Share This Post

Around the Grounds FPL Team News

Team Talk Fantasy Football Gameweek 36

Team Talk Fantasy Football Gameweek 36

Team Talk Fantasy Football Gameweek 36

You’ve had Init’s Fixtures preview,
And of course Kop’s Hot Topics.
But now it’s time for TeamTalk,
For Gameweek 36.

Our gamweek starts at lunchtime
As Everton host the Black Cats.
Toffees strong. Sunderland struggling,
They my friends are the facts.

Five afternoon matches follow,
Concentrating on the relegation fight.
Any one of five teams could still drop,
My my, it’s oh so tight.

Villa home this week,
The Hammers they do play.
If it ain’t Young Tom delivering,
You can bet it’s Benteke.

Burnley travel across to Hull,
Sean Dyche’s men almost down.
And if Steve Bruce follows them,
There’ll be memories of Phil Brown.

What can be said of the Foxes?
The fans can have no complaints.
They could do with one more win this week,
As they entertain the Saints.

The Toon are dropping fast now,
Momentum a dangerous junkie.
West Brom the guests this week,
John Carver looking like a Raz monkey.

Stoke host Spurs at the Britannia,
Both teams running out of steam.
Their thoughts on Ibiza, Dubai
And Benidorm it would seem.

United travel to Palace Saturday evening,
Having lost three on the bounce.
Selhurst under the lights never great,
With the Lord just waiting to pounce.

Sunday takes us to the Etihad,
The Champions they are no more.
Its QPR in town this week,
So they’ll still score three or four.

And then down to Chelsea
Deserved champions without a doubt.
The Pool turn up with Stevie G
And a plane saying “Rodgers out”.

Our gamweeek endeth on Monday
Arsenal welcome Monk’s Swansea.
A win would help the push for second
All hopes on Alexis and Ramsey.

icon-evertonicon-sunderlandEverton vs Sunderland (Sat 9 May 12.45)
So Sunderland can score and can win! Albeit two penalties vs a Southampton side who have seemingly waved goodbye to this season. A trip to Goodison will be a completely different proposition for them, despite the Toffees being undone last week by the power of Benteke and the creative brilliance of Young Tom. Previously, Roberto Martinez’s men had won five out of six and were racing up the table and a return to that form will surely be expected in their early kick off vs the Black Cats. Unless, of course, Sunderland can follow the recent example of the likes of Leicester, Villa and West Brom and put a run together that lifts them away from the drop zone. Last week’s win over Southampton will hopefully, for them, give them the belief that they can do so, but away matches at Everton, Arsenal and Chelsea may well put paid to those plans. That run of fixtures makes every game a must win and they have good recent memories of this fixture as they won at Goodison last season, due to a penalty from Ki-Sung Yeung….the message is pretty clear – don’t give them penalties and you’ll probably beat Sunderland.

Martinez says his team will not take their foot off the pedal and are aiming for a top 10 finish. Luke Garbutt returns after recovering from tonsillitis, but Steven Pienaar, Bryan Oviedo and Tony Hibbert remain out, meaning aside from Garbutt it will be the same squad that lost at Villa last week.

Black Cats striker Steven Fletcher is fit to return to the squad after returning to training this week and proving his fitness, while defender John O’Shea has been ruled out with a rib injury. To compound that, Wes Brown is making good progress and will be given as much time as possible to prove his fitness. Midfielders Ricky Alvarez and Emanuele Giaccherini remain on the treatment table, while Jack Rodwell will face a late fitness test.

