With Fantasy squads ravaged by key injuries and another double fixture to confuse matters, itโs time for our weekly sit-down with Paddy Power to assess whether their gameweek odds can throw up a last minute guiding light.
Who Will Keep a Clean Sheet?
- Man City 1.83 (WIG)
- Arsenal 2.00 (SUN)
- Fulham 2.10 (BLA)
- Chelsea 2.10 (blp)
- West Ham 2.62 (STK)
- Birmingham 2.75 (WBA) dgw
- Bolton 2.87 (AVL)
- Man United 2.87 (liv)
The scandal of Kolo Toureโs positive drugs test has seemingly not affected the likelihood of a City clean sheet against a struggling Wigan side at Eastlands. The Latics dwell at the foot of the table and are against a backline that boast an impressive average of 0.79gch (goals conceded at home). Even without Toure, Paddy believes there is too much quality throughout the City rearguard for Wigan’s 0.85gsa (goals scored away) to increase this week, particularly after two successive goalless encounters on home soil.
Arsenal and Fulham edge in behind City at around even money. Both feature as the home side in obliging fixtures against Sunderland and Blackburn. Arsenal, come in at a slightly shorter price than Fulham – although the Gunners sport a better defensive record (0.86gch to 1gch), they do have one eye on Barcelona in midweek and face Sunderland hitman Asamoah Gyan, who has still managed to net consistently even through a run of recent defeats for the Black Cats. Fulham meanwhile, have been defending like proverbial beavers of late and look strong candidates for a shutout against a Rovers unit who are known to misfire on their travels.
After Chelsea’s emphatic and perhaps controversial win over Manchester United midweek, it is no surprise that they are short odds to beat Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. Ian Hollowayโs side are without talisman Charlie Adam and leading scorer DJ Campbell, while Chelsea appeared to have unearthed a new defensive hero in David Luiz. The stats go against this low price, showing Blackpoolโs average 1.69gsh (goals scored at home) up against Chelsea’s respectable 1gca (goals conceded away), but Paddy is looking at the bigger picture on this one. I fear the Tangerinesโ fans will have to lift the roof to get their team anything out of this one.
Anytime Goalscorer
- F Torres 1.57 (blp)
- C Tevez 1.66 (WIG)
- E Dzeko 1.72 (WIG)
- D Drogba 1.72 (blp)
- N Bendtner 1.90 (SUN)
- M Chamakh 1.90 (SUN)
- N Anelka 2.00 (blp)
- M Balotelli 2.10 (WIG)
- F Lampard 2.20 (blp)
- A Arshavin 2.30 (SUN)
- S Nasri 2.30 (SUN)
- D Sturridge 2.30 (AVL)
- O Martins 2.40 (WBA) dgw
- S Kalou 2.50 (blp)
- F Malouda 2.50 (blp)
- J Defoe 2.50 (wol)
- D Bent 2.50 (bol)
- B Zamora 2.60 (BLA)
- C Dempsey 2.60 (BLA)
- D Silva 2.62 (WIG)
- M Dembele 2.80 (BLA)
- L Saha 2.75 (new) dgw
- R Van der Vaart 2.75 (wol)
- Rooney 2.80 (liv)
- N Zigic 2.87 (WBA) dgw
- D Ba 2.87 (STK)
- L Suarez 2.87 (MUN)
- P Crouch 2.87 (wol)
Every game he goes without scoring, the closer he gets to that debut goal. This at least is Paddy’s theory judging by the odds for ยฃ50 million man Fernando Torres. His opponents Blackpool look fatigued and understaffed this weekend, whereas Chelsea should be hungry, and feature three strikers and a midfielder odds on to find the target. Torresโ FPL value has almost dropped back to the season low of 11.5, but Paddy predicts this gameweek will likely mark the turn of the tide when it comes to the Spaniardโs form.
A smattering of City players join Chelsea around the top of this weekโs Anytime Goalscorer market. Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli have been turning in match winning performances in non-domestic competitions, but captain Carlos Tevez is best tipped to find the net, that despite opponent Wigan’s surprisingly good average of 1.46gca (goals conceded away). A 2-0 City win looks the most popular outcome in this one.
No Robin Van Persie, no Theo Walcott, no Cesc Fabregas, it looks thin on the ground for Arsenalโs attacking options at home against Sunderland. Fortunately for Arsene Wenger, his squad runs deep with proven talent, Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner will jump at the chance to head up Arsenals strike force, and goals in the midweek FA Cup mauling of Orient will have instilled some confidence. Paddy ranks them both highly, although in Fantasy terms, it seems likely that pitch time will be shared which limits the appeal.
Carling Cup hero Obafemi Martins and reborn hitman Daniel Sturridge, feature amongst the big names this week. Martins perhaps might be favoured for his double gameweek, but the giant Nikola Zigic appears to be Birminghamโs option of choice for Fantasy Managers based on his showing in our polls this week. Sturridge meanwhile, has 4 goals in as many games and is up against a Villa defence nursing injuries at the Reebok โ he looks a good option again.
This certainly seems to be a gameweek to back goals from midfield. The likes of Frank Lampard, Samir Nasri, Clint Dempsey, Florent Malouda and David Silva all feature highly in Paddyโs rankings and we should expect a few points to come from that pack. Expensive midfield purchases, coupled with one or two budget strikers could be the route taken up by Fantasy Managers this weekend as a result.
Paddy’s Scout Specials
With Samir Nasri a likely key target for Fantasy Managers this weekend, we put together some specials to allow you to back your investment.
You can get 13/2 on Nasri scoring a brace against Sunderland, with 8/1 available for the Frenchman to score direct from a free-kick. Alternatively, if youโre feeling less confident, Paddy is offering odds of 9/2 on a booking for the Gunners playmaker.
Paddy’s Money Back Special
Paddy is at Anfield this weekend and is offering to refund all losing 1st /last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the match if there is a red card in the game.
Bet ยฃ10 Get ยฃ20
If youโre new to this betting lark and new to Paddy Power then you can take up any of these odds and offers and get yourself a bonus. You can sign up via this site and get a free ยฃ20 when you register and bet a tenner.
Finally of course, we should state that all these offers are only available to those aged 18 and over and are subject to Paddy Powerโs terms and conditions.
