Gameweek 23 – This Much We Know
There won’t be many times you’ll find me waxing lyrical about John Utaka, Lee Chung Yong and Sotirios Kyrgiakos. That’s a good thing considering I needed Google to sanity check my spelling. Like it or not though, they all featured prominently in last night’s action…
Gerrard and Liverpool are still chugging…
Yes the talismanic skipper returned from injury but both Gerrard and the Liverpool machine that he drives, coughed and spluttered with little effect at Wolves. Liverpool have struggled for goals away from home all season and at times last night were forced to turn to route one in an attempt to unlock even the Wolves defence. The absence of Torres is key but it does at least appear to ensure that Kuyt will get a run as the central striker. Rafa only introduced Ngog to shift Kuyt back to midfield in the latter stages. With two consecutive home games against Bolton and Everton to come next, the Dutchman could offer some value. As for Gerrard – he may have to rely on set-plays to get his fantasy scoring ticking again. It’s doubtful that there will be many fantasy managers looking to invest given his hefty price tag.
Against the odds, Sotirios Kyrgiakos is the name that may well be more attractive. The big Greek defender is not only earning investors clean sheets, he’s also winning enough headers to attract the attentions of the wayward Fantasy Premier League bonus point judges. Kyrgiakos has started the last three league games for Liverpool and earned 8 bonus points over those games. At 5.8 he could attract interest, although Agger’s return to fitness will provide an immediate threat to his starting role.
Bentley is in the shop window…
A forgotten man at Spurs, Niko Kranjcar’s sick-note gave David Bentley the chance to display his wares and he took it by putting in a decent shift, capped with a deflected goal in the 2-0 win over Fulham. Bentley still looks out of favour with Redknapp and it seems unlikely that Kranjcar owners will have to worry ahead of the trip to Birmingham this weekend. It’s worth keeping an eye on but it seems more likely that Bentley will be on the move in transfer window. West Ham are apparently sniffing round.
Utaka has points to prove…
Very few of us will be shopping for fantasy talent at Fratton Park, although John Utaka is doing all he can to win some plaudits in the light of the £80,000 a week wage claims. The Nigerian was snubbed for the African Cup of Nations so has had a couple of points to prove right now. A fine FA Cup performance last weekend was capped with an eye-catching display in the 1-1 draw with West Ham last night. Utaka earned an assist and maximum FPL bonus points and is of course classed as a 5.0 midfielder in that game. That may be a temptation, although his role in the side will surely come under threat given that Dindane is set to return from duty in Angola and with Grant free to flex his transfer muscles again. One for the radar though, given that Pompey have a double fixture in the gameweek.
Lee continues to show Eastern promise…
Lee Chung Yong continues to sparkle down at the Reebok and the arrival of Owen Coyle may well bring a brand of football that will see him flourish further. Lee scored the winner in last night’s encounter with Coyle’s former club, his fourth league goal of the season. Maximum FPL bonus also arrived in the lap of the 5.0 midfielder, alerting more fantasy managers to his potential. While Matt Taylor continues to frustrate for his 6.6 price tag, Lee appears to be presenting a cheaper and perhaps more consistent alternative. One concern would be that Bolton face four of their next five games away from the Reebok, although that does include a double fixture in gameweek 26. That may see interest in Bolton players increase then, although it’s worth noting that Klasnic was again replaced by Elmander around the hour-mark last night. The Croatian’s potential as a cheap fantasy striker looks in doubt then.
Eagles dares to gain bonus again…
Honestly, it’s becoming a bit of mystery this. Chris Eagles again earned FPL bonus last night, giving him 18 for the season so far. The Burnley winger has now earned bonus returns in 8 of his last 9 league starts and they seem to keep arriving regardless of Burnley’s results and also his own personal returns. He has only contributed a goal or an assist in one of those 8 games. Answers on a postcard please.
I have to say although it is annoying wading through all these 1/2 and DGW’s I’m pretty convinced that it gives us obsessive types a mighty advantage. I’ve increased my mini league lead greatly over the past few weeks mainly down to being aware of the fixtures!
I was thinking this back when the snow hit and was rubbing my hands that the unpredictability would be good for mixing up the scores and allow me to close up to the top of the league.
Unfortunately, I have only fallen away from the top of my work league and am having to face up to the fact that top-of-the-table Andy is just a much better manager than me.
Bad times
will dunne play tonight?
hope not…….
Rephrase:Hope So………
On the contrary, I really really hope so.
