Scouting the Doubles – Man City
Next up in our doubles analysis is Man City, a team undoubtedly relieved to have gained a point at the Stadium of Light last Sunday, with the heroics of Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon only undone by Adam Johnson‘s wonder goal. Still in the driving seat in the race for fourth place, they will be looking to really push on in this DGW. Here’s a look at their upcoming week…
The Opponents
Roberto Mancini’s side travel to Craven Cottage to face a Fulham side with one of the best home records in the league. Roy Hodgson’s outfit have recorded seven of their nine league clean sheets at home, and prior to last Sunday’s Old Trafford defeat, were unbeaten throughout February. Despite having been beaten only four times on their travels, too many draws mean City have only won four times on their opponent’s turf.
City then face Everton at the City of Manchester Stadium and go into the game protecting the last unbeaten home record in the Premier League this season. Despite Everton’s recent revival, they have been poor on their travels, winning just one of their last six away games, but with Jagielka, Arteta and Cahill back, and possibly Saha returning from injury, they may be a different proposition. City have kept four home clean sheets out of five league games under Mancini, and will be looking to avenge their 2-0 defeat at Goodison back in January.
Current Form
Having got off to a great start as boss, Mancini seems to be suffering from the same problem as Mark Hughes, with too many draws blighting the club’s league progress. City showed real fighting spirit in the second half against Sunderland and Adam Johnson’s late equaliser ensured they remain the most-difficult-to-beat team in the top flight. With only two wins in their last six league games though, City need to start punishing opponents if they are to claim that all-important last Champions League qualifying place.
Rotation Risk
With such a bloated first team squad, Mancini is spoilt for choice in practically every position. The likes of Wright-Phillips, Richards and Bridge were all subbed on Sunday, whilst Toure and Ireland failed to see game time at all. Adam Johnson performed brilliantly to get a goal and all three Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bonus points, particularly as he was only introduced to the proceedings as a 71st minute sub.
Potential Targets
Formation-wise, Mancini’s favoured three defensive central midfielders, a throwback to his time at Inter, is hardly appetising for fantasy managers. With the top scoring City defender Kolo Toure on just 65 points, the defence doesn’t look particularly appealing either.
Shay Given And Javier Garrido
A nailed-on cert to play both games; Given hasn’t missed a single minute of league action this season for City, and is perhaps the only player worth considering if you’re looking at City defensively. Although with Wayne Bridge sidelined for a month following his hernia operation, Mancini may now turn to Javier Garrido to take up the left-back role. At just 4.1 in the FPL, the Spaniard would therefore represent a very cheap route for those looking for a defensive investment for the double. While City’s defence is far from reliable, Garrido does offer some attacking point potential. He’s more than useful when it comes to a dead-ball. The only caveat is that Mancini does have options at left-back. Sylvinho is an alternative and Mancini could also opt to shift Gareth Barry to make way for the return of Vieira in midfield.
Predicted Return: 8 saves
Adam Johnson
If his weekend supersub performance didn’t convince Mancini of starting him this upcoming week, nothing will. Johnson has only one full league appearance for City to his name, but has shown he needs little time to make an impact. With seven bonus points in just six games, he is already the second-highest bonus scoring City midfielder, just one behind Gareth Barry.
Predicted Return: 1 assist, 2 Bonus Points
Carlos Tevez
The club’s main man this season, and with Adebayor still out banned, is likelier to be amongst the goals. Tevez is on penalties and gets his fair share of direct free kicks, too. He is also a real bonus point magnet, second only to Wayne Rooney for striker bonus this season. In the seven league games he’s played in 2010, Tevez has an impressive return of six goals and eight Bonus Points.
Predicted Return: 2 goals, 3 Bonus Points
Craig Bellamy
The recent Chelsea game showed how good Bellamy can be on his day, and his dedication to the City cause this season has been unwavering, despite rumours of a rift with the new gaffer. Has worked well in tandem with Tevez, and another all action performance or two should help boost the FPL tally.
Predicted Return: 1 assist
About the Author
Sir Paulos is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season.
have to play 2 of fabregas, rooney and Bendter – who do i go for
Fabregas depending on fitness news and Rooney still.
bendter first reserve then and thanks for advice – also who to captain – milner, malouda or drogba – p.s. how do i tag my team to my name.
