Around the Grounds FPL Team News Game-week 2

Around the Grounds FPL Team News Game-week 2

Welcome to Around the Grounds FPL Team News Game-week 2. And if GW1 left you feeling a little flat or underwhelmed then it is time my friends to strike back on the casual FPL managers who may not be aware that we have an early deadline this week. So be aware and be ready – the deadline is Friday, yes Friday, as in today at 7.00pm UK time. What a shock the unsuspecting casual will have as they wake up tomorrow morning to find their team already locked in for the week! It’s Man Utd vs Southampton which provides the Friday fun as Zlatan and Jose make their home league debuts for United. Seven matches follow on Saturday, before our week is wrapped up on Sunday with the final two matches. So however your GW1 ended up, let’s go Around the Grounds to see if the managers can give us any hints on team news for the weekend.

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Man Utd vs Southampton (Fri 19 Aug 20.00)
One game, one win, one goal for Zlatan – Jose’s masterplan is on course. For now. It’s Old Trafford this week for the Reds as the Saints come marching in – Claude Puel’s men limped to an opening day 1-1 draw at home to Watford, not the start they were looking for and therefore putting more pressure on them to get a result this evening. For United, confidence will be high after they negotiated what could of been a tricky trip to Bournemouth, with ease. However, we shouldn’t write off the Saints so easily, they have won on their last two trips to Old Trafford by a single goal.

Mourinho says that Paul Pogba will be able to “play some minutes” this evening despite his lack of preseason – whether he starts or not remains doubtful, though the manager said his new midfielder is in better shape than some of those players that played vs Leicester in the Community Shield. Chris Smalling is available again after suspension, while Jesse Lingard has recovered from injury.

Puel has confirmed that Ryan Bertrand will again be missing for the Saints as he is struggling to shake off a knee injury. Fellow defender Jose Fonte, who has been heavily linked with a move to United has a “good chance” to play against his potential future employers. New signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg may be given his first league start after replacing the ineffective James Ward-Prowse last weekend.

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Stoke vs Man City (Sat 20 Aug 12.30)
If you thought that LVG’s tactics were bizarre, then try and get your head around Pep’s elaborate system. What Pep doesn’t understand is that he has to try and convey his philosophy into the heads of such inspired masterminds as Raheem Sterling. His greatest challenge yet, me thinks. If the midweek win Champions League win is anything to go by then it would appear that Sterling and co are beginning to understand. The trip to Stoke is likely to show Pep that the English league may just be a tad more competitive than in Germany – the Potters will fight and scrap and foul and skirmish for every ball and Pep vs Mark Hughes on the touchline may be as entertaining as the battle on the field. An Arnautovic brace was enough to give Stoke a 2-0 victory over City in the corresponding fixture last season.

Mark Hughes says that keeper Jack Butland has responded well to treatment and will not be out for weeks and months – rather a matter of days and although he won’t play this weekend, he has a good chance of playing in GW3 – Shay Given will again deputise on Saturday. Xherdan Shaqiri has a calf injury and will have to be checked agter training today, Glen Johnson remains out but will resume training on Monday and is on the road back, while Stephen Ireland and Ibrahim Afellay remain long term absentees.

Joe Hart’s days at City look numbered, leaving Willy Caballero to start between the sticks until Pep buys someone else – that someone else is of course believed to be Claudio Bravo from Barca. Leroy Sane remains not quite ready, he should be good in a couple of weeks, while Bacary Sagna has what Pep describes as “a little problem but not too big.” Guess that means Pablo Zabaleta starts on the right. Amazingly Vincent Kompany is back in training but won’t be considered quite yet and Ilkay Gundogan should be available after the international break. Yaya Toure seems like he may be on the same boat out as Hart, with Pep saying of the midfielder, “when he increases his intensity without the ball he will be involved.”

