The main talking points in today’s round of games from a Fantasy perspective centre on Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres.
Rooney’s stunning start to the season has meant he’s been a captaincy favourite for many and even a testing trip to Stoke this evening would have undeterred many Fantasy managers from handing the United man the armband.
His exclusion from the Britannia clash due to a slight hamstring strain will, therefore, bring the vice captaincy rule into play for many and with a home match against Norwich next weekend, plenty will be sweating over his fitness.
Rooney is the top-owned player in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game- he’s included in 50.2% of teams- but has already brought words of reassurance via his twitter stream, suggesting he should be fit for the midweek Champions League game against Basle:
Gutted I’m missing game today. Hopefully ok for Tuesday. Tough game v Stoke. Hopefully 3 points. Berba 1st goal I think.
To add to Sir Alex Ferguson’s worries, Javier Hernandez has limped out of the Stoke game within the first five minutes, meaning the champions are currently taking on Stoke with their Carling Cup strike pairing of and Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen.
Over at Stamford Bridge, it was something of a case of déjà vu for Fernando Torres this afternoon at Stamford Bridge. Similar to last weekend in the 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford, the Spaniard grabbed a goal but it was what followed that will, once again, overshadow his contribution to the Chelsea cause.
Against Man United last Sunday, Torres’ brilliant clipped finish past compatriot David De Gea suggested a return to the El Nino of old but his subsequent open goal miss was the one abiding memory.
Today saw Torres grab the Blues opener and set about Swansea with an impressive relish until his enthusiasm got the better of him. A rash two-footed challenge on Swansea’s Mark Gower means Torres will miss Chelsea’s next three games, just as he was beginning to silence the doubters.
With the fourth round of the Carling Cup commencing in the week beginning 24th October, Torres’ ban will be restricted to league fixtures, leaving him sidelined for (bol, EVE, qpr).
