Fantasy Premier League

Monday Morning Manager

Mon May 18 04:46PM

Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt (centre) celebrates scoring their third goal with team mate Fernando Torres

When someone asks you about the 2008-2009 fantasy English Premier League season (and you KNOW it comes up in conversation like ALL THE TIME!) what will you say? How will you answer that succinctly and accurately? I'll tell you how.

"Kuyt 17. Torres 8."

Doesn't that just say it all? The lead-the-line center forward, one of the best strikers in the world musters two shots on target against the worst team in the division. But so does the grafter listed as a striker but playing on the right of midfield. The difference is the less-heralded player comes up with a goal. Of course you can guess which player the Manager spent his money on this weekend. Let's just say that Kuyt, playing behind his listed position in the fantasy game is against the rules.

As for the keeper conundrum we went over in the MDOT, as it turns out Hull's desperation combined with their ineptitude resulted in a good day for Jussi. Even if he allowed a late equalizing goal, his seven saves brought him up to 12.5 points. Seemingly a foul suffered or some other phantom half-point above the Manager's man, Sorensen. Wigan certainly lived up - or down - to their billing as well as Sorensen only had one save to make in a clean sheet win.

A bit more on Stoke - congrats to them for their achievements this season. Not only staying up, but finishing eleventh or thereabouts which will give them that much more money to spend this summer. And with their recent track record you'd have to bet on them to spend it well. This was the third match since Beattie came over in January that both he and Fuller have scored for Stoke in the same match. Compare that to the list of strikers the other promoted and/or other relegation-threatened teams have used - off the top of my head: Simpson, Bednar, Moore, MAFortune, Folan, Manucho, Cousin, King, Owen, Ameobi, Martins, Viduka, Carroll, Alves, Emnes, Aliadiere. Not exactly a murderers row of talent there. Combine those striker's goals with being relatively strong in defence, especially at home, and just enough flair from midfield in Lawrence and Etherington and job well done to Pulis and the Potters.

Elsewhere, however, relegation looms. Hull's point at Bolton means that they're safe if they can win against what is likely to be a Manchester United reserve side. But ask Everton's first team how easy that is. Newcastle will need a Hull loss or tie and a win of their own @ Aston Villa. The Manager picked BFAY and Shorey last week because he thought that their counter-attacking style would be well suited to play against a desperate Boro. And he's not changing my mind this week.

Which brings us to this, which I wrote in anger and sadness on Saturday:

Magpies Lament

Here's NUFC's squad today:

Harper, Beye, Steven Taylor, Bassong, Duff, Guthrie, Butt, Nolan, Gutierrez, Martins, Viduka. Subs: Krul, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Carroll

And here's a potential squad - a FULL SQUAD - of former NUFC players WHO ARE ALL STILL PLAYING IN THE EPL:

Given, Griffin,Woodgate, Hughes, Distin, Milner, Parker, Jenas, N'Zogbia, Bellamy, Saha. Subs: Friedel (signed but never played), Bramble, O'Brien, Amdy Faye, Diagne-Faye, Dyer, Sibierski

Don't the former players beat the current ones? Handily, even? Of the current players, who would crack the other starting XI? Beye over Griffin is the only one I see. And yes, I realize that the former team was/is hurt a lot - Dyer, Bellamy, Parker, Saha - but it's ridiculous that this much talent has gone through NUFC... like bran... leaving little to no trace.

I claim to only follow my fantasy team, but that's not entirely true. My grandfather visited England and looked to buy me a souvenir. The clerk at the store couldn't sell him a Man U shirt in good conscience, so I ended up with an NUFC jersey (it was the year SAF pipped KK to the title) and therefore they were the first team I followed. So while I realize that NUFC have become an organizational joke, and while I think relegation is nothing they don't deserve, it really is a shame.

