Another gameweek starts with the usual Saturday splurge of random thoughts, as I wake to find a West Brom player in my picks. I’ll do my best to explain, more to myself than anyone else…
I can’t quite remember a more frustrating Friday in a long time – while I was able to read some of the scraps of team news that came pouring in whilst I was away, my net connection was so dodgy, I didn’t want to break the site by attempting page updates. So first of all, thanks to all those who kept things ticking over with excellent comment posts in my absence. It turns out that yesterday was a busy day on here without my input (a very good thing) and that’s down to you lot.
Luckily I got back just in time to bring you my picks last night. I’ve had time to sleep on these now and stand by them – even Greening. Just before I hit the pillow, I read that he’s had just four shots on target all season – that didn’t help me sleep. I’ve got a hunch that the Baggies will get their reward for some good football against Portsmouth tomorrow though, and if they can get the win, then I think that the influential Greening will profit in some way. Mowbray has hinted that he will push him just behind Miller up front, so I’m hoping that brings him a more prominent attacking role in the side.
The issue of FPL captain looks easier than ever this week. Ronaldo has ran away with our poll in a week when over 42,000 FPL managers have sold him on (I’ve just had to take a two minute break to digest that stat – I’m I the only one who finds that extraordinary?) It’s hard to say just how much of a factor the bogus suspension flag played in that stat – if its a tactical move to free up funds, then I can see some merit in that, although with Torres out, Gerrard hardly setting the world alight and plenty of low-to-mid price options like Geovanni and Ireland doing the business, I’m not sure where such funds are required.
Scrapping Ronaldo will certainly give you a major differential (a transfer which makes your fantasy lineup more unique in comparison to rival squads) of course – but of all the weeks to make the move, I wouldn’t have put money on it being the gameweek in which United face a managerless Sunderland at Old Trafford.
Is there a chance that Ronaldo may miss this game? Well yes, there’s always a chance. Tevez has clearly given Ferguson a selection headache for this weekend and the United boss seems to be on the verge of making tweaks to his attacking lineup…
“I’ve been doodling on my pad the last couple of days, trying to see how I can fit all these players in, but one of the important ingredients of your team is to have a proper balance,” remarked the United boss in his pre-match press conference.
That could see Rooney pitched out wide with Park making way, although I still feel it will be Berbatov who drops out. For me, there’s no evidence to suggest that Ronaldo won’t start and if that’s the case, then he has to be the prime candidate for your FPL captain.
I congratulate anyone in advance who bucks that trend and benefits should Ronaldo be rested, but given the potential damage he could inflict on Sunderland, and the points he could bring in, looking elsewhere is a brave brave move.
Moving on to the rest of the late team news you may have missed, and it looks as though Ince has concerns over Emerton and Santa Cruz for the home clash with Liverpool. I can’t see that worrying too many fantasy managers, although the loss of the Paraguayan would obviously be a major bonus to those managers sitting on members of Rafa’s defence.
Joe Cole is out for Chelsea, as is Carvalho, who is still at least a couple of weeks away. Ivanovic could keep his place but, as I’ve been saying all week, I do fancy Alex to return at the Reebok.
It looks as though Dawson will be back for Hull having returned to training on Friday. O’Neil looks unlikely to return for Boro in that game. Traore is a major doubt for Pompey’s Sunday trip to the Hawthorns and this could lead to any number of permutations from Adams, which I’ve outlined in the team news section. Finally, it looks as though City will have Wright-Phillips in their lineup at the Cottage, while Hughes is also hopeful on Richards and Robinho. I can see them all starting. We’ll find out in about an hour though.
That’s about it for the preamble. I got a variety of stories to catch up on and post later today so expect plenty of updates. Don’t forget to select your Fantascene lineup for the gameweek if you get time. I’m off to do mine now. Good luck for another gameweek folks.