Hands up – the picks for this gameweek are more than a little shameful in their lack of originality. In my defence, with the Premiership powers of United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal all facing decent fixtures – it’s next to impossible to ignore their players. I have offered a decent array of alternatives though, to hopefully dilute the “bleeding obviousness” of my selection. Read on for the possibly the most predictable picks of the season…

For starters, I’ve gone for Almunia in goal. I can see Harry coming to the Emirates with a 4-5-1 and attempting to shut-up shop. Even if Spurs do lay siege to the Arsenal defence, Almunia has the form to keep them out and earn a few save points in the process.

Bosingwa for Chelsea at Hull keeps his place. I can see Scolari’s men putting on a professional performance and coming home with a 2-0, despite the efforts of Phil Brown’s men. United’s Vidic keeps his place and looks odds on for a home clean sheet against a West Ham without a goal in their last two and with Carlton Cole suspended. Carragher meanwhile, is the best option amongst the Liverpool defence who looks nailed on for a cleanie at home to a Portsmouth side still recovering from Harry’s departure. Laursen completes the back four – it’s two clean sheets in a row for Villa and a Laursen goal is surely just around the corner.

The Midfield is sickeningly obvious – there’s a slight risk of Ronaldo rotation but as always, it takes a brave fantasy manager to turn their back on him. He comes into this one with something to prove having missed chances at Goodison. He should also have increased confidence having just won the FifPro World Player of the year and with Ferguson backing him for 25 goals. It all points to a stronger performance from the United man, against a West Ham side that will surely concede two or three at Old Trafford.

Lampard picks himself again – Deco’s return may limit his forward runs a little so this will need monitoring. Like Ronaldo though, it takes balls of steel to turn away from the Chelsea man for points each game.

Villa’s Ashley Young is off form having gone three games without a goal or assist but, having left him out of the picks for the weekend, I’m bringing him back for this one. A home game with Blackburn should bring Villa more goals and Young’s set pieces will surely bring returns very soon.

The final place goes to Gerrard – who just sneaked in over the cheaper Kuyt. He looked threatening playing just behind Keane at Stamford Bridge and with Torres out, he looks set to play there again on Wednesday against Pompey – he looks odds on for some returns. About time too – he’s been disappointing in fantasy terms thus far.

Up front, Adebayor can’t be ignored in my book and keeps his place in the picks for the third gameweek running. He’ll start at home to Spurs and has a good record against Arsenal’s north London rivals. Spurs will likely be without King at the back after he started two consecutive games. I expect at least a couple of Arsenal goals then, despite Harry’s influence and a likely 4-5-1.

I had to take at least one gamble, so I’ve gone for Zaki as his partner. Hardly a massive risk I know, but Fulham are normally tight at the Cottage. Wigan and the Egyptian have scored the majority of their goals away from home though. And Bruce will want a reaction from the players after the bitterly disappointing 4-0 drubbing at home to Villa. Valencia is back from suspension to provide bullets – Zaki will hopefully fire one or two.

Let’s get on to the alternatives then. In goal and at the back you could do worse than look to the Bolton vs Everton game for a clean sheet. Megson’s side are always good for a home shut-out, while Moyes has obviously spent some time attempting to tighten his defence after they’ve struggled to this point. Could easily be a 0-0 this one with Boltons Cahill and Everton’s Hibbert on his likely return from injury, offering value; Lescott the goal threat if you fancy laying down some hefty cash.

The same goes for the Newcastle vs West Brom game. The Baggies have just one away goal all season so bizarrely, there could be some value in Given and Newcastle’s backline. Taylor, with his threat from set plays, could be a good option. Sunderland at Stoke are also an outside chance, although they have struggled from set plays so could get found out in that department. If Stoke’s Shawcross starts, then he will be a threat to Keane’s back four.

In midfield I’ve a hunch that Everton’s Cahill could come straight back in and make an impact. He’ll likely play just behind the striker in a 4-5-1 and will be a threat from Arteta’s set plays. I also like Pienaar if money is tight – he’s looked very sharp on his return. Bolton away might be the wrong fixture to opt in on though.

Bentley will have a point to prove for a partly rejuvenated Spurs against his former club, while Modric will play just behind a lone striker at the Emirates. There’s also Richardson for Sunderland at Stoke – he’s looking sharp and deadly from free kicks, and with Jones and Cisse up front together at some point tomorrow night, Keane’s men should win a few.

Indeed, Jones and Cisse provide very decent mid-price value up front, although Keane has indicated that he is unlikely to start with the big striker. Kevin Davies looks a good prospect if you fancy goals against Everton. Likewise Fuller against Sunderland. For a real gamble you could look at Ameobi for Newcastle tonight or Sturridge for Man City, who could get a start after his two assists against Stoke, with Jo still feeling the effects of tonsillitis and Evans doubtful with a knee injury.

By the way, even though I expect a good number of goals for United at Old Trafford, I’ve ignored their strike force. Too unpredictable for me, with Tevez surely due to get some action for either Rooney or even Berbatov. Those who do start the game, will surely profit however.

If you’re a Guardian game manager, then you can expect decent defensive stats from Carson and his West Brom defence at Newcastle tonight. Likewise, the Sunderland defence will be defending plenty of high balls at Stoke. Denilson could make a return to the Arsenal midfield as a defensive midfielder option – but his starting role if far from guaranteed from this point on.

As for FPL captain – tough one again. My view is that if you have Ronaldo and you’re certain enough that he’ll start, then you have to captain him. He’ll have a point to prove off the back of his award this week and he’s up against a West Ham side who are likely to turn up with Faubert on the right of their leaky defence, off the back of his own goal against Arsenal. The last thing he needs is Ronaldo running at him but that’s the way it could turn out. If Ron starts, I see a goal and an assist coming his way.

Lampard is, as always the fall back. I do worry about Deco’s influence however – not only at set plays but also in all-round play. Lampard already took up wider positions coming from deep against Liverpool, with Deco operating more central on the edge of the box. Chelsea won’t have it easy at Hull either. He’s a good “Plan B”, as always, but for me, Gerrard is a slightly stronger option this week.

The Liverpool skipper could well be pitched behind the lone striker and looked threatening at Chelsea. Portsmouth conceded goals on their travels and Liverpool are confident. Could be a 3-0 with some Gerrard profit. There’s also Adebayor of course and for a real gamble – it strikes me that Ashley Young is overdue points, while Laursen has also been waiting for a goal rather too long. I’d never normally gamble on defenders but United’s backline appears to offer the safest clean sheet you can find in any recent gameweek.

That’s about it then. Here’s hoping there no last minute team news today or tomorrow to put a large spanner-like object in all that. I’ll try a squeeze out a pre-match preamble later this evening.