Heres the news of the day for fantasy premier league managers on the 19 September 2012. Includes the champs league games for Man City and Arsenal plus Rooney, Ba, Cisse, Man U’s GKs, Wilkinson and price rises and falls
R Madrid 3 Man City 2
Mancini suddenly changed his philosphy on away games by picking Nasri and Silva. He also picked Maico and Nastasic in what was a huge gamble against one of the worlds best attacking forces. The gamble was a huge failure, except if you are a fantasy premier league owner of Zabaleta. Maicon was dreadful and why you would put a rookie like Nastasic in against that attack is beyond me. Real had 45 shots on goal, yes thats right 45. What is going on with last years best edfence. Even Kompany, widely reagarded as the best defender last year, looked dreadful. Ive personally got bigger problems to solve in my team than Zabaleta but after this performance by Maicon he should be safe for a few games until Richards is back to full fitness. My lack of concern over Zab’s presence in my team is also assisted by the fact that City’s fixtures are getting alot better soon.
If the defence raised more questions over their presence in fantasy premier league managers teams, attack wise only YYT and Dzeko came out of the game with any credit.
Montpellier 1 Arsenal 2
Diaby came in for Coquelin and The Ox made way for returning hero Giroud. Mannone started again. Podolski and Cazorla were again the stars in this match and any fantasy premier league managers would have been impressed. Arsenal just need to get over City away and Chelsea H before the fixtures really hot up.
Rooney
The Mail who report the sun, bizzarely, are running a story that Rooney has been back in training for 5 days and may be on the bench for the Champs league match against Galatassary and will almost certainly be available for the clash against Liverpool. This will probably make fantasy premier league owners of Kagawa very nervous as the natural fit for the 2 is RVP up top with Rooney just behind. It will be interesting to assess the relationship between RVP and Rooney and who will beneeift or be burdened by each others presence
Ba and Cisse
Norwich at Home isnt the juicy fixture it once was with the Canaries showing some steel after the opening drubbing against Fulham. Cisse wont be travelling to Portugal for their Europa Cup game. Ba isnt for reasons not explained but assuming the whole I dont understand the club and my role within it stuff blows over the rest will certainly be welcomed before the weekend for fantasy premier league managers who are worried about him being jaded with a game on Sunday after games on Monday and thursday.
Lindegaard/De Gea
As if I needed a further slap in the face for leaving De Gea uncovered SAF in his press conference made my decison seem even more misguided
Here he is as quoted in the Daily Mail
Ferguson said there is a ‘strong possibility’ he will recall David de Gea in place of Anders Lindegaard for Wednesday night’s Champions League opener at home to Galatasaray.
Andy Wilkinson
Charged with Violent conduct for the elbow on the weekend agaisnt Ballotelli. A 3 match ban looks inevitable. Cameron looks the likely beneficiary along with maybe Shotton
Price rises and falls
With rises only change from yesterday is Cazorla has increased by £0.1m in total in the game week. The falls are too numerous to mention although no one yet has fallen by £0.2m
Thats it for today