Team News
8 April 2016 1043 comments
Paul Paul
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Roberto Firmino is back in contention for Liverpool’s home clash with Stoke, though the Reds have major concerns over Jordan Henderson. West Ham duo Sam Byram and James Collins are not yet ready to return, Aaron Ramsey could be back in the Arsenal squad, whilst Yohan Cabaye and Connor Wickham are passed fit for Palace’s double Gameweek.

Roberto Firmino returned to action with a sub appearance in Liverpool’s draw with Dortmund last night. Jordan Henderson could be set for a stint on the sidelines, though – the Reds’ skipper was forced off with a knee injury at the break, with Jurgen Klopp conceding that the initial prognosis “doesn’t look good”.

Sam Byram and James Collins will return to training for West Ham today but will remain sidelined for the weekend clash with Arsenal. Cheick Kouyate is available for selection after the FA rescinded a three-match ban triggered by his dismissal against Palace last Saturday.

Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini are expected to be available for Arsenal’s trip to Upton Park after stepping up their recoveries in training. Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky will step up their recoveries with a run-out for the reserves this evening.

Yohan Cabaye and Connor Wickham have been passed fit for Palace’s clash with Norwich this weekend. Emmanuel Adebayor faces a late fitness test, whilst James McArthur and Brede Hangeland remain on the sidelines.

Adam Smith is a doubt for Bournemouth’s trip to Villa after he was forced off with a hernia problem against City last weekend. Harry Arter, Benik Afobe and Stanislas are still unavailable, whilst Callum Wilson is “not far away” from returning after months on the sidelines with knee ligament damage.

Andre Ayew is available for Swansea’s clash with Chelsea after recovering from a calf complaint. Leon Britton and Jordi Amat are both doubts due to back problems.

Shane Long is back in contention for Southampton’s home match with Newcastle, though Steven Davis will miss out with an ankle problem picked up against Leicester last weekend.

Gareth Barry is available for Everton’s double Gameweek after serving out a two-match ban in last week’s loss to United. Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar are expected to recover from knocks in time for tomorrow’s trip to Watford.

All this and more has now been updated in the Team News section ahead of tomorrow’s deadline. Keep an eye on our official Twitter Stream for breaking news – as the day unfolds, we will issue updates from Friday’s press conferences and refresh our Team News tab accordingly to keep you informed.

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  1. zizoo10
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    how nailed on is lennon???

    he is currently in my team, and i was lolling @ everyone who had him at the beginning of the week

    is he the real deal for next 2 doubles?

    1. Barnsley FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Reasonably nailed on. Delofeu was his main competition, and he was shifted to the other wing to fit both him and Lennon in. Martinez also had some pretty positive words about how Lennon could play anywhere in midfield, so likely immune to much rotation. Also, that price.

      1. zizoo10
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 day ago

        if i know he is going to average atleast 70mins per game for the next 4, i will lock him in no doubt. hopefully theres some clarification in the next day

        1. darko
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 1 day ago

          I think like you say - 70 mins minimum, so worth it. I went with him over Barkley.

    2. Jimjam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Not completely, but Martinez's comments suggest he's fairly nailed on, and they'll adjust to include him

      1. zizoo10
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 day ago

        what did he say if i may ask?

        1. Jimjam
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 1 day ago

          “I was very pleased. I think Aaron Lennon is in a very good moment of his career. His experience allows him to play in different roles. We wanted to isolate Romelu in one v one situations and use his pace and penetrate. I think at times we got in terrific positions and maybe we didn’t take advantage well enough. I think Gerard Deulofeu is going to be very strong between now and the end of the season. He’s played a lot of games this season and probably after 60 minutes there was a bit of a need to get new energy on the pitch but I thought Aaron did extremely well in that role.”

    3. John t penguin
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      he was number 10 role at start of man united game, not sure if this will be repeated as it didn't seem to work.

    4. Mr Sarcastic
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Pretty safe imo, but decided to go for Bolassie instead.

    5. sillyhilly69
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Barry is back too. Midfield is starting to look congested and he's a real rotation risk imo.

