Archive for January, 2008
Updated Scout Picks
Refresh the screen and you’ll get a view of my Scout Weeks for this week’s Premiership matches.
As I explained in an earlier post, these are coming a few days before the bulk of this week’s fixtures in order to make the deadline for the popular fantasy premier league game. Should any of the picks pick up injuries or suspension over the weekend’s FA Cup games, I’ll discuss some alternatives in an additional post. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that and all the FPL managers enjoy an injury free Cup weekend.
Now let’s have a brief chat about my selection…
ContinuedUpdated Team News
It’s a funny old week in fantasy football with the gameweek in the Fantasy Premier League game starting this Saturday, even though the bulk of the games won’t be played until Tuesday and Wednesday. That’s meant I’ve put together a first pass at the team news for you, although this will be updated in full after this weekend’s cup action for those playing other fantasy games.
If you’re playing the FPL game then, you’re risking players getting injured over the weekend and you could also be a victim of rest and rotation. With that in mind, you might want to consider players from those clubs not taking part in Cup action.: Villa, Blackburn, Sunderland, Birmingham, Bolton, Fulham, Everton and West Ham have no FA Cup commitments before their Premiership fixtures.
My current player rankings were updated last night and I’ll be going over these one more time later this evening before naming my Scout Picks in time for the FPL gameweek deadline.
ContinuedPlayer Rankings Updated
Another subtle change here - I’ve changed the “Shortlists” to “Player Rankings” to make them more self-explanatory. I’ve also decided to cull the lists each week in order to make my selections more focused. As a rule then I’ll try to offer 8-10 options, at the most, in all positions with around 4-5 Keeper choices.
As always my rankings are based on factors such as this week’s fixtures, current form, player value etc.
I’ve updated the rankings for all positions tonight for the forthcoming Premiership games from January 26-30. These will probably have some tweaks before I make my final picks tomorrow, but they offer some clues as to how I’m currently thinking.
ContinuedEverton vs Chelsea Scout Notes
Chelsea reached their second consecuctive Carling Cup final with a stubborn performance and a simple but stunning goal from Joe Cole. Here’s my notes on last night’s game…
ContinuedTuesday Night Scout Notes
Spurs tear Arsenal asunder in the Carling Cup which proves all too much for Adebayor and Bendtner. Meanwhile in the Cup that matters marginally more, Derby sneak past Wednesday on pens while Bristol Rovers ensure that Fulham get to concentrate on the league from this point on. Here’s my notes on last night’s events…
ContinuedSome Site Tweaks
Okay, you may have noticed some subtle tweaks to the site. I’ve made a couple of key changes to the front page that will hopefully tidy things up, give visitors a little more control over content and keep you all more up to date with the goings on that concern fantasy managers.
ContinuedLiverpool Vs Villa Scout Notes
Crouch comes off the bench, shakes off rumours of a return move to Portsmouth and keeps Rafa’s feet under the desk at Liverpool. Here’s my notes on last night’s events at Anfield.
ContinuedLampard 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.
ContinuedWeekend Scout Notes
There was bound to be goals at St James’ Park this weekend. No chance of a clean sheet with King Kev’s magic in the air and the Bolton defence in town. Meanwhile, down at Fratton Park, what chance did Benjani have of getting a hat-trick when nobody has been able to find the net for Portsmouth in nine hours? At least you can rely on Ronaldo and Bramble to be predictable. Here’s my notes on the weekend’s funny business…
ContinuedRichardson blow for Black Cats
Sunderland have lost Kieron Richardson for “two to three weeks” to a hamstring injury according to Roy Keane [source].
Richardson was absent from the team sheet yesterday having sparkled with a brace against Portsmouth last weekend from a new central midfield position. However he picked up an injury in training and was unable to take up the same role against Spurs.
The midfielder has missed the majority of the season with a serious back injury but his goals against Portsmouth hinted at the form he was capable of and alerted fantasy managers to his potential as a mid-price option.
His absence is a bitter blow to Keane who has already lost Ross Wallace for the season with another training ground injury. It now looks as though Murphy , who started in Richardson’s position yesterday, will have the opportunity for further starts until Richardson’s return against Wigan on February 9 or perhaps more realistically, Portsmouth on February 23.
Continued
