So it’s just the one double fixture to torture ourselves with this week. Do we load up on United when they miss the following gameweek? It’s just one of so many dilemma’s we’ve had to face in recent weeks.
I say “we”, to be honest, after losing Diaby to a potentially nasty injury a few hours after I signed him and Lampard to a mystery virus earlier today, I for one don’t have the luxury of mulling over the pros and cons of spending points on Carrick and Fletcher. I’ve been far too busy spending them on injured players.
Read on for my sour grape flavoured Scout Picks for gameweek 26…
The Defence
Starting in the obvious place and it’s Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer who claims the keeper’s jersey. I almost looked to West Ham’s Rob Green here, with Nicky Shorey a possibility in defence to cover Fulham’s clean sheet prospects against Birmingham. In the end I’ve opted for Schwarzer because I can see him having a good few long-range efforts to keep out, which could and should bring in some saves to supplement any cleanie returns.
Moving into the back four and I start things off with a couple of more obvious selections.
Chelsea make the trip to Molineux with Terry and Ivanovic set to be recalled by Ancelotti and Zhirkov taking up the left-back role vacated by Ashley’s Cole’s injury. While Wolves will ask questions they have notched just three goals in their last five home matches. Chelsea should cope with the likely 4-5-1 from Mick McCarthy’s side and I’ve covered this with Branislav Ivanovic’s inclusion. By all means opt for the more expensive Zhirkov for greater attacking potential.
United’s double fixture make a United defender almost essential with at least one clean sheet (realistically against West Ham in midweek) looking likely. The return of Vidic to Ferguson’s back four will add further resolve, while Ferdinand is back in the frame after suspension for the Hammers fixture. United’s full-backs represent the best fantasy option here, with Rafael and Patrice Evra the targets. Evra gives us the greater security for the second fixture and more of a consistent threat going forward.
The final two spots in my defence are perhaps slightly more of a gamble. I’ve decided to keep faith with Blackburn’s Martin Olsson off the back of his ridiculously cheap price and attacking flair, despite the fact that he’ll be at left-back again for Rovers in the absence of Chris Samba through suspension. Olsson scored his first goal of the season from that position against Hull, so has proved he can still put his attacking instincts to good use, even from this withdrawn position. Blackburn’s opponents this weekend are Owen Coyle’s Bolton; a side that has scored just a single goal in five matches.
Villa’s Richard Dunne takes up the final place in my back four. The Irishman has established himself as the rock in Villa’s defence and is leading the way in the Fantasy Premier League defender rankings. He comes up against a Burnley side at Villa Park that has failed to score in their last five away trips. Villa meanwhile have conceded just two goals in their previous five home matches. A cleanie and yet more Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bonus looks on the cards.
The Midfield
Two of my selections pick themselves here. With Lampard absent this week for Chelsea, Cesc Fabregas looks a no-brainer as the heavyweight midfield signing, unless you’re prepared to gamble on Liverpool’s Gerrard at City. Fabregas has been off the boil with three consecutive blanks but he’s faced stern opposition in those games. Steve Bruce’s Sunderland will arrive at the Emirates and attempt to nullify Arsenal’s passing game but I’m backing Fabregas to wriggle free of Cana’s shackles have a major influence on proceedings in a home win for Wenger’s side.
United’s Antonio Valencia picks himself with his two fixtures at Everton and West Ham. The winger looks assured of stats with Nani suspended and Giggs sidelined – that in itself is enough reason to consider his inclusion. Added to that, Valencia has all the incentive he needs to take his opportunity having seen Nani emerge as a genuine threat to his position on United’s right-flank.
Like Fabregas, James Milner is another player who has failed to produce of late. After a spurt of form in his new central midfield role, Milner has been decidedly muted. Again tough opposition can be seen as the cause for this dip but this weekend Milner comes up against a Burnley side that will surely afford Villa time and space to improve their rather miserable “goals for” record over recent matches. I see returns for the World Cup hopeful.
