This is it, then. The final gameweek of the season. Last week saw the leader of the Fantasy Football Scout league, Chris McGurn, not only increase his advantage at the top of our league but the overall Fantasy Premier League (FPL) rankings, too, where he now sits 13 points ahead of the chasing pack going into “Survival Sunday”. Can Chris clinch both titles in the next 24-hours? Here’s a look at our Top Five…
Chris McGurn
Fantasy Football Scout Ranking #1 Overall FPL Ranking #1
Last Week’s Score 71 points
Blackpool pair Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell more than rewarded Chris’ faith, bringing home 25 points between them in the 4-3 home win over Bolton. Robin Van Persie grabbed 14 points with the armband, Wayne Rooney picked up 9 points away to Blackburn, Frank Lampard -last week’s transfer in, with Rafael Van der Vaart shipped out- managed 5 points at Stamford Bridge, where David Luiz’s non-inclusion allowed Kyle Walker to come off the bench for 7 points.
Gameweek 38 Preview
Will Wayne Rooney play at home to Blackpool? It looks unlikely and there’s surely a Berbatov-shaped transfer waiting to happen there. Adam and Campbell are up against it this week and seem an unlikely source of points this time round. Lampard, Luiz and John Terry face Leighton Baines at Goodison, Van Persie travels to Fulham, Ashley Young hosts Liverpool, while Yaya Toure and David Silva head to Bolton as Man City look to secure third.
Kevin Havelock
Fantasy Football Scout Ranking #2 Overall FPL Ranking #6
Last Week’s Score 55 points
A FFScout non-mover at number 2, Kevin’s one transfer last week was Maxi in for Gareth Bale, as he gambled big on Liverpool beating Spurs, with Dirk Kuyt and Andy Carroll already in his starting XI. Carroll’s reintroduction to the Liverpool first-team seemed to inhibit their play, however, and the trio returned just 6 pts between them. Michael Dawson and Van der Vaart balanced matters out a little, with a combined tally of 15 points in the 2-0 Anfield win. Van Persie returned 14 points with the armband while Yaya Toure and Joleon Lescott picked up a total of 15 points in Man City’s 3-0 home win over Stoke.
Gameweek 38 Preview
Man United’s home game to Blackpool offers plenty opportunity for goals and Kevin will surely bring in a player or two from Alex Ferguson’s side for the final day. With three Chelsea player -Luiz, Florent Malouda and Ashley Cole- away to Everton and the aforementioned three Liverpool players travelling to Aston Villa, there’s plenty of options to free up some budget, if needs be. Van der Vaart will now need to be replaced (Modric, perhaps?) as Dawson faces Birmingham at the Lane, Van Persie’s at Fulham Lescott, Toure and Aleksander Kolarov head to Bolton.
Richard Zajdlic
Fantasy Football Ranking #3, Overall FPL Ranking #7
Last Week’s Score 69 points
Richard climbs to number 3 in the FFScout league, with his midfield, in particular, to thank. Charles N’Zogbia picked up 14 points as his double helped relegate West Ham, Charlie Adam grabbed 12 points, while Jamie O’Hara and Van der Vaart scored 5 and 6 points respectively. Wayne Rooney, with 9 points and captain Van Persie’s 14 helped matters further. The Aaron Hughes to Stephen Ward trade failed to pay dividend but could still prove worthwhile this weekend.
Gameweek 38 Preview
Another player with Wayne Rooney, a trade seems likely for Richard ahead of the weekend. Charlie Adam visits Old Trafford, Didier Drogba and David Luiz go head to head with Leighton Baines away, O’Hara and Ward host Blackburn in the relegation showdown, N’Zogbia makes his way to Stoke, while Van Persie is at Fulham. David Silva is his Man City cover for the Bolton clash- will Carlos Tevez be added before Sunday?
Patrick Tyrrell
Fantasy Football Scout Ranking #4, Overall FPL Ranking #9
Last Week’s Score 66 points
Climbing to number 4 in FFScout, Patrick’s three defenders and goalkeeper managed a mere 6 points between them, with the rest of the side saving his gameweek. N’Zogbia picked up 14 points, Adam grabbed 12 points, captain Lampard brought home 10 points for his assist against Newcastle. Peter Odemwingie managed 8 points at home to Everton, with Dutchman Van der Vaart and Van Persie contributing 6 and 7 points respectively.
Gameweek 38 Preview
Aside Van Persie, Patrick has two cheap forwards and if the likes of Berbatov and Tevez are to find themselves in his XI for Sunday, cash needs to be freed up. Getting rid of Lampard-away to Everton- would certainly help more with the budget but the stricken Van der Vaart seems more likely to go. N’Zogbia and Adam visit Stoke and Man United respectively while Kolarov and Toure travel to Kevin Davies’ Bolton.
Utkarsh Dalmia
Fantasy Football Ranking #5, Overall FPL Ranking #10
Last Week’s Score 68 points
After a week’s absence, Utkarsh re-enters the FFScout Top Five due a strong gameweek 37. His one transfer saw David Silva replace by Charles N’Zogbia, an inspired move that returned 14 points. Other big hitters were Michael Dawson, with 9 points away to Liverpool, Rooney’s 9 points at Blackburn, Charlie Adam’s 12 at home to Bolton and captain Van Persie’s 14 points in Arsenal’s limp home defeat to Aston Villa.
Gameweek 38 Preview
A pricey front trio of Van Persie, Drogba and Rooney makes it easy to bring in big-money forwards, with Berbatov for Rooney surely on the cards. Such a swap would also free up funds if a move for the likes of Nani is being considered for the injured Van der Vaart. Elsewhere, Dawson takes on Birmingham at home, Dirk Kuyt heads to Villa, Charlie Adam is at Old Trafford while N’Zogbia goes to Stoke.
