Updated Player Rankings
I’ve had my usual shufty over the player rankings after the weekend’s games. Click the headings in your right-hand menu to get my view on how players line up for the next five games for each position, then have a read of the rest of this post to get some idea of the latest movers and shakers.
The keeper situation is a tough one over the next five. James appears to have the best fixtures overall and he climbs to second place, but I’m still sticking to Van der Sar for the top spot, simply because United are pulling away in terms of clean sheets and you have to back their defence against anyone. James is certainly a great option though.
Howard drops with Everton conceding over the last two and with Liverpool and Chelsea over the next five. Hart climbs slightly with decent fixtures to come, while Kirkland drops with an injury doubt and loss of form. Green is a new entry with good fixtures and Sunderland’s Gordon replaces Friedel as a long-shot, with better fixtures over the five. Cech is still out of the reckoning through injury, but he’ll replace Cudicini at some point in the next fortnight, so he’s a likely high entry in the rankings very soon.
In defence the top four hold firm with Distin remaining above Lescott with better fixtures. As always, Hreidarsson offers a good, cheap alternative whilst Pamarot is still sidelined. Scharner drops after the performance at Blackburn and the injuries and suspensions Wigan have suffered. Shorey climbs above him with a good run of games - Bikey presents a more “spectacular” alternative here although you may have missed the boat with that one. Dunne is a re-entry with better form and okay fixtures. Geremi, Nosworthy, West Ham’s Ferdinand and Fulham’s Hangerland provide long-shot options with decent fixtures.
The top of the midfield rankings stays pretty solid, although the threat of rest and rotation hangs over all the top players here. Bullard climbs with good fixtures, as does Bentley with form. Jenas drops with uncertainty over his place and Huddlestone is a new entry as a result of that uncertainty. Both have decent fixtures over the next five. Hunt is a climber with good fixtures, so Barry suffers a slight drop. Reid and Richardson are long shots with decent games to come.
Up front, Berbatov holds on to top spot with good fixtures and decent form. Torres drops to third with the threat of rest and rotation on the rise for him, plus a slight injury doubt. Yakubu edges above him as a result. Defoe climbs to fourth with good fixtures and form. Santa Cruz goes above Adebayor in fifth with stronger form. Young drops slightly as Villa stutter. Ashton is a high new entry with form and fixtures both looking good.
Drogba climbs with form, although he remains a risk with Anelka and the Champions League a factor. Rooney replaces Tevez but rotation remains a concern with him. Viduka and Owen are new entries with good form and fixtures. Kitson and Forssell climb slightly with decent games to come. Benjani continues to drop as City struggle for goals.
That’s it for now then. Let us know your thoughts on that little lot…
I bought Nosworthy yesterday as a swap for Wheater then found out I should have waited as he’s got a bad ankle!
Sunderland’s next 6 fixtures look good. They’ll be kicking themselves if they get relegated.
And I’ll be kicking myself if Nosworthy is out for any time!!!!!
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Reply by TheNecromancer on March 25, 2008 9:31 pm:
Silly Moz.
Here’s my formula:
Mon-Thurs is for mulling.
Friday’s for deciding.
I am way too sober early in the week to be trusted with such important decisions.
That’ll learn ya.
Cheers,
TheN
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Reply by Alex on March 25, 2008 9:36 pm:
I usually don’t decide until Saturday morning (well, afternoon, we’re one hour ahead here).
Problem this week is I’m going on hols Thursday with probably no access to a computer before the deadline.
Have to decide soon. Sucks.
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Reply by TheNecromancer on March 25, 2008 10:17 pm:
Being GMT-8 hrs means that I have to have my lineup set by 4am Sat morning.
Unless the dear wife is out of town and a right proper session is ongoing, I usually make my last-minute, points-losing changes Fri night.
Heading to the mountains this evening for some skiing. Gods and Steve Jobs willing I will sneak some time and make the ill-fated changes via my handy dandy iPhone whilst drinking in the hot tub. Can anyone say Captain McBride?
Happy Trails,
-TheNecromancer
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Reply by puffinboy on March 25, 2008 10:41 pm:
You sound like you have far too nice a life, Necky. I hope your team lays an egg this week.
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Reply by TheNecromancer on March 25, 2008 11:16 pm:
Ha! Been eating nice omlettes for the better part of 10 weeks now, thank you.
I seem to have developed a remarkable knack for choosing the 1 or 2 players in Mark’s starting XI that suck wind for that particular week. Last week was a trifecta with Downing, Berb and Wheater.
