Southampton’s Graziano Pelle is the most high profile of this week’s Suspension Tightrope protagonists after collecting a fifth yellow card of the campaign in yesterday’s home loss to Stoke.
The Italian will now miss next weekend’s trip to the Etihad and, although he will return in time for a plum home clash against Villa in Gameweek 15, it’s fair to say the exodus is picking up pace – over 120,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers have already parted company as we scramble to bring in the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Sergio Aguero.
Pelle earned a late caution for kicking the ball away as his barren run continued – he’s scored just once in the last five Gameweeks. Post-match, Ronaldo Koeman was unhappy over the Italian’s lack of self-restraint:
“It’s all about the frustration of the player. He was not playing well, he was not scoring and the team was not winning, but you have to control yourself always. That’s difficult, we know. But, okay, if it doesn’t happen today maybe it happens next week. It’s always a question if you are one booking from a suspension. It’s always when, when, when it happens. Okay, normally you have to control yourself. He knows. We know. We have to accept it and we will play another [number] nine next week.”
Pelle is one of six players to succumb to a one-match Tightrope ban so far. Liverpool will be devoid of Lucas’ services for their home encounter against Swansea next weekend. Swansea’s Jonjo Shelvey will also miss that Anfield encounter – handed the role in “the hole” at home to Bournemouth, the former Red bagged himself a goal and assist before earning his fifth yellow of the season.
Over at the Hawthorns, Tony Pulis has decisions to make at left-back after Chris Brunt picked up his fifth booking in the Baggies’ home win over Arsenal – the Northern Ireland international now misses next weekend’s trip to West Ham. Mark Noble will also be unavailable for that one after earning his fifth yellow in today’s loss at White Hart Lane, whilst Dele Alli will be absent as Spurs host Chelsea next weekend.
There are now 17 players on this week’s Tightrope, with Gameweek 13 handing us five new entries. Bournemouth playmaker Matt Ritchie, Leicester centre-half Robert Huth, Norwich’s Seb Bassong and Liverpool pair Emre Can and Nathaniel Clyne are the men in question.
Palace duo Wilfried Zaha and Yohan Cabaye, along with Sunderland’s Billy Jones, could yet topple of this week’s Tightrope – all three go into tomorrow’s night’s match at Slehurst Park on four yellows apiece.
In terms of newly-available players, Tottenham will welcome back Erik Lamela for next week’s trip to Stamford Bridge after the Argentine served a one-match ban at home to West Ham earlier today. West Brom will have Gareth McAuley available for their clash with the Hammers after the Irishman missed yesterday’s win over Arsenal.
Slaven Bilic’s side, meanwhile, will be without the services of James Collins once again – the Welshman serves the last of a three-match ban against the Baggies.
