Team News
12 August 2016 3369 comments
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Jan Vertonghen recovers from injury in time for Spurs’ trip to Goodison. Laurent Koscielny is still unavailable for Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool. Ashley Williams misses out for the Toffees, who have worries at both ends of the pitch, whilst Southampton have defensive concerns as Watford roll up to St Mary’s.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche is optimistic that left-back Stephen Ward will shrug off a hamstring problem in time for the home clash against Swansea. Jon Flanagan has stepped up his fitness in training, whilst Ashley Barnes (hamstring) is expected to miss out.

Alan Pardew was somewhat reluctant to give away any information for Palace’s clash against West Brom. The Eagles boss conceded he’s still trying to get one or two players “up to full speed”.

Laurent Koscielny is “not ready” to return for Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool, according to Arsene Wenger.

Ashley Williams misses his debut for Everton due to a lack of match fitness, according to Ronald Koeman. Seamus Coleman and Romelu Lukaku are doubtful for the visit of Tottenham, though Phil Jagielka has been passed fit.

Claudio Ranieri has no injury concerns for Leicester’s trip to Hull, though the champions are without Robert Huth due to suspension. The Foxes manager has admitted he doesn’t expect his side to reach last year’s fitness levels “until the fifth or sixth game”.

Aitor Karanka has revealed that Bernardo Espinoza, Daniel Ayala and Grant Leadbitter will all miss Middlesbrough’s home encounter against Stoke.

Southampton pair Jose Fonte and Cedric Soares will have their fitness assessed after a late return to training due to their exertions for Portugal in Euro 2016. Ryan Bertrand misses out with a knee injury.

Glen Johnson is Stoke’s only injury worry for their trip to the Riverside. Marko Arnautovic is expected to feature after stepping up his recovery from a minor hamstring issue, whilst Xherdan Shaqiri is available, having shrugged off a knock.

Jermain Defoe has declared himself available for Sunderland’s trip to Man City. Jan Kirchhoff, Billy Jones and Seb Larsson all remain doubts.

Francesco Guidolin has admitted that Swansea’s record signing Borja Baston is unlikely to be involved in the weekend trip to Burnley.

Jan Vertonghen has recovered from the ankle injury that forced him to miss Euro 2016 and is available for Tottenham’s trip to Goodison. Mousa Dembele serves the third of a six-match suspension.

Brice Dja Djedje has been ruled out of Watford’s trip to St Mary’s, whilst fellow new boy Isaac Success is almost certainly unavailable, too. Midfield duo Valon Behrami and Adlene Guedioura are set to have their fitness assessed.

Gokhan Tore has resumed training ahead of West Ham’s trip to Chelsea on Monday evening. Diafra Sakho is still sidelined with a back problem, whilst Cheikhou Kouyate, Pedro Obiang and Darren Randolph have all recovered from knocks. Slaven Bilic has admitted Dimitri Payet isn’t fit to play 90 minutes, though the Frenchman is expected to play some part in the Stamford Bridge showdown.

Junior Stanislas has been ruled out of Bournemouth’s clash against United on Sunday. Eddie Howe has admitted he has “one or two niggles” to contend with in the squad.

All this and more has now been updated in the Team News section ahead of tomorrow’s opening day 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.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

  1. I am 42
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    would you rather

    a) 8.5 + 4.5, example Firmino + Capoue
    b) 7.5 + 5.5, example Tadic + Ramirez
    b) 7 + 6, example Lamela + Redmond

    assuming is 3rd to 5th mid

    1. GinjaWhinja
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Lamela & Redmond

    2. Blanka
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Like b best.

    3. Johnny Drama
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      A if 3rd and 5th mid

      1. I am 42
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        if A its 2nd and 5th 😀

  2. Blanka
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    A. Mahrez & Tadic.

    Differential B.

    Sanchez & Redmond.

    1. TokyoRisingSun
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      B is a more of a differential yeah, I'd go with that

  3. thestylesclash
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Midfield takes a battering if you want Kun Ibra Vardy 🙁 Choosing between Ibra and spurs coverage. Can't fit both.

    Foster (Jaku)

    Shaw Stones Friend (Evans Amat)

    Hazard Firmino Redmond Capoue (Leko)

    Ibra Kun Vardy

    I want my cake and I want to eat it.

    1. GinjaWhinja
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      That's super super impressive having Hazard and Firmino in there too. I like it.

      Can monitor spurs and maybe downgrade Vardy if needed and then upgrade Redmond or your other options once Spurs get going.

      1. thestylesclash
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Leicester Spurs and Utd all have fair fixtures so I'm finding it difficult to plan transfers to bring in Spurs players. A Vardy injury would help me so much!

