New Blog League
After a fair bit of interest, I've now created a 3rd blog league. This is for people who missed out on the first 2, so please only join if you are not in League 1 or 2. I have a list of all the team names in the existing leagues so if i see any of the same teams in League 3 they will be removed - I have to be strict about these things :)Lordy, there's an awful lot of injury news flying around today - even beyond the fears that Rio Ferdinand will never be able to put more than two games together again.
The good news for Chelsea is that Joe Cole came through 90 minutes of football for Chelsea last night after eight months in the treatment room following a serious knee injury.
"It was an emotional night for me. I can't thank the fans enough. There was a little lump in my throat just warming up against Porto the other night," said Cole, who was joined in the Blues' line-up by Paulo Ferreira and Yuri Zhirkov.
Michael Dawson also came through 80 minutes for Tottenham, while Gareth Bale and Heurelho Gomes both returned from injury in their win over Preston. Giovani Dos Santos picked up an ankle injury in that game but he is far from being part of Harry Redknapp's Premier League plans anyway.
There was also relief for Manchester City, who sent Stephen Ireland for tests after complaining of dizziness and feeling unwell during their win over Fulham.
However, the club on Thursday morning have confirmed that nothing was found wrong with the 23-year-old, who will now take some time to rest before resuming training, but is expected to be available for Monday's visit of West Ham.
Roque Santa Cruz was not risked for that Carling Cup game but should be fit to take his place on the bench on Monday after recovering from the knee surgery he underwent this summer.
Bolton midfielder Sean Davis could miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a serious knee injury.
The 30-year-old former Portsmouth midfielder needed the operation after sustaining an articular cartilage injury to his right knee during the 3-2 home defeat against Liverpool on August 29.
Trotters boss Gary Megson said: "We don't want to put an exact timescale on how long Sean will be out of action for because he will be given as long as it takes to regain his full fitness. It is a disappointment for Sean and ourselves but injuries happen and we have got to deal with it."
There's equally-bad news for Burnley fans with Martin Paterson ruled out for the next three months after knee surgery, though Brian Jensen's availability for the weekend's clash with Spurs is a thin silver lining to that particular cloud.
Over at Aston Villa, Steven Sidwell is a doubt for Saturday's visit to Blackburn because he picked up a thigh strain while warming up for the Carling Cup clash with Cardiff. But boss Martin O'Neill is pretty sure that Ashley Young (calf) and Emile Heskey (ankle) will be fine for that game.
Stoke strikers Ricardo Fuller and James Beattie are both doubtful for the Premier League match against Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.
Fuller suffered a groin strain during the Carling Cup victory over Blackpool on Tuesday while Beattie suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury.
Manager Tony Pulis said: "Fuller is touch and go and that is our big concern at the moment. Beattie has had an ankle injury but we thought he would get through the game. However, the problem has flared up again."
Yakubu made his first Everton start in ten months against Hull and showed no ill-effects in his problem Achilles...but then limped off at half-time with a thigh strain.
Group ID: 21576
Password: yahoo
Cheers,
AM
53 comments:
Feel sorry for Pulis but I think that last piece of news really clinches it for Tuncay. At least I'm hoping...
Firstly, thank you AM for putting another league. The only problem is that it shows I have no points! Can it be fixed?
cheers!
It usually takes a few hours for your points to be transfered over to the new league.
@ Anon - It takes something like 24h for your points to appear, so no need for worry on that issue.
Good luck!!!
Joined the YFF3 group.
Thanks AM
does anyone know how zhirkov played and in what position? do you think cole and/or zhirkov will feature this weekend?
I have some cash afford for O Hara or Billy. Who do you think I should pick?
SK:
I would go for O'Hara.
He is a sure starter, Billy not as certain. In the long though run i think Billy is the better choice....
///Andy
PS: I actually have both atm. ;)
thanks for creating another group AM! my team is Shrek's Army.
fanatist says micah out with a shoulder injury....how true is it?
I'm in. Come on you Alzheimer Wanderers!!!
This just in - Mick McCarthy has said that neither Kightly nor Ebanks-Blake will start for Wolves at the STadium of Light this weekend. Makes one selection headache I was having a bit easier now (and makes me feel more confident in a Sunderland CS).
Arshavin return pretty much confirmed for this weekend on Arsenal website.
Hi AM,
My current team for week 6
Howard
Heitinga,Verm,Baines
Rosicky,A Reid,O Hara,Jenas
Drogba,Saha,Torres
I'm thinking of making a few changes,namely:
Baines(12.20)-> Mccartney or Bassong
Jenas(7.52)-> Lennon
Drogba-> Defoe
I intend to hold on to Howard due to his seemingly easier schedule: Portsmouth(A), Stoke(H),Wolves(H). Would prob hold on to him and Saha at least till the Wolves game is over.
