Archive for September, 2007
Sunday/Monday Team News
Andy Johnson will have a late fitness test for Everton’s clash with Boro while Arteta still has a chance to make it apparently. Boro have their own problems with Mido and Tuncay touch and go to start. Villa meanwhile go to Spurs without Carew on Monday with Petrov or Harewood in the frame to start. Get the team news for the week’s remaining games here.
ContinuedTerry suffers cheekbone fracture
Chelsea’s frustration from today’s stalemate with Fulham was compounded by an injury to skipper John Terry. Terry was taken off at half-time with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone. Chelsea have since announced that Terry will be operated on later tonight and have yet to issue a statement on a term of absence.
There is a chance that Terry will have a plate fitted into his cheekbone which will allow him to continue training. However he’s set to miss Chelsea’s Champions League tie with Valencia in midweek. He’ll also be a major concern for McClaren of course with England set to play Estonia and Russia in October.
Ben-Haim and Alex are set to form a makeshift central defensive partnership against Valencia and may well be called into action in Chelsea’s next few Premiership games at Bolton next weekend and at Boro on October 20.
ContinuedDrogba returns to cheer Chelsea
Avram Grant has been handed a massive boost prior to his first game in front of the Stamford Bridge crowd with the news that Didier Drogba is fit for selection. Grant announced earlier today that Drogba had overcome his recent injury concerns and that “probably Didier will be back”. He’s almost certain to come straight back into the side to partner Shevchenko as Grant opts for a 4-4-2. Drogba also comes straight back into my shortlist for the weekend games - although the likes the Adebayor, Van Persie and Anelka still look stronger bets to get among the points given Chelsea’s current form.
Grant went on to confirm that both Lampard and Carvalho were also near returns. Both could figure in Chelsea’s Champions League tie in midweek but seem more likely to come into contention for Chelsea’s visit to Bolton next weekend.
ContinuedBellamy back, Kanu a doubt…
Just thought I’d post an update after scouring the team news around the web this morning. There’s a couple of significant updates namely the likely return of Craig Bellamy to the West Ham side to face Arsenal and the major doubts surrounding Kanu’s fitness prior to their game with Reading.
Bellamy looks a decent shout against Arsenal in a game that looks set to have plenty of goals. He and Ashton should certainly cause a few problems although nothing like Fabregas et al is likley to cause the Hammers at the other end. Kanu meanwhile looked another decent bet for points against Reading at Fratton Park. His place looks set to go to Benjani although Nugent could be considered after his goal in midweek. Neither appeals although Utaka is still worth a look.
Elsewhere Forssell is out for a month with a hernia. Bianchi is out with a groin injury so Mpenza will start with Samaras on the bench. Hleb will have a late test for Arsenal while Hargreaves could be on the bench or better for United at Birmingham. Mido and Tuncay are fit for Boro as is Viduka for Newcastle.
I’ve updated the shortlists in the right menu accordingly, which includes correcting the omission of Rooney. An oversight, although I still think the Birmingham game will be tough for United. Some Ronaldo magic the difference perhaps?
ContinuedWeekend Team News
The sweepstake for Rafa’s team selection starts here. Anyone who can correctly name the Liverpool lineup for the weekend wins the right to feel smug at least until Wednesday when it all gets shuffled around again. I’ve had a go at predicting the rest of the lineups for the weekend, hopefully with a little more success, here.
ContinuedOwen injury opens the way for Martins
Finally it seems we have some clarity with regards to the Owen injury situation. Owen has a abductor muscle tear which could well lead to a hernia. The England man is likely to go under the knife later this week and will face at least 3-weeks on the sidelines. Allardyce has commented that he will not rush Owen back and a return on October 22 against Spurs is the earliest possible target date.
This all comes as a blow to McClaren of course and to any Fantasy Manager who lept on the Owen bandwagon off the back of his mini-goal rush. The absence does however open the door once more for Obafemi Martins who started the season so brightly with a brace at Bolton. With Ameobi also nursing a groin injury suffered against Arsenal last night and Viduka’s fitness hardly ever assured, Martins should now figure in Newcastles forthcoming games against City, Everton and Spurs.
ContinuedWeekend Scout Notes - Carry On Abroad
Determined to keep the site updated during my holiday period, I’m updating this from my hotel lobby on my new laptop across a rather dodgy connection. Nonetheless, helped along by the countless Brit Bars fed by Sky Spots on the Canary Islands, my Scout Notes are of familiar length and breadth. Be warned though, future updates this week may well be hampered by sun cream leaking onto my keyboard or the hotel staff realising I’m dismantling their modem and lobby pc setup to get myself connected. The danger of being found out just adds an extra thrill to each post…
ContinuedAgger and Alonso blow for Rafa
Liverpool have been rocked by the news that both Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso will be absence through injury for a significant period. Agger has been diagnosed with a broken metatarsal while Alonso has apparently suffered a similar setback. Depending on the rehabilitation period both players are said to be out for at least six weeks.
The absence of Agger is the more significant for Fantasy Managers. Hypia now seems certain to get a run of games in the side alongside Carragher and will now become a popular transfer target. Arbeloa is also an option for Rafa and Agger’s absence seems set to further secure his place in the starting lineup. Mascherano and Sissoko will fight it out for the midfield spot alongside Gerrard.
ContinuedWhere now for Chelsea?
So Jose’s gone and Avram Grant has been put in place as manager at Stamford Bridge this morning - just where does that Chelsea on the eve of the clash with United at the weekend? If you were going to have a stab at speculating on the reaction of the players to the move, you’d plump for a somewhat negative one. Jose clearly had a close relationship, at least with his key players. Grant could face the same kind of reaction from his dressing room as he is sure to face from the terraces. It’s clear he faces a massive task to turn an already stuttering Chelsea lineup into one that can come away with something from Old Trafford. Long term, Chelsea will surely look elsewhere for a managerial solution, maybe Gus Hiddink as widely discussed today. In the short term a title challenge now looks like a momentous task and the reality of that begins this weekend.
Fantasy Managers are fortunate in that injuries to Lampard and Drogba will have already seen many sell on the Chelsea crown jewels. Those who have clung on to the pair, along with the likes of Terry and Malouda must seriously consider the effects of today’s move on form that has already stalled at Villa Park and against Rosenborg in midweek. Certainly until we have a view on Grant’s lineup, which won’t come until both Lampard and Drogba are fit, there appears to be too much uncertainty around Chelsea to risk holding on to their players for the next month or so.
ContinuedWeekend Scout Notes
Having made the most of the International break I’ve returned with a bumper set of notes from the weekend’s games, written on the back of hours of broken sleep whilst camped in a festival field. Perfect preparation for guiding you through the ins and outs of the last round of Premiership matches. Forgive me if I get delirious half way through, I think Jason Koumas scoring at last was all too much for me.
Continued
