Archive for August, 2007
Keane waiting on Edwards injury
Roy Keane is waiting on results from today’s scan on the hamstring injury to Carlos Edwards. The winger pulled up after a 60-yard run and cross which led to Stern John hitting the bar in last night’s game and was forced to hobble off. Keane is now hoping the scan will reveal just a strain which will mean anything upto a 2-week absence. However a torn hamstring would keep Edwards out for around 6-weeks.
Edwards caught the eye in last night’s game, earning the 3 bonus points in the Premier League Game and is certainly a potential target for Fantasy Managers when fit.
ContinuedBerbatov and Kaboul KO’d for Spurs
Martin Jol’s miserable start to the season has been compounded by the news that Dimitar Berbatov and Younes Kaboul both face weeks on the sidelines.
Berbatov has picked up a groin injury in the defeat to Everton and is expected to be out for at least a fortnight. Kaboul meanwhile has a hamstring injury that could see him sidelined for a month.
This seems certain to hand the Bent/Keane partnership a run against Derby, Man United and Fulham. While in defence, Spurs are down to the barebones with Rocha likely to start against Derby at the weekend if Dawson fails to recover from his ankle injury.
ContinuedWednesday’s Scout Notes
Benjani and Sibierski are at the top of the scoring charts while Ronaldo can’t even pick up an assist. He can however, help himself to a 3-match ban. It’s not going according to the script so far. Get my notes on Wednesday’s games here…
ContinuedRonaldo off as United are held again
Christiano Ronaldo faces a 3-match ban following his red card in tonights game against Portmouth at Fratton Park. Ronaldo was dismissed after an apparent headbutt on Portsmouth’s Richard Hughes as United were held 1-1.
The straight red for violent conduct will mean an instant 3-match ban for the United man which will see him miss the local derby against City at the weekend plus the home matches against Tottenham and Sunderland.
So, having faced the problem of replacing Rooney following his injury, Fantasy Managers must now look to find a replacement for Ronaldo. Such is his price tag, it would be a brave decision to hold onto the United man until he see’s out his ban. Possible replacements will include the usual suspects of Gerrard and Lampard, who have both found the net this sesaon. Alternatively Fabregas and Arteta are worthy options. The Everton man in particular has started the season in sparkling form.
I’ve started a new poll for those unlucky enough to be facing this new dilemma and let’s face it, that’s quite a few us.
ContinuedGerrard picks up a knock as Liverpool cruise
Liverpool produced a typical European performance to claim a 1-0 lead in their Champions League qualifier with Toulouse. Voronin hit the winner, a spectacular 30-yarder which seemed out of place in a rather tepid affair played out in stifling heat. Rafa, as promised, made a host of changes brining in the likes of Crouch, Hypia, Babel, Mascherano and Benayoun in addition to the match winner. Perhaps the key news though is that Gerrard picked up a knock to his ankle which he struggled to run off, eventually being subbed just after the hour mark. He’ll now be a concern for Rafa and Fantasy Managers for the weekend game with Chelsea.
Liverpool Lineup: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Finnan, Babel, Gerrard (Sissoko 65), Mascherano, Benayoun (Riise 59), Crouch, Voronin (Torres 78).
ContinuedTonight’s Team News
Spurs’ misery continues
Spurs looked typically brittle in defence and, more significantly, out of ideas in attack, as they went down 3-1 at home to Everton tonight. Goals from Lescott, Osman and a deflected Stubbs free-kick won the game for Moyes’ men, with Gardner giving Spurs brief hope with an equaliser in the first-half. However, they were always second best, with a performance that once again demonstrated a lack of creativity and confidence. Darren Bent failed to make an impression on his debut, while Berbatov showed flashes, including a smart header that struck a post in the second-half but Everton’s midfield always looked in control, whilst the organisation of their defence snuffed out the majority of Spurs’ attacking ambitions. To make matters worse, Jol’s injury-hit defence lost new signing Kaboul to injury early in the first-half.