Drogba to Defoe... most of us have Drogba in our team... he's in good form but there's fear tt he may not play the full match at Wigan. Defoe will be a good pick esp if The Beast is injured!!!
I'd like to hear fr you guys what u would do if u were in my position... thank you. FR: aojk
Mccartney wasnt in Sunderland squad for carling cup..just rested or..didnt find any new.. I was considering him as well..maybe Mensah could get another start?
more arshavin news
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5580719,00.html
@ All-
Hows the team luking??
Given
Verma-Sonko-[SeaBas/Heitinga](?)
StevieG-Lennon-OHara-Blini
Nando-Saha-Crouch(?)
Please help on SeaBas/Heiti,Whom should i pick ??
And also,Should i keep Crouch??
Everyone ... if you still have a group spot left to join,
Please join this -
Group ID - 21595
Password - yahoo
Thanks
:D
i´ve just joined YFF3
my team "MFK Petrzalka" for week 6
Gordon
Verm, Parnaby, M.Richards
Lennon, Huddlestone, Ballack, A.Reid
Drogba, Defoe, D.Kuyt
any suggestions?
Unbelievable response so far guys, 46 people in League 3 in just over 5 hours...great stuff!
BTW - A Man City mate of mine has told me Micah Richards could miss out this weekend - not sure if it's injury or his performance vs Man U (where Giggs ripped him apart) but it may make Bridge the better option if there's any doubt.
Cheers,
AM
argh friday transfer time (been taking time away from the game so far this week due to all the midweek games)
I'm stuck on the backline only, having Bassong and Heiti.
Not sure if Bassong will start, or even make it to the required CS time, and also not sure on Heiti
I could go Richards, McCartney but both of them seem risky as well argh
I have Heiti at 5.81, Bassong at current price, and 5.05 million left to spend (IIRC)
any advice?
AM I wish I lived in England, we could maybe do a podcast for this which I think would be fantastic or maybe we could figure out a way to do it overseas. I feel it would give the blog something more than what it is giving right now. Lemme know.
Where are you based ToffeeDave? I've been thinking a podcast could be possible in the future (I don't have time at the moment) but it could be a project I'd be interested in one day.
Podcast is a great idea...would love to see something like that on the blog (and be involved in it!). I too am stateside and usually only manage one trip across the pond for live Prem action each year.. MLS dacion oes not exactly quench the footie passion.
Things were moving along too smoothly with my selections...along come these Micah Richards rumors and my "settled" side now needs to be reconsidered.
Is it just me or does there seem like there are 5-6 games that appear to have 3 or 4 goals in them this week?
Gents - curious if we have a consensus as to how worried people are about early substitutions in the Liverpool-Hull game? Liverpool's offensive options and match at Anfield + Hull's woeful defense + Liverpool CL match with Fiorentina on Tuesday = Torres/GJohnson/etc. coming off the pitch well before full time?
I can envision Drogs and Torres having disappointing returns for managers this week (the former due to being treated gingerly by Ancelotti, the latter due to the explanation above)? Yikes. Makes me want to have Defoe on my side even more now.
A podcats is definitely something I'll think about in the future DT. You're comments have probably been some of the most interesting/educated in terms of fantasy football strategy so I'd like you onboard if we do proceed. It would probably in the new year if it happens at all this season, or more likely next season (if the blog continues to thrive) :)
Changing subject - I'm on the verge of making some huge moves this weekend, some big risks, the biggest I've made all season by some way. It could involve some of my biggest players being shifted to create a more balanced all round side & it's going to take some guts so I'm sleeping the decision tonight...
Cheers,
AM
I need to make up my mind about bassong or hutton, which do you think is more likely to play the full match?
Thanks for the advice on richards AM, traded him for bridge because I had the cash.
Given
Bridge Verm Hutton/Bassong
Gerrard Lennon Fletcher Diaby
Tuncay Drogba Defoe
Any other tips?
just joined the blog AM, its brilliant
This is where I am atm
Given
Vermaelen G.Johnson A.Cole
Gerrard Lampard Reid Diaby
Drogba Torres Bellamy
What you think?
Lai-Kit XI - second overall on 700 points
Lai-Kit XI - what types of discounts do you have for those players?
AM.. I think a lot of people will have made huge changes this week in their teams.. me included.
This is one of the weeks I feel many will jump or fall. And the Liverpool comments sound logic.. dropped G.Johnson yesterday, never had Gerard or Torres.
