Saturday begins with the usual splurge of fantasy football thoughts and concerns swimming around my troubled head, to take you through to the first kick-off. Here’s some rambling on the FPL captain puzzle, the team news headlines, the selection concerns and the key performances for this coming gameweek…
The Fantasy Premier League captain issue is as tough as ever this gameweek. Ronaldo has drawn blanks in the last two after hinting at a return to form in the two matches previous. Secondly, there is a risk of rest/rotation against Blackburn. I personally think he’ll start and with my mini-league and fantasy cup situation (my opponent has him and little else as a captain option) – then looking elsewhere, appears to be a gamble. That’s the case even though I’m well aware I’d be selecting Ronaldo based on the fear of 20+ point hauls, which seem a distant memory.
The other options do seem limited though. Lampard looks unattractive at Villa Park. Gerrard is out of the equation. Van Persie and Berbatov are worth consideration – although both could have their minutes on the pitch cut by the looming Champions League fixtures in midweek. The same applies to Torres – although if you’ve made the move to invest in such an asset for your forward line, then backing him against City at Anfield would seem a natural step. I’m not convinced that this game will bring us goals though – City lack bite away from home and Rafa will shuffle things around with Wednesday’s Real Madrid tie in mind. An unfamiliar Liverpool lineup could produce a stifled performance. I see a Liverpool win but not by a sizeable margin.
There are some slightly more leftfield choices – Johnson at Fulham against West Brom, perhaps Arteta away at Newcastle – both should bring returns but I’m not convinced they offer enough potential for Ronaldo owners to risk handing them the armband. Ironically the most dependable alternative appears to be team-mate Vidic who is certain of a start and, these days, seemingly assured of at least a 6 point return for a clean sheet. I can’t quite bring myself to take the risk on missing out on a potential Ronaldo return for 12 points from Vidic though – it just seems a little conservative – even for my tastes.
Moving on to team news and here’s a blast of the headlines in case you missed them: Rooney starts, Gerrard is out, Fagan is sidelined by a knee injury, Alex and Carvalho remain doubts, Arshavin will figure – although my guess is it will be from the bench. Carlton Cole has made progress with his foot injury this week but it is not thought that he will figure at the Reebok. Johnson is set to return for Fulham and Simpson for West Brom at the Cottage. Everton travel to Newcastle without Fellaini, Osman and Pienaar, while Hibbert and Cahill are suspended.
For me, all that all translates as Tevez benched again for United. Liverpool stuttering against City. Geovanni in the lineup for Hull. Ivanovic starting for Chelsea. Van Persie a certain starter for Arsenal along with Bendtner up front. A possible clean sheet for Bolton against a toothless West Ham. Goals in the Fulham vs West Brom game. And, finally, a debut for Everton’s Jacobsen – a cheap, short-term option if you fancy their defence. There you go. Take a breath.
The big selection teasers will come at Villa Park where we will see Hiddink’s first lineup and at Anfield, Old Trafford and the Emirates – where we will see the effects of Champions League rotation. Aside from those lineups, the performances of City and Everton also look vital to our respective fantasy fetches this week.
City’s efforts at Anfield promises to be a big factor in the Fantasy Premier League game. Many managers invested heavily in the likes of Bridge, Ireland, Bellamy and Robinho for their double fixture gameweek and are now left with 2-3 City players for what looks an unprofitable fixture. If they draw a blank against Liverpool – those fantasy managers who lack quality on the bench to sub them out, will suffer.
Everton’s performance this weekend could also key. I’m one of the fantasy managers who can see the potential in their form and run of fixtures but haven’t been able to manufacture my transfers to take advantage just yet. I’m banking on Newcastle causing them problems but if Moyes’ side return a clean sheet and attacking profits, then early investors in Everton will have themselves a nice differential.
I’m not expecting too much from the gameweek as a whole. Unless the games at Anfield, the Emirates and Villa Park get early goals and go crazy – I really can’t see too many attacking profits this week. I see the goals coming at Fulham, Newcastle and Hull but for me – this is a gameweek where defensive investment will pay off. We shall see. Good luck to one and all.