Fantasy Premier League

Injuries and Suspensions

Fri Jan 11 03:34PM by Neal Thurman

Nicolas Anelka

Since Jeremy has already written two posts (part 1, part 2) reviewing who will not be available due to ACN commitments, I'm not going to spend a lot of time on that unless there is an interesting replacement.

Looks like the Anelka deal has been confirmed meaning that Chelsea have one definite starter at striker.  This decreases the value of Chelsea's part-time midfielders (Joe Cole and SWP) who are less likely to start with Le Sulk in the fold.  It also increases the value of the Blackburn defence.  With Wanderers likely to struggle for goals until a replacement is found, picking up Brad Friedel, Ryan Nelsen and/or Stephen Warnock seems like decent business.

In other transfer-related news, Nery Castillo (newly of Citeh) is reportedly taking some time to adjust to the English game (no wonder since he hasn't even been starting at Shaktar) so he isn't a great bet. 

Other reports have Laurent Robert at least somewhat likely to start as no one sees many barriers to him obtaining the clearance necessary to suit up for the Rams.

Looks like Manuel Fernandes will be back, the question is whether Yahoo will get him loaded up in time.  With Yakubu and Pienaar off to the ACN, it seems likely that AJ will lead a 4-5-1 and Fernandes seems like a decent bet to figure in the mix with Cahill, Arteta, Osman, and Carsley.

In suspension news, Spurs will be missing THud and Jenas to suspension and Zokora to ACN duty, look for Boetang and O'Hara to deputize.  Both cheap but neither particularly attractive against Chelsea.

The Fulham team news has Jimmy Bullard with an "outside chance" of starting at Upton Park.  Sounds like he's more likely for a substitute appearance and therefore he's on Barn Door Watch but not likely a great bet for this week's line-up.

At ManYoo, Wes Brown is suspended and Gary Neville isn't ready for action so O'Shea, Simpson, and Pique will vie for the spot.  Hard to say how this will work out but if anyone has any intuition or sees a specific report, this is a pretty good bet.

Finally, RSC looks like he's going to be ready for Bolton, good news for those of us who have him cheap.  Hopefully, you waited to make any changes.

Good luck and happy shopping.

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Team News

  1. Team news: Africans absent
  2. No new worries for Villa gaffer
  3. Davies to lead line for Trotters
  4. Super Dan back in Reds squad
  5. Midfield poser for boss Ramos
  6. Johnson worry for Wearside trip
  7. Jones in race to face Pompey
  8. Hargreaves doubt for Toon tussle
  9. Outside chance for Bullard return
  10. Boa Morte eyes Fulham return
  11. Elano pencilled in for Blues return
  12. Roque in line to face Trotters
  13. Arteta back for visit of slick City
  14. Bramble returns for Rams trip
  15. Duberry worry for Villa trip
  16. Taylor back in frame at Emirates
  17. Southgate must shuffle his pack
  18. Late check on Senderos' knee
(10 user comments)

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User comments

  • (1)

    How sure are we that Le Sulk and RSC are going to feature in the starting 11 for their respective sides this week. Glad I held out to make changes since I have them both at discounts, but not significant enough that I wouldn't drop them in a heartbeat if they weren't going to start. Being a CHE fan, hopefully this transfer is what we need to pull us back up and make a push in the 2nd half.

    Posted by: bradley_albright on Fri Jan 11 04:54PM | Report abuse
  • (2)

    what about K2? is he good to go then?

    Posted by: hemustincrease on Fri Jan 11 05:03PM | Report abuse
  • (3)

    O'Hara has been taking kicks for TOT and getting into some of the territory on the left that Bale occupied before his injury.

    Posted by: toby_dalton on Fri Jan 11 05:28PM | Report abuse
  • (4)

    Dammnit, looks like I made the wrong decision in dropping RSC. I hade him with a huge discount too (8 pts.)

    Posted by: janlolkehibma on Fri Jan 11 05:35PM | Report abuse
  • (5)

    K2, Hleb, Senderos, good to go this weekend: http://www.arsenal.com/injury.asp?thisNav=news

    Posted by: goeasy27 on Fri Jan 11 05:58PM | Report abuse
  • (6)

    Wilson "The Magician" Palacios was just purchased by Wigan from a Honduran club. He played for Birmingham City at the start of the season, so he is already in the Yahoo system. Word is that he will start against Derby this weekend. Question: do you think Yahoo will credit him with points for that game assuming he plays?

    Posted by: battyboy1804 on Fri Jan 11 08:16PM | Report abuse
  • (7)

    I am glad that I resited temptation to pick up Carson (vs. Reading) at 8.03 and stuck with Friedel vs. Anelka-less Bolton at 7.44 (picked him up prior to his PK-saving heroics).

    Posted by: krokodil_g on Sat Jan 12 01:00AM | Report abuse
  • (8)

    This week's "Choose 'em or lose 'em" http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11012008/58/fantasy-league-fantasy-choose-em-lose-em.html is surely the worst yet... Promoting Mokoena without mentioning his ANC absence, promoting N'Zogbia on the basis that he won't lose points for goals conceded (who actually does apart from goalkeepers?), advising against Anelka on the basis that he won't start (I beg to differ), stating that Bentley's the next highest point scorer after Ronaldo when he's not. I could go on... For what it's worth I am actually keeping Mokoena as it allows for strength throughout the rest of my team (Torres, Tevez, Nugent, M Petrov, Bentley, Ronaldo, Giggs, Mokoena, Carvalho, Kelly, Carson) but I wouldn't get him at 2.95.

    Posted by: richslashdot on Sat Jan 12 10:51AM | Report abuse
  • (9)

    will RSc and K2 star?hope for quick comment ,45 minutes remaining,hiks

    Posted by: shunshetzbhoy_10128 on Sat Jan 12 11:20AM | Report abuse
  • (10)

    will RSc and K2 start?hope for quick comment ,45 minutes remaining,hiks

    Posted by: shunshetzbhoy_10128 on Sat Jan 12 11:21AM | Report abuse
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