Friday 18 March 2011

Week 30 - Update

Real Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur in the Quarter Finals of the Champions League - it doesn't get much better that for a Spurs fan!

Admittedly the draw today has probably ended any hopes of reaching the final at Wembley - even if we get past Real it would probably be Barca in the semis - but it's been a great journey & I'm looking forward to it's exciting conclusion.

I'd like to go in to more detail about the draw (specifically THAT tie between Chelsea v Man Utd) but I've had a rotten day at work followed by my car breaking down on the way home, so I need to get right in to the latest team & injury news as we approach the Week 30 deadline.

Spurs - Bale should be ready to start, VDV is fit & Gallas is ok after his hamstring scare. Defoe is tipped to start after his 2 goals vs Wolves, but King, Kaboul, Woodgate, Huddlestone & Palacios are all out.

West Ham - Robbie Keane is ineligible while Demba Ba & Freddie Piquionne are slight doubts.

Aston Villa -There's a bit of defensive crisis at Villa, as Dunne, Collins & Luke Young are all unavailable. Cueller and Delph could come in to cover. Makes me worried about Friedel, but he's cheap, so I'll probably risk him.

Wolves - Michael Mancienne and Michael Kightly could feature after long-term knee injuries, but Edwards & Zubar & Hunt are still out.

Man Utd - Fergie is without 11 injured players including Vidic, Ferdinand, Rafael & O'Shea, but Jonny Evans and Park Ji-sung could return. Scholes starts a two-match ban after picking up 10 yellow cards. Hernandez & Rooney should continue upfront but frustratingly there's no news on whether Valencia starts or comes off the bench. My gut feeling is another cameo.

Bolton - Midfielder Mark Davies looks set to miss the short trip to Old Trafford after injuring his ankle during the FA Cup win over Birmingham, but Gretar Steinsson is expected to be fit despite suffering from a bug.

West Brom - Vela is ineligible, Dorran & Brunt are doubts but Mulumbu has a chance of starting.

Arsenal - Wenger's problems are well publicised as Djourou, Fabianski, Fabregas, Song, Szczesny, Walcott & Vermaelen are all missing, but Van Persie is now close to 100% sharpness & Bendtner is back from illness - great!

Sunderland - Captain Lee Cattermole is hoping to return after nearly three months out with a back injury and Steve Bruce could have Nedum Onuoha and Bolo Zenden back.

Liverpool - Carroll could be paired with Suarez from the start for the first time, but Gerrard is out and Daniel Agger is a doubt.

Chelsea - Alex is in line to make his long-awaited return from a knee injury against Manchester City, but it'll probably be on the bench as Luiz will start alongside Terry. Torres will be restored to the starting line-up in place of either Drogba or Anelka.

Man City - Roberto Mancini is threatening to leave out Mario Balotelli following the striker's stupid sending off against Dynamo Kiev, so Tevez & Dzeko are likely to start. Adam Johnson is available after recovering from an an ankle injury.

Everton - Phil Neville remains a doubt with a hamstring injury, Tim Cahill is struggling with a foot problem, while Mikel Arteta and Marouane Fellaini are definitely out.

Fulham - Dixon Etuhu is a doubt but Senderos & Sidwell are out. Bobby Zamora will continue his comeback from the bench as Mark Hughes resists the temptation to throw him in too early.

Blackburn - Ryan Nelsen is back following a suspension, although Gael Givet now begins a two-match ban. David Dunn is e doubtful, but Phil Jones is fit and available after a long term injury.

Blackpool - Skipper Charlie Adam is free from suspension but DJ Campbell still has two games of his ban to serve.

Stoke - John Carew is out, so Jones & Walters should start upfront. Pennant and Etherington are fit.

Newcastle - Boss Alan Pardew will make a late decision on midfielder Joey Barton, while Jose Enrique & Jonas Gutierrez are struggling. Stephen Ireland is definitely out.

Wigan - The bottom club have a fully-fit squad, with Striker Hugo Rodallega the only slight doubt after a knock in the defeat at Manchester City a fortnight ago but the Colombian has resumed training.

