Wanderers Facing Further Defensive Woes
Bolton Wanderers are approaching the double fixtures in gameweek 26 with a potential injury crisis at the back.
Owen Coyle’s side were without the ever-present defender Gary Cahill for the 0-0 draw with Fulham, the only real fantasy target within their back four. Cahill’s absence was down to a shoulder injury reportedly suffered in training on Friday. Details on the injury are scarce, so right now we can only presume that he will remain a doubt for the trip to Manchester City on Tuesday and possibly the visit to Wigan the following Wednesday…
Cahill’s replacement, Andy O’Brien came in alongside Zat Knight but fell victim to an injury and was duly replaced on 63 minutes by Chris Basham. Again, details on this knock are hard to come by but he too will be a doubt going into Tuesday’s game.
Bolton also named Greitar Steinsson on the teamsheet prior to the kick-off yesterday, but he fell ill before the match and was duly replaced by Paul Robinson, which saw Ricketts revert to right-back.
The Bolton boss faces an anxious wait to assess the scale of these injuries and we’d expect to hear more on the situation on Monday.
For Fantasy Managers double gameweek investment in Bolton’s defensive options looks out of the question right now, despite Coyle steering them to their first two clean sheets of the season. In fact, Bolton’s defensive crisis will if anything, add further interest to Manchester City’s attacking options for their two fixtures in gameweek 26. While Mancini’s side struggled to make an impression on the Hull defence in yesterday’s 2-1 defeat at the KC, City are often a different proposition at Eastlands. Certainly owners of Carlos Tevez will be hoping that the Argentine can rediscover his scoring form and exploit any gaps in the troubled Bolton defence.
Not liking the look of Bolton players for their DGW at all now. 2 away games and now their defence is shot to bits. Oh dear.
Not the end of the world. Bolton’s defence shouldn’t really attract too much investment, although fixtures are pretty good, and their form is improving.
The initial plan was Cahill in for Dawson for a 4 point hit, but I think that I may have to scrap that.
If Moses continues to start Davies up on his own, it’ll put a lot of emphasis on the attacking midfielders, as he’ll be relying on them to score the goals.
Makes Lee look a better prospect, and puts the misfiring Taylor under more threat.
Ha. Bolton have 6 away games in the next 8, although those 8 games come in 6 gameweeks.
Had to laugh at this yesterday.
My brother took out Hangelland and replaced him with Cahill, taking a 4pt hit in the process! LOL
Got Cahill, hope he’s back – if not I have Ivanovic as a sub so I’m altogether not too fussed.
As long as he can be back for GW28 & 29 (favourable fixtures during other teams blank weeks) I’ll ride this out without too much qualm.
Still an absolute pisser that I have Samba coming off my bench for him this week… never liked gameweek 25 anyway.
I thought I’d prepared well for this double: Cahill, Lee and Klasnic already ensconced from Bolton.
C’est la jeu I suppose.
You following the Euro draw then Andy?
I’ve got some live texts up on it so I don’t have to sit through all the polish pandering and pointless filler…
Note, I didn’t set an alarm this morning and I am up awake and in time. (Can you tell I’m bitter?)
Set it NOW!
If you forgot to change your team then how come the likes of Hughes and Duff are no longer in your starting line-up. Is this sleeping-in story a fabrication to justify your horrible week? I didn’t have you down as the type to forgot to change your team properly.
Is what a cynic would ask. But I know that you were just waiting until the last minute to do your Anelka to Rooney (c) switch. Still, why didnt you just make the trade on Friday evening? There was hardly going to be any new news about Rooney that would alter your decision. Seems like your craving for ‘peace of mind’ has cost you dear. Had you made the transfer at the beginning of the week your team value would be about 0.4 greater, and you wouldn’t have made the blunder.
I already told you I make my “emergency changes” at the start of the gameweek!
So my team was set up as what I thought was best about about 9pm last Saturday (as JWF puts it) “in case I get hit by a bus”.
