After a weekend of chilly frustration, our Christmas celebrations will hopefully be completed by something resembling a Gameweek on Boxing Day. Festive football is always somewhat unpredictable, but I wouldn’t have been able to look Santa in face had I failed to chance my Fantasy arm by rolling out another eleven names for your to ponder over the bread sauce and stuffing.
Subject to a disclaimer should we get any last minute team news roll in from tomorrow’s training sessions, here’s the Christmas selection box. Look out for Big Dunc’s differentials tomorrow for some alternative contenders…
The Defence
Paul Robinson
With Chris Samba doubtful for the home clash with Stoke, Steve Kean’s back four could be without its skipper and is set to be severely tested by their muscular visitors. Robinson presents a significant barrier in goal however and offers his Fantasy owners shut-out potential and the odd Bonus Point to boot.
Rafael
The Brazilian is undoubtedly one of the most improved players in the Premier League and, in Fantasy terms, has become a real bargain as a result. We should see Rafael start at right-back for United against Sunderland and in doing so present us with a cheap-ish route to a clean sheet with a decent level of attacking threat thrown in.
Leighton Baines
Only City’s Aleksandar Kolarov can touch the Everton left-back for attacking prowess right now but Baines clearly has the edge of the City man and indeed, any player in the league when it comes to crossing accuracy. A relentless threat down the left, Baines’ role at set-pieces may well be reduced now that Mikel Arteta is back in the Toffee’s lineup but the ex-Wigan man remains a no-brainer for the visit of West Brom to Goodison.
Kevin Foley
An “out of position” prospect, Foley will take up a midfield role for Mick McCarthy’s side as they entertain the horribly inconsistent Wigan at Molineux. A clean sheet might well be too much to ask but Foley does at least come packaged with some attacking potential and can be brought in for a pittance.
Aleksandar Kolarov
A risky one considering that Newcastle can be a pretty potent attacking force on their day and the fact that Kolo Toure will be missing for City. Even so, City will travel to the North East with De Jong providing his protection in midfield and, while a clean sheet may still be a too much to ask, I’m expecting a tight game which City could well nick by the odd goal. Kolarov’s substantial attacking threat is also a factor – we haven’t seen attacking returns from him yet, but it’s only a matter of time before we do.
The Midfield
Clint Dempsey
To be honest I was half tempted to throw in my Fantasy Island Risk pick and opt for Zoltan Gera, but Dempsey looks a more certain starter with Mousa Dembele threatening a return against West Ham. The American remains a potent threat in a Fulham side struggling for attacking flair and could find some joy against a Hammers defence that should afford Mark Hughes’ side some time and space to boost their goals for column.
Morten Gamst-Pedersen
The Norwegian is enjoying some of the best form of his Blackburn career right now and, on last week’s evidence, is a key figure in Steve Kean’s development of Rovers’ play. Pedersen’s dominance at set-pieces alone makes him worthy of consideration at home to Stoke, but his growing influence in the side also appears to guarantee him Bonus Point returns should Rovers come out of top on Boxing Day.
Nani
Restored to the Scout Picks after a few weeks out – the Portuguese winger remains an essential component of our Fantasy lineups and has every chance of reminding us just why when he faces Sunderland at Old Trafford. The visitors have form and the motivation from ex-United stalwart Steve Bruce to cause an upset, but it’s hard to resist backing Alex Ferguson’s side for a win by a couple of goals here. Nani will surely be prominent once again.
Tim Cahill
The Baines/Cahill combination just looks irresistible and almost unstoppable right now. Everton will lose their Socceroo in a couple of Gameweeks but, in the meantime, he remains up front and stands alone as Everton’s cutting edge against a Birmingham defence who will test his goalscoring prowess. Nine goals this season and 5 goals in the 8 starts is hard to ignore though and Cahill has to get the Scout Pick nod.
The Forwards
Johan Elmander
The basic statistics show that Elmander has failed to return in his last four games, a massive disappointment after a stunning Gameweek 14 performance that prompted such a speedy bandwagon. Other statistics also show that Bolton remain one of the top attacking forces in the division and Elmander still ranks as their major threat. West Brom arrive at the Reebok this weekend and I’m expecting a Boxing Day treat with plenty of goals and attacking football on show. For me, Elmander will get back in the saddle, just in time for trips to Liverpool and Chelsea to follow.
Dimitar Berbatov
The last time the Bulgarian started a game for United, he came off with the match ball and five goals to his name. Since then Berbatov has been benched against Arsenal and frustrated by the weather for the clash with Chelsea last weekend. Against Sunderland at Old Trafford we should see Berbatov return in a 4-4-2, which should seem him at the sharp end of Ferguson’s lineup, with Rooney dropping deep to keep him fed. A devastating combination against Blackburn, I see it working to earn Berbatov more points on Sunday.
