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Sep 27

Weekend Team News

Mark • Related • Filed Under

The sweepstake for Rafa’s team selection starts here. Anyone who can correctly name the Liverpool lineup for the weekend wins the right to feel smug at least until Wednesday when it all gets shuffled around again. I’ve had a go at predicting the rest of the lineups for the weekend, hopefully with a little more success, here.

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There are currently 18 responses

  1. Gravatar Kent on 27 September 2007 3:02 pm

    Anyone have any opinions about Blackburn’s lack of offense? I just let Bentley go for Petrov…which pisses me off because I had Petrov three weeks ago based on watching a single City game (and his form) and didn’t pull the trigger. Stupid me!

    Also, this season seems to be shaking out in a unique way and I don’t know if you all agree or not. What I mean by that (in short) is that the Premiership is so competitive now (save Derby) that points (real and fantasy) are everywhere to be had and for cheap up and down the table. Other than Fabregas, no player is dominating the league and forwards (to me anyway) appear overvalued…midfield points come cheap if you want them (Smertin, Dempsey, Koumas, Scharner, etc) and we’re seeing clean sheets up and down the table. Is it early? Sure. But, when Benintez sits Torres every other game and Brum draws ‘em and Chelsea’s in turmoil and Spurs and Bolton play like Preston North End (sorry Preston fans), it opens opportunities for everyone else.

    I’ve switched my formations to a 4-5-1 with Van Persie up front and Utaka and Chopra on the bench. So far it’s working okay and I’ve only been stung by not having Fabregas as my captain every week. Oops!

    Any other players that people think are about to take off?

    Current line up: VanderSar, Geremi, Bale, Richards, Vidic, Petrov, Fabregas, Milner, Essien, Barry, Van Persie. Bench: Chopra, Utaka, Ingimarsson (sp?), Gordon.

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  2. Gravatar Magee on 27 September 2007 4:20 pm

    I notice Rooney is absent from your forward scout pick of the week. I thought he looked pretty fit against Chelsea over the weekend. Any reason for his exclusion?

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  3. Gravatar Mad on 27 September 2007 9:32 pm

    It’s been long time since Rooney’s last goal. And with MU’s current performance I believe it’s not wise to spend 12.0 on him :)

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  4. Gravatar Magee on 27 September 2007 10:29 pm

    True, but I feel like when he and MU get it together, it’ll be a huge output.

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  5. Gravatar Sam on 27 September 2007 11:42 pm

    Has anyone else stuck with Malouda? I’m giving him one last chance at home to Fulham, but that’s it… if he doesn’t get at least 6 points he’s off

    Also, been thinking it’s about time to get rid of Downing. He’s been excellent so far, but their upcoming fixtures in the next month look very difficult for Middlesbrough in terms of scoring goals. Could Bentley be a worthwhile replacement?

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  6. Gravatar Kent on 28 September 2007 4:19 am

    I just dropped Bentley, but it’s likely only a matter of time. Upcoming fixtures? Maybe Portsmouth. They just ended a run against the big four AND won’t be tired from European games.

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  7. Gravatar new_xieland on 28 September 2007 6:29 am

    @ Kent

    So true… none of the big expensive forwards are performing anywhere near their potential. What happened to the good old days of fantasy football when you brought Henry and left him captain for the season :D

    Also Fabregas is bit of a mixed blessing. Yeah sure he’s scoring points like there’s no tomorrow but because of that now three quarters of my league’s team have him -___-*

    Do you guys think Bale will play this weekend? I mean he looks fantastic when he gets on the pitch but as a long term investment (6million is pretty pricey for a defender) , I wonder how much game time will Jol give him…

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  8. Gravatar Andrew Hawkins on 28 September 2007 11:12 am

    Hi Mark

    Unfortunately your ‘contact’ page seems to be closed for comment. If you could contact me I would be appreciated.

    Thanks

    Andrew

    [Reply]

  9. Gravatar Stevo 0-0 on 28 September 2007 12:33 pm

    Not a bad time fixture wise to get Bentley, but he doesn’t look like he’s about to hit form. Petrov looks a more solid buy, or even Johnson at Man City, as he has already scored twice at home this season and is a snip.