[divider_1px]

icon-aston-villaicon-west-hamAston Villa vs West Ham (Sat 9 May 15.00)
The Sherwood revolution gathers pace – last week’s deserved win over Everton lifted the Villains to 35pts, but with Leicester, West Brom and Sunderland all winning, no one is safe yet meaning the Gilet Genius will be gunning for another victory this weekend against a Hammers side who won their first match in six vs Burnley last weekend. Not convincing is it! Bear in mind, West Ham’s previous victory was also a 1-0 victory, this time home to Sunderland, suggests the Hammers really are there for the taking. Big Sam has at least got his side well drilled as one wopuld expect – they have only conceded five goals in their last six matches…but then Everton were on a similar streak until running into the Christian Benteke juggernaut. The Villa striker has now scored ten goals in his last eight league matches, is in the form of his life and will likely not be at Villa next season, but for now expect the machine to carry on delivering. Another Villa win would take them to 38pts and to the edge of safety.

Sherwood reveals that Gabby Agbonlahor is fit and available, but also said that no-one is an automatic choice (errrr Timmy, I’d prob call Benteke an automatic pick pal) and Gabby is not guaranteed of a start after missing last week’s win over Everton. The Gilet also said that Alan Hutton is pushing for a recall and Scott Sinclair is in his thoughts, while Nathan Baker, Ciaran Clark and LIbor Kozak all continue to miss out.

Big Sam is likely to have the same squad available to him as per the one that beat Burnley last weekend. James Tomkins, Guy Demel and Winston Reid are all making good progress but won’t quite make the weekend, while Diafra Sakho has begun running on the training ground. Andy Carroll continues his rehab after knee surgery.

[divider_1px]

icon-hullicon-burnleyHull vs Burnley (Sat 9 May 15.00)
If ever a game was a must-win for both clubs then this is it. Burnley will definitely be relegated if they don’t win, while Hull will be targeting this week for a victory after Monday’s loss to Arsenal halted their run of two successive wins which had lifted them clear of relegation. They go into the weekend just a point clear of Sunderland, who have a game in hand – but with the Tigers due to face Spurs and United in their final two games, Steve Bruce knows that a win here would not only provide the opportunity for his players to go another run but also give them the belief that they can escape the drop. We’re all writing Burnley off and yes, of course, they’ll likely go down but maybe just maybe they’ll get a stay of execution for a week as their record at Hull is very impressive – they’ve won the last four at Hull and also won the reverse fixture at home in November. Of course, the main issue they have is scoring – and the write up gets worse week by week – they’ve now failed to score in their last six matches and just netted one in nine games – they need to take a leaf out of Leicester’s book and throw caution to the wind – if they do they we may see an entertaining game on Saturday – if they don’t or can’t then Saturday tea time we may just be waving goodbye to Sean Dyche as his team.

Influential Hull midfielder Mo Diame has been ruled out for the rest of the season with the knee injury that has troubled him for much of the campaign. Striker Nikica Jelavic is fit again and Steve Bruce will need to decide whether to start him or not, while Jake Livermore faces a late fitness test on his injured ankle. David Meyler is expected to be ok but Robert Snodgrass remains missing.

Burnley may have to continue to cope without striker Sam Vokes, who has not trained this week as he is struggling to shake off a muscle injury. There was good news in the week though as Michael Duff successfully appealed his red card from last weekend and is now available to play at Hull. Long term absentees Dean Marney and Kevin Long remain out.

[divider_1px]

icon-leicestericon-southamptonLeicester vs Southampton (Sat 9 May 15.00)
Five wins out of six is title winning form. Or at least from a team you would expect to be challenging for a Champions League place. It’s not the form of a team staring relegation in the face. But that is what Leicester have done and fair play to them, we’d consigned them to the Championship and were beginning to forget about them, until that day at Spurs when they scored three but still lost. That game seemed to spark a resurgence, a belief and an attitude of “if we’re gonna go down, let’s have no regrets”. Well there may be a few regrets, maybe #ostrichgate, but if they can just see off the Saints this weekend, they’ll reach 37 points and would surely be just one win from guaranteed safety. What sort of Southampton team will turn up is anyone’s guess – the Saints have failed to win any of their last six on the road, losing five of them and were gunned down by Sunderland last weekend. No one gets gunned down by Sunderland lol. Well, Newcastle, but we’ll come to them next.