Drogba.
Milner’s got a return last week and I back it this week but I get fearful when a mid scores in one game as I don’t feel it will happen again unless it’s holy trinity.
Malouda is a gamble to captain as your chasing last weeks points dont let it cloud your judgement drogba has been great most of the season.
Drogba
again thanks for the advice – tagging my team to name ????
I’m in same situation as you. I can only play 2 out of Bendtner, Rooney, and Fabs.
Bendtner, Diaby, and Carragher on my bench…LOL!
+1
Hello all. First post. Just wanted to test if i got my link sorted.
how do u link your team then
whilst logged on open new tab and paste your FPL history add to your profile section, where it says website. its explained in faq.
just checking it works
who should i play :
O’HARA or DIABY??
diaby
Ohara
I have Collins and Dunne(have had Duune since he was worth 5 million so he isn’t going anywhere). After this gameweek, is it worth it to transfer Collins for Baird or Fay Ab? I know Fulham and Stoke have some good home fixtures plus a dble gw.
Baird yes faye no.
Milner tevez and malouda or lampard tevez and pienaar for the double?
Will be taking out lee,gerrard and torres.
Milner, Tevez, and Malouda. Malouda has kept pace with Lampard and is a lot cheaper. Milner is a NECESSITY.
first option
thanks for the info – linked my team and it works
Yeh jus as i thot.what bout tevez? I think he’s the best dgw striker after drogba, or am I missing something?
Yes.
Learn to spell Friedel.
Latest price changes
James Collins has gone up in price to 4.7 million
Sotirios Kyrgiakos has gone down in price to 5.7 million
Aaron Ramsey has gone down in price to 4.4 million
Ryan Nelsen has gone down in price to 4.4 million
Emiliano Insua has gone down in price to 6.2 million
Hendry Thomas has gone down in price to 4.3 million
Dbl gw fever is infectious. I’ve brought in Drog and piennar but thinking about friedel for gomez. 8pt hit. any thoughts?
I want to break 100 points next week! Anyone else…
I want 99, 100 is being greedy.
I know, it is greedy… but I want it so much! 99 is cool also!
Replacement for Duff? 6.5 to spend, already have Pienaar & N’Zog.
Etherington… cool fixture & double gw soon.
etherington. or find .1 more and get dempsey
ZB
Would you do Ivan-Shorey & Diaby to Malouda
All ready have Lamps. I just feel Malouda will heavily outscore Ivan
hmmm interesting one. i don’t mind those trades actually mate but to be honest i probably wouldn’t do it this week at a cost of 4 points no personally.
chelsea look good for 2 cleanies and ivanovic does get forward. malouda whilst in good form may not necessarily dominate again. also i personally wouldn’t want malouda and lampard (and drogs) myself. but that’s just me.
the week after tho ivanovic could be dropped for sure.
great score last week btw. team looks good!
Cheers ZB
And your score too ! Consistently need to find that extra now you are so near the summit.This week could see really big point diffs I reckon. Last biggie before the finish.
Yes too many hits is the problem! So Diaby to Piennar with no hits?
I need the differentials that’s why Rooney came out for Torres.
Who is your captain this week-Drogs?
cheers mate!
yeah i was just about to suggest piennar when i saw ur post. that’s a good trade imo. (hence why i have him myself) lol. can’t see u going too far wrong with that one in the run into the finish.
yeah captain is currently drogs. surprisingly only 1 other guy in the top 6 has drogba so it’s actually a fair differential at this point. i’m hoping nobody else is able to get him in and then he dominates (fingers crossed)
…but you get the sneaking suspicion that Lamps will be the differential for elcapitain. Not many near the top have him & Drogs unless they do Stevieme/Fabs swap
good point, Lenin!
Don’t forget, Fulham have a double soon.
Thinking of these changes (8 point hit)
Rooney to Drogba
Scharner to Collins
Valencia to Malouda
Team would be
Hart (sorenson)
Dunne, Evra, Collins, Baines (Shawross)
Fabregas, Malouda, NZogbia, Milner (Lee)
Drogba Bendtner (Rodellega)
Worth it? Want to win my league, 10 points ahead, the other guy will take a hit to get players in too.
