The Key Battles – Gameweek Eight
Filed under: Key Battle - Posted by: Mark
This weekend’s key encounters highlight Nani’s quest to rid himself of the Anfield ghosts following last season’s gory cameo in the 3-1 setback. Elsewhere, Theo Walcott’s free-running will surely give Steve Bruce food for thought, while Neil Warnock will be hoping Adel Taarabt can help QPR drive a bus through the Blackburn back four.
Nani vs Jose Enrique
Two players in strong form for their respective sides will likely face off in a key head to head at Anfield. While all the talk will be of Wayne Rooney going into Saturday’s early kick-off, Nani is the man in form for Alex Ferguson’s side and he, along with City’s David Silva, has emerged as the consistent Fantasy midfield performer.
In Jose Enrique, Kenny Dalglish has a bull of a left-back fully equipped to deal with Nani’s pace and direct running – whether he will be disciplined enough to curb his own attacking instincts to do so is another matter. Nani will go all out to make an impact following the events of last season’s fixture and his battle with the Spaniard is surely set to be a highlight and a key confrontation.
Theo Walcott vs Kieran Richardson
The Arsenal flyer is a potentially tricky customer or any full-back, although consistency from Walcott is always a concern and frustration for Arsene Wenger. On Sunday however, Wenger will once again be looking to Walcott to terrorise his full-back, particularly when that player is likely to be Kieran Richardson.
Although a competent stand-in at left-back, Wenger will surely look to Walcott to get at him and undo a likely rearguard action from Steve Bruce’s team. With Nicklas Bendtner unavailable to Bruce, we’re expecting to see a 4-5-1 – despite talk of Sunderland “getting at” Arsenal from the off. That will likely mean very little space for Arsenal’s midfield, making the width offered by Walcott, Gervinho and perhaps Andrei Arshavin, all the more critical. Our money is on Walcott being a significant figure for the Gunners and a major worry for Bruce.
Adel Taarabt vs Michel Salgado
Neither of these players are certain to take the pitch on Sunday – while Taarabt is embroiled in an off-field dispute following his bus stop capers during the Craven Cottage massacre, Salgado is struggling for fitness and may miss out at Loftus Road.
If the Rovers man is fit and these two do come up in opposition on the flank, there’s every chance that this could be a worrying area for Steve Kean and his Blackburn side. Taarabt has been employed on the left by Neil Warnock in recent matches and he will surely fancy the Moroccan’s trickery to cause all kinds of problems for the ageing Rovers full-back. Salgado is known to like a challenge, while Taarabt is expert at drawing the tackle and will surely be looking to find the penalty box before doing so. Expect teasing, taunting, an early bone-shaker from Salgado, followed by a good few penalty shouts from the Rangers faithful.
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October 14 at 4:07 pm
The mighty Victor Moses Wigans number 11 cmon u Latics says:
Rooney —> RVP no hits yes or no
note i will be using my wild card after gw 11 is over so Rooney will b back in thoughts plz cheers ?
October 14 at 4:08 pm
MJonno_79 says:
who else have you got up front / in midfield
October 14 at 4:07 pm
MrJefferson says:
will van der vart play?
October 14 at 4:08 pm
MJonno_79 says:
no adde then i reckon VDV will be almost guaranteed
October 14 at 4:07 pm
MJonno_79 says:
I really can’t decide between starting woodgate or simpson. Quick vote please
October 14 at 4:16 pm
Cruicky22 says:
Woodgate – Stoke at home to Fulham who aren’t great away. Simpson home to Spurs so less likely to get a clean sheet.
October 14 at 4:27 pm
yeates45 says:
Woodgate at the Britannia, Stoke are immence!
October 14 at 4:07 pm
King Nil Miss✩ says:
All of you Dyer – Simpson/Taylors owners who´s in first place as a sub?
October 14 at 4:12 pm
Chill Pill says:
Dyer first, if you can’t trust him V Norwich then bin him, Simpson is 2nd sub as I think Spurs will score.
October 14 at 4:12 pm
Reply Fail says:
Dyer – Simpson. Only reason is Dyer being a MF; it is so close.
October 14 at 4:30 pm
yeates45 says:
I have R.Taylor in my starting 11 as Brown and Ward are away!