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Burnley vs Liverpool (Sat 20 Aug 15.00)
It looks like one thing we’ll be guaranteed this season with Liverpool is entertainment at both ends of the field. Four goals against Arsenal confirmed thoughts that the Liverpool midfield would be worth investing in, while the comedy defending at the back will give much encouragement to the many impatient and disgruntled managers who selected Burnley’s Andre Gray. Jurgen Klopp will presumably have spent much of the week trying to coach some basic defensive skills, which is a shame as it’s part of our weekly fun getting to watch Mignolet and Moreno perform like Laurel and Hardy.

Sean Dyche says that new signing Steven Defour is available and in contention for a debut from the start. However striker Ashley Barnes continues to miss out with a hamstring injury, while loanee Jon Flanagan is ineligible to play vs his parent club.

Klopp has not yet ruled out Sadio Mane of the weekend trip to Burnley. Liverpool’s latest signing from Southampton suffered a shoulder injury during training on Wednesday, but scans revealed nothing serious. If Mane is not quite ready, Daniel Sturridge could come in after he and James Milner returned to training. Milner may be preferred to the much maligned, but very entertaining Alberto Moreno at left back. Klopp has apparently spoken to Moreno about “how he can defend better” after the horror show at Arsenal. Make up your own jokes to that. Lucas was due to return to training on Thursday, while Mamadou Sakho is close to a return but probably won’t be available until after the international break.

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Spurs vs Crystal Palace (Sat 20 Aug 15.00)
Poor old Spurs – with their collapse at the back end of last season still fresh in their minds, they had to watch their hero striker blast free kicks and corners to all angles of the stands in the Euros, the aforementioned striker then mentions he is not yet 100% match fit, their keeper pulls a hammy in GW1 as they just about rescue a point up at Everton. So, luckily for them they get to play Palace this weekend – a Palace team that has only won two league matches since mid-December last year and were beaten at home by West Brom last weekend. The Lord will be tearing his beautifully manicured white rug from off his head if this continues. Spurs did the double over Palace last season and they will expect to get their season kick started on Saturday, while Palace new-boy Andros Townsend will want to show Spurs what they are missing.

With Hugo Lloris hamstrung, Michel Vorm will deputise for Spurs between the sticks – since his move from Swansea, Vorm has only made six league appearances but maintains he is not fazed to step in. Mousa Dembele remains out due to his suspension but Heung-Min Son has returned from the Olympics and will be assessed before the game to see if he can feature.

Joe Ledley and Wayne Hennessey are both suffering with injury and will need to be assessed. Palace were boosted in the week by Yohan Cabaye, Joe Ledley, James Tomkins and Steve Mandanda all playing for the U23s and as a result all will be available if the Lord decides to change personnel -James McArthur could alos return. Meanwhile Jonny Williams has been ruled out until September after struggling to recover from an ankle injury picked up in preseason, while fellow midfielder James McArthur is expected to be out until after the international break. Mile Jedinak has had enough of listening to Pardew and things got so bad he accepted an offer from Aston Villa. A deal for Christian Benteke is set to be finalised with a medical due to take place and personal terms discussed.

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Swansea vs Hull (Sat 20 Aug 15.00)
Two of the preseason favourites to be relegated reacted to the lack of confidence in them by producing two wins on the opening day. Maybe Swansea’s win at Burnley wasn’t too much of a shock, though after losing Andre Ayew and with Siggy not 100% match fit, all the talk was of Andre Gray. Ooooops. Hull entertained Leicester the Champions with some weirdos even going as far as captaining Jamie Vardy – well that didn’t work out as expected as managerless, playerless, hopeless Hull defied the odds and pulled off a momentous victory. The Swans are unbeaten in their last five matches at the Liberty and did the double over Hull the season before last, with Sung-yueng Ki scoring in both victories.

Swans boss Francesco Guidolin says that Gylfi Sigurdsson and Sung-yueng Ki will both be involved, but defender Neil Taylor is likely to miss out again as he builds up his fitness. Leon Britton is struggling with illness and is a big doubt while new signing, striker Borja Baston has picked up a minor leg injury and has been ruled out.