I normally always do my transfers on a friday… but you know what? I was procrastinating this time, and I was hoping to read the morning papers and something would pop out telling me “Hey, look you don’t need Rooney as Owen is going to play”, it was small/no chance but I’ve never once done this before – in the end I woke up too late to even try.
I would have never made the transfer at the beginning of the week, end of.
I know that you would never have made the change at the beginning of the week. I am just trying to wind you up.
However, if Anelka scores 21 points tonight I’m going to turn back and feign ignorance completely and destroy all comments acknowledging my mistake and make me look like a genius instead…
I’ll happily (and don’t expect it) take 12 points and the free transfer today. I know I’ll get 2…
Hey Andy, if it makes you feel better I did manage to make my changes on time and I’m still doing crap.
I could be wrong here but won’t Duff come in or does the defender have to get replaced by a defender?
Completely ignore me – I’ve just noticed you’d only have two defenders otherwise.
The good thing is that we will have the Bolton team news in before the deadline, so we will know Cahill’s situation – not that it will particularly help non-Cahill owners. This is also the case for teams like Wigan – if you fancy a punt on someone like Moses.
Sorry, that should read Cahill owners.
Indeed, if Cahill is back starting (though we’ll have hintery news by then anyway) he stays in my team – if he doesn’t then I’ll take Ivanovic vs Everton instead of maybe Cahill vs Wigan.
I’ll be waiting until 7:20 for my transfers this week for peace of mind (most probably) that Rodallega will play, so obviously I bet Anelka bloody drops in price before then again…
Lee is probably the only Bolton player I would invest in for the DGW.
as I can see- almost all transfer for upcoming DGW will be in last moment (19.15h GMT), ha?
Haha, anyone listening to five live? I’m loving their attempt at interpreting the Euro 2012 logo.
Who to bench if this was my team?
Sorensen Hart
Evra Ivanovic Cahill Baird Dann
Lampard Fabregas Modric NZogbia Duff
Adebayor Tevez Rodallega
Am currently thinking Modric, Dann, Hart and one of Evra and Ivanovic, but cannot make my mind up on the last dilemna.
Definitely Ivan. Everton have only not scored at home once this season, and that was to liverpool when we had a goal disallowed and missed two open goals
Aye – that’s about right, coin tossing time.
“if this was my team”? It’s certainly a good one. I wouldn’t mind playing all of them.
If pushed, I might bench Modric, Dann and Ivanovic. Though I am considering playing Hart over Sorensen myself.
The ‘if’ is only because I haven’t made any changes yet, but that is my current plan (i.e. Cahill and Rods in).
Can’t seem to justify benching Ivanovic over Evra as a Chelse fan. Especially how in the reverse fixtures Evra got 2 and Ivanovic got 9. That said, Everton are scoring, and despite yesterday nightmare are on form, and Villa are disgustingly defensive.
Yeah – I reasoned that Everton are getting better, and Villa getting worse (and United win a lot of games at Villa Park).
Are you taking a hit for those transfers? With the back up players you have, I probably wouldn’t bother.
if Cahill will not be in a t lineup that make things easier for u
I have been away from this site for some days and my ranking has gone down drastically. From 7.5K mark to 9K ..
….especially this has been an horrible week. Desperately need help. Please…
Gomas/Robinson
Ivano/G.Cahil/Baird/Ridgewell/Olsson
Nzogbia/Gera/Fabs/Lamps/Hunt
Tevez/Rooney/Drogba
Cahil & Gera injured.. Hunt has poor fixtures & missing GW
(bank: 0.1m only)
What do I do now?? Thanks!
If dropping 1.5k places but still being in the top 10k is “drastic” I’d hate to see what you’re like when something serious happens!!
Maybe consider tevez 4 adebayor at some point (as adebayor will start to hog the points…)
I’m looking to play a double freebie in gameweek 27 (Lampard out 4 modric and fletcher out 4 rooney). Do you think my team’s good enough to not make any transfers this GW?
Your team is very poor need to make a couple of point hits to sort it out.
