Scout Scribbles – Wenger Hopeful on Diaby
Filed under: Scout Notes - Posted by: Paul
Arsene Wenger plays down fears of an injury to Abou Diaby. John Terry and Ashley Cole return to training for Chelsea, Adam Johnson expects to be fit this weekend, Steve Clarke warns Goran Popov he may have to wait for a first-team chance, while Newcastle refuse to write-off Tim Krul’s chances of starting at Everton:
Arsene Wenger has dismissed any fears of a possible injury to Abou Diaby after the midfielder missed France’s win over Belarus on Tuesday evening:
“He has slight pain on the hip, on the sartorius muscle. It doesn’t seem serious at all to me. He even has a small chance to play on Saturday.”
With the Gunners’ Champions League campaign kicking off next Tuesday away to Montpellier, it may well be that Wenger will refuse to take any chances with Diaby this weekend. Bearing in mind the midfielders’ injury history, a home game with Southampton could well see the Arsenal boss opt for the likes of Francis Coquelin or Aaron Ramsey alongside Mikel Arteta instead – with a trip to City to follow in Gameweek 5, Diaby’s presence in the Gunners’ first XI is already proving to be more crucial than ever, with Alex Song now gone to Barcelona.
Steve Clarke has warned new loan signing Goran Popov he may have to bide his time before grabbing some game time this term:
“Goran is under no illusions. He knows he is coming in to fight for a place in the team and all the players now, after the start we’ve had, realise that they have to fight for their place in the team. As long as the competition is healthy then it can only be good for the club. If the team is performing well and getting results then the players not in the team will be disappointed but they’re not stupid. They understand that they have to wait for their chance. And it will come because it’s a long season.”
Clarke’s words are certainly good news for Fantasy owners of Liam Ridgewell and Gareth McAuley. The pair have accrued plenty interest after a couple of clean sheets in their opening three Gameweeks, with the latter already on 28 points in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game. A start for Popov at left-back would come at Ridgewell’s expense, though the former Birmingham man’s versatility could see him move to centre-half in favour of McAuley. Whilst such a scenario would hand us a headache, for the time being, at least, their places look secure ahead of a run of games that pits them against (ful, RDG, avl, QPR) in the next four.
Adam Johnson has handed Sunderland fans good news after taking to twitter to reveal he should be fit to face Liverpool this weekend. The winger missed both England games over the international break due to a thigh problem but looks on course to take his place on the right flank ahead of the Black Cats’ first home league game of the season.
Although doubts continue to build over Tim Krul’s availability for Newcastle’s trip to Everton next Monday, it seems Newcastle are determined to give the keeper until the last minute to prove his fitness. Krul pulled out of Holland’s match with Hungary after sustaining an elbow injury in training and he joins a list of defensive woes for Alan Pardew right now. The Magpies are yet to assess the full extent of Fabricio Coloccini’s hamstring problem – with Ryan Taylor and Danny Simpson ruled out and James Perch a doubt, Vernun Anita looks set to fill the breach at right-back at Goodison. The Dutchman admitted he has no qualms of moving to defence in a game that will see him square up to Steven Pienaar and Leighton Baines on the flank:
“We’ve got two injuries on that side so if the manager needs me on that side I’ll do my best for the team. It went well against Aston Villa. As a right-back you can come forward a lot, so I did that also and yes, I think it was a good performance. Central midfield is my position so the main focus is on the midfield – but if the manager needs me on the right side I can also play there.”
Roberto Martinez admitted Jean Beausejour remains a doubt for Wigan’s trip to Old Trafford on Saturday. The winger suffered a recurrence of a hamstring problem in the Gameweek 3 clash against Stoke, with his manager revealing:
“We did a scan straight after the game and it showed Jean had a tear in the hamstring. He has been recovering for the last week and a half, it’s been going well, but it’s still too early to tell whether he’ll be involved on Saturday. This one was the first summer in a while where he could actually rest his body after a long and demanding campaign. He suffered a couple of niggles trying to reactivate his body that we have to get through, but I’m hopeful he’ll benefit from this period in the long term. He is such a special player, such a consistent player, and once he’s fully fit he’ll go back to being a key member of our team.”
Beausejour’s four points per game in the previous FPL season had seen him earmarked as a viable mid-price candidate this time round. Providing seven assists in 16 games after moving from Birmingham last December, his role on the left of the Latics’ midfield four was a constant source of creativity – going on the above quotes Martinez clearly rates him and may decide to preserve the Chilean against United, with Maynor Figueroa moving back out wide to cover and Antolin Alcaraz returning to the back-three.
