📝🗒 GW26 Team News Article (Patreon)

As there's no streams this weekend, let me firstly take you through what would have been on the graphics other than the predicted line-ups...

James' team:
Areola; Dalot, Gabriel, Torres; Saka (vc), Bailey, Bowen, Foden; Alvarez, Haaland (c), Watkins
Subs: Dubravka; Jota, Porro, Doughty

Correct Score Predictions:
Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Brighton 1-2 Everton
Crystal Palace 1-1 Burnley
Manchester United 2-0 Fulham
Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester City
Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle
Wolves 1-0 Sheffield United
West Ham 1-2 Brentford

Captaincy Top 10:
1. Erling Haaland
2. Bukayo Saka
3. Ollie Watkins
4. Phil Foden
5. Alejandro Garnacho
6. Julian Alvarez
7. Ivan Toney
8. Martin Odegaard
9. Hwang Hee-Chan
10. Pedro Neto

Don't think many of you will need it, but for the record
Benching Headaches:
Page 1
Dominic Solanke
Kevin De Bruyne
Jarrod Bowen
Douglas Luiz

Page 2
Gabriel
Jeremy Doku
Simon Adingra
Anthony Gordon

Page 3
Diogo Dalot
Pervis Estupinan
Paul Torres
Kieran Trippier

Page 4
Sergio Reguilon
Nathan Ake
Charlie Taylor
Jarrod Branthwaite
Marcos Senesi

Page 5
Andre Onana
David Raya
Mark Flekken
Alphonse Areola
Jordan Pickford


Key for Team News:
⚫️ Player Out for Season
🔴 Player out of this weekend (GW in brackets, if shown, indicates when that player is expected back)
🟠 25-50% likely to play
🟡 75% likely to play
The 🔴🟠🟡 is taken from FPL's site and correct as of 9pm GMT on Friday night
✅️ Indicates a player predicted to start who didn't start the last PL game
❌️ Indicates a player who started the last PL game but is not predicted to start
🔄 Unchanged line up predicted
🔹️Players in Bold are to indicate players who didn't start the last game but predicted to do so this time
🔹️Players in italic are to indicate a player who is predicted to play a different position
💭 Additional thoughts added to the Predictions for context


🦹‍♀️ Aston Villa
🔹️Konsa progressing well but remains out
🔹️Carlos & Duran are working on individual programmes
🔹️Kamara had his knee surgery op yesterday
🔹️No new issues
⚫️ Buendia (knee), Mings (knee), Kamara (knee)
🔴 Konsa (knee GW27), Carlos (hamstring GW29), Duran (hamstring ?)
🔄 Unchanged
(442) Martinez; Cash Lenglet Torres Moreno; Bailey McGinn Luiz Ramsey; Tielemans Watkins
💭 See no reason to think the team will change.
🆚️
🌳 Nottingham Forest
🔹️Awoniyi is fine and available for selection
🔹️Wood remains out
🔹️Montiel is back in training
🔹️Aina, Boly & Sangare have all returned from Afcon with injuries & Nuno stated they didn't have a date for their return
🔴 Wood (hamstring ?), Aina (knock ?), Boly (knock ?), Sangare (knock ?)
🟡 Montiel (hamstring)
✅️ Yates
❌️ Hudson-Odoi
(4231) Sels; Williams Felipe Murillo Tavares; Danilo Yates; Dominguez Gibbs-White Elanga; Awoniyi
💭 Thinking here is a little more protection against Villa's left. Dominguez can be tasked with specific roles. His may be to deal with Moreno here

🕊 Brighton
🔹️Joao Pedro is not expected back before the International break, so GW30 appears the earliest for a possible return
🔹️RDZ when asked if Mitoma can play said ‘I think not’. It appears he picked up a back problem before the victory at Sheffield United
🔹️Enciso rejoins the squad
🔴 March (knee ?), Milner (muscle ?), Joao Pedro (hamstring ?), Hinshelwood (foot ?)
🟠 Mitoma (back)
✅️ Estupinan, Fati
❌️ Webster, Mitoma
(4231) Verbruggen; Lamptey Van Hecke Dunk Estupinan; Gross Gilmour;
Adingra Buonanotte Fati; Welbeck
💭 This week's throw shit at a wall guess of what RDZ will do. I think Estupinan will play. But I did last week too
🆚️
🍬 Everton
🔹️Mykolenko took a knock on Monday and is a minor doubt but expected to be okay
🔹️No ill reaction for Doucoure after returning to the team on Monday
🔹️Coleman had been ill this week, he returned to training yesterday but wasn't feeling 100%
🔹️Danjuma is working hard to get fit as soon as possible
🔹️Gomes has been working on the grass, but no update from Dyche on when he can be expected back
🔹️Everyone else OK except Dele
🔴 Danjuma (ankle ?), Gomes (calf ?), Dele (groin ?)
🟡 Mykolenko (knock)
✅️ Harrison
❌️ Young
(4141) Pickford; Godfrey Tarkowski Branthwaite Mykolenko; Harrison Gueye Garner McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin
💭 Surely with the way Everton broke so successfully in the same fixture in May, Harrison will come back in

