Scout Scribbles – Blues Cruise Through

Fernando Torres and Victor Moses grab the goals as Chelsea secure a place in the last four of the Europa League. Papiss Cisse notches in Newcastle’s draw with Benfica and Clint Dempsey scores twice for Tottenham but both clubs are eliminated, leading Rafa Benitez’s side as the last British club left in Europe this term. Elsewhere, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere are “90% available” for this weekend, Winston Reid remains out for West Ham, Marc Wilson is a doubt for Stoke, Jay Rodriguez has picked up a virus ahead of Southampton game with the Hammers, while Fulham’s Ashkan Dejagah may be out for the season with an ankle injury:

Rubin Kazan 3 Chelsea 2
The Blues booked their place in the last four of the Europa League after a 5-4 aggregate victory, with their fixture congestion showing little sign of abating. Rafa Benitez made seven changes from the side that squeezed past Sunderland last Sunday – at the back, Paolo Ferreira came in on the left with Ryan Bertrand sidelined through illness, while John Terry replaced Branislav Ivanovic at centre-half. In midfield, fringe players such as Nathan Ake and Yossi Benayoun were given the nod, while Frank Lampard returned after being rested against the Black Cats. Ahead of the FA Cup semi-final with City, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard were unused subs, while Oscar and Ivanovic climbed off the bench late on. Fernando Torres and Victor Moses grabbed the goals for Benitez’s side, with Lampard and Ramires supplying the assists.

Newcastle 1 Benfica 1
Alan Pardew made four changes from the side that defeated Fulham last Sunday. Steven Taylor missed out with a knee problem sustained in training, allowing Mike Williamson a start at centre-half, while Massadio Haidara returned from knee and thigh problems to replace Davide Santon at left-back, after the Italian was subbed off with a hamstring problem against the Cottagers. In midfield, Gael Bigirimana and Vernun Anita replaced Sylvain Marveaux and Yoan Gouffran, with the latter ineligible to feature. While the result meant his side are now out 4-2 on aggregate, Pardew will be buoyed by the return of Hatem Ben Arfa – he climbed off the bench for a cameo on 64 minutes – while Papiss Cisse notched for the fifth successive home game in all competitions; warmly up nicely ahead of Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby.

FC Basel 2 Tottenham 2
Andre Villas-Boas made just two alterations to the XI that started against Everton on Sunday. As per usual, Brad Friedel got the nod over Hugo Lloris in European competition, while Kyle Naughton came in for Steven Caulker, with Jan Vertonghen moved back into the middle of the back-four – intriguingly, Benoit Assou-Ekotto has now failed to start the last two in all competitions. Devoid of the services of injured pair Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon, Spurs relied on Clint Dempsey to produce – the US international bagged both the visitors’ goals, while Vertonghen maintained his recent run of impressive attacking displays by supplying an assist before receiving his marching orders late on. The Swiss side triumphed 4-1 on penalties and now progress to the last four – Spurs are now without a fixture for nine days, with Villas-Boas remaining confident both Bale and Lennon will be back in time for their Gameweek 34 home clash with City.

In Other News

Arsenal Wenger’s Thursday press conference gave Fantasy managers a potential midfield headache ahead of Arsenal’s double Gameweek. Although the Gunners boss was optimistic on Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott, he wouldn’t quite confirm their availability, while he also admitted that Tomas Rosicky has picked up a problem prior to their pair of home clashes with Norwich and Everton:

“Jack has joined normal training since Wednesday and Theo should join in tomorrow. They are 90 per cent available for Saturday. The other uncertainty we have from last Saturday is Tomas Rosicky, who has a little hamstring irritation. His involvement is yet to be decided as well but it’s fair to say that he is a big doubt for Saturday.”

If anything, the news merely strengthens Santi Cazorla’s case for consideration. Wenger’s comments are open to interpretation, really – there’s a possibility all three could start, with Rosicky handed the chance to continue the form that produced a two goal haul at West Brom last weekend and Walcott stepping in for Gervinho, with Wilshere alongside Mikel Arteta further back. Wenger also has Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as options and with two games in three days, it’s uncertain whether he’ll hand Walcott and Wilshere two lots of 90 minutes. Those who own Walcott will undoubtedly hold and hope he’s handed an immediate return, though Wenger’s lack of commitment is perhaps enough to sway investors away from the England man and towards Cazorla – with double figures in each of his last two at the Emirates, the Spaniard is running away with this week’s Captain Poll.