John Terry and Ashley Cole have both returned to light training ahead of Chelsea’s trip to QPR next Saturday. Cole has missed both England’s recent internationals, while Terry was sidelined for Tuesday’s draw with Ukraine due to an ankle problem – question marks must remain over their availability for the Loftus Road encounter, with David Luiz and Ryan Bertrand the obvious replacements. While Branislav Ivanovic has hogged the headlines at the back with his scoring exploits, Luiz’s presence has seemed beneficial to Roberto Di Matteo’s side – they have picked up clean sheets in both games the Brazilian has started this term.
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September 13 at 2:00 pm
Hard Van Toulouse-VotaBreb Ratimid says:
Just a reminder of last years results :
Wigan 0 – 4 Arsenal
Arteta,verm, Gerv, Rvp ( + 2 assists )
Rvp loves playing Wigan……
September 13 at 2:00 pm
MartinUnreal says:
Arsenal 1 – 2 Wigan
Rvp (no goals…)
September 13 at 2:08 pm
Hard Van Toulouse-VotaBreb Ratimid says:
I knew someone would say that – Verm scored assisted by Roisicky.
Tho that was late on season and Wigan beat Utd, Chelsea , Newc etc
Moses was on fire he’s gone now
September 13 at 2:59 pm
KujaliaFC - Player Exchange League: 2396-563 says:
It wasn’t Moses, it was Martinez. It was always Martinez.
I hope Ryo makes a name for himself in that match.
September 13 at 2:01 pm
Manani says:
RVP, cleverly/anderson, nani, vidic to score?
September 13 at 2:00 pm
Dufflinks says:
Team Value GW 3: 100.06
GW 3 Team Value now: 99.3
Current Team Value: 101.8 (post WC)
Whatever happens next, at least this makes me feel better about playing the WC!
September 13 at 2:04 pm
The Viper says:
99.3….ouch! I’m guessing you didn’t have the best of starts!?
September 13 at 2:06 pm
Dufflinks says:
Currently on 167. Not great but better than this time last year!
September 13 at 2:08 pm
sidd5678 says:
Team values are highly overrated and 167 isn’t too bad.. You were doing a decent job out there with your previous team….
September 13 at 2:11 pm
Dufflinks says:
Yeah it was a tactical WC rather than a desperation WC – I think team value is actually really underrated!
September 13 at 2:15 pm
sidd5678 says:
Everybody bound to have their own opinions, But if you get right players who score points team value is always going to rise and WC can be used in extreme scenarios anyway………
September 13 at 2:20 pm
Dufflinks says:
True, but I don’t buy into the idea of using your WC for a DGW or something like that – I prefer to use it early where, if it does help, it’ll help for the whole season. In my eyes it’s actually more risky to use it all on one game (although that strategy can pay off too).
In an ideal world though I would of course have picked the right players!
September 13 at 2:09 pm
The Viper says:
167 or 167,000?
September 13 at 2:13 pm
Dufflinks says:
Ha. 167 points – position somewhere around 500k
September 13 at 2:01 pm
Minty - "99 problems but The Mich ain't one" says:
Have Demel/Cuellar thoughts on
a) Ivan / Gorkks + 4.5
b) Gibbs / Bertrand + 5.0
September 13 at 2:03 pm
Kags says:
a – Just because I’d rather have Ivan than Gibbs and the other can be benched
September 13 at 2:07 pm
Dufflinks says:
a – Ivanovic basically plays wingback for Chelsea and is a threat from corners – Gorkss is also a threat. Both are pretty much nailed on.
September 13 at 2:15 pm
Minty - "99 problems but The Mich ain't one" says:
Thanks guys
September 13 at 2:04 pm
matejjetam says:
What are your thoughts on Gaston Ramirez? Will he prosper in PL? I am looking for some alternative for Kagawa as he seems too risky. My team currently is:
De Gea / Jussi
Saylor / Hangeland / Shawcross / Cuellar / Clyne
Kagawa / Hazard / Ben Arfa / Cazorla / Michu
Tevez / Fletcher / Graham
And I still have 2.9 in the bank with no free transfers left. WC already used.
September 13 at 2:07 pm
sidd5678 says:
Nice very different team there you have got in , Kagawa might be out for 1-2 games nothing certain yet………..
September 13 at 2:16 pm
matejjetam says:
Thanks. Yes, nothing’s certain yet .. just asking for opinions.
September 13 at 5:30 pm
athevroy says:
Your midfield is tasty.
September 13 at 2:04 pm
didopich says:
hi si persi and kagawa going to play anyone???????????????/
September 13 at 2:05 pm
Leif Erikson-Formerly of Larry Murphy fame. says:
WHA?
September 13 at 2:06 pm
EpicFAIL - AVFC <3 says:
is*
September 13 at 2:06 pm
The Viper says:
I think RVP will, Kagawa sounds more doubtful
September 13 at 2:06 pm
Lateriser12 - "I am a consulting detective. The only one in the world" says:
hi si ku ma chi
September 13 at 2:07 pm
Nitin Nagaraja says:
Marathi?
