Wrap up warm. Get the Bovril down you (other hot beverages are available). We have ourselves a midweek gameweek. Yes we’re all beset by injuries and missing players but is it just me, or does everything seem better under floodlights? Here’s my slightly modified Scout Picks…
The Defence…
For once there are some strong clean sheet options available, which has made picking my back five a fairly straightforward exercise. Pepe Reina takes the goalkeeping jersey with Liverpool up against a Wolves side with just 4 goals in their last 5 home games. The Spaniard gets the nod mainly because secure options in the Liverpool defence are always hard to come by.Gomes of Spurs was an option but I’d rather go for the dominant lankiness of Michael Dawson instead. Redknapp’s side take a record of just 2 goals conceded in their last 5 home league games to thier clash with a Fulham outfit who have lost 4 of their last 5 on the road. They seem likely to remain light in attack with Zamora a doubt and Dempsey sidelined. Dawson has a goal threat and has caught the eye of the Fantasy Premier League bonus judges of late.
Alongside the Spurs man I’ve opted to put faith in the Chelsea defence – even against an in-form Birmingham – and go for the cheapest option available. Branislav Ivanovic is still offering value and has brought in assists when defensive returns fail him. Ashley Cole is the more adventurous but expensive option.
Blackburn have a strong home fixture against the inconsistent Wigan and, although Samba is suspended, I’m still backing a home cleanie here. The fact that Brett Emerton is also occupying a right-midfield role for Allardyce’s side makes him all that more attractive as a low-to-mid price option for this gameweek and even beyond given the Rovers fixture list.
Everton’s Leighton Baines completes the back five. Moyes’ side have found form of late with an unbeaten league run of 7 matches. They face a Sunderland team that, in contrast, are in the middle of a miserable run. Baines is always a threat going forward and may yet sneak a set-piece contribution before Arteta gets back up to speed.
The Midfield…
A little more tricky. Frank Lampard vs Cesc Fabregas was the main argument here and I’ve pipped for the Arsenal man at Villa. He has the tougher game and with Anelka in my lineup up front, I want to cover the eventuality that Arsenal will notch two or three goals at Villa Park. Fabregas is flying and will surely come away with FPL bonus at the very least.
Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt looks a strong option with his trip to Molineux. There’s every chance that Gerrard will make a return to the Liverpool lineup but, rather than hamper Kuyt’s potential, this could see him pushed up the middle of the Liverpool attack. Kuyt goes into the game with a brace behind him and is up against an obliging defence. I see more profit for the Dutchman.
Everton should be good for a couple of goals at Goodison against Sunderland and that should see Steven Pienaar as a contributor. He comes fairly cheaply across the games and has three goals in consecutive league games, along with a staggering 11FPL bonus points over the same period.
The final midfield slot goes to Luka Modric, who, along with Niko Kranjcar, should be the driving force behind a Spurs home win against Fulham. Modric often fails to deliver on his promises in fantasy terms but has looked good on his return to the Tottenham side. A big return is looming and this gameweek could well see it arrive.
The Attack…
Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka picks himself with strong form, a home fixture which should demand Chelsea score more than once and excellent potential beyond thisgameweek with a double fixture to follow. The Birmingham defence will be a major barrier for Ancelotti’s side but Anelka looks the most likely lockpicker.
Anelka’s partner is difficult. Defoe looks a very strong option at home to Fulham but there’s no guarantee that he will start with Keane and Crouch as options for Redknapp with Birmingham lying in wait at the weekend. Saha is another strong option – he looks set to start for Everton against Sunderland but there is always concern over his ability to complete 90 minutes. So I’ve opted instead for Bolton’s Kevin Davies who is always an unfashionable pick but is likley to be in the thick of it for Bolton in their home game with Burnley. I see a few goals in this one, with Klasnic and Davies both looking attractive mid-price purchases. There’s little between them but I’ve just got a quiet concern that Elmander could eat up some of Klasnic’s pitch time. Davies appears to be slightly more secure as an option.
Paddy Says…
Our bookmaker friends have Chelsea as their favourites for a clean sheet, with Everton, Tottenham and Liverpool all tied on odds to follow. Blackburn are their next favourites which backs up my defensive selection for the gamweek. In attacking terms Paddy sees the Chelsea vs Birmingham clash as the most likely to feature the biggest number of goals, with Bolton vsBurnley, Villa vs Arsenal and Wolves vs Liverpool not far behind. Again, that reinforces my selection with Anelka, Fabregas, Kuyt and Davies representatives from all those games.
As always I’ve prepared some Fantasy Football Scout markets for those 18 and over who are partial to a flutter. The clean sheet accumulator offers decent odds of 11/1 on Blackburn, Spurs and Everton clean sheets this gameweek. In the Scout Picks market meanwhile, you can get generous looking odds of 20/1 on Fabregas, Kuyt and Anelka all scoring one or more goals over the gameweek fixtures.
Just a reminder – you can still get a free £20 bet from Paddy Power when you sign up for an account through this site and make a £10 bet. Again, this offer is only open to those aged 18 and over.