Team Talk Fantasy Football Game-week 11

Team Talk Fantasy Football GW11

Welcome to GW11 and while it’s always exciting to dream about what our new game-week will bring, it’s also with a sense of sadness with which this article is brought to you. For we have lost a dear friend. A fun character, always entertaining, one who provided laughs and joy and brought fun to our lives. “They were singing my name three weeks ago and they’ll be singing it again in three weeks time.” Oooops, some things you should keep to yourself Tim Sherwood, my friend. Let’s hope he’s back soon for the league is a lot poorer without his stupidity, his idiotic comments and his arrogance. And I have lost a victim. That’s three now this season, along with Dick Advocaat and Brenda. I am winning this war. Now for Pardew!!!
GW11 starts for us down at Chelsea – will it be a Bridge too far for under pressure Jose and could my mate Kloppy secure his first win? We shall see Saturday lunchtime. We are then treated to no fewer than six 3pm kick offs and a potential FPL points surge as United visit the aforementioned Lord, City host Norwich, Newcastle look to bounce back from derby day embarrassment as they welcome Stoke, Arsenal travel to Swansea, Watford do battle with West Ham and we have a Midlands derby (ish) as Leicester go to West Bromwich. There is no Saturday evening game, so take the opportunity of some brownie points as we ain’t finished yet. Sunday sees a lunchtime sit down for Big Sam at Goodison and then later on a South coast derby as Southamptom entertain Bournemouth – and they probably will. And we still ain’t finished!! We have a Monday night special as Harry Kane hopes to continue his one week form as a Sherwood-less Villa come to North London.
It’s been a hectic week of Capital One Cup bore offs with some players using the Cup as an opportunity to use their suspensions – who says footballers are thick? Let’s Go Around the Grounds to catch up on the latest team news.

Chelsea vs Liverpool (Sat 31st October 12.45)
It’s the Special One versus the self proclaimed Normal One – or as Jurgen Klopp is now known, the One-One. It was three draws out of three for Kloppy – an unbeaten start for some is viewed as a winless opening for others. They did of course manage to scrape past Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, something Chelsea failed to do at Stoke. For Jose, what can we say? Chelsea’s only win in the last four was against Villa and with rumours of dressing room discontent, discipline out of control on and off the pitch and lying 15th in the league, below Watford, how much time has Mourinho got left under the impatient and trigger happy Abramovich. You wouldn’t want to displease Roman, certainly not twice – these Russians have a habit of getting rid of their undesirables without a second thought. Allegedly. Best move on, before I feel that umbrella in my leg or get invited to write TeamTalk from a Siberian military “camp”. Best be nice to Chelsea. Ok. Ummmmm….right. They are unbeaten vs the Scousers in their last eight meetings and Liverpool haven’t won on the road since they turned over Stoke in GW1. But this is Klopp’s Liverpool and not Brenda’s and although he has yet to experience a victory as Liverpool boss, he has been impressed by the progress shown since his arrival. Get that Brenda. However, Jurgen, my pal, you will soon learn the phrase, “you can’t polish a turd”.

Jose was full of joy as usual and stated that Branislav Ivanovic and Thibaut Courtois remain out. Diego Costa and Pedro will need to be assessed ahead of the game, with Jose saying “We wait, Costa is 70%, but its difficult to find his percent”. Hold up, you just said 70% mate. That’s a %age. Poor chap is having a breakdown. When asked about Eden Hazard, Mourinho said “He played a positive game midweek, I am pleased with his performance. He played for two hours”. Everyone else is fit as Mourinho tries to change a run that has seen him beat Klopp just once in four previous meetings.

Klopp has declared that Christian Benteke is fit for the trip to Chelsea, but will have to be without Daniel Sturridge, who is still not in full time training. James Milner is available after serving his suspension on Wednesday night, but Jordan Henderson, Joe Gomez, Danny Ings and Jon Flanagan remain sidelined.

