A statistic almost buried by the blanket of snow covering the country, last week’s Premier League action heralded a unique record; every Premier League side notched a goal.
For neutrals and Manchester united fans, it was something of a spectacle and while Fantasy Football Managers lamented the loss of more clean sheets, we could at least celebrate a grand haul of assists and goals.
Will Paddy predict more of the same, or will this cold snap put a freeze on the scoring?
Who Will Keep a Clean Sheet?
- Arsenal 1.83 (FUL)
- Chelsea 1.90 (EVE)
- Liverpool 2.10 (AVL)
- Man City 2.10 (BOL)
- Blackburn 2.40 (WOL)
- Sunderland 2.40 (WHM)
- Tottenham 2.80 (bir)
With Manchester United at Blackpool postponed due to a frozen pitch, Arsenal and Chelsea take the top two slots this week. Neither team have looked at their best in November, however their respective opponents help justify Paddy’s prices. Both Fulham and Everton sit hovering above the drop zone, both struggling to find a goal threat, both struggling to put together the consistency that we’ve seen in previous seasons.
Liverpool and Man City sit just above even money this week. Paddy feels strongly that Hodgson and Mancini will be able to keep Villa and Bolton at bay. Villa, like Fulham and Everton, have been short one confident and fit striker this season, lending weight to Paddy’s price, however Man City face two absolutely in form strikers with Bolton. Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies have help see Bolton as high as fourth in the table so far this campaign, netting fourteen between them. The Trotters have also only failed to score in two league games all season – the City clean sheet is clearly under threat here then.
Blackburn will be anxious to get back to winning ways after last week’s trouncing at Old Trafford. Mick McCarthy’s Wolves have come too close too often and ended with nothing; it could well be that familiar story again this week but they may still have a goal in them at Ewood. Chris Samba owners could well need something at the other end then, and with the Wolves defence, that’s a strong possibility.
Anytime Goalscorer
- Chamakh 1.66 (FUL)
- Tevez 1.72 (BOL)
- Van Persie 1.83 (FUL)
- Drogba 1.83 (EVE)
- Torres 2.00 (AVL)
- D Bent 2.10 (WHM)
- Bendtner 2.10 (FUL)
- Anelka 2.20 (EVE)
- Arshavin 2.30 (FUL)
- Nasri 2.30 (FUL)
- Balotelli 2.30 (BOL)
- Gyan 2.30 (WHM)
- Kalou 2.40 (EVE)
- Malouda 2.40 (EVE)
- Odemwingie 2.40 (NEW)
- Adebayor 2.50 (BOL)
- Mwaruwari 2.62 (WOL)
- Kalinic 2.62 (WOL)
- Roberts 2.62 (WOL)
- Defoe 2.70 (bir)
- Welbeck 2.75 (WHM)
Although Marouane Chamakh and Carlos Tevez are not top of the season scorers list, they will have a chance to catch Berbatov’s haul and find themselves with the shortest odds to net in Paddy’s eyes in his absence this week. Robin Van Persie and Didier Drogba conclude Paddy’s odds-on selections; the latter must surely end his seven game drought soon, while Van Persie will need pitch time to make an impression on Fulham. Fernando Torres is still struggling for confidence and that’s reflected in Paddy’s odds which seem long considering the Spaniard’s record at Anfield.
Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan feature highly again but the real standout price is that of the young Man City hot-head, Mario Balotelli. Playing only a handful of games, Mario seems an expensive gamble in Fantasy terms at 8.6 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, however, he now looks set to establish himself in the second striker role in the City lineup. Balotelli promised much at Inter but has only delivered once in the Premier League with a two goal burst against West Brom. Paddy thinks Balotelli is ready to put in a decent shift, and with the obliging Bolton defence at Eastlands, he could well be a top earner over the Gameweek.
When it comes to midfield odds, it’s the Arsenal pairing of Samir Nasri and Andrei Arshavin who come out of top. They’re ranked ahead of the Chelsea pair Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda an provide food for thought for those still contemplating the FPL armband. Nasri currently tops our Captain Poll.
Paddy’s Scout Specials
This week’s Clean Sheet Accumulator offers odds of 10/1 on shutouts for Liverpool, Blackburn and Man City over the Gameweek. If you’d rather back players not teams meanwhile, you can get some action via our Scout Picks special. Paddy have given us odds of 11/1 on Gamst-Pedersen, Drogba and Tevez all to score one or more goals over the Gameweek period.
Paddy’s Money Back Special
Paddy takes a trip to Anfield for this week’s Money Back option. If Liverpool lead at any time in their clash with Villa on Monday, and fail to win, Paddy will refund all losing 1st /last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the match. Click here to get in on that one.
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