Team News
16 December 2016 1041 comments
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Kasper Schmeichel will be assessed ahead of Leicester City’s visit to Stoke. Younes Kaboul is back in contention as Watford makes their way to Sunderland, though Palace look set to be without James Tomkins until the middle of next month.

Here’s the news from the pre-Gameweek 17 press conferences so far…

Roberto Pereyra and Stefano Okaka have been ruled out of Watford’s encounter with Sunderland, though Younes Kaboul is back in contention.

Kasper Schmeichel is back in training and could be in line for a return from a recent hand injury. Claudio Ranieri will make a late assessment on his number one and will also check Danny Drinkwater’s knee complaint ahead of the trip to Stoke City.

Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser is set for scans on an ankle complaint. Eddie Howe has confirmed that Callum Wilson was checked for concussion and has been cleared, though the striker remains a slight doubt for the visit of Southampton after being forced off in midweek with blurred vision.

Dieumerci Mbokani returns to the Hull squad for the weekend trip to Spurs after serving a three-match ban.

Aaron Ramsey is close to returning from injury but remains unavailable for Arsenal’s trip to Man City. Arsene Wenger has also revealed that Danny Welbeck is expected to step up his recovery from injury by returning to training next week.

Jason Puncheon is available for Palace’s clash with Chelsea after serving a one-match ban. Alan Pardew has conceded that James Tomkins is expected to be sidelined until mid-January.

Mark Hughes expects both Marc Muniesa and Eric Pieters to recover from minor problems in time for tomorrow’s visit of Leicester. Marko Arnautovic starts the first of a three-match ban, while Ibrahim Afellay will step up his recovery from a knee injury with a run out for the reserves later today.

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

We’ve a busy ahead, with this handy hot topic by Ozil highlighting the scheduled times for the remaining press conferences.

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.

Amongst our main concerns are Eden Hazard, who missed Chelsea’s midweek trip to Sunderland with a knock, while we’re also eagerly awaited for news on Divock Origi – the most transferred in forward for the Gameweek, he picked up a knock towards the end of Liverpool’s win at Middelsbrough.

Pep Guardiola’s afternoon conference is also on the agenda as we wait for word on a potentially season-ending knee injury to Ilkay Gundogan.

  1. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Afternoon all.

    Heaton or Foster

    Monreal or Amat?

    Playing Foster and Monreal at the moment, keep?

    1. Simon Says...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Toughie in goal. Probs Foster, just.

      Monreal.

      So as you were.

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah every week I've got the goalie wrong. Cheers mate

    2. Cevap
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      yes

  2. GreenArrows
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    G2G?

    Boruc
    Alonso Cedric Holebas
    Sanchez Hazard Eriksen (C) Siggy
    Costa Defoe (VC) Origi

    Pickford Allen McAuley Lenhian

    0FT and 0.3iTB

    1. Cevap
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      looks good

    2. Simon Says...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yep, Fingers crossed for you on Cedric. I'd sell him if I were you, but not for a hit.

      Apart from that, great.

      1. GreenArrows
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks, I got him in 2 GWs ago on a -4, annoying they have then gone on to get 2 clean sheets so I am struggling to let go

    3. GreenArrows
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks both!

  3. Cevap
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Play Pieters or Holebas?

    1. Clandlewood
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I have both and am playing Holebas. And Amat is ahead of Pieters on my bench

      1. Cevap
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        cheers

    2. Simon Says...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      All the cool kids are playing both.

      1. Cevap
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        playing Cedric ahead of one of them, just trying to figure which one

        1. Simon Says...
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Play Holebas

          1. Cevap
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            cheers

    3. GreenArrows
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I would play both but if I had to pick id pick Holebas

      1. Cevap
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        cheers. rather play Cedric over both.

    4. kumast
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Pieters marked as injured with tight hamstring. Not sure how bad it is.

      1. Cevap
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        just noticed the flag. had no idea he was even flagged. 🙂

        can't see a cameo so if he is the right choice, just put him in and he will either play 90 or 0

        cheers

      2. tm370
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Pieters and definitely Pieters above Amat. Stoke have 3 clean sheets in the last 4.

    5. Cevap
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      cheers all! good luck this GW

  4. korbendallas82
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    A bit uncomfortable picking out Three defenders of these players:
    A. Walker - Burnley(H)
    B. Cedric- Bournemouth(A)
    C. Janmaat- Sunderland(A)
    D. Baines- Liverpool(H)
    E. Amat- Middlesbrough(A)

    Gameweek 14 and 16 i had Baines on bench, but Lucky to get him swapped in, for 18 point total. Maby Janmaat Away to Sunderland is weak, concidering Defoe at home?

    1. Karan_G14
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Walker, Baines and wait for Cedric news.

    2. Cevap
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A, B, and D

    3. tm370
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Walker, Baines, and Cedric.

    4. korbendallas82
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Thank u for answer. It is kind of What i had in mind to.

