Dilemmas of the Week - Gameweek 9 (25/26)

 

We seem to have come through this week's batch of European games without too many problems - except for Liverpool, who suddenly face doubts over 3 key players.

I'm trying to streamline these weekly round-ups a bit from last year, restricting myself for the most part to just the injuries etc. affecting players that are likely to have a major significance in FPL; and also, of course, only to new injuries - I figure everyone should be aware of players who've already been ruled out for some time!  

[For some years, I have found the 'Injuries & Bans' summary on Fantasy Football Scout the most reliable resource for this kind of information; although this site, Premier League Injuries, is a very good alternative (often a little quicker to update, I think - though it did go through a bit of a glitchy period for a while last year).  Go check these out for more comprehensive coverage. 

I see the Fantasy Premier League site has added an improved 'Player Availability' page this year (though hidden under 'The Scout' tab?!). That also seems to be reasonably comprehensive and up-to-date, but god knows how it's supposed to be 'organised' - maybe by 'date of injury'? Obviously, arranging it by club and alphabetical order would be more sensible; but the denizens of FPL Towers seem to have a deep aversion to the sensible.]

So, what are the conundrums we face ahead of Gameweek 9 of the season?

Does anybody need to be moved out because of injury?

Gabriel, one of FPL's top-owned defenders, might be a doubt after limping off with a knock against Atleti the other night.

Villa full-back Lucas Digne is likely to be out for a week or two after getting his ankle crunched by Kevin Danso last Sunday.

Brighton's Diego Gpmez is a minor doubt after having to be withdrawn last week against Newcastle with a hip problem.

Bournemouth striker Evanilson was a late withdrawal last week, complaining of a calf strain. He too seems likely to be out for at least a week or two, which should provide starting opportunities for their exciting youngster, Eli Kroupi.

Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite was widely reported to have needed surgery on a long-standing thigh-muscle problem this week. If true, that would imply enhanced value for Michael Keane, keeping a regular start for at least a few more weeks. However, other sources have suggested that he's been training regularly this week - so, who knows what's up with that? (Probably of very marginal interest for FPL anyway: surely everybody's going for Tarkowski and/or one of the full-backs from that defence?)

Popular FPL defender Joachim Anderson (has been rather monstering the 'defensive contributions' so far) had to go off against Arsenal last week with a hamstring problem: doesn't seem too serious, but may sideline him for a week or two.

Leeds defender Pascal Struijk missed midweek training with an illness, so is a doubtful starter this weekend.

Liverpool seem to have been most heavily hit this week: Ryan Gravenberch is a doubt after having had to come off with an ankle injury against Manchester United last Sunday, while Alexander Isak (groin) and Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) both limped out of last night's game against Frankfurt with muscle problems.

City's Nico Gonzalez suffered a knock in Tuesday night's game against Villareal, and might be 50/50 to feature against Villa.

Chris Wood and new winger Dilane Bakwa both missed Forest's midweek Eurepean game with minor issues which may keep them out again this weekend; and Oleks Zinchenko, gettting a rare start, limped off in that game. Dan Ndoye on the right wing and Neco Williams at left-back probably weren't in much danger of losing their usual starts anyway, but new boy Igor Jesus now seems likely to start up front for Forest.

Cristian Romero remains a doubt this week after pulling a muscle in the pre-game warm-up last Saturday, and Wilson Odobert is also suffering with a knock picked up in Wednesday's Monaco game.

West Ham central defender Konstantinos Mavropanos has suffered a muscle injury this week, and seems likely to be out for at least a few weeks. Presumably Jean-Clair Todibo will deputise.

And Wolves's dangerous midfielder Jean-ricner Bellegarde is another who's been laid low with illness this week.

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

Malo Gusto is serving a one-match ban this week, after being sent off for 2 yellow cards against Forest.

Remarkably, he's the only disciplinary absentee this week - although we do now have a number of players who are getting dangerously close to a 'totting up' suspension.

Did anyone give other cause to consider dropping them?

Mo Salah disappointed the legion of idolaters who were convinced that he always scores against Manchester United, and now some 450,000 owners have deserted him within a matter of days (although his ownership remains at a massive 32%, and might not drop much further from that - such is the blind faith that The Cultists have in him; well, that and the fact that a lot of them probably stopped playing the game when he failed to score a hattrick in his opening few appearances.....).

And there's also a bit of a mass exodus going on with a slew of other severely disappointing forwards: Viktor Gyokeres, Chris Wood, Richarlison, Alexander Isak, and Joao Pedro have all seen a big drop in ownership this week. The way these things go,.... probably at least one of them is suddenly about to turn things around. I suspect Joao Pedro might be the most promising option to gamble on for another week or two, since Chelsea still have a pretty soft fixture run ahead; and the prospect that the Brazilian might now be paired with Marc Guiu as a more conventional forward, allowing him to fulfill a more creative role in the 'No. 10' space, as happened in the second-half against Forest last week, gives further grounds for optimism, I think. (Though, to be honest, I would have lost patience with him long since: he has looked completely out of it, in Palmer's absence over the past month.)

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

A crucial goal for Bryan Mbeumo in Manchester United's surprising win over Liverpool last week has boosted interest in him. And goalie Senne Lammens is also attracting attention (not too unreasonably: United tend to be fairly solid at the back, even when they're struggling to create anything going forward; but they're not formidable enough for you to covet many of their other players, so their keeper is a free pick, unconstrained by 'club quota' anxieties). However, I don't fancy their fixture-run through November too much: even their next two opponents, Brighton and Forest, could cause them some problems; and Spurs, Everton, and Palace after that will be even tougher.

There's also an unseemly rush (325,000 new owners this week, and counting!) to bring in Jean-Philippe Mateta after last week's hattrick (still not an awfully convincing performance: one goal dubiously onside, one from a rather soft penalty award - at least 4 much better chances wasted!!); I can't see the point in buying him - or teammate Ismaila Sarr - until this week's visit to Arsenal is behind them. And I still fancy the recent form of Igor Thiago and Nick Woltemade far more for back-up strikers. Of course, Bournemouth's Eli Kroupi is also suddenly popular, after his impressive brace last week; a beguilingly cheap 4.5-million - but surely only likely to get 1 or 2 starts before Evanilson is back.

BEST OF LUCK, EVERYONE!