Scout Scribbles – FA Reject Carroll Appeal

Andy Carroll is suspended for the next three league games after the FA throw out his violent conduct appeal. Seamus Coleman is set to return for Everton’s visit to the Lane on Sunday. Jack Wilshere is expected back for Arsenal, Swansea axe Michael Laudrup, Jozy Altidore’s prospects are talked up by Gus Poyet, whilst Rene Meulensteen’s problems at Fulham go from bad to worse:

Carrol Loses Red Card Appeal

The West Ham target man has seen his appeal over a controversial dismissal in Saturday’s victory over Swansea rejected, meaning he will now miss his side’s next three Premier League fixtures (avl, NOR, SOU). Carroll clearly felt hard done by, taking to Twitter yesterday to condemn the decision to reject his appeal as ‘disgraceful’, and reports have now emerged that West Ham will take legal action over the FA’s decision. Should this lead nowhere for the west London club, however, the striker will have to sit on the sidelines for the remainder of February as his team fight to avoid the drop.

The Scout Says: Things just aren’t go Sam Allardyce’s way at the moment. Carroll’s long-awaited return from injury back in Gameweek 20 looked set to provide the Hammers with just the spark they needed in their relegation scrap and, indeed, the Geordie has since provided three assists to help his side to victories over Cardiff and Swansea. The loss of the 7.1-priced frontman for the rest of the month, however, leaves Alladyce with limited options up top – he could choose to play without a named striker, a tactic he has often turned to throughout the season while Carroll was out injured, or opt for Carlton Cole to lead the line. All of this also bodes poorly for the prospects of Kevin Nolan, who showed what an attacking combination he and Carroll can be last weekend, picking up two goals from the Geordie’s knock-downs. Without his big sidekick’s contribution, it would seem that Nolan’s prospects are not quite as great as they might appear for the 6,000 managers who have already transferred him in this week.

COLEMAN SET FOR WEEKEND COMEBACK

Having missed Everton’s last two Premier League fixtures, reports indicate that Seamus Coleman is likely to return to action this weekend for his side’s trip to White Hart Lane. Roberto Martinez was positive on the prospects of the full-back featuring against Spurs on Sunday, whilst also indicating that Gerard Deulofeu is also nearing his return from a hamstring injury:

“They are very important players and we have had good news on them. I would say Seamus is probably in the right category [to play]. Gerard is back from Spain, is training and is really excited and enthusiastic about getting back. Obviously we will have to assess him to see how quickly we can get him match fit. We’re really excited at having those two back.”

The Scout Says: The most popular and highest scoring defender in the game, Coleman’s likely return against Tottenham this weekend will be welcome news for his Fantasy owners, who will be hoping he can return to the attacking form that saw him plunder four goals in seven games between Gameweeks 13 and 19. That said, away fixtures against Spurs and Chelsea coming up in the next month might cause hesitation amongst prospective owners and those who transferred the 6.5-priced defender out during his injury lay-off. Meanwhile, the reintroduction of Deulofeu into the Fantasy frame will be interesting. Classified as a forward in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and available for just 5.4, the young Spaniard was handed game time at the expense of Kevin Mirallas prior to his injury but, with the Belgian flourishing in a central berth, he could vie with Aiden McGeady for the role on the right.

Wilshere on Course for Weekend Return

Arsene Wenger’s midfield options look likely to be boosted this weekend with a number of media outlets reporting that Jack Wilshere is set to return from an ankle problem for the Gunners trip to Anfield.

The Scout Says: Given that Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey remain sidelined through suspension and injury respectively, Wilshere’s availability boosts Arsenal’s options in the double-pivot, where Mikel Arteta was partnered by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain last weekend. However, given that the 2-0 win over Palace was the latter’s first start since Gameweek 1, Wenger could opt to ease him back into action and give Wilshere the nod instead. At 6.4, Wilshere may be back on our radars if he can continue the form that harvested a goal and three assists over his three matches prior to picking up the ankle problem.