    5. BC1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Tough one. I'd go A B C with D first sub.

      1. korbendallas82
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Im Almost on that pick to. Just hate putting Baines out of the team again. Maby i play them Both in FIFA, one game each. Best result Plays. NFL draft.

  5. Karan_G14
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Ibrahimovic will play on Saturday "but he cannot play 60 matches. I must give him a rest. Now and again I find a way to." #MUFC

  6. The Big Fella
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has been asked about the opportunities - or lack there of - for British managers.

    "If you manage big teams - Real Madrid, Inter, Barca, Bayern, Juve, Borussia Dortmund - you have targets. Obviously those targets are impossible for people like Tony Pulis, Alan Pardew, Mark Hughes, David Moyes.

    "Tony got trophies everywhere. By trophies I mean not relegated with Stoke, West Brom, Crystal Palace. He has lots of trophies. He has reached his targets. Like Sam Allardyce - never relegated. You don't expect him to be the champion.

    "English managers are not looked at like they should."
    Share this post on


    Can't tell if Mourinho was insulting or complimenting Pulis and Sam "Pint of Wine" Alardyce there. Any help?

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      That's a backhanded compliment if i've ever seen one

    2. Jarnathan
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I think its clearly intended to be complimentary

  7. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    No way i'm letting brace face have the armband.

  8. Rajveer
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Is it worth a -4 for

    Siggy > Eriksen &
    Benteke > Carroll??

    Team is

    Boruc Pickford
    Alonso Vertonghen Mcauley Holebas Amat
    Alexis Mane Hazard Siggy Allen
    Kane Benteke Anichebe

    I know Swansea have some great fixtures ahead but Eriksen is in the form of his career and looks like a near essential.. Or is it just madness chasing points??

  9. Chris_White
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Mourinho says it's impossible to leave out @Ibra_official right now: "He’s doing phenomenal and tomorrow he’s going to play again." #MUFC

    1. Cevap
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      rest imminent

  10. Athletic Dildao
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    G2G?? thinking of saving transfer for next week ... 0.5 ITB

    Pickford
    Amat, Alonso, Smith
    Walcott, Haz, Antonio, Siggy
    Costa, Ibra, Kane

    Heaton, Pieters, Evans, Leko (please ignore him)

    few flags but confident on receiving positive hazard news... any suggestions?

  11. The Big Fella
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    So, is Origi fit or not? Has the Chelsea press conference started? I hate the BBC blog at times..........

  12. sthelenslad92
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    GTG?

    Grant
    Alonso - Cedric - Holebas
    Sanchez (VC) - Hazard - Lallana - Siggy
    Costa - Kane (C) - Origi

    Pickford, Nyom, De Roon, Kingsley

    1. VFORVANDETA
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      yeah gtg...same to my team except i have walker instead holebas..

      1. sthelenslad92
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks. Haha I don't even have anything left in the bank!

  13. Effendi007
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Would Walcott to Alli, Pogba or Payet be worth it ? Walcott does chip in with points but i feel those three are more capable of double figures

    1. Athletic Dildao
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'm thinking something similar. Will give Walcott this game week though.

      1. Effendi007
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Wally doesn't do too great away from home so now looks like a good time

    2. Raybigblue
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Walcott out for me this week for 2 games i will go Payet then change to Ozil current plan

  14. Karan_G14
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Emre Can [knee] is in a "pretty good way." If he can train today or Saturday, then he will be involved. #LFC

    1. Cevap
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      what does this do to Lallana's position and potential? any impact?

      1. Karan_G14
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        I think he comes in for Winjnaldum if he starts.
        Shouldn't impact Lallana's potential he's playing the number 10 role and he's pretty good at it.
        Would like to see if Can is as attacking as he was when Lallana was not in the team.

    2. Simon Says...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Personally think he'll be on the bench. They were excellent midweek, can't see Klopp tweaking much (apart from defenders maybe).

      1. Karan_G14
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Should I ship him out then? I have 2 FTs. But 0.0 ITB. Can't seem to find any replacements.

        1. Simon Says...
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Whats the rest of your midfield? Not worth a panic transfer.

          1. Karan_G14
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Sanchez - Hazard - Eriksen - Siggy

            But I have Cedric also who is a doubt.

  15. ANON.
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Captain Kane or Eriksen? Seems like Dembele and Jansen are doubts, does that make Eriksen the better choice?

    1. Cevap
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Probably. but it would be the week that everything is opposite the week before 😉

    2. Simon Says...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'm captaining Kane. Was milimetres away from scoring in midweek. Undroppable, prime fixture, has shown consistently to score goals at home against weaker teams, on pens, Burnley concede away from home.

      Expect Spurs to win healthily and Kane to get points.

    3. LanzaLions
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Simon is that cut and paste from last week?

  16. Djemba-Djembas right foot
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    GTG?

    Grant

    Vertonghen, Alonso, PVA

    Pedro, Sanchez, Eriksen, Capoue

    Kane, Costa, Rondon

    Bench - Jakub, Amat, Gundo, Evans

  17. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    To start Andy, or not to start Andy?