Mike Phelan remains in caretaker charge of Hull and says the squad will be the same as per last week’s surprise win. Harry Maguire has returned to training but is unlikely to feature this weekend and will more likely be available for GW3. Allan McGregor, Michael Dawson, Moses Odubajo and Alex Bruce all remain sidelined.

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Watford vs Chelsea (Sat 20 Aug 15.00)
A new Chelsea – new manager, new system, new signings coupled with new rules on dissent meant nothing at the Bridge on Monday for the ageless Diego Costa. Booked early for yep, dissent, the snarling striker was fortunate to stay on the field following a late lunge on Adrian, two minutes after escaping a second yellow card for diving. Of course the irony was that the lovable rogue went on to score the winner and give Antonio Conte a league victory at his first attempt as Blues boss. A trip to Watford awaits tomorrow – last week’s draw at Southampton suggests that the Hornets may be able to continue last season’s form. Both matches between the two ended in draws last term but the Hornets haven’t beaten Chelsea in ten meetings.

The Hornets will be without suspended Ben Watson who managed to get himself sent off after coming off the bench at Southampton. Last week’s performance was impressive and may lead to manager Walter Mazzarri naming an unchanged starting XI. Isaac Success is a doubt while Brice Dja Djedje won’t feature.

Conte says there are no fresh injuries for the Blues, therefore it’s fair to expect a similar starting XI to that which beat the Hammers. Kurt Zouma remains injured and Jon Obi Mikel is at the Olympics. The boss is expecting a tough match and is looking for his players to show the same intensity and desire as they did on Monday.

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West Brom vs Everton (Sat 20 Aug 15.00)
A surprise win at old hunting ground Selhurst Park left Baggies boss Tony Pulis beaming last weekend and he’ll be relishing this week’s challenge of taking on a Koeman-led Everton outfit who have just felt the need to splash out £25mln on Yannick Bolasie, who has the impressive record of scoring nine goals in three seasons. Strange purchase. Strange in that with an abject record like this, one would assume it would be Pulis buying Yannick rather than Koeman. Confusing. The Toffees were missing key personnel in their opening day draw with Spurs and should be able to call on some of these players as they aim for a third straight victory at the Hawthorns with ex-Baggie Romelu Lukaku scoring three goals in his last two matches at his old home.

The Baggies have no new injuries but will continue to be without Chris Brunt and James Morrison is only fit enough for a place on the bench, with Pulis keen to build up his match time. The rest of the presser was about potential transfers both in and out with Pulis hopeful that Jonny Evans and Saido Berahino will stay.

Koeman says that Yannick Bolasie will definitely be part of the squad, but hasn’t yet decided if he will start or not – the Dutchman describes his new signing as “one of the best wingers in the league.” Hmmmm, ok Ronnie. Fellow new purchase Ashley Williams may also be in the squad, with Koeman saying, “Ashley is close to being part of the team” – his fitness with be assessed after training before a definite decision is made. Seamus Coleman and Matthew Pennington remain out but Romelu Lukaku should be ok to feature after successfully returning to training.

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Leicester vs Arsenal (Sat 20 Aug 17.30)
Opening day defeats were met by amused laughter around the country. If the Champions losing at Hull wasn’t entertaining enough then we had the privilege of watching Arsenal being taken apart by Liverpool in front of their own devoted and loyal supporters. Worrying times for Monsieur Wenger who’s reaction to the defeat was to say that “the players were not physically ready” for GW1, this coming seven days after declaring, “physically we look ready.” You see Gooners, you are quick to ridicule and criticise me for taking the p*** out of your team, but most of the time they really do write their own script. One crumb of comfort for the Gooners is that they completed the double over the Foxes last season with Alexis scoring a hat-trick in the 5-2 win at Leicester, who have failed to win any of their previous 19 Premier League meetings with Arsenal.

Laughing Claudio says there are no injuries in the camp and of course they welcome back defender Robert Huth from suspension. There is also positive news of Jeffrey Schlupp with Ranieri saying the defender has told him he would like to stay at the home of the Champions and compete in the Champions League rather than join West Bromich Albion – now, when you put it like that……The Italian is delighted that Riyad Mahrez has signed his new contract and hopes the creative midfielder can now “be a little more free and not anxious.”

