Fantasy Premier League

Matchday Open Thread

Sat Feb 23 06:32AM by Jeremy

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring a goal against Middlesbrough during their English Premier League football match at Old Trafford in Manchester

The best laid plans. 

Two weeks ago (it seems longer ago than that, doesn't it?) I put K2, Koumas, and Benjani on the barn door.  To afford that I've been living with a big red "In order to receive scoring for this week's matches, you must have selected a player for all 11 positions." hanging over my head.

[aside:  Getting drunk on Friday night and passing out with less than your full complement of players is known as "pulling a Spealman".  Be sure to look for that in the upcoming blog dictionary.  Seriously.] 

[one more aside:  All the thanks in the world to my sister for getting married over the FA Cup semifinal weekend rather than forcing me to beg, borrow, and steal internet access on the road.] 

Where were we?  Oh, yeah... sitting with too much money invested in too few players.  So I've worked out my line-up.  Cutting here.  Trimming there.  I need to keep K2.  He's been in incredible form.  Probably one of the best streaks we ever seen from a striker not initialed TH or RVN.  Then the news comes out of N London that Adebayor is doubtful with a stiff neck.  Now we know he's stubborn, but that's ridiculous.  Just what I didn't need.  Granted he's likely to start.  And he's likely to do well against a stuggling Birmingham side.  But I can too easily see the other side.  He needs a break after the CL match (and miss).  Brm kept Arsenal in check at Highbury, sorry Emirates, last month.  Arsenal are showing a fragile streak and traveling to Birmingham might be the last thing they need.  And I just remember their trip to Sheffield United last season where even with Jagielka in net, RvP skying their best chance when he was my sure thing that week...

So K2 is gone.  I hope I can sleep better with Rooney in the team, but I probably won't.  In last month's demolition of NUFC, ManU scored six and Rooney only collected a booking.  I could drop from Rooney to Torres... home to Boro, two matches next week, always scores at Anfield, even if he only plays twenty minutes of the match.  That gives me the money to upgrade the Mok to a real defender.  But he's home to goal-shy Bolton and could be in line for a sub cs [again, look for the upcoming dictionary].  

So here's hoping that Rooney can break out of what seems like a prolonged slump.  Here's hoping that Tevez and Ronaldo can pitch in.  And that Muntari and Defoe put a hurting on Sunderland with with added bonus of Gordon getting cheaper before their trip to Derby.

What are you hoping for?  Let us know in this, your matchday open thread. 

(105 user comments)

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  • (81)

    i can honestly say i could not care less if i did'nt score a point this week after seeing edaurdo's injury. I too like the burning pen have broken an ankle and a leg in seperate incidents and it's quite sickening to see your ankle point in a different direction, all the best too edaurdo and his team mates. As for taylor, an eye for an eye, maybe he should sit out as long as eduardo is out.

    Posted by: lennonaa on Sun Feb 24 03:10AM | Report abuse
  • (82)

    Regarding Eduardo and any future return, it's important to understand that this is a probable career-ending injury for a man just shy of 25 and on a brilliant path for club and country. This is not the sort of break that doctors slap a cast on, nor is it a simple surgery. Eduardo's surgery will consist of internal or external hardware (the former permanent, the latter to be removed after 12-14 weeks). There will be a lot of drilling and pins and wires to reconstruct his leg and foot and ankle. It's just devastating for Eduardo, his family and friends, and Arsenal and Croatia. I'm glad that Wenger changed his stance on banning Taylor for life, but I understand completely that he was carried away by the gravity of the early situation. As for Taylor, it was a bad, clumsy, stupid tackle, one that highlights the differences in skill and control between a top-notch Prem defender and a lower-tier player. Get some rest, EdS, you are admired!

    Posted by: the_burning_pen on Sun Feb 24 12:40PM | Report abuse
  • (83)

    Shame on Gareth Barry for that PK miss.

    Posted by: the_burning_pen on Sun Feb 24 01:06PM | Report abuse
  • (84)

    Does anyone know if the Carling Cup final will be on TV here in the States?

    Posted by: krokodil_g on Sun Feb 24 01:45PM | Report abuse
  • (85)

    Re 86 and my main man Krok: Only on Setanta in our world :(

    Posted by: the_burning_pen on Sun Feb 24 03:27PM | Report abuse
  • (86)

    Getting a penalty is an assist right? So 2 assists for Dunn?

    Posted by: geraldlim555 on Sun Feb 24 04:31PM | Report abuse
  • (87)

    well, Berbatov scores a cool penalty kick to tie the match and its game on again in the Carling Cup, Bolton sinking to 'Rovers 3-1

    Posted by: goeasy27 on Sun Feb 24 04:32PM | Report abuse
  • (88)

    Why is McCarthy judged the only man capable to take PK's for Blackburn?

    Posted by: krokodil_g on Sun Feb 24 04:34PM | Report abuse
  • (89)

    If anyone is watching the Carling Cup final, how are Drogba and Anelka working together?

    Posted by: krokodil_g on Sun Feb 24 04:37PM | Report abuse
  • (90)

    And here comes Moko! Too bad no CS for him to vulture. Still hope for an assist/YC special, though...

    Posted by: krokodil_g on Sun Feb 24 04:41PM | Report abuse