    In his Evening Standard column this week, Slaven Bilic admitted he thought about keeping Andy Carroll on the substitutes’ bench for Wednesday’s win over Burnley.

    However, Carroll’s own attitude and determination to start convinced the manager to insert him in his team for the first time since August.

    The No9 responded with an all-action performance against the Clarets, winning eleven aerial battles, including the header which indirectly led to Mark Noble’s match-winning goal.

    Bilic will again be tempted to protect his attacking talisman on Saturday, with few alternatives available, but with a nine-day gap until West Ham play again at Swansea City, Carroll may well convince his manager to keep him in the starting XI.

    1. Licious Lizard
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Start him. You knew the risk when you brought him in and you knew that 30 minutes against Hull wasn't an unrealistic scenario.

      1. Simon Says...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        This. Gotta play him. Fixture of the season for any Hammers assets.

    2. Karan_G14
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      He will start imo.

  18. Kane Train
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Pickford
    Koscielny / Lovren / Walker
    Sanchez / Siggy / Hazard / Firmino
    Kane / Anichebe / Costa

    Bench: Jaku, Amat, Barry, Kelly

    Which option?

    A) Firmino & Lovren > Lallana & Vertonghen
    B) Firmino & Lovren > Lallana & D.Luiz
    C) Firmino & Lovren > Payet & Barragan
    D) Firmino & Koscielny > Lallana & D.Luiz/Alonso & bring in Monreal next week or do Pickford > Cech

    1. Simon Says...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Think Lallana may be kast week's points...never know with a derby what will happen. Tough to call. Payet option is good differential if you're chasing.

      If not I'd do Lallana & Alonso probs.

    2. VFORVANDETA
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A

  19. Licious Lizard
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    SkySports:
    JOSE: IMPOSSIBLE TO REST ZLATAN

    Jose Mourinho admits it’s impossible to rest Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the moment.

    The 35-year-old forward has been in great form as of late and scored the winner in United’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace in midweek.

    Ibrahimovic has scored 14 times since arriving at United on a free transfer in the summer.

    And when asked if it's impossible to leave out Ibrahimovic, Mourinho said: "It is, it is... He’s doing phenomenal, and tomorrow he’s going to play again, and then one week to rest [until the next match]."

  20. Piyush CR7
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Suggest me the defender to start and the bench order

    1. Pieters(vs liecester)
    2. Francis(vs Southampton)
    3. McAuley(vs Man Utd)

    1. Simon Says...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Order you have now. Pieters starting.

    2. Licious Lizard
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Start Pieters.
      McA ahead of Francis.

  21. The Big Fella
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Hazard news?

    1. Sylas
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      http://bfy.tw/91lC

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        lol

  22. Piyush CR7
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Will Cedric start this gameweek or will martina start again ?

  23. Karan_G14
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Moyes will make late decisions on Victor Anichebe, Javi Manquillo and Steven Pienaar. All three missed the home defeat to Chelsea. #SAFC

  24. FootballManiac
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Hi Guys
    who is the cheapest MID defender to get who is nailed on? chambers or friend?

    1. Licious Lizard
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Friend is nailed, but might not play this GW.

  25. adheto
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Grant
    Alonso, Cedric, Smith
    Sanchez, Son, Sigurdsson, Mane
    Kane (C), Costa (V), Llorente

    Pickford, McAuley, Amat, De Roon

    My mistake coz already use my FT for Can > De Roon
    Now i'm thinking to Son > Eriksen, Mane > Lallana for -8
    So, what do you think about that? that's a good move?

    Very appreciate your advice..

  26. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    With a high TV and SV, comes more options, with more options, comes more decision-making, with more decision-making, comes more poor decisions, with more poor decisions, comes more Sunday evening's filled with self-hate and deep resentment for the casuals that got higher points totals than me with the aid of double figure scores coming off their benches.

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Ok mate

  27. MOUMU
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Heaton Pickford
    Alonso Chambers Mee Francis Friend
    Hazard Sanchez Siggy Can Fletcher
    Nacho Kane Costa

    1 FT and 0.5 ITB any suggestions ? cant afford Lallana/Eriksen or anyone?

    Should i gor for Origi or stay with Nacho this GW?

  28. ROOTY7
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Get Adama Traore (4.8m) This week and thank me at 5:45 on Saturday afternoon.

    1. Licious Lizard
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Great fixtures, but not a single attacking return so far is a bit worrisome.

  29. SNKI
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Any chance of Anichebe starting for Sunderland this weekend?

  30. Gruu
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    GTG?

    Grant
    Alonso - Holebas - Pieters
    Sanchez - Siggy - Hazard - Eriksen - Phillips
    Kane - Costa

    Bench: Pick, Anichebe, Friend, Kingsley
    (1 FT, 0.1 ITB)