Baines is my fifth defender. I was planning on including him even though he will perhaps miss the first couple of GWs, and just waiting it out until he is healthy thereby saving my free transfers for bandwagons, unforeseen injuries to my team, etc. Unfortunately, I will need my fifth defender for GW2 because I also have Eboue and Geremi both of which I am planning to bench in GW2 rather than trade out then back in again after GW2. The reason for this is that I'm loving the opening fixtures for both Arsenal and Newcastle. I'd like to make sure that both Eboue and Geremi are in my team. So yeah, I need to temporarily replace Baines until I know he is healthy.

It sounds like there is still a possibility albeit very slight that Baines will be healthy for the weekend. In the event that he isn't, the 4.5 defenders I'm looking at to replace him are Onuoha (MC), Scharner (WI), and Halford (SU). Taking into consideration GW2's fixtures, these are the only three that seem worth it.


GW2 fixtures for the related teams:

Derby AT Manchester City - good home game for Onuoha, but will he start and play 90 minutes?

Middlesbrough AT Wigan - good home game for Scharner, who, I think, is playing in midfield.

Sunderland AT Birmingham - not a home game for Halford, but still might be a decent match up. Although there can sometimes be lots of goals scored when two of these types of teams play one another, which obviously isn't great for defensive points.


My main concern is making sure I pick a defender that will start and play 90 minutes. Because it's only for GW2, potential assists and goals are of secondary importance to potential for a clean sheet and playing 90 minutes - although goals and assists are obviously always welcome. I'm leaning towards Onuoha, especially because City host Derby in GW2, but am unsure what the story is with him. Any insights? Of the three, who would you pick? Did I miss anyone?

Onuoha's place is under severe threat from Corluka - but no-one knows how long this transition will take. A risk. Garrido looks a more likely starter at the same price.

Also consider Boro's Taylor

So the other 4.5 priced defenders so far are:

Garrido (MC)
Taylor (MI)
Michalik (BW) - has been mentioned in the Bolton defenders thread and plays FU in GW2

Any others?

Bouma of Villa at 4.5 may be good while waiting for Baines. He's a guarenteed starter. What about West Ham defenders? Many of them are 4.5m. Only problem is it's hard to know what back four they will start with, but Collins could be a good bet. He's arguably their best defender.

Is Halford injured

Slightly.

Forgot Villa and WHU aren't playing GW2. On second thoughts I'd go with Scharner.

Wigan have two of the very few fixtures they could conceivably keep clean sheets in throughout the entire season in Gameweeks 2 and 3:

Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Wigan v Middlesbrough, 20:00.
Saturday, 18 August 2007
Wigan v Sunderland, 15:00.

Scharner by a country mile, the only issue you have is will he get 2/3 60m games?

For Wigan's pre-season friendlies, the midfields lined up thus:

Position: ----Right mid---Centre mid--Centre mid--Left mid
V Fc Zwolle: - Cotterill---Scharner---Moore---Koumas
V Den Bosch: Cotterill---Scharner---Landzaat---Koumas
V Blackpool:- Cotterill---Scharner---Koumas----Valencia
V Halifax: ----Valencia---Scharner---Landzaat---Koumas

Then psycho Brown is signed from Fulham...

V Barnsley: -- Valencia---Scharner--Landzaat---Koumas - Brown came on for Scharner after 73 minutes

V Leeds Utd:-- Valencia---Brown-----Landzaat---Koumas - Scharner came on for Landzaat after 46 minutes

The main problem here is you've got Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Koumas, Brown, Skoko if he resurfaces, Kilbane if Wigan sign another defender, Cotterill vying for four spots. Koumas has one sewn up, leaving you (worst case scenario) 7 players contesting three spots. Not good odds.