Premier League - Choose 'em or lose 'em

Eurosport - Sat, 20 Sep 12:20:00 2008

Tottenham are going to thrash someone sometime - so get on Roman Pavlyuchenko as our Fantasy Pick of the Week.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League - Roman Pavlyuchenko, Spurs, against Aston Villa - 0

GOALKEEPERS

Choose 'em: It may seem like complete lunacy, but why not have a punt on Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes (5.32) this week? Yes, we know Spurs are a shower of the smelly stuff at the moment, and yes we know that Gomes endured a total nightmare last weekend, but with a home game against Wigan, and considering the minimal cost involved in recruiting him, Gomes could turn out to be a bargain. If not, they're practically giving away Paul Robinson (1.39), so although he heads into the weekend with an impressive minus-12 points tally, we think the Blackburn number one has a good chance of turning things around at home to Fulham.

Lose 'em: Manchester United are yet to hit form this season and with the toughest of away fixtures at Stamford Bridge looming, it's time to ditch Edwin van der Sar (13.07) for Sunday's game against Chelsea.

DEFENDERS

Choose 'em: Many a defender has caught the eye over recent weeks, but none more so than Chelsea full-back Jose Bosingwa, who is still a steal at just 5.77. Pair him at the back with West Ham stopper Calum Davenport (7.71), who is set for an easy afternoon with crisis club Newcastle playing at Upton Park on Saturday. Otherwise, John Paintsil (4.81) and Ryan Nelsen (5.57) look solid, value-for-money buys this week.

Lose 'em: One thing we've learned over the years is never to rely on anything in a derby match. Predictable such fixtures are not, so get rid of Aston Villa's Carlos Cuellar (5.75), who has looked a little shaky since making his debut. Also ditch the Spaniard's team-mate Curtis Davies (7.10) - he may miss out, as he did against Litex Lovech in the UEFA Cup on Thursday. Meanwhile, Nemanja Vidic (7.81) is suspended for Manchester United's trip to Chelsea, so drop him, while Rio Ferdinand (10.46) seems like an expensive luxury that you can do without this week.

MIDFIELDERS

Choose 'em: Liverpool winger Albert Riera has clearly improved since his last spell in England and, having impressed on his debut against Manchester United, looks good value at 6.69 with the visit of Stoke coming up. West Brom's James Morrison has looked sharp when fit and could be worth a punt at 7.16 while if you need to cut back on expense, Nigel Reo-Coker (7.03) could be your man after scoring his first league goal for two years last Monday at White Hart Lane.

Lose 'em: Manchester United's Michael Carrick (6.59) and Arsenal's Samir Nasri (6.41) are sidelined so cash them in and buy instead one of the above midfielders.

STRIKERS

Choose 'em:Pavlyuchenko has finally made it into the game and to continue the 'Spurs can't get any worse' theme, why not snap the Russian up for peanuts (5.28)? There has to be a backlash sometime, and starting it at home to Wigan is as good a time as any. Similarly, former Spurs and current Liverpool striker Robbie Keane (10.96) has to start scoring sooner rather than later - why not against Stoke at Anfield? Finally, Amr Zaki is banging them in for Wigan and shows no sign of letting up. Pick him up for 10.49.

Lose 'em: Aston Villa's John Carew (11.20) may miss out so he is not worth the risk while Nicolas Anelka's run in the Chelsea side could be over as Didier Drogba eyes a return from injury. Oh and ditch anyone associated with Newcastle United Football Club.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 7 - 26 of 26

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  1. What's worse; getting smashed to bits or getting­ smashed to pieces?

    From Coach Positive, on Sat 20 Sep 3:24PM

  2. MAN UNITED WILL SMASH ROMA TO BITS
    LIVERPOOL WILL­ SMASH INTER MILAN TO BITS
    ARSENAL WILL SMASH AC MILAN­ TO BITS
    CHELSEA WILL SMASH JUVENTUS TO PIECES

    From 4ever gooner, on Sat 20 Sep 11:18AM

  3. man utd-chelsea will be 2-1 chelsea are nothing -team­ without history they sack
    for artan from macedonia

    From idriz, on Sat 20 Sep 11:16AM

  4. hell no!!!!! chelsae is gna win 3-1.anelka deco and­ lampard 4 us and arrogant rona
    ldo 4 man divided

    From naila_34, on Sat 20 Sep 10:49AM

  5. with Drogba scoring first in the 1st half and then­ Ronaldo in the second.

