The Weekend Scout Picks
We’ve spent the week bemoaning the absence of Villa and in particular United players from the fixture list. Not surprisingly, the lack of Evra, Valencia, Rooney, Dunne and Milner has had an impact on this week’s talent pool. Regardless, we all have to dangle our rods.
Read on to find out about the big fish and tiddlers that I’ve pulled out for you…
The keeper situation changed dramatically with Petr Cech’s injury in midweek. That allowed Henrique Hilario to emerge as a potential short-term bargain as a source of Chelsea defensive points. With Cech due to be back in contention within a month, Hilario has limited shelf life but he looks a good option this week, even against Mancini’s City. They arrive at Stamford Bridge with an attack muted by the suspension Adebayor and with Tevez back in the side after missing the last couple of matches on compassionate leave. His fitness and state of mind are in question. Chelsea could easily come out of this one with a clean sheet, even without Cech.
The defence in front of the Chelsea keeper boasts some bargain purchases. Birmingham have suffered a bad run of results as their fixtures stiffened, but they are back at St Andrews this weekend and up a against a Wigan side who are notoriously travel sick. Birmingham have been without a clean sheet in six matches but I can see that run ending this weekend. Roger Johnson, with his Fantasy Premier League bonus point potential is my pick but Ridgewell and Dann are of course viable options.
I’ve chosen to take a risk on Burnley’s Graham Alexander. He has not been confirmed as fit after a month long absence but has a good chance of making the game and should find himself straight back in Brian Laws’ midfield against lowly Portsmouth. A home clean sheet is on the cards here, plus of course Alexander brings his threat from penalties. Burnley also have a double fixture in gameweek 29, making their players all the more attractive for this weekend. Daniel Fox and Andre Bikey are your alternatives if you consider Alexander a risk.
The Liverpool defence has been shaken by the injury to Martin Skrtel today but they still boast very strong form going into their attractive home fixture with Blackburn. Daniel Agger looks assured of starts in Skrtel’s absence and gets the nod for me. Insua is your cheaper option, although he is always at risk from rotation with Aurelio available. Insua should be fine for Sunday’s game but I prefer the long-term security that Agger gives me.
The last spot in my defence proved a difficult choice. There’s no obvious clean sheet candidate remaining, which leaves me tentatively backing Bolton to keep a third consecutive Reebok cleanie in the league at home to Wolves. The absence of the influential Gary Cahill is a concern but I’ve decided on Sam Ricketts as decent one week only option.
The midfield includes both Steven Gerrard and Cesc Fabregas. Both expensive big hitting players who looks strong options with Blackburn and Stoke in opposition respectively. Gerrard’s goal in the Europa League in midweek could well be the first of many now that Fernando Torres is close to a return. As for Fabregas, he will surely be massively influential again for the Gunners at Stoke. I see Arsenal needing at least a couple at the Britannia and Fabregas should once again be in the fantasy point mix.
Birmingham’s Lee Bowyer has gone quiet of late after an encouraging run of form in the early season. He hasn’t struck a goal in the League since December but this week’s fixture at home to Wigan hands him a good opportunity to break his recent dry spell. Good fixtures to follow also makes him a decent mid-term prospect.
The final midfield slot was a tough one. I was toying with Bolton’s Chung-Yong Lee but, having seen him dropped to the bench for the midweek Cup replay at Spurs, I’ve got doubts over his starting role again this weekend. It’s a similar story with Tottenham’s Modric and Kranjcar. Only one of the pair will start against Everton and it’s far from certain which way Harry will go having started with Modric against Bolton in the cup tie. In the end then I’ve opted to pay a return visit to Burnley’s Chris Eagles who has found his way back into the starting eleven after a couple of games on the bench. He remains a key threat for Burnley and is always good for efforts on goal, crosses and of course, FPL bonus points.
If you want further alternatives, Wigan’s Charles N’Zogbia and Fulham’s Zoltan Gera and Damien Duff were certainly in my mind and have the form to make an impact this weekend.
Up front it’s impossible to avoid Didier Drogba in a week when Rooney is absent. With injury concerns in the City defence, Drogba’s potential for points once again looks good in the Bridge encounter. His partner was a much more difficult call. Sunderland’s Darren Bent looked the obvious candidate but his form is off-putting. Fulham will also provide stubborn opposition, particularly with morale high after their fine Europa Cup result in the week.
Burnley’s Steven Fletcher and Bolton’s Kevin Davies and Ivan Klasnic were also in my mind, but in the end I’ve opted to keep faith with Nicklas Bendtner for Arsenal at Stoke. I just see the Gunners needing goals and having to attack the home defence, with Bendtner offering good potential to be amongst the points again.
