My ramblings return to dissect a Saturday of thrills, spills and unpredictable hat-tricks and a Sunday of attritious “big games” that delivered more bookings than goals. Lawrenson was right and that can never be a good thing.
Birmingham 1 Reading 1
Club skipper Damien Johnson returned for the suspended Nafti as expected. McCleish paired Forssell up wih Jerome, shifting McSheffrey out wide and dropping De Ridder to the bench. Djourou missed out with his pelvic injury so Sadler continued in central defence. Kapo’s absence from the sixteen and the decision to drop De Ridder clearly shows that McCleish is looking for a strong work ethic over creativity. Birmingham are becoming hard to beat but aside from the front two of Jerome and Forssell, there’s few attacking options for Fantasy Managers in their lineup. Their next three fixtures are favourable however, with a trip to Bolton followed by home games with Boro and Fulham.
Reading were unchanged from the side that saw off Liverpool last time out. Hunt scored his second penalty of the season and is clearly the designated spot kick taker over Doyle and Kitson. That makes him a decent mid-price option along with the usual trio of Doyle, Kitson and Shorey. Reading’s Christmas fixtures are okay but don’t promise too many points – they avoid the big four, visiting Sunderland next before trips to West Ham and Spurs.
Injuries and Suspensions
Reading lost Gunnarsson to a knee injury on 28 minutes and is looking a major doubt for next weekend.
Ridgewell picked up his fifth booking of the season and will miss the trip to Bolton.
Derby 0 Middlesbrough 2
Paul Jewell brought in Mears for McEveley in defence, switching Griffin to left-back. Teale started in midfield for Fagan who dropped from the sixteen. Leacock continued in midfield with Barnes pushed up to support Miller up front. Howard was on the bench. As usual there’s little to say about Derby – little or no potential targets and their form remains dire despite Jewell’s arrival.
Boro made just one change, Schwarzer returning from injury to replace Turnbull in goal. Tuncay struck his third goal in three games from a Downing cross. Without making reference to “Turkey for Christmas”, Tuncay is emerging as a decent target, particularly if classed as midfielder. He’s a striker in most games however, and priced quite highly. Downing may win some new Fantasy suitors as Boro’s form continues to improve. Wheater in defence is another decent option – he’s cheap, playing well and can threaten goals from set-pieces. Boro’s fixtures are pretty decent and promise goals with West Ham at home next, followed by trips to Birmingham and Portsmouth.
Injuries and Suspensions
Derby lost Griffin to injury after 29 minutes.
Fulham 0 Newcastle 1
Sanchez dropped Kuqi to the bench and recalled Healy alongside Dempsey with Kamara absent through suspension. Bouazza came in on the left of midfield. Bocanegra ousted Konchesky at left-back. Last-minute heartbreak for Fulham who will doubtless bring Kamara back for the crucial game against Wigan. Trips to Spurs and Birmingham follow that.
Allardyce lost Taylor with a hamstring injury so Cacapa returned to central defence after returning to fitness. Smith once again started up front with Martins while Butt recovered from a stomach muscle strain to take his spot in midfield. Barton tucked away the 90th minute winning penalty, his first Newcastle goal, and could well keep the spot kick duties throughout the season. As always Newcastle remain an unpredictable source for Fantasy Managers. Their next two games against Derby at home and Wigan away do promise some attacking points making Milner and Martins worth a look. Beyond that though the fixtures get tough and Martins departs for the African Nations in January.
Man City 4 Bolton 2
Elano failed his fitness test so Gelson kept his place in midfield despite Hamann’s return from suspension. Bianchi earned a start up front as exptected wih Vassell shifting out to the right-wing and Etuhu dropping to the bench. The most significant change however saw Garrido dropped to the bench and Ball brought in at left-back. Garrido could have done enough to win his place back next weekend however, coming on for Petrov to set up the final goal. Having conceded two at home for the first time, Sven may well revert to his familiar back four for the trip to Villa next weekend so don’t be too quick to flog Garrido.
Megson made just one change, bringing in Michalik for Andy O’Brien in central defence. Nolan continues to thrive under Megson and is emerging as a decent midfield target. Bolton’s next five games aren’t too tough and Anelka’s return could pick up once again. It’s Birmingham at home next, followed by trips to Everton and Sunderland. Derby and Blackburn at home follow in the New Year.