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Crystal Palace vs Man Utd (Sat 31st October 15.00)
Fourth placed United take the tough trip down to South London for an audience with Lord Pardew. What a treat for LVG. Both teams suffered Capital One Cup heartache on Wednesday night – United failing to score vs Championship Boro, while Palace were thrashed 5-1 at City. Since the Lord’s banging on about his outstanding performance, Palace have lost their last two and have only held onto a top seven place by the recent ineptitude of Liverpool and Southampton. United were solid but unspectacular vs City last weekend and will likely face a sterner test on Saturday – the last time United visited the capital they were bamboozled by Arsenal. The last time Palace played at home, they were bamboozled by the Hammers. United have won the last four vs the Eagles, including two wins at Selhurst Park and if the likes of Chris Smalling and Jonesy can continue to keep things tight then will fancy their chances of breaching a Palace defence that has only kept once clean sheet at home all season.

The Lord says that Yohan Cabaye remains a doubt as are defenders Pape Souare and Joel Ward. Souare and Cabaye are, in Pardew’s words “less likely that they’ll play, than more likely”. Strikers Maroune Chamakh and Connor Wickham have both been ruled out but Dwight Gayle returns from suspension and Jason Puncheon has been passed fit.

LVG says that James Wilson and Memphis Depay picked up injuries in the midweek penalty loss to Boro – they will be given every chance to make the squad, but let’s face it, he refuses to select Wilson for league matches and Depay is too busy clubbing so neither are a huge concern for FPL managers. What will be of interest to many is that Antonio Valencia remains out so Matteo Darmian will play on the right at the back, while Paddy McNair is still missing. Presumably out with Depay somewhere. With any luck they’ll take Wayne Rooney with them and let Anthony Martial play up top. But LVG knows best.

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Man City vs Norwich (Sat 31st October 15.00)
Oh dear, this could get messy. Norwich travel up to City on the back of three losses on the bounce and hurtling towards Villa territory. The last time they left Carrow Road they conceded six to Newcastle. Gulp. The last time they left Carrow Road to visit City, they conceded seven. They will at least thank their lucky Canary God that Sergio Aguero will be sitting in the stands. City were defensively sound, if offensively shy last week in the derby – so the return of Vincent Kompany is a return to solidity then. Expect the goals to return – before the United bore draw they had scored 5, 6 & 4 in the previous three and it’s likely to again be a case of “how many” on Saturday.

City will again be without David Silva as he is still suffering with pain in his ankle, while the news of Pablo Zabaleta is not as bad as first feared with Manuel Pellegrini saying the defender should be back after the international break. Fabian Delph and Gael Clichy could be back next week – rotation time for Aleksandar Kolarov? Raheem Sterling was not mentioned, implying that our young tired friend is ok after being rested in midweek with a tight hamstring.

It’s secret squirrel time at Norwich as manager Alex Neil says Andre Wisdom is doubtful with a knee injury, Dieumerci Mbokani is suffering with an illness, plus one other player, “I can’t say who” is a worry for the game. Ohhh guessing games, I like it – Russell Martin at the heart of the defence maybe? Or maybe 4-goal Nathan Redmond? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see. If you care. Which is unlikely.

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Newcastle vs Stoke (Sat 31st October 15.00)
Well, that didn’t last long did it!! There we were, all wondering how to get a Toon or two in our team after their win over Norwich and then they go and ruin the party at Sunderland. At Sunderland, FFS!! Brilliant. How are all those Wijnaldum disciples feeling? Maybe a return back to St James Park will reinvigorate the Geordies – and this week it’s Stoke in town – yes, Stoke. Who lost at home to Watford last week, after three successive wins. Hahaha – what a comedy season this is. So who knows what the hell will happen? What we do know is that Stoke haven’t won up there in four visits, losing three of those matches, but in all honesty, a Toon win, lose or draw wouldn’t surprise and the same goes for Stoke.

