Friday 9 September 2011

Week 4 - Update

There is a word that every fantasy manager in the world lives in fear of, and it's a word I'm reading and hearing an awful lot this Friday afternoon. The word is 'rotation', and it's being used to describe Roberto Mancini's plans for Manchester City's game again Wigan on Saturday.

The Manchester Evening News has suggested that due to their international exploits both Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero could be given a rest to ensure they are fresh for Napoli in the Champions League. Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson are all being mentioned as possible replacements, but the worst thing about it is it's all unconfirmed. My gut feeling is Aguero gets a rest and Dzeko continues, but it really is just a guess so it'll be tough to pull the trigger on dropping the little Argentinian.

What Mancini did confirm is that Micah Richards is fit so I reckon he'll come back in for Zabaleta. Samir Nasri hand-injury wasn't serious so he's in contention, but Gareth Barry is doubtful, De Jong is out and Kolo Toure isn't ready to start. David Silva wasn't mentioned but he's so key to the style of football City have played this season so I'm pretty sure he'll start.

We have some more concrete information coming out of Arsenal today, as Arsene Wenger revealed that Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker and Yossi Benayoun are all in contention to make their debuts against Swansea this weekend. Andre Santos is not match-fit and Chu Young Park isn't available. Wilshere, Diaby & Vermaelen are out, Song is suspended and Rosicky is a doubt.

What does that mean? Well, Kieron Gibbs is back from injury, so the left-back represents fantastic value @ 3.12. Theo Walcott is also fit so I reckon he starts along with Arteta, Robin van Persie and Aaron Ramsey, which means Benayoung and Arshavin fighting it out for the final attacking midfield spot (assuming Frimpong will play the shielding role?)

So that's the news from the two teams with the stand-out fixtures in Week 4. There's load more stuff to get through so please keep checking back as I'll be updating this post as the afternoon progresses...

Updated @ 3pm

Manchester United have Antonio Valencia back in the squad but Alex Ferguson has stated that he'll find it very hard to make any changes to the team that thrashed Arsenal 8-2 last time out. That should mean the only change will be Javier Hernandez replacing the injured Danny Welbeck, although I wouldn't be shocked it Rio Ferdinand came in for Jonny Evans at Bolton.

Over at Chelsea it appears Fernando Torres will continue to lead the line as Didier Drogba sits out the Sunderland game through injury. Petr Cech and David Luiz fit to return although one wonders where Luiz will fit in? Juan Mata is being tipped to make his full debut on the left or right of the 4-3-3 formation.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has to decide whether Andy Carroll is ready to start alongside Luis Suarez at Stoke, with many of the press predicting it will be Dirk Kuyt who gets the nod ahead of the the Geordie giant. Glen Johnson is expected to return at right-back and Charlie Adam is likely to continue after overcoming his hip injury.

Tottenham will be without Rafael Van Der Vaart for the next 4 weeks, but they have Emmanuel Adebayor & Scott Parker ready to make their debuts at Wolves and Luka Modric is back after he got over his Chelsea-induced strop. Adebayor should partner Jermain Defoe in a genuine 4-4-2 and Bale will be on set pieces in VDVs absence.

Wolves are likely to name an unchanged team for the fourth successive league match if Matt Jarvis is passed fit.

John Arne Riise is expected to start for Fulham after returning for Norway in mid-week, which is a good thing, as Matty Briggs is doubtful. Bryan Ruiz will be battling it out with Bobby Zamora, Moussa Dembele and Andy Johnson to partner Clint Dempsey.

Aston Villa should have Darren Bent & Shay Given ready to face Everton after injury scares suffered on international duty, while Hutton and Jenas will be hoping to make their debuts.

Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie are both fit to face Norwich but Zoltan Gera is only expected to be ready for the bench.

Everton will be relived to hear that Leighton Baines is OK after his injury scare and he'll be taking over penalties and set pieces with Arteta now at Arsenal. Johnny Heitinga is a slight doubt but Seamus Coleman is in the squad and Roysten Drenthe could make his debut.

Stoke's new boy Peter Crouch is likely to make his debut against former club Liverpool

Blackburn are without Morten Gamst Pedersen because of a hamstring problem, while Ryan Nelsen and David Dunn are doubtful. Yakubu, Scott Dann and Simon Vukcevic could make their debuts.

