Team Talk Fantasy Football Game-week 29

Team Talk Fantasy Football Game-week 29

Allo, it’s me again! We’re getting far too familiar aren’t we?! It feels like we only spoke a couple of days ago…ah. It’s got so bad that my wife is accusing me of having an affair and is questioning me as to who this “Ben Dinnery character” is that I keep shouting to in my sleep. Anyway, we’re good to go for GW29 and we kick off with a blockbuster North London derby as Spurs host the Gooners at the Lane in a match that may well determine who is best equipped to challenge Leicester for the title. Six 3pm matches follow – Mark Hughes returns to Chelsea with his Stoke side, Slaven Bilic returns to Goodison with his Happy Hammers and errrr Scott Sinclair returns to Man City with his Villa mates. Bournemouth go to Newcastle and in an ironic twist of geographical fate, Sunderland go the other way down to Southampton. Oh and Swansea welcome Norwich. zzzzzz. We have some early evening action as Watford welcome Leicester before our gameweek is concluded on the Sabbath. First up Liverpool go to one of their least favourite venues as they visit Palace before West Brom host Man United.
After a quick turnaround from midweek’s action, let’s see what the managers have had to say as we go Around the Grounds.

Spurs vs Arsenal (Sat 5 Mar 12.45)
Well, well, well, what a way to kick off our gameweek – the North London derby between two teams who seemingly don’t want to win the league. Not 24 hours had passed with Leicester opening the door for these two fools than both the herberts conspire to lose on Wednesday evening. Of course, Arsenal’s loss was worse – at home to relegation threatened Swansea, which saw the boos resounding around the Emirates. Well, at least they made some noise for once. Spurs loss at West Ham wasn’t the biggest surprise in the world but is a setback nevertheless and both will be keen and in one case desperate to get back to winning ways.

Spurs could welcome back Mousa Dembele for the derby after manager Mauricio Pochettino said, “We will need to assess him after training today (Friday), maybe it’s possible he is selected.” On Delle Alli, well he too is a “maybe”, but probably a more likely “maybe” than “maybe Dembele”. Maybe. Alli came off the bench at West Ham to play the last 30mins and the manager said the midfielder trained well on Thursday but will need to be assessed after the training today. Jan Vertonghen and Clinton N’Jie are the only definite absentees, while I think it’s safe to assume that first choice full backs Kyle Walker and Danny Rose will return to the starting XI for the match which could make or break title ambitions for both teams. Much may well depend on Harry Kane, who has scored three times in his last two league matches vs the Gooners, but has failed to find the net since busting his beak in the Cup defeat loss to Palace.

Arsenal will be without keeper Petr Cech and defender Laurent Koscielny for their annual pilgrimage to the Lane. Kos has a calf injury but he could be ready to return for the midweek Cup replay, but Cech is expected to be missing for 3-4 weeks after damaging his calf while running back after going up for a corner looking for an equaliser. Brilliant – these Goonies find new ways to get injured by the week. But it’s all ok as Wenger says he has “complete trust” in David Ospina – good luck with that one Arsene. Le Zip also tells us that Jack “the Messiah” Wilshere is about 3-4 weeks away from a return – hold on, he’s been 3-4 weeks away for about…3-4 weeks. More worries as Alexis Sanchez is quoted, after the midweek loss, as saying that the team doesn’t have the stomach for the fight. Now we all knew this of course and have done for years, but when your best player contradicts the manager, this is not good. Oh well, come on Spurs.

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Chelsea vs Stoke (Sat 5 Mar 15.00)
Can anyone stop this Chelsea juggernaut? Now unbeaten in eleven league games under Big Guus, the Blues have won their last three and now stand just a victory away from 7th placed Stoke, who just happen to be the visitors to the Bridge on Saturday. The Potters have also won their last three games but their record at Chelsea is nine losses in their last nine matches and it seems their only chance is if Hiddink decided to rest a few of his merry men in front of their crucial Champions League return vs PSG.

Hiddink says Chelsea’s focus is only on the game vs Stoke and not Tuesday’s match vs PSG. Righto mate. John Terry and Pedro continue to be ruled out but the manager revealed that Diego Costa would start the game but may not play the full 90mins. Hmmm, that’ll be with PSG in mind, eh Guus? You can’t fool us.

Stoke boss is looking forward to returning to Stamford Bridge, but is unsure whether Ryan Shawcross will join him. “Ryan is in Germany as we speak, seeing somebody, so whether he is available for Saturday remains to be seen. If not then we would hope to have him available for Southampton next weekend.” I think the message there is, “don’t hold your breath”. The defensive worries don’t end there – Phil Bardsley picked up a calf injury vs Newcastle and will be missing for a few weeks, while Geoff Cameron experienced soreness after moving from the centre to the right to fill in for Bardsley. Hughes isn’t sure if Cameron will be fit for the weekend and admitted, “We have five fit defenders in the building at the moment and a couple of them aren’t fully fit.” Glenn Johnson and Marc Wilson are of course longer term absentees in defence alongside midfielder Charlie Adam.

