Like a blindfolded Paulo Wanchope, join me while I make an aimless mazy run all over the weekend fixture list in an attempt to zero in on the games that are going to bring us the cleanies and goals to keep our fantasy totals ticking…
Best For Clean Sheets…
Having seen eleven clean sheets fall in our laps last weekend, potentially, we could be frolicking in defensive points again this gameweek. There appears to be plenty of defensive options – whatever your budget at the back.
With United at City and Chelsea hosting Arsenal – Liverpool look by far the strongest option again. Zola’s men arrive at Anfield on Monday with just 4 goals in their last 5 away games, whereas Rafa’s side have conceded just 2 goals in their last 5 Premiership matches at Anfield. Recent investors in Agger, Carragher and Reina should be sitting on points from Liverpool’s tenth clean sheet of the season then.
Chelsea at home to Arsenal shouldn’t be written off as potential cleanie either. The Gunners have travelled badly of late and with Adebayor and Nasri rated as only 50:50 as of midweek, their attacking options will be reduced once again. With Chelsea stuttering at home, I’m expecting a tight one here – a narrow win with a shut-out could be on the cards so Bosingwa and Cech owners shouldn’t be fretting.
In the mid-price bracket, Villa are coming into their home game with Fulham off the back of two unlikely clean sheets at the Emirates and at home to United. It will be just like them to let one in against Hodgson’s men but just 2 goals in 6 games on their travels suggests that owners of Villa defenders could be rewarded once again.
Portsmouth have been fragile at Fratton Park but will fancy themselves against a Blackburn side that are really struggling at both ends. One goal in the last 3 matches tells you that Ince’s side are misfiring and Adams will be targeting this for a first home clean sheet in the last 4 home games.
At the lower end of the scale, those who have kept faith with Figueroa look in a good position for another cheap cleanie with West Brom at the JJB this weekend. The Baggies have just 2 goals in 7 games on their travels, while Wigan have kept home clean sheets in their last two.
Best For Goals…
Having suffered a goal drought last weekend, surely we’ll see things pick up this time around? I’m not so sure. No fixture really leaps out as a cast-iron goal-fest. Everywhere you look there is a factor to consider that counters the likelihood of swollen onion bags.
Villa could be frustrated by Fulham’s stubborn defence that we saw at Anfield last weekend. Spurs are struggling for goals at home and could again when Everton arrive at the Lane. Similarly, Chelsea, as I’ve mentioned, aren’t flowing at the Bridge. Even Liverpool, at home to West Ham, struggled last weekend and come up against a Hammers side that has earned a pair of consecutive clean sheets.
United’s trip to City could well have plenty of attacking points in it if an early lead can be established. Ferguson’s men aren’t having the best of times on the road and I think we’ll need City to score first and draw their sting if we are to see decent returns for Ronaldo, Rooney and possibly a fit-again Berbatov.
City are the league’s leading scorers at home this season so goals appear to be on the menu. Head chef Robinho is still a doubt for this one with an ankle injury and if he doesn’t make it – well, you don’t need me to tell you that it would be a major blow to City’s attacking ambitions here.
United have only conceded 4 goals in their last 5 away games and will be looking to keep things very tight early on. I want a 3-3 draw but something tells me we’ll get a 1-1 or a narrow win for United, possibly with a shut-out if Robinho fails to make it. In other words, this fixture could even drop to the heading below and be a real frustration for us fantasy managers.
In a nutshell then – I think we’re going to be scratching around for goals and they could come from unlikely sources such as Bolton at Sunderland and the Boro vs Newcastle game. I know better than to rely on Gareth Southgate’s side for anything though – Downing is fast becoming a dirty word for fantasy managers this season.
Best For Frustration…
I’ve already mentioned the potential minefield that is the City vs United match. Personally, I’m not taking goals for granted in this one and will need to weigh up the merits of captaining Ronaldo as a result. I’m not sure I can sit though another live game willing Ronaldo to fail though, so I need more time to think about that one.
Similarly, Chelsea vs Arsenal could have goals in it but I just can’t see it happening. There’s so much at stake, particularly for the Gunners and with Scolari’s side still failing to bring their away form to the Bridge, I can see a very tight game with few goals here despite what Fabregas is saying today. Potentially another frustrating week for recent Anelka investors.
Spurs against Everton is another fixture that I’m not expecting too much from. As I’ve mentioned, Redknapp’s side still aren’t firing in front of their own fans. They’re getting results but goals haven’t flowed at the Lane in the Premiership. They’re averaging a goal-a-game in the last five at home and a single goal might be all they need to see of Everton who looked so lacklustre at Wigan on Monday. I’m hoping for big returns for Bent amongst a flow of attacking points but I’ve a feeling this will be a narrow win or even an outside bet for two clean sheets.