Fresh from a most unspectacular performance from my picks last weekend, I’m delivering my selection for this week days before kick-off with a scrap of team news to go on. It’s all the FPL’s fault of course, or rather Sky Sports. Yes they are the true evil to blame for my foolhardy confidence and this debacle of a gameweek.
With the FPL deadline just hours away I’ve stuck my neck out with some early picks for this gameweek – which starts with tonight’s game at Goodison. It’s all highly irregular, high risk stuff – but for those FPL managers looking to close a gap, this dodgy early deadline could well be a godsend.
For the rest of you, consider this early commitment on my part as an added bonus or more likely, an early warning on who to avoid this weekend.
Refresh your screens, read on and don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Let’s start at the back as per usual with the cheerful news that once again, clean sheets look hard to come by again this week. All the top defences – Chelsea, United and Portsmouth – are away from home against sides that could easily nick the odd goal.
Chelsea’s trip to Everton is a tricky one. I can’t see many goals here, with neither team in full attacking flow and missing vital midfield players. Everton will seemingly be without the creative influence of both Arteta and Osman, while Lampard was clearly missed against Wigan and remains a major doubt for tonight’s game. I’ve got an inkling that Chelsea will nick this one though, maybe with a 1-0 so I’m keeping faith with Terry in my backline. He showed his menace going forward on Monday with an effort that hit the bar, so even if Everton can conjure up a goal, the Chelsea skipper could well contribute at the other end in a must win game for Grant’s men.
United meanwhile, make the trip to Ewood for what will be a tough encounter against Hughes’ side. I can see Rovers pinching a goal in this one with United unlikely to risk Vidic on the eve of the Barcelona game, even though he is reportedly close to a return. United will need goals to win it then and that should mean Ronaldo on the field from the start and amongst the points.
Portsmouth’s game against City does appear to have clean sheets in it, maybe even for both sides. They are both stuttering in attacking terms and both have defenders that offer value. Certainly there are few attacking players on show in this one that appear to offer value – Dunne for City and Hreidarsson for Pompey are certainly better options. They are decent propositions but I’ve gone for the threat of goals and assists in a week where clean sheets look scarce.
Geremi is at home to Sunderland who will threaten goals at St James’ in what will be a passionate Derby match. The Newcastle man is of course employed in a midfield role, so will contribute going forward and is also playing a key role in set-pieces. Add to this the fact that Keegan’s men have kept 3 clean sheets in 4 and Geremi offers obvious value.
Wheater is my third defender. Boro have found some form again and are up against a Bolton side who have struggled for goals and without Davies up front. This could be a clean sheet for Wheater plus the big man is a real threat from Downing’s set-pieces.
Laursen completes the back four. Villa have kept two consecutive clean sheets but may struggle to make it three in what will be a torrid Derby match with Birmingham. However, Laursen’s threat at set-pieces is considerable and Birmingham have proved vulnerability in this area. Although I omitted Lescott from my picks last week, I did tip him to cause problems from set-pieces against McCleish’s men and that turned out to be the case. This week I’m backing that hunch and going for the big Dane.
In goal I’ve opted for Green once again with the Hammers at home to Derby. Clean sheets are a rarity down at Upton Park but the visit of Jewell’s men should offer a good opportunity for Green to notch up his first in 8 games.
In midfield I’ve already mentioned that Ronaldo is, as always, a good bet to be amongst the points at Ewood. Alongside him Fabregas earns a recall with Gerrard under threat of rotation and Lampard a major doubt. Arsenal could get goals against Reading and Fabregas appears to be certain of a starting role. There should be FPL bonus in the Spaniard at the very least.
Downing also gets the nod. As I’ve mentioned, Boro are on decent form and with Alves looking sharp up front, Downing appears to have come to life at the end of the season. Seven goals so far this term demonstrates a decent return and with fixtures good over the remaining games, he could well boost that total further, starting at the weekend against Bolton.
The final spot is tough. Barry is a very good shout given his run of form but with my self-imposed limit of two players per club, I’ve opted for Villa’s Agbonlahor up front instead. That leaves me turning back to Bullard again. I can just see Fulham getting the three points against Liverpool who seem very likely to put out an understrength side at the Cottage with the Champions League semi beckoning in the midweek. Fulham will be buoyed by the victory at Reading last time out, in which Bullard again earned the maximum FPL bonus points. I can see him being at the forefront again this weekend as Fulham notch a couple of goals to see off Rafa’s men.
Up front I’ve already mentioned Agbonlahor. I’ve opted for Adebayor to partner him. I’m a little worried about this one because Wenger could throw us a curveball and rest his leading scorer. However, with Derby next, I see he’ll take that option for that game. He should be looking to get his side back on track this weekend and this game could very well have goals in with Adebayor profiting.
I’ve discussed alternatives throughout but lets just go over some additional ones, starting at the back . Here, Wigan’s Scharner or Ryan Taylor are certainly a good option. Wigan are in decent form and up against a Spurs side with little to play for. Again, there might not be an obvious clean sheet here but like Geremi, Taylor is in an advanced midfield role and hogs set-pieces. Koumas is slight threat to his starting role but I think Bruce will stand by him for the weekend. Scharner is a safe option in terms of selection and minutes on the pitch but doesn’t offer such an attacking threat.
Elsewhere, West Ham defenders are good short-term prospects with Upson the top choice while Arsenal could be a fairly good bet for a clean sheet at the Emirates against Reading with Gallas the wisest choice.
In midfield I’ve already mentioned Barry of course but I’ve also got an inkling for Petrov who should be brimming with confidence after the wonder goal at the weekend. Elsewhere, there’s Davies of Fulham, Reid of Sunderland and for a long-shot, Elano. He’s showing signs of some form again and is threatening to end the season well.
I almost kept faith with Ashton up front. He has shown some glimpses of form though and Derby are in pieces right now. Having backed him previously, I should maybe show faith in him with the bottom club in town. The game should see a decent win for the Hammers and Ashton should profit, so I may well regret not opting for him.
Tevez was also in the reckoning – he should start and United are likely to need goals to see off Blackburn’s resistance. I also pondered the value of opting for Alves and leaving out either Downing or Wheater. The Newcastle vs Sunderland game should have goals though, so the trio of Owen, Viduka and Martins could be worth a look, as could Jones if you back Keane’s men to bag their third consecutive away win.
Finally, let’s talk FPL captain. It really is a foregone conclusion this week if you feel Ronaldo plays at Ewood – which he should. For those needing to gamble though, there are some pretty good options despite the doubts over the likes of Gerard, Lampard and Torres when it comes to starts.
The Arsenal pairing of Fabregas and Adebayor have got to be considered as have any of the Villa trio – Barry, Young and Agbonlahor. I’ve just got an inkling for Bullard again though – I’ve stuck my neck out by keeping him in the side so I might as well go the whole hog and push him forward as skipper for those needing to take maximum risk this weekend. Much will depend on Rafa’s lineup but if Everton lose to Chelsea tonight, I can see Liverpool putting out a shell of a side against Fulham and Bullard could well reap the benefit.
That’s you lot then. Of course, this could all look rather silly come Friday lunchtime once it’s revealed that Laursen has finally remembered he is meant to be injury prone and Bullard has had a bizarre hair tongs accident after training. Just make sure you direct your angry emails at Jeff Stelling.