Premiership Team News
Wenger Ready for More Tinkering
Wenger is set to blood another youngster or two for the final game against Sunderland on Sunday. Arsenal’s official site have hinted that the manager will draft in Mark Randall, in addition to Kieran Gibbs who was on the bench against Everton last weekend. There’s also every possibility that Traore could get a start having impressed on his arrival as sub against Moyes’ men. Wenger has once again hinted that one of his established players could make way…
“I could give one or two players an early breather because they go to Euro 2008 or the African qualifiers”, he remarked.
Who could be set for the chop? The smart money has got to be on Eboue. Both Gibbs and Randall are midfield players so that looks likely to be the area in question that’s under threat. Eboue stands out as the player likely to be rested although, given Wenger’s vague criteria, he could look to rest Toure, Clichy or even Gallas.
ContinuedBerbatov Returns For Finale
Dimitar Berbatov is set to return to the Spurs lineup for the visit of Liverpool on Sunday. The striker missed the trip to Reading with a calf injury but Ramos has confirmed that the Bulgarian’s fitness issues are at an end.
“He’s recovered and the injury isn’t a problem,” remarked Ramos earlier today.
Sunday’s game looks likely to be Berbatov’s final appearance in a Spurs shirt if the current noises and speculation coming from White Hart Lane are to be believed. He’s certainly been on the move in fantasy terms - nearly 15,000 FPL managers have shown him the door at the time of writing, no doubt turning their attention to the likes of Tevez and Drogba. But could Berbatov hand Spurs fans one last reminder of his talent and bring in some points for those fantasy managers who been more patient this week?
ContinuedCarvalho in Fitness Race
Chelsea’s Ricardo Carvalho remains a doubt for the final game of the season against Bolton. The defender was replaced after 77-minutes of the Newcastle game with a back injury and it is reported that he’s been subject to intensive treatment so far this week to get him fit for the deciding game [source].
Alex replaced him in the Newcastle game and will slot straight in alongside Terry should Carvalho fail in his bid for fitness. It might even be the case that Grant would even prefer Alex in his lineup - his size would certainly help deal with Bolton’s style of play.
ContinuedVidic Set For JJB Return
United will have Nemanja Vidic back in their defence for the final day at Wigan on Sunday. Vidic was forced to sit out of the win over West Ham with concussion suffered in the clash with Didier Drogba the previous Sunday. There is a mandatory 10-day FA break following a concussion which was enforced by medical staff at the club [source].
Ferguson is also contemplating bringing Rooney back to the bench for Sunday’s vital clash. United will want to spare him for the Champions League final of course but the general consensus appears to be that Rooney will recover from his hip injury in time for the Moscow final and could even be available from the bench should things start going pear-shaped at the JJB.
In fantasy terms it seems likely that Brown will shift to right-back with Hargreaves possibly taking up a midfield role. Tevez seems certain of start, unless of course Ferguson opts to bring in Anderson or Fletcher to pack the midfield and use Ronaldo as his spearhead in attack. My bet is that Tevez will get the nod in a similar lineup to the one that took on West Ham with Hargreaves possibly replacing the suspended Nani.
ContinuedThree Week Layoff For Fabregas
Wenger has confirmed that Cesc Fabregas will miss the final game of the season due to the groin injury that kept him out of yesterday’s victory over Everton. Fabregas has had scans on the injury and Wenger has revealed that the midfielder will require a three-week layoff [source].
That will mean that thousands of fantasy managers will be trading in the Spaniard for the final game next Sunday. His value should present some decent options, either in a straight swap, or as part of a double transfer. In terms of straight replacements attention will doubtless turn to those players who will have something to play for next weekend - names like Barry, Bullard and possibly Joe Cole, Ballack and Lampard - should Chelsea keep their title hopes alive at Newcastle this afternoon.
Indeed, Chelsea’s result at Newcastle is likely to be the factor that will shape the transfer decisions made this week. More on that in my weekend Scout Notes later today.
ContinuedUpdated Team News
Anelka Ruled Out of Reunion
Chelsea will go into the final and possibly decisive game of the season without Nicolas Anelka. The striker will miss out of the reunion with his former club Bolton because of a ruling concerning his transfer from the Reebok in the January transfer window.
ContinuedRooney Set To Face Hammers
Alex Ferguson has indicated that Wayne Rooney will be fit to play a part in the weekend clash with West Ham, although he appears a little more cagey over the prospects of Nemanja Vidic being available.
Both missed last night’s victory over Barca but Ferguson has remarked that Rooney’s hip injury should repair in time for him to play a role against the Hammers.
“He will be a lot better in a few days and involved on Saturday somewhere along the line,” remarked the United boss.
Vidic meanwhile is still apparently under supervision of medical staff following the nasty clash with Drogba’s knee. If I recall, the conditions of a concussion related injury apparently force a player to sit out 7-days so he looks unlikely to make Saturday’s game.
ContinuedUpdated Team News
I’ve done a full pass over the team news to bring you the very latest juice from around the Premiership grounds. Here’s some of the more notable of the fresh pickings…
ContinuedWeekend Team News
My early thoughts on the weekend team news has been poured into the site tonight. It’s the usual 70-30 mix of fact and speculation, with a dash of uncertainty courtesy of Mr Wenger and Mr Benitez.
I’ll do my best to stiffen this concoction throughout the day tomorrow, as more news on knocks and scrapes rise to the surface.
Get the early stuff here.
Continued
