Team News

How the Asian Cup will affect our FPL squads

A handful of Premier League teams are set to be affected by the Asian Cup this year.

Running from January 5 to February 1, the continental tournament will take some players away from club duty for the first month of 2019.

All players going to the United Arab Emirates without special instructions will be there until at least January 17, when the final group stage match is played.

That means even those eliminated in the first round could be absent for Gameweeks 22 and 23, although some of those selected for their countries will be missing long before then in order to participate in pre-tournament training camps.

Those who make it as far as the final will be away from the Premier League as late as Gameweek 25 and would target a return in Gameweek 26.

We’ve gone over which teams will be affected the most to see what impact the Asian Cup could have on our Fantasy Premier League teams.

Brighton and Hove Albion (2 players)

Mat Ryan

The biggest impact the Asian Cup will have on Brighton is the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Mat Ryan (£4.5m). The Gameweek 18 trip to Bournemouth was his penultimate game for the Seagulls until Australia are knocked out of the tournament. The Socceroos are one of the pre-tournament favourites, so Chris Hughton may be without Ryan for some time.

His absence does present an interesting opportunity to Fantasy managers as either one of David Button (£4.0m) or Jason Steele (£4.0m) will deputise for him. Whichever one gets the nod will become the only starting goalkeeper at £4.0m in the Premier League. We may have to wait for Chris Hughton to give us a clue.

According to the Brighton Argus, it is Steele who has officially understudied for Ryan recently. The former Sunderland shot-stopper has been the substitute goalkeeper for the last eight league games. Meanwhile, Button is currently “playing catch-up” on him since returning from a knee injury that kept him out for five weeks before December.

However, there is no doubting that Button was second-choice to Ryan before that knock. He played more pre-season minutes than Steele, started the August League Cup defeat to Southampton and was on the bench for the first nine Premier League matches of the campaign. Now that he is fit again, he will be gunning for the number one jersey in late December and early January.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity for whoever gets the nod. I can’t wait for it to happen. I’ve just come back to training and I needed to play a game before I could be involved with the first team. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully, that will come in time. West Ham away, Liverpool home and Man U away. I have looked! And then Fulham.” – David Button

Alireza Jahanbakhsh

Brighton may also be without Alireza Jahanbakhsh (£6.7m) for the Asian Cup as he was named in the initial 35-man squad for Iran. Whether he makes the final squad will be announced on Christmas Eve, although he was not included in the 21-man group travelling to Qatar for a training camp.

That is because Jahanbakhsh is still carrying a hamstring injury, and suffered a setback in his recovery earlier this month.

Because of his absence from the side for the last six Premier League matches, Jahanbakhsh travelling to the United Arab Emirates would have little impact on Brighton’s squad.

If nothing else, it just means a continuation of little in the way of competition in wide areas for Anthony Knockaert (£5.4m) and Solly March (£5.0m) over Christmas and the new year.

José Izquierdo (£5.9m) may eventually come back into the fray but he is still injured, so, for now, Jurgen Locadia (£5.3m) looks like the main competition, having played on the left against Bournemouth. Perhaps the only other alternative is Markus Suttner (£3.8m), a defender on FPL, who was used as a left-winger several times during pre-season but has not been involved once in the Premier League in 2018/19.

Newcastle United (2 players)

Ki Sung-yeung

Ki Sung-yeung (£4.7m) will be the biggest miss for Newcastle over the Christmas period. Following the injury to Jonjo Shelvey (£5.3m) earlier in the campaign, the South Korean international has become a key member of the Magpies’ midfield and has been hugely influential in their turn around of form.

“Yeah, I’ll go away for the Asian Cup. Of course, I feel a little sorry for the team as they’re in the middle of the season, but at least we’re in good shape.” – Ki Sung-yeung

Ki’s final match for Newcastle before travelling for the international tournament was the Gameweek 18 visit of Fulham to St James’ Park. Rafael Benitez attempted to negotiate a later date for Ki the join up with the South Korea squad but ultimately failed, Paulo Bento wanting him for the training camp which starts on Boxing Day.

“Ki will go December 26 and we don’t know when he will come back. I was trying (to get Ki to stay for longer), but they couldn’t change.” – Rafael Benitez

With numbers short in central midfield right now, Benitez will have to hope that Shelvey comes through and is declared fit for Boxing Day. Sean Longstaff (£4.5m) looks to be the alternative, otherwise.

Yoshinori Muto

Meanwhile, Newcastle will also lose striker Yoshinori Muto (£5.6m) as he has been drafted into the Japan squad to cover the injured

However, he leaves the fold at a much later date, on January 3, so will available for Gameweeks 19 (Liverpool) and 20 (Watford), as well as the Manchester United meeting in Gameweek 21, before departing.

Furthermore, his absence will be less of a concern for Benitez who has Salomón Rondón (£5.9m) in form, Ayoze Pérez (£6.1m) around too, as well as Joselu (£4.8m).

