Monday musings….

Arsenal 5 Derby 0

Adebayor a superb hat-trick hero. Fabregas instrumental again and they had the luxury of resting him after 71 minutes. RVP an unused sub. Walcott started. Gallas and Eboue still out injured.

Avoid all Derby player at all costs.

Fulham 3 Man City 3

Healy preferred to Kamara up front with Dempsey supporting. Danny Murphy came off the bench to grab an equaliser and come close to a winner. Mpenza (scored following a Petrov shot) played alone in attack. Corluka, Richards, Dunne and Garrido look to be the first choice defence. Martin Petrov earned glowing praise from Sven for his two goal performance.

Liverpool 0 Birmingham 0

Arbeloa preferred to Finnan at right back with Riise playing at left back. Hyypia came in for the injured Agger. Kuyt and Voronin started with Torres (quality when he came on) and Crouch used as subs.Jerome played the lone striker role with support from Kapo. Birmingham packed the midfield and battled to a deserved point.

Middlesbrough 2 Sunderland 2

Striker crisis at ‘Boro with Mido (hamstring), Sanli and Aliadiere all injured. Arca (1st minute goal) also off injured and out for two months. 3rd goal of the season for Downing - 32 points and the 3rd best midfielder in the game.

Jones and Chopra started again. It was Chopra’s shot that led to the first goal. Equaliser came from Liam Miller who was on a sub for Etuhu.

Reading 2 Wigan 1

Great 90th minute winner from James Harper following excellent reverse pass from Kitson, who also bagged the first goal after Doyle’s weak shot was spilled by Kirkland. Rosenior played at right midfield.

Sibierski was fit to partner Marcus Bent who scored the Wigan goal from a Koumas (excellent throughout) corner. Kilbane played at left back!

Aston Villa 2 Everton 0

Carew having a scan for knee injury. Harewood on as a sub although he nearly came to blows with team mate Agbonlahor after the final whistle!

Yakubu dropped for Anichebe. Another fruitless day for Andy Johnson following his two missed penalties in the UEFA Cup. Arteta not involved at all - no injury details. Rested?

Blackburn 0 Portsmouth 1

UEFA Cup hangover for Blackburn. Dunn and McCarthy both subbed after just 53 minutes.

Matt Taylor still only a sub for Pompey. Diop in favour in central midfield. Kanu and Utaka partnering well up front - both have 26 points.

Bolton 1 Spurs 1

Campo scored on his first start of the season by heading home Diouf’s free-kick. Kevin Davies (as I suggested he should last week!) started. Jaaskelainen in top form.

Gareth Bale (no injury news) not in the squad for Spurs. Keane followed up Jenas’ shot for the goal. Bent and Lennon were late subs for Berbatov and Tainio. Huddlestone an unused sub.

Man Utd 2 Chelsea 0

Saha (scored a pen) still being used from the bench. Ronney straight back in and he played the full 90 minutes. Nani an unused sub.

Ben Haim preferred as Terry’s partner at the back. Belleti dropped with Ferreira chosen at right back. Shevchenko only lasted 59 minutes. SWP came on as a sub for Malouda in the 69th minute.

Newcastle 3 West Ham 1

Owen limped off and seems set for a hernia operation. Taylor started on the bench but came on for Cacapa (groin strain) in the 79th minute. N’Zogbia notched up two KC’s and a goal in his first start as a player in YTM. Three goals in five starts for Viduka.

Two in two for Dean Ashton who partnered Carlton Cole and will be back in the England squad very soon. Noble shone in midfield. Hammers missed Bellamy’s speed and played a more direct game.

I’m still waiting for some much needed advice for my office mini league team!

I went with the following line-up:

Reina, Arbeloa, Baines, Evra, McCartney, Barry, Lampard, Ronaldo, Healy, Mido, Torres.

What do you reckon? Where can I improve? Please help!

Cheers,

Tom