Team News

The Weekend Team News

Jan Vertonghen recovers from injury in time for Spurs’ trip to Goodison. Laurent Koscielny is still unavailable for Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool. Ashley Williams misses out for the Toffees, who have worries at both ends of the pitch, whilst Southampton have defensive concerns as Watford roll up to St Mary’s.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche is optimistic that left-back Stephen Ward will shrug off a hamstring problem in time for the home clash against Swansea. Jon Flanagan has stepped up his fitness in training, whilst Ashley Barnes (hamstring) is expected to miss out.

Alan Pardew was somewhat reluctant to give away any information for Palace’s clash against West Brom. The Eagles boss conceded he’s still trying to get one or two players “up to full speed”.

Laurent Koscielny is “not ready” to return for Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool, according to Arsene Wenger.

Ashley Williams misses his debut for Everton due to a lack of match fitness, according to Ronald Koeman. Seamus Coleman and Romelu Lukaku are doubtful for the visit of Tottenham, though Phil Jagielka has been passed fit.

Claudio Ranieri has no injury concerns for Leicester’s trip to Hull, though the champions are without Robert Huth due to suspension. The Foxes manager has admitted he doesn’t expect his side to reach last year’s fitness levels “until the fifth or sixth game”.

Aitor Karanka has revealed that Bernardo Espinoza, Daniel Ayala and Grant Leadbitter will all miss Middlesbrough’s home encounter against Stoke.

Southampton pair Jose Fonte and Cedric Soares will have their fitness assessed after a late return to training due to their exertions for Portugal in Euro 2016. Ryan Bertrand misses out with a knee injury.

Glen Johnson is Stoke’s only injury worry for their trip to the Riverside. Marko Arnautovic is expected to feature after stepping up his recovery from a minor hamstring issue, whilst Xherdan Shaqiri is available, having shrugged off a knock.

Jermain Defoe has declared himself available for Sunderland’s trip to Man City. Jan Kirchhoff, Billy Jones and Seb Larsson all remain doubts.

Francesco Guidolin has admitted that Swansea’s record signing Borja Baston is unlikely to be involved in the weekend trip to Burnley.

Jan Vertonghen has recovered from the ankle injury that forced him to miss Euro 2016 and is available for Tottenham’s trip to Goodison. Mousa Dembele serves the third of a six-match suspension.

Brice Dja Djedje has been ruled out of Watford’s trip to St Mary’s, whilst fellow new boy Isaac Success is almost certainly unavailable, too. Midfield duo Valon Behrami and Adlene Guedioura are set to have their fitness assessed.

Gokhan Tore has resumed training ahead of West Ham’s trip to Chelsea on Monday evening. Diafra Sakho is still sidelined with a back problem, whilst Cheikhou Kouyate, Pedro Obiang and Darren Randolph have all recovered from knocks. Slaven Bilic has admitted Dimitri Payet isn’t fit to play 90 minutes, though the Frenchman is expected to play some part in the Stamford Bridge showdown.

Junior Stanislas has been ruled out of Bournemouth’s clash against United on Sunday. Eddie Howe has admitted he has “one or two niggles” to contend with in the squad.

All this and more has now been updated in the Team News section ahead of tomorrow’s opening day deadline. Keep an eye on our official Twitter Stream for breaking news – as the day unfolds, we will issue updates from Friday’s press conferences and refresh our Team News tab accordingly to keep you informed.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

3,369 Comments Post a Comment
  1. To Mee To You
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    My team is Finished i tell ya!
    Please, don't be shy.
    Go on SLATE my team!!

    Slate My Team
    Jakupovic Guzan
    Huth Smalling Alderweireld (Moreno, Mee)
    De Bruyne Ozil Noble Dier ( Anya)
    Rooney Ighalo Lukaku

    1. Ranj
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Huth isn't playing neither is smalling
      Ozil is not match fit

      1. To Mee To You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Pub Crawl to the Townsend
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Start again

      1. To Mee To You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks.. thats pretty Slatey!

    3. La Vida Latte
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Huth is suspended, so he definetly will not play first gw...
      Very different team. Guzan? Not first choice.