The same team which is probably gonna beat you this week???
but overall has almost 150 points less
leaving for a few nights and wont have access to the internet so been forced to make my transfer decision now. it’s a two week plan-
gerrard > etherington
then after the wigan dgw-
rodallega > rooney
sound good? i hope it does. i figure its basically etherington and roon vs gerrard and rod…
soundas good, though Wigan do have another double in GW 29…
*GW 30
true, i have n’zog in so he can help in that sense, plus leading up to the second dgw i dont see rod getting much…
yeah, might as well bring him in just before…
Hey guys, some advice would be great..
Sorensen (Hart)
A Cole, Ivan, Dawson, Hughes (Dann)
Nzog, Lamps, Fab, Lee (Eagles)
Roon, Tevez (Jerome)
Would Eagles > Etherington be worth a 4 point hit for my team?
Group A looking a nice one for a top seed:
Top seed + Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan
I want Group G/I…
Ditto.
Nice edit….. fewer games, and a decent draw – that would be nice too.
You got your wish andy!
Awesomesauce. That’s a pretty tasty group.
(switzerland, bulgaria, wales, montenegro for anyone here who can’t be bothered to look it up)
Typical – the Germans get it.
Morning all.
Going to ship out Diaby, but I’m not sure for who. 6.4 to spend, NZogbia or Etherington maybe?
Then I will look at getting drogs in the week after, just don’t think its worth it away to Everton.
sensible moves
stay away from etherington….he reminds me of froggat who used to play for coventry around the turn of millennium, 1 good performance in 10 and people would should to the roof tops for england because of his left foot.
id get n zogbia but diaby has nice fixtures coming if he is fit
Cheers mate; I already have Fabs and Shava. Just don’t need another Arsenal player.
Only thinking of NZogbia cos of dgw…
no worries wat ya tink of my question below?
And then someone broke his leg and ended his career……………
morning all,
some advice if ye please, already bought n zogbia 4 reid ,
im contemplating matt taylor > lee on tuesday evening. would be a hit,
i reckon
a) 6.6mil is too much for his output
B) lee is the better form player at moment
c) i really can see taylor switched to left back or dropped with the new signings and his early withdrawals,
d) the money it will generate will allow tevez > drogba after DGW
Don’t take the point hit! Taylor is hit or miss but he could score just as much as Lee.
However, if it will generate money for drogs then you have to consider it.
I dont think its worth a hit outright, but since you can get drogba in the week after, it probably becomes worth while
G
England, Switzerland, Bulgaria, WALES, Montenegro –
Group G
Whey! Just want I wanted…
I did edit it, because I forgot for a second how pony Czech republic were too. But G is the best draw… nice.
Scotland have a pretty decent group actually. Bar Spain, obviously, there’s no reason why they can’t finish above all those teams.
They can get to the play-offs at least yes, and then it’s (somewhat of) a lottery…
Scotland have a really hard group, don’t see them qualifying.
They’re not going to win it, granted – but unlike some other groups they have a very realistic chance of making the playoffs. Czech Republic are a fading star on a downturn so it’ll be a face-off between those two sides.
Being in Spain’s group could be a blessing in disguise for them.
The Spanish will just beat everyone, rather than dropping points away to some randomers & giving them an upper hand in the race for second, so it’ll basically be a group between Czech, Scotland Lithuania & Lichtenstein fighting for one place.
Not a great draw for England IMO there are teams much worse than Switzerland and Bulgaria. And Wales is not going to be as easy as one would think either.
Bulgaria are poor, Wales are not up to scratch and if we can’t get past Switzerland as our next best competitors then we don’t deserve to get to the Euro’s… end of. It’s a great draw.
Wales will be going all out to beat us. Switzerland’s defence is very solid and Bulgaria have a couple of real quality players (Petrov and Berba). All these teams can cause England problems. They should qualify but it won’t be that easy
Of course it won’t be easy, but compared to the other “sets of threes” the only one I would have rather seen is Czech Republic, Scotland & Lithuania.