Im based in Canada actually and could do the recording of it here but doing it myself might be kinda boring with no banter. AM somehow get your email to me privately, we can brainstorm ideas and structure of it and what not, and I will simply record it, send it to you, and see if it works well. I could also do some production to it as that is what I am going to school for. Back to fantasy, I want to change my team really badly this week from what I have right now but it is so hard to find suitable replacements. I want to have O'Hara in my team badly but I don't have the guts to drop Billy. but I might have to.
Lai-Tai - welcome to the blog! Nice work on being 2nd!
I have to ask...I've just looked at your Week 5 team & seeing as you didn't have the majority of those players last week (Johnson, Cole, Torres, Gerrard, Lampard) I actually cannot calculate how on earth you can afford all those players for under 100.00 units....please explain?
Cheers,
AM
I imagine a ****load of people have dropped Lamps.. what will peoples behaviour be if scores a brace.. which is likely now we have all dropped him... barndoor.. or figure it will remain with ups and downs for the rest of the season and pass up? To a smaller extent this might also count for Gerard?
ToffeeDave - defnitely drop Billy and just BD him...O'Hara is a much better value certainty this week (and going forward). Although, once Billy does start appearing for the Toffees regularly, it will be interesting to see what type of effect his presence has on Baines' fantasy point production (as Billy will probably take a decent share of set pieces from him).
I can see myself going with a five team midfield for quite some time starting in another week or so since I could have O'Hara, Billy and Kightly all for under 15 million combined. Could buttress those value picks with, say, a Gerrard and a Lennon and have phenomenal midfield for aorund 46 million meaning that you would still be able to spend on the order of 9 million/player for the rest of the team. Downside of this approach would be that I would almost certainly have to drop Tuncay as I can't envision having just him and Drogs up front every week.
Although I take it much less seriously than YFF, I do also have a team in the espnsoccernet fantasy league and one thing that I like about that league's rules is that players receive different points for scoring goals based on their positions: 8 points for defenders, 6 points for MFs and 4 points for strikers. I think it's an intriguing rule that makes you think even more about player selection strategy...what do people think about approach?
Lai-Tai...I know it's a bit early but I assume that you are dressing as Pinnochio for Halloween?
@ToffeeDave, AM
Re podcast: I've done recorded phone interviews for podcasts over long distances using Skype. Sound quality is acceptable but would cost a little. Any chance of finding a sponsor?
It's a commitment (frankly I don't know where you'd find the time, AM, with work and all your other AM blogging duties), but if you can get the logistics and economics straightened out please give it a try. It doesn't have to be perfect (most podcasts aren't). Just a short weekly roundup on Fridays would be great -- I'm sure we'd all love to hear it.
Just one wee bit of advice from someone in the news business -- please don't ramble like another FF podcast I know. Keep it short and sweet and it'll be awesome.
Mudwalkerz...in my opinion, the opportunity to BD Lamps or Gerrard is minimal since they both already cost 19-20 million. They are never going to skyrocket up to the high 20s a la Cristiano Ronaldo of the last two seasons. BDing is most valuable with cheaper players who, by virtue of the BD delta (difference between BD price and the price they float up to ultimately), end up being real assets to your team since they truly free up a lot of cash for other players. BDing Vermaelen at 6 or Drogba at 10.5 and riding the benefit of the 5-6 million BD delta (i.e. Verms now costs in the mid 11 and Drogs costs in the mid 16s) is much more valuable than BDing Lamps at 19.5 and riding the benefit of a 5-6 milion BD delta with him to the mid 20s since he is still costing you nearly 20 million on your books each week. The counterargument to this is that if Lamps were really to increase to the mid/high 20s, there would be a sizable group of managers who truly could not afford to pick him up so theoretically you would be fielding a player that the vast majority of other teams would never have (compare this to people missing out on BDing Verms from the beginning...even now, he is relatively affordable at 11.74 million and people could easily pick him up).
Once Bili might be a regular...
Arteta is coming back by beginning of december.. so probably another temporary solution till winter, just like O'hara (and the African nations absentees).
I like the difference in points, but should only differ with one point max, as it increases also the need for luck. This could also count for assists.
I have joined League 3. My team is Parmalat. A bit sarcastic name, but I support Parma in the Italian league and Arsenal in the Premiership. :)
Sound logic again Dr.
Am not considering it though.. but I know a lot of people will, and I also see Lamps scoring twice. Just as a curse for me and many others dropping him for the first in year(s). I like people to read in between the lines when i ask questions like that.. your post makes it easier for them ;)
And actually Ive been wondering if a lot people use barndoor.. the other way.. get as many as possible high droppers in price.. without losing their big guns.. just to accumulate more cash? ;)
Not sure if I followed you, mudwalkerz, but in this game you can never have more than 100 million to spend so you can't BD in the opposite direction if I follow your menaing. This is another feature that does exist, however, in the espnsoccernet fantasy league which is an interesting wrinkle...player values fluctuate much less wildly in that game to mitigate the potential windfall.