Newcastle have been hit by the news that midfielder Jack Colback has been ruled out for around 6 weeks with a knee injury, though it was feared he could have been out for longer. The more positive news is that Fabricio Coloccini has had his red card and suspension overturned by the FA and is available. Still out are Tim Krul, Steven Taylor, Gabriel Obertan and Emmanuel Riviere.

It’s a bit of a mixed bag for Stoke – Marc Muniesa has been ruled out for at least 3-4 weeks with a hamstring injury and Geoff Cameron will also miss this weekend. Glen Johnson has a chance of making the trip to Newcastle – he’ll be assessed late on. However Ryan Shawcross came through Tuesday’s win over Chelsea ok and Bojan Krkic comes back into the squad after being given a rest. Mame Diouf is sore and stiff while Jon Walters has a dead leg – like Johnson, they will be assessed nearer to the game.

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Swansea vs Arsenal (Sat 31st October 15.00)
“Arsenal top of the league, Arsenal, Arsenal top of the league”. Yep it’s the annual autumnal chant resonating around North London as the Gonners sit on top of the pile, following last week’s victory over Everton, their fourth league win on the bounce. They are of course not strictly top, but joint top. Or second on goal difference. But this is Arsenal everyone – don’t let the truth get in the way of their fairytale. A trip to South Wales is unlikely to hold many fears for Arsene and his high-flying heroes – the Swans have failed to win at home in three matches and last week’s “nail in the coffin for Sherwood” win at Villa was their first since beating United in GW4. Swansea have actually won the last two against Arsenal, including this fixture last season – however Bafetimbi Gomis scored two of the three Swans’ goals vs the Gooners last season and we all know how reliable he is. Well, the site team does anyway!

Swansea have a fully fit squad after being able to welcome back the fit again Wayne Routledge – the winger, who has not featured since GW5 has recovered from a calf strain and has trained all week.

Arsene Wenger has ruled both Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out until after the international break at least. Either Joel Campbell or Alex Iwobi will fill in on the right with Wenger not wanting to move Santi Cazorla from the middle. Chamberlain is expected back before Theo. Wenger says his team will need a strong defensive showing at Swansea, which presumably means Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal and Gabriel come in after the embarrassing midweek display at Wednesday of Mertesacker, Gibbs & Debuchy. Expect Olivier Giroud to now get a run in the side as first choice striker with Walcott out. Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, David Ospina, Danny Welbeck and Mikel Arteta welcome Walcott and the Ox into Arsenal’s extended medical facility. Well, they may as well use the trophy room for something.

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Watford vs West Ham (Sat 31st October 15.00)
Slaven Bilic takes his high-flying Hammers to Watford this weekend in search of their third win on the bounce and hoping to further secure their top four place. Last week’s fiery, controversial and amusing victory over Chelsea completed an amazing set of ten opening fixtures which has also seen them win at Arsenal, Liverpool and City and fail to beat Bournemouth, Sunderland and Norwich. Meanwhile, Watford are doing ok – 13 points from their opening ten games is a solid return for a team that many were predicting for relegation at the start of the season – they are proving more solid than expected, nick the odd win and as last week’s win at Stoke shows, they are more than capabale of winning games they are not expected to. A good recipe for survival if they continue at their current run rate, though they will need to be at their defensive best if they are to keep Dimitri Payet quiet – the French midfielder is the highest scoring FPL player so far this term with 71pts and he has either scored or assisted in his last six league games. Whether Watford can stifle Payet will likely depend on whether its Hammertime again or if the Hornets will be buzzing up to half way in the table.

Watford will give a late fitness test to Jose Jurado, who has missed the last month with a knee injury. Valon Behrami and Victor Ibarbo will both be available, but defenders Tommy Hoban and Joel Ekstrand remain sidelined.

Slaven Bilic is expecting a tough match at Watford, who he describes as “well organised” – however the Hammers should have an almost entirely fit squad, despite the manager saying some of his squad missed training on Thursday due to small knocks or fatigue. Winston Reid has returned to training and it’s likely that Alex Song is the only definite absentee as he is expected to rejoin first team training on Sunday. Joey O’Brien continued his recovery by coming through an U21s game on Monday unscathed.

