Lampard comeback on hold
Frank Lampard has suffered setback in his fight for fitness following a thigh muscle injury and he is now reportedly a potential doubt for the England friendly with Switzerland on February 6.
Reports are suggesting that Lampard suffered further damage to his thigh in training on Friday and was forced to withdraw from the squad for the visit to Birmingham. That’s meant that treatment has had to resume and that Lampard will face another period of rehabilitation.
Lampard will now be targeting a return against Reading at the end of the month but today’s reports suggest that even that is in doubt.
This is all good news for owners of Ballack who looks set to get at least another couple of games without the prospect of Lampard threatening his place in the side. The ankle injury to Wright-Phillips on Saturday could even see Lampard lineup alongside Ballack come February, should today’s scan for Wright-Phillips reveal the need for a prolonged absence for the in-form midfielder.
Any idea on the brown v. neville situation?
I want to use my transfer this week to swap c.cole for k.jones, although don’t want to use it up and find that neville is going to start at the weekend.
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I’m in exactly same position Mark! Can anyon throw any light on this?????
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Difficult this one but there are clues. United have left for Saudi and I believe play a match tonight. Neville, Scholes and Saha have been left behind. It was hoped that Neville would go which appears to indicate that this weekend will be too soon for him.
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Nice one Mark!
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Why didn’t Mellberg get the assist!?
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He did. He got 2pts for minuets played, 3pts for an assist and -1 for conceding 2 goals. Overall 4pts.
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Ok- am swapping out Berbatov this week.
Straight swap for either Anelka or Adebayor…
Who’s got more chance of scoring?
Anelka breaking his Chelsea duck vs Reading?
Or Adebayor punishing Keegan’s army?
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Adebayor is cheaper but i would go for Anelka. He hasnt scored for a while
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Anyone know what Senderos has done to his hooter and how long he might be out for?
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Arsenal actually play Newcastle twice in 3 days…
Which could be a good or bad thing if you want/have Adebayor. Newcastle could resist and turn out to be a tough opponent in the first game, but be exhausted by the second and concede a lot of goals. Or they could be crap in the first game, but hold their own and by the second game will be more familiar with Arsenal’s strategies and not break down.
Then again, who knows if it will be the same Arsenal playing both games…
And…and…oh, whatever. We’ll see when we see.
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puffinlad,
Think the poor old blighter broke his hooter…
He is a bit of a walking disaster.
I remember him scoring for Switzerland with a ‘header’ a couple of years ago.. and ran away to celebrate with blood pouring from his nose..
I initially read he would be fit for the Spurs game tonight, although not now.. but I can’t imagine he’ll miss any more games.
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The temptation to transfer in Adebayor increases by the day, despite the fact that it will only mean me being able to match people in my private league: he’s scored 5 goals in his last 6 games and it’s hard to believe that he went all of October without scoring. He just seems to get better with each game and much as it pains me to say it, he is a guaranteed goalscorer/points scorer at the moment. Arsenal can turn over Newcastle by a couple of goals at least and they should be able to score and at least get a draw against Man City at Eastlands, as that fortress is starting look like it’s built on sand…
Looking at the alternatives there are very few: I have lost total faith in Agbonlahor - Aston Villa have scored 21 goals in their last 10 games and he’s contributed only 1 goal in that time.
Benjani flatters to deceive - Portsmouth have only scored 11 goals in their last 11 games (partly when they had their full quota of players): he has contributed 4 of them and although his hattrick was excellent I can’t see him get any change of the Man Utd or Chelsea defences.
I am looking at two “over-priced” players; Andy Johnson is starting to find his form for Everton (now Yakubu is away etc.) - he has scored in his last two full games and Everton have a reasonable set of games in the next month.
