Fantasy Premier League

Matchday Open Thread

Sat Mar 29 05:39AM by Jeremy

General view of Pride Park, home of Derby County

From Super Sunday to Strugglers Saturday.  All eyes will be on Pride Park as Fulham visit Derby - two teams who if you combined their point total would still be in the bottom half of the table!  It's one of those matches that will most likely end scoreless, but if someone gets an early goal the floodgates could open.

It's the last set of matches before the Champions League resumes and the top four Engllish teams are all still involved.  Arsenal have already hinted that they're going to rest K2 and we'll see what the other clubs do. I'm developing a theory that if Liverpool can beat Everton that they're best strategy will be to tank the league match with Arsenal and concentrate on the Champions League matches against the Gunners.  If they can open a five point lead over Everton they'll have the breathing room to not sweat a loss at Emirates.  And if Arsenal can stay in the race for the league title than not only will their attentions be divided but Chelsea and ManU won't be able to focus on the Champions League alone either, should Liverpool meet them in the next round.

But I could be wrong.

Continuing our look ahead - our barn(es) door report, if you will - Everton get their home match against Derby.  So by hook or by crook you have to get the Yak and Arteta on your team.  AJ, Osman and any defender in your budget should also be considered and corralled.  A lot of the other bottom teams match up with each other and I'm not sure any are worth backing.  Villa get Bolton at Villa Park and could use the chance to break out of their slump -assuming it continues this week at Old Trattford.  Chelsea visit Citeh and ManU visit Boro but too much depends on who gets rotated because of the Champions League matches.

So basically, get Everton.  And Jummy home to Sunderland.  But mostly Everton.

But let's not look too far ahead, we have a lot of matches this weekend.  Who you got, who you watching, and how are they doing for you?  This is your matchday open thread. 

(103 user comments)

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  • (1)

    yak!

    Posted by: brown_seeds on Sat Mar 29 05:48AM | Report abuse
  • (2)

    Arteta. I got him when he faced Derby in their first fixture and he scored. Pienaar is also a good bargain.

    Posted by: zzzeclipse on Sat Mar 29 10:15AM | Report abuse
  • (3)

    I told myself I wouldn't spend too much time on my team for once! Several hours later, I have only kept Torres, CRon and Robbo, welcoming Benchdtner, Walcott, Utaka, Reid, Bullard, Carvalho, Stalteri and Hutton to the squad. It was very hard to drop K2 after 11 weeks and embarrassing to realise I needed so much of your help to come up with the team. Well, thanks!

    Posted by: blessedatheist on Sat Mar 29 11:21AM | Report abuse
  • (4)

    Had some kind of panic attack at 11.58 and just couldn't quite drop Santa Cruz (+4) for McCarthy, am sure I will regret this!!

    Posted by: alex.ayre on Sat Mar 29 12:04PM | Report abuse
  • (5)

    Yes you will.

    Posted by: zzzeclipse on Sat Mar 29 12:12PM | Report abuse
  • (6)

    Went w/Pienaar, thinking Pudge Reid may have a big day and i'll regret it, though I poached KRich and dropped Edwards for another day. Here's hoping Pienaar becomes Ashley Young for a day! (GO CELTIC!!)

    Posted by: donegal08 on Sat Mar 29 01:07PM | Report abuse
  • (7)

    the game says that portsmouth dont have a game next week, but on bbc the game has just been rescheduled for tuesday, not cancelled. any thoughts anyone

    Posted by: joshtottenham on Sat Mar 29 01:07PM | Report abuse
  • (8)

    (7) Only one... I still sold Defoe for Osman! ;)

    Posted by: donegal08 on Sat Mar 29 01:22PM | Report abuse
  • (9)

    Anyone else jump on the R.(don't even know his first name or care) O'Donovan bandwagon this week? Let's hope he pulls a Shane Long.

    Posted by: gentrykirby on Sat Mar 29 01:35PM | Report abuse
  • (10)

    Seriously, I mean, seriously... Everton? Mostly? Surely Newcastle players are tempting against Reading. PLUS, they are wayyy cheaper than Everton players. Owen, anyone?

    Posted by: piscesian2000 on Sat Mar 29 01:50PM | Report abuse