      1. RustyBz
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 day ago

        This. Barry back means Barkley up into one of Lennons possible positions

  2. Konig Luther
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    A) KDB + Ozil

    B) Sanchez + Firmino

    1. BIG TONES
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      A

    2. Jimjam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      B

    3. No_Mo_Salah?
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      B for me - think Sanchez is essential.

    4. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      B

    5. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Thanks all

  3. Jazz!
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    So is Gabriel nailed now, in our eyes?

    1. Barnsley FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Nope, Mertesacker lurking. But a very good punt at that price if you want to roll the dice.

    2. Andrew
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      I think he plays unless he messes up, Wenger said yesterday he will find it hard to change this winning combination so sounds good for Iwobi too

    3. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Nailed enough to be worth the risk, as long as you have another Arsenal def and remember to get your bench in order.

    4. RustyBz
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      he's so cheap that's worth the roll

  4. Mr Sarcastic
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    If my only issues are that I have no cpl defence and only 3 dgw players for gw33, I propably could stop tinkering?

    1. Jimjam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Yes, especially in the case of the former

    2. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      I wouln't be worried with no cpl defenders

    3. No_Mo_Salah?
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      I don't think having no cpl defence is a bad thing

  5. Jimjam
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Morning! Final WC decision.

    ???, Darlow
    Bellerin, Clichy, Gabriel, ???, ???
    Sanchez, Coutinho, Payet, ???, Lanzini
    Aguero, Kane, Lukaku

    A) Mignolet, Rojo, Simpson, Firmino
    or
    B) De Gea, Sakho, Fuchs, Mahrez

    1. Mr Sarcastic
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Very difficult, even coin toss.
      Maybe I would go for safety and B.

    2. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      perhaps B

    3. FantaCity
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      I have B
      DDG clean sheet potential, plus Fuchs better attacking returns ... I have Firmino too, tho

  6. Tinmen
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Folks, is it worth putting in Bolasie for this week and swapping to Coutinho/ Firmino next week?

    Or just go with one of the Liverpool boys this week?

    1. adidasOriginals
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Liverpool

    2. Barnsley FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Depends on your planning with free transfers. If you've got them to burn, Bolaise. Otherwise definitely pool.

  7. adidasOriginals
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Lanzini or Iwobi?
    thanks

    1. Carcetti
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Lanzini

  8. weaver93
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    GTG ??
    WC Team
    Robles/Darlow
    Bellerin,Gabriel,Sakho,Simpson. Rojo
    KVB, Sanchez, Coutinho,Payet, Lanzini
    Kun,Lukaku, Mitrovic

    Any improvements needed?? 0.3 ITB

    Cheers

    1. Jimjam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Looks good! Rojo a little bit of a rotation risk, and don't expect many CS from your keepers, but that's the price you pay for a front 8 like that I suppose

      1. weaver93
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 1 day ago

        Cheers JimJam

        Only other is Smalling and Rashford...

    2. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      It's about as template as you can get.

      The exact same team has been posted plenty of times.

      Take all that as a positive. You have the players who the majority think will do well.

  9. Boydinho
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    A) Payet/Sako/Firmino
    B) KdB/Lennon/Lanzini

    1. Jimjam
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      A

  10. _Ninja_
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Taking a hit in 35, think it's worth it in the doubles. Hows the team looking?

    Mignolet, Robles
    Gabriel, Bellerin, Sakho, Delaney, Jagielka
    Coutinho, Sanchez, KDB, Payet, Bolasie
    Kun, Lukaku, Martial

  11. sk018
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Thoughts?

    Robles, Darlow
    Bellerin, Dann, Clyne, Jagielka, Simpson
    Sanchez, Ozil, Coutinho, Bolasie, Lingard
    Aguero, Sturridge, Lukaku
    (0,5m in bank)

    (Probably Dann & Bolasie -> Azp & Alli/6m in GW35 for 11 outfield players)

    1. Link
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      A fellow Arsenal mid double upper!

      I like it - although I think you need United defence - especially as you've got quite a lot of cash in that defence.

      Some risky picks, but you know that.

  12. Link
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Chaps,

    Need to trim 0.1 here without changign anythign drastically.

    DDG - Darlow
    Coleman - Sakho - Gabriel - Delaney - Simpson
    Sanchez - Ozil - Coutinho - Firmino - Lanzini
    Aguero - Lukaku - Martial

    Sakho > Moreno ?
    Delaney > Soaure ?