Dyer is my 1st sub, useful player!
October 14 at 4:09 pm
bt31 says:
new post
October 14 at 4:09 pm
Jonty says:
Good news for fellow Silva captainers.
From the Man City website
“(Silva) has scored three goals in five games following international breaks since his move to City and he warmed up with two for the World Champions in mid-week!”
http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Clu.....Int-breaks
October 14 at 4:10 pm
MAD says:
Same stats for RvP plz? He didn’t score after the last int break…
October 14 at 4:17 pm
Jonty says:
On past experience if he returns with both legs its a miracle…goals are a bonus.
October 14 at 4:10 pm
Reply Fail says:
Nani & Welbeck – Enrique
Agbonlahor – Silva & Kompany
Larsson – Van Persie
Sinclair – Ruddy
I know my players will play each other once in a while but this is going to be a difficult week!
October 14 at 4:18 pm
vwfiesta says:
Welbeck or OD this GW?
October 14 at 4:22 pm
yeates45 says:
Right plummed for the following transfers:
Gabby > Sturridge
Anderson > Ramsey….
Vorm
Bosingwa, Kompany, R.Taylor
Mata, Silva, Ramsey(VC), Jarvis
Rooney, Sturridge(C), Suarez
Bench:
Given, Dyer, Brown, Ward
What do you think?
October 14 at 4:27 pm
Zekk Tekk says:
Sure I’ve seen on Sky Sports News this morning that TAARABT isn’t playing this weekend.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/1014/pl.html
Found this also about it on a website.
October 14 at 4:30 pm
Kings of Lyon says:
Newbie alert ?
http://fantasy.premierleague.c.....history/7/
October 14 at 4:31 pm
yeates45 says:
LOL –
Total transfers 128
Gameweek transfers 68
W/C played
October 14 at 4:39 pm
Skorge88 says:
I’m looking to ship out Young before his price drops tonite, considering Ramsey and Petrov(BOL).
Anyone know why Petrov didn’t feature for Bulgaria against Wales?
Also any chance of Ramsey being rotated? He played 180mins i think.
October 14 at 4:40 pm
benjscott says:
Mite take a punt on an arsenal defender this weekend. Every1 on here speaks about the attacking transfers but defender ones are just as important!
Who to choose from arsenal:
Gibbs, mertesacker, santos!!!!
sunderland aint scored in last 3 at emirates!!
October 14 at 4:47 pm
Jonty says:
everyone ignores arsenal defenders because they wouldn’t even be able to defend themselves against a team of under 7s. Gibbs, Mertesaker, Santos…take your pick of the 2pt delights that await you.
October 14 at 4:53 pm
Skorge88 says:
Arsenal have kept 3 cleanies this season(same as United, more than Chelsea), they **usually** don’t concede many at home. The players mentioned all offer good attacking potential as well.
I have Mertesacker though so you should probably ignore this post.
October 14 at 4:55 pm
benjscott says:
i have a feeling about big merty this weekend. worth a punt for 2 weeks, he ll be out when they face chelsea.
surely they wnt concede and anything else is a bonus!!
October 14 at 4:49 pm
benjscott says:
they havent conceded at home yet and have 2 good home games! who else wud u say for the weekend then????
October 14 at 4:54 pm
Skorge88 says:
Liverpool did score twice at the Emirates but that was after Frimpong was sent off.
October 14 at 4:57 pm
benjscott says:
true forgot bout that, they shudnt have a problem with sunderland
October 14 at 6:21 pm
mir says:
Augero and Rooney out for Sturridge and RVP ? 4 point hit… cant afford Augero out for RVP in one transfer..
crazy??
October 14 at 6:21 pm
Gargamel says:
Mad as a hatter
October 14 at 6:25 pm
mir says:
yeah thought as much…
Augero has got to go with the fixture next week and with RVP next two games has got to come in… maybe drop ward for rangel as the 4 point hit… means playing vorm and rangel though this week..
October 14 at 6:27 pm
Gargamel says:
Think that is much more likely to be good
October 14 at 6:23 pm
Doosra says:
Upney.
October 14 at 6:43 pm
Taco Juice says:
Bale, Walcott, or Dempsey?