Better late than never – here’s my picks for the weekend, coming to you live via a bad internet connection from my hotel in Leipzig.
It’s been a totally shattering week for me work-wise so now I must sleep. Before I do however, here’s the usual brand of nonsense to get the weekend game discussion going.
Not an easy week this. Clean sheets look a tad sparse on the ground and both Chelsea and United appear to have tough away games. I’m avoiding Ferguson’s men altogether – I can see the Pompey game being very tight, maybe even a 0-0. Chelsea meanwhile will get a good going over at the JJB but I think they’ll be too strong. Their key players offer value as always then.
Enough tittle-tattle though. Let’s get started with my selection. I’ve gone for Gomes in goal, basically because I fancy a Spurs clean sheet (crazy I know) and there are question marks over the starting roles of almost the entire back four. Sunderland may be able to give a debut to Cisse up front but I can just see Spurs putting in a decent performance and keeping Keane’s men out in a 2-0 win.
At the back I’ve kept faith with Terry, even though Chelsea will face a stern test at the JJB. Again I can see them putting up a frighteningly efficient performance and walking away with a clean sheet in a narrow win.
Carragher sits alongside the Chelsea skipper – Liverpool should be fairly comfortable defensively at home to Boro who aren’t great travellers – they certainly pose a threat to the Liverpool goal but in a week that looks to be lacking clean sheets, Carragher and Liverpool offer a decent option.
The full back positions go to Warnock of Blackburn and N’Zogbia of Newcastle. I expect Rovers to sweep past Hull as I just can’t see Phil Brown’s team and Geovanni matching last week’s result against Fulham. N’Zogbia should start at left back for Newcastle and will bomb forward and play a part in set pieces. I can see the match with Bolton being tight – but I can see Keegan’s men edging it with a 1-0.
Bentley looks a must-have for this weekend. Spurs should right the wrongs of last weekend’s defeat at Boro and are normally electric at home. Bentley has been central to Spurs’ creativity in pre-season and should figure amongst the assists at the very least.
Lampard demonstrated last weekend that he should have 15+ goals in him again. He was pouring into the box throughout the game and although he relied on a penalty to get his goal, his goal threat throughout was substantial. He could easily be the match winner at the JJB.
Ashley Young is another safe option in midfield. Villa travelled well last season and should get the result at Stoke. O’Neill’s side might need 2-3 goals to win the game and Young should contribute if that is the case.
The last spot goes to Nasri who surprised me against West Brom last weekend. He is thought to be fit for tomorrow’s game and I can see Arsenal needing a couple of goals to see off Hodgson’s Fulham. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nasri amongst the assists at the very least. Duff of Newcastle almost made it ahead of him but I don’t want to back Newcastle too heavily in a game that I expect to be surprisingly tight.
Up front Torres is the obvious choice. A game at Anfield normally means goals for the Spaniard and, having already got off the mark at Sunderland last weekend, he will surely have Boro in his sights. However, something in the back of mind though just thinks that the Boro game could be tight given Liverpool’s form so far, plus Torres could be spared with half-an-hour to go given the crucial Champions League game that looms in midweek. As a result, I’m sticking with Adebayor for Arsenal at Fulham. As I’ve mentioned, I think Arsenal will need to net a few and I can see the big striker getting a much needed first goal of the season at least at the Cottage.
Alongside him I’ve gone for a Blackburn striker but not the obvious choice that is Santa Cruz. I’m going to back my hunch and go with his strike partner Roberts instead. He looked lively at Goodison last weekend and might just upstage his Paraguayan team mate in a game that I expect Rovers to win by a 2-3 goal margin.
On the bench I’m offering you some decent cheap options – Brunt and Miller of West Brom in midfield and up front for starters. I can see the Baggies turning Everton over tomorrow and these two could well be the chief tormentors. At the back I’ve gone with Garrido who should keep his place for City against the Hammers and is available for a budget price across the games. City could be okay for a clean sheet with the defence on their toes after the arrival of Kompany.
As for a Fantasy Premier League captain – the smart money goes on Torres who is expected to notch against Boro. Lampard is another option as is Bentley who could score heavily if Spurs can sort themselves out against Sunderland.