Archive for Mark
Anelka Bonus As Drogba Faces Ban
Fantasy investors in Nicolas Anelka will have a smile on their face this evening with today’s news that Didier Drogba had been charged with violent conduct by the FA.
Drogba has been formally charged after returning the Burnley fans’ coin donations during his goal celebrations in Wednesday’s Carling Cup tie. The striker is now set to face a three match ban as a result. Bad news for Drogba, excellent news for Anelka’s fantasy owners who can now wallow in the comfort of another few unchallenged starts for the Premiership’s top scorer…
ContinuedZaki Doubt For Toon Trip
Amr Zaki needs a goal, both to help lift Wigan and to help repair his reputation with fantasy managers. Sadly, there are doubts as to whether that goal will come this weekend as it’s been revealed the Egyptian is carrying a number of knocks, in addition to suffering from flu.
According to statements from his “personal advisor” the Wigan striker took the field against Arsenal with flu and then went on to suffer a bang on the ribs. He’s also still carrying the after effects of a calf injury….
ContinuedThe Midweek Meander
Arriving dangerously close to the end of the week, here is my usual midweek waltz across the weekend fixture list where I attempt to target the best options for cleanies, goals and instant nausea…
ContinuedWednesday’s Carling Cup Notes
Spurs dish out a beating to Rafa’s reserves. Drogba returns but can’t save Scolari from tasting defeat at the hands of Burnley and Santa bears gifts for Ince as Rovers edge past Sunderland. Here’s the notes on last gulp from the Carling Cup…
ContinuedUpdated Monthly Picks
The monthly rankings have had their weekly cuddle and have been freshly updated to sum up my current thoughts for each position over the next five games.
Anyone who has been studying my less that explosive performance from the weekly picks, will know just how much faith to put in my opinion but you may want to live dangerously. Click here if you want an explanation on how these monthly picks work.
Amongst them you should be able to decipher my current faith for Hull’s attacking instincts in my budget options (Shawcross, Geovanni, King), and my dangerous faith in Tottenham within my mid-price options (Belhadj, Modric, Bent) for the next five games. What’s more, I’ve summed up some of the logic behind the placings in the many words that follow…
ContinuedTuesday’s Carling Cup Notes
Wenger’s international bright young things dismantle Wigan. United rely on a late Tevez spot kick to see off QPR, while Stoke’s reserves have too much for Rotherham, even without Delap’s slingshot. Here’s the notes from tonight’s games in the Care Less Cup…
ContinuedBent Rises As Carew Doubts Grow
It looks as though John Carew’s chances of making the Arsenal game are reducing by the day. Having had a scan earlier this week, Villa have announced today that the big striker is a major doubt for the Emirates trip with back and thigh injuries.
That kind of news will surely only add to the speeding Darren Bent bandwagon that’s leading to a rapid rise in his FPL price…
ContinuedRafa Issues Rotation Warning
Arch rotation villain Rafa Benitez has offered a kindly warning to us fantasy managers by informing us that Gerrard is on the verge of being rested. He also gives us an insight into his current thinking regarding his team lineup, as Torres becomes a lovely new option for the Liverpool boss. How kind…
ContinuedSome Vague News On Carew
Martin O’Neill has offered us a microscopic insight into John Carew’s hip injury this morning. Talking to Aston Villa TV (we’re all avid viewers), The Villa boss appears to be pretty optimistic on the striker being available for the trip to Arsenal this weekend, along with Luke Young who also sat out the weekend defeat…
“I thought John might be fine for Middlesbrough but he was unable to make it so we’ll see how things progress for the pair of them during the rest of the week,” remarks the Villa boss.
Carew apparently failed a fitness test before the Boro game and must therefore have a good chance of making a welcome return for the Emirates trip. Meanwhile Luke Young’s thigh injury “doesn’t look to be too bad” according to O’Neill. The latest prognosis on Villa’s defence as whole? It still looks bloody terrible. My words, not his.
ContinuedFuller Doubt For Baggies Clash
Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller is set to miss their next home game with West Brom due to international commitments with Jamaica. Some of you may have missed this little snippet in the web links so I’d thought I’d ram it home just in case (nearly 2000 FPL managers have already bought him since the weekend).
Fuller has been called up for their World Cup Qualifier with Canada on November 19 and with Stoke’s game following just a few days later, boss Pulis expects Fuller to be in no fit state to take his place in the side…
ContinuedWenger Talks Up Five Man Midfield
There’s some intriguing talk coming out of the Emirates today as Wenger sings the praises of the 4-5-1 he employed in the win against United - including a little hint that he could look to use it more often.
Wenger was, in many ways, forced to playing Bendtner up front on his own against United, with the inexperienced Vela his only option as a second striker. As it was, Diaby played in the role just behind Bendtner and he tracked back into midfield as the game progress, as the Gunners looked to hold onto their lead.
Wenger’s words today hint that we could see this formation for a good while yet, suggesting that Diaby’s potential in fantasy terms may well be on the rise…
ContinuedGameweek 13 - The FPL Captain Poll
Right then, lets get another week rolling with the usual captain discussion. Your poll in live lower down the middle column so get voting.
Looking at the fixtures, it might all be a touch academic but let’s give it a go regardless. As usual this thread will be kept under “Featured Discussions” so use this post for future discussions on your choice of captain over the week.
ContinuedSunday’s Scout Notes
Tottenham’s form transforms Darren Bent to a fantasy hot property. City and Villa’s form leave Young and Wright-Philips in the wilderness. Fantasy football is a fickle game. Here’s the notes from Sunday’s Premiership capers…
ContinuedSaturday’s Scout Notes
The Nasri bandwagon starts its engines, Traore’s loses a wheel, while the speeding Ronaldo wagon stops for a quick cuppa at the Little Chef.
We’ve all had better fantasy Saturdays. Here’s the notes…
Continued