      1. To Mee To You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers!

    4. Texas Pete
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Loks a little light up front. I'd downgrade in defence and try to get a big hitter in.Lukaku might not start GW1

      1. To Mee To You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks

    5. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Do not like that frontline. Misses a certain Kun.
      The midfield is waaaaayyyy too punty. Dier and Noble are not good picks.
      Get other United defensive cover than Smalling. Moreno meh.

      Sorry 🙁

      1. To Mee To You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        I did ask! Thanks for Slating my team!

    6. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      I'm gonna try to hold back a wee bit.

      Moreno and other Liverpool defence I would avoid for the time being.
      Huth is banned for GW1 I believe. (someone correect me if I am wrong)
      Dier was a good pick last year because he was a defender playing OOP, but not this year.
      Ozil will not play GW1 and he is not yet fully match fit.
      Lukaku is also a doubt.

      Otherwise all ok.

      1. To Mee To You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks...... feel free to Slate more!

    7. Besaid_Auroch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Is this your team for this season or last season? Decent if the latter.

      1. To Mee To You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Just trying to avoid a template.... thanks for the advice!

    8. TekkersFC
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Hes taking the piss guys..

      1. To Mee To You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        That's harsh!

    9. Ten Season Wonder
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Does this team even add up to a combined £100m?

      looks like it's worth £60m tops mate

      1. To Mee To You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        97.5m. saving the rest to get Kane next week.

  2. Evasivo
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    If you HAD to choose one from each, which would it be??!

    A) Mahrez or Vardy
    B) Vardy or Kane

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Vardy
      Vardy

      1. Evasivo
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Wow! Must see your team (checks history)

    2. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      A) Vardy
      B) Kane

      I think there s a decent chance Mahrez will be sulking at the start of the season, having been denied a move to Arsenal.

      1. Evasivo
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        I think you raise a good point, though still think he'll want to prove one

    3. Mo Mane Mo Problems
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      B

    4. ROOTY7
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Vardy
      Vardy short term Kane long term

    5. Blanka
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Mahrez and Kane.

  3. dhamphiir
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Is my defence too much on budget?
    Should I downgrade ?
    Forster, Foster
    Walker, Valencia, Friends, Pieters, 4.0m def

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Seems reasonable. Maybe if you need extra funds downgrade either keeper to jaku or 4.0 equivalent? Wolly over pieters though.

    2. Pub Crawl to the Townsend
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      The defence is worth 24.0 which is about right

  4. Forever In Our Shadow
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Everyone seems to be passing up on Arsenal. I know they flattered to deceive last season but surely Sanchez is fixture proof? Anyone else on the Sanchez boat? Only 8.3% ownership thus far!

    1. Blanka
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Tough fixtures and 11.5m is STEEP!

    2. Gaffa914
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Yep managed to get a balanced team with him hazard and aguero. Pleased!

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Ive gone haz, san, kun & vardy too. Had to do 4-3-3 to do it but I quite like the "differential" element.

    3. La Vida Latte
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Very expensive and unclear if he will start the first game (or get 90 minutes). I like him otherwise.

    4. Deece
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      I've got him and has been nailed in my team as soon as heard he was fit for the city friendly.

      Sanchez - Haz - Firmino
      Kun - Kane - Gray

      Stacked up top!

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Ive just got vardy instaed of kane. Nice. 😉

    5. _Jane
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      For me I will wait until GW5 vs HUL (c) but then Aguero will be facing BOU too

  5. Mo Mane Mo Problems
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Foster/Pickford

    Valencia/Walker/Naughton/Pieters/Paredes

    Firmino/Oscar/Lamela/Redmond/Capoue

    Aguero/Kane/Costa

    0.5 itb

    How's this team looking, keeping .5 in the bank incase Redmond flops.

