Dilemmas of the Week - GW22

 

A yawning silence still hangs over the transfer market - perhaps we're really not going to see any big moves, in or out, this year....?

Nevertheless, I continue to warn - Cassandra-like - that this month, and probably next month too, is a very bad time to play the 2nd Wildcard.

Given the very short turnaround between Gameweeks this time, it's unlikely we'll get very much team news out on Friday - but I'll update here, if any emerges. For the moment, there appear to have been no new problems arising in the midweek batch of games.

So, what are the conundrums we face ahead of Gameweek 22?

Does anybody need to be moved out because of injury?

Amazingly, we don't seem to have lost anyone else to injury in the midweek games - although Palace's Jefferson Lerma came off against Ipswich because he felt nauseous, so might be a doubt for the weekend. And I wouldn't be at all surprised if Ipswich keeper, Christian Walton, needs to be rested for a mild concussion, after Joao Pedro violently barged him in the face on Thursday night.

Also, the injury Gabriel Jesus picked up in the Cup game against Manchester United last Sunday has now been confirmed to be an ACL tear, which will keep him out for the rest of the season.

Updates:  Enzo Maresca grumbled in his Friday press conference that Palmer, Lavia, Fernandez and Colwill were all suffering with knocks and were missing training that day. However, since they don't play Wolves until Monday evening, there is strong hope that they'll all be fine to take part. It does throw this week's Captaincy Conundrum into turmoil, though!

Ismaila Sarr has been suffering with some leg-muscle tightness, though Glasner sounded quite optimistic about his participation.

Fabian Schar is also a doubt after suffering a bout of 'serious illness' in midweek.

Tyer Dibling has reportedly picked up an ankle injury in the match against United on Thursday.

Yves Bissouma is feeling a knock, and Brennan Johnson is complaining of a sore calf-muscle after the midweek game (but, really, does anyone have Spurs players at the moment??).

Jean-Clair Todibo and Alphonse Areola are also missing for West Ham due to unspecified injuries, though they're only squad players.

Mario Lemina, only recently back from a spell of injury, apparently missed the Wednesday game at Newcastle at his own request, having asked for a move away from Molineux; but he has now apologised to teammates for this behaviour, and might be included again on Monday. Matheus Cunha, however, who only played the second half against Newcastle as he feels his way back from a muscle injury picked up at the turn of the year, is now reported to be yet another victim of 'illness' (he'll probably be OK for Monday; but you wouldn't really fancy his chances against Chelsea...).

Oh, and there are rumours that William Saliba may have picked up a problem (not spotted in training on Friday??); but there's nothing very solid on this, and I suspect it's just smoke-and-mirrors from The Emirates Psy-Ops Department.

Do we have any players who are dropped, or not looking likely to get the starts we hoped for?

We're out of the woods for 'totting-up' suspensions at last. And no-one got sent off in the midweek games, so we're not missing anyone with a ban this time.

Kalvin Phillips is still a City player, so ineligible to turn out for Ipswich this weekend - but he's hardly featured for them anyway.

And Trevoh Chalobah has been recalled to Chelsea from his loan spell with Palace. I imagine this is just as emergency cover - but, at only 4.4 million currently, he could become a tempting fifth defender if he gets a run of starts.

Did anyone give other cause to consider dropping them?

As expected, Kyle Walker was dropped from the City squad, after requesting a move (but he's been terrible lately, so I can't see why anyone would have had him for FPL anyway).

Did anyone play so well, you have to consider bringing them in immediately?

Well, I tipped Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo last time. Although United's team performance against Southampton was flakey, I think they'll probably be a good bet again at home against Brighton.

Many people are getting unduly excited about Phil Foden's brace against Brentford; but I still see no convincing sign of a general revival at City, and will be very wary of taking any of their players until there is.

My slightly more left-field suggestion would be Nicolas Jackson, who had an excellent game against Bournemouth - coming very close to scoring a number of times, and setting up Cole Palmer very neatly for the opening goal.

PS: First new signing of note!

The exciting Dutch wide attacker, Donyell Malen, has joined Villa from Borrussia Dortmund, and Unai Emery suggested that he might be able to participate for them straight away (though surely only as a sub first time out?). Leon Bailey looks likeliest to make way. This is definitely one to watch.

BEST OF LUCK, EVERYONE!

And DON'T FORGET The Boycott:

#QuitFPLinGW23         #DownWithTheNewChip