Wednesday 16 September 2009

Injury Update 16-09-09

I discovered the following information after I had written the about Arsenal's Champions League squad in my previous post this morning...

While Carlos Tevez is battling to be fit for Manchester City, United's main concern ahead of Sunday's derby is the fitness of Rio Ferdinand. He shrugged off a calf injury to face Tottenham on Saturday but then picked up a different ailment ahead of the Besiktas game.

"We'll have to wait and see [whether Ferdinand will play against City]," Ferguson told Sky Sports. "He felt his groin in training after the game on Saturday and it wasn't worth the risk.

"He couldn't even make the bench, so we'll just have to give him time for Sunday."

The news on Tevez is not good, with Manchester City assistant boss Mark Bowen admitting the Argentine is "very doubtful" for the Old Trafford clash.

"He is back here today and we'll assess it from there, but he is very doubtful," he told the club's website. "What we are hearing is that it's probably going to keep him out, but until the doctor assesses him hands-on we don't really know.

"We have been in contact with the Argentina medical team, as has our medical team. But the signs are not encouraging. We wouldn't 100% rule him out yet - fingers crossed and we are always hopeful, but it's very doubtful."

Bowen was pleased to report that Roque Santa Cruz has started training following knee surgery this summer but the Paraguayan is unlikely to face United, while Stephen Ireland should be okay to play.

Good news at Chelsea is that Joe Cole could return to action against Tottenham on Sunday after making an unexpected appearance on the Blues' bench for their win against Porto. He has not played since damaging his knee ligaments in January.

Cole is likely to be on the bench, with Deco possibly restored to the starting line-up after a calf problem kept him out of that win over Besiktas.

Over to Arsenal and Manuel Almunia, Denilson and Robin van Persie have been added to a lengthy injury list. Almunia has a chest infection while the other two have slight injuries that should not keep them out of Saturday's clash with Wigan.

"From Saturday we lost Robin van Persie with a knee problem but it is a question of days for him," Arsene Wenger told the club's official website. "As for Denilson, I took him off on Saturday for a back problem. It is a question of days again for him."

Theo Walcott could also return from his back injury for that game against the Latics at the Emirates.

Great news for Wolves fans - Michael Kightly has come through almost an hour of reserve-team football, six months after suffering a broken foot. He could make it onto the bench for this Sunday's clash with Fulham.

Down at Portsmouth, new signing Aruna Dindane has been put on what Paul Hart describes as "two weeks' physical training" in an effort to get him fit, while Steve Finnan could finally make his Pompey debut this weekend against Villa after a hamstring injury delayed his start to the season.

Up at Sunderland, the headline news is that Darren Bent should be fit for Saturday at Burnley despite picking up a slight groin problem last week. Lee Cattermole and Phil Bardsley should also be fine while Marton Fulop misses out and the game will come slightly too soon for George McCartney, who has a hamstring problem.

And finally, Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer is facing what newspapers like to call 'a race against time' to play CSKA Sofia in the Europa League on Thursday. The Australian missed the game against Everton with a neck problem and was replaced by David Stockdale.

So "it is a question of days" for Van Persie who looks likely to be ready for the weekend...interesting news on Walcott, but surely he'd likely be on the bench after such a long time out? It could well affect Rosicky too, so lots to think about.

Also, good news about Joe Cole's return for Chelsea - he's one of my favourite players to watch and not a bad fantasy points scorer. However, he's surely going to struggle to get regular football with the squad already overloaded with quality midfielders?

Cheers,
AM

16 comments:

Doctor Teeth said...

I BDed RVP but am thinking of dropping him...the potential injury issue is swaying me but truthfully the underpinning of my decision is that RVP has always been a disappointment for me when I have selected him as a fantasy player in the past. Has never really come through for me as a striker. I recognize that holding his past fantasy performances against him is a bit absurd but still, every manager has his reasons. Call it a hunch. Would like to fit in some Arsenal firepower up front for this wekeend but not sure about Eduardo since it looks like he will play serious minutes this afternoon. And I have zero confidence in Bendtner as a fantasy player.

I have not fielded a 3-5-2 this season and am leaning towards debuting the formation this wekeend with MTay, AYoung and CFab anchoring by midfield. My only hesitancy is having Tunay as one of two lone strikers (the potential downside of buying into the allure of the "Tuncay money") but one would have to imagine that Drogba will be chomping at the bit to continue his scorching form, especially since he could not feature against Porto yesterday and given that the Spurs match is a fairly high profile one.

Michael Kightly's return to action is imminent everyone...really looking to see what this kid can do in the Prem. Also eagerly awaiting the arrivals to action of Zhirkov and Bee-yel-et-DEE-nov.

Really happy with pick-up of O'Hara last week...I think he could return inredible value this season. With him and Tuncay costing me a combined 5.20 million, I have an average of more than 10.5 million to spend per player for the remaining nine members of my side. Throw in some other built-in discounts and that's a guarantee of having three or four 15+ players on my side every week with absolutely no dead-weight whatsoever.

Assistant Manager said...

Hi DT - I agree with alot of what you've said.