Torres is out if reach for me pricewise, but given a full game he is always dangerous for Liverpool and he has scored 7 times in the 11 “full” gamnes he’s played this season. However, he is not a guaranteed starter and at 10.5 million (in the FPL) he isn’t much value. Aside from Chelsea, Liverpool’s goal-leakers don’t have a bad run of games over the next few weeks.
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Mark,
Do you think Santa Cruz is worth sticking with? Thinking about swapping him out for either Eduardo or Adebayor (which would mean taking a 4 point hit), but don’t want the usual to happen: a player scoring loads once I get rid of him. Any chance of that you reckon? Or has he lost his form?
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cheers Greggy old chap. I was worried poor Sendimoff hadn’t been chopping ‘em out finely enough for a minute there…
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Is anybody else losing patience with the lack of clean sheets from the Liverpool defence?
I am worried that if I duck out now, I’ll end up missing the boat when things improve?
Any advice?
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Speaking as a less-than-gruntled fan, Reds’ defenders are very poor vfm now, with the rotation and the clean sheet deficiencies. And Hyppia has the SINGLE goal scored by a Liverpool defender this season.
Arbeloa is packing his bags and awaiting his taxi out of Puffin Towers as we speak. Darken not my doorstep again, fool.
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I think allot of guys here are in the same boat. Wanting to take in point earners but avoiding the obvious names cos people around you in your leagues have them.
I have avoided Adebayor cos 3 people above me have him. I have hoped his goal fest would end but it hasnt. I am now seriously tempted to buy him… cos I just can’t see who else can bag goals on a consistant basis.
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I can only get him if I take a 4 point hit and the differnce between me and number 2 in my league is only 14 points now. So don’t think I’ll risk it. Will stick with useless Santa Cruz for another week.
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BTW: I have Keane, Bent and Benjani and recently got rid of Abgonlahor. It’s just not happening for me at the mo!
I also agree with guy who said Benjani is shit. I have him too long to know that a hatrick is a flash in the pan. I want rid but WHO REPLACES HIM???
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who do we reckon has more potential for points this week, EDUARDO or ADEBAYOR?
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Colin have you considered Young?
Or, if you can afford him, Johnson? Seems to behitting form…
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I agree with all the sentiments on Adebayor. He is undoubtedly the main man in Arsenal’s attack, and is indispensable to the Gooners at the moment, especially with Eduardo not hitting top form, and van Persie still out for the forseeable future.
Adebayor can score with his head from crosses or long balls. But his pace also allows him to run onto throughballs from the likes of Fabregas and Hleb.
I can’t think of another striker in fantsay football at the moment who shares all these attributes AND remains indispensable to his team.
Go buy him, quick- only limited stocks remain…
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So worthy of a 4 point hit? I just know as soon as I do it Santa’s gonna score another hat trick…
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re: the case for Mr Cruz.
Santa’s similar in that he’s decent in the air and on the ground, can run on to through balls (admittedly without the pace of Ade, but I’d say he’s a more natural finisher to counter that), is also pretty indispensable - and is £1m cheaper. It’s not an easy call.
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He hasn’t done anything for weeks, but looking at Benjani that could actually be a good sign…
But is he really gonna do anything v. Villa?
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.. then he’s got Everton and Arsenal.
Also just read on BBC website that Blackburn are hoping to sign a Bulgarian U21 international striker on loan until the end of the season. Not sure if that will affect anything. Probably not!
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Adebayor’s on a hot streak and Arse have slightly better games coming up, I suppose. But apart from bonus pts, Adebayor’s only outscored SC by 3 pts. I don’t see Mr U-21 displacing SC anytime soon - Hughes love the Paraguayan fella, and next to O’Neill is about the least likely rotator out there.
I’d love to have Adebayor alongside SC, but my chairman won’t supply the funds
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Do NOT sell Santa Cruz!!!
Check out his goals - by far the most are scored AWAY from home and I’m sure he’ll do something on Saturday.
