Yes, for the final time in 2008, I’ve pondered over the fixtures, form guides and stats – collected all the information and funnelled it into the Scout Picks central computer. That then burps out another list of eleven players plus subs and I then create some words to go with it. It’s a simple procedure that has had mixed results of late.
Join me then, while we trawl through another set of words (extended with no meander for this gameweek) as I attempt to apply some logic to the selection of fourteen footballers…
Let’s get right down to it then – I’ve got leftover turkey to get through. I’ve gone for Everton’s Howard in goal. Moyes has got his defence well drilled in recent weeks and even though Jones and Cisse will be a right handful, I can the home side keeping Sunderland to few chances, with Howard earning some save points and a possible cleanie. A bad start for Ricky unpronounceable.
The United defence looks likely to be the one least tested this weekend, with Southgate likely to park up with a 4-5-1 at Old Trafford. With Ferdinand out and Evra still suspended (he’s back for next time out) then both O’Shea and Evans are set to start again so they are your attractive budget options in the bulletproof United rearguard. Vidic is the prime cut amongst the United defensive unit however – to my mind, his threat at set-plays and possible FPL bonus is worth the outlay in the current FPL defensive climate.
Bosingwa is of course your Chelsea defender of choice. He was withdrawn at half-time against West Brom but there’s little need to panic, with Scolari assuring us that this was just a measure taken to hand the full-back a rest. He should start nice and fresh then, ready to plunder the Fulham left-hand side in search of Drogba’s bonce in the box.
With those two sure-bets established in the back four again – lets take a risk and go for an Arsenal defender. Crazy talk I know but bear with me…. I can see Adams attempting to keep things tight at the Emirates and I can’t quite see the avalanche of goals the form books suggest. Arsenal will win it but with a possible lack of attacking ambition from Portsmouth (possibly a 4-5-1?), I’m going to go with Clichy starting and causing all kinds of problems for Pompey’s stand-in right back – beit Wilson or Pamarot. I think Arsenal’s left side with Clichy and Nasri/Diaby will be key in this one.
My final pick at the back follows a hunch and looks to capitalise on a potential weakness in the Stoke lineup. West Ham could be good for a shut-out against Pulis’ side at Upton Park – I’ve a hunch that Stoke will nick one but it’s a 60-40 in favour of a home cleanie I would say. Regardless, like Portsmouth, Stoke have real trouble on the right-hand side and in Ilunga, the Hammers have a pacey, raiding left-back who could cause problems on the day. It’s a long-shot but, with clean sheets looking difficult to pin down – the Congolese full-back is worth a short-term shout in my book.
Moving to the midfield and it was a very close run thing between Lampard and Gerrard for this set of fixtures. I like Lampard in this 4-3-3 system. Drogba’s presence in the central attacking role appears to offer more assurance to Lampard to gamble on forward runs and I think he’ll get in the box even more now that Drogba is back. On the flipside, Fulham have a strong defensive record and the best home record in the Premier League. I think that Chelsea will be too much for them and Joe Cole could be a major factor as part of the three forward players. Lampard may just take a back-seat in this one.
Gerrard should start behind Keane again at St James’ Park and is up against an injury ravaged Magpies defence. He should be in profit as a result. I’ll take him over Lampard and Cole to cover Rafa’s side who might need two or three goals to see off a plucky Newcastle.
Ronaldo can’t be ignored in a home fixture with Boro. Southgate’s side are on a dreadful run and while I’m nervous about their propensity to upset the fantasy apple-cart, it would still take a brave fantasy boss to bet against Ronaldo leading the points scoring in a decent win for Ferguson’s men on Monday night.
I’m going to keep faith with one of my Boxing Day picks as Fellaini continues to look a major threat for Everton. Even with Anichebe likely to be installed up front, and Cahill an more obvious pick – I think it will be the height and power of Fellaini that will trouble Sunderland most. The Black Cats are suspect in the air and the towering afro of the Everton man could be a key factor.
Villa’s Ashley Young is an obvious pick but in a fixture where I feel Villa will need goals – he looks impossible to ignore. Hull will score against a Laursen-less Villa, so O’Neill’s side will need two or three to keep their momentum. Young looked sharp enough against Arsenal and should come out of this fixture with assists at the very least.
For the same reason, I’ve gone for Young’s team-mate up front. Agbonlahor scores every three to four games and he’s now gone two starts without a goal. A trip to Hull appears to be the platform he needs to keep his river of goals flowing. Look out for Turner and Zayatte flailing about on Monday night – Hull will surely come at O’Neill’s side having been ear-bashed by Brown after the City game and this could play right into Villa’s counter-attacking hands. I see a thriller, plenty of goals and some profits for Gabby Aggy.
The Villa man has Adebayor of Arsenal alongside him. He is certain to return to the Arsenal lineup and while I can see Pompey attempting to put up a stubborn resistance, the big striker will surely be the major threat from the home side. Adebayor to profit in a 2-0 win for me.
There are some strong alternatives up front. Berbatov should start and is surely due some decent returns – possibly against Boro at Old Trafford. Was I to break by “two-per-club” rule, then I would take a risk on Berbatov in my lineup.
Going down the brackets -Blackburn’s McCarthy almost kept his place in the picks. He faces a City side who always look likely to concede on their travels and while I can Big Sam looking to keep this one tight, McCarthy looks the most likely Blackburn match winner. You also have Keane at Newcastle – on fire and up against a wounded back four. I also like Bolton’s Elmander up against Wigan – a game of few goals this one, but the Swede will be Megson’s main weapon. Dropping to the budget level, you have Carlton Cole up against an obliging Stoke backline at Upton Park and I also fancy Bednar and Moore to be a threat to Spurs who will be without King at the Hawthorns.
In defence clean sheets looks scarce. For some reason I can see Liverpool conceding against Newcastle, despite their injuries. Bolton could be the outside bet, but with Cahill a possible absentee for Megson’s side, I’m a little nervous looking at them. Everton’s Baines is once again an excellent budget option if you need one. With an apparent lack of clean sheets, you might want to look at goalscoring options from the back with Wigan’s Taylor and Hull’s Mendy both likely to be playing midfield roles this weekend. Blackburn’s Emerton is another name worth considering for the same reason.
In midfield the Arsenal pairing of Denilson and Diaby will again offer value. Diaby should start and should be playing in advance of Denilson with Song a likely absentee. I’ve got a hunch that Lennon will cause West Brom problems at the Hawthorns – he could possibly be stuck out on the right with Robinson suspended for the Baggies. Finally, Geovanni needs to come good again and he’ll have a rocket up his posterior when Villa arrive at the KC – I can see him earning some rewards, with Hull likely to breach the Villa defence.