That's all the news we have. I hadn't looked at my own team until 10 minutes ago, but after a quick play around I have this on my page:

Friedel, Heitinga, Smalling, Kolarov, Walker, Hitzlsperger, Van Der Vaart, Nani, Defoe, Suarez, Van Persie

It's OK as a 4-3-3 - Heitinga isn't ideal but he allows me to get Nani & Van Persie in while the rest of the team remains strong. I've dropped Darren Bent rather than Defoe or Suarez for RvP. Bent always screws me over whenever I pick him so expect a hat-trick now he's out of my side! I may still make some minor tweaks, but it's a possible final team.

That's it for another week. Please let me know your team, and of course, good luck!

Cheers,
AM

59 comments:

Anonymous said...

1st..

Shan
MIG Phg !!

Anonymous said...

AM..

how bout my team..

Howard
Kolarov Coleman Koscielny
Nani Nasri Hoilett Hitzlsperger Rodwell
Hernandez Suarez

i'm doubt bout hoilett and rodwell...can u give me any suggestion on my team??

Shan

Anonymous said...

nice post AM =)

Anonymous said...

30 th

Linesman said...

Howard
Kol Smalling Heitinga
Hitz Young Nasri VdV
RvP Suarez Bent

No room for Nani unless I go with another filler which is highly unlikely. I may swap Smalling for Gallas because a clean sheet for ManU is looking more and more unlikely this week. I don't want to touch Walker with Villa's defensive crisis so hopefully Gallas is fit.

Adam for Nasri? I'd appreciate any input on that.

Thanks and good luck to you all!

david peter said...

Downing/lennon OR A.Young/o'hara???

Anonymous said...

Friedel
Coleman, Luiz, Walker Smalling
Lampard, Van der Vaart, Richardson
Hernández, Rooney, Suárez

kwyjibo said...

Currently:

Friedel
Kol-Walker-Smalling
Hitz-Nasri-Osman-VdV
Suzarez-Bent-RvP

I'm also a bit nervous about Friedel in goal, but I don't have the funds to switch to Howard.

Also not sure about having 3 AV players, but VdV @15.04, RvP @ 18.14, Bent @12.62 ... that really limited my choices. Hopefully they'll all get at least a brace.

Anonymous said...

howard
kolarov-walker-smailing
perger-pennant-nasri-vdv
rvp-defoe-suarez....

how about my team...plz rate..tq

Anonymous said...

Looks pretty solid mate - Walker and Smalling are a bit iffy though considering Villa and MU defensive problems this week - but could come good.

Hard to get the big guns in this week...

Friedel
Kolarov Coleman Luiz
Hitzl Nasri Valencia Richardson
Suarez Defoe Van Persie

I reckon this team could go really well but am definitely worried. The midfield could easily fire blanks.

Juggernaut

Anonymous said...

No Nani, VDV or Rooney :(

Juggernaut

Anonymous said...

jugg..

valencia--hoilet

rich---sandro

Anonymous said...

how about tuncay

Doctor Teeth said...

I'm surprised that no one is considering Fabio in lieu of Smalling this week...they're both available for around the same price and one has to believe that Fabio has more of an upside getting forward.

Anonymous said...

Friedel
Smalling / Jiranek / Baines
Adam / Hitzlsperger / Van der Vaart / Wilshire
Suarez / van Persie / K. Phillips

Still have 1.35 left which doesn't buy me much better at any position. Could drop one of the big guns (Adam most likely) but I'm pretty happy with this lineup.

Ken said...

Friedel
Smalling/Heitinga/Luiz
VDV/Adam/A.Young/Hitz
Bent/Defoe/Suarez

Stayed with Bent..Hernandaz may still come in.
Went with Adam over Nasri. Will see how that works.
Defense is what it is.
Friedel..Was happy at first but now see it as a crap shoot.

I have tried and cannot come up with a team I would keep over this one. Hernandaz aside...it stays.

Big guns just cut to close to the bone this week so no Nani, and really anyone over 17.

Good luck all...

Anonymous said...

walker or luiz?