No. Do the Collins swap. No more. Save the points hit.
1 transfer is enough. Scharner to Collins.
everyone would say this, but anyway… DON’T SELL ROONEY!
the guy im want to fend off from overtaking me has collins, rooney and pienaar. I want to make the collins trade, but also think valencia to malouda will give me added difference…
Any advice on my team for GW31 and ahead,please:
Current Squad:
Sorenson
Collins, Carr, Ivanovic
Fabregas, Milner, A.Young, O’Hara
Rooney, Bendtner, Drogba(C)
Sub: Reina, Evra, Bramble, Muamba (in that order)
I’ve already used my free transfer and have 1.0 in the bank.
Two Villa mids. Maybe Young to Arteta/Pienaar?
nice team
On paper maybe. It’s how they preform that matters.
Cheers.
Why to sell a DGW player?
Is Fab sure to play this weekend?
No guarantee. We’ll find out more when Wenger holds the press conference.
It would be a terrible idea to get rid of Fabregas. He’s back in full training.
Who should i get in?
hart
ivan collins dawson
lampard milner nzogbia eagles
drogba torress bendtner
subs: sorensen, lee , faye, agger.
Just hesitant in dropping torress, a very good differential to have.
How much in the bank?
keep El Nino. Maybe Agger > Baines?
n’zogbia out, pienaar in… and, what, the hell, eagles is doing in your tem?!
forecast for dgw: win/Draw/ Lose
Sunderland v Birmingham 36% 32% 32%
Wigan v Burnley 38% 36% 26%
Arsenal v West Ham 65% 22% 13%
Stoke v Tottenham 37% 20% 43%
Aston Villa v Wolves 68% 20% 12%
Everton v Bolton 58% 20% 22%
Portsmouth v Hull 33% 50% 17%
Blackburn v Chelsea 38% 35% 27%
Fulham v Manchester City 38% 34% 28%
Manchester Utd v Liverpool40% 34% 26%
West Ham v Wolves 36% 36% 28%
Portsmouth v Chelsea 36% 36% 28%
Blackburn v Birmingham 38% 35% 27%
Manchester City v Everton 38% 34% 28%
Aston Villa v Sunderland 38% 34% 28%
Powered by Themis Forecasting Engine
How did those predictions work out last week?
Figures on Portsmouth v Chelsea look off. Portsmouth more likely than Chelsea for the win? How are these worked out?
This clown wasted our time last week suggesting it was more likely for each of Man U, Liverpool and Chelsea to not win than win.
The latest wally percentage is a 50% chance of a draw between Hull and Portsmouth equating to ‘Evens’. No bookmaker is only going to offer EVENS on a draw and is more like 2/1.
I also notice a Chelsea win at Blackburn is the LEAST likely outcome.
Please don’t waste our time next week and head back to the circus to be ready for Easter
I’m pretty interested to know exactly how that’s working those statistics out though…
Was planning on doing no transfers this week, have 8 DGwers anyway, but do have N’zogbia. If he doesn’t play, he will be replaced by Lee (Bol). If I get Nzogbia out this week, can’t afford Arteta would prob have to go Pienaar. If leave as is and get 2 free next week prob go Lamps & A.Young out. Fabs and Arteta in with N’zogbia probably to bench for another week when will have a bit of cash to spare also.
Taken a few hits recently so not doing any transfers this week really appeals. Anyone got a compelling reason why I should get rid of N’zog now, other than he might not play.
go for pienaar, gw31 is the biggest gameweek of the year, don’t save transfer…
Lee has terrible fixtures coming up
N’Zog has City & Fulham away and Arsenal at home 3 of the next 4 gws.
Then again he also has Pompey and Hull at home and West Ham as the other 3 in the next 6.
A muddled state of affairs regarding this weeks transfers. Always the case with multiple dgws.
Options:
Nani->Arteta
Nani->Milner/A Young
Nani->Malouda
Nani->A Johnson
Bendtner->Tevez
Bendtner->Agbonlahor
Thinking Nani->Arteta looking at EVR’s fixtures.