Joey Barton, Luke Young and Shaun Wright-Phillips are set to make their debuts for QPR this weekend. Barton vs Newcastle - tasty!

My own team currently looks like this: 

De Gea, Gibbs, Riise, Richards, Cabaye, Arteta, Silva, Walcott, Mata, Aguero, Van Persie

Richards, Arteta & Aguero could still be changed but the rest is likely to remain as is.

How's your team looking?

Cheers,
AM

39 comments:

Miku$Army said...

first!

Miku$Army said...

Rate my Team
DDG
gibbs Mertesacker brown
young silva nasri/arteta/adam/downing cabaye
aguero/mata dzeko suarez

McCoy said...

will m.formica start? any updates on m.pedersen?

Kelvin said...

adebayor anyone? @5.77 he's a steal..

capiTeno said...

so nasri or dzeko then ?

jimmy said...

my team

ddg
riise gibs smaling
silva young sw phil cabaya
vanpersie adebayor dzeco

with 3.5 in bank

Any changes or advise?

Anonymous said...

I like your 3-5-3 Jimmy :|

Anonymous said...

ah nm sw phil are one person. Why would you go with adebayor over mata or aguero(assuming he plays)

Guru said...

this is my team atm
DE Gea
Mettersacker, smalling, riise
cabaye, anderson, arteta valencia, (I have a hunch valencia will start or at least play due to CL coming up)
dzeko, rooney, aderbayor
balance 0.57.

any comments?

Anonymous said...

DDG
BOSINGWA RIISE GIBBS
SILVA YOUNG WALCOTT NASRI SWP
MATA DZEKO

still have 3.84 left, is that a good or a bad thing.

Guru said...

Hey Gangsta,
I think its a good thing but still have my doubts on Mata tho.

greginho said...

i have

de gea
smalling, mertesacker, stearman
taarabt, young, nasri, c. herd
dzeko, aguero, rooney

i am assuming that rooney and young will do what they did in the last home game, which means less than 10 points from the both of them, but i am keeping them for the home games. i am excited about the stearman pick with spurs only getting one goal so far. if aguero is out i might do mata or ruiz. i really want walcott in this week but am leery to sell nasri.

Anonymous said...

Torn between two line ups:

DeGea
Gibbs,Mertesacker,Smalling
Silva,Young,Benayoun,Filler
Dzeko,Hernandez,RVP

and...

DeGea
Gibbs,Mertesacker,Brown
Silva,Drenthe,Benayoun,Nasri
Dzeko,Rooney,RVP

Basic decision is will Rooney shine against Bolton or will Young. Also will Arsenal keep a clean sheet and will Nasri play up to potential with injury. YFF is very frustrating with the number of options and high cost for those options. Especially when you have to make decisions about who will start, perform and get fantasy points up to or over their expense.

Matron-D said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
greginho said...

wanting to pick benayoun, anyone with info about his starting or not

Irons said...

Man, all this rotation risk is messing everything up. Aguero goes for Mata in my team. I want the points this week, not bothered about keeping a probable non-starter for a 2 unit discount. Got Dzeko and Silva too.

De Gea
Bosingwa Mertersacker Kibbs
Taarabt Cabaye Arteta Silva
Persie Mata Dzeko
1.28 spare.

I would like a City defender in there but you can't have it all. It's the first time i've been really happy with my team this week.

Miku$Army said...

I have a big problem guys:c HELP
DDG
mertesacker gibbs brown
young silva adam delph(filler)
RVP dzeko aguero

or
DDG
mertesacker giibs brown
young silva adam cabaye
suarez dzeko aguero ???

David S said...

@Greginho--

See my response at Neil and Jeremy's site regarding Benayoun. If you want him there is every reason to take him and practically no reason not to.

Anonymous said...

DDG
mertesacker gibbs richards
silva swp arteta cabeye
RVP Chicherito Mata

or

DDG
mertesacker gibbs richards brown
silva swp arteta
RVP Chicherito Suarez

Basically settled on the rest and its either Mata/Cabeye or Suarez/Brown. Any opinions? Really want Suarez, feel like he's due to finish more of his chances, but obviously don't want Brown...

kendo said...

Irons dunno about bosingwa ?

http://m.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/sep/09/sunderland-chelsea-premier-league-squad-sheets?cat=football&type=article

What about Micah Richards instead?