“I had a conversation with (Muto) and he was waiting. He told me that the Premier League was really important for him and he wants to do well. He wants to settle down. Sometimes we don’t realise how hard it can be to bring in overseas players. We have had players here that after two years they weren’t talking in English. So players need time. He is trying to learn his trade and making sure he is integrated into the group. He is doing well but it is better that he is around in January.” – Rafael Benitez

Tottenham Hotspur (1 player)

It has been well documented that Son Heung-min (£8.5m) is leaving for the Asian Cup much later than many of the other players selected by their countries.

Spurs managed to negotiate that he would not leave until after the Gameweek 22 meeting with Manchester United on January 13, after they released him to play in the Asian Games over the summer. That means he will be available for Spurs for every Premier League match before then, as well as the FA Cup third round trip to Tranmere Rovers on January 4.

Son will, therefore, miss the first two games of the continental tournament in the U.A.E., linking up with South Korea for their third and final group stage game.

He is likely to go deep into the tournament, with South Korea one of the favourites to win the trophy, which will free up some Spurs options in the second half of January and early February.

Christian Eriksen (£9.3m) and Dele Alli (£8.9m) will both have less competition for their places in the side while Erik Lamela (£6.2m) and Lucas Moura (£7.0m) should also see more game-time while Son is away.

Huddersfield Town (1 player)

Aaron Mooy

Huddersfield’s only Asian Cup player is Aaron Mooy (£5.1m), who will be representing Australia.

He is set to join up with the Socceroos on Boxing Day, but it is an absence that has little effect on Huddersfield, at least for now.

Mooy has been nursing a knee injury sustained earlier this month and received less than positive news about his return.

Early February was the most recent estimate, which might mean his involvement in the Asian Cup is fairly minimal.

However, he is keen to join up with the squad in the hope of regaining his fitness in time to play some minutes with Australia.

“He wants to go to the Asian Cup and he wanted the second opinion. He believes he’ll be ready and so do we. I expect Aaron to be there.” – Graham Arnold, Australia manager

Southampton (1 player)

Maya Yoshida

Southampton will be without defender Maya Yoshida (£4.1m) in January as he goes to the United Arab Emirates with Japan.

The Samurai Blue’s first match of the tournament takes place on January 9, which means the Saints centre-back will definitely be absent from the Gameweek 22 trip to Leicester.

However, it is possible that he may be involved in a pre-tournament training camp although we don’t know at this stage.

We might find out more information from Saints boss Ralph Hasenhüttl in his next press conference.

Yoshida’s absence, however long it lasts for, opens the door for one of either Jack Stephens (£4.3m) or Wesley Hoedt (£4.3m) to come into the side.

Jannik Vestergaard (£4.6m) and Jan Bednarek (£3.9m) appear to have secured their places in Hasenhüttl’s back-three, while Stephens was the one who came on for Yan Valery (£4.0m) at Huddersfield on Saturday.

Cardiff City (1 player)

Neil Etheridge

Neil Etheridge‘s (£4.5m) involvement in the Asian Cup looks set to have little impact on Cardiff City.

The goalkeeper is only going to play the Philippines opening game of the tournament, against South Korea on January 7.

That means the only match he is expected to miss is the FA Cup third round tie with Gillingham on January 5, when he probably would have been rested anyway.

That sits between the Gameweek 21 visit of Spurs to the Cardiff City Stadium on January 1 and a January 12 meeting with Huddersfield in Gameweek 22 – so Etheridge is likely to be involved in both of those.

“We know the importance of Neil with Cardiff City. So, he will play for the Azkals in the first game of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 and then go back to play with Cardiff.” – Mariano Araneta, Philippine Football Federation president

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2,145 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    New page, everything back to normal 😀
    Now for a Kane+Son explosion and Digne among the points
    PS: This post is unique I promise 🙂

  2. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    I think Wilson to Rashford will be an easy switch.

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Aye, it is quite easy to do.

    2. Strchld
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Im doing this.

    3. MTPockets
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Except Rashford costs more

      • Rash
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I'm .2 out doing straight swap

      • LarryDuff
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Did Arnie to rash, probably captain him too

    4. evilfish
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Need a Son brace, Cmon!!!

      1. LarryDuff
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        I'm not sure who Brace is, but you could a adobt a son

    5. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Watching some Inside Liverpool locker videos on youtube, brasilian group hanging out, first comment:

      "Firmino using his teeth as a table reading lamp for Alisson."
      LMAO savage

    6. Up the tics
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Terrible gw with a total of 22pts with 2 players left
      Have 2ft what do I do? 3.4m itb

      Fabianski
      Robertson - Laporte - doherty - Bennett - AWB
      Sterling - Hazard - FAnderson - Rich - 4.5m
      Kane - Wilson - Jimenez

    7. JasonG123
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Can anyone convince me on Lingard vs Rashford?

      1. LarryDuff
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Rash if he remains up top

        1. JasonG123
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Any reasoning?

          1. LarryDuff
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Better as a focal point up front than a winger who loses the ball every take on

      2. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Rashford.