If I have your choice I’ll definitely go for it, in fact am going to risk Fab>>Arteta!
don’t do that!
Jafalad, just do Nani for Milner…
Don’t sell Bendtner, and get Malouda or Milner… I’d buy Malouda
If you haven’t got Milner. Get him!
Thanks DG! I always try to buy with 3-4 games down the line and EVR look to have a nice set of fix.
I can keep onto Bendy but for how long?
I’ll say you should stick with him for now, for long term go with Torres if you don’t have him. LIV will fight till the end.
I’ll wait for press conference with to see if Fab is fit.
Drogba out Doyle in?
brilliant move marr!
Arteta or Malouda for next GW?
Both:) or Malouda+Pienaar
Handy though he is I can’t believe the saving of getting Pienaar instead of Arteta couldn’t be put to good use elsewhere.
anyone think anelka will outscore rodallega by more than 4 this week?
Stick with H-Rod for sure. Home to Burnley has to be a good shout.
Here’s my plan:
Ridgewell out Distin in giving me
Sorensen
Ivanovic Collins Distin
Fabregas Milner Pienaar N’Zogbia
Drogba (c) Rooney Bendtner
Jaaskelainen Diaby Evra Insua
cheers teddy, looks good mate. I’ll have…
hahnemann
baines – collins – bale
lampard – arteta – young – o’hara
drogba (C) – bendtner – rodallega
Yeah, sound. Not much talk of Spurs amid the DGW clutter, but could be a tight, low-scoring game I reckon. I considered Hahnemann (nice fix towards the end of the season too) but gonna stick with Sorensen.
ok are these transfers ideal:
nzogbia & lee > arteta & bullard
good fixtures going foward & bonus magnets & double fixtures inc hull.
The only way i cant get anyone better than bullard is if i drop torress for tevez, and that would mean a 8pt hit and probably means doubling up on everton midfielders.
Those 2 trades look very good buggu
can i ask who you brought in?
i just hate these dgw they bring the worse out of me, just getting over having 3 spurs players for dgw in wk 22.
yeah doubles can definitely convince us to make some silly choices. Like me captaining young last week when the plan was always to captain torres v pompey, or buying matty taylor purely for a couple doubles despite knowing he was rubbish!
This week I brought in drogba and arteta for torres and gerrard. Plan to bring torres back in for rodallega next week.
so will have
hart
collins ivan dawson
Milner Lampard Arteta Bullard
Droba Torress Bendtner
subs : soresen, faye, agger, eagles
surely dawson and torres will do well, my only concerns?
I’m sure you can do better than Bullard. We have no idea how they’ll play under Dowie. What about O’Hara or Jarvis or Rodwell for DGWs or Gera, Etherington, Diaby, even Lee?
not sure teddy, bullards always been fpl gold and with good fixtures and the added incentive of a relegation battle he could be a very good purchase
i agree with champ, his more in the arteta bracket than anyone of those you mentioned, the only problem is his injury concerns.
Surely new manager syndrome and relegation battle would help him ?
I have a couple transfers planned next 2 weeks but if i can fit him in for gera or o’hara after that i’ll definitely do so. Good shout
considering i had arteta and bullard on my watchlist at the start of the season and was eager for them to get fit it will hurt alot more if they repeat there recent form for the remainder of the season.
at least i can say i brought in 2 players i really like and admire.
n’zogbia – piennar
vermallan – givet
valencia – fabs
any thoughts?? 4 point hit
Thinking of Drogba for Rooney and Tevez for Torres – thoughts?
abouletly not, Torres only has one game and Tevez has two
id wait but yes you need drogs but don’t drop rooney
think johnson can grab 180mins this GW?
http://rotoexperts.com/content/view/5451/219/
Carlos Tevez or Milner for captain?
What!? you don’t have Drogba?
Hart
ivanovic
Collins
Distin
Lamps
Milner
Fabs
Pienaar
Bednter
Drogs (c)
Rooney
Sorenson, Diaby, Ridgewell, M dawson
have i got my bench right people? is it a msitake putting Diaby on the bench
thaughts please
test