Wenger says of Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny: “Maybe I will take a gamble on bringing them back early. If I have to take a gamble on anyone it’s certainly Koscielny.” There you go then, Kos to start with Giroud and Ozil on the bench maybe, is my translation of that. Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out for a couple of weeks but both he and Alex Iwobi should return after the international break. Gabriel, Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck all remain out.

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Sunderland vs Middlesbrough (Sun 21 Aug 13.30)
This week’s Bore-off classic takes place at the Stadium of Light and is unlikely to produce record viewing figures for Rupert Murdoch’s empire, unless you are an owner of Alvaro Negredo. For most of us then it’ll be an enjoyable lunchtime of roast lamb, maybe a joint of beef or for the lucky ones a bar-b-q on the terrace. I digress, but quite deliberately as there really is little interest in this one, between two teams who haven’t faced each other in the Premier League since 2009. Sunderland battled to a tight defeat at Man City last week, while Boro were close, but no cigar, to beating Stoke. See, it’s dull. Good luck if you have players playing.

There could be problems at the back for Moyesie – Younes Kaboul has asked to leave and is apparently set for a move to Watford, while fellow defender Lamine Kone, who has also been linked with a move away, will miss out on Sunday due to a back injury. How convenient. Don’t laugh – you’d have a bad back if you had to carry Kaboul, John O’Shea and Wes Brown and then just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, Moyesie turns up. In fact the story is this – Moyes said that Kone refused a new deal and arrived Friday morning with a bad back. Hahaha. New signing Papy Djilobodji will be in the team on Sunday, presumably partnering O’Shea or even Paddy McNair. Seb Larsson remains out, Lee Cattermole could face a six week lay off and Kirchoff is a doubt. Steven Pienaar has signed for the Black Cats.

Boro boss Aitor Karanka is looking forward to his first derby, but says it is just another game for his team. The only definite absentees are Grant Leadbitter and Marten de Roon with the manager saying that Negredo’s goal last week helped to recover his confidence. De Roon should be ready to return after the international break – just if you are interested. Nope – didn’t think so. Daniel Ayala is available, but unlikely to start.

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West Ham vs Bournemouth (Sun 21 Aug 16.00)
The end of our gameweek sees the Hammers’ Premier League house warming party at the Olympic Stadium, which is now known as the London Stadium apparently. We’ll leave the logic of that to another day. For now, let’s concentrate on the game as both sides will want to recover from defeats in GW1 – the Cherries were dispatched easily enough by Man Utd, while West Ham were second best at Chelsea but were only undone by a late winner from Benjamin Button himself. Let’s hope for a repeat of last season’s two meetings which produced eleven goals, a hatty for Callum Wilson and a brace for Enner Valencia.

Slaven Bilic is ready not as keen as us on a goal frenzy and expects a tighter battle this time. Spoilsport. The Hammers have had a busy week, playing Chelsea on Monday and then travelling to Romania for a Europa tie on Thursday, but the manager doesn’t see it as a problem for his players so early in the season. Poor old West Ham went and broke their transfer record to buy Andre Ayew only to see the attacking midfielder limp off after 30mins at Chelsea. Ayew has been ruled out for around four months, which means if the timescale is accurate he should return just in time……for the African Cup of Nations! That won’t please Bilic. Aaron Cresswell and Manuel Lanzini remain out, while there were rumours of a training ground bust up involving Michail Antonio and an injury to Cheikhou Kouyate – neither incident has been confirmed by the club, nor did Bilic refer to a minor knock for Dimitri Payet.

Eddie Howe reports no new injuries in the Bournemouth camp. Tyrone Mings and Junior Stanislas remain sidelined, but Howe is pleased that Marc Wilson has joined the club and expects the ex-Stoke defender to add experience and leadership qualities.

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Thanks for reading Around the Grounds FPL Team News Game-week 2. This article was written by Cookie

Follow @SteveCook9

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