First of all apologoies for the recent downtime – I’ve had some technical issues with my hosting in the last 24-hours so I’m a little behind on news and updates. Things seem to be back to normal this morning though, so here’s your belated notes on last weekend’s proceedings.

Team Notes

Arsenal
Wenger handed Walcott a start, dropping Eboue to the bench after some pretty abject performances. That should remain the situation for the final three games – although with Walcott classed as a striker, his fantasy potential is limited. Adebayor and Fabregas both profited from the victory over Reading as expected. The big striker scored his second consecutive Premiership goal, his fourth in five games in all competitions. He’s clearly back in form although it must be said, there appears to be some risk that he or Van Persie will be rested for the trip to Derby next weekend if Wenger looks to hand Bendtner the experience of another Premiership start. Fabregas is perhaps a safer bet for those looking to cash in on Arsenal’s finish – he got his fifth assist in the last six Premiership games and earned another three FPL bonus points. Hleb should be avoided given that his little fracas with Reading’s Murty could land him into trouble should the FA examine video evidence.

Defensively, Arsenal also recorded their 13th clean sheet of the campaign with Toure earning an assist and Clichy a pair of FPL bonus, to help swell their returns. Games against Derby, Everton and Sunderland appear to offer more opportunities for defensive points. Toure picked up an injury in this one and with Sagna and Almunia still injury doubts (although they are likely to return next weekend), Gallas and Clichy are therefore the best defensive targets and should prove popular signings this week.

Aston Villa
The run of wins and goals continues. The Birmingham game was their third successive win in which they’ve scored 15 goals. While they have 2 of the last 3 away from Villa Park – you’d still expect their players to profit against an out of form Everton, a Wigan side who should be safe from relegation and a West Ham outfit with little but pride to play for on the last day of the season. Young and Barry are perhaps the headliners in the lineup, although Agbonlahor, Carew and the in-form Petrov – particularly in the FPL where bonus could come his way – are certainly also worth considering for the final furlong.

Villa conceded in this one, after keeping two consecutive clean sheets. It’s evident that the emphasis at Villa is on attack – now more than ever it seems, so their defence remains unpredictable at best. Laursen remains a risk then, unless you back him to score from set-pieces, as I did against Birmingham.

Man United
Vidic made a surprise return to the United lineup for this one. There was confirmation that he could be fit earlier in the week but I for one, was expecting him to be saved for the Barca clash. Ferguson did however rest Van der Sar, Hargreaves and Anderson – all of which have had their fair share of knocks and niggles recently. Ferguson has confirmed that all will be available, along with Wayne Rooney who suffered a blow to his hip this weekend, for the Champions League game.

With the crunch game with Chelsea coming next, there’s little opportunity for Ferguson to rest players prior to the second-leg with Barca and therefore, little for fantasy managers to worry about. The fact that Ronaldo contributed nothing, for the first time in 8 Premiership starts, is a slight concern and could well be something to consider going into the weekend. The maestro did look out of sorts for much of the Blackburn game and with Chelsea to come next, there will be plenty of FPL managers examining other options for their Captain this gameweek. Tevez meanwhile, scored his 13th goal of the season to grab a point for United but he is set to be benched once more against Barca and could also miss out at Stamford Bridge as Ferguson looks to adopt a more cautious approach. Ronaldo seems likely to be employed furthest forward in support of Rooney in that one, with Carrick, Scholes and Hargreaves all set for starts in midfield.

Liverpool
Rafa did tinker as expected at Fulham but they still had far too much for Hodgson’s side. Pennant got the plaudits with a goal, an assist and FPL bonus. He, along with Crouch and Benayoun should figure again at Birmingham given that this game falls prior to the second leg of the Champions League semi with Chelsea. Gerrard, Torres, Babel, Kuyt and even Carragher would appear to be at risk again next time out then.

Man City
Sven’s side hit three goals for the first time in 18 Premiership games. To be honest, the 3-1 scoreline flattered them considering the possession that Portsmouth enjoyed and of course, the fact that they were up against ten men for more than half the game. Sven did make one intriguing change to his lineup, dropping Jihai to the bench and moving Elano to right-back to allow for Vassell to start. It turned out to be a masterstroke given that the former England striker found the net after just a few minutes and was instrumental in having Hreidarsson dismissed. Elano owners, or potential investors, won’t have been too impressed though.

Bolton
It appears that Megson has helped his side rediscover their knack of grinding out gritty defensive performances. The win at Boro was their second consecutive clean sheet with O’Brien and Cahill starring. Away games at Spurs and Chelsea appear to offer little potential for further defensive points, although the home game with Sunderland the weekend after next, looks a decent prospect if you’re looking for a cheap, short-term defender.

Reading
Coppell rang the changes at the Emirates but there’s part of me that thinks that his intentions were mixed. Could it be that Coppell was hedging his bets with the Arsenal encounter with the more winnable game at Wigan next weekend? I for one, would expect a whole host of changes again for that one. Doyle, Hunt and Shorey were amongst the names omitted against Arsenal, but I can see them earning recalls for the weekend.

