Dilemmas of the Week - GW32

Well, amazingly, there don't seem to have been any major new injury worries arising out of this week's European games - although there'll still be a lot of doubts about precautionary restings ahead of the second-leg games next week; and there are, of course, still some doubts hanging over us from last week. So, this should be quite a short round-up this week.

I am trying to streamline these weekly round-ups, aiming to confine myself to just the injuries to players that are likely to have a major significance in FPL. [I currently find the 'Injuries & Bans' summary on Fantasy Football Scout the most reliable resource for this kind of information - go check that out for more comprehensive coverage.]

So, what are the conundrums we face ahead of Gameweek 32?

Does anybody need to be moved out because of injury?

The main concerns are at Arsenal, where Saka, Rice, and Timber were all taken off against Real in some discomfort on Wednesday and are now doubts. Although with the huge rematch at the Bernabeu only days away, I think we were all expecting they'd get bench minutes at best this weekend anyway. The risk of rest or injury after this pivotal game for their doublle gameweek following also presents a huge conundrum for us.

Villa appear to be all in good knick (even Ross Barkley's just about back...), but some rotations seem likely ahead of their return leg against PSG; although they've got a bit of a mountain to climb in that one, they have to try to climb it - so Morgan Rogers is probably favourite to be dropped to the bench this week, and Watkins too, I should imagine. Unfortunate, as a game against Southampton is usually almost as good as a double-fixture!

Kaoru Mitoma is suffering with a painful heel, and so a big doubt for the Leicester game today.

Phil Foden suffered a knock in the Manchester derby last weekend, and Pep doesn't fancy his chances this week. (But few of us have fancied his chances in FPL for a while now, alas....)

Forest are facing some problems, with Chris Wood's back-up No. 9 Taiwo Awoniyi going down with a hamstring injury ahead of last week's game against Villa, and recent hero Anthony Elanga having to be withdrawn at half-time in that game with muscle discomfort; it's looking like they could both be out for a few games at least. However, Chris Wood is finally back in training and might be able to return this week, while Jota Silva (who I fancied as a very speculative 'pick of the week' back in early December when he'd been getting a run of starts) has been quite the super-sub lately, and is a natural replacement for Elanga.

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

Marc Guehi, Eddie Nketiah, and Jan-Paul van Hecke all miss this weekend after their double-yellow-card madness (the two Palace men were lucky to escape straight reds and a longer ban for their second fouls!) in the 'derby' game last week. It's only a one-game ban, so Guehi and Nketiah will be available for the midweek game against Newcastle.

And Facundo Buonanotte, a loanee, is ineligible to turn out for Leicester against Brighton.

Matheus Cunha has completed his four-game ban, but might start on the bench this week, as Vitor Pereira has stated very strongly that he doesn't want to disturb his winning line-up.

Did anyone give other cause to consider dropping them?

Well, City still fail to convince, United, while looking decent at the back now, are still impotent going forward, and Spurs, despite getting the inevitable comfortable win against non-entities Southampton, still look pretty dreadful. (Although a case can be made for a rare representative of these faltering sides: Marmoush, Garnacho, Mazraoui, Johnson...)

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

Not really, no. People are getting excited about Ryan Sessegnon after his recent goal splurge for Fulham, but - as with Ismaila Sarr a couple of weeks back - that could very well be a flash-in-the-pan. Calvin Bassey was the real standout for Fulham last weekend; but I wouldn't be in any rush to buy him either - as Fulham's form continues to look a bit flakey.

And Jørgen Strand Larsen, of course, has been on a tear for the last few games - but they were three games against very poor teams. Howeever, I think his form looks really good, and that he can probably continue to produce for the rest of the season (especially with Cunha back to support him); probably the strongest budget forward pick at the moment.

Palace are favourite for an 'Assistant Manager' ploy this week, as they have a double-fixture (and another one next week, if you've still got more weeks live on the chip: another chance of an elevated return, without having to switch managers). However, it's not a particularly promising double-fixture (though both of this week's games and next week's visit to Arsenal could yield table-bonuses), and they're stretched thin in defence without Guehi for the City game. A lot of people are enthusiastic about doubling Newcastle too, but that looks a much weaker alternative to me, with no table-bonuses available, and a strong chance that, even at home, they'll drop points in one or both games. Others favour Villa's chances of a big win over Southampton; but again, no table-bonus, Villa haven't been a particularly prolific team (and Southampton have at least been picking up the occasional goal lately, so a clean sheet isn't a sure-thing either), and there are so many doubts about how tired they might be after the PSG game, and who might start on the bench. For me, the chance of Everton causing an upset against Forest or Brentford against Arsenal offer the only tempting alternative to Palace this week.

BEST OF LUCK, EVERYONE!

DON'T FORGET The Boycott; the dratted new 'Assistant Manager' chip is in play now - and I am urging everyone to please consider quitting the game, or at least refusing to use this silly chip. 

And if you can't bring yourself to do either of those things, please do criticise the Assistant Manager chip as vigorously as possible on any relevant social media channels you use, raise objections to it with any football or media figures you know how to contact, and - if possible - try to find a way to protest about it directly to the FPL hierarchy (and let me know how, if you manage that!).

#QuitFPLinGW23         #DownWithTheNewChip