Foxes midielder Andy King is again ruled out with a hamstring injury but there is better news of striker David Nugent, who has recovered from his calf injury and comes back into contention. Fellow strikers Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa have also been passed fit.

Ronald Koeman says he will have the same squad as per last week minus James Ward-Prowse who is suspended after being sent off in the loss at Sunderland. Jay Rod and Emmanuel Mayuka both continue to train but are not ready for action yet, while Morgan Schneiderlin has a chance of featuring in the final two gameweeks. Fraser Forster and Dusan Tadic remain unavailable.

[divider_1px]

icon-newcastleicon-west-bromNewcastle vs West Brom (Sat 9 May 15.00)
You can just picture the scene of Lord Pardew quaffing his brandy in his sitting room, adorned in his smoking jacket and smiling at the league table and in particular the form of his old team, Newcastle. Eight losses in a row have seen the Magpies plummet to 15th place and precariously just two points clear of their nearest and not dearest, Sunderland, who currently occupy the final relegation spot. This weekend doesn’t appear to be any easier as the Baggies come to town on the back of two wins out of three, no goals conceded in that run and a famous win at Old Trafford last weekend. Funny ol’ game as Greavsie said – and we wish the great man all the very best as he battles away in hospital. It appears that John Carver is struggling to lift his troops out of the gloom that has spread around the club for a number of years now and is coming to a head – very quickly. Fixtures vs West Brom, QPR and West Ham may on paper suggest Toon should get out of trouble, but as we know form is key and momentum is great when it’s with you but is very hard to break when things are not going your way.

Just as we thought things couldn’t get any more entertaining at Newcastle, step up John Carver, who in his presser says, “I still think I’m the best coach in the Premier League”. You tell ’em Jonno. Move aside Jose, Arsene, Louis, Lord, yep even you Sherwood, there is a new king in town and he has eight losses in a row to back him up. Just imagine what the deluded wally will be like if he actually manages to win a game or two. Or maybe just avoid defeat. On the injury front, the league’s best coach is delighted to reveal that Papiss Cisse stepped up his training this week and could play an instrumental part in the final three weeks of the season. There is bad news of Siem de Jong however – the midfielder has been ruled out for the weekend with a thigh injury, but is hopeful he can resume training next week. Paul Dummett is waiting on results of a scan, but Rolando Aarons could make a comeback after he featured for the U21s in the week. Mike Williamson and Daryl Janmaat are both suspended.

Baggies boss Tony Pulis has done his usual and said he has “one or doubts” for the game but again refused to name who. We know that Ben Foster has been ruled out while James Morrison will need a late fitness test.

[divider_1px]

icon-stokeicon-spursStoke vs Spurs (Sat 9 May 15.00)
The least significant match of the weekend with both teams seemingly set for the end of the season, though Stoke manager Mark Hughes is still adamant that his side can break their Premier League best points tally of 50pts – so 3 more points required and I guess they’ll be keen to achieve that as soon as possible. Spurs are drifting now, winning just one of their last five – and that was against Newcastle, with Harry Kane just netting once in those five games, but they’re not a one man team. Honest. First Bale, then Kane. Hmmmm, the pattern is emerging. Stoke have lost their last two at home to Spurs but do have the consolation of winning at the Lane in November courtesy of goals from Init’s mate Jon Walters and everyone else’s mate Bojan Krkic. Yep, little to get excited about, told ya. Team news…..

Mark Hughes says he is likely to start Jack Butland again in goal as he seeks to give his reserve keeper as much playign time as possible in this time of nothingness. Marc Wilson is suspended after being sent off at Swansea, while Victor Moses and Bojan Krkic remain sidelined.