    2. Johnny Drama
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      You can downgrade Firmino to Tadic and upgrade Redmond to Lamela for Spurs coverage

    3. The Generalator
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Looks good
      I swapped vardy for wickham and got eriksen in for capoue

      1. thestylesclash
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        vs Hull though? Can't bring myself to get rid of Vardy. Convincing myself that Vardy will do better vs Hull than Alli/Eriksen vs Everton.

    4. Dickie1898
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      This is how I'm going,

      Foster (Jaku)
      Valencia, Stones, Friend, (Kone,Amat)
      Firmino, Lamela, Deulofeu, Townsend, (Capoue)
      Kun, Ibra, Vardy(c)

      0.5 itb, easy to downgrade a striker and upgrade a mid if needs be.

    5. Platinum
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Very tempted to actually switch to this!

      1. thestylesclash
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Dick move! I'll have bottled it by tomorrow and fit Kane or Eriksen in haha.

        1. Platinum
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 6 months ago

          Would love Kane instead of Vardy tbh.

          I took it but changed a bit.

          Dropped Firminio, brought in Lameal for Spurs Coverage and then upgraded Redmon to Tadic!

  4. Francescoli
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    A) Valencia and Puncheon
    B) Morgan and Redmond

    1. sthelenslad92
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Do you already have Stones?

      1. Francescoli
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        yep

  5. sthelenslad92
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    I can only hgave 1 4.5 defender, who do I go for?:

    A) Kone
    B) Friend
    C) Pieters
    D) Evans (already have Foster)

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      B

    2. Blanka
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Souare of Palace rotates well with other 4.5s. Providing fit for gw1.

    3. creaky24
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Holding..

    4. Johnny Drama
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      B

  6. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Whos the better 4.5, Djilobodji or Pieters?

    1. Francescoli
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Pieters

    2. sthelenslad92
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Pieters

    3. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      cheers

  7. Karan_G14
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Best MF for 7.5m. No Tadic already have Redmond:

    A) Ayew (GW1 Starter?)
    B) Cazorla (Nailed?)
    C) Barkley (Everton not looking good)

    Please help! Any other option ?

    1. creaky24
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Ayew

    2. Al Bundy
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      The other option is to ditch Redmond, buy Tadic and find another 6.0 player.

      If not, A is the best option

    3. Johnny Drama
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Ayeeeeeeew

    4. Pazzify
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Ayew. Cazorla will play deeper and Ayew is almost a second striker.

  8. Ha.
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    A) Ibra and Lamela
    B) Vardy and Alli

    1. EDEN THE MAN
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. sthelenslad92
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      A)

  9. EDEN THE MAN
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    A: Tadic+Ayew+Walker
    B:Mahrez+Redmond+5.0 defender

  10. TekkersFC
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Hmm
    A) Stekelenberg
    B) Schmeicel

    Dont have any Everton or Leicester D

    1. EDEN THE MAN
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      B

    2. Johnny Drama
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Be

  11. thepuntmaster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    So, here's my very striker heavy squad. What do you think? Obvs the defence and midfield are a bit weak but I can't look past that front 3...

    Schmichael (hul)

    Baines (TOT) - Evans (cry) - Souare (WBA)

    Silva (SUN) - Redmond (WAT) - Ayew (che) - Deulofeu (TOT)

    Ibra (bou) - Vardy C (hul) - Aguero vc (SUN)

    Bench - Jakupovic - Hojberg - McNair - Amat

    Thoughts appreciated!

    1. Sess!
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      You can do better than Silva, but doesn't look too bad too be honest given front heavy forward line.

    2. GinjaWhinja
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Silva, ewww!

      Plenty better options for that cash. He won't be THAT far forward, I can assure you. Assists and goals going to be shared all over the place with Pep.

    3. Big4FPL
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      I actually really like that team considering how expensive your front 3 are, only thing I'd do is change Schmeical to Foster and then Evans to a 5.0 such as Stones, just seems a slightly better 5.0/4.5 combo in my opinion!

    4. The Generalator
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Not much Chelsea could hurt

    5. Elijah's Wood
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Silva should work as no.10 vs Sunderland feeding Aguero.

      McNair may not be nailed? But maybe your team would benefit from swapping Vardy > £6.5m and Ayew/Silva > Mahrez?

      1. Sess!
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Good point. I agree wait and see on mcnair. There is a chance he plays in midfield for us though given we've not yet resigned M'villa.

  12. mourinho_el_fenómeno
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    is Deulofeu nailed to start?

  13. creaky24
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Would i be mad to put in Holding (4.5m) for GW1?

    1. Steevo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      What's holding you back?

      1. creaky24
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Right now, nothing.. i'm convinced he'll have a breakout season and Wenger won't sign a CB

    2. SAY SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Not mad, but Arsenal's defence is a state atm and Holding almost certainly won't be a part of it when it's back to normal.

