Nearly all of us are losing Africans this week as they go off to the Cup of Nations, so Ba/Yaya a plenty.

I'm thinking:
Brunt McClean
Ba Balotelli

Thoughts?

Wait and see for me, mainly on the fitness of Gallas and Jagielka, and anyone I think of signing who might play in the FA Cup and get injured by lower league hackers. Really hope RvP is rested against Leeds...

Drenthe Sessegnon already done

Definitely Drenthe Sess

Also, looking at potentially beneficiaries from the African Cup departures but it looks slim pickings.

Ba's absence means 2 forwards roles between Best/Shola/Ben Arfa, but still no clarity as to who will play.
Drogba's absence benefits Torres but I won't be burned again!

Sturridge Yak already done

Tempting to use the wildcard and upgrade my bench with the money this generates but think it's probably best hold fire for now..

Don't know if i'll bother

Waiting to see if anyone gets injured in the Spurs-Everton game, or if Jags/Osman picked up injuries relating to their early departures last night.

If not, I may do Tiote McLean, but with me likely WC'ing soon, i'll only move if prices look set to drop/rise

Very similar team to me Ton. That is all!

Sadly, not wide of the mark these days

Ba Yakubu

That's all for this week. Going to save my WC until some new names appear I think.

None. Saving for two transfers for next GW and after that it's time to use my January wildcard (perhaps)

Drenthe Sessegnon
Rooney Aguero

Both already done. May Wayne Rooney never darken my team again until he gets his bloody act together. Biggest waste of money in the game I can remember. He can score 5 goals against Bolton, I'm still happy to not have to look at him in my team any more.

Both free, will be wildcarding soon.

Can you actually get onto the site tonight?

Nay, it appears to be having problems at the mo. I did both of my transfers yesterday.

Damn... can't decide.

Ba Yakubu
or
Ba Sturridge

Mario has an ankle injury and sits out this weekend if that changes your thinking. Not sure how long he's out for.

Cheers, wasn't aware he was still carrying it.

Jagielka Ryan Taylor

They've got a decent few GW's and apparently he started on the right wing against Utd.

Jag's injury made it a no-brainer.

May yet use wildcard if Drenthe is a no-show again, Sturridge's going to be out or anyone gets injured in FA Cup / Spurs vs. Everton.

Ba Yak for now. I wasn't sure who to get, so just jumped onto a bandwagon to get a price rise.

I've gone for:

Brunt Cabaye
Ba Agbonlahor

Nani Gerrard

Dropping nani?!

He's been just awful of late. Wouldn't be at all surprised if he's dropped against Bolton. Gerrard on the other hand has looked great in his last few games, the only concern was fitness. But he started his first match last night and was involved in everything, looked sharp. Next three Liverpool fixtures are reasonable enough.

Gerrard wasn't that bril against Oldham... mediocre at best. Bellamy, again, looked on fire!

Dropping Nani at home to Bolton is a massive risk surely. Any ideas of him being rested is purely speculating. He got big points hauls against Fulham and Wolves not too long ago.

I'd be careful with this if I were you - raylor looks to have finally lost his place to santon.

And Obertan to R. Taylor

Ryan Taylor was preferred for for one game over Obertan, against Man U when the added defensive solidity may have been welcome. PErsonally I think Obertan is a terrible player, but I won't be taking this as evidence he is dropped. Equally I don't think Taylor has been permanently usurped by Santon, but that makes all three players uncertain. R Taylor is thus a hold but not a buy imo.

I think this sums up the situation. Pardew:

“Santon’s had to be patient, but he put his marker down on the left-back slot for probably the rest of the year.

“Ryan Taylor will have something to say about that, but he didn’t do such a bad job himself in that midfield role. We have plenty of nice assets to come out of the game.”

(from http://www.jarrowandhebburngazette.com/ ... _1_4117199)

I read that as saying santon now has the left back slot. I think Raylor will fill in at LB, RB, and RW when others are not fit but is no longer in our best eleven. Pardew has jumped at every chance to defend obertan thus far and I can't see him being dropped when fit at the moment.

(this is probably in the wrong thread so have reposted in (one of the) the dedicated raylor thread.)

Sorry folks, I did Jags to Kompany this morning! I guess the 3 game ban starts straight away?

Yes - immediate start. Misses 2 PL games. Will they appeal?