Rubbish dilemma here
Rooney
Anelka
Drogba
Lampard.
I want three of them, who do i leave out? its well tough, rooneys got touch fixture but will play and could come good, lamps is always uncertain this year. Drogs has a concern over fitness, and Anelka will play both games.
If you mean transfering them in. Wait to hear about Drogba, if he is playing dont choose Rooney.
Anelka
Rooney, Anelka and Drogba IMO. But Anelka aint great with Drogs so therefore Rooney Fabregas Drogba but I guess u have Fabs already.
Yea, so people think i should go with anelka rather than lamps? im agreeing too as lamps is just to expensive.
Need to play 2 of the following 5. Cant decide who? Swining towards Dawson(Tot) & Nelsen.
Gallas, Nelsen, Dawson (Tot), Bowyer, Etherington.
Thanks!
any 1 else fed up we defoe? im taking him out for zamora then spend extra coin in other parts o my team
No I Love him….WHA!! I just sed I love him….I’M a West Ham fan….. I will rephrase, I love him in FPL elsewhere he is a Cock….Better
Superb! lol
Lol.
yep, he’s living on borrowed time in my team, got the cash for a straight swap with drogba too
yeh iv got rooney,anelka and defoe at mo. get rid o anelka for tevez nxt week he got hull then double then get drogba in.
Hazard are you going to bring in Drogba this week? I’m considering it but not sure if I should opt for Anelka instead.
not fed up. Most ppl have him though, so it’s the same loss. HOWEVER, he should’ve done better. Lemme tell you a story.
I picked to buy rooney over defoe and he scores 5. Then I switched rooney to defoe and walah there you go. No shooting boots. Luckily managed to get Rooney back.
My current front three is Anelka Tevez and Davies. So i need to decide whether Davies goes to Drogba, or Rooney. Decisions!!
Who is in the cup still, Sorry to bring up the memories of GW18 where most of us went out (Not me) But who is still in?
I am still in and should get through. I have had a very easy path so far, but it won’t last much longer
I have had an easy run up until this GW where my opponent is like 7,000th.
Tomkins (c) ? Crikey that was a brave move. Looks like he has taken an 8 pt hit so you might just scrape it if Anelka does a donut.
Yep. looking good this week too
For those who are wondering Carlton Cole looked seriously of the pace last night against Pompey to bare in mind, and to be frank, Nouble (Wow look at that Frank, Nouble Lol.) did a better job than him.
Thanks Greg, good to know
hopefully you get eidur gudjohnson by gw26 and he somehow gets classed as a midfielder due to his attacking midfield role at barca and monaco lately
McCarthey seems to be heading for West ham too.. i would be interested anyway!
That would be good.
He was always one of my favourite players at Chelsea, and IMO had the best first touch in the Premiership when he was around. Although he did score a good few goals playing up top with Jimmy I do think that his best position was in behind the strikers, where he could really use his abilities i.e first touch, vision and passing.
If he did join West Ham I would absolutely love to have him in my team. Almost brings a tear to my eye thinking about the first few seasons under Mourinho when we had the likes of Robben, Duff and Eidur at the club. Now we have Joe Cole to rely on for flair.
just imagine gudjohnson as a 6mil midfielder playing eithe rup with cole or just behind him. mmm lekker. if tuncay can be classed as a midfielder i don’t see why gudjohnsen can’t.
^ what he said.
Gudj got 0 goals in 9 appearances for Monaco. Smells like another false prophet to me (Jimenez).
damn you and your wikipedia realism stomping on our dreams ap. lets just pretend he is the chris eagles of ligue 1 and those 9 goal-less games brought in 9 hauls of bps, and the odd clean sheet point.
Wiki – moi? How very dare you. I’m a walking, talking stato machine.
p.s don’t forget kezman, swp, bohlahrouz and ben-haim at chelsea. they brought a different kind of tear to my eyes
^ what he said.
(I was at the game by the way if you was wondering how I knew, Sorry forgot to mention).
I was at the Bolton v Burnley game last night and my mind boggles as to how Eagles can be awarded 2 bonus points last night…other than close your eyes and point to a name on the team sheet because he did sod all, all game
Same here but with Utaka he did absoulutely F*** all.
there’s no way that anyone who watched the game chooses
Really looking foward to this Utd – City game tonight, i reckon its gonna be a cracker!
my prediction: 2-1 to Utd, in to extra time, either a last minute goal in extra time or else penalties! Man utd still going to win!
yes, Devils to win!