🦅 Crystal Palace
🔹️No new issues from Monday but no one returning either
🔹️That includes Eze who has trained the last few days but will rejoin the group fully next week in prep for GW27
🔹️Hughes also expected to return next week
🔹️Guehi & Olise set to be out longer
🔴 Eze (hamstring GW27), Hughes (knock GW27), Guehi (knee ?), Olise (hamstring ?), Holding (ankle ?), Rak-Sakyi (hamstring ?), Doucoure (achilles, GW38)
🔄 Unchanged
(343) Johnstone; Ward Andersen Richards; Munoz Lerma Wharton Mitchell; Ayew Mateta Edouard
💭 Hard to see Glasner changing from Monday's line up with how he wants his teams to play & what's available
🆚️
🍷 Burnley
🔹️Ramsey out for the season and likely to miss most of 2024. No specifics given but it was suspected to be an ACL injury
🔹️Foster might not play again this season
🔹️Beyer is doing well but nothing said on a potential return to the squad
🔹️Taylor returned as a sub last week
⚫️ Ramsey (knee), Redmond (leg)
🔴 Foster (muscle ?), Koleosho (knee GW38)
🟠 Beyer (knock)
✅️ Taylor
❌️ Delcroix, Ramsey
(442) Trafford; Assignon O’Shea Esteve Taylor; Gudmundsson Berge Brownhill Odobert; Fofana Amdouni
💭 Gudmundsson feels the obvious replacement for Ramsey & I expect Taylor to start after a sub app last week

😈 Manchester United
🔹️Hojlund has picked up a muscle injury that will keep him out for 2-3 weeks
🔹️The Athletic have reported that they expect Omari Forson to deputise upfront
🔹️A muscle injury will keep Shaw out for the majority of the rest of the season. A United statement said that they expect him to be out for a few months
🔹️Ten Hag confirmed after the win at Luton that the HT withdrawals of Maguire & Casemiro was tactical as they were on yellow cards & therefore not injured
🔴 Hojlund (muscle GW29), Wan-Bissaka (leg ?), Mount (calf ?), Malacia (knee ?), Martinez (knee GW30), Martial (groin GW32), Shaw (muscle GW38)
✅️ Lindelof, Forson
❌️ Shaw, Hojlund
(4231) Onana; Dalot Varane Maguire Lindelof; Casemiro Mainoo; Garnacho Fernandes Rashford; Forson
💭 Team picks itself if the Athletic report is correct. Rashford upfront, Garnacho on the left & a start for Antony would be the alternative
🆚️
🏠 Fulham
🔹️ Palhinha banned for 2 games after accumulating 10 yellow cards
🔹️Willian is a doubt and needs to be assesed
🔹️Broja has recovered from illness
🔹️Silva confirmed Bassey and Iwobi are now ready to start
🔹️Jimenez the only confirmed absentee
🟥 Palhinha (GW28)
🔴 Jimenez (hamstring GW30)
🟡 Willian (muscle)
✅️ Bassey, Reed, Iwobi, Wilson
❌️ Ream, Palhinha, Cairney, Willian
(433) Leno; Castagne Diop Bassey Robinson; Pereira Reed Iwobi;
Wilson Muniz Decordova-Reid
💭 With Palhinha suspended every chance Silva goes for more legs in midfield. Iwobi has plenty of energy and Reed is busy. Willian rather than Wilson if he passes fitness test