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Everton vs West Ham (Sat 5 Mar 15.00)
Both teams come into the weekend with confidence sky high – the Happy Hammers have won two out of two this week so far including Wednesday’s defeat of Spurs, while Everton beat Villa. Ok, everyone beats Villa and the fact they only scored three may be a small concern. What may be more relevant is Everton’s defeat to West Brom at home in GW27 and the fact they have only won one of their last seven league matches at home. Much may depend on Romelu Lukaku who always seems to score vs the Hammers – he has scored in each of the previous six meetings between the two.

Bryan Oviedo and Tom Cleverley are Everton’s biggest doubts for the weekend. Oviedo picked up a knock in the win at Villa and has missed training since, while Young Tom is suffering from a chest infection, poor love. Leighton Baines should be ok to step in if Oviedo doesn’t make it – Roberto Martinez says Baines has a niggle on his ankle and will probably need to see a specialist but is expected to be available to face the Hammers. Mo Besic and Darron Gibson should be fit to return.

Delighted as he was with the midweek win over Spurs, Hammers chief Slaven Bilic says he and the team have no time to celebrate, but instead their thoughts turned immediately to the match at Everton. James Collins has been ruled out for three matches with a hamstring injury picked up on Wednesday. This leaves the Hammers’ defence in a bit of disarray for the trip to Goodison as Sam Byram is suspended and James Tomkins, Winston Reid and Joey O’Brien are all injured and Bilic also says that Angelo Ogbonna picked up a knock, though he expects (desperately hopes I would imagine) him to be ok. Reece Oxford could well get a start. Enner Valencia and Victor Moses also miss out.

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Man City vs Aston Villa (Sat 5 Mar 15.00)
Three defeats on the bounce has put them in real trouble. No, not Villa you fools, I’m talking about City, who now face the embarrassment and shame of allowing neighbour United of catching them up, with both Mancs level on 47pts in 4th & 5th place. Now, ok City have a game in hand, but could you just imagine if Pep arrived with no Champions League in store? Ah, how I would laugh. Villa to come to the Etihad this week which likely means all my dreams won’t come true, City will get back on track and Pep will be happy. We all know how bad Villa are – three losses on the spin (just like City woohooo) and eleven goals conceded really isn’t the greatest preparation for a trip to City, especially as they have lost their last seven league games at the Etihad, conceding 22 goals in the process. This is probably not the week to play your Villa defender (yep, looking at you Raz).

City welcome back Yaya Toure who missed the defeat at Anfield due to an ankle injury that he picked up at Wembley last weekend. There are no new injuries but bear in mind that Manuel Pellegrini was moaning about fatigue after the midweek defeat which saw both Bacary Sagna and Aleksandar Kolarov benched – a gambler would put money on those two starting vs Villa. Pellegrini is warning against complacency this weekend, knowing that a win is essential not only for morale but to get back on track for a top four slot.

Remi Garde says “we have to focus on what we can improve and what we can do.” The words “everything” and “nothing” spring to mind dear Remi lad. Our poor French mate says that Villa have no fresh injury concerns, which is relevant only for the likes of Raz and any Ashley Westwood owners. Jordan Amavi, Jack Grealish, Adama Traore and Libor Kozak all remain out – and let’s be honest, they are the lucky ones.

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Newcastle vs Bournemouth (Sat 5 Mar 15.00)
A great week for Bournemouth could be about to get even better if they play their cards right at Newcastle and gather another three points. Four points from six vs Watford and Southampton has seen the Cherries move onto 32pts, edging closer to safety and now eight points clear of 17th placed Norwich. A handy cushion to have but manager Eddie Howe will be keen to keep the momentum going and reaching the safety barrier asap. The Toon are in the turd, big time. Their nearest and dearest are above them (albeit on goal difference) and they need wins pretty quickly. The positive spin for Steve McClaren is their home form which has seen them win 2 and draw the other of their last three – this truly is a massive game for Toon, for a win here who put them in good (or at least better) heart for the visit of Sunderland in GW31 and the trip to Norwich the week after, matches that could define their Premier League future – or lack of it if they spoon it.

Under pressure Toon boss Macca has come out fighting over newspaper reports of dressing room discontent, calling the allegations “half truths and half lies” and maintaining the players are behind him. Hmmm ok. Siem de Jong and Vurnon Anita come back into the squad, while Andros Townsend will be assessed but won’t be risked if he is not 100%. Fabricio Coloccini and Chancel Mbemba have lost their battle to be fit for the weekend and join Tim Krul, Massadio Haidara and Gabriel Obertan on the sidelines.