Anonymous said...

can't decide between freidel & howard. both have poor saves ratio's and have had bad & good games for me this season. i was edging towards Friedel seeing as Nik had him. ( that could be a bluff to the guys who keep copying his team !). villa's defensive crisis worries me. Wolves are poor away but have good scoring form lately with o hara, doyle, jarvis etc as threats.

S.P.

L'Orange Noir said...

@Doc Teeth: With Evans reported fit it's possible he pairs Smalling at centre back and Brown moves to the right, instead of using Fabio as a makeshift Right back.
@Linesman: I'd go with Adam because you already have RVP to represent Arsenal attacking interests.
I'm going with
Howard
Kolarov, Smalling, Walker, Coleman
Valencia, Hitzs, VDV, Hoillet
Rooney, RVP
I'd like to upgrade Howard but don't have the funds. I don't normally go with 4-4-2 but Coleman is effectively a middie anyway. I would've liked to get Suarez in there but you can't have it all :-)

Linesman said...

@L'Orange Noir
Thanks mate!

greginho said...

still at a loss, nasri and bent or van persie and ba?

Anonymous said...

Is anybody tempted by the Blackburn strikers? I'm considering Jason Roberts @ 6.89. Any chance Roque Santa Cruz might play?

Anonymous said...

Used up my 16 credits and upgraded my team.
Currently on:
PRobbo
Walker - Heitinga - Smalling
VdV - Nasri - Nani - Der Hammer
Defoe - RvP - Suarez

Thinking about switching Nani and Heitinga for Young/Downing and Luiz or Albrighton and Ryan Nelsen. Any suggestions to change or leave as-is.

Mahalo,
-Toekicker

SfSS said...

My team:
Howard
Kolarov (@5) Coleman (@8) Luiz (nobody better at 6.10)
VDV (@6) Lamps (@13) Nasri Adam Hitzlsperger
Bend Defoe

Any suggestions? my only though was to get Meireles for Adam, the biggest regret dropping RVP @9

Big Joey said...

Current team:

Friedel
Luiz/Fabio/Heitinga
Hitzlsperger/Nani/Van der Vaart/N'Zonzi
Bent/Van Persie/Saurez

0.01 left in the bank lol. Any suggestions/advice??? Thanks in advance, and cheers for the great blog Nik!

Anonymous said...

I'm unsure about picking Nani. He is very expensive at 19.11, and I get the feeling he may come off after 45/60 minutes for Valencia. I'm considering giving Valencia the nod and using that left over funds to strengthen the defence, and maybe get someone like Adam or Downing in. What does everyne else think??

Anonymous said...

Friedel
Heitinga,Wilson,Murphy
Lampard,VDV,Miereles,Wilshere
RVP,Rooney,Suarez

I can only get Nani at the expense of either VDV or Rooney. Have Lampard at a discount. Considering Sandro at 4.08 instead of Wilshere at 5.88. I have 1.1 left. What do you all think???

Canton Gunners

Superfly Jim said...

Current Team:

Friedel
Walker/Smalling/Heitinga
Lampard/Valencia/VDV/Der Hammer
RVP/Bent/Suarez

Anonymous said...

Really not sold on Friedel in goal at all. Friedel & Adam or Begovic & N'Zogbia?

Anonymous said...

My team look like this:

Friedal
Walker, Heitinga, Luiz, Smalling
Pedersen, Hitzlsperger, Nasri
Rooney, Van Persie, Bent

-No Name FC-

Anonymous said...

do you think Crouchey is a cheap alternative?

Anonymous said...

Villa-- Friedel, on paper that's a horrible choice, negative 11 last week and all new back four this week but Walker,..... I prefer Howard, Gomes, Robinson and my best pick would be Almunia at Arsenal. If you have both Walker and Friedel- that's quite a risk IMO.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Nik, for the update. Was very helpful
with Ryan Nelson, Guardian squad sheets say he is starting as normal. (Helps on my Daily Mail teams, which are kind of a different easy FF game.)

To me a risk is Hernandez starting again in lieu of Berbs-- just the kind of small risk I think folks should avoid.

FLScott said...