  14. SW6
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    If anybody is still tinkering, with defence in particular I've been looking at rotations and I am 100% set on mine. With the exception of GW11, a '3 pick 1' rotation of West Brom, Middlesborough, Swansea looks favourable.

    A lot have this already anyway but just saying, a Evans, Friend, Amat/Fernandez/Naughton could be very good next to two constant 'premiums'.

    1. Mavric Marco
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Evans, Friend, Amat & Shaw/Tony V + 1 more of your choice look decent

  15. FantasyNik123
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Please RMT, thanks! 🙂

    Lloris, Jaku
    Valencia, Stones, McAuley, Friend, Neil Taylor
    Hazard, Tadic, Lamela, Gaston Ramirez, Ledley
    Ibra, Aguero, Gray

    1. EDEN THE MAN
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Ledley????. Overall I like it tho.

  16. Mavric Marco
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    WILLIAMS EXIT DISAPPOINTS SIGURDSSON

    It appears Williams' former club are still coming to terms with his decision to leave the Liberty Stadium. Here's Swans midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, who admits it was a blow to see their club captain move to Goodison Park.

    - Bet he's gone in January

  17. I am 42
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    how many points will firmino score in 1st game week?

    how about 1st 3?

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      7

    2. Mavric Marco
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      1 Goal, 1 assit, 2 Baps

      1. I am 42
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        looks like must have

        thanks

  18. Touré De Force
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Just a reminder:

    Since I have been playing the game and using the site (a good number of years), the template team has been in tatters by the end of the third gw. So don't be afraid to go with alternative looking squads. I can't recall excatly who they were (doesn't matter), but 2 members slating me for saying Scott Dann was the best defender to pick at 5.0 before the season started last year. Didn't take any notice, worked out fine. Go with your gut!!

    1. SAY SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      What if my gut doesn't know what it's on about?

    2. SW6
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Excellent advice. Even a Kun blank GW1 and people will start selling him in droves. GW1 teams always look crazxy looking back at them a few weeks in

  19. sthelenslad92
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Team sorted! 😀

    Start Leko v Palace OR Carroll v Chelsea?

  20. BbBb
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    A- Lallana & Alli
    B- Mane & Lamela

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      B, don't like the Lallana pick

    2. GinjaWhinja
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      B. I like the Mane differential.

    3. EDEN THE MAN
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      I don't like any of them.

    4. Whazza
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      B

    5. Sess!
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Not llanlla. Not sure why he even came into your thinking.

  21. andrinho
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    a) Tadic & Lamela

    or

    b) Eriksen & Deulofeu/Redmond

    Thanks in advance

    1. Platinum
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Went for A myself, Lamela pre season form is great and tadic is a sure fire

  22. Elijah's Wood
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Best use of £1m leftover?

    A) Capoue > Routledge (for Hull GW2 - will he start?)
    B) McAuley > Morgan/Fuchs (bench Azpi WHU)

  23. Judas
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Pretty much my final decision to make:

    Eriksen or Firmino?

    (With the news that all three of Arsenal's CBs are out, Firmino and Eriksen are level for me)

    1. jackjones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Easy choice for me. Firmino

  24. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Williams or Morgan ?

  25. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone been on the Hull forum? What's the fan saying about Snodgrass?

    1. Al Bundy
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      They are mostly talking about how the club is being run by absolute bellends and how their team is a complete shambles. They are also planning protesting against the owners in the Leicester game.

      Not a lot of optimism to be fair, and I will personally be staying at least a mile away from any Hull players.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers Al.....

    2. GinjaWhinja
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Just don't.

  26. CostaCoffee
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Rmt

    1. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      4

    2. Narcissist
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      10/10

  27. Platinum
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Foster (Jaku)
    Friend Stones Shaw (Parades, Amat)
    Tadic Firminio Lamela Hazard (Capoue)
    Aguero Ibra Gray
    (0 ITB)

    Is the above GTG - please let me know any thoughts you have! My first ever fantasy football year!

  28. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Any news on Souare? Will he be fit to start?

  29. Bollemuza
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Which combo for the first 3 GWs 🙂

    A: Firmino + Papa Souare
    B: Townsend + Luke Shaw

  30. Sess!
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 6 months ago

    Ibra score 38 goals in Ligue 1 last year. I know it's a big step up to the prem, but surely he could retain 50% of those goals at least?

    He also gets a fair amount of assists. For the record I don't currently have him in my team.

    1. Sess!
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 6 months ago

      Jeez, I love a good bottom of the page post. Must do better.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 6 months ago

        😀

        Agree all your points Sess....