I've been burned by Van Persie many times in past seasons, but I have such a strong feeling about him this weekend that I think I'm gonna stick with him unless it's confirmed he's injured.

I'm also in the same situation with O'Hara & Tuncay (costing me 5.20million combined) so I still have plenty to spend even with RvP...my only doubt is Rosicky.

Finally, I recommended Kightly in one of the very first blog posts back in July so I'm also looking forward to seeing him in the Premier League. Hopefully he'll get some time from the bench this weekend.

Good luck!

AM

Anonymous said...

@Mike D: Options 3 and 4 look good to me. #3 is exactly the line-up I was pondering (given my current standing at 13644, that information may not fill you with confidence). The changes would be funded by the swap in of Eduardo. We'll see how much playing time he gets today and in what shape he leaves the pitch. I've been burned by Arsenal before, so I may just chicken out.

-Bradley

Anonymous said...

My big decision this week, similar to DT's to some extent:

Cuellar / Abou Diaby / Agbonlahor
or
Wilkinson / Rodwell / Van Persie?

-Enjolras

Mike Lowrey said...

First half of the Liege game is gonna be over soon and Arse are 2-0 down. Diaby has been fucking horrible, even if he has a good game I'd never recommend him to anybody, one of the most inconsistent players ever. Seems to have all the skill and potential but has never really come through. Rosicky on the other hand has been pretty much the only good player, but since he started I expect him to be on the bench vs Wigan.

Mike B said...

I echo Mike's statement about Diaby, he's been abysmol. In fact everyone in that side has been awful! Hard to believe it's Arsenal at times. Fabregas is also playing particularly uselessly.

Rosicky is looking good, and believe it or not, Bendtner just scored. I just feel sorry for their unfortunate 3rd choice keeper out there with Gallas playing so poorly.

Mike B said...

Haha 3-2 Arsenal, somehow!

Eduardo showing his poachers instincts. hame him playing 90 mins probably will mean he won't get a start at the weekend :(

Mike B said...

Rosicky got subbed at 71 minutes, still looking fit and healthy as he left the pitch. So tempting to keep him in for the weekend now.

Assistant Manager said...

Agreed Mike...Rosicky was Arsenal's best player tonight & if there's no Walcott, Arshavin & Nasri you have to feel he'll start on Saturday. I'll probably keep him. Eduardo meanwhile looked tired & maybe had a knock (or cramp)when he was subbed 5 minutes from the end so I'd be surprised to see him involved from the start vs Wigan.

Mike B said...

I was so engrossed in the Rosicky/Eduardo affiar, i didn't happen to catch any of the Liverpool game.

Anyone see how Benayoun played tonight? I'm still in two minds if i should keep him at the discount i have after last weeks hat-trick.

Fidan said...

Hello everyone. Long time since I last posted a comment in here. I've been kinda busy with my studies...but anyway, I read all the posts...
I'm still trying to make-up for the mess I made out of my team on barndoor this weekend (didn't barndoor any of Sicky,Reid,O'Hara, etc, etc...and I sold Jordi for 6.15). Can it get worse??? I hope not :S...

Anyway I got Duff and Benayoun on huge discounts but I know I have to let one of them go, or...BOTH...!!!

Right now I HATE the way my team looks, but somehow I managed to come to only one decision, and any suggestion would be welcomed.
BFAY/Milner or
Cesc & Duff/Benayoun (I can't get Milner cuz I'm a paund short:S)...

My team so far looks like this:
Given
Verm,Sonko,hunch
Hunt,Fab,Duff/Benayoun,hunch
Drogs,Torres(on good discount),hunch (it's not Tuncay :D)

Cheers and...
See you soon...!!!

Anonymous said...

is it worth to change rodwell to kitson?

ToffeeDave said...

Decided on my final team this week. Some of you might be surprised.

Myhill
Heitinga, Baines, Verm
Taylor, Hunt, Young, Kightly
Drogs, Tuncay, Torres

Myhill: Best possible fixture vs Birmingham(2 goals scored all season)

Heitinga: Will start since he is cup tied and is a genuine ball winner(everton's Fletcher)

Baines: Will make me 10+ points every week so long as he doesn't get a card like last week. Rawr

Verm: Got him early, season keeper

Taylor: Takes all kicks for Bolton and Stoke have 8 yellows in 5 games and probably one of the highest fouling teams along with bolton, so I expect a TONNE of freekick scoring opportunities

Hunt, Young: My hunches this week

Kightly: HUGE part of Wolves promotion last year and finally healthy. I expect him to return his value by end of season.

Torres: Im betting on him outperforming Gerrard as everyone will have Gerrard. Will either make up ground I lost earlier or fall further behind.

bean said...

Lucas Neill having a medical at Everton. Could be a nice pickup for the Toffees, though they seem to have plenty of defenders now, especially once Jagielka is back.

Anonymous said...

is it worth to change m.taylor to agbonlahor or johnson?between those two who do u guys think will score?

bean said...

(via Jeremy&Neal's blog)
Queudrue is set to miss out for Birmingham's trip to Hull City

Post a Comment