Suarez travels to Old Trafford
Another huge weekend as the race at the top tightens and the England managerial role remains vacant. Let’s focus on club over country for now, though, and preview this week’s best potential fantasy performers…
I. Liverpool @ Manchester United: Huge. Obviously. Liverpool are falling behind in their race for 4th while Manchester United need to keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the table. Add in Luis Suarez’s return from a lengthy ban due to racial comments being directed against Manchester United stand-in Captain Patrice Evra, and you can’t get much more attention for a game that’s already a huge rivalry.
Liverpool won in the FA Cup last month but Manchester United have to be the favorites after a 3-goal second half at Stamford Bridge, despite their injury woes. Rooney, last week’s Funny Feeling Friday selection, has returned to form – albeit from the penalty spot, and Ashley Young even woke up from the dead.
Up front alongside Rooney – it will either be Hernandez or Welbeck – both of which were lively at Stamford Bridge. You could argue that Gary Cahill should have been sent off for a first half tackle on Welbeck – who was clear through on goal. Chicharito should start though if we can read into Sir Alex Ferguson’s comments that he really upped the team’s game against Chelsea when he came on as a substitute. At 9.9M, he has a good chance of scoring, but is still a bit too pricey to own in the Fantasy Premier League.
Liverpool’s Jose Enrique is a doubt but could still feature with a hamstring issue, and if he does, will have a tough task ahead of him facing the likes of Ashley Young / Nani. Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard are the obvious focal points of a potential Liverpool upset, but despite the drama surrounding this one, I don’t see it. I think even with their injury problems and the shaky De Gea at the back, Manchester United win.
Prediction: 2-1 Manchester United
II. Newcastle @ Tottenham: I’m thinking outside of the box on this one. Yes, Arsenal and Manchester City have winnable away games. Chelsea too, travel to Everton in a slightly tougher one. And Fulham are home to Stoke. But I’ll put my money on Gareth Bale and Tottenham to take out fellow Top 4 hopefuls Newcastle. Demba Ba and Cisse could be an FPL legendary duo in the making, but even with VDV out, Tottenham will have both Defoe & Adebayor starting – and I think Newcastle concede a few. Harry Redknapp is free and clear from tax evasion, so perhaps that gives him a slight mental boost in his tactics and preparation (wink).
Parker and Modric are so good in the middle. Lennon and Bale should start wide. I just see a comprehensive victory. Maybe a Cisse or Ba goal to make it interesting, but Newcastle will have a tough time. The bad news? Spurs have won only 2 of their last 10 games against Newcastle. The good news? Both Tiote and Cabaye will be missing from central midfield, so I think Modric and Parker run riot.
Prediction: 3-1 Tottenham
III. Studs & Duds: RVP. I’m wasting my time even typing that anymore. Automatic. Like a car wash. Sunderland are in form but who cares. Oxlade-Chamberlain is also an option. Clint Dempsey is a stud for Fulham at home. Schwarzer too. Dembele is only 5.2M but their are plenty of other striker options. Stoke players, usually tight at the back, are duds this week.
Aguero, Silva and Kompany / Richards are studs despite the away trip. Manchester City should win on the road at Aston Villa. Bent is on the stud/dud fence, he’s always up for a lucky penalty or beach ball goal. I like Bobby Zamora and Yakubu as cheap studs – playing in the same game as QPR travel to take on Blackburn. Chelsea are at Everton so temper your enthusiasm with their back four – they are on the stud/dud fence as are Mata and Sturridge despite good first half performances last week…
Newcastle and Aston Villa defenders, it goes without saying, are duds this week.
IV. Gameweek 25 Best Eleven:
GK: Vorm
D: Hangeland – Kompany – Walker
M: Dempsey – Sinclair – Bale – Silva
F: RVP – Yakubu – Rooney
Subs: Schwarzer – Sigurdsson – A. Cole – Taiwo
Related posts:
What are your thoughts on the Icelandic rising star Gylfi for team selection?
http://fantasypremierleaguehints.blogspot.com/2012/02/recommended-player-for-gameweek-25.html
Need help choosing Captin this week
Team
Vorm
Richards, Assou-Ekotto, S Kelly
Dempsey, Bale, Sessegnon, Silva, Valencia
Dzecko, RVP
Bench: Mignolet, Zamora, R Taylor, Jose Enrique
Thinking Bale or Dempsey, any suggestions?
Good call on Rooney Ibra, I never saw it coming.