Archive for May, 2008
Grant Shown The Door
Avram Grant was just one slip away from Champions League glory but clearly that wasn’t enough for the Chelsea regime. The club announced that Grant had parted company with the club on Saturday evening, just a few days after the dramatic European final.
It’s not believed that Chelsea have a ready-made replacement lined up, although the club have stated that the search for a new man starts immediately. Guus Hiddink, Frank Rijkaard and Sven are the early favourites to step into the expensive shoes that never really fitted Grant’s feet all that snugly.
It’s likely to be a summer of massive change at Stamford Bridge with some big money flying around. Even at this ridiculously early stage, it looks as though fantasy managers seeking to invest in Chelsea are going to have to take a gamble on a good deal of uncertainty.
ContinuedAnyone For Windass?
Hull booked their place in the Premiership with a 1-0 win over Bristol City with veteran striker Dean Windass firing the winner with a fine first half volley. Windass and his team-mates now join the fantasy roster for next season and deservedly so, but there’s no doubt that manager Phil Brown will have to do some pretty shrewd shopping to give himself a chance of survival next term.
ContinuedThe Season Review - The Defence
Continuing my round-up of the fantasy season, it’s time to turn my attentions to the back four - the clean-sheet farmers who provide the regular returns while Ronaldo earns the big points up field. At least that’s the theory. This season saw the defenders get in on the act when it came to earning the goalscoring glory. That proved pretty handy given the injuries and rotation endured by fantasy managers all season.
ContinuedDegan’s Arrival Brings Further Uncertainty
Rafa Benitez has today boosted his defensive options for next season by confirming the signing of Swiss right-back Philipp Degen from Borussia Dortmund on a free.
“He is an offensive player with great energy and a winning mentality”, remarked Rafa. “His strength is going forward and I am confident he will be prove to be a quality addition to our squad.”
Twenty-five-year-old Degan has 26 Swiss caps to his name and appeared 10 times in a Dortmund shirt last season. He is set to compete directly with both Finnan and Arbeloa for the right-back berth at Anfield.
His arrival will no doubt cause further headaches for fantasy managers when it comes to considering a Liverpool defence that kept 18 clean sheets this term - second only to United and Chelsea. For me, this further competition in the full-back area, combined with the return to fitness of Agger at centre-back, only goes to increase the appeal of Carragher and keeper Reina as the most reliable sources of starts and clean sheets in Rafa’s backline.
ContinuedThe Season Review - The Keepers
I’m back from festival frolics and stateside visits to bring you the first of several reviews of the fantasy season. Breaking it down by each position, I get the ball rolling with my view on the goalkeeping situation, where I question the investment options, whilst offering some early pointers on the shortlist for next season.
ContinuedThe Weekend’s Scout Picks
Refresh your screen for my last scout picks of the season, then read on for the usual blurb behind the selection.
Picks have come early this week because I’m just about to leave for a weekend music festival. That will see me desperately trying to find a TV with Sky, whilst updating the site via my laptop and a mobile broadband connection. I might even get to see some bands. Enough of my rambles - read on and good luck for the final hurrah.
ContinuedWeekend Team News
Berbatov returns for Spurs. Vidic and Rooney set to figure at the JJB. Wenger contemplating more changes. Upson and Ferdinand in contention for Hammers. Anelka out of Bolton clash.
The team news section has been updated with all the early facts and “selection speculation” going into the final weekend.
ContinuedWenger Ready for More Tinkering
Wenger is set to blood another youngster or two for the final game against Sunderland on Sunday. Arsenal’s official site have hinted that the manager will draft in Mark Randall, in addition to Kieran Gibbs who was on the bench against Everton last weekend. There’s also every possibility that Traore could get a start having impressed on his arrival as sub against Moyes’ men. Wenger has once again hinted that one of his established players could make way…
“I could give one or two players an early breather because they go to Euro 2008 or the African qualifiers”, he remarked.
Who could be set for the chop? The smart money has got to be on Eboue. Both Gibbs and Randall are midfield players so that looks likely to be the area in question that’s under threat. Eboue stands out as the player likely to be rested although, given Wenger’s vague criteria, he could look to rest Toure, Clichy or even Gallas.
ContinuedBerbatov Returns For Finale
Dimitar Berbatov is set to return to the Spurs lineup for the visit of Liverpool on Sunday. The striker missed the trip to Reading with a calf injury but Ramos has confirmed that the Bulgarian’s fitness issues are at an end.
“He’s recovered and the injury isn’t a problem,” remarked Ramos earlier today.
Sunday’s game looks likely to be Berbatov’s final appearance in a Spurs shirt if the current noises and speculation coming from White Hart Lane are to be believed. He’s certainly been on the move in fantasy terms - nearly 15,000 FPL managers have shown him the door at the time of writing, no doubt turning their attention to the likes of Tevez and Drogba. But could Berbatov hand Spurs fans one last reminder of his talent and bring in some points for those fantasy managers who been more patient this week?
ContinuedCarvalho in Fitness Race
Chelsea’s Ricardo Carvalho remains a doubt for the final game of the season against Bolton. The defender was replaced after 77-minutes of the Newcastle game with a back injury and it is reported that he’s been subject to intensive treatment so far this week to get him fit for the deciding game [source].
Alex replaced him in the Newcastle game and will slot straight in alongside Terry should Carvalho fail in his bid for fitness. It might even be the case that Grant would even prefer Alex in his lineup - his size would certainly help deal with Bolton’s style of play.
Continued
