An eleven day gap, the threat of postponement, some double fixtures, no Gerrard – it’s by no means an ordinary gameweek. Here’s my last minute thoughts for the weekend to take your through to our first kick-off….
It seems that the weekend programme in the Premier League has so far escaped the frosty threat of postponement which is certainly the first piece of good news. It’s a very strange gameweek regardless, given that it is strung out over eleven days. United host Fulham on February 18, over a week after this weekend’s programme is done and dusted.
In truth, aside from the wait for the FPL to update auto substitutions and points, that shouldn’t influence things too much. Ferguson is still likely to rotate his troops for that game with a home fixture with Blackburn to follow three days later on February 21 and the Derby FA Cup tie the weekend before. The gap could increase the chances of the likes of Carrick and perhaps Giggs making two consecutive league appearances this gameweek but it’s still looks a gamble compared to the untouchables on offer – Van der Sar, Vidic, Ronaldo and Berbatov. Just to recap on the United team news for this weekend – Rooney and Evra do not return for the West Ham game but should come back in for the Fulham game. The same can be said for Evans. Nani is back in contention for this weekend, but Neville is out through illness so Wes Brown is expected to start.
Some more team news development, this time from Anfield, with Rafa apparently pondering whether to rest Torrres at Fratton Park. The Spaniard was withdrawn against Everton in the week with fatigue and Benitez can’t afford to take too much of a risk his brittle hamstrings on a frozen pitch with Gerrard already sidelined. His absence would see Kuyt pushed right up front, with Babel and Benayoun almost certain of starts. Alonso is also a doubt according to reports from Anfield. All the talk this morning is that Torres will start but with Rafa, there’s always an element of doubt.
Elsewhere, Arshavin could make his Arsenal debut with Wenger hinting that he could play a part. That’s not a major concern for fantasy managers at this point – we need a good look at him before he comes into consideration and I can’t see Van Persie missing out at White Hart Lane as a result of Arshavin’s presence this weekend. Newcastle have lost Carroll up front for their trip to the Hawthorns – Martins is set to return, possibly up front with Ameobi. I can see goals in this one.
In terms of my own fantasy lineups this week, I’ve been conservative with my transfers and made just the one – bringing in N’Zogbia for Samba at the back. My cup opponent has made three transfers, no doubt fuelled by the injury to Gerrard and the double gameweek. That gives me a big advantage going into the gameweek tie so I decided to sit back on that and hope that N’Zogbia returns a clean sheet against Fulham or at least some attacking points.
I was tempted to up my Man City allocation to three players and opt for Bridge but whereas N’Zogbia goes to Boro next gameweek, City travel to Liverpool and I didn’t want three of my squad at Anfield next time out – not with City’s away record. I also looked at Baines but I do have a slight concern over the Yobo situation. He is now fit and is threatening to return to the defence and push Lescott out to left-back once again. I don’t think this will happen against Bolton this weekend but the fact that Megson could expose Baines’ lack of height by sticking Davies out on the right may well give Moyes the tactical reason to recall Yobo. It’s a slight concern but enough for me to look past Baines for another week. There’s no doubt that I need to get an Everton defender in next gameweek however – given their fixtures to come.
I’m still lying in a respectable position in the Guardian game – just outside the top 200, so I’ve done some tinkering here to introduce some differentials over the coming gameweeks. Hanageland has come into my defence with his extra fixtures over the next few weeks, while I’ve paired Robinho with Berbatov up front (playing two strikers isn’t common in this game) to see if they can’t bring in the returns to help me bridge the gap with the leaders that little bit more. Steve Legg, who leads the Scout League is 7th in the overall game and 40 points behind the leader with £25,000 at stake – so I wish Steve well over the coming weeks, despite my own ambitions.
I’m off to get some breakfast now. I’ll start a dugout discussion post when we have some team news from the early kick-off at Eastlands. With minutes remaining before the FPL deadline, it just leaves me to wish you all the best in your league and cups for this coming gameweek.