Here’s  the fantasy premier league news catch up since Friday in brief including GW22, Balotelli, O’Brien, Enrique, News shorts, Transfer shorts and price/rise falls

GW22

I’m sure you’re all aware but Chelsea v Southampton has been added to GW22.  This means in GW22 Chelsea and Southampton have the following fixtures.

Chelsea

Stoke A

Southampton H

Southampton 

Villa A

Chelsea A

This fundamentally changes the January wildcard picture where there was an emphasis on the 2 games that Arsenal and West Ham played to be balanced out against the 2 games in GW22  and will cause everyone to re think what they have done.  My next article will be on GW22 and the effect on the January Wildcard and the changes to my team

Ballotelli

Mancini plays down the incident with Ballotelli meaning we cant assume the only 2 strikers are Dzeko and Tevez.  however, I see this as having more of an effect on Dzeko who Balotelli naturally rotates with.  Tevez should play all the games while Aguero is injured and is a definite hold.  The price of Dzeko means he is a reasonable gamble as his form should dictate preference over Tevez but fantasy premier league owners will have to accept some rotation

O’Brien

A fantasy premier league cheapie favourite  after his 15 point haul against Norwich. he’s now suffering a hamstring strain but physio room have him back for 12 January.  This seems doubtful to me but short term enough to avoid any short term pick up at LB in the mean time.  With McCartney off for 8-10 weeks according to the West Ham twitter feed O’Brien when fit will have a straight run at the LB position.  However as far as GW23 is concerned attention can focus back on Demel at £4.0 who is far cheaper than O’Brien at £4.5m and Collins at £4.8m for the 2 games West Ham have in GW23 (who is not going to ACON) although he still has game time risk in the shape of Tomkins.  My distrust of hamstring injuries means I’ll be no taking risks on O’Brien for the 2 games in GW23 and will reinstate Demel

Enrique

The Liverpool twitter feed confirmed Enrique out for 6 weeks.  This makes Wisdom as a £4.3m option for the Liverpool defence a real viable cheapie.  The fixtures arent great though assuming a bit of latitude to the end of Feb

13 Jan 13:30 Gameweek 22 Man Utd (A)
19 Jan 15:00 Gameweek 23 Norwich (H)
30 Jan 19:45 Gameweek 24 Arsenal (A)
03 Feb 16:00 Gameweek 25 Man City (A)
11 Feb 20:00 Gameweek 26 West Brom (H)
23 Feb 15:00 Gameweek 27 Swansea (H)

There’s 3 clean sheets there potentially so a short term transfer worth taking in my mind

The only issue though is the transfer of Sturridge.  It’s possible that if Downing is taken out of the front 3 then he could go back to LB and Wisdom goes back to the bench.  The FA cup game where Sturridge and Suarez didn’t start unfortunately didn’t give any clues to who would be the additional player in the front 3.  It’s obviously between Sterling and Downing.  Personally I just see rotation of the 2 and I don’t think given Downings form he will be back at LB.

News shorts

• Shorey and Roberts back in training.  I would stay away from Harte as a cheapie option as I believe Shorey will be preffered
• Fonte has a knee injury with no return date.  Rule him out as a  GW22 option.  Clyne expected back on 12 Jan.

Transfer shorts

• Ba to Chelsea – Torres obviously the main victim of this – separate article to come
• Sturridge to Liverpool – Rodgers has said that Sturridge will play centrally.  I’ll believe it when i see it.  Sterling or Downing will be relegated from the front 3 although Rodgers comments on Sturridges fitness suggest he maybe a sub to start
• Chamakh to West Ham on loan – cover and sub at best.  Cant see him taking out Carlton Cole or Jarvis.  Could play maybe in a front 3 instead of Taylor.
• Joe Cole to West Ham – Will play at LM at the expense of Taylor in my view.
• Holtby to Spurs – A young creative midfielder, 11 goals in 75 games.  not sure what to make of this wih Siggy and Dempsey barely starting?
• Chris David – midfielder to Fulham – only 19 so hard to see an immediate impact with Fulham already packed with midfielders
• Debuchy – RB to Newcastle.  Simpson injured for 2 weeks but this will be the end of him and look for a transfer in the window.

Price rises and falls

Wierdly only 9 £0.1m price rises?

Begovic STK 5.8 0.1
Mignolet SUN 5.2 0.1

Skrtel LIV 6.0 0.1
O’Brien WHU 4.5 0.1

Walcott ARS 9.0 0.1
Mata CHE 9.9 0.1
Marveaux NEW 4.3 0.1
Puncheon SOU 4.9 0.1

Suarez LIV 10.4 0.1

A Multitude of price falls at £0.1m.  Tevez and McAuley the most interesting