FA Cup Locks In Two Doubles, Adds More Trepidation
As reported last week, there was potential for the double gameweeks ahead to be disrupted if there were some untimely draws in the FA Cup fixtures last weekend. Fortunately for us the only draw in the quarter-finals came at Craven Cottage where Fulham and Spurs played out a stalemate. In the two games we needed a definitive result in (Reading v Aston Villa and Chelsea v Stoke) we got just that.
This means is that in just over a weeks time, Chelsea lock down their double in gameweek 31 with trips to Blackburn and Portsmouth. In the even more immediate future Aston Villa can now make the midweek trip to the DW stadium to give both themselves and Wigan a double fixture this coming gameweek. Villa then roll around again joining a slew of teams in gameweek 31 with two fixtures. O’Neill’s side take on Wolves and Sunderland in two tempting looking fixtures at Villa Park. Planning for that is well underway and we will bring you more insightful “Scouting the Doubles” reports as the week progress to give you the lowdown on form and player targets…
Now we’ve traversed through the FA Cup quarter-finals, what of the semi-finals in April? They will cause disruption for the teams involved and their scheduled league opponents in gameweek 34. If you take a gander at our Season Ticker we have made some slight modifications to the new spearmint green colour. Technically, all of those fixtures highlighted have been postponed and should be a stark yellow colour. However, based on precedent and a gap in the schedules, we believe all those fixtures could and in fact should be rescheduled for the midweek that follows, that would see these fixtures remain in gameweek 34.
We are just working on assumptions here though, and just because it has happened before doesn’t mean it will again; if we don’t get any word in the not too distant future, those fixtures will turn that dreaded shade of yellow. So while we think we should be in the clear, be prepared for the possibility of one more (and hopefully final) blank gameweek this season.
About the Author
Andy has scored fantasy own goals since before the game began.
Right, sorry to go off topic (judging from the last page of trivia), but what should I do with my free transfer this week?
Unfortunately I think Fabrica Muamba’s time has come to an end and I have 8.4m to spend. At first glance I think it is either Ashley Young or Arteta. Although I have already tripled up on Arsenal players where I probably shouldn’t have so with another Villa triple (I have Dunne and Milner), I’m having second thoughts. Diaby and Bendtner are rediculous value long term though and I don’t have a problem benching them, so is a Villa tripley that bad? Who else should be on the radar?
If Fabregas is out then Nasri wouldn’t be the worst option ever. Still, I’d rather have both Arteta or Young though.
now that agger is fit, will he play the next game?
I’m sure Benitez will probably want to rotate the whole team after last night so I’d say so.
Did we get the last of the 11 English players yet to score in the EC/CL final yet? Gissa clue?
gary birtles for notts forest?
Thinking this will be my 11 for GW30 with 2 >>> transfers for
the Double D’s!!
1: Sorensen
2: Vermaelen
3: Agger
4: Baines
5: Ivanovic
6: Alexander >>> Collins AVL
7: Valencia >>> Milner AVL
8: Fabregas
9: Torres (C)
10: Tevez
11: Bendtner
12: Hart
13: Duff
14: Hunt
15: O’Hara
Shame to drop Antonio but Milner is just too hard to resist with those fixtures. Surf
The Telegraph’s MOTM from last night’s game – Javier Mascherano.
Seems a reasonable choice to me.
good god no
1-0 wasn’t a bad result for Liverpool. Wigan are obviously a superior team, and goal difference could be crucial in the race for 10th.
Perhaps he got it for the most dissent… actually Gerrard would have got that.
he played right back, his failure to track their left winger rodallega resulted in the only, and decisive, goal of the game. sounds spot on. oh and his all round game was average at best as well. name one good tackle, pass or cross from last night he did? exactly!
Gerrard must get done for that V sign , i thought the tackle could have been a red, it was similar to Ballacks against ManCity.
apart than he actually got the ball first and wasnt technically from behind. Good tackle in my book.
The Gerrard tackle is a tough one to assess. It looked bad but he actually just wraps his foot around Mcarthy and gets the ball from the side. I don’t actually think it was even a foul.
if gerrard got a red for that i would have turned off in disgust. he got the ball and didn’t go in with any force, the only reason it was rightly a foul was it was slightly from behind and he made some contact with mccarthy with his other leg.