    Will probably start with Barkley/Bolasie in 33 instead of Ozil so coudl hope he drops a furthr 0.1 ?

    1. FantaCity
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Coleman to Jags , the other options are rotation risks

  13. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Is anyone that's wild carding keeping Mahrez ?

    I don't Leiceister are doing a Chelsea winning 1-0 but he plays GW35 and he's still pure class...

    1. Cojiro
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Yep he's in mine

    2. Gideons Rolling Another One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Yep decided to keep hold for sunderland at very least. Plus good fixture in 35

    3. Meinhoff
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      I'm keeping. He can still score a goal in a 1-0, and they surely won't all be 1-0 games

    4. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      WCed last week and kept him

    5. French Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      All the WC draft teams I see don't include him.
      Am I mad to keep him on my WC?

    6. Top 210 Club
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      no point if you using BB

  14. Cojiro
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Sorry to post in here put the designated page is very slow. Please RMT. Here's where I am

    Mignolet/ Robles

    Mangala/ Bellerin/ Gabriel/ Jagielka/ Ward
    Sanchez/ Payet/ Mahrez/ Coutinho/ Lingard
    Mitrovic/ Lukaku/ Kun 1.6ITB

    plan to transfer out Ward and Jagielka so I have XI for GW 35 using FT

  15. Moin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Just did a comparison between Lukaku and Bolasie in the last 2 GWs...I'm shocked looking at those stats...

    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      ...

  16. Prøphet
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Would appreciate some thoughts on this team...

    Robles / Darlow 🙁
    Bellerin / Smalling / Gabriel / Simpson / Delaney
    Sanchez / Cout / Firmino / Bolasie / Payet
    Kun / Lukaku / Kane

    Issue is i have .1 left ITB and barely able to upgrade anywhere in the future with 1 FT. Only thing can be Kane > whoever and upgrade elsewhere.

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Personally think double pool midfield is insane as will rotate so much. No chance those two starting next three games with massive cup match in between.

      1. Prøphet
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 day ago

        Well who is a better option? Henderson is out, means they have 4 players that play in the attacking role.

        1. Top 210 Club
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 1 day ago

          Milner is nailed got another assist last night. Firm will be the "fresher" out of him and cout and should start both if he gets some minutes this weekend...

          1. Prøphet
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 1 day ago

            hendo injured and Milner will drop to DM. Dont see Allen starting with Can in that DM role. Who knows. Might be wrong.

    2. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      I would remove Darlow and Smalling and get DDG and Sakho

      1. Prøphet
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 day ago

        Well that leaves me with no GK in 35.
        I can keep mahrez instead of Firmino and upgrade to Mignolet.

        1. Moin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 1 day ago

          Yup that would be better...you can take Iwobi / Lingard punt as well

          1. Prøphet
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 1 day ago

            If i pick Iwobi means i have to ship Gabriel for someone else. hard to upgrade Iwobi later on if he gets dropped.

  17. The Hindu Monkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Play Smalling or Bellerin this weekend?

    Thanks

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Bell

    2. Barnsley FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Bellerin

  18. Azathoth
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Bench 2
    a)Walker
    b)Sakho
    c)Simpson
    d)Bellerin
    e)Gabriel

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Gabriel, Walker

    2. HurriKane
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Last 2

    3. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Gabriel
      Sakho

    4. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Gabriel + Walker

  19. HurriKane
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Can fit 10 dgwer's for a hit in dgw34 wthout WC by. keeping Mahrez Vardy Simpson Alli. (2nd wc played in jan)

    Hope the leicester boys put in some strong performances in next 3 (sun WHU SWA)

  20. Dre
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Jonty declaring people transferring Barkley in as "fools".

    Can't wait to see him bag some major points over the double and see him eat a lot of humble pie!

    1. Doolittle
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Yeah I wasn't a fan of that at all, I thought it was extremely smug (both the idea and the delivery). There could be a number of reasons to get Barkley - 4 games in 2 weeks, could be shifted forward with Barry back, has a tendency to pop up with goals even though his stats are never particularly good, the need to buy different players if you're chasing. I haven't got him, and his stats are rubbish, but this idea that anyone buying him is "not paying attention" is reductive. The notion of "I haven't got him so he's a bad pick" doesn't sit well with me, and it could be argued that it's Jonty who hasn't paid attention to the restructuring of our midfield with Barry out.

