Updated Team News
I’ve done a full pass over the team news to bring you the very latest juice from around the Premiership grounds. Here’s some of the more notable of the fresh pickings…
From the noises going around it looks as though Vidic will make the trip to Stamford Bridge after training this morning. Ferguson hints at “one or two changes” and I personally feel that we will see Anderson in midfield to cope with the power of Essien. Brown should return to right-back and Tevez benched. Giggs could well displace Park in midfield which will leave him and Hargreaves in reserve.
On the blue side of Merseyside, Moyes doesn’t sound too pleased with Arteta as the midfielder remained in Spain for another day of treatment on his stomach and groin injuries. The Everton man is now looking more unlikely to turn out against Villa on Sunday. Osman looks certain to return though.
Over at Sunderland, Bardsley is out for the rest of the season for Sunderland as he prepares to go under the knife for a torn cartliage in his knee. Fellow defender Evans is rated 50-50 for the clash with Boro.
Portsmouth’s David James is a slight doubt with a calf injury according to physioroom. There’s little verification of that injury right now and, given that James has been ever-present this season, I’d expect him to start against Blackburn.
Finally, lets have a lovely quote from Rafa on his team selection for tomorrow’s game with Birmingham. Will he rest players as he did at Fulham? Over to Rafa…
“Yes, my idea is to try and win and we saw the other day that we can do it with the squad.”
Thank you very much Mr Benitez. At least we know what to expect, if only we could say the same about Wenger’s lineup on Monday. I’m guessing we’re all guessing on that one.
I’ve captained adebayor with all this talk of fab being rested. Foolish or wise? What do you think?
Can’t see many clean sheet bankers this week, but you’ve all worked that much out anyway.
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‘Guess the Gooners’ really is this week’s hot topic, eh. I say that most of the usual suspects will play, including AdFab. Ad’s a fair enough captaincy choice in my book.
Any hot betting tips this week, Leighton? Not that I ever bet on football - European water polo’s more my thing.
PS Where’s the Scout Picks? The Neckster can’t head off to the golden beaches yet and I’m feeling soooo sorry for him…
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Reply by Leighton on April 25, 2008 8:42 pm:
After my recent track record on the betting front, luke-warm might be the better adjective…I’d have more chance with the European water polo!
I usually wait for Yer Dad to put his false teeth in on a Saturday morning before my weekly bets come out. Here we are then - nothing really sticks out this week but I have a few hunches:
Wigan to win by 2 goals or more (100-30)
Half Time/Full Time: Chelsea/draw (16-1)
Darius Vassell to score the last goal in the game v Fulham (15-2)
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Reply by puffinboy on April 25, 2008 8:53 pm:
Interesting. If I had a house I’d bet it on Wigan drawing with Reading, who’ll be fighting like tigers in a barrel for their survival. Wigan don’t even need to win, really.
Despite him being relatively rubbish on clay, I think Feds will knock off the Djoker in the semis and Roids-Boy Nadal in the Monte Carlo final at a currently-tasty 6.6 on betfair. So that’s my weekend tip.
I wonder where MJ and his magical mystery Man U squad selections are these days…?
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Reply by yer dad on April 25, 2008 9:22 pm:
I like the 16/1 Chelsea blah blah as yer mum thinks it will be uno-uno. She is taking Spanish lessons.
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glad i don’t bet, those are pants odds
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Reply by puffinboy on April 25, 2008 9:04 pm:
Do you mean the tennis or football bets? You can always lay against them then; that’s the beauty of exchanges betting - sign up, offer 7 or 8’s and I’m sure someone will oblige you.
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Reply by Guy Incognito on April 26, 2008 9:17 pm:
Think he was trying to be generally insulting, I don’t think he actually put any thought in to the value of the bets…
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Lads, I wanna take in an Arsenal defender, which one you reckon best bet?
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Reply by puffinboy on April 25, 2008 9:09 pm:
CK, we’ve been here (at least) twice before this week - I say Gallas, you think Clichy. It’s not gonna make much difference in the end - they should both play and both get cleans, but Gallas has 4 goals and no assists and Clichy has 4 assists and no goals.
Let’s split the difference and go for Toure.
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Reply by CK on April 25, 2008 9:18 pm:
Toure it is, matter closed!
Now where is that Mark with those scout pics, honestly you just can’t get the staff these days!
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Reply by Marc on April 25, 2008 9:23 pm:
I brought in Clichy. He’s speedy and offers more of a chance of bonus in my opinion. I agree with puffinboy, I think your good with either Clichy or Gallas. I don’t think Toure is worth his 6.5 pricetage compared to the other two.
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i’ve gone with toure, but reckon gallas could score and clichy could get assists. I went with toure because wenger might rest those in euro 2008 and didn’t want to take a risk, bout time toure scored a 30 yard free kick anyway, don’t reckon he’s got one yet this season
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Reply by CK on April 25, 2008 9:31 pm:
I’d rather go with Gallas or Clichy but their risk of rest is too much!
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In the absence of the Messiah’s scout picks, here are weird looking untitled guy’s, justifying his selection in no more than 10 words:
Hart - Cheap as chips.
Woodgate - Spurs have to keep a clean sheet eventually right?
Scharner - Bonus magnet.
Geremi - A defender on set pieces? Deal Noel!
Gallas - Erm, it’s Derby.
Ronaldo - How can you say no?
Reid - That little Irish porker sure can play.
Fabregas - see Gallas. Untitled’s pick for captain.
Petrov - Fulham are looking like Rick Waller on thin ice.
Berbatov - A return to form expected for the crowd-pleasing Bulgarian.
Adebayor - see Galls or Fabregas. Even if he’s a sub geddim.
Hey, this ain’t so hard…
Erm, Mark… come back soon!
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Reply by puffinboy on April 25, 2008 9:37 pm:
If Mark stays away much longer you might be getting a new job, Mr Untitled. I still think it’s a 3-defender week, though.
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Reply by Untitled on April 25, 2008 9:43 pm:
Yeah I agree but I tried to stick to Messiah’s standard of 4-4-2 to accomodate the managers who don’t have a choice of formation. The poor souls.
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Reply by puffinboy on April 25, 2008 9:44 pm:
Can you turn that eerie grin into a frown? Just wondering, like.
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Reply by NM on April 25, 2008 9:49 pm:
Everyone loves that fat man Reid in Sunderlands midfield…and who could blame them!
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If I have a bad gameweek, I make him frown. Notice that you’ve never seen him frown
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Reply by puffinboy on April 25, 2008 9:50 pm:
If I have a good GW, the smoke never blows out of the Puffin’s ‘arris. Notice that you’ve never seen that either.
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Reply by Untitled on April 25, 2008 9:55 pm:
Here’s to a creepy grin and bird smoke come Monday…
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I think Mark has Wenger in a headlock as we speak… “Who the F**k are you resting?.. I have scout picks to pick you muppet”
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Dad! You’re here!
Can’t wait any longer. AdFab and damn the torpedoes for me this week.
Puffin: thanks for the thoughts.
Pops: where the hell you been. Stuck in a coal mine again?
Tide’s a rollin’ in and TheNecromacer is rollin’ out.
Cheers all,
-TheN
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Reply by puffinboy on April 25, 2008 10:04 pm:
Surf’s for losers. Table skittles in Canvey Island’s where it’s at these days.
Go well, Neck.
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