Spurs welcome back Mousa Dembele and Andros Townsend into the squad for the trip to Stoke – Dembele has recovered from a thigh problem, while Townsend has shrugged off a foot injury, which leaves full backs Ben Davies and Kyle Walker as the only players unavailable to Mauricio Pochettino.

[divider_1px]

icon-palaceicon-man-unitedCrystal Palace vs Man Utd (Sat 9 May 17.30)
Well this should be a thriller as both teams come into the game in shockingly identical form having lost their last three matches without finding the net once between them. But while the end of the season may have come for Palace, it hasn’t quite for United as they look to cement a Champions League spot and hold off the competition of their dearly beloved neighbours along the M62. The aforementioned know of course what a horrible place to play Selhurst Park can be under the lights and with a lively crowd baying for opposition blood. It just smacks of a Fellaini red card! We’ll see how LVG has coped with being the first United manager to lose three successive matches in the Premier League and their lacklustre display vs West Brom suggests they really miss Michael Carrick controlling things. The Eagles have never beaten United in the Premier League, their last league win coming in 1991, so they’ll have to shed that stigma if they are to stop their poor run. LVG, like Pardew will be demanding a reaction, but while fixture form clearly favours United, late season dreams are often extinguished on hostile, unfriendly nights in South London.

The Lord is delighted to announce that he has a fully fit squad to choose from as strikers Marouane Chamck and Fraizer Campbell have both built up their fitness sufficiently to put themselves up for selection. Mile Jedinak will be hoping for a recall as Pardew looks to get back to winning ways.

United midfielder Michael Carrick has been ruled out for the rest of the season after his calf injury revealed to be worse than first thought. Luke Shaw is likely to return after recovering from injury, while Marcos Rojo, Jonny Evans and James Wilson could make the bench. LVG says there is a virus sweeping through the club, affecting both a number of players and indeed himself.

[divider_1px]

icon-man-cityicon-qprMan City vs QPR (Sun 10 May 13.30)
Just when you need a win to try and keep alive your survival hopes, the fixture list devil pops up and presents you with a trip to the ex-Champions with Kun on a hot streak of form. So see ya Rangers, good luck looking for buyers for your overpaid has-beens in the summer. City meanwhile are staging a late fight for 2nd place and will be very confident of securing the three points on Sunday – Rangers have lost both and conceded three in their last two visits to the Etihad and we all know how crap they are on the road, which makes their win at West Brom even more surprising. But while the likes of Leicester, Hull and Villa have demonstrated fight, endeavour and a will to win, QPR have been lethargic, winning just one out of their last ten matches and their subsequent return to the Championship will be confirmed Sunday afternoon if they fail to win at the Etihad. City will be going all out for the win to keep up the pressure on Arsenal, who have a game in hand over City, so as much as it’s a must win for the Rangers it’s also a must win for the ex-Champions.

City will be without Samir Nasri who continues to struggle with a groin injury. However the Frenchman is the only absentee with Yaya Toure, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetic and captain Vincent Komnpany all fit and available.

Rangers manager Chris Ramsey says Steven Caulker, Clint Hill and Bobby Zamora are all doubts for Sunday, but is hopeful that Leroy Fer can start after impressing in the defeat at Anfield. Nedum Onuoha is suspended, a late decision will be made on Mauricio Isla and Rio Ferdinand is obviously not available.

[divider_1px]

icon-chelseaicon-liverpoolChelsea vs Liverpool (Sun 10 May 16.00)
The league has been secured with three games to go, leaving many questioning what Jose may do selection wise from here on in. Will Hazard get a rest? Will Luis play instead of Azpi? Zouma to get some gametime at the expense of Cahill or Terry. We’ll only find out one way or the other at 3pm on Sunday but you can bet your life The Special One won’t want to compromise an excellent home record, especially versus Liverpool. The scousers of course still harbour ambitions of catching United and nicking the fourth Champions League place so a win at the Bridge is almost a must for them, which is a pity as they have failed to win any of their last seven against the Blues, losing four of those. In all reality, Chelsea will likely keep a toothless Liverpool out and probably score one at the other end such has been the way of things for both clubs of late.