Hello all!
Currently my team:
Hart
Bikey-Turner-Caldwell-Shawcross
Gerrard-Duff-NZogbia-Fabregas
Drogba(c)-Rodallega
Schwartzer-Craddock-Rooney-Milner
Already all transfers made and cash 1.2 left. Do you think I should go for point hits..? Thanks
Rodallega -> Bent / K.Davies
Craddock -> Ricketts
Duff -> Eagle
no. ur team is fine. duff is in form.
bent off form
all ur team is playing which is good.
i wud tink that 75% of fpl teams dont have a full squad this gw.u do!
if u drop 4 points for ricketts and he gets a clean sheet he will only gain u 4 points cuz craddock shud get 2 anyway, its a no brainer!!
hope this helps.
I only have 8 players cuz diaby and nelsen out for me along with rooney, dunne, hunt, c cole. im screwed!!!!!!
(sorry for re-post but i think everyone was asleep!)
gday folks
can someone talk me out of this?
evra>carragher
nani>kuyt
ade>bendtner
caldwell>ricketts
12 points! the last one is not CRITICAL obviously, and i’m nervous about kuyt. could be great, could be rubbish. i may captain him…
IMO it’s not worth. Just do Nani to Kuyt and Adebayor to Bendtner.
Put 3 non playing on the bench.
What about next week when you don’t have Evra?
Simple question:
play tuncay or nzogbia
coin toss. it’s that close!
nzogs!! all the way
guys i hav both Fab and Drogs in my team……who shud i captain????come on people giv a name!!!!
Drog: who I am doing
anyone else???drogs or Fab???
Go with the captains Poll or think for yourself….
Drogba
Drog. No brainer. Arse have lost last 2 games at Stoke and fab is not in great form.
Seconded.
thirded
right guys… i’m in a bad situation here, my girlfriend is 35 points ahead of me at the minute and life isn’t worth livin at the minute with the stick i’m gettin from her. i need some help to pull these points back.
sorensen (myhill)
ridgewell,hangeland,insua,ivanovic, (collins)
fabs,lee,eagles,o’hara (valencia)
drogba rodellega (rooney)
i have 3.1 in the bank
any help would be greatly appreciated
Thats actually not a bad team for this week. Maybe switch out rodellega for Bendtner?
or Myhill for Hilario?
answers simple – dump her
or failing that take a risk on torres or bring in gerrard
get bendtner for rodellega……even if he doesnt perform this gw arsenal hav great fixtures coming up……
the only reason why i had not this already done was because of rodellega’s DGW comin up
that double doesn’t look that profitable, especially as its Wigan we’re talking about here. bendtner would be a better choice over the same period of games.
cheers bentos….. and if i am still losin to her at the end of GW37, i will take ur advise and kick her to the curb!
Hi guys
Already brought in Drogba and Fox for Adebayor and A.Cole for a 4 point hit. My team ATM is:
Hart
Dawson – Baird – Fox
Fabregas – N’Zogbia – Pienaar – Taylor – Etherington
Drogba(C) – Bent
Bench: Sorensen, Nelsen, Rooney, Evra.
Should I swap Nelsen for Baines and bench Etherington?
I’m not sure it is worth, because I’m still in Fantasy Cup and don’t want to take big point hits.
not really worth it considering baines probably wont have a clean sheet so you could have baines 2 -4 point hit vs at worst case a 0 if etherington doesnt play
I’d hold off if I were you, your cup rival this week has also dropped 4pts, so anymore you would need to catchup. So Baines would need to score >6 just to break even…
Cheers guys
Lads please help!!!!
Gomes
Fox — Baird — Dann– Scharner
Dunn — Fabregas — McCarthy — Eagles
Zamora — Drogba(c)
Subs: (none playing)
I need to make another transfer i feel
Do i get rid of
A: Zamora >> Fletcher
B: McCarthy >> Lee (or other suggestion)
C: Dunn >> Lee (or other suggestion)
Please help guys iv loads in the bank so any suggestion helpful!!!
zamora would seem sensible as they miss next week and then manu
Morning all,
Can’t decide on who to buy today…
Lee, Eagles, Bowyer or Mascherano?
What d’you reckon?
i bought lee but i only thought of eagles afterwards. not sure how much faith you can put in burnley though
Don’t buy Mascherano; Bowyer hasn’t done much for a while and tends to pick up too many yellows. Eagles may be a slight risk but has the best fixtures. From a fixtures/low risk/form perspective, Lee might be the best bet.
O’Hara?
I agree. Everyone is picking Eagles, but I think Lee could be the Dark Horse of the next few GW’s.