@ Anon - Sure, Friedel is always a risk (-9 last week by the way), but... Villa's at home to Wolves, and we all know how shite they are on the road.

Cheers

Anonymous said...

Re: Japan/NZ Earthquakes
"My heart goes out to the victims, their families and anyone affected by these tragic events”.
AM
Thank you for acknowledging the above on your superb FF site.
Good luck this week.

Mell fantasyonthego said...

Bale is not 100%, O’hara & Hitzslperger are away but they have the hunger on their side, I give Charlie Adam my vote this weekend. Fitter than ever after a long rest (suspended) against relegation rival Rovers and that a recipe for premiership fireworks!

Andy said...

My team at the last momment here is

Van Der Sar
Luiz, Heitinga, Koscielny, Shawcross
Valencia, Lennon, Wilshere, N'Zogbia
Van Persie, Rooney

Well I guess there it is Cheers!!!

Anonymous said...

Everyone likes Smalling Heitinga and Walker. Iffy? Hit and miss? Cheap yet unproductive? This is a result of constantly changing lineups in an effort to get DGs the last few weeks. Not enough moolah left to make a good line up for the remaining season. Koscielny sucks too.

Anonymous said...

Howard
Wilson/Smalling/Luiz
Adam/Silva/VDV/Wilshire
RVP/Rooney/Suarez

I don't really like this team, but the double week effect has taken a toll on me and I only have $0.01 left. Any advice?

Mike

tex said...

nani and sandro

or

lampard and luiz

Anonymous said...

will Nani start?

Anonymous said...

@Anonymous: No Nani wont start, on account of coming down with a bout Pussy-itis

Anonymous said...

Giggs played 90 minutes vs Marseille and will be rested. Both Valencia (right) and Nani (left) will play... Flecter n Carrick middle. Rooney n Berbatov up front.

rwlwhite said...

my team at the moment...

Friedel
Kolarov - Walker - Smalling
Adam - VDV - Hitz - O'Hara
Suarez - RVP - Beckford

I'm considering trying to put ramsay in as Yahoo thinks he will start, and Sky Sports has Diaby starting but he is injured. I'm thinking an arsenal midfield 5 of Wilshere, Ramsay, Rosicky, Nasri and Arshavin with RVP up top. Alternatively Denilson could start instead of ramsay or rosicky so it'd be a bit of a gamble. tempted by ramsay though and would be good to see him back

Anonymous said...

Let the party begin.

Al Habsi
Kolarov Walker Gallas
Nani VdV Hoillet Hitzl Young
VanPersie Bent

Ebi

david peter said...

guys guys guys!!!!!!!!

Downing/lennon OR A.Young/o'hara???

WaLaWaLa said...

Hello guys please help,

which is better bent and wilshere or suarez and valencia?
Thx

Anonymous said...

hey..!! pick LAMPARD>>!!!!

Anonymous said...

who will not play...D. Bilyaletdinov or Antonio Valencia..help..time is running out.

Anonymous said...

I know not a big deal but how is it that Sessegnon of Sunderland is still not in the Yahoo! game?
The Cats have a few attractive matches coming up and he would make a nice inclusion.

-Toekicker

Anonymous said...

A.young or rooney?!?!

Anonymous said...

heres one almunia + rooney or friedal + rvp?????

PBS said...

Rodwell or Sandro guys?

Thanks a lot.

Anonymous said...

freidel rvp, standard.

sandro

lampard/luiz or rosicky/VDV?

Anonymous said...

lampard/ luiz !! better than else..

Kenny said...

Van der Sar

Kolarov(5.36)
Smalling
Heitinga

Adam(8.64)
Young(13.08)
Morrison(7.09)
van der Vaart
Valencia

Hernandez
Defoe

1.05

Anonymous said...

id go vdv rosicky sreads it out over 2 games both against weaker opponents chelsea will be a tight game not much points although i have lampard at 12 so hes in

Anonymous said...

almunia
coleman/kolorav/smalling
nani/barton/lampard/ohara/hitz
suarez/rvp

thoughts?

Anonymous said...

Beausejour anyone hes cheap got 2 goals last week playing wigan???

Post a Comment