Laudrup Dismissed By Swansea

Swansea face an uncertain last few months of the season after parting company with Michael Laudrup last night. Despite guiding the club to the Capital One Cup last year and making the Europa League knockout stages this term, Laudrup has failed to work his magic in the league – the Swans have picked up six points from their last 10 matches and lie just two points above the drop zone. Chairman Huw Jenkins, who has now appointed club captain in charge “for the foreseeable future” explained:

“I had a meeting with Michael today in a final attempt to support him and establish a way to improve the work of the backroom team to secure the results we need over the final 14 Premier League games. However, after thinking long and hard about the best way forward, I felt it was unlikely we would achieve a stable environment at the club to allow us to get back to basics and produce the performance levels that have served Swansea City so well over the last few years.”

The Scout Says: Reading between the lines of Jenkins’ statement, it seems highly unlikely Monk will change the club’s possession-based approach. Whilst a 4-3-3 also looks set to remain intact, Monk may decide to freshen things up in order to make his own mark on the starting XI. The likes of Neil Taylor and Alex Pozuelo could offer us real budget options if either can push for a role in the first-team, whilst Laudrup’s departure also arrives at a time where local reports suggest Michu and Michel Vorm could be in with a shout of returning this weekend, though Jonjo Shelvey is a doubt again after picking up another hamstring problem. Swansea may still be worth our consideration, though, given they have three vital home games (CAR, CPL, WBA) in the next six.

Cottagers Woes Continue

Rene Meulensteen’s decision to make eight changes from the side beaten by Southampton backfired last night as Fulham stumbled out of the FA Cup. The Cottagers lost 1-0 at home to a Sheffield United side currently sitting second bottom of League One, meaning they have now tasted defeat in nine of the new manager’s 15 games in charge across all competitions.

The Scout Says: From a Fantasy perspective, last night’s morale-sapping display will merely strengthen faith in United’s main men ahead of Fulham’s trip to Old Trafford on Sunday. The London outfit have already conceded more goals on the road than any other side in the league and, with Robin van Persie notching in both games since his return, the Dutchman is likely to be heavily backed for the armband this weekend – indeed, he has edged ahead of Luis Suarez in this week’s Captain Poll as Liverpool prepare to welcome Arsenal to Anfield.

Poyet Praises Altidore

The Sunderland boss lauded the US international’s derby display against Newcastle and suggested that, in spite of a lack of goals, Altidore looks set to be a key figure in his side’s battle to beat the drop.

“He had a magnificent game on Saturday. I was so sad that he didn’t score that chance. They practically gave it to him, but I said to him in the dressing room, ‘Ah, now I like it. Now you know how important you are, and you can feel it’. I played with a lot of strikers who were top scorers, and when they didn’t score for a while, they would not pass the ball to you. He is not doing that, which is great and a credit to him. Somehow, we need to try to get him a goal. If we keep winning, his goal is going to come. But his performance on Saturday was one of the biggest and most important points for us.”

The Scout Says: With Poyet finally settled on a 4-3-3 formation, Altidore’s chances of nailing down the lone forward role look to have improved after Poyet admitted Steven Fletcher could be set for time on the sidelines with an Achilles problem. One look at the schedule suggests few will be looking to invest in the Wearsiders after this weekend’s home game with Hull – Poyet’s side have subsequent trips to United, Arsenal and Liverpool, with a blank Gameweek sandwiched in between the latter two matches. Nonetheless, Sunderland are set to be handed a double Gameweek somewhere down the line and, at 6.2 in FPL with an ownership of less than 1%, Altidore may prove to be a real differential punt if he can show some form beforehand. In all honesty, though, Fabio Borini looks the better bet. Coming in at the same price, he may be fielded on the left flank, but with spot-kick duties part of his repertoire, the Italian has produced two goals and a pair of assists in the last three Gameweeks.