I’m in exactly the same boat… I have 8.7 to spend and am really leaning toward Bolton. If there are ever going to turn around these are the two weeks to do it… But will Lee score/assist? Is Taylor better? is wilshere the dark horse (freeing up more funds for a big name player?)… hmmm more questions than answers
OK, I think I might go with Lee, Wolves at home followed by dbl gameweek looks good.
Before I do it does anyone think Etherington will play today?
Unlikely.
Nope!
Thanks for the help people!
Guys,
With Zamora being a doubt looks like I may only have 10 playing. I also see that Fulham have no game next GW. I have 3 Fulham Players.
I have already made a change, would you consider taking a hit on swapping Zamora if so who for? I have 1.2 mil in bank.
Or would it be worth taking a 4pt hit taking Dunne or Evra out for a Liv defender?
well you’re going to have to take multiple point hits next week anyway so you may as well do one today. pool defender for dunne or fletcher/ bendtner for zamora?
Saha?
Lads please help!!!!
Gomes
Fox — Baird — Dann– Scharner
Dunn — Fabregas — McCarthy — Eagles
Zamora — Drogba(c)
Subs: (none playing)
I need to make another transfer i feel
Do i get rid of
A: Zamora >> Fletcher
B: McCarthy >> Lee (or other suggestion)
C: Dunn >> Lee (or other suggestion)
Please help guys iv loads in the bank so any suggestion helpful!
Sorry for second post i need replys before i go to work!
I wouldnt go Lee looking a th post above. Go Zamora to Saha.
same here with zamora, seems unlikely to play.. i was thinking zamora to fletser or bent (if you have the cash) with both good fixtures next two and then agbolanhor for GW30
I’ve got Lee and wont be getting rid of him just yet. But I wouldnt advise anyone to buy him now. Recent fixtures havent been that bad for him yet very little points!
This is my team, i took not hits but would, any suggestions?
Hart
Shawcross, Dawson, Invanovic, R Johnson
Cohen, Bowyer, N’Zog, Fabs
Drogba (c), Saha
Subs – Given, Rooney, Valencia, Evra
Cohen only risk to not starting?
That was my concern, i may go O’Hara or do you think Ramsey will get a game?
Not worth taking a chance on Ramsey. Even if he does play, he will likely make way for diaby next week. Go o’hara.
Looks good VD, in this week that could do well for you, taking no hits is points in the bag already on your opponents.
Cheers both. I think im going to stick. Although clearly my team isnt as strong as most this week i have had a storming Feb and to CP’s point im hoping the lack of hits might be my differential this week.
VD, do you think Torres will start tomorrow?
Outside of the Fabs, Drogs, Lamps – who do you all think will be the big points scorers this week?
Ivanovic.
I sincerely hope gerrard.
ditto
I don’t think those 3 will score well this week.
Bent
Terry to win on points against Bridge
Birmingham defender or Burnley defender?
I like Burnley.
which ?
bikwy
cork?
fox?
?
I have popped Cork in my team.
gone for foxy
go birmingham…. far better defence than burnley, wigan at home today and a good DGW31
I’ve never been there!
Drogba or Gerrard captain ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Drogba
Gerrard
Gergba
Drogba. No brainer.
Droggard
Guys I am coming third on a very close mini league. My opponets have both fab and drogs, I know I probably should captain drogs but I also brought in gerard for this gw. My oponents won’t bring in Gerard to risky and expensive but I did. To win my mini league $500 up for grabs by the way! (aud) I will need to take some risks and this is a perfect example. Last week I brought Valencia in and it paid off! Now I swapt valencia for gerrard but should I captain him? Need some objective opinions!
Go for it, if you need to catch a lead then like you say you need to take a risk.
Thanks
Yes do it, it could be a massive week for him (although i dont have him…)
2 gerrrard 0 drogs so far. Thanks!
in that situation id stick with drogs. if gerrard does well you’ve kept touch with everyone else and still got those extra points. no reason to go for glory at this stage
and remember last week is just that! dont get caught up in thinking you’ll have another masterstroke
yes (however not an objective opinion from a Liverpool fan)
i have drog and fab too but i’m captaining gerrard, could pay off, could end up with on the face, but sometimes you need to take a chance. i’ve bought in torres for rooney too and taken a 12 point hit. weeeeeeeeee
3 gerrard 1 drogs. Any more?
I have Drogba and Fabregas and am not confident that either will score big enough to make me regret gambling on Torres at home to Blackburn.
The Liverpool game stands out so is worth a risk, the Chelsea and Arsenal games could be tight affairs so big hauls feel unlikely to me.
yeah drogba could turn it on, but city could shut up shop and frustrate. stoke will cause arsenal problems but gooners should score but not too many. all my hopes this week rest on liverpool staring to remember the team they were last season
I dont think City are capable of shutting up shop – Given’s ruined my season!
