Sturridge should play 160+ minutes this week
Here we go. Another Fantasy Premier League (double) gameweek weekend. Hope you read our preview last week – as we featured Drogba as your main man, and the Ivorian did not disappoint, putting up 22 points in the process. Blogger Stepovers Anonymous – my rival for seven years running – captained the Chelsea striker. Big respect.
But back to business. Enough looking back. Let’s look forward. Will Champions League rotation deprive us of say Nani or Rooney against Everton? Will Chelsea continue battering teams and dismantle West Ham? Bolton, Stoke, Fulham, and Wolves all play twice – are they worthy of investment or will they ruin your long term plans? Here we go…
I. West Ham @ Chelsea: A massive fixture for both clubs. Chelsea are (somewhat) back in the title race. Barely, but somewhat… They’re in second and Arsenal are down to third on goal difference. West Ham are in the bottom three but with fixtures against Blackburn, Wigan, and Sunderland in the last three weeks – they control their own destiny.
A point at Chelsea will be fantastic for West Ham in this London derby but the club’s best player, England international Scott Parker, is set to miss out due to injury. A massive blow for the Hammers – who already have one foot out of the Premier League. Just a massive blow.
With that said, it’s a massive opportunity for Mark Noble to step up. He has talent but has been inconsistent in recent weeks. Chelsea’s central midfield Bison Michael Essien has not been producing from a fantasy perspective at a 7M pricetag but could surprise this weekend without the combative Parker nipping at his heels. Malouda (9.5M) – the second highest scoring player in fantasy football, and Kalou (7.1M) are in great form and should continue their hot streak barring any strange rotation policies which could see Anelka, Torres, or Benayoun introduced… Lampard (13M) of course seems a bit pricey in comparison to the aforementioned two in form players but is always worth a look despite his inconsistent record against his former club in recent years.
Didier Drogba, just like last week, is your main man up front. Chelsea hold a major psychological advantage going into this weekend.
Surprisingly, however, the club was not able to keep clean sheets against relatively mediocre opposition in West Brom and Birmingham last week, but I think they tighten up and keep West Ham out this week.
Prediction: 2 – 0 Chelsea win
II. Fulham Double Gameweek: It’s tough to see too many fantasy friendly matchups this weekend other than Chelsea and Manchester United, though Tottenham are a darkhorse candidate with West Brom at home, but Fulham play twice and have some attacking options that could come good.
Dempsey (7.4M) and Zamora (6M) are proven Premier League scorers and I would think that managers can reasonably expect 6-8 points from each over the double gameweek. All it takes is a goal or an assist and two games played. Fulham travel to Wolves, which will not be easy by any means, but then have Bolton at home – where returns could be a bit more plentiful.
Fulham are unbeaten at home in the league in 2011 – so you have to think the Bolton game will produce results. They have been less consistent on the road, so don’t expect much at Wolves. Of course, Tottenham, Manchester United, and Chelsea are all playing at home this weekend and provide great ‘single’ gameweek options but Fulham look a decent shout for the double. More on Stoke, Wolves, and Bolton in Studs & Duds…
Prediction: 1-1 draw @ Wolves and 2-1 win vs Bolton
III. Studs & Duds: Really don’t know if Smalling will play or Rio Ferdinand will play at home to Everton, but if Smalling starts, he continues as a super cheap, superb stud. A 4M defender for the league leaders?!?! Unreal… Love him.
United players are studs at home to Everton but have a slight rotation worry as they are in Germany on Tuesday night in the Champions League against Schalke. Berbatov used to play for Leverkusen and he lit up the Bundesliga so perhaps he’ll get a start in Germany Tuesday night and Hernandez and Rooney will keep their league places? I really don’t know…
Nani and Valencia could feature, though J.S. Park is also an option out wide. United players are studs despite this caution…
Stoke play twice and you have to think Etherington is a massive stud. On penalties and cheap. In form too. Jonathan Walters, the subject of the greatest Funny Feeling Friday of all time - a call that brought me international press, glory, and punditry status, is also a darkhorse option but perhaps less proven than Etherington. Huth and Begovic are solid buys at the back. All cheap. All studs.
Wolves have O’Hara and Jarvis as double gameweek studs and another former Funny Feeling Friday- the cheap Ebanks-Blake, as well. All studs. Ebanks-Blake is a slight injury doubt but he should feature…
Lastly Bolton are a team stuck mid-table. Not much to play for. No threat of relegation. Too far out of the European spots… Will they be focused for the stretch run? Perhaps not but one player will be: on-loan Chelsea stud Daniel Sturridge. He’s a stud. I also love Martin Petrov at 5M as a very very under the radar selection. He was so great at Manchester City and swings in a wicked free kick. Perhaps Elmander or Davies will get on the end of one of those crosses and score… Decent options there as Bolton continue to finish off a great season. Studs.
Tottenham are home to West Brom so Van der Vaart is a stud. Modric to a lesser extent as he has difficulty scoring (Essien syndrome) but also is a bonus point machine (Essien style). Stud/dud fence for Luka as VDV hopes his hamstrings hold up with only two days rest after the thrilling 3-3 draw with Arsenal.
Duds are formerly popular Birmingham players at Liverpool. Foster, Johnson, Larsson, Gardner, etc. Also on the dud side of the fence are Everton players who were in good form – Baines and Howard – now duds at Manchester United.
IV. Gameweek 34 Best Eleven:
GK: Begovic
D: Luiz – Vidic – Hangeland
M: Dempsey – Etherington – Lampard – O’Hara – Van der Vaart
F: Drogba – Zamora
Subs: Gomes – Sturridge – Huth – G. Cahill
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