Another gameweek, another rag-tag collection of footballers trusted with my fantasy fortunes.
As usual, you can scan yesterday’s meander for some background on what you’re about to take in. Alternatively you can even listen in on this week’s podcast for some further thoughts from Granville and myself. Or, you could just dive straight in for this week’s wordy justification for another selection…
Starting in goal and I’ve decided to cover my hunch for a Villa clean sheet at home to lowly Portsmouth by opting for Brad Friedel. Pompey have scored in just two of their five fixtures and the Villa defence looked impressive at Birmingham last time out. James Collins is your cheaper alternative if you want to cover O’Neill’s defence elsewhere in your lineup but I’m happy opting for Friedel with options available for the other slots in my defence.
The back four starts in familiar style, with Liverpool’s Glen Johnson. He is set to be permanent fixture in my defence over the season and, although he looks on shaky ground for a clean sheet at his former club West Ham this weekend, he’ll be keen to impress the only way he knows how – by attacking down the right flank. An assist at least please Mr Johnson.
I’ve gone for attacking defenders elsewhere with Everton’s Baines and Arsenal’s Song taking up two other spots. Baines is hogging set-plays in Arteta’s absence and has the first of several attractive fixtures this gameweek with Blackburn arriving at Goodison. I see a possible cleanie and some attacking potential from Baines. As for Song, this is one for Fantasy Premier League managers only. The Arsenal midfielder is classed as a defender in that game and presents some strong value at home to Wigan. Gallas or Vermaelen are your other options in Wenger’s back four.
The final spot in my defence goes to Bolton’s Gary Cahill. I fancy a very tight game with Stoke visiting the Reebok and, although I was tempted to back my hunch for a home clean sheet by opting for Steinsson, I do see his place on the right of Bolton’s midfield as being under threat should Megson shift Davies and give Klasnic a debut. Gary Cahill is much the safer option and an FPL bonus magnet.
Moving in to my midfield and I decided to save some pennies by forcing an either/or choice on Gerrard and Fabregas and in the end opted for the Liverpool man. Ironically both could be found in deeper roles this gameweek with Gerrard possibly alongside Mascherano and Fabregas dropping deeper to cover the absence of Denilson. Diaby being the one to push furthest forward. I see Gerrard as yet again being the key man for Liverpool, who may need to battle for three points at Upton Park. Fabregas should be in the points and is a very worthy pick, but there are equally attractive attacking options further up the field for the Gunners.
As mentioned in the meander, I’m looking to Villa for a few goals at home to Portsmouth. Subsequently Ashley Young gets the nod, just about squeezing out my hunch on Milner who still makes my bench as a mid-price alternative. Everton’s Pienaar sits alongside the Villa man. He faces Blackburn at Goodison off the back of a goal and another impressive display in midweek. Cahill is your more expensive alternative, although his place is slightly under threat of rotation.
Finally, Hull’s Stephen Hunt gets a call-up to help balance the budget slightly. He’s been Phil Brown’s undisputed star man and will be integral to his sides efforts at home to Birmingham this weekend. Expect an assist and FPL bonus in a Hull win here.
Moving to the stirkers and I’ve spent big this week – opting for Drogba at home to Spurs and the glass-like frame of Van Persie against the Wigan defence. I see goals in both games here and these two offer cover for my decision to ignore Fabregas and Lampard. Both should be hungry to get amongst the goals having missed European action in midweek.
As for the bench, Milner takes my midfield slot as mentioned, while Burnley’s Bikey holds the subs place in defence. They have a very strong home defensive record and might just surprise Steve Bruce’s Burnley, just as they did United and Everton. The strikers spot goes to Bendtner who should start up front in the absence of Arshavin and given the fact that Rosicky and Eduardo started in midweek. If Van Persie doesn’t do the damage to Wigan, I fully expect Bendtner to contribute.
If you’re looking for outside bets then I’ve chosen to ignore hunches on the Burnley attackers – mainly because it’s difficult to predict starters from Paterson, Fletcher, Blake and Nugent. I also fancy Wolves to get the win against Fulham, with Kevin Doyle in my mind as a long-shot.
Those of you who fancy a real-life gamble off the back of my Scout Picks can take up two markets created by Paddy Power just for the site this week. The first is a clean sheet accumulator backing Arsenal, Villa, Bolton and Everton. You can get 20/1 on those four keeping cleanies this week. Click here to flutter on this one.
The second bet is based on some of the strikers in action this weekend and my foolish notion that Bendtner will be amongst the goals. You can bet on the striker to score the most goals this weekend with the choice of Torres, Rooney, Bent, Bellamy and of course Bendtner. The Gunners striker offers 4/1 if you fancy backing my tip by clicking here.
Don’t forget, if you’ve yet to sign up with Paddy, you can still get a free £20 bet when you register and make a £10 bet.