The week’s European clashes were, for the most part, fairly predictable. Manchester United edged past a reluctant Bursaspor, Chelsea comfortably took full points away in Moscow and Arsenal made Shakhtar Donetsk look average, very average. What was not expected were the two hat-trick heroes. Any bookie would have smiled and gladly taken your money for three Gareth Bale goals before Wednesday night’s game at the San Siro, they probably would have taken even more for an out-of-sorts Adebayor treble on Thursday.
Having many accumulators hit their mark and English clubs enjoying a goal glut, will Paddy’s prices show this weekend’s true potential or be a little shy to try earn back some midweek loss?
Who Will Keep a Clean Sheet?
- Chelsea 1.66 (WOL)
- Liverpool 2.10 (BLA)
- Man United 2.20 (stk)
- WBA 2.60 (FUL)
- Tottenham 2.62 (EVE)
- Sunderland 2.70 (AVL)
- Birmingham 2.75 (BLP)
- Wigan 2.87 (BOL)
Now, one things for sure, Wolves may attempt to intimidate the less physical clubs and force a real hard grind for points, but they won’t have much luck with that tactic against Chelsea. Mikel, JohnTerry, Branislav Ivanovic and Michael Essien to name a few, are as abundant in strength as they are in talent and energy. Any Fantasy team would be remiss to not have Chelsea’s defence feature in their line-ups this week, especially with Paddy making them Clean Sheet favourites by a clear mile.
Liverpool and Man Utd are next on the list, but Paddy has seemingly taken into the equation both of their less than stellar performances in Europe and each of their bespoke off-pitch scandals. Pepe Reina has looked one of Liverpool’s only saving graces so far this campaign, and with an FPL value of 6.2 he’s as cheap as your going to get him this season. Whereas after last week’s blunder, Edwin Van Der Sar might be a risk too far, especially with Stoke’s impressive recent form and Man Utd’s ability to fall apart after the first half. Expensive keepers aren’t a popular route to cleanies of course so Paul Konchesky and John O’Shea look set to provide the Fantasy value if you choose to back these defences over the Gameweek.
The best of the rest are all standard prices for evenly matched home games at this stage of the season. West Brom and Spurs are just a shade shorter in price than the others, but Birmingham at home against Blackpool seems the pick of the bunch, as Blackpool have lost three of their last four and could be about to fulfil their role as whipping boys.
Anytime Goalscorer
- Drogba 1.25 (WOL)
- Anelka 1.50 (WOL)
- Malouda 1.61 (WOL)
- Kalou 1.80 (WOL)
- Torres 2.00 (BLA)
- Tevez 2.10 (ARS)
- Berbatov 2.30 (stk)
- Jerome 2.40 (BLP)
- Zigic 2.40 (BLP)
- D Bent 2.40 (AVL)
- Odemwingie 2.40 (FUL)
- Hernandez 2.50 (stk)
- N’Gog 2.60 (BLA)
- Piquionne 2.70 (NEW)
- Van der Vaart 2.75 (EVE)
- Pavlyuchenko 2.75 (EVE)
- Gerrard 2.80 (BLA)
- Carroll 2.87 (whm)
- Adebayor 2.87 (ARS)
Pretty much any Chelsea player who has even showed a faint interest in attacking is getting a short price this week. A +21 goal difference substantiates this with Didier Drogba dominating followed by the usual suspects – Anelka and Malouda, with Kalou the fourth option subject to a start in Carlo Ancelotti’s lineup.
Fernando Torres still commands a short price, although a perceived lack of sharpness in front of goal and that steep price tag is likely to keep heavy Fantasy investment at bay for a good while. Tevez and Berbatov seem much more likely candidates, both finding both goals and assists, both commanding attention as the secondary striker in your Fantasy squad alongside Drogba.
The best of the rest include the ever-reliable Darren Bent, the not-so-reliable Andy Carroll and the loose cannon that is West Ham’s Piquionne – a late runner for a differential this week. Both West Brom’s Odemwingie and United’s Hernandez have looked hungry and scored well, but injury and first team selection have kept them from consistency and thus being dependable picks. Odemwingie remains unlikely to start against Fulham – a real shame given the potential he offered. Hernandez may get the nod but is competing for Macheda for the spot alongside Berbatov. There could be some mid-term value there though, with Rooney out for three weeks.
All in all, most teams this week will likely follow Paddy’s betting trends, Chelsea heavy, a smattering of Man Utd and Man City, with a dash of Brummie value added in for good measure.
Paddy’s Scout Specials
This week’s specials from Paddy offer up odds of 9/1 on clean sheets for Chelsea, Liverpool and Wigan in the Gamweek in our Clean Sheet Accumulator. Over in the Scout Picks special meanwhile you can help yourself to odds of 13/1 on Drogba, Van der Vaart and N’Zogbia all to score one of more goals this weekend. Finally, our Fantasy Island Risks bet this week gives you the chance to back the unlikely scoring duo of Wigan’s Jordi Gomez and Fulham’s Diomansy Kamara. You can get odds of 16/1 on those two notching in the Gameweek.
Paddy’s Money Back Special
Not surprisingly Paddy focus on the City vs Arsenal clash for their Money Back Special this week. They will refund all losing first and last goalscorer bets and correct score and forecast singles on the game at Eastlands if there are more than 4 goals scored in the match.
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