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West Brom vs Leicester (Sat 31st October 15.00)
Well, wouldn’t you know it, Leicester kept a clean sheet last week – just as many of us had decided enough was enough and either sold or benched our token Foxy defender or keeper. Wonderful, just wonderful. This week our intrepid set of attackers travel from East Midlands to West to lock horns, or whatever Foxes do, with the Baggies. Talking of clean sheets immediately brings thoughts of Tony Pulis, a dull team and a cheap defensive option. Or West Brom, as they are otherwise known. The Baggies have already kept six clean sheets in ten matches this season, so surely we all have a Baggie defender or keeper in our squad. Errrr, let’s move on swiftly. So should we expect a tight game or goals galore? Well, these two have only met twice in the Premier League – and that was last season, when Leicester won 3-2, during their Pearson-led escape from the drop. And yes, Jamie Vardy scored. Of course Vardy scored, he always scores. It’s ten in ten this season for our Brad Pitt look-a-like and despite two clean sheets in a row for Albion, would you honestly bet against the league’s in-form striker to net again this week?

Tony Pulis is his usual helpful self – “We still have one or two knocks and won’t know who is going to be fit until Saturday morning.” Thanks for your help, Tone. I will waste no further energy or time on your pathetic presser, except to say that James Morrison is clearly one of those doubts, while Ben Foster remains out.

Finally the pizzas were delivered to Leicester this week, courtesy of Claudio Ranieri following the clean sheet last weekend. On the injury front, there is not much to report – striker Leo Ulloa should be available to return to the squad who will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday’s Capital One Cup exit to Hull.

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Everton vs Sunderland (Sun 1 Nov 13.30)
This is the start of it, we are told – the run of great fixtures for the Toffees that, if we get onboard, will propel us up the rankings. It’s Sunderland at home, what could go wrong? Don’t ask the Toon that question. With Big Sam on board they have lost narrowly at West Brom and then won their derby 3-0. With Younes Kaboul at the heart of it! So is this the early start of the Black Cats great escape or a honeymoon period for Sam? Honeymoon period? The bloke has had more honeymoons than Elizabeth Taylor. The Toffees had negoatiated a toughish opening set of fixtures before losing their last two to United and Arsenal and do have a history of inconsistency, but surely there are FPL points available on offer here? Well, hold that thought just a moment – they have lost the last two times Sunderland have come to Goodison, so maybe, just maybe that honeymoon may just be extended for a week longer?

Everton defender Seamus Coleman is a big doubt for Sunday as he has been suffering with a bad stomach bug which has resulted in him losing a load of weight. I could do with one of those. Roberto Martinez spent much of his presser defending Tim Howard’s recent performances and denying speculation linking Romelu Lukaku with a move away from the club. Leighton Baines and Mo Besic both trained with the first team squad today, but are unlikely to be thrown in at the deep end vs Sunderland. Haha – deep end vs Sunderland?? More like a paddling pool, play ‘em both Roberto. Phil Jagielka is out until the New Year after picking up a knee injury at Arsenal, so Ramiro Funes Mori will partner John Stones at the back.

Big Sam says his medical team are working around the clock in assessing injuries to defenders John O’Shea and Younes Kaboul – O’Shea limped off in the 1st half vs Newcastle with a hamstring injury, while Kaboul picked up a groin problem late in the game. Ola Toivonen was also forced off with a recurring groin injury, but there is better news of Fabio Borini who is expected to return to training today. Big Sam says, “Our job is to make Roberto as miserable as we did last season” – haha get in there Big Sam. Sunderland won 2-0 at Goodison last season, fyi.