I’m giving Petrov one last go but who to replace hime with? I already have Bentley, Ronaldo, Fabregas & Cahill
BTW GAMEWEEK 28: Extra game: - Liverpool vs West Ham.
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Santa is going soon…he’s not bringing in the points like the other strikers are.
My headache is whether to get rid of him this week…AND for a 4-point hit. Unless I do straight swap to Eduardo or Johnson, but I need to liven up my crappy defence.
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I wouldn’t bring Johnson in for Santa Cruz…
I don’t rate Johnson- and he won’t be up against Bramble every week!
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True…just an idea I’ve been toying with.
I just have a feeling Santa’s reached his peak and everyone in my league will have Adebayor by next week. I’ve been top for over 4 months, but am now only 14 points ahead….and my team is a load of shit right now.
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Considering it’s Santa’s first year in the Prem he’s done great to adapt so quickly, and I think (and hope) he’ll keep learning as the season goes on.
Roque on, Tommy!
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thanks mark!
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Yeah, but can he learn and score me some bloody points at the same time?
I got an appaling 6 points for 3 strikers this week.
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Ah, the panic of a long-time leader seeing it slip away…
Better to lie low in second or third and sneak past right at the end
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Yeah…that’s exactly it. Especially since they were all convinced from the beginning I wasn’t gonna win, so I need to prove them wrong.
Problem is the guy who’s gonna take the lead this weekend has a very strong squad and we both haven’t used our wildcards yet, so he’s got the edge.
And I’ve got….Santa.
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Why the delay in using wild cards?
When do you guys think the best time to use it is?
(says he that used it in the second week)
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Santa Cruz was razor sharp over Christmas but has done nothing in the last three games.
He could be worth chancing in a predicted open game against Villa, but then Everton and Arsenal come next and those will be tighter affairs.
Blackburn, who have steadily improved under Sparky all season, seem to play their excellent football in patches and don’t always get the right result.
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I played my wildcard just before Christmas when I had three or four consecutive bad weeks - I suppose it is there to offset a few collctive injuries in your team.
The problem with leaving it until late in the season is that the most consistent and best players will be at their highest transfer value, so you have to cheapen some of your team drastically to maintain or transfer in the better players.
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I’m waiting till March (at least, that was my initial plan, but it’s really luring now) when players hit their spring form and the transferred players will have settled in.
I haven’t had to use it before as I was always top of my league. However, after several dramatic weeks in a row I’m very tempted to give in.
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Is there anyone I should get instead of:
Maik Taylor 4.0 (Cerny?)
Wheater 4.2
M.Bent 5.2
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SJould I get Wheater or Belletti for this weekend? Both get goals/assists, Belletti is way more likely to keep a clean sheet, but Wheater would free up a lot of money to spend on a striker.
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Should I get Wheater or Belletti for this weekend? Both get goals/assists, Belletti is way more likely to keep a clean sheet, but Wheater would free up a lot of money to spend on a striker.
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I have enough money to get any defender I already have Belletti, Laursen, Lescott, Wheater and I don’t want Man U players! Who should I get?
I was thinking Carragher, Gallas or Clichy, but Arsenal and Liverpool don’t keep many clean sheets. Clichy gets a few points for assists, Gallas get a few goals, but Carragher doesn’t really do much.
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You don’t want ManU players?
Good luck…
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Ollie get over it. You need at least one ManU defender or player. It’s only a game =)
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Bramble or O’Brien (or Taylor/Baines when fit) and use the rest of the money elsewhere.
)
But if you insist on expensive ones then Gallas. (Clichy has 4 Yellows already
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I’ve done FPL for 5 years and never had a Man U player. I’ve won my league of 50 3 times come 2nd twice, and I’m 2nd now 10 points behind 1st!!!
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I am top of my league by 90 points, so f**kin* what I hear you say. Well, I still have my wildcard and I have never more tempted to use it than this week because I am fed up with my midfield apart from the winking wizard and to strengthen my bench. I say we should all make a Fantasy Scout pact and all use our wildcards this week. Anyone up for it.
