Fantasy Premier League

Jeremy Spitzberg & Neal Thurman

Injuries and Suspensions

Fri Feb 22 02:42PM

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, punches the ball clear of Chelsea's Andriy Shevchenko

Well, no sooner do I get excited about having a cheap defender with a good chance of a clean sheet (Skrtel) than he turns up injured.  Given that fact, please insert Arbeloa for Skrtel in "The Week Ahead" post.  Granted a centre half pairing of Hyypia and Arbeloa may greatly reduce the chances of a Liverpool clean sheet but given the options, Arbeloa is still pretty high on my list. (FYI, Carragher is suspended if you're wondering why he isn't in the mix and Agger isn't yet match fit).

Elsewhere, apparently Almunia is sufficiently recovered from his virus so Lehmann appears not to be a viable option in net this weekend.  On the plus side, K2 is likely to recover from his "stiff neck" to lead the line for Arsenal against Brum (fill in your own stiff neck causes blown header vs. Milan joke here while Mssr. Wenger and I continue to weep quietly in the corner about that missed opportunity).

Speaking of filling in your own jokes, apparently Andy Reid has been "working hard on his fitness" in the two weeks since the last match and should be able to play a "more substantial" role this weekend against Pompey.  The jokes just sort of write themselves on this one.

Ryan Taylor, this year's Matty Taylor, will miss out for Wigan leaving Edman (who is recovering from an injury) and Koumas to fight it out for his spot.  I'm still stunned that Koumas can't hold down a regular spot at Wigan.  He must either be a gigantic @ss or be unfamiliar with the concept of defending (or maybe both).  The nice thing about fantasy is that we care about neither of those qualities so hopefully JK will get a run.

Still waiting on word from Upton Park on the West Ham injury situation but I can't see that making a big impact on many line-ups.  Good luck and happy shopping.

Team News

  1. Team news: Adebayor concern
  2. Team news: Lampard set to start
  3. Magpies missing star duo v United
  4. Giggs should be fit to tackle Toon
  5. City in good shape for Toffees clash
  6. Adebayor and Hleb fit for Gunners
  7. Royals lifted by return of pair
  8. Key duo set for Magpies return
  9. Reds caught short at the back
  10. Yobo returns for Eastlands trip
  11. Reid sweats on starting role
  12. Jay walks back into Derby side
  13. Megson to freshen up Trotters
  14. Boro sweating on Huth and Tuncay
  15. Agbonlahor winning fitness race
  16. Latics boosted by Heskey return
  • Comments1 - 23 of 23

  1. Neal, Rafa is now quoted on Liverpool's website as saying that Skrtel is fit for the weekend. Still no guarantees, of course, but Skrtel appears likely to feature.

    mscogleFrom mscogle on Fri Feb 22 03:26PM

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  2. Distin is near as damn it same price as skrtel, home to sunderland and a sure starter, safe bet?

    petegoddard11996655From petegoddard11996655 on Fri Feb 22 03:42PM

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  3. as for Wigan, I would expect to see Edman at left back and "Killa" Kilbane pushed into midfield. Not sure who takes kicks though... maybe Valencia.

    jspitzbergFrom jspitzberg on Fri Feb 22 03:48PM

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  4. Yakuba a hint above 12. A steal. Pompey has all their midfield weapons. Muntari may be another steal. Also Defoe/Baros. Samba/Blackburn. 12 SOT,

    donegal08From donegal08 on Fri Feb 22 03:59PM

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  5. Looks like my comment didn't take. All of it, anyway. Samba -

    donegal08From donegal08 on Fri Feb 22 04:02PM

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  6. Debating some shifts in my lineup...Better F mix?
    K2, Torres, Defoe

    OR

    K2, Rooney, Heskey
    Any comments would be great

    sulldaddyFrom sulldaddy on Fri Feb 22 04:13PM

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  7. Anyone having problems posting more than one sentence, or two? See (4) (5) below...

    donegal08From donegal08 on Fri Feb 22 04:15PM

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  8. how about marcus Bent Vs Derby?

    vigneron13From vigneron13 on Fri Feb 22 04:21PM

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  9. how about Marcus Bent Vs Derby?

    vigneron13From vigneron13 on Fri Feb 22 04:21PM

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  10. (7) I dont think my posts are getting cut off. Lets see just how long a reply I can make to see if this is infact true. Well if I write one more line that should be enough of a test.

    sulldaddyFrom sulldaddy on Fri Feb 22 04:30PM

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  11. In order to further confuse the Liverpool back 4 possibilities, from yahoo team news:

    "Liverpool are expected to be without Andriy Voronin, but Danish centre-half Daniel Agger has been tipped to make a surprise return after five months out with a fractured metatarsal."

    mwellens2000From mwellens2000 on Fri Feb 22 05:20PM

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  12. (10) Thanks. Perhaps it is my rhetoric being censored. Maybe a good thing! ;)

    donegal08From donegal08 on Fri Feb 22 06:50PM

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  13. Darn I sold Adebayor and Hleb (both at decent discounts) after seeing the stupid yahoo report. Got Fabregas and Eduardo instead, which isn't too bad, but still!

    nahimzahurFrom nahimzahur on Fri Feb 22 07:53PM

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  14. no eboue or diarby maybe walcott will start he is very cheap attack opition playing in midfield at 4.41

    dixons0002From dixons0002 on Fri Feb 22 07:54PM

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  15. Isn't Eduardo Suspended for the Birmingham Game based on the number of YC/ Thoughts please?

    santos_rockersFrom santos_rockers on Fri Feb 22 08:29PM

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  16. eduardo not on suspension list as far as i can see. hhtp://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/Suspension
    sLists/

    lennonaaFrom lennonaa on Fri Feb 22 08:48PM

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  17. Is Mario Melchiot available after injury this weekend? Saw him limp off the other week and just wondered...

    dunny0307From dunny0307 on Fri Feb 22 08:52PM

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  18. Is Pamarot injured?????

    kelvinkezzFrom kelvinkezz on Sat Feb 23 01:21AM

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  19. (19)Yes.

    donegal08From donegal08 on Sat Feb 23 02:52AM

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  20. What about Koumas? is he a sub?... ------------------- &Scharner will play as CB or CDM?... --------------& WIGan Forwars?...2 of 3: Heskey? /Bent?/ King... (plus Sibierski in mid?). ------------Thankx 4 ur opinion. All the help will be gReAt in such a week, as they play DERby @home!

    daniel_menezesFrom daniel_menezes on Sat Feb 23 03:19AM

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  21. (21) I have had Palacios on the cheap for a few weeks. I'll hang onto him. Scharner may be good, but Samba/Blackburn is cheaper, and w/12 SOT's, shouldn't be overlooked. Koumas, to me, is the most desirable, if he plays a full 90. Valencia, too. Sibierski is another, but often gibbled. He misses a lot of time. I have Kirks in net. As much as I loe Wigan, no one should dare load up on Wigan players. I feel it will be a low scoring affair.

    donegal08From donegal08 on Sat Feb 23 04:21AM

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  22. Andreason. Fulham. Fulham may suprise the Hammers at home. If they go w/5 midfielders, Andreason will start. I have him. My barn door from last week. We shall see how he does! Yakubu and Muntari did well in the ANC. Keep this in mind. Yakubu is 12 pts... a bargain, on the barn door.

    donegal08From donegal08 on Sat Feb 23 04:23AM

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  23. hey any confirmed news on huth and skrtel???

    gautamvwFrom gautamvw on Sat Feb 23 07:23AM

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