Anonymous said...

@Guru

Why do you think that Valencia will start? Didn't Ferguson say his only changes will be Hernandez for injured Welbeck and possibly Rio for Jones. In my opinion champions league group play will see Nani or Young rested (if not both) giving Valencia and probably Park the start.

mrtwig said...

Benayoun for me this week greginho as a filler

DDG
Enrique Riise Boyata
Silva Young Cabeye Benayoun
Suarez Rooney Aguero

I don't like the rotation risk but I would feel worse if Aguero does play and do a Swansea!! Suarez/Rooney/Young/Silva are probably the best players I have seen this year in the PL and also transferring this into points for a change!

Not sure about the rest or the look of my team. Something is telling me that Arsenal won't do much, but I don't know why!!

David S said...

Reports now circulating that SAF could rest DDG to protect him for the Champions League:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8753693/Manchester-Uniteds-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-might-rest-David-de-Gea-for-Bolton-Wanderers-clash.html

Mikl-em said...

I'm looking at

Scznyknees
Smalling, Richards, Riise
Silva, Young, SWP, Scharner
Rooney, Aguero, Mata


I have Sergio at 8.38, so I might trade him in for someone who is super cheap (K2?) and then maybe trade up Scharner, too. We'll see.

Azlan Zed said...

szczesny
mertesacker riise gibbs
silva arteta kasami drenthe
dzeko rvp k2

5 arsenal players ! yay !

mrfarme said...

DDG are out based on report at the sun's website..
united need physic against bolton..

SK said...

@aranzedo - Personally wouldn't put 3 Arsenal players for a CS since you will be betting on 21 pts for a CS (3x6 pts CS & 3 pts deduction w/ goal), which is a little risky given their odds. I think the MF will gets lots of pts, so maybe Ramsey or Benayoun?

Azlan Zed said...

@SK, i know. but brown for gibbs? more risky tho.

midfield, still considering taarabt...

oCHe said...

my current team...

DDG
Senderos-Brown-Mertesacker
BFAY-Silva-C.Adam-Nasri
Dzeko-Aguero-Mata

I need help.
Would u recommend Arteta to replace Nasri & Ruiz replacing Mata...?

Miku$Army said...

rvp + delph or suarez + cabaye

Lon3LySp33D said...

Riise or Mertesacker better?

Nasri or Arteta better??

Help me to comment..Thanks

sanjay2 said...

Arteta could be worth it... mertesacker could prove worth... since it's his first game... good luck..

Стелиян Марков said...

Hello lads,

I decided to drop some the uncertain to start players like Nasri and Aguero!

I'm currently on:

DDG
Brown,Gibbs,Boyata
Silva,AYoung,YaYa,Ramsey
Dzeko,RVP,Suarez

I went with the cheapest DFs around that will probably start in order to invest in the attack. I still like my team except YaYa and Ramsey but they can easily outscore their price given the fixtures.

Wish you all good luck this week and hope to see some AM.blog names in the top scorers!

Cheers

Team name: DIMITAR BERBATOV FC [AM.Blog]

Miku$Army said...

is it worth buying a cheap boyata to get arteta?
if not then my team could be
DDG
brown gibbs mertesacker
young adam cabaye silva
suarez dzeko aguero

or with arteta
DDG
brown boyata gibbs I KNOW it's a weak defence
young adam arteta silva
suarez aguero dzeko
WHAT DO YA THINK?

Ian Sanderson said...

Aguero AND Dzeko is a bit risky.

Lon3LySp33D said...

DDG will rest?? need change to szczesny? but DDG is on discount...

Anonymous said...

I think De Gea will play. Why is Ferguson being such a fanny about him? It seems he's reluctant to admit the goalkeeping errors are solely his.

mzar2u said...

i have change a lot from my 1st choice team due to uncertainty of the city player

FROM

DDG
Brown,Gibbs,Mertesacker
Silva,Wallcot, Ngasri, Taraabt
Dzeko,RVP,Aguero

TO

DDG
Richard,Gibbs,Mertesacker
Silva,Wallcot, Arteta, Cabaye
Mata,RVP,Aguero

to

Guru said...

@Stephen,

I was actually betting on him looking forward to the chelsea game after the Champs league, Valencia will give him more attacking options compared to Carrick. Hence I kept Him

Post a Comment