzberg: smudger with the final pass ;-)
[14:17] Neal Thurman: lol
[14:17] Neal Thurman: so close to some fun Cup surprises today but only the mild upset of CHA over BOL
[14:18] Jeremy Spitzberg: and what did we learn going into the epl weekend?
[14:19] Jeremy Spitzberg: por on a down
[14:19] Jeremy Spitzberg: rossi should get more PT
[14:19] Jeremy Spitzberg: mgp injury to watch out for
[14:20] Neal Thurman: but inevitably Rossi WON'T get more PT
[14:20] Neal Thurman: because they didn't pay 10 million for him :-)
[14:20] Jeremy Spitzberg: grrr
[14:25] Jeremy Spitzberg: carling cup...
[14:25] Jeremy Spitzberg: sound and fury
[14:25] Jeremy Spitzberg: nothing but sound and fury
[14:25] Jeremy Spitzberg: alright...
[14:25] Neal Thurman: thanks Willie S
[14:25] Jeremy Spitzberg: now to figure out how to blog this exchange

(3 user comments)

• Email article
• Print article