It wasn’t even a foul, never mind a red. Good tackle.
He did make one of his standard potential leg breaking challenges on Scharner, so maybe this warranted it.
He didn’t get any cards – a remarkable achievement considering.
Nzog or McCarthy for me- and thats coming from a liverpool fan!
Ditto. Shame the FPL bonus judges don’t agree.
n’zog did nothing that game for me. what good are 10 great looking dribbles if none of them end up creating anything? dribbling 2 people is ultimately useless if you get tackled by the third player, or like yesterday your cross or pass is then wayward. if anyone ever watches a replay of that game watch diame.
imo diame 3, mccarthy 2, caldwell/bramble 1
guys,
u rather have a brim or a man c defender for gw 31?
I reckon brum, city are super cack at the back!
After carew performance in the FA match, which 2 will play upfront for this coming DGW?
A- Agbonlahor & Heskey
B- Agbonlahor & Carew
C- Heskey & Carew
A or B, Gabby always seems to play whatever!
Agree with that. Gabby is first choice, the other 2 get rotated.
I heard once about a (possibly Russian) side that played in London once and did really well, despite the thick fog. It was then found that they had about 13 players on the pitch.
Can anyone confirm this and give me the truth of the events?
I remember playing hockey at school in fog and in that sport they don’t have left handed sticks for us lefties!! Needless to say I completely forgot to use the reverse stick rule. Gay sport anyway. Fog can cover up a multitude of sins!
The left-handed Stasi strikes again… we will persevere!
I write, bowl, play tennis right handed and it is my dominant hand – but bat & play golf left handed.
Don’t burn me at the steak though!
Got lost on last page
Looking at making the following changes:
Hart > Friedel
Valencia > Milner.
Giving this team next week:
Friedel
Ivanovic, Evra, Collins
Fabregas, Milner, Lee, Nzogbia
Drogba, Bendy, Rooney
Sorensen, Dann, Baines, Pienaar
Decent team and right first 11?
If Fabregas is fit then yeah, just make sure you put Pienaar as first sub to slot in if Fab misses out.
yes other than the obvious Fabregas issue…
No-one seems to be voting for Agbon up front – surely there is more potential upside than banking on Collins getting 1+ cleanies? He is capable of a hattie or two per season…
I am thinking -
Fabregas Bendter Gerrard – OUT
Agbonlahor Milner Lampard – IN
anyone see a better suggestion?
thanks
http://www.fantasyfootballscou.....ent-500082
u reckon he gets starts though dfd?
I want him to – its between him and Bent for me.
there was no way the briefcase of buttplugs could be followed, let alone topped
agreed
hehehe made me chuckle in this morgue some call an office.
I’m starting to lean toward Agbon as well. He has 11 goals this season versus Milner’s 4…I know there are assists and BP considerations, but I just think Agbon may find his form. Kind of hoping Rooney doesnt play so I can justify getting him in. Thinking of leaving Milner out…but prob haven’t got the guts to play the differential
I am not sold on the milner situation. 4 games in two weeks. i dontn think he will play all of them. Just not sold on Downing or Young either tho!
Thinking of taking Evra out after GW30.
Looking at GW31 onwards, who do you think would be great value to bring in?
Distin?
Dustbin? jesus no
3-2-1 Dustbin
Do It!
Sorry for the repost – got lost among the excitement of the quiz. Keen to get your thoughts:
In previous years, I’ve managed to avoid too many points hits. This years plethora of dgw’s seems to have made a mockery of that strategy and I’ve found myself taking -4 points with frightening regularity.
Is it just my poor planning (sans and Evs-style spreadsheet), or has this years fixture list changed the way we need to play the game?
more big player injuries and more postponments, and consequent doubles has made it almost impossible to more hits than usual
* impossible to not take more hits than usual
I wonder what the average hits per game for the last 4 weeks is for the top 500 players, and what it will be for the next 4?
I don’t really expect anyone to go and research that, but you never know in this place
do transfers carry over for CL fantasy?
Not as far as I’m aware – you snooze, lose.
no
any opinions on this weeks last man standing yet guys?
the options seem t be spurs pool or chelsea
and i am thinking spurs?