The Midweek Meander

With the credit crunch hitting our fantasy returns over the last fortnight, we’re all hoping and praying for some lively stuff from this week’s premiership fixture list. Will Lineker be putting another brave face on it come Saturday’s Match of the Day? Maybe my meander through the weekend games will give us a clue…

Best For Clean Sheets…

The big three defences all look set to boost their clean sheet tallies this weekend with Bolton, Blackburn and Sunderland providing the opposition for them. There’s also some decent mid-price prospects. In short then, it looks another week that’s ripe for defensive investment.

Chelsea’s trip to Bolton, on paper, looks the strongest option or guaranteed defensive returns. Scolari’s side have not conceded an away goal in their last five trips, while Bolton are hardly productive at home, with just a single win in the last five. Improved form and a reborn Elmander could cause Chelsea issues but it’s hard to back against Cech, Bosingwa and the rest bringing in their eleventh cleanie here. Be wary of backing Ivanovic though, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Alex restored for this one having been on the bench against the Gunners.

The other all conquering defence is of course Liverpool. Their trip to Blackburn is another which should bring dividends for investors in Arbeloa, Carragher etc. Rovers are in poor form and have scored just three goals in their last five games at Ewood. Rafa’s side in comparison, have let in just four goals in their last five trips away from Anfield. Liverpool will be smarting after dropped points against Fulham and West Ham. That may see them go on the attack a little more in this one but you’d still have to back them as a very strong bet for another clean sheet.

United shouldn’t give Sunderland a sniff at Old Trafford. The only danger in defensive terms, is that United could get complacent if they bag a few strikes early on. Ferguson’s men have scored seventeen goals in their last five home games, while Sunderland have forced opposition keepers to retrieve the ball from their nets just three times in the last five trips. Those stats point to a big win and a ninth clean sheet for United.

Moving into the mid-to-low price bracket and Fulham will fancy their chances at home to City who just don’t travel well. Hodgson’s side has plenty of defensive resolve and even against the likes of Robinho, Ireland and Wright-Phillips, this looks another possible shut-out for the Londoners.

Newcastle come into their game with Stoke off the back of strong defensive form having stumbled on the apparently rock solid defensive partnership for Collocini and Bassong. They face a Stoke side who have failed to score in their last five away games. Surely this is another good day for Given and his defence then?

Finally, owners of Laursen and Luke Young should hold firm. Villa’s trip to Goodison looked an okay prospect before the injury to Yakubu but with Saha also a doubt and Everton down to just on striker in Anichebe, it would appear that O’Neill has a good opportunity to come away from Merseyside with a shut-out and perhaps a narrow win. I do have a gut feeling about this one that tells me it should be avoided though. More on that in bit…

Best For Goals…

As mentioned in this week’s podcast, there are two games that scream goals for me. Arsenal’s encounter with Wigan at the JJB promises two busy defences, with goals at both ends. The Gunners will be looking to build on their win at Stamford Bridge and with Adebayor and Van Persie restored, they now have the cutting edge to convert chances. On the flipside, Wenger’s men have conceded ten goals in their last five home games, whereas Wigan have a good scoring record on their travels with twelve goals from their seven away games thus far. I’m expecting a scoreline around the 3-1 mark here with Arsenal’s front two and maybe the likes of Nasri and Fabregas bringing back some profit for their owners. Wigan’s chances of scoring meanwhile could rely on the fitness of Zaki, although Camara is worth holding onto if the Egyptian fails to make it.

The other game that looks to have the potential for goals is the all-London derby at Upton Park. The Hammers have tightened up beyond recognition of late but they will face a Spurs side who will be eager to get back to winning ways and who have the away form to help them do it. It’s a return for Harry to one of his old stamping grounds of course, and he’ll want to make an impression. I’m hoping for belated profits for Bent - and I also see Bellamy as a key threat for West Ham in this one. He certainly looked sharp at Anfield on Monday and his luck must change soon having struck the woodwork in consecutive games.

Aside from those two you can of course, expect goals from United at home to Sunderland. Liverpool and Chelsea may have to settle for narrow wins but Newcastle may well put a couple past Stoke if they can make the breakthrough early. Elsewhere, I see it being another sparse week for goals.

Best For Frustration…

Don’t expect your City players to have an easy ride at the Cottage – Fulham have been spoiling attacking returns for several weeks and I see them doing that again this weekend. Owners of Geovanni, King and Marney could also face unexpected blanks – simply because Hull face Boro and Southgate’s side love to give fantasy managers very little to shout about. Could be a 1-1 here with no significant defensive or attacking returns all round.

Although I’ve mentioned the strong possibility of a Villa shut-out at Goodison, I still don’t trust this Villa defence for consistency. Everton are due a result at home after some poor displays and we could easily be looking at a 1-1 here with Cahill likely to step up his game in the absence of Everton’s key strikers. I’m not expecting too much from this one then.