-TheNecromancer
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Reply by Mark on March 25, 2008 10:31 pm:
I reckon you’ll be fine with Nosworthy Moz. Early noise on him sounds like a minor injury - West Ham look like scoring at the mo so if he misses this week and is back for the next 4-5 it might not be a bad thing.
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Reply by Alex on March 25, 2008 11:08 pm:
But if you’d have to choose between him and Boyce this week? I went for Nosworthy.
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Reply by theMoz on March 26, 2008 5:19 pm:
good to hear that. Thx Mark.
My other defenders are Vidic, Clichy, Jagielka and O’Brien. So, Jaggy goes on the bench and it’s a toss up between O’brien and Nosworthy.
I think Sunderland will be very very determined from here and Boltonmust be losing heart
Or does anyone see a Bolton 0 - Arsenal 0 result?
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Hi,
I swapped McFadden out for Hleb in the end - he’s cheap and Wenger was playing him off Adebeyor - just need Arsenal to score some goals…
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Excellent as usual Mark!
I have taken in Shorey this week cos his value is rising… also seriously considering taking in Berbatov for Adebayor
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I reckon I’ll have to transfer out McFadden now. Question is-who for?
At the momement it’s between K. Jones and D. Kitson, but I’m not sure who to go with.
Who’d you think?
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Reply by Mark on March 26, 2008 8:17 am:
Could be a doubt over Jones for the weekend - Trinidad and Tobago could kick-off over being denied him for their international this week and get FIFA to prevent him from playing. See the news links at the top of the page.
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Reply by Reg on March 26, 2008 8:18 am:
I’d go for Jones, Sunderland have the better fixtures coming up so I reckon he could return to form.
Any news on the injury rumours for Cahill?
Doh, spoke too soon - Mark knows best.
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I´d have a look at Zarate, he should get a couple of games now McFadden´s out, and although his club Al Sadd are clearly having a laugh with their 20 million pound valuation, they did pay 10m for him originally and he played a big part in Argentina´s under-20 World cup winning team. With a goal and a bonus point in his first game, maybe worth a gamble. Depends if you´re playing catch-up maybe! Man City (h) and Wigan (a) next two for Bir…. Just a thought.
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Mark,
Any news on the Cahill injury?
Thanks,
Tom
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Reply by Jamie on March 26, 2008 9:31 am:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pag.....ge_id=1779
Don´t think anything is confirmed yet though
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So mcFadden is prob out for the next 2 games yeah? after that birms games get a bit tougher so it prob aint worth holding on2 mcF? what u reckon?
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Yeah Tim, I’d get rid if I was you. At very least his value will fall. My main rival in my league had McFadden and have already got rid. Wise move I reckon!
Defoe would be a better replacement and similar price
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Hi peeps
Injured Cahill is upsetting my team.
Around his value leaves me choices
such as lennon, barry, petrov, essien.
What do u guy reckon about the above players?
Are there better recommendations you guys can share with me?
KR
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Two quality cheap options are Pienaar and Larsson. Great value!
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Also Huddlestone, an absolute steal at 4.8 on FPL!
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I have both Pienaar and Huddlestone, both offer excellent value, although there is the possibility Huddlestone won’t always play.
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My proposed team for the upcoming gameweek, thoughts on where I could improve etc.
James
Lescott Shorey Ferdinand
Lampard Bullard Ronaldo Gerrard
Torres Defoe Forssell
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Your team, looks a lot like mine.
Ive got Berbytov and Jones up front with Bentley in midfield. Going to bench Laursen and Lescott this week, cant see them keeping clean sheets or scoring.
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Reply by CK on March 26, 2008 4:13 pm:
I got rid of Laursen this week. Enough was enough, he/AV just were not bringing in the points so swapped him for Shorey!
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Reply by Ichigo on March 26, 2008 7:14 pm:
I have been mulling over gettin rid of Laursen for some time, but decided to bench him this week as Villa have a good run of games after the United one so hopefully he’ll keep some clean sheets
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I’ve got Lescott and Jagielka and want to bench them both, but cant. (At least 3 defenders). Which one should play? My other defenders are wheater, terry and johnson.
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Reply by CK on March 26, 2008 4:47 pm:
I would bench Wheater mate! Play Lescott, Terry and Johnson
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Ollie use your brain and bench them both. you need 3 defenders play terry wheater and johnson then
!!!!!!!
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I don’t want to play either, but have to because Wheater is already benched and i need 3 defenders!
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i’d suggest LeScott Terry and Johnson. Simply because wheater will concede (more than one) and having 2 everton defenders against liverpool at anfield is plain stupid
Only reason LeScott is on is because he may jag a goal/assist from a set piece…
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