September 13 at 2:08 pm
Mind over Mata says:
Two questions, yes/no:
(a) thoughts for doubling up with Foster and
McAuley (as opposed to Saylor)
(b) best cheap (4.5m) combo for Foster – currently have Baines, Saylor, Clark, Demel and Cuellar in defence.
September 13 at 2:10 pm
Mind over Mata says:
Er.. second question may actually require a name
September 13 at 2:11 pm
The Viper says:
A) Nah, go Saylor
B) Begovic (short term fixtures aren’t great but Fosters are)
September 13 at 2:14 pm
Mind over Mata says:
Thanks mate, that’s what I was thinking.
September 13 at 2:08 pm
Doosra - "Loyalty is the handmaiden to success" - A Noble Quote says:
I won! 0 – 2!!!
September 13 at 2:09 pm
Nitin Nagaraja says:
Clean sheet. Get in there!
September 13 at 2:19 pm
Doosra - "Loyalty is the handmaiden to success" - A Noble Quote says:
First one!!!
September 13 at 3:00 pm
KujaliaFC - Player Exchange League: 2396-563 says:
What game is this?
September 13 at 3:10 pm
KujaliaFC - Player Exchange League: 2396-563 says:
Doosra, what game are you winning at?
September 13 at 2:09 pm
Wild Rover says:
New post chaps
September 13 at 2:09 pm
Marouannie! Get your guns!!! Fantasy UCL code 1208736-421041 says:
New Post http://www.fantasyfootballscou.....aragounis/
September 13 at 2:10 pm
isacki - losing makes winning sweeter says:
A diagram of how many players are referred to as “must-haves” on the boards, against time.
Monday
+
Tuesday
++
Wednesday
+++
Thursday
++++
Friday
+++++
Saturday, 11:29
++++++
Saturday, 16:55
0
Sunday
0
Monday
+
… and so on….
September 13 at 2:15 pm
Aaron30195 says:
Do you start Kagawa who may not play or could potentially only be given 10 minutes at the end or do you start Guthrie who is at least guaranteed a full 90.
September 13 at 2:17 pm
matejjetam says:
Guthrie.
September 13 at 2:17 pm
heco87 says:
Pending any news tomorrow, I think you have to start Kagawa
September 13 at 2:21 pm
Aaron30195 says:
Thanks for the input lads! I suppose the press conference will make my mind up for me tomorrow.
September 13 at 2:16 pm
Mind over Mata says:
(a) Hughes, Pienaar and Berbatov
(b) Clark, HBA and Lambert
September 13 at 2:17 pm
heco87 says:
I’m going with B
September 13 at 2:20 pm
Mind over Mata says:
Thanks Heco! That’s what I’m currently on, 0.1 from adding Hughes which is a nuisance!
September 13 at 2:18 pm
Mind over Mata says:
Rest of team:
Foster / Bego
Baines / Cuellar / Saylor/ Demel / XXXX
Cazorla / Guthrie / Hazard / Michu / XXXX
RVP / Tevez / XXXX
September 13 at 2:25 pm
little_wizard123 says:
Lowton over Clark imo.
September 13 at 2:30 pm
Mind over Mata says:
Lowton? Don’t know much about him?
September 13 at 2:34 pm
Mind over Mata says:
Unfortunately only have 4.4 available – Clark fits the bill and revolves well with Demel
September 13 at 2:17 pm
daire74 says:
WC team as it stands
A)
Jaask – Al Hab
Reid – Rangel – McCauley – Ivanovic – mertescaker
Rutledge -yaya – hazard – San Caz – puncheon
Tevez – RVP – Di Santo
Or Change to
B)
Jaask – al Hab
Reid – McCauley – Baines – Ivanovic – Mertesacker
San Caz – Michu – Guthrie – puncheon – Hazard
Tevez – RVP – Pog
A or B????
Thoughts?
September 13 at 2:24 pm
Mind over Mata says:
I’d say B of the two (i like baines) but would refit your funds for a more balanced team. Ivanovich and Baines is overkill at this stage
September 13 at 2:44 pm
Moosie the Staggie says:
B for me too, but I’m not sure how nailed on mertesaker is?
I personally would downgrade Ivan to a Cheaper defender(cuellar?) and upgrade Pog to Berba/Graham/Lambert . Could leave you with some money for future tinkering.
September 13 at 10:38 pm
leroy8888 says:
B has better midfield but agree to downgrade Ivan and upgrade somewhere else depending on what formation u r going to play
September 13 at 3:19 pm
fergalc90 says:
Graham, Petric or Lambert?
Graham has the fixtures but hasnt had very many chances, thoughts?
September 13 at 10:43 pm
leroy8888 says:
Lambert. Petric is looking like a rotation risk now with Berber in the team
September 13 at 10:46 pm
Jonty says:
I wonder if Lambert has a Butler now he’s a prem league star .