The final midfield slot goes to Fulham’s Zoltan Gera. This looks more of risk given that the Hungarian is not 100% assured of his start. Gera returned from injury and was pitched straight back into the lineup against Shakhtar on Thursday and repaid that faith with the opening goal of the 2-1. Hodgson hailed that team performance in his post-match reaction. It seems fairly likely that he put out the same side again here then, so Gera could well be given the role of supporting the in-form Bobby Zamora against Birmingham.
The Forwards
The decision up front is made easy by the dominance of both Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba. Rooney’s double fixture and form assures his selection, even though there will be the usual rumblings of a rest for the West Ham fixture at Old Trafford in midweek. Rooney’s return to Goodison this weekend will be tricky, but his irresistible form makes him impossible to ignore in fantasy terms.
As for Drogba, he faces a trip to Wolves to face a defence that has improved. McCarthy’s side have only conceded five goals in their last five home games but they’ve yet to face a striker as formidable as Drogba. With Lampard missing out with a virus, the Ivorian will likely also be given spot-kick duties and will surely monopolise direct free-kicks.
My bench finds West Ham’s James Tomkins taking up the defensive role. The Hammers host Hull at Upton Park and look a reasonable bet for a cleanie. Tomkins offers value as a budget fantasy purchase. I’ve taken a risk on Portsmouth’s John Utaka for the midfield choice. The much-maligned Nigerian international has recently found a new lease of life under Avram Grant and should keep his place to be a key threat to the Stoke defence at Fratton Park. Grant is starting Utaka in a central attacking role, while in the FPL he is classified as a cheap midfield option.
The reserve striker role goes to another player who attracts his fair share of negative publicity. Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner now has the opportunity to play in his preferred centre-forward position for the Gunners and this weekend faces a Sunderland side who should allow him opportunities. He may need four chances to convert, but Bendtner should get that a more against a Steve Bruce side that’s turning up at the Emirates riddled with injuries in midfield.
Other options that almost made it this week include Villa’s Agbonlahor should be fit to start against the obliging Burnley defence at Villa Park, while Bobby Zamora’s confidence will be sky high as he prepares to take on Birmingham at the Cottage.
Paddy Says….
Despite injuries to Gallas and doubts over Almunia’s return, Paddy goes with Arsenal as their 8/11 favourites to keep a clean sheet with Steve Bruce’s struggling Sunderland in town. Chelsea at Wolves (4/5) and Villa at home to Burnley (5/6) are their next best odds. West Ham at home to Hull (13/10) and United at Everton (13/10) follow that pair. Interestingly then, Paddy disagrees with me on Fulham chances at home to Birmingham and Blackburn at home to Bolton.
Arsenal are also Paddy’s big favourite when it comes to goals with odds of 3/1 for three or more against Sunderland. Chelsea at Wolves come in next (10/3), followed by United at Everton (9/2) and Villa at home to Burnley (7/2).
Given the goals odds, it’s not surprising to find Bendtner ranked highly for anytime goalscorer (10/11), although he still trails Drogba (8/11), with Agbonlahor (10/11), Anelka (evens) and Rooney (6/5) coming in next. Fabregas leads the running for midfielders anytime goalscorer odds. Drogba (3/1), Bendtner (7/2) and Agbonlahor (7/2) also lead the odds for two or more goals.
This week’s Scout specials offers clean sheet accumulator odds of 7/1 on clean sheets for Villa, Blackburn and Chelsea. Meanwhile, the Scout Picks special offers 6/1 on Fabregas, Rooney and Drogba all to score one or more goals this weekend. I’ve also set up a double gameweek special on Wayne Rooney. You can get odds of 9/2 on the United striker scoring three or more goals over the Everton and West Ham fixtures this gameweek.
As always Paddy is still offering a free £20 bet for new customers who sign up through this site and make a £10 bet. Click here to register your new Paddy Power account.
Don’t forget you can still enter our exclusive Last Man Standing tournament with Paddy. Click here for the details on that.
These specials and the Paddy Power account offer are of course only available to those aged 18 and over.