Week 16 - Update

Let's start with the weather - it is bloody freezing in England! The snow has stopped but it was minus 6 overnight and my walk to work was beyond treacherous, the paths & roads are like ice-rinks and there are very few cars about.

The good news is that things are meant to warm up a bit later and push the temperature above freezing overnight and I'd expect all Premier League grounds with under-soil heating to be able to get the games on. I believe pitch inspections for Saturday matches will be done today (to save supporters travelling to postponed games) so we'll have more news later.

UPDATE:
Blackpool v Manchester United is OFF, officially postponed because of a frozen pitch: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9242873.stm

I can tell you the main worry at the moment is Blackpool v Manchester United. Blackpool don't have under-soil heating so they've brought in a generator that blows heat on to the pitch, and they are hopeful it will be enough to get the game on. I'll update you throughout the day.

Now the team news, and I'll refer back to my Player Picks post...

One of the key points I (and many other managers) have to decide on is what to do about Van Der Vaart if you hold him at 6ish. I find it very odd that we've had absolutely no news from Tottenham about the extent of his hamstring injury, only that he was due to have scan on Monday.

Is no news a good or bad thing? Perhaps it's not as bad as first feared? Perhaps it's worse!? I'm not sure, but we should know more in the next 48 hours

I wrote the above on Wednesday with the only news available being Van Der Vaart's self diagnosis to Redknapp on Sunday that he'd "felt it tear", which lead the press to report he'd miss 4-6 weeks. However, reading some reports this morning it appears that the injury was not as bad as first feared.

He's definitely out this weekend & he'll miss the Champion's League tie at Twente midweek, but there is a chance he could be ready for Chelsea on the Sunday of Week 17, precisely 2 weeks from the date of the injury. Obviously this is not yet confirmed, but hopefull Harry will give us some further details in his press conference this afternoon. If he has a chance for next weekend I'll probably keep him @6.

UPDATES...

-  Blackpool v Manchester United is OFF, officially postponed because of a frozen pitch: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9242873.stm. I am probably dropping Nani & Adam as a results of this news, can't afford to take 3 zeros as I'll probably keep Van Der Vaart

- Worrying news coming out of West Brom this afternoon; Brunt & Odemwingie are both slight doubts as they continue to struggle with their old groin & knee injuries. I get the feeling they'll both play though the pain after being rested in midweek, but it's a concern we could all really do without.

- Owen Coyle has said he will give Stuart Holden until the last minute to prove his fitness ahead of the clash with Manchester City, but it's 50-50. Martin Petrov (against his old club) could replace Matt Taylor.

- Di Santo is now a doubt with an ankle problem so with Rodallega suspended & Moses out for 3 months after dislocating his shoulder, it appears Boselli may start upfront for Wigan.

- Jermaine Pennant will undergo a late fitness test on a hamstring injury.

- Balotelli is being tipped to start upfront with Tevez.

- Ashley Young is suspended for Aston Villa's trip to Liverpool after picking up his 5th booking of the season vs Birmingham on Wednesday.

- John Terry & Michael Essien are back for Chelsea but Lampard & Zhirkov are still out. Ancelotti suggested a midfield three of Mikel, Essien, Malouda, so I assume Kalou, Anelka & Drogba upfront. I'm reading that Alex has now flown back to Brazil for surgery on his knee,  so Ivanovic should partner Terry but we have no confirmation on right-back - Bosingwa or Ferreira.

- Arsene Wenger confirmed in his press conference that Samir Nasri and Sebastien Squillaci will both be available for selection.

That's it for now, but please keep checking back as the team news comes through thick and fast later today. If you read or hear anything of interest, please add it to the comments section below to help your fellow blog readers (and me!) :)

How's your team looking? What are you doing about VDV?

Cheers,
AM