      1. RustyBz
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 1 day ago

        midfield is heavily saturated with better options but it's definitely the best punt I can see. Much better than Lennon or Bolasie imo.

    2. Top 210 Club
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      can't see it. Lennon is the one stat wise

  21. cheeky moses
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Help plz
    Almost feeling good about my Wc team, just need the final pieces:

    Robles/ Darlow
    Bell/ Smalling/ Delaney/ Sakho/ **
    Sanchez/ Cout/ Payet/ **/**
    Aguero/ Luka/ Mitrovic

    A) Firmino, Mahrez and Gabriel

    B) KdB, Lingard and Gabriel

    C) Özil, Lingard and Jagielka

    1. Wetdream
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      A.

    2. RustyBz
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      B

  22. Wetdream
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    A) Reid + Lanzini or
    B) Delaney + Lennon ??
    Thanks

    1. cheeky moses
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      B

  23. sillyhilly69
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Tempted to go AOA this gameweek now Wickham has been declared 'fit':

    Robles
    Dann - Bellerin
    Bolasie - Sanchez - Barkley - Coutinho - Payet
    Aguero - Wickham - Lukaku (c)

    (Darlow - Sakho - Janmaat - Gabriel)

    Can anyone talk me out of it? Any better GW's for AOA (apart from GW34)?

  24. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    WC team (really unfortunate I can't play the bench chip this week, so I need bench order help as well):

    Robles (Mignolet)
    Cresswell - Delaney - Bellerin (Fuchs, Gabriel)
    Coutinho - Payet - Bolasie - Sanchez (Mahrez)
    Aguero - Lukaku - Martial

    Thoughts?

  25. zizoo10
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    no utd defence, thoughts?

    ...................Robles • Darlow
    Bellerin • Clyne • Sakho • Ward • Simpson
    Sanchez • Ozil • Payet • Coutinho • Lennon
    ............Agüero • Lukaku • Martial

    1. RustyBz
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      10/10 formatting.

      Team looks decent but don't like Lennon and keeper pairing. You're better off going with Sakho over Clyne and boosting elsewhere

      1. zizoo10
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 day ago

        why thank you. i have both clyne/sakho btw. i am considering moreno/bolasie over clyne/lennon

    2. r0scr0w
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Could you not go Bellerin > Monreal/Gabriel which should fund Darmian?

      1. zizoo10
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 day ago

        bellerin > gab would save me a lot of headache..but his non-nailedoness is scaring me

  26. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    How confident are we on Firmino's game time?

    Lallana has been playing well recently and one of Sturridge or Origi is likely to always be on the field and of course Coutinho.

    Do we think with Henderson out Klopp will stick to an attacking 4 infront of Can & Milner or will Allen (especially after a good performance last night) play in the centre?

    1. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      I'm hoping it will be:

      Can / Milner
      Lallana / Firmino / Coutinho
      Sturridge (or Origi)

      1. VS10_
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 1 day ago

        Can is suspended.

  27. Andrew
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    S Taylor? Talk to me

    £1M cheaper than Janmaat but will he play?

    1. Wetdream
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Might do but he's garbage.

  28. r0scr0w
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Would really appreciate your preference for the below choices...

    A. Darmian, Sakho, Lennon, Ozil, Martial

    B. Bellerin, Moreno, Lennon, KDB, Mitrovic

    C. Darmian, Sakho, Lanzini, KDB, Martial.

  29. Bobby_Baggio
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    What are people's thoughts on getting Mahrez out of their teams on a WC?

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      risky

    2. RustyBz
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      I had him from GW1 and will have him until end of 38

    3. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      If you fancy getting him back at all, you're going to pay dearly for him. Not worth doing, IMO. I might, contrary to my username, actually bench him this week, though.

    4. McQueen
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      Gone for me. Waited whole season for DGWs. I'm gonna enjoy it at least. I could easily get punished but I'll take it. Let the party begin. 😉

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 1 day ago

        Fair play Mcqueen - good luck

    5. Bobby_Baggio
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 1 day ago

      I agree with all 3 of you - Just looking at Iwobi as that gives me some funds to imrpove defence

  30. DS84
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 1 day ago

    Simpson
    or
    Delaney