      3. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        No just get Martial and save yourself the bothet

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          R

      4. MTPockets
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Rashford looks and acts more normal

      5. Bend It like Trippier
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Hello to all and Merry Christmas!!
        All the best for everyone..
        So..Snodgrass or Deu for an off the bench sollution??
        Your thoughts and why?
        Find it quite difficult to decide,think it's just a coin toss as they both play to similar scoring teams and have quite nice fixtures..
        It's just that Deu takes more chances for goal in my opinion but i like a lot Pellegrini's teams when they attack..

        1. fr3d
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          I didn’t understand any of this but merry christmas mate!

        2. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Snoddy if you have no WHU (as I wouldn't want an attacking double up on WHU really), otherwise I prefer Deulo

      6. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        OK chaps - which Kane is going to show up? The arch predator who fires in a shed load of shots from inside the box or the track-back-help-Winks-out-with-the-defensive-shield waste of money?

        1. LarryDuff
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Your last three words

          1. Old Man
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            I fear the worst - please let me very wrong.

            1. LarryDuff
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              My condolences

        2. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          When last did the arch predator show his face? He's living on borrowed time

          1. Old Man
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            this

      7. Pedersen
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Chose 2, FAnderson, Son, Richarlison

        1. LarryDuff
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Fanderson Rich

          1. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Concur

            1. LarryDuff
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              Son dependant on who's around him, most games in short period

        2. Pedersen
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Thank you so much for answers 🙂
          Son - Depending on todays game, you will no longer be my Son 😀

      8. LarryDuff
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Honestly don't care about fantasy, feel this will be a cracker of a game

      9. Cojones of Destiny
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        son -> salah for a hit ?

        1. Too Many Hits
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Your name suggests no

      10. Gamer18
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Going into Week 7 of Last Man Standing who should I pick? Comment below
        Already picked:
        Everton
        Man City
        West Ham
        Arsenal
        Chelsea
        Man United

      11. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        transfers this week -4
        Kane and Son to Rashford and Hazard.
        Had enough now after 31 points benched last week

      12. barton fc
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        can anyone with more experience me tell me the odds of kane's price rising this week?

        currently on 1.6% (on fpl statistics) but feel lots of people will be hoping on him after tonight.

        saving 0.1 on Quaner gives me the possibility to do aubba to kane in the future. kamara will play more ,especially over the busy christmas period, but don't wanna close the kane door when his fixtures are so good and aubba start to toughen up a little.

        would like to make my moves to night to save money on martial but losing 0.1 isn't the end of the world.

        thanks!

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Extremely slim. Kane is only rising by 2.1% an hour (8 players are rising faster) according to FFFix

      13. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        About to pull the trigger on Dunk to Holebas. Others considering are Digne, Kola and Lovren. Digne was my pick with their fixtures and still tempted to go for him but feels daft after that beating. Holebas will be on bench this week but then has a decent run. Yep?

      14. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Foster (Ryan)
        Alonso, Robertson, Doherty, AWB ( Zabaleta)
        Salah (c), Hazard, Richarlison, Anderson, (Hojbjerg)
        Kane, Wilson, (Sucess)

        1 FT, 0.0m ITB

        A) Ryan and Wilson to Steele Rashford worth a hit
        B) Richarlison to Lingard
        C) Save

      15. Malinwa
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Sané - Richarlison - ??
        Kane - jimenez - ??

        A) Auba + Martial
        B) Salah + Ings

        Thanks and Merry X-mas!

      16. FPLPANDA
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        sqaud as it stands

        Pickford, button
        AWB, Trent, Van Dijk, digne, bennet
        Sane, richarlison, salah, hazard, snodgrass
        Kane, jiminez, quaner

        Thinking of transferring out Sane, snodgrass, jiminez and bennet for Pogba, Son, kamara and peitterson for a -12

        Leaving me with a Starting 11 of:
        Pickford
        AWB, Trent, Van Dijk, Digne
        Son, Hazard, Salah, Pogba, Richarlison,
        Kane

        Bench: Quaner, Peitterson, Button, Kamara

        Part of me is thinking squad would be great but other part is telling me should I get rid of sane with son only available for 3 more gameweeks and I'll be unable to easily transfer sane back in. The wise part of my head is telling me with Salah, trent and van dijk having a tough gameweek will be hard to make up for the -12.

        Other option could be for me to save a FT or transfer out Snograss and Jiminez (awful gw) and bring in gibbs-white and Rashford (unreliable as alexis, martial and lukaku back).

        Thoughts??

      17. FC_Dzbany
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Whom to captain: Salah, Hazard or Kane?
        Thanks guys!