Sam Allardyce rolled out an injury update ahead of West Ham’s double Gameweek fixtures with Southampton and United. Speaking to the press yesterday, the Hammers boss revealed Winston Reid, George McCartney, Joe Cole and Mark Noble are all still sidelined and, while Andy Carroll is available for selection again after missing out against parent club Liverpool last week, Allardyce admitted he has yet to decide whether he will return to the starting line-up:

“Whether I’m going to select him or keep Carlton Cole in is a little dilemma because I thought Carlton did ever so well last week. I suppose had Carlton scored, I’d have definitely kept him but he didn’t.”

If, as expected, Carroll ousts Cole from the XI, his appeal is also boosted by the fact he is on spot-kicks in Noble’s absence. Certainly, with goals in each of his last three home games, he looks essential as United make their way to Upton Park next Wednesday – all the more so given that the visitors having doubts over Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling at the back. Reid’s absence is a real blow in defence; prior to last week’s trip to Anfield, he’d started every league match for the Hammers. James Tomkins is set to deputise alongside James Collins, though Guy Demel remains the most secure of the cut-price options at 4.0 in FPL.

Tony Pulis is sweating on the availability of Matt Etherington and Marc Wilson ahead of United’s visit tomorrow. Both players were subbed off in last week’s home defeat at the hands of Villa with back and hamstring problems respectively and the Potters boss admitted:

“We are waiting for Matty and ‘Willo’. We were really disappointed that those two had to come off on Saturday, that didn’t help us. We’re waiting for them, hoping and praying that they will be available.”

While Fantasy interest in Etherington is pretty much non-existent, Wilson’s owners will be concerned by his situation. Many will be happy to bench the left-back this weekend regardless but with QPR, Norwich and Sunderland in the following three, the 3.9 priced defender is likely to be handed a stay of execution in spite of a run that has harvested a single clean sheet in the last 14 Gameweeks for Pulis’ strugglers.

Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino has doubts over a trio of players due to illness. Jay Rodriguez, Luke Shaw and Jason Puncheon have all been laid low with a virus this week and are facing a race against time to be fit for tomorrow’s home showdown with West Ham – undoubtedly, Rodriguez’s absence would be the biggest blow for the Saints. The former Burnley man has scored or assisted in seven of the last nine Gameweeks and has been acquired by over 11,000 FPL managers this week; if Puncheon also fails to make it, Pochettino is likely to line up with Adam Lallana, Gaston Ramirez and Steven Davis behind Rickie Lallana as he goes in search of a fourth successive win.

Martin Jol has conceded Ashkan Dejagah may be out for the season due to an ankle problem. Ruled out of last weekend’s trip to Newcastle, the Iranian had started to impress on the right flank – featuring in the first XI in each of the previous four and providing three assists. He is set to undergo surgery next week, however, which could bring Stanislav Manolev onto Fantasy radars; coming in at 4.2 and classified as a defender, the Bulgarian deputised at St James’ Park and may retain his out of position role for the upcoming pair of fixtures against Villa and Chelsea.

Chris Hughton has admitted Mark Bunn is still doubtful for Norwich’s trip to Arsenal tomorrow. Bunn was subbed off with a groin problem early on in last week’s home draw with Swansea and post-match, the Canaries boss had indicated he would miss the Emirates trip but speaking at his weekly press conference, revealed:

“It’s getting better. We’ll assess him as we have done all week, and he’ll possibly train tomorrow (Friday). The news at the moment is better than last week. Whether it is sufficient we won’t know, but as always we have to make sure we make the right decision.”

If Bunn fails to make it in time, Lee Camp will get the nod – Hughton also conceded John Ruddy is still progressing from a thigh injury and will turn out for the reserves on Monday instead. With three home games in four to follow the Gunners clash (REA, AVL, WBA), investment in the Canaries backline looks a viable tactic but with so much uncertainty over the keeper situation, Michael Turner and Russell Martin, at 4.2 and 4.3 respectively in FPL, look the safest cut-price options.