Stretching its midweek status to the very limits, here’s my preview of a splintered gameweek to sniff out the cleanies, goals and fantasy football agony…
Best For Clean Sheets…
This could another week that comes up short in the clean sheet department. Our problem lies with the fixture list that pairs Liverpool with Arsenal and Chelsea with Everton. That’s four of the best defences up against each other – fixtures that could easily return zero clean sheets.
United are missing from that quartet but go into their home game with Portsmouth next Wednesday having conceded 7 goals in their last 5 Old Trafford encounters. Ferdinand returned to the back four with some effect on Wednesday but we will have to be cautious of Ferguson resting him for this one, given his recent injuries and Cup exertions. Even so, of the top defences available United look a decent bet – the major drawback for most fantasy managers however is that they are likely to go into the gameweek with attacking players from Portsmouth, given that Hart’s side have a double fixture.
Personally, I’m looking outside of the top defences for my clean sheet opportunities. That leaves me looking at Spurs at home to Newcastle. They go into the game have conceded just a single goal in their last 5 White Hart Lane encounters, having kept clean sheets in the last 4. Newcastle will be desperate for a result, but it’s tough ask for Shearer’s men here.
Newcastle’s last opponents, Stoke City, also look a good proposition for a shut-out at home to Blackburn. Pulis’ side have conceded just 3 in the last 5 at the Britannia, while Rovers go into the game without Santa Cruz and Roberts up front – having been whacked at Anfield last weekend.
Elsewhere there are less secure options. You can never write off the Fulham defence as they travel to a Boro side who have failed to score in 10 of the last 15 league games. Fulham are on their best run away from home this season have avoided defeat in the last 3 trips.
City will be buoyed by their performance against Hamburg (despite going out) and look a reasonably strong bet for a shut-out against West Brom, while for a real gamble in the budget bracket, you could look to Sundlerland at home to hapless Hull. Sbragia’s side are in desperate form but Hull haven’t faired much better and the stats suggest a likely 0-0 here.
Best For Goals…
I’m looking to similar mid-table sides to provide the goals this gameweek. The Portsmouth vs Bolton encounter certainly looks to bring a guaranteed return of attacking points. Bolton’s away games have brought more goals than any other club in the division – 20 goals for and 30 against. Portsmouth meanwhile, have just a single defeat under Hart and have scored 8 in the last 5 at Fratton Park.
Spurs go into their home game with Newcastle with 4 wins in the last 5 at White Hart Lane, scoring 9 goals in the process. Shearer’s side have conceded 7 in their last 5 away trips, so Spurs look good for a couple at least here.
Stoke will also fancy goals against Blackburn given their current home form. They have scored in their last 7 league games and are unbeaten at home in 6. Rovers meanwhile have shipped 31 league goals away from home – only Stoke themselves have conceded more on their travels.
You also have to look at City at home to West Brom and of course, United at home to Portsmouth next Wednesday. Both have very decent scoring rates at home over the course of the season and will come up against very obliging defences.
Best For Frustration…
Liverpool’s encounter with Arsenal next Tuesday could easily play out as a classic, with both sides boasting potent attacks that have scored so many goals of late. I do wonder whether they will cancel each other out though, and we’ll end up with a cagey encounter and the dreaded 1-1 scoreline.
Wenger could rotate his attacking players following the FA Cup semi, while Liverpool could go into the game with hangover following Champions League defeat to Chelsea. The Arsenal defence will be key here – they’ve conceded just 3 goals in their last 8 games but they are without Gallas, while Djourou, Gibbs and Clichy are likely doubts.
Chelsea’s clash with Everton is another I’m being cautious with. Chelsea have form with 9 goals in their last 5 home games, while Everton have really struggled away from home of late with no win in 5 and just 4 goals scored (3 of which came at Villa Park last time out). That suggests a home win but I don’t see Everton rolling over here. I’m expecting a 4-5-1 from the visitors and a potentially frustrating evening for Hiddink’s side.
The Provisional Picks…
Defensively I’m certainly looking at Assou Ekotto, Shawcross and Vidic as likely inclusions, with Given or Schwarzer looking good candidates between the sticks. I’ve yet to decide on the final places in the back four – I may yet go for defenders that offer attacking potential such as Portsmouth’s Johnson or City’s Zabaletta.
The midfield has to include Ronaldo and Lampard given the form they demonstrated in Europe this week. Kranjcar looks very tempting given his double gameweek while Ireland, Matt Taylor, Modric and Lennon, all look good options for the final spot.
Up front I’m sorely tempted to stick with Beattie and Crouch given their fixtures and the defences they come up against. Crouch disappointed last time out but does have two fixtures to supplement his returns, while Beattie is a slight doubt with a head injury but should start against Blackburn.
Tottenham’s Keane and possibly Villa’s Carew, are currently the closest to breaking that pairing, although Caicedo could be worth a look after showing glimpses for City in tonight’s UEFA Cup tie with Hamburg.