Portsmouth 0 Tottenham 1
Portsmouth remained unchanged from the side that won at Villa last time out. They continue to struggle at home while Benjani has gone five games without a goal. Krancjar, Muntari and the back four remain the best potential targets as we go into Christmas. Pompey face a trip to Liverpool next, followed by home games with Arsenal and Boro.
Ramos was forced into changes with Dawson missing out at the last minute through illness. Zokora shifted to the back and Prince-Boateng coming into midfield. Bent started alongside Berbatov, ahead of Defoe despite his brace against City last weekend. Berbatov hit the winner here and is showing sporadic form and Spurs, like Newcastle, are an unpredictable source of Fantasy points, particularly while Keane is suspended. It’s Arsenal next followed by home games with Fulham and Reading which appear to offer decent points potential with Keane back in their side.
Injuries and Suspensions
Pamarot picked up an injury and was replaced by Hreidarsson on 74 minutes.
Sunderland 1 Aston Villa 1
Keane made a number of changes. Skipper Whitehead move to right-back with Halford dropping out. Yorke came into the midfield as did Murphy who ousted Leadbitter to the bench. Stokes came in to partner Jones up front with Cole benched. Ward kept the keeper’s jersey ahead of Gordon. It’s no goals in the last six for Jones as Sunderland struggle for firepower. Little of note amongst the Sunderland ranks then as they go into Christmas with a crucial trip to Reading followed by home games with United and Bolton.
Villa were unchanged from the side that lost to Portsmouth. Along with Portsmouth, Everton and City, Villa continue to offer a consistent lineup and a couple of decent mid-price Fantasy buys. However, Agbonlahor has now gone four games without a goal while Carew is hardly prolific. It’s also no clean sheet in three for Laursen and the defence. Barry and Young are further options but their return will depend on Villa finding form against City, Chelsea and Wigan over Christmas.
West Ham 0 Everton 2
Carlton Cole passed a fitness test and lined up alongside Ashton. Solano returned as expected after being cup-tied in midweek. Ljungberg kept his place with Boa-Morte dropped out of the sixteen. Collins returned from injury and came in for Gabbidon who was reportedly suffering from illness although he was at fault for Everton’s winning goal in midweek. West Ham’s lineup and form continues to be too inconsistent to make Fantasy Managers take notice. Solano is perhaps the one temptation, his form and prominent role in set-pieces and build up play could offer some points over Christmas.
Everton were unchanged from the Carling Cup tie with Jagielka continuing in central defence with Lescott at left-back. McFadden was back on the bench with Anichebe dropping out of the sixteen. It was another outstanding result for Everton with yet another goal for red hot Yakubu. It’s United away next, followed by home games with Bolton and Arsenal. A difficult run of games but such is the form the likes of Lescott, Arteta, Cahill and Yakubu should remain high on the shortlist.
Injuries and Suspensions
Carlton Cole was replaced at half-time and was clearly struggling for fitness.
Wigan 5 Blackburn 3
Bruce made a number of notable changes. He brought in Brown and Taylor for Granqvist and Koumas. That meant Scharner moved back to central defence alongside Bramble with Taylor out on the left of midfield. Heskey was declared fit and lined up with Bent. Sibierski was still sidelined.
Koumas now looks doomed to the bench over Christmas given the five goal spree Wigan found here. Effectively it was Taylor who took his place and he looked sharp, contributing attacking runs and decent set-piece delivery along with plenty of defensive cover. Bruce seems likely to stick with him which will put Fantasy Managers on alert. Taylor is classed as a defender and a cheap one at that. He earned an assist for Scharner’s goal here and will be behind corners and free-kicks when selected. Bent’s form flourishes and he is now a realistic budget target over Christmas when Wigan face a trip to Fulham, followed by home games with Newcastle and Villa. Scharner is also a decent buy although could occupy a central defensive position as he did today. The likely absence of Heskey however, after his injuy suffered in this game, could effect form. His recent absence, before the arrival of Bruce, coincided with a severe slump of form.