    I wouldn’t touch Downing over the next few weeks. I guess he might be worth keeping as a sub (?)

    Fabregas is such an obvious choice, but his form must dip at some stage, and that’ll be the point at which choicing a captain will become interesting. He may well draw a blank this weekend. With no obvious points scoring fixtures this weekend it’ll be tricky, but it’s a chance to gain on people by making bold choices. Midfielders are the ’safe’ choice for weekends like this one. Depends if you wanna risk it and go for say, Torres, who could do really well. Most people will chose Fabregas as captain simply because he offers the best chance of points at present, but that doesn’t mean to say he will. Choose someone else that does better and you’re a genius, but if you choose wrong you look like an idiot, and fall behind.

    The bonus points pushes you to choose certain players as captain. If it wasn’t so set with the likes of Fabregas and Essien getting all the bonuses then it’d be tempting to choice a defender as captain or take a punt on a forward, but we all know forwards only get bonuses if they score, and defenders don’t get much credit unless it’s 0-0. In conclusion - Fab as captain (again).

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  10. Gravatar Stevo 0-0 on 28 September 2007 12:49 pm

    Other ‘options’ for captain this weekend;
    1) Torres
    2) Ronaldo
    3) Gerrard
    4) Rooney

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  11. Gravatar Gobbi on 28 September 2007 1:20 pm

    Safest Bet this week - Utaka scoring vs. Reading

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  12. Gravatar Daz on 28 September 2007 2:24 pm

    I think Bentley for Downing is the way to go. Dont want to over-egg the Downing pudding ! You have to figure Bentley and Blackburn in general will discover some form soon and they have a good run of games now … he also scored in the League Cup during the week !

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  13. Gravatar Mad on 28 September 2007 2:55 pm

    I’ve been wondering if Ronaldo and Rooney will ever be performing again .. MU just don’t play that beautiful fast football they used to play..

    Gerrard has been in a down form ..

    Torres.. benched again by super R”otatious”afa? :D

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  14. Gravatar Mad on 28 September 2007 2:56 pm

    Btw, where is the link for “The sweepstake for Rafa’s team selection” ?

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  15. Gravatar JK on 28 September 2007 4:02 pm

    FYI Drogba will be back for the game against Fulham this weekend…. I would def bank on him over Torres for the near future anyway…

    There is of course the issue of £1.5m price difference!

    Has anyone else decided to stick all their eggs in the Arsenal basket!? Ive gone with Fabregas, Adebayor and van P this week - and probably stick with it for the next few…. The way i see it they are the only ones in EPL playing football and scoring goals at the mo… and now every time arsenal do score im pretty much guaranteed to be in the points some how!! :-) I can see game this weekend finsihing West Ham 2 - 3 Arsenal. Or to that effect..

    JK ;-)

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  16. Gravatar Sam on 29 September 2007 2:43 am

    I’m not so sure about 2-3 JK. Even as a Gooner myself I could see a 1-1 draw this weekend. As I’m not top of my mini-league i face a bit of a captain dilemna. Choose someone other than Fabregas and hope something brilliant happens and I catch the leaders but risk falling further behind, or follow the trend and have Cesc as captain and hope the rest of my players make up the difference.

    I’m currently thinking Evra could be a possible captain this week. Man U will probably keep a clean sheet at Birmingham, plus I’m convinced Evra is going to get a goal sometime soon. Possible captain choices for me this week are:

    1. Fabregas - the safe option
    2. Adebayor - good option if you think Arsenal will score lots
    3. Malouda - has something to prove
    4. Evra - solid clean sheets, plus goal threat
    5. Anelka - Bolton’s best chance of goals, plus playing Derby

    Any opinions on who to pick will be appreciated

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  17. Gravatar Alex on 29 September 2007 4:50 am

    Liverpool strikers are too high a risk for the amount of game time they get.
    I am banking on strikers to do their job this weekend with the following formation…
    Gordon
    Evra, Richards, Geremi
    Gerrard, Petrov, Downing, Fabregas
    Anelka, Van Persie, Santa Cruz

    Dempsey, Scharner, Shorey on bench

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  18. Gravatar Castor Troy on 4 October 2007 12:29 pm

    Well done Alex

    Anelka RVP and S.Cruz :)

    Good call !

    [Reply]

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