With just two matches to go before the curfew for five yellow cards is reached, the tightrope is more crowded then ever, with two of the biggest Fantasy names around joining those teetering on the brink. Both Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie must now get past matches with Newcastle and West Brom without a blemish if they are to avoid a rather inconvenient one-match ban.
The United pairing are two of nine new additions to the tightrope this weekend, with Reading’s Mikele Leigertwood and Adrian Mariappa included in the latest arrivals, along with Sandro and Jan Vertonghen of Spurs and Geoff Cameron and Andy Wilkinson of Stoke. Swansea’s Chico also joined the pack now sitting on four yellows with two matches to go before safety.
Fantasy managers now have a string of top quality assets at risk, with the United pairing, three of the esteemed Stoke back four, Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe, Kevin Nolan, Adel Taarabt and Michu all still gasping for air with the December 31 date drawing closer. Overall, we have 31 names sitting on four bookings (see your right sidebar for the full cast), with a total of 64 players still at risk of serving a ban should they see enough yellow flashed in their direction.
There are, of course, suspensions already sealed after the weekend’s action – Carlton Cole’s red in the 2-1 defeat to Everton could yet be appealed which could save him from a three-match ban and bring him back into contention for the trip to Reading on December 29. Everton have already submitted their appeal for Darron Gibson’s red in the same match and, while the FA mull over that, Gibson becomes available for Everton’s home encounter with Wigan. There’s no escape for Cheick Tiote though; he fell from the tightrope with his fifth caution in the 1-0 win over QPR and will now get to watch from the stands while his team-mates travel to Old Trafford. He’ll be missed.
There’s also a string of players returning from bans, with John Obi Mikel’s availability casting immediate doubt over David Luiz’s chances of retaining that defensive midfield role for the trip to Carrow Road. Both Steve Sidwell and Youssouf Mulumbu served out their one-match bans this weekend and will be available to make immediate returns to action on Boxing Day. Marouane Fellaini still has two more matches to serve before he’s back in contention for Everton.