Not sure I follow completely yet myself but its something that crossed my mind a few times lately..let's see..When a player performs bad..minus points etc.. his value goes down, right? Your available cash goes up again at that point. When you barndoor a player whose values goes up..your cash remains the same, no? So instead of picking players who did well.. you can always go for a few that did the contrary.. and that way you have less worries about losing a profit on some player that might not be performing as such for various weeks in a row..and can pick players whose value remained stable but still have a good chance of scoring well the week later or so and do so with more cash than you would have had when picking only positive movers?
pff 1:27am.. maybe Im just tripping and rambling :D
Would it be smarter to BD Bily since we still dont really know what his place is in league games for the Toffees? Will Moyes start him? Who knows.
Will Heit keep his place the whole season in the first team?
Hi AM,
My current team for week 6
Howard
Heitinga,Verm,Baines
Rosicky,A Reid,O Hara,Jenas
Drogba,Saha,Torres
I'm thinking of making a few changes,namely:
Baines(12.20)-> Mccartney or Bassong
Jenas(7.52)-> Lennon
Drogba-> Defoe
I intend to hold on to Howard due to his seemingly easier schedule: Portsmouth(A), Stoke(H),Wolves(H). Would prob hold on to him and Saha at least till the Wolves game is over.
Drogba to Defoe... most of us have Drogba in our team... he's in good form but there's fear tt he may not play the full match at Wigan. Defoe will be a good pick esp if The Beast is injured!!!
I'd like to hear fr you guys what u would do if u were in my position... thank you.
FR: aojk
joined league 3.. my team name is asher_maxten..
anyway, is it confirmed about micah richards status?.. this last minute injuries totally giving me a headache..
Max..
16.77 funding for 2 Defender
sonko/ G.Johnson ?
or
Heitinga/warnock?
or
??/??
I'd go for Heitinga/Warnock
Everton is playing Portsmouth and they are useless this season... Heitinga is also playing right wing back position for Everton,his price is low and the potential of him matching the amount of investment placed on him is higher.
Warnock plays as a left wing back who pushes up to support the attack. However, u might want to open up your options on Warnock since there are a number of defenders who are available and have better chance of keeping a CS. E.g Bassong,Carragher,Insua,Corluka,Distin.
doing some tweaking in df due to mrichards injury news.. anywy, hows skrtel in week6 in your guys opinion?..
AM recommend him in his week6 post.. but i can't seem to see why he's a good pick.. played 4 games (with highest points in week4: only 6.5pts.. got 0 last week, and negative in week1, a 2 games week)..
question 2..
if confirmed MRichards is not playing.. who's a better pick among these.. Bassong (if hes fit), RJohnson, Bridge, Heiti..
Max..
random mention but looking at the Pundit on the PL website, amazing to see how consistent Faye (Stoke) has been so far. I release that ame has different points structure then yahoo but still.
Ashley Cole also looks like he's been pretty damn good fantasy wise, at least (Again) in the official PL game.
Anyways, for this week my biggest problem since the Bassong injury is if i should go with Bassong or McCartney.
Here is something to think about...
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been given a huge lift ahead of the Barclays Premier League clash at Fulham as Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott are available.
Arshavin has missed four matches with a groin problem while Walcott has not played this season due to a side strain - but both are in the squad for Craven Cottage.
Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is still struggling with a stomach problem so Vito Mannone could be in goal.
"Arshavin should be back and (Robin) Van Persie should be all right despite a little problem," Wenger said. "We have a test with him and Almunia is still a week away.
"We are very pleased because Arshavin gives us an attacking option that is always very interesting and away from home he's always very efficient as well.
"He's a guy who turns up at the right moment and can always create chances or score himself."
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/25092009/63/wenger-welcomes-duo.html
with arshavin AND walcott back in contention i can see wenger shifting his tactics away from the 4-5-1 he has been playing.maybe back to 4-4-1-1 with arshavin just behind van persie, and then diaby, fabregas, denilson (when fit or rosicky/song instead) and walcott on the right. that would mean eduardo and bendtner starting from the bench!
putting fantasy aside for a second because i am an arsenal fan, i would love to see rosicky on the left, fabregas in the middle, walcott on the right, then arshavin just behind the strikers and eduardo starting with van persie up front. it won't happen like that though cos we'll start arshavin on the left so we can have song/diaby as a defensive midfielder leaving cesc to roam! the only problem with this is that it limits arshavin and walcotts ability to play free roles on the wing!
any thoughts about this, and does it affect your team selection at all?
soo rosicky may start from the bench!!
mtay/rosicky/bent
or
lennon/defoe/(any middies around 7)
Group 3 is full already . Can u pls creat 1 more league , thanks
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