Howe says the whole camp has been lifted by the midweek win over Southampton, but they are not underestimating the size of the task ahead at the weekend. It’s Newcastle lads, c’mon. The manager has been talking up the impact of Max Gradel’s return but the Cherries may have to cope without Harry Arter who is suffering with an Achilles injury while Josh King is rated at only 50-50 as he has a calf injury. Junior Stanislas, Tyrone Mings, and Callum Wilson all remain unavailable. Bournemouth have lost just one of their last eight away matches in the league and will likely need to be at their resolute best to keep out the Toon, who will be buoyed by a baying crowd, at least early on. A third clean sheet on the bounce will be a great achievement for the Cherries.

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Southampton vs Sunderland (Sat 5 Mar 15.00)
No sooner had Fraser Forster broke Southampton’s clean sheet Premier League record and suckered you all in then the Saints then proceed to concede four goals in just over a game and a half. Is this the team deciding their season is over and them looking forward to their summer in Ibiza or just a small blip. Sunderland at home should in theory provide the opportunity to get things back on track, but this is a Sunderland who are fighting for their top flight future and they’ll certainly give it a go. The Black Cats fought for a 2-2 draw with Palace in the week and were unfortunate to lose at West Ham last weekend. Maybe, this isn’t the clean sheet bonanza that many are hoping for.

Southampton strikers Charlie Austin and Shane Long both picked up injuries in the loss at Bournemouth on Tuesday. Austin is the more serious, he has another hamstring injury which will keep him out for 3-4 weeks, while Long, who had two goals in the two games before Bournemouth also has a knock which will keep him out of this weekend, though is expected back for the trip to Stoke in GW30. It’s Graziano Pelle time folks!! The most inconsistent, unreliable striker in the league (yep, that includes Lukaku!) is likely to start up front vs Sunderland. Now this, I admit, would be the biggest punt since Connor Wickham appeared in the Captain’s article, but just take your mind back to last season with this fixture….Southampton 8 Sunderland 0, a brace for our Italian stallion. Now, no-one is suggesting that Saints will knock eight past this superb and well-drilled Black Cat defence, but for those who believe in fate will welcome Pelle getting back into the team by default just in time for the Black Cats arrival. With many looking for a differential, who plays in GW30….well, I’ll leave it with you. Meanwhile, back in the real world Victor Wanyama remains suspended. Ronald Koeman was angry after the midweek loss and is looking for his players to bounce back, improve and defend better from set pieces.

Black Cat defender John O’Shea has a chance of being fit for the trip to the South coast, but if he doesn’t make it then Younes Kaboul is on standby. Jeremain Lens continues to miss out, but should be fine for the derby with Newcastle in GW31 while Lee Cattermole will also miss this weekend due to him suffering concussion vs Palace. Big Sam says Jan Kirchoff is being nursed through matches and was replaced vs Palace due to fatigue, with the manager hoping he will be ok for the weekend as he has impressed of late in his midfield role. Duncan Watmore remains out.

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Swansea vs Norwich (Sat 5 Mar 15.00)
Poor old Norwich – they fight tooth and nail but lose to Chelsea probably with one eye on this weekend’s trip to the Valleys thinking they will go level on points with Swansea with an away victory. However, the Swans unlikely win at Arsenal has thrown a small spanner in the works and has put some clear daylight between the Welshies and the four main relegation candidates. So the Canaries have to go and find an away win, something they have only managed twice this season, at Villa and Sunderland – which I guess shows they can beat those around them. Although the 6-2 defeat at Newcastle may contradict that.

Poor old Francesco Guidolin missed his team’s impressive win at Arsenal due to a chest infection which has hospitalised him for much of the week and he will likely be in hospital until early next week. So it’s caretaker Alan Curtis who again takes charge. The Swans have a clean bill of health, at least on the playing side after Leroy Fer & Ki Sung-Yeung both trained after picking up minor knocks midweek. Curtis said that the win at Arsenal has given him a selection headache but there will be changes – Angel Rangel, Federico Fernandez, Neil Taylor, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Alberto Paloschi were all benched at the Emirates with this weekend’s relegation battle in mind.

Just when things looked bleak and a slide to the Championship looked nailed on, all is not lost for the Canaries. Yep, good ol’ Steven Naismith is back for the crucial game down in Wales. The striker was too “fatigued” to play vs Chelsea according to manager Alex Neil. Too fatigued?? Hold on a sec, he hardly did anything in the first half of the season, apart from score a hatty for Everton vs Chelsea. Now he’s played a couple of games, he’s too tired. I best stop, Init and GP will be after me. Robbie Brady and Gary O’Neill are also available for the weekend – the two collided into each other in midweek ffs – Brady has been at the dentist and O’Neill had a head injury but both are ok. It’s not all good news though as midfielder Alex Tettey is likely to miss the rest of the season after damaging his ankle ligaments.

