Eurosport - Sat, 04 Oct 06:38:00 2008
Everyone at Manchester United is benefiting from the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, none more so than new-boy Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian tops our list of fantasy picks this week.
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Pick of the week: Dimitar Berbatov
Now that Ronaldo has returned from injury, every member of United's squad should begin to soar in price. This week's trip to Ewood Park provides a particularly good chance for any attacking players. After Berbatov opened his United scoring account with a brace on midweek Champions League duty, now looks like the time to jump on the Berba bandwagon while his price is still at a very reasonable 13.00. Though Blackburn are slightly more solid at the back than AaB Aalborg, Rovers have conceded the second-highest number of league goals this season, including five at home.
ATTACKERS
Choose 'Em: Despite a disappointing performance in Manchester City's 2-1 loss to Wigan last week, we still think Robinho (8.57) will be the pick of the year and is worth selecting while his price is low despite a tricky fixture against in-form Liverpool. After playing his part in Hull's legendary upset of Arsenal at the Emirates last week, we love Daniel Cousin (8.44) against the sinking ship that is Juande Ramos's Spurs. Jermain Defoe (12.76) and Peter Crouch (9.23) look good for Portsmouth against Stoke. If you can afford Emmanuel Adebayor (15.63) or Robin Van Persie (16.96), it's worth having one of them in your side against Sunderland. The on-fire Amr Zaki (11.23) has a great match-up at home against Middlesbrough, as does Nicolas Anelka (13.14) against Aston Villa. After suffering a massive price-drop last week to 9.69, David Di Michele is once again affordable against Bolton.
Lose 'Em: The injured Wayne Rooney (15.69) is the most obvious man to let go of this week. With United beginning to concede fewer and fewer goals - two in their last five matches - Roque Santa Cruz (12.69) looks overpriced for Blackburn. Fernando Torres (16.63) is probably worth keeping if you added him before his brace at Everton when he was 2.57 cheaper, but is not worth adding at his current price for a possibly tricky trip to the City of Manchester Stadium. Expect to see the Arsenal that thrashed Porto 4-0 and not the side that lost 2-1 to Hull when the Gunners travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland, and hence drop the likes of Djibril Cisse (8.57) and El Hadji Diouf (9.79).
MIDFIELDERS
Choose 'Em: We told you to add Cristiano Ronaldo last week when his price was a relative bargain at 22.76. A 36-point haul last week has seen his value skyrocket to 29.66, well out of your price range. All is not lost, however. The best thing for a Ronaldo-less fantasy player to do is spread the wealth. For the same price as Ronaldo you can fill your entire midfield with Albert Riera (6.32), Samir Nasri (6.87), Theo Walcott (6.64) and either Nani (8.62) or Stephen Ireland (8.59). With the money you save by not selecting Ronaldo you can also fill your boots with the priciest strikers money can buy. If you want to spend a little bit more on your midfield, Jimmy Bullard (12.23) is averaging 9.50 fantasy points per game and has a good match-up at West Brom, while Luis Valencia (10.57) has been equally consistent for Wigan and looks like an excellent buy against Boro.
Lose 'Em: England's David Bentley (15.71) has yet to score a Premier League goal in his debut season with Spurs, and we find it difficult to justify the pricetag with the way his side have been playing. Ashley Young (17.30) has been brilliant for Aston Villa, but has a very difficult trip to Stamford Bridge and was one of the few players not to score in last year's 4-4 Boxing Day thriller against Chelsea. Liverpool have conceded just two goals in the Premier League this year, which make Shaun Wright-Phillips (11.59) and Elano (11.03) far too costly. Stewart Downing (13.50) might be tempting at Wigan, but the way the Latics contained Robinho last week makes him a risky pick.
DEFENDERS
Choose 'Em: Bolton have scored just once away from home this year, a fact which makes every West Ham defender worthwhile, but especially recent goal scorer Lucas Neill (6.73) and defensive partner Matthew Upson (7.60). Fulham have also had trouble scoring away from home, so West Brom stopper Jonas Olsson (8.78) could be good value. Portsmouth's defence has been among the leakiest in the league, but after a clean sheet against Spurs they could be set to turn things around. Younes Kaboul (6.95) is the obvious bargain of the group against Stoke, while Sol Campbell could be worth his exaggerated tag (9.93) for the first time this season. If a Ronaldo expenditure forces you to scale back in this position, John Paintsil (4.21) could play on Saturday for Fulham. Aaron Mokoena, meanwhile, could be in Blackburn's midfield against United, but a loophole in the game has him listed as the cheapest defender available at 2.66.
Lose 'Em: Everton have conceded 13 goals this year, more than any other team in the Premier League, which is part of the reason for Joleon Lescott's (10.67) pitiful fantasy average of 3.58 points per game. Nicky Shorey (9.66) is equally overpriced with just 1.25 ppg and a dangerous match-up against Chelsea. Chris Samba (9.14) and pretty much any Blackburn defender should be avoided in Paul Ince's first game as a manager against Manchester United.
GOALKEEPER
Choose 'Em: We scoffed at Boaz Myhill (5.73) against Arsenal last week, but he was a star in Hull's shock victory and could be a thrifty option against Spurs, who struggled to manage one goal against mighty Wisla Krakow in the UEFA Cup on Thursday. David James (13.51) is capable of his third clean sheet of the year at home against Stoke if you can afford him. Robert Green (6.83) is an excellent deal against Bolton, while Mark Schwarzer (5.70) has done well this campaign and has a good match-up at West Brom.
Lose 'Em: Despite only conceding one goal in his first-career start for Blackburn, Jason Brown (5.85) will face a much harsher time against Manchester United than he did in his winning debut at Newcastle. Brad Friedel (9.47) should be avoided when Aston Villa travel to Stamford Bridge. Again, you might be tempted to select Shay Given (1.39), but remember that if and when Newcastle concede multiple goals before losing miserably at Everton, Given will be hit by a negative points tally.
Comment 1 - 9 of 9
manU will win tonight.definitely
Toon to win!!! F$*ck all you glory supporters!
chelsea r the best team in the premirship all other teams there are flukes man united are @#$% i wipe my @#$% in man u t-shirts i hope they get renigated , liverpool will never ever win another trophie as they are to old 2, arsenal are just plain @#$% and will come last like they allways do END OF
CHELSEA WILL NEVER WIN ANYTHING THIS SEASON !FORGET it.!!! NO MATTER HOW THEY TRY-THEY WILL ONLY GO VERY NEAR CARLING CUP !
its juanade ramos thats tottenham manager you dip @#$%
sergio ramos is a star for R.madrid and a manger of an english club..talk about talent!!
will nasri start at sunderland away
liverpool aint top of the table!
mind you that sergio ramos is a defender at real madrid, not spurs' manager.... that's juande ramos...
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