Ollie, you still don’t want Man u players. If you are loyal then you should buy 3 Newcastle players.
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P.S I will bet you £50 that you have never won anything without Man utd kids
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Forget I said that or are you telling porkie pies Ollie???
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Win what? I won my league 3 times (most people gave up after week 2!)
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Anyone selling Fabregas? Doesn’t seem to be picking up points like he did :o(
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yea .. but I think I’ll sell Gerrard first before selling him
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I am thinking of shifting fab and bentley this week. I am looking at Hleb but he doesn’t score enough which is my worry and I am also tempted by Arteta as I have a feeling his form is certainly on the up. I will wait for tomorrow nights game and my weekly phone call to him before I decide.
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Anyone who sells Fabregas or Gerard is very foolish!!!
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@ yer dad
Arsenal aren’t playing too well now and their fixtures are quite tough, but similar to Evertons. Arteta is a good player, but I don’t know how many points he’ll get. Nolan is playing well at the moment and looks like scoring, their fixtures are quite good. Also, Jenas is a good option (goal + assist againts Arsenal in CC, he has some easy and hard fixtures coming up though.
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Right. Trading Santa Cruz for Bent to bolster my defence. My question is this:is Laursen a must have? Not bad fixture wise, I can see goals flying in at both ends in the coming games, but often they’ve been coming off his head! I don’t really like him, but is it time to succumb to the lure of Laursen?
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Cheers Ollie, I will wait until 11.25am on sat till I make the wrong decision. Still have a feeling about Arteta though.
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Laursen IS a must in my opinion mate!
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What about Lescott, more clean sheets and maybe goals?
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@ yer dad
Another assists for Jenas (1 goal, 2 assists)
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I already have Jagielka from Everton, and I don’t like relying heavily on one defence
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Lads, I have fallen behind in my league. I NEED YOUR ADVICE!!!!!
GK: James (5.3) Hart (4)
DEF: Richards(5.3), Laursen (5.9), Campbell (5.5), Brown (5.9)
MID: Ronaldo (12.6), Fabregas (10.1), Gerard (10.9), Larsson (4.3)
STRIKERS: Keane (9.2), Benjani (6.2)
SUBS: Bent (5.2), Kapo (5.1), Baird (4.2)
I am thinking of bringing in Lescott for Campbell and Adebayor for Keane?
I want rid of Benjani too. Tough fixtures and last weekend was flash in the pan.
WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR VIEWS!
Who should I get rid off and who should I buy?
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ps: I have 1.1m in bank!
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Yeah another Lescott question, is he essential? I have Laursen and Ferdinand, along with Wheater, Distin and Bramble, with some juggling I could sell either James or Almunia, and bring Hart in.
Another option is to bring Ball in, then I have money to replace Benjani
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Chris - dump richards for belatti or a chelseki defender.. they look pretty sure in defence..should have a enough dosh unless his value goes up
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@Chris
Prefered to sell Gerrard to free up some money but then you’ll become a foolish guy
Lescott for Campbell sounds good, but u need to be fast before Lescott goes to 6.7.
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@ Alex re: Adebayor v Santa.
If the FA charge Ade for biffing his teammate then it might be wise to hold on to the plucky Paraguayan. Unless you really can’t stand him and want to get some donkey like Johnson instead
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Cheers Mad!
Keep the faith, Gerard will be back!!
Just bought Beletti for Campbell. Lescott can’t continue his goal rout! (at least i hope not!)
Now I’m gonna take a 4 point hit for a striker… Ade could be up shit creek so I’ll hold off till that is sorted!!
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Chris,
I would sell James for Cerny to raise money there. Get Ball in for Richards. Should then have enough money to get Adebayor/ tevez etc. I think.
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upgrading benjani with the spare funds.
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Nice one Mark mate thanks. Might just do that!
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