Arteta was as usual, instrumental in most of Everton’s creative work, including two of their goals. Osman meanwhile, seems to be filling the void left by Cahill’s injury rather nicely with 2 goals in 2 games. At the back Lescott and Stubbs stood out and their goals further boosted their appeal to Fantasy Managers. In contrast, their form is likely to keep both Baines and Jagielka on the bench for a few weeks to come which will see their Fantasy stock fall. As a sidenote, Andy Johnson also looked sharp and is sure to get off the mark very soon.
Spurs now face Derby at the Lane on Saturday in a must-win scenario. Everton meanwhile, visit Reading and will be full of confidence. They have Blackburn and Bolton to follow after the Reading game and then United at home in mid-September. Spurs meanwhile will face both United, Fulham and North London rivals Arsenal, following the Derby game, which only emphasises the importance of this weekend’s game for Jol’s side. They will hope to have Michael Dawson back in their defence after he failed a fitness test on his ankle injury tonight. Without him, Derby, and in particular Steve Howard, will fancy their chances.
ContinuedChelsea’s casualty clear-out
Chelsea’s injury woes are clearing according to Jose, with the likes of John Terry, Paulo Ferreira, Claude Makelele and Andriy Shevchenko all resuming full training. Jose expects to have his pick of those players to add to his lineup at Liverpool at the weekend, with Terry an obvious starter.
His only remaining injury worries surround Wayne Bridge and Michael Ballack who are both currently recovering from surgery - they are both some weeks away from being available. Michael Essien meanwhile has knee ligament damaga sustained against Birmingham and is a doubt for tomorrow’s clash at Reading but could also be in the lineup at Anfield.
ContinuedMidweek team news
The Midweek Preview
Rooney breaks his foot and your Fantasy Football lineup goes under the knife in the first week. There’s a void to fill, millions to spend but the Premiership’s midweek games provide the perfect source for those players to fill that Rooney-shaped gap in your side. Let’s look at the contenders…
ContinuedTerry set for early return?
John Terry could be set to for an early return to the Chelsea back four at Liverpool at the weekend according to tonight’s Evening Standard [source]. The story apparently reports that a club spokesman has hinted that Terry could well be available to Jose for the big clash at Anfield. Terry was expected to be absent for at least a month after damaging medial ligaments in training.
ContinuedIt’s two months without Rooney
Wayne Rooney is out for at least two months with the foot injury suffered against Reading, putting his out of action for United’s clash with Chelsea in September and their opening two Champions League games. In reality, Rooney is unlikely to appear in the Premiership again until United’s clash with Villa on October 20, although you just never know.
Rooney has a history of such injuries and suffered just a 6-week absence when breaking his foot prior to the World Cup, however this swift return was widely regarded as a mistake. Rooney also suffered a similar injury during Euro 2004 which saw the striker sit out for 14-weeks.
Ferguson has confirmed that Carlos Tevez will make his full debut in place of Rooney at Portmsouth on Wednesday.
ContinuedBolton hit by Davies and Vaz Te injuries
Bolton will be without striker Kevin Davies for up to six weeks after he suffered a torn hamstring in Saturday’s defeat at the hands of Newcastle. Davies was subbed on the hour mark and his replacement, new signing, Heidar Helguson, is now likely to go straight into the lineup against his former club Fulham on Wednesday night.
Ricardo Vaz Te also picked up a knock at the weekend and he is due to have a scan on a foot injury today. He is also therefore a major doubt for Wednesday’s game which should mean that Diouf will be rewarded with a starting role after coming on for Vaz Te at half-time against Newcastle. Christian Wilhelmsson is another option however, the Swedish winger received his international clearance earlier today and will be in the squad against Fulham.
Weekend Scout Notes
Week one and already the best laid plans go out of the window. Wayne Rooney’s cursed luck with foot injuries strikes again and half a million Fantasy Football teams throughout the land are admitted for major surgery. It wasn’t just Rooney causing Fantasy Managers problems this weekend, a couple of Premiership Managers had the cheek to field formations and lineups that tore up the pre-season research, just so they could win themselves three points. How selfish can you get?
Continued