🍒 Bournemouth
🔹️Billing suspended for 1 more game
🔹️Faivre has been training normally all week having missed Newcastle through illness
🔹️No new reported problems
🟥 Billing (GW27)
🔴 Adams (hamstring GW27), Fredericks (calf ?), Aarons (hamstring), Hill (ankle GW29)
🔄 Unchanged
(4231) Neto; Smith Zabarnyi Senesi Kelly; Christie Cook; Semenyo Kluivert Tavernier; Solanke
💭 That's problem Bournemouth's best attacking four if they want to press and I suspect they will try
🆚️
💠 Manchester City
🔹️De Bruyne was rested on Tuesday as a precaution as he has niggles in his hamstring. He is not injured according to Pep.
🔹️Grealish injury not as bad as first feared & he could return next week.
🔹️Gvardiol also targeting a return next week
🔴 Gvardiol (ankle GW27), Grealish (muscle GW27)
✅️ Ake, Doku
❌️ Akanji, Bobb
(4141) Ederson; Walker Stones Dias Ake; Rodri; Alvarez Foden Silva Doku; Haaland
💭 Tough to know where we're at with KDB but being a sub seems the most likely option. Walker & Doku to hold the width. Silva to drop to help with control/build up

⛔️ Arsenal
🔹️Jesus and Partey are ‘very close’ to a return
🔹️Vieira returned to the squad in midweek
🔹️Tomorrow is likely to be too soon for Zinchenko
🔹️Tomiyasu remains out
🔹️Arteta is hopeful that Timber can play again this season
🔴 Timber (ACL)
🟠 Tomiyasu (calf)
🟡 Partey (fitness), Jesus (knee), Zinchenko (calf), Smith-Rowe (ankle)
🔄 Unchanged
(4123) Raya; White Saliba Gabriel Kiwior; Rice; Odegaard Havertz; Saka Trossard Martinelli
💭 Only thing nagging at me with this is that eleven started both games this week. Suspect something will change but hard to say what
🆚️
🦓 Newcastle
🔹️Isak could return. But he may need to be managed for the rest of the season. There have been some reports that he may have an op to remedy his ongoing groin problem at the end of the season
🔹️Willock is hoping to be involved having trained this week
🔹️Schar is available for selection despite concerns over a wrist injury
⚫️ Tonali (suspended)
🔴 Anderson (back GW27), Targett (hamstring GW27), Pope (shoulder GW31), Joelinton (thigh GW36), Wilson (Pectoral GW37)
🟡 Isak (groin), Willock (fitness)
🔄 Unchanged
(433) Dubravka; Trippier Schar Botman Burn; Longstaff Guimarães Miley; Almiron Gordon Barnes
💭Lots of talk in the build-up of protecting Isak & I suspect they may do so. I also don't think it's impossible Newcastle go to a back 5 with Livramento outside of Burn to deal with Saka

🐺 Wolves
🔹️Cunha is not expected to return before GW30 but reports suggesting he may miss the rest of the season appear incorrect
🔹️Everyone else is available for selection
🔹️Kalajdzic on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt has suffered another ACL injury
🔴 Cunha (hamstring GW30)
🔄 Unchanged
(343) Sa; Kilman Dawson Toti Gomes; Semedo Lemina Joao Gomes Ait-Nouri; Sarabia Hwang Neto
💭 See no reason why that won't be the team
🆚️
⚔️ Sheffield United
🔹️Holgate to serve 3 game suspension
🔹️Wilder's comments about giving Grbic more time following his concussion suggest he may be back in goal on Sunday
🔹️Archer hobbled out of training on Saturday prior to Brighton defeat with a tight calf
🔹️Wilder said after the game that Diaz had not been close tona return
🔹️Wilder also said Lowe would be out for the season after he damaged ankle ligaments blocking a shot at Luton in GW24. He's had 1 op already & is set for another one
🔹️Norrington-Davies will also miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury
🔹️On Egan it's unlikely he returns before the end of the season but not ruled out yet
🔹️Same isn't true for the unfortunate Basham who Wilder said was ‘just getting back to leading a normal life’
🟥 Holgate (GW29/30)
⚫️ Lowe (ankle), Norrington-Davies (hamstring), Basham (ankle)
🔴 Jebbison (illness GW28), Egan (leg GW37)
🟡 Baldock (muscle), Diaz (hamstring), Archer (calf)
✅️ Grbic, Trusty, McBurnie
❌️ Foderingham, Holgate, Osborn
(352) Grbic; Ahmedhodzic Robinson Trusty; Bogle McAtee Souza Hamer Larouci; McBurnie Osula
💭 Expecting something a bit more offensive so perhaps a deeper role for McAtee. But after last weeks latest shocker there's a number of things Wilder might do. Back 4 might even be 1 of the options