Mark Hughes also made changes following a recent poor run of results. Reid started for the first time, paired with Savage in central midfield. Nelson came in for the injured Ooijer after returning from suspension. Pedersen kept his place and Bentley also returned from suspension on the right of midfield. Dunn and Mokoena were on the bench and Tugay was out of the sixteen.
Expect changes next weekend as the dip in form continues. This defeat was brightened by Santa Cruz’s hat trick which literally came out of nowhere. McCarthy, in contrast continues to struggle and suffered a penalty miss here. Derbyshire seems likely to get his chance soon. It’s Chelsea at home next, followed by trips to City and Derby over Christmas.
Injuries and Suspensions
Heskey was forced off after 41-minutes with what looked like a nasty ankle injury. He is likely to be a doubt for the trip to Fulham.
Emerton saw red for two bookable offences but will serve a 1-match ban in the Carling Cup tie in midweek. Samba who picked up his fifth booking of the season, will however miss the Chelsea game next weekend. With Ooijer injured, that leaves Blackburn’s defensive options severely stretched.
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 0
Arsenal were boosted by the return of Fabregas, Flamini and Helb and all three started in a 4-5-1. Van Persie was on the bench with Adebayor the lone striker. It’s likely Wenger will shift to 4-4-2 next time out, particularly as Eboue would appear to be a major doubt having been stretchered off in this game. Gallas once again provided a reminder of just how regularly he can crop up with a goal. This latest effort edges him in front of Toure and Clichy in the Fantasy pecking order amongst the Arsenal back four. However, the clean sheet was only Arsenal’s second in the last eight Premiership matches.
Chelsea started with Ferreira at right-back with Belletti benched. Makelele started in midfield with Essien serving the last match of his 3-match ban. Schevchenko was the lone striker with Cole and Wright-Phillips in support. Chelsea created chances here and found Almunia on superb form, but the lack of a cutting edge up front was still apparent. Lampard has earned just one goal and one assist in the last five games and its clear that Drogba’s absence is not helping his output. The visit to Blackburn and home games with Villa and Newcastle will need to see a turnaround in fortune for Lampard otherwise he’ll be sure to go in the Fantasy January sales with Drogba off to the African Cup of Nations.
Defensively, the Belletti vs Ferreira issue is significant. Grant certainly seems to favour Ferreira for the bigger games, including Champions League. With such doubt hanging over Belletti, it would appear that Alex could emerge as a popular buy in the weeks to come. Terry’s injury in this match should ensure that Alex continues his run of games over the Christmas period. We’ll know more on that in the next couple of days.
Injuries and Suspensions
John Terry hobbled from the field after 40-minutes but despite the fears of a broken metatarsal, initial scans have revealed that there is no break but a further scan will assess if there is ligament damage. Terry is certainly a doubt for the midweek Carling Cup tie and the weekend game with Blackburn.
Eboue was stretchered off for Arsenal in the second-half. He has suffered a knee-ligament strain and a scan will follow in th next 48-hours according to Wenger.
Liverpool 0 Man United 1
Rafa in predictable lineup shock. Liverpool lined up unchanged from the side that destroyed Marseille. They were without Finnan through injury so Arbeloa was at right-back with Riise on the left. Kewell took the left midfield berth and he stuck with Kuyt and Torres up front and Benayoun on the right of midfield. It was as you were elsewhere with Alonso and Agger still absent but only perhaps a week or less away from a return. Alonso is being lined up for a return against Chelsea in the Carling Cup in midweek. You can certainly expect changes next weekend. Liverpool’s inability to carve out chances against United almost guarantee’s that Crouch, Voronin, Alonso and Babel will figure to some degree.
United almost lined up as expected although Hargreaves ousted Carrick to the bench after returning to fitness. O’Shea also shook off his knock to take a place on the bench. It was a familiar lineup elsewhere for United with Brown continuing at right-back in Neville’s absence. Neville has returned to full training however and reportedly should figure before Christmas. There was little to say about United aside from the fact that it was a superb defensive display in the second-half. Vidic and Ferdinand were rock solid as ever while Tevez continued to flourish, hitting his first away goal in a United shirt.