    From seabass, on Sat 20 Sep 9:52AM

  6. the hopeful score will be Chelski 1-1 Man Utd

    From seabass, on Sat 20 Sep 9:51AM

  7. if Spurs are looking to make money they succeeded as­ usual but to be a competitive team forget it

    From Alfred A, on Sat 20 Sep 9:38AM

  8. yea, i already ditch my Man Utd players out of the­ fantasy league this weekend. let's just hope they­ can get something against chelski.

    From dila, on Sat 20 Sep 5:47AM

  9. wrong adam j, the dude's name is paintsil. his UK­ travel documentation is spelled wrong so they had to­ abide by that and write "pantsil" on the back­ of his shirt, but he's called that out as being­ wrong.

    From humansell12, on Sat 20 Sep 1:46AM

  10. He's picky.

    From Ready I, on Fri 19 Sep 11:55PM

  11. Serie A is the craziest week in week out, from team­ 1-20 every team excites and any team can beat any other­ team. Plus you got the travelling circus that is Jose­ Mourinho

    From justin, on Fri 19 Sep 11:49PM

  12. and do your @#$% research - it's Pantsil

    From adam j, on Fri 19 Sep 11:45PM

  13. So pick the bottom of the table keeper? Do you actually­ follow football at all?

    From adam j, on Fri 19 Sep 11:44PM

  14. number 8 and 9 , I believe you are the morons without a­ clue and number 7 is spot on..if EPL is the most­ exciting and so-called best league in the world, then­ what happened to the England???? In my opinion, how­ good your league is will be reflected in your national­ team.....England are mediocre and need one of our best­ Italian managers ever to try and help them out. I agree­ our Serie A is in a bit of turmoil on and off the­ pitch, more off than on though because of d ickhead­ Ultra fans and Mafia involvement...however if we do­ manage to follow the great English way of dealing with­ scum then we have a chance to pack our stadiums­ again..as for quality football and entertainment we­ have changed...prior to this season start the Serie A­ has out scored the Premiership 4-5 seasons in a row­ now....so much for defensive football that you English­ cavemen bring up in arguments about our style of­ play...oh and we are still World Champions....also our­ league has a top 6 teams generally not 4...so more­ competitive too....I expect no comebacks from­ this...hehehehehe

    From Diehard Italian Fan, on Fri 19 Sep 10:23PM

  15. How in the world can you recommend a keeper when you­ are also touting a striker that is going up against­ him? Further, you are hyping both opposing strikers­ from said game leading one to believe the blogger­ thinks the game is going to be full of goals, further­ questioning how you can select that keeper. Oddly that­ suggestion looks better then the other option thrown­ out which is to get another keeper that has a negative­ score for the season.

    Add to the fact that two­ defenders are recommended that are 5 and under who are­ also playing each other. Whats the point in lobbing a­ cheap flier if one will cancel out the other? Sure you­ can argue for a scoreless draw, but that holds little­ weight when one team is -6 in goal differential.

    I­ get the feeling some of these blog posts are made in­ about 5 minutes without any thought as to what is being­ said.

    From dr_fager68, on Fri 19 Sep 10:18PM

  16. Pick a Spurs keeper and a Wigan striker in the same 11.­ Gotcha.

    From Andrew, on Fri 19 Sep 8:20PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The english game is dying ..

    From Abbakaer, on Fri 19 Sep 8:10PM

  18. no 7, you are clearly a F@&KING MORON! What ever­ about La Liga but the Italian league is in a nose dive,­ you have no clue what your on about.

    From john, on Fri 19 Sep 5:19PM

  19. Premier League is the best, most exciting league in the­ world... just look at the talent on show. Followed by­ La Liga in a distant second.

    From john, on Fri 19 Sep 5:16PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    PL is boring, La liga and Seria is Much Better.

    From galacticos, on Fri 19 Sep 2:41PM
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