We’ve missed some tougher groups and got out of having to go through 2 extra fixtures.
Agree. Ireland did ok against Bulgaria and Montenegro in the WC qualifiers. England’s group is fine, ye should walk it.
Happy with our own group too.
Agree – could be a tough group.
All three of those teams are poor. Bulgaria are Berbatov, Petrovs + some other geezers who’ve made one major competition this century, Switzerland are a joke team who couldn’t score in the World Cup and got knocked out in the group stage of their own tournament.
damn..i was really hoping malta got england
missed it by one pot
Haha that would have been great!! My parents are over in Malta on holiday right now, they love it there, go a couple of times a year… because of our country’s really close friendship, it would have been a nice draw
how about this squad?
Given, (Gomes)
Baird, Ivanovic, Scharner, (Dunne, Nelson)
Etherington, Modric, N’Zogbia, Nani, (Fabregas)
Bent, Rooney, Drogba
Fabs on the bench?…criminal
sorry,
squad for GW26 as following
Given, (Gomes)
Baird, Ivanovic, Scharner, (Dunne, Nelson)
Etherington, Modric, N’Zogbia, Petrov, (Fabregas)
Bent, Rooney, Tevez
For those that don’t own Tevez, Adebayor might be a decent investment.
Is scharner likely to feature in both games and is it worth starting him?
Ireland get Russia , Slovakia and Macedonia . No chance now
Eh? That’s not a hard group at all. The WC group was tougher.
keep the fate lad,
firstly the slovaks are no great team……remember they were in our group 2 years and werent great, they are goin to WC albeit having come out of a piss poor group where the czech fell apart,
slovenia are no better, and the russians lost to them,
the rest are also rans,
at best we can fight the russians for top spot, at worst it wil be a struggle with the slovaks……i can see more the first. the russians talents and hiddicks enthusiasm seems to be on the wayne
Yep – spot on. I think we’ve a great chance.
thinking defoe to rodellga for dgw?
which allows me to have rod, drog, rooney
Hey guys can I get your expert opinion on possible changes to my team. I already upgraded anelka to drogba and hangland to Caldwell. Was thinking of downgrading lampard now that I got drogba to upgrade my defence. What do you think?
Scharner – discuss!?
thinking of Cahill > Scharner
I have Scharner in my team, nothing special.
Personally, I would stick with Cahill if he is fit.
yeah I will do.just trying to think of an alternative, coz im pretty sure if hes fooked his shoulder or worse he could be out for a few weeks.
Shawcross or Nelsen maybe?
Have Nelsen already.
have Sorenson already, so dont really wanna double up with ShawX – although I had him for the first half of season, and did far better with him lol.
thinking if I dont go for a wigan def, then it might be a fulham def.
Great mind’s ehh….
If Cahill is fooked then stick in Scharner, dgw and playing in midfield.
Went to the game yesterday (sunderland/wigan) and I honestly cant remember seeing much of Scharner at all. The only Wigan players I would consider based on yesterdays game are N’zogbia and Figueroa.
How did McCarthy play?
Oh yeah I forgot about him. He missed a 1 on 1 and could have had an assist if the Wigan player hadnt scuffed wide from 6 yards.
Cheers. Wondering if there is a Wigan player worth risking captaining for the DGW ahead of Tevez. I don’t have N’Zobia, but McCarthy seems to be catching the eye
I’ll be captaining Tevez in the hope that Mancini might give him the role in 1 of the games that he played before Adebayor returned.
Scharner’s been a nightmare signing. DO NOT GO THERE.
If you want a Wigan defender, Bramble & Figs look better value. Not too keen on Wigan defenders though. As defenders go, they don’t defend very well. And stuff.
lol…bramble is just a big blundering wreck!
OK, so when Cahill is reported as out for the this GW, which if its his shoulder Im pretty sure will happen, who is everyone shipping in.
Good to see Rooney get a chip assist the work Berbatov had to do for that goal warranted a no assist. But I will take it all the same
*Cheap.
Cant argue with that