    Any advice

    1. Narcissist
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Chelsea fan?

      1. Mo Mane Mo Problems
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Nah Spurs fan.

  6. La Vida Latte
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    If you would pick a team for the WHOLE season - no transfers allowed - who would be in your team?

  7. Hypnos
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    is there a UFPL this year?

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      No

      1. Hypnos
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        why not?

    2. Lyonnais
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      no

  8. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Middlebsrough close to signing da Silva, competition for friend 🙁

    1. Blanka
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      *back up

    2. Tiamani Warrior
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      not cool. who are their other 4.5s?

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Gibson Nsue barragan, Nsue is interesting but also has competition

        1. Tiamani Warrior
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 9 months ago

          gibson-ayala is the usual right - barragan backup?

  9. Gol D Roger
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Forster/Mannone

    Morgan, Shaw, Stones
    Townsend, Hazard, Redmond, Martial
    Gray, Aguero (C) , Vardy (VC)

    Mannone Friend, Capoue, Amat

    1 Point in the bank

    1. Gol D Roger
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Sorry starting Forster GW1, Mannone bench

  10. Gaffa914
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Why doesn't anyone have Sanchez in their teams?

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Fixtures

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        And possible lack of fitness after ankle injury

    2. Blanka
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      11.5 million! Most have Ibra and Kun. Having them 2 doesn't really allow it.

      1. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        11.0 .. special price for you, today only, my friend 😉

    3. Gol D Roger
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Returning from playing Copa America + Ankle Injury, with all Arsenal's injury problems, dunno if wenger will risk him, have alternatives like iwobi and ox in good pre season form

    4. Texas Pete
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Fixtures plus expensiveness.

    5. Tiamani Warrior
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      maybe a bit streaky for 11mil? could be great if wenger stuck to a lineup that suited him?

    6. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Might be playing up front, and had a great 80 mins against City the other day.

  11. JoshHuntCUFC
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    De Gea -- (Jaku)
    Azpi -- Stones -- Shaw -- (Evans) -- (B. Smith)
    Firmino -- Lamela -- Tadic -- Redmond -- (Capoue)
    Aguero -- Zlatan -- Gray

    1.0 ITB

    Rate my team?! Any suggestions welcome!

    1. GE
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      7/10. I would only have one mid from Southampton.

  12. Lumberjack
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    A - Tadic and 0 ITB
    B - Cabaye and 1.5 ITB for Vardy to Ibra in the next couple of weeks

    1. jurgenklopp.8
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      A

      1. Lumberjack
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers, that's what I'm on at the moment

  13. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Will de bruyne start?

  14. muni50
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    How nailed on is Zaha?

    People were drafting him into their teams even before Bolasie left.

    Could make an interesting rotation pair with another cheap mid.

    Is there anyone else in the Palace team who could challenge him?

  15. sthelenslad92
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    A) VVD + Pieters + Kone
    B) Fuchs + Pieters + Kone
    C) VVD + Stones + Amat/Paredes
    D) Fuchs + Stones + Amat/Paredes

  16. Francescoli
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Redmond or Puncheon as fourth mid?

    1. trequartista
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      redmond

    2. Brayden29
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Redmond

  17. trequartista
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Best midfielder for 4.5m? Looking at the options with their ownerships

    Fletcher 15.7%
    Hojbjerg 3.4 %
    Watson 2.2 %
    Barry 1.9%
    Capoue 1.9%

    Am I missing out on any others?

    1. Jairzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Fischer is 5.5.

      I've gone for Capoue as my 4.5.