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Southampton vs Bournemouth (Sun 1 Nov 16.00)
Oh dear, things are already looking bleak for Bournemouth, though in fairness losing at home to Villa in GW1 should of told us everything we needed to know. Since then they have been ravaged by injuries to key players and they have conceded ten goals in the last two game-weeks. OK, one of those was at City, but at home to Spurs? Well, much of the blame for last week’s horror show was quite rightly pointed at keeper Artur Boruc, who used to perform tricks between the sticks at this week’s opponents. He’ll look to redeem himself against his old employers this week, if selected, of course – which isn’t guaranteed. Still, it’s been a while since we enjoyed a south coast derby so we may as well enjoy it – and load up on those Saints. Two draws in succession have stunted their rise, so it’s viagra all round for Ronald Koeman’s boys as they attempt to resurrect their performance. These two have never met in the Premier League of course and in the few times they have met in the lower leagues or cups, Bournemouth have never won at Southampton. On current form, that’s unlikely to change on Saturday.

Saints go into the derby without Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez as well as long term absentee Fraser Forster. Ronald Koeman is expecting to field the same team that drew at Liverpool with Sadio Mane available after serving his suspension in the midweek Capital One Cup victory.

The Cherries put up an improved display at Liverpool in the week, only conceding once, but will expect a tougher test on Sunday vs the likes of Pelle and Mane. Keeper Artur Boruc is still suffering a minor thigh problem, so Adam Federici may continue in goal. Still beset by injuries, with Tommy Elphick, Tyrone Mings, Max Gradel and Callum Wilson missing, manager Eddie Howe did receive some encouragement with the return of Harry Arter at Anfield. That’s about as good as it gets for Bournemouth at the moment.

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Spurs vs Aston Villa (Mon 2 Nov 20.00)
Such a shame, poor old Tim would of loved to have brought his Villa team to the Lane to show Daniel Levy what a great job he was doing in the Midlands and what Spurs were missing out on. Timing is everything, as they say – the gilet is locked in the wardrobe, hopefully with it’s owner and life can get back to some sort of normality without the numpty banging on about how great he is. Or was. And undoubtedly will be again. According to him. This Monday evening special will have Harry Kane owners licking their lips at what may be vs a Villa side who are rank bottom of the league, haven’t kept a clean sheet since their win at Bournemouth in GW1 and have only taken a single point from a possible 27 since that fun day at the seaside in the summer. Spurs of course had their own fun at Bournemouth last weekend with Kane the main recipient of the aforementioned generosity of Artur Boruc as the striker found some form with a hat-trick. Villa surprisingly won this fixture last season courtesy of a Christian Benteke goal – he has obviously moved on, voluntarily unlike Sherwood. A home win is odds on this time around with those Kane lovers hoping it’s just a case of how many.

Spurs report no new injuries for their Monday night shooting practice vs Villa and will have the same squad available as per the one that nailed Bournemouth. Nabil Bentaleb, Nacer Chadli, Heung-Min Song and Alex Pritchard all continue to miss out. But it really shouldn’t matter.

As if things weren’t bad enough for Villa, they will be without Micah Richards on Monday after the defender accepted a charge of improper conduct from the FA relating to an incident in the tunnel after the loss last week to Swansea. Ciaran Clark will come in alongside Joleon Lescott, assuming Lescott shrugs off a knock. Caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald says he has been told to prepare the team for Monday, despite heavy speculation linking Remi Garde with the manager’s job.

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Suspension Report

Those players who are suspended for GW11 are as follows:

Jack Colback (Newcastle)
Phil Bardsley (Stoke)

It’s worth being aware that any player who receives five yellow cards before 31st December will receive an automatic one match ban. Those players currently sitting on four yellows are:

Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa)
Eliaquim Mangala (Man City)
Matteo Darmian (Man Utd)
Oriol Romeu (Southampton)
Bamidele Alli (Spurs)
Erik Lamela (Spurs)
Billy Jones (Sunderland)
Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea)
Claudio Yacob (West Brom)
Mark Noble (West Ham)

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Thanks for reading Team Talk Fantasy Football Game-week 11. This article was written by Cookie

Follow @SteveCook9

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