The Fantasy season appears to become more predictable by the week. Got Didier Drogba? Check. Got Gareth Bale? Check. Getting Nani? Of course. How about Cesc Fabregas? I’m working on it.
I’m doing all I can to fight against the template in this week’s Scout Picks. When an injury-strewn Spurs face a gritty Wolves side in the same week as a Champions League trip, I’ll have the cheek to look beyond Bale. When United are up against a Liverpool side that’s likely to turn up in a 4-5-1, drilled and disciplined by a canny Roy Hodgson, I’ll find another week to revisit Nani. When Arsenal hop on the bus to take a trip to Stadium of Light, a ground where they’ve scored two goals in their last three visits and where Steve Bruce’s side are yet to concede this season – I’ll gamble on going without Fabregas.
It’s risky business but then you don’t need me to point out these players to you. The world, his dog and the vet that fixes the dog has those names. What you really need is Stewart Downing. Read it and weep.
The Defence
Brad Friedel
Despite two defeats on the road this season, Villa are yet to concede a goal at Villa Park. This weekend they face a Bolton side who could well be without skipper Kevin Davies – a key component of their attacking ploys. Friedel, always good for save points, has every chance of recording a third shutout of the season here.
Leighton Baines
We’ve a Numbers Game article primed which will reveal, amongst other things, that Leighton Baines is leading the way in terms of Defenders and their presence and influence in the opponents half. Everton’s game is built around Arteta’s probing and the tireless attacking threat posed by Baines and Hibbert down the flanks. I’m backing the home win against Newcastle this weekend and, as the United game demonstrated, when Everton are amongst the goals, Baines is always likely to chip in with assists.
Chris Samba
The subject of our recent “Watchlist” article, we’ve already spelled out the merits of the giant Rovers skipper in detail. An Ewood Park fixture always offers the opportunity for Blackburn’s defenders to return, a home fixture against a Fulham side without their key attacking threat Bobby Zamora, looks an even better prospect. Perhaps more significantly Samba has been a constant threat in the opposition’s box this term and assists and goals via Morten Gamst Pedersen’s throw-ins and set-piece delivery are surely not far away.
Ryan Shawcross
By all accounts Shawcross had a poor game against Villa in midweek. Shaky in possession and caught out by the pace and movement of Agbonlahor and Young; Shawcross suffered. However, Robert Huth’s goal highlighted just how much of a threat Stoke’s big defenders can be and Shawcross will join in on the act soon enough. Stoke City have had more efforts on goal through headers than any other side in the League (12) whereas as West Ham have conceded the most goals through headers (4). Statistically that spells trouble for the Hammers and Tony Pulis will be well aware of this. Shawcross will once again be a key weapon in exploiting this weakness in the opposition.
Ashley Cole
Rested in midweek, Cole will be fresh and ready to provide his usual raids down the left-flank that have made him the key heavyweight purchase at the back for Fantasy Managers. Blackpool surely can’t register another clean sheet on the road against the attacking might of Carlo Ancelotti’s side – the smart money points to a 3-4 goal margin for the league leaders. Cole has yet to find the net but has come mighty close. Further attacking returns are a strong possibility, in addition to the prospect of yet another Chelsea clean sheet.
The Midfield
Mikel Arteta
I can see an emphatic Everton win against Newcastle and with Tim Cahill and injury doubt, there’s even more chance that the huge influential Arteta will be pulling the strings. Arteta has displayed superb form this season without catching fire in Fantasy terms. Last weekend’s shock equaliser against United set the ball rolling and more goals should follow. His domination of set-plays is yet to pay off but assists are well overdue and I’m seeing decent returns plus Bonus Points in a good win for David Moyes’ men here.
Matt Etherington
The Ehertington/Kenwyne Jones combination linked superbly at times against Villa on Monday and with West Ham at the Britannia this weekend, I’ve decided to keep faith and back further returns. Etherington emerged from the Villa game with a pair of assists and maximum Fantasy Premier League bonus and he will surely be a protagonist against his former club. The stats show that West Ham have also been affording teams plenty of time to fire in efforts from outside the box – Etherington and Glenn Whelan (if selected) may well get the opportunity to test Rob Green from distance.
Stewart Downing
Villa have a home fixture against a Bolton side weakened by the loss of Gary Cahill through suspension suggesting that there will be a few goals for the home side. We need a route to Villa attacking points then and with John Carew’s return casting doubt over who will start up front, we’ve a choice between Ashley Young and Stewart Downing. I see both being in profit this week and although Downing is the gamble, as we mentioned in our recent “On The Radar” piece, he has the form within the Villa ranks. The most crosses, the most efforts on goal and he comes at a cheaper price than Young. A one-week differential if ever there was one.
Florent Malouda
Having been rested at West Ham last time out and with Salomon Kalou in fine fettle, Malouda has gone from being a Fantasy essential to a risk. He’s no longer the obvious Scout Pick then. For my mind he is a gamble worth taking, such is his influence and importance from the Chelsea flanks. It’s a simple theory – when Malouda is on the pitch, he delivers points. Providing Carlo Ancelotti cooperates, I think that’s a formula we will see repeated on Sunday.
The Forwards
Didier Drogba
He requires no introduction and certainly little justification. Drogba will be refreshed after his midweek Champions League suspension and will be manning penalties, free-kicks, and the burger stand at half-time. He’ll be everywhere. I can’t see Blackpool keeping him quiet; another goal or two looks inevitable.
Kenwyne Jones
The definition of “a handful” Jones looked back to his menacing best at times against Villa and he should find plenty of assistance this weekend from the hapless Hammers defence. Tony Pulis will go all out to exploit Jones’ aerial threat and with an in-from Ricardo Fuller and a possible full debut for Eidur Gudjohnsen up the Stoke sleeve, I’m seeing a home with and further returns for Jones.
In Reserve
Despite United and Liverpool facing off at Old Trafford and Arsenal facing that tricky trip to Sunderland, we do still have a few decent options at the back. As the Watchlist shows, we like Tottenham’s Younes Kaboul and his goal threat from set-plays. Spurs are Paddy Power’s second favourites for a clean sheet in the gameweek and while I’ve overlooked him for the eleven, he just sneaks in ahead of West Brom’s Jara for a place on my bench. You can also consider Man City at Wigan of course – although history tells us never to bank on Wigan cooperating with our Fantasy theories. City to keep a clean sheet at the DW Stadium? Au contraire, Rodallega, au contraire.
Talking of City, Adam Johnson could have nudged his way into my midfield but I’m worried about his pitch time with David Silva in the ear of Mancini on the bench. Silva impressed in midweek and will surely get some minutes at Wigan. With Milner very much a 90 minute man, Johnson will start getting his time on the pitch cut to 75 or less very soon and that’s a worry. Instead I’m going to back the Blackburn win and opt for Gamst Pedersen with special mentions for Chris Brunt and Graham Dorrans for West Brom, in addition to Young of Villa.
Sticking with the theory that Blackburn will grab a couple at home to Fulham, I’ve gone for Nikola Kalinic for the reserve spot up front. He already has two goals to his name this season and his growing reputation could get another boost if Big Sam’s side come good at Ewood. Want another outside bet? Look no further than Jermaine Beckford or Yakubu for Everton. One of that pairing will start if Tim Cahill fails to make it with Beckford the most likely starter. As I’ve mentioned, I see goals for Everton.