      1. Jairzinho
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Sorry... says Fletcher not Fischer.

    2. Brayden29
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      I am on Capoue

    3. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Leko is an option

  18. Jairzinho
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Foster (Jaku)
    Stones, Valencia, VVD (Pieters, 4.0)
    Martial, Mahrez, Eriksen, Fischer (Capoue)
    Gray, Vardy (c), Aguero

    Heading out in 30 mins, probably won't be able change team again. Am I all set?

    Q: What happened to all the old Fischer love? Team news says he'll start.

  19. GE
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Please help me out (A or B):

    A)
    Foster (Jakupovic)

    Stones/Valencia/Friend (Kone/Amat)

    Hazard/Alli/Tadic/Deulofeu (Fletcher)

    Aguero/Zlatan/Gray

    B) (1,0 itb)

    Foster (Jakupovic)

    Stones/Valencia/Friend (Kone/Amat)

    Hazard/Lamela//Firmino/Redmond

    Aguero/Zlatan/Gray

  20. EL_Duderino
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Is Oscar a starter?

    1. Brayden29
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Team news seems to think he is. I am seriously considering him over Hazard and using the funds elsewhere. Conte rates him but Chelsea have so many mids!

  21. pokern1nja09
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Valencia or shaw?

    1. Brayden29
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      I am on Valencia

    2. Ten Season Wonder
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      that's the million dollar question mate. (Currently on Shaw)

    3. EL_Duderino
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      I'm going with both, if one Valencia

      1. Boris Bodega
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        ditto

  22. Ten Season Wonder
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Which two HEAVY HITTING MIDFIELDERS are you all going with from the off?

    or maybe you are spreading the cost across FOUR mids...?

    Mine are HAZARD & MAHREZ.

    1. La Vida Latte
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      I am going crazy this year with no heavy hittting midfielders, but i will have 4M in the bank. GW2 I will probably have a heavy hitter... but who depends on performance

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Alli firmino and hazard

  23. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Looks like I'm the only one without a Man utd defender here...

    1. Ten Season Wonder
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Shawlencia

    2. Touré De Force
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      I've got 2!!! Wouldn't worry too much about it though if I were you.

    3. Gol D Roger
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      high clean sheets dlast year , mourinho is noted for tight defences too, wouldn't be a bad shout considering some of their fixtures to have 1

      1. Gazza2000
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Just swapped Valencia for Williams to upgrade Deulofeu to Firmino, think I'll stick with that

  24. Salah'd n Sauce
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Ok... Have settled on the following.....

    Schmeichel (Foster)
    Valencia/Evans/Stones (Amat/Azpilicueta)
    Firmino/Hazard/Tadic/Lamela/Deulofeu
    Long/Aguero (Carroll)

    My concern is Firmino... I shoehorned Kun in at the expense of Mahrez.

    Thoughts ?

    1. Salah'd n Sauce
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      **There is Zero ITB

    2. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      That's a really good team.

      1. Salah'd n Sauce
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers. Feel a bit better haha

  25. Les Bleus
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Do you guys think Bolasie is a good 4th mid pick?

  26. Ostrich Baby
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Happy with my team at last. Any reason why I shouldn't be?

    Courtois
    Baines Shaw Stones
    Lamela Hazard Firmino Redmond
    Aguero Vardy Gray
    (Jakupovic Friend Capoue Pieters)

    1. Texas Pete
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Like it. Quite a bit actually.

  27. Sooda
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    I am leaning toward Redmond over Tadic, in the hope that he gets a sustained run up front and bags some goals...

    What do you guys think?

    1. Tiamani Warrior
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      I prefer tadic but am a bit worried that if redmond does well first couple of games tadic's price will drop as people make the swap

  28. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Ready or not?

    Heaton Foster
    Stones Shaw VVD Friend Amat
    Hazard Firmino Redmond Townsend Capoue
    Aguero Ibra Carroll

    1. Jairzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Looks solid!

  29. Mozart_s Balls
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 9 months ago

    Last tiny dilemma:

    Feghouli or Redmond?

    1. Brayden29
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 9 months ago

      Redmond