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Watford vs Leicester (Sat 5 Mar 17.30)
With Spurs playing Arsenal this weekend, this week’s trip to Watford could be decisive in their title chances. Having struggled past Norwich and then held by West Brom, many are now doubting that the Foxes can deal with the pintense pressure they will face in the run-in. Claudio Ranieri’s men come up against a Watford side who have only scored in one of their previous five matches and have therefore been pretty much reliant on their tight defensive unit. That worked fine at United in the week until Juan Mata’s late goal and there be the problem – if you don’t score then it only takes one moment of magic, or a lapse of concentration to lose a match. The Foxes won the reverse fixture 2-1 in November and a similar result should push them back on course for a title challenge – but another stumble is likely to increase the argument of the doubters.

Watford could recall Nathan Ake and Craig Cathcart for the visit of the Foxes – both defenders were rested at Old Trafford as QSF talked of rotation and fatigue in the squad. Jurado, Joel Ekstrand and Tommie Hoban are all expected to miss out again.

Good news for Leicester as Ranieri reveals that N’Golo Kante trained fully today and has a chance of playing at Watford. Kante was missed in the disappointing draw with West Brom and Ranieri will decide on Saturday whether he can play this week. There are no other injury concerns for the Foxes.

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Crystal Palace vs Liverpool (Sun 6 Mar 13.30)
Oh how much fun have we had with this fixture over the years? Dwight Gayle, comebacks, Pulis laughing, Suarez crying, it’s been nothing short of dramatic and amusing. What we get to witness this week is anybody’s guess. Palace can’t win in the league, Liverpool lose the Cup final then hammer City in the league and we’ve got the Lord Pardew vs Herr Klopp – a meeting of style, charm, laughter, charisma….vs the Lord. Palace have won the last three league meetings between the clubs, but with the Eagles on a run of eleven games without a win, this could be set up for the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Firmino to take centre stage as they did at Villa.

Palace will need to make late checks on man-of-the-moment Connor Wickham and keeper Wayne Hennessey. Wickham picked up a knock at Sunderland and will have a scan today with the Lord describing his striker as “touch and go” for Sunday, while Hennessey is struggling with a knock also and will be looked at “in the 11th hour” – Julian Speroni is ready to come in if Hennessey doesn’t make it. Pape Soaure is available again after serving his suspension and Pardew sees this as a big plus as he gives the team balance – Souare will definitely start. James McArthur and Jason Puncheon remain out.

Liverpool midfielder Lucas has been ruled out for 5-6 weeks with a thigh injury, but the better news for Klopp is that Mamadou Sakho has returned to training while Daniel Sturridge trained “completely normally” on Thursday. The manager admitted he has some tough selection problems for the weekend, most notably whether to play Jon Flanagan, who impressed vs City or recall Alberto Moreno who is fit again after suffering a knock at Wembley.

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West Brom vs Man Utd (Sun 6 Mar 16.00)
The end of our gameweek, but will you have any FPL representation here? Possibly a United defender or David de Gea I guess, possibly some still hold a Baggie defender. Or maybe Jesse Lingard is hovering around your team? Well, if he is, fear not for young Jesse scored in United’s 2-0 win over Albion in GW12. United are unbeaten in their last three visits to the Hawthorns, though with the Baggies having grabbed seven points out of a possible nine, there are signs that a bit of form may be starting to appear for Tony Pulis’s men.

Pulis says his squad is looking forward to the challenge on Sunday and is pleased to see his side become more of an attacking threat of late. Jonny Evans, James Morrison and Callum McMnaman continue to miss out while Chris Brunt has been ruled out for around six months with knee ligament damage.

Dreadful news for United as LVG says that Marouane Fellaini, Antonio Valencia and Phil Jones are “coming back”. The slightly better news is that the manager then went on to say that those players coming back would “play in the second team first”. The injury history of those three suggests they will all get injured playing for the reserves so all is not lost. Chris Smalling has a chance for the weekend, he was described as a “possibility” in midweek. LVG still believes a top four spot is a possibility.

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Suspension Report for Game-week 29

Those players suspended this week are:
Victor Wanyama (Southampton)
Sam Byram (West Ham)

Players who earn 10 yellow cards by the second Sunday in April will receive a 2-match ban.

Those players one booking away:

Jack Colback (Newcastle)
Claudio Yacob (West Brom)

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Thanks for reading Team Talk Fantasy Football Game-week 29. This article was written by Cookie

Follow @SteveCook9

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