It’s a hectic week so there’s no time to waste. With just hours before the gameweek deadline, here’s my picks for the midweek feast. Check out the meander and the podcast if you need more randomness relating to this gameweek’s fixtures. Read on for the justification behind the selection…
In goal I’ve elected for Fulop of Sunderland. Certainly a short-term, one week wonder – Fulop faces off against a Fulham side who have notched just a single goal in their last five away matches. Sunderland are a tough enough outfit at home and their players make decent budget options defensively this gameweek, freeing up cash elsewhere.
The back four has mainstay Vidic in its ranks as per usual. He’ll be going for United’s eleventh consecutive clean sheet at the Hawthorns. On paper he looks a strong option but injuries to Ferdinand and Evans will weaken United’s hand against a Baggies side who have been scoring goals at home. It’s far from a given then, but Vidic still looks difficult to ignore in a week when there aren’t too many obvious clean sheets about.
The Chelsea back four are also represented as per usual, this time by Alex who should keep a starting role against a Boro side who are woefully short of confidence in the league. Chelsea have been shaky defensively of late, particularly from set-plays but Terry’s return confirmed today, should help their resolve. Bosingwa remains a strong option of course but he has been subbed in recent weeks due to fatigue and there is a slight chance that Scolari will hand him a rest or sub him early in the second-half here. Alex looks a safer bet and is cheaper.
An ex Chelsea player comes in alongside him. Wayne Bridge lines up in a far from secure City defence but comes up against a Newcastle side that is weakened by injuries and low on confidence. While a clean sheet might be a big ask from City, Bridge should contribute significantly going forward as he plugs the gaps left by Robinho on the left flank as the Brazilian drifts inside. Look for assist potential from Bridge then in a decent win for City.
The final spot in the back four goes to Emerton of Blackburn who perhaps looks the best bet for a clean sheet on the night. Rovers have conceded just two goals in six games under Allardyce, while opponents Bolton have not scored in their last four. Emerton will likely start on the right of midfield and could also contribute assists of course. Samba is another excellent option if you expect Rovers to pose problems from set-pieces.
Sticking with Rovers, Gamst-Pedersen keeps his place in the picks after bringing in two assists and FPL bonus last time out. Big Sam’s side should be good for a few goals in this one having scored eight in the last three home matches. While it’s difficult to predict the Rovers frontline with Santa Cruz, McCarthy and Roberts all vying for starts, Pedersen is a certain starter and should be involved in any goals that Blackburn notch on the night.
Lampard continues to be impossible to ignore in his current run of form and if you’re predicting Chelsea to cut loose a little against Boro, you have to back Lampard to be involved, if not on the scoresheet, given his current form. It’s five goals in the last five games for the Chelsea man.
Ronaldo is easier to ignore but should start in a match that United really should win by two or three goals. West Brom have been savaged by injuries at the back and United’s attacking players should really exploit that. Berbatov is a strong option up front of course, as is Tevez. Ronaldo is well overdue a performance however and could easily be the cheif tormentor with some decent returns at last. Patience is wearing thin but this isn’t a gameweek to turn your back on him.
Gerrard looks hard to ignore for the final midfield spot but he would give the midfield a hopelessly predictable look to it so I’ll opt out. Liverpool have a tough fixture away at Wigan and although Gerrard is likely to be instrumental should Liverpool prevail. I can see that one being a tight game, possibly a 1-1 so I’m banking on Gerrard making a limited contribution this week. I’ll go for a slightly less obvious pick in the form of Stephen Ireland. He’ll return from suspension against Newcastle and with Guthrie and Butt absent for the visitors, I see Ireland exploiting Newcastle’s central midfield area and bombing forward at will in this one.
I’ve gone for a front pairing of Sunderland’s Jones and Villa’s Agbonlahor. The towering Jones has signed a new contract at Sunderland today after being subject to speculation involving a move to Spurs. He’ll be looking to repay that deal at the earliest opportunity and could find some joy against a Fulham side which looked vulnerable at West Ham and Kettering. Cisse is another good option of course.
Agbonlahor is a risk as he picked up a knock against Doncaster at the weekend. I see him starting though and he’ll have Heskey for a partner up front against Portsmouth. Agbonlahor is due goals and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet in the Cup. Pompey are in wretched form, while Villa have scored fifteen goals in the last eight and have the best current away form in the league.
As for alternatives, Robinho is hard to ignore for City against the Newcastle defence. Bellamy is your cheaper option of course but Robinho’s assist potential and the fact that he’ll play a part from set-pieces and spot-kikcs, gives him the edge over the debut boy. With two City players already selected though, I’ll leave them out this week but they remain strong options for you. Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller should be hungry on his return and is up against a Spurs defence which may suffer on the receiving end of Stoke’s brand of football without Ledley King. In the same match, Pavlyuchenko has strong form and is an option.
In midfield I like Sunderland’s Malbranque against his former club Fulham. While Bullard makes his Hull debut against former club West Ham – both are worth backing if you’re into football omens. The place on my bench goes to Villa’s Milner though – he should play a more prominent role without Young in the side and is certainly worth a look as a mid-price option this week.
Defensively there isn’t too many options. There’s the Hammers defence against a Hull side which could look to keep things tight at Upton Park. While Everton have strong defensive form but are up against an Arsenal side who can’t afford to drop points. I can see this ending 1-1 but by all means look at Lescott or Jagielka if you can see Everton maintaining their run of five clean sheets in the last six league games.