⚒️ West Ham United
🔹️Phillips serves 1 game ban
🔹️Paqueta is back in training
🟥 Phillips (GW27)
🟡 Paqueta (calf)
✅️ Paqueta
❌️ Phillips
(4231) Areola; Coufal Zouma Aguerd Emerson; Ward-Prowse Alvarez; Bowen Kudus Paqueta; Antonio
💭 Crowd need a lift. Suspect Paqueta will go straight in
🆚️
🐝 Brentford
🔹️No new issues from defeat at City. Frank confirmed Dasilva will miss the rest of the season after having a knee op
🔹️None of those absent on Tuesday will return
🔹️Pinnock is expected to be out until after the March Internationals
🔹️Mbeumo is also thought unlikely to return before then
⚫️ Henry (ACL), DaSilva (knee)
🔴 Schade (muscle), Hickey (hamstring), Mbeumo (ankle GW30), Pinnock (ankle GW30)
✅️ Jensen, Maupay
❌️ Onyeka, Wissa
(352) Flekken; Zanka Ajer Mee; Roerslev Jensen Norgaard Janelt Reguilon; Maupay Toney
💭 Think Frank would like to play a back 4 but a bit short until the wide areas to do so. Jensen should come back in. Think Maupay will too


The latest on the 4 teams who don't play in the Premier League this weekend...

🧿 Chelsea
🔹️Sanchez has been training all week
🔹️Silva will be assessed tomorrow to see if he can play Sunday's final
🔹️Cucurella is back in partial training
🔴 Chukwuemeka (ankle), Ugochukwu (hamstring), Lavia (thigh), Cucurella (ankle GW28), Badiashile (muscle), James (hamstring), Fofana (knee)
🟡 Silva (groin)

🔴 Liverpool
🔹️Salah, Nunez & Szoboszlai will all be assessed ahead of Sunday's final
🔹️Alisson, Alexander-Arnold & Jota will not be back before GW30
🔹️Jones might return before the March International break
⚫️ Matip (ACL)
🔴 Thiago (muscle), Bajcetic (calf), Doak (knee), Jones (shin GW29), Alisson (hamstring GW30), Alexander-Arnold (knee GW30), Jota (knee)
🟡 Szoboszlai (muscle),

🎩 Luton Town
🔹️Lokonga was withdrawn at HT at Liverpool with a hamstring injury. He previously missed 3 months this season through a similar problem
🔹️Doughty was forced off in the 2md half at Liverpool but Rob Edwards said after that he expected him to be available for next Tuesday's FA Cup tie with Man City
🔹️No definitive timeline given yet on Adebayo’s hamstring injury that forced him to miss all of DGW25
🔹️Brown out for the foreseeable future having had an op to repair his cartilage on his knee earlier this week
🔹️Andersen is due to see a specialist having suffered repeat setbacks to a calf problem when he's been close to a return
🔴 Andersen (calf), Nakamba (knee), Lokonga (hamstring), Lockyer (illness), Brown (knee)
🟡 Adebayo (hamstring)

🐓 Tottenham Hotspur
🔹️Sessegnon got injured again playing for the u21s last Saturday
🔹️Porro responded to a query from an FPL manager on Instagram and said “don't sell me”. He & Udogie both hope to return in GW27
🔹️Soloman is hoping to rejoin training next week
🔴 Soloman (knee), Sessegnon (hamstring), Forster (foot GW33)
🟠 Udogie (knee), Porro (muscle)
Vicario
Royal Romero Van De Ven Davies
Sarr Bissouma Maddison
Kulusevski Richarlison Son

Accuracy of Predictions this season:
🐺 256/275 (93%)
🦹‍♀️ 254/275 (92%)
🦓 254/275 (92%)
🍬 254/275 (92%)
🐓 252/275 (92%)
🦅 252/275 (92%)
⚒️ 245/275 (89%)
⛔️ 244/275 (89%)
🐝 234/264 (89%)
🔴 239/275 (87%)
🧿 237/275 (86%)
🍷 224/264 (85%)
😈 231/275 (84%)
🍒 231/275 (84%)
🏠 230/275 (84%)
⚔️ 230/275 (84%)
🎩 221/264 (84%)
💠 217/264 (82%)
🌳 210/275 (77%)
🕊 205/275 (75%)

Have a great weekend everyone.

James