Fantasy Premier League

Injuries and Suspensions

Fri Mar 07 03:39PM

Sort of a funky week, this one.  Three matches on Saturday, three matches on Sunday, and then three more on Wednesday.  In the meantime, there are a few FA Cup matches, a Champions League match, and ManYoo and Bolton don't play a Premier League match at all.  Throw in some late-breaking injury news from Arsenal and Chelsea and what I thought was going to be a quiet week is much less so now.

The first thing to note is that there is an advantage to playing players who play their Premier League matches before their FA Cup matches this week (due to the possibility of injury).  Sort of an obvious point but one worth making.  So you don't have to go searching, the list reads...Liverpool, NUFC, Reading, Citeh, Rovers, Fulham, Sunderland, Everton, Spurs, WHU, Wigan, and Arsenal.  Not set in stone, but just something to think about if you're deciding between two players who you see as having similar potential value.

We'll immediately break that rule and discuss Chelsea, and specifically, Petr Cech and his injury.  Cudicini becomes a great answer against Derby and represents a bargain over Reina.  Robinson is still a decent answer if you need to go supercheap, but Cudicini is the best value overall for the money.

The other big news is that Arsenal will be without Walcott after he tweaked his thigh playing in a reserve match against the MLS squad from Colorado.  After you finish wondering what the hell he was doing playing in that match at all, you have to start figuring out how to replace him. Bendtner is the obvious choice (and the one I'm going with).  The other option is to re-align and go with an extra midfielder where it is more likely that you'll get value.  Palacios? Flamini? Diarra? Not great value but at least something.  Remember, the Flamini contract drive will give him even more motivation to show what he's got both attacking and defending...

Not too much else to report - Eboue and MPet are still suspended.  Frank Lampard was spared a suspension for his red card last weekend making him an interesting alternative to Gerrard as your premium midfielder.  The question will be how much he plays against Derby.  Regardless, you probably want to think about making that switch for next week given that Chelsea have two matches (but more on that later in The Barn Door Report).

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Team News

1. Premier League - Fantasy: Choose 'em, lose 'em
2. Premier League - Team news: Owen back at Anfield
3. Dunn doubtful for Cottagers clash
4. No fresh worries for cup clash
5. Giggs returns for Pompey clash
6. Robin in line for Wigan return
7. Mascherano doubtful for Toon clash
8. Pedro in contention for United clash
9. Moyes ready to shuffle his pack
10. Parker back for trip to the Lan
11. Barton missing for Merseyside trip
12. Taylor back to take on Gunners
13. Duo missing for battle with Cit
14. Elano ready for Royals test
15. Smertin missing for Rovers rumble
16. Jenas doubtful for London derby
17. Black Cats boosted by Collins return

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