Rock, the Upson shout paid off last night then mate?
Not in the way expected, but paid off all the same. . .
Sorry if this has been posted, but Benayoun has agreed to go to Dynamo Moscow? Has LFC responded?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/spo.....(Football+|+Mail+Online)
Liverpool have said he is not for sale and is not going anywhere!
Really hoping Anelka doesn’t do anything tonight, nearly everyone in my mini league has him as captain, I have Fabs.
I hope neither do anything (Almost said nothing then, Phew Andy would have killed me).
Keep everything crossed, pray to God, Allah, Buddha, Haile Selassie, Jose Mourinho, Owen Coyle and any other deity you care to consider. That’s what I’ll be doing anyway.
My wish is that Fab doesn’t do anything.
my wish also!
BOOOOO!!!!
CHEERR!!
lolz
so is mine . . hatrick to arshavin and verm on 2 assist
Benayoun off to Moscow…has this one been mentioned? Just heard it on Eurosport news. Feel sorry for him, always looked dangerous whenever he was given the chance.
Just scrolled up and saw it’s been posted…oops!
jeez Marknlard, keep up!
“Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand has denied a violent conduct charge and is free to face Manchester City in the Carling Cup semi-final on Wednesday.” bbc sport
haha he just denied it so he can play the city game tonight LOL, good move….but why elbow that guy there was no need unless Fagan said or done something to provoke him…..
gona be a great game tonight!
GLORY GLORY MANUTD!!!!!
This week is turning out to be something unexpected, starting from the captained Kuyt and Collison’s blank.
I reckon Drog will play some part in both DGW matches. I mean would you seriously bench him when he’ll be perfectly fit?
Anyway i’m sure it will all become clearer towards the end of the week…
I am hoping to get confirmed news on that. So won’t be doing any transfer till the deadline day.
All we have is speculation so far, I’m guessing he will only play the Hull match but noone really knows. Thankfully Ancelotti has developed a lovely habit of telling everyone his line-up in the press conference the day before so we’ll know soon enough. I cant see the problem anyway, he played 3 matched in 2 weeks. so what? He hasnt played since Sunday either so its not as if he’ll be too tired
Lampard (c) tonight anyone?
yea am going for him, I hope he gets me a couple of goals or assists…..
whats the consensus on Piquionne? Would he be worth bringing in for a short term DGW appearance, taking a 4 point hit?
He would replace Jerome
i signed him last night. 2 points at home so not expecting much from 2 away games.
Im not keen on either Drogba or Rooney. People will race to get them cos they dont know any better.
I dont think Drogba will come back booming like he was. Anelka is the key for me at the moment. And then theres lampard who i’ve never had faith in. Fabregas, Rooney & Tevez are the tristars for me this season.
High scoring week of 74 points imo for the lucky GW winner.
And on the matter of Smalling to United. He’ll play until injured players return right? He isnt first team yet is he? He’d be my fulham player for DGW.
and news on bullard?
smalling has not joined manutd yet. he will join in summer.
Yeh, understood. Hence my choice of fulham DGW. What im asking is…Will he play 1st team until he leaves?
Do we still have Foch as part of the scout team? Seems very quiet and haven’t heard anything from him on the site.
0-0 between Chelsea and Bir. will bring the maximum point to my team. Finger crossed.
I haven’t been around much myself but Foch is no longer in the Scout contributors’ league, so I suspect not.
http://fantasy.premierleague.c.....?id=350595
Foch was never a member of our league, just out of privacy choice – cheeky sod. (Though, peversely he is the Scout League so I never 100% understood).
He is still around and wrote this article last week, he has just been away on shore leave as he had “real life” duties to attend to (I mean, come on!?). Back now… he’s back now ready for action and you will see more from him in the coming weeks.
Good stuff, glad to hear it. As I said, I haven’t been around FFS much myself recently, real life interfering with fantasy again god forbid.
I’ve noticed the lack of de Borg as well indeed.
I just don’t know what is up with you people, who needs real life when we can phantom manage football players instead!? Life… this is life*.
*NB, this is not life – that would blow.
Taking a look at another league, for top 1,000 finishers last season, interesting to note that of the 18 teams only 2 are currently in the top 1,000 (I’m not one of them, sadly):
http://fantasy.premierleague.c.....mc?id=5814
That shows how difficult it is to be consistent.
The bottom team in the league, naming no names, is currently below 400K!
Bent or Rodalega?
Bent and keep him all season imo.