Fulham
The Liverpool defeat surely dooms them to Championship football next season. The home game with Birmingham remains crucial but for that to really play a part in Fulham’s fate they have to get something at City this weekend. Sadly, they’ll meet a City side coming off the back of a rejuvenating win over Pompey and I find it hard to see them getting much from Eastlands. Dunne’s fitness could be key for that game. He suffered a hamstring injury against Portsmouth and, if he is out, and Richards fails to return, there could be hope for McBride and Fulham yet.

Birmingham
Bang in trouble after the thrashing at Villa Park – expect changes next weekend. Kapo and Forssell look odds on to start at home to Liverpool in a game that McCleish’s side must get something to take to Craven Cottage the week after. Based on the defensive display this weekend, you’d fancy Liverpool and specifically their strikers, to profit for the trip to St Andrews.

Player Notes

Peter Crouch
Crouch has scored 3 times in his last 4 Premiership starts – so when he plays, he has obvious fantasy potential. With Rafa likely to continue a policy of rotation prior to Champions League games, it would appear that the big striker has a very good chance of starting against Birmingham next weekend. It Liverpool progress, then you’d also have to think that he was likely to start in Liverpool’s final game at Spurs, prior to the Final.

Ashley Young
The performance of the weekend from Young, in a tremendous season for him. Classed as a midfielder in several fantasy games and a striker in the FPL – he’s hardly featured in my Scout picks all season as a result. He continues to offer outstanding value though, whatever game you’re playing. His goals against Birmingham were only his second and third in 8 games but, accompanied by his 17th assist for the Carew goal, it sees him rank in the top 5 forwards. At just 7.4 million in the FPL game – he’s been a bargain.

While Villa have 2 of their last 3 away from home, Young is a still a good bet to extend his points tally further against the Everton, Wigan and West Ham defences. Villa should breach each one of those, with Young likely to be prominent in doing so.

Santa Cruz
Another who has enjoyed an excellent season. The Paraguayan has notched 5 goals in his last 6 Premiership starts. While Rovers have 2 of their remaining 3 away from Ewood, that shouldn’t bother Santa Cruz who has his 12 of his 16 goals away from home. He’ll come up against the Portsmouth, Derby and Birmingham defences next then. Pompey looks tough next weekend, but after that he looks a quality investment for the final two games.

Michael Owen
Six goals in his last six Premiership games is a stat that makes him hard to ignore. He put in an outstanding performance, in addition to his goals, against Sunderland. However, two away games in the final three for Newcastle, perhaps reduce his potential for fantasy managers, while his high price is certainly a factor. With excellent mid-price options offered by the likes of Santa Cruz, Young/Agbonlahor and Defoe – he’s likely to remain in the fantasy wilderness to the end of the season, despite his form and run of goals. It will be interesting to see how he is valued by fantasy games next season however.

Geremi
Did the business again with an assist and a fourth clean sheet in five Premiership starts. The problem here is that hesitant investors may have missed the boat with him now, given the fixtures to come. Newcastle face both Everton and West Ham away, but they aren’t exactly firing on all cylinders in attacking terms, while the home game with Chelsea meanwhile could even be academic if United win at Stamford Bridge this weekend. There could yet be value in Geremi then if he keeps providing the ammo for Owen.

Dimitar Berbatov
Struck his 15th of the season at Wigan and although Spurs are far from on form, I’d still see him adding to his tally of fantasy points over the remaining matches. Bolton and Reading next look good fixtures for the striker, while Liverpool at home on the final day could well be a farewell game for Berbatov against a weakened selection from Rafa should they progress in the Champions League.

Dean Ashton
He missed the opportunity to lift his spirits with goals against the Derby defence after suffering tonsillitis in the week. Given the fact that Zamora and Cole both scored, and that Sears is likely to get more opportunities to gain experience in the final three matches, Ashton could find his opportunities limited until next term.

Injuries

Toure picked up a knock and was subbed just before the hour-mark.

Rooney was clearly suffering with a hip injury sustained in a collision with Blackburn’s Ryan Nelsen. It’s hoped that he’ll make the Barcelona and Ferguson seems confident.

Emile Heskey suffered yet another knock and was withdrawn on 74-minutes against Spurs. Similarly, Marcus Bent picked up an injury and was replaced by Marlon King on 83-minutes.

Tamir Cohen was replaced at half-time after picking up an injury against Boro. Grzegorz Rasiak also suffered a knock in that game and was replaced by Diouf on 55-minutes.

Richard Dunne picked up a hamstring injury and was subbed after 55-minutes against Portsmouth. Elano also picked up a knock in the same game and was replaced right at the death.

Suspensions

Hreidarsson will miss next week’s home clash with Blackburn after being dismissed for the professional foul on Vassell.