The five game countdown begins then, with plenty of time to make that inspired transfer or almighty clanger. I’m not sure which I can help you with – could go either way. Still if you fancy another viewpoint on the players to consider for this weekend’s games, refresh for this weeks picks, then read on for my usual mix of wild speculation with the odd splattering of logic.
Like all good winning teams, lets start by building from the back as usual. Looking at the weekend fixtures, although the United defence will be severely tested and probably breached against Arsenal, there are enough decent options elsewhere for fantasy managers to plunder.
Villa at Derby for example looks a good bet. Yes Villa haven’t been sound defensively all season, but on the back of a 4-0 home win last weekend, O’Neill’s side will go to the bottom club with a great deal of confidence. I can see an away win by a couple of goals and a second consecutive clean sheet for Villa. Laursen is the obvious choice then, although Mellberg, Bouma and Knight all offer cheaper options for reduced goal threat.
Liverpool also look good for a shutout. They face Blackburn at Anfield, buoyant after their Champions League victory over Arsenal. It’s the first of a decent run-in for Rafa’s men and this one seems likely to see a familiar 2-0 scoreline with Carragher the best bet for a reliable clean sheet. Skrtel is an option but elsewhere there’s doubt over Rafa’s selection at the back.
Chelsea trail the United defence by just a single clean sheet and their home game with Wigan looks like a good opportunity to pull this stat level. Hilario is a good option in goal, although Grant is looking to bring a keeper in on emergency loan so there is a slight doubt here. Indeed, with a trip to Goodison on Thursday, there is doubt right across the back four although Terry appears to be the most likely starter.
My picks defence is completed by Shorey, an old favourite of mine, drafted in because I see Reading notching a couple against Fulham and the full-back could well contribute with assists or even a goal. A clean sheet is on the cards, although with Fulham fighting for their Premiership lives, I can see this being a potentially high scoring, tit-for-tat game but hoping Shorey will contribute in attacking terms.
In goal I’ve gone for a new face – Sunderland’s Gordon. Keane’s men haven’t been rock solid defensively but there are stronger in this area at home and they face a City side really struggling for goals. At the very worst, Gordon should rack up a few FPL points from saves even if City do breach the defence.
Moving on, Ronaldo has to start in midfield of course. He’ll have a tough time against Arsenal in what will probably be a tight, tense affair. You still can’t ignore him though because of the damage he can do if you dare to omit him from your lineup.
Alongside this permanent fixture, I’ve gone for a new man in Sunderland’s Andy Reid. He’s been a consistent factor in Sunderland’s upturn in fortunes that has seen them win three consecutive games. Sunderland could well make it four in a row against a City side low on confidence and struggling for goals. Reid will likely be instrumental if Keane’s men do prosper, while in the FPL, bonus is almost a given if three points go Sunderland’s way. Reid has found bonus in the last four games.
Villa’s Barry is another player in fine form who is hard to ignore this week. A trip to Derby should give the Villa skipper the platform to bring in some further fantasy points after his two goals and two assists against Bolton.
The final midfield place is a risk because he may well be under threat of being rested but Chelsea’s Lampard, should he play against Wigan, does promise a big points haul. Wigan’s away form is currently dire and with Chelsea chasing United with the prospect of making up ground should they falter against Wenger’s men, I would expect to see a decent win for Grant’s men here. I see Lampard playing with Grant choosing to rest those around him such as Kalou and Joe Cole. As a result I can easily see Frank notching another goal or two against the Wigan defence.
Up front there are more than a few good options to ponder. Defoe is hard to ignore given his record at Fratton Park and, while Newcastle have improved greatly in recent weeks, there are still doubts about them defensively. If Portsmouth score a goal or two – and I think they’ll need to to beat Newcastle, you can bet that Defoe will figure.
I’ve stuck with Berbatov as his partner. Long-term he offers great potential such are Tottenham’s fixtures over the last five. The home game against Boro promises goals, as does every Spurs home game. I expect Berbatov to figure in the points in this one, with Boro likely to push Spurs all the way
after their fine performance agianst United.
Moving on to alternatives – you may have noticed I’ve snubbed the Liverpool pair of Gerrard and Torres. While my self imposed “two player per club” rule prevented me from selecting both, I decided to opt out of the pair with one eye on the long term. Torres was very close to ousting Defoe up front and while I’m pretty certain he’ll add to his goals tally against Blackburn, he is a risk in terms of rotation for future games, plus he’s priced higher than Defoe of course. That swung it for the Portsmouth man but don’t go away thinking I’m not tipping Torres to fair well this weekend – far from it.
While we’re on the subject of strikers – Villa’s Young, West Ham’s Ashton, Boro’s Alves and Sunderland’s Jones all have decent form and fixtures this weekend and are certainly likely to fair well. Why no Yakubu? I’m just worried about Everton’s goalscoring form. They’ve been struggling for goals and although they face a normally generous Birmingham defence, Moyes’ side are lacking midfield creativity with Arteta and Osman doubts and Pienaar and Cahill already out.
Talking of midfielders, the usual mid-price suspects – Hunt at Reading, Taylor at Bolton and Bullard at Fulham – all look promising. The latter two will be fighting for their lives and if their clubs are to go out fighting, they seem a good bet to profit.
At the back the best alternative to the five defences I’ve selected appears to be Everton at Birmingham. Their backline has been sound all season although they have stuttered of late. Birmingham’s weakness defending set-pieces could make up for a loss of a clean sheet with Lescott the obvious target given his goal haul thus far.
As for FPL Captain – Ronaldo is, as always, the safe option. As this week’s poll indicates, Lampard is a massive temptation. He has the fixture to do the damage but there is still a slight doubt over whether he’ll start the Wigan game with a trip to Everton following so soon after. My bet is that he’ll play but the decision to make him captain should not be taken lightly. The risk of looking beyond Ronaldo is big but if you’re chasing a gap then this is a genuine opportunity to make up ground. There are still four games to go so panic isn’t on the agenda yet but if you’re looking to close a 50+ point gap then Lampard offers a great opportunity this week.
Beyond Lampard, you have the usual Gerrard and Torres options. Bigger risks include Barry, Berbatov and Defoe – all have form and decent fixtures and are certainly options if you don’t fancy the slight gamble on Lampard.