Mourinho denies media reports that he gave his players four days after winning the league and claims he is focused on winning their final three games and finish above 90pts. Ramires and Oscar will miss out while Diego Costa wants to play but Jose is reluctant to risk him at this stage of the season with nothing riding on the game for the Blues.

Liverpool will continue to be without Daniel Sturridge who has now been ruled out until September at the earliest after going undergoing surgery on his hip. Defender Mamadou Sakho remains out but Mario Balotelli has rejoined training and could feature.

[divider_1px]

icon-arsenalicon-swanseaArsenal vs Swansea (Mon 11 May 20.00)
More Monday night fun, again involving the Goonies but this time at the Emirates as they host the Swans. Another three points for the Arsenal you are thinking and of course current form would certainly agree with you as Wenger’s men have won nine of their last ten and are unbeaten at home since United went there and won in November, while Swansea are anything but consistent on the road, mixing magnificent wins with embarrassing losses. Garry Monk’s men have a surprisingly ok Premier League record at the Arsenal, having won one, drawn one and lost one in their short PL existence and with Monk in charge you are certain that he will have his boys well prepared and ready to face one of the best teams in North London. Much will of course depend on the creative genius of Alexis Sanchez, the drive and purpose of Aaron Ramsey and the sullenness of Olivier Giroud who has gone three matches without scoring.

Will he? Won’t he? We’re not really any of the wiser on whether Aaron Ramsey will feature vs the Swans on Monday – Wenger describes his chances as 50/50, but also reveals that the midfielder hasn’t trained since Monday’s win at Hull. The unofficial word on the street is that Ramsey will not be risked unless absolutely necessary, which seems unlikely with Jack Wilshire returning – until he gets injured. Mathieu Debuchy, Alex Oxlad- Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta and Danny Welbeck have all been ruled out of Monday but all are making good progress.

Bafetimbi Gomis seems set to start at the Emirates after speculation that Nelson Olivieira has been ruled out after damaging his ankle ligaments. Swansea defender Jordi Amat has been ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking a metatarsal. With Kyle Naughton also ruled out for the season, the Swans have recalled Dwight Tiendalli and Jazz Richards from their loan spells.

[divider_1px]

Suspension Report for GW36

Those players suspended for GW36 are as follows:

Daryl Janmaat (Newcastle)
Mike Williamson (Newcastle)
Nedum Onuoha (QPR)
James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Marc Wilson (Stoke)

Thanks for reading Team Talk Fantasy Football Gameweek 36. This article was written by Cookie


[divider_1px]

WooFBet

We would like to remind you that our official partners, WooFBet, are again running a whole host of prize competitions for GW36, which will please many of you who are slowly building a lovely retirement nest egg, while others continue to persevere in the hope that this week will be their week! If you haven’t done so yet we recommend you get yourselves over to WooFBet.com as this week they have over €300 in free entry prizes and a whopping €1,850 in guaranteed pots. You also have the option to create your own tournaments and head-to-head challenges. Choose your rules and buy-in fee, and invite friends or leave it open for the public to challenge you.

[divider_1px]

Please remember to vote in this week’s Captain Poll

[polldaddy poll=8519170]

Share This Post

205 Comments

  1. 49
    DavidBarrett1994 says:

    Ozil or Cazorla? Can’t afford sanch and Ramsey a doubt so unsure about him

  2. 50
    ChrisOllie25 says:

    Benteke or Sanchez for captain?

  3. 51
    med86ff says:

    Good morning all! Thanks for a very helpful article Cookie smile

  4. 52
    Magpies says:

    Good morning,

    anyone thinking that Murray will play 90 minutes or start at least?

    Quite don´t know who to start, murray or henderson.

Leave a Reply

Go to Latest CommentsView Now