I’m in the same boat (though my mini league is not as rich
) I swapped Valencia for Gerrard and plan to captain him. He finally scored a goal the other night, so has got his eye back in, and he seems to be back to form. With Torres back I’m betting Gerrard will do well against a reduced Blackburn side. Man C current form is woeful (k maybe a bit harsh 
) but they should put up a tougher defense than Blackburn’s… imo
4 gerard 1 drogs, I think we have a winner!
5 gerrard 1 drogs!
If this is the time to do your make or break push do Gerrard. Otherwise Drog.
any news on zamora?? seems like he won’t play tmw?
just looking at some teams, next week is going to be carnage for points hits. fingers crossed that noone gets injured/ suspended this week and i might get a rare green arrow
Morning all.
Team at the moment is:
Hart, (Soro)
Ivanovic, shawcross, carr, (Dunne), ((Cahill))
Fab, Duff, NZogbia, (Hunt), (etherington)
Drogba (C), Tevez, (Rooney)
With the injuries and cup game i can only field a maximum of 10 players (only if etherington plays) so i reckon i have to go for a couple of changes (4 points) which are:
Rooney out- Bendtner in (will free up 6m and can buy back next week)
Etherington out- Kuyt in
formation 4-3-3
The next week i reckon it’s time for Tevez to go and Rooney can come back in.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
considering dunne misses next week and bendtner has a tough game id be more interested in getting dunne out and switch tevez for bendtner next week
Will Taylor (BOL) and Alexander (BUR) play ?
Not many of the other players that fancies me in the setup for the DGW, need a mid and a def.
Guys,
How sure are we about Zamora not playing ??? …. one less transfer hit to make
Heres my team for this GW, dont know who to bench any advice welcomed….
Sorensen(Hart)
Vermaelen-Craddock-R.Johnson(Zabaleta-Huth)
N’Zogbia-Pienaar-Gerrard-Fabregas-Gerrard(Macarthy)
Saha-Torres(c)-Drogba
you have 2 gerrards? You’re gonna be unstoppable
I want 2 Gerrards!!
captain one of ur gerrards…… too dicey if torres will start
Definitely leave both Gerrard and Gerrard in
Any chance that Elliott will play for Burnley today?
Sorenson or Given?
sorenson
sorenson
Sorensen or Jensen?
jensen
yep, jenson
defo sorenson
opionions on my team for this week:
Hart
Hangeland Distin Ricketts
Whelan Gerrard Nzogbia Eagles Fabregas
Bendtner Drogba
Bench: Bramble, Evra, Rooney
I have tooke no points hits. could do another transfer to get rif of bramble but don’t think it’s worth the 4 point hit
Stick, looks good enough.
I see a lot of people are going big on torres. Surely he will be on the bench! Kuyt is the best option for me at the moment
You should go Kuyt then…
Kuyt probably is the best option, but that’s probably not saying a whole lot, as he’s still not very good.
Wouldn’t touch any of that lot with a bargepole right now.
Definitely too early to go with Torres unless desperate for some luck
Should I take a 4 point hit on Etherington for similar price. or just hope he plays?
transfer him out
sorenson
dawson hughes fox
lee modric fabregas n’zogbia eagles
drogba (c) bendtner
come on!
who are yr subs?
Please anyone?
Currently my team:
Hart
Bikey-Turner-Caldwell-Shawcross
Gerrard-Duff-NZogbia-Fabregas
Drogba(c)-Rodallega
Schwartzer-Craddock-Rooney-Milner
Already all transfers made and cash 1.2 left. Do you think I should go for point hits..? Thanks
Rodallega -> Bent / K.Davies
Craddock -> Ricketts
Duff -> Eagles
This is my team chaps, and in the Telegraph league we have fixed transfers. Basically I need to swap players in now with my very limited number of transfers until the end of the season that will create the differential and get me 1st/2nd in my league. My competitors have the usual of rooney, lampard etc. I dont- see below
Obviously youll see some obvious transfers like Cech. I need max return from each player given the fixtures coming, for max value. Was thinking Gerrard in for Arshavin for long term, poss Hart in or Almunia in for Cech, Bent in for Adebayor etc. I am also worrying over Richards
I NEED TO MAKE THE RIGHT MOVE AND NOW!! B4 12pm!
Team:
Cech
Ivanovic Evra Richards
Arshavin Fabregas M Taylor Duff Valencia
Drogba Adebayor
Help and advice very well received. I was up late last night mulling it all over! Cheer