---

Until next week,

The Manager

Comments1 - 30 of 44
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- Defense is huge. I think Magpies defense was like swiss cheese. I feel for their fans.
- Just read Thudd got surgery done and will not play in last game of season. he WOULD have been a decent pick as he was taking corners and looked good as of late. The Spurs Mid is very thin.
From owen1981 on Mon May 18 04:54PM
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First!!! messyaaaah
From alex.ayre on Mon May 18 04:57PM
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close, but no banana alex
From kellz_86 on Mon May 18 07:17PM
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- last week of YFF : ( time to play a lot of FIFA, oh wait, i already play a lot of FIFA
- who to pick this final week? tough one. i'm about 100 points ahead in private group, so not much to play for
From mbean.rm on Mon May 18 08:10PM
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@ mbean.rm. Congrats
But...hey, you can play for me,lol. I'am only 30 points ahead and last week can be humiliating for me (if I lose my lead of course)...
I think of letting Gerrard go and LOAD Arsenal players (Fab,Fab,RvP)...Any tip???
See you next year though...It was my first year on YFF (actualy I played only last 20 games) and can't wait for next season, I simply can't...
From fidan_recica on Mon May 18 09:25PM
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@5: Gerrard has been hitting ~25pts for the last 3 weeks why would you drop him?
-Liverpool are my bet b/c its their last home game of the season AND they want to seal 2nd place over Chelsea. Its better to go out 2nd than 3rd
From kellz_86 on Tue May 19 12:24AM
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Anybody else thinking of loading up on relegation candidates for the final weekend? Seems to me they'll be playing the hardest. I'm particularly interested in Newcastle and Boro.
From wrigavin on Tue May 19 06:08AM
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Alternatively they are relegation candidates for a reason and have tried and failed to play well all season.
From alex.ayre on Tue May 19 07:50AM
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when did Saha play for the barcodes? Fulham, Manu, Everton, surely???
From petegoddard11996655 on Tue May 19 10:21AM
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How I've missed Derby County this season... What a shame! They made our jobs a lot easier last season, n'est-ce pas? Which team are likely to be the Derby of the 2009/2010 season? Your comments and insights, please...
From kukuski on Tue May 19 10:46AM
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@5: Whatever you do, don't sell Gerrard.
From kukuski on Tue May 19 10:47AM
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@ 6&11. Thnx a lot...but...Gerrard would be my "enabler", as crazy as it may sound. If I sell him, I'd be making money for RvP, MGP and, with some "sacrifices", make room for Brunt. What about that???
As L'pool fan I loooooooooooove Gerrard, I truly do, but as fantasy manager I have to make painfull decisions sometimes. BUT hey, I'll take your advices and stick to him. Thnx again!!!
Lets hope for happy ending for this season...
From fidan_recica on Tue May 19 11:31AM
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no michael owen?
From ian.lapsley on Tue May 19 12:07PM
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@petegoddard11996655, Saha had a loan spell w/ NUFC in 99 when he was still w/ Metz. One goal in 11 games. Bit of a washout at the time.
From jspitzberg on Tue May 19 02:41PM
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Anyone have any thoughts on everton this week? of course you would expect players to be rested for squad players, what with the FA cup coming up soon...but everton dont seem to have a squad. so could be interesting. Although its more likely that half the first team plays and everyone tries to avoid cards and injuries I guess. looks like im selling saha!
From joshtottenham on Tue May 19 03:11PM
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re: Everton... don't forget that they are @Fulham - a tricky prospect this year. And Fulham need at least a point to ensure European football next season, so they're not rolling over. That being said, Everton is still fighting for 5th place and whatever cash and scheduling benefits that brings. Could be a very interesting match.
From jspitzberg on Tue May 19 03:42PM
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(15) But even if you know who's playing for Everton, it's not like they're a great choice. Fulham have only allowed 14 goals at home in 18 games. Fulham is fighting for the Europa League spot, right? There are better matchups out there.
From gentrykirby on Tue May 19 03:50PM
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(15&16). My bet is on a 0-0 draw...Fulham hardly scoring (ok, I know HotCam is clicking) and with Everton solid defense (I'm sure most of first choice defenders will play) and their careful approach to the game, meaning injuries and susspensions (oh God, I'll miss these words :S), I can see no other result but goalless draw.
Any way, best choice from that game??? Rodwell, Gosling, Paints (if you don't have him already). Excuse me for my "expert" attitude...G'luck
From fidan_recica on Tue May 19 05:17PM
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Any one thinking of Arsenal. Is Arsene going to put his first team to prove some points vs Stoke? I hope he does. I've loaded two Fabs and a RvP (not sure about the last one though).
From fidan_recica on Tue May 19 05:19PM
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I can confirm I am not thinking of Arsenal, however come Saturday i will be looking to load up on them...but wait a minute, Arsene has done this before, he plays a few players that will be saying 'goodbye' in front of the faithful, he may also give a few of the academy stars a run out...they are far too hard to predict, RvP will probably be rested for Vela, or if K2 gets himself fit he will want to play before he goes to Milan.
All tough, I reckon Man 'yes I would like a new contract' City players maybe good, and also Liverpool (Stevie G will kiss the badge) and I have a hunch Villa will tear into a desperate Newcastle side, they want 5th, and newcastle will go for broke leaving gaps all over.
From alex.ayre on Tue May 19 05:31PM
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Oh, Blackburn have to be fancied also.
From alex.ayre on Tue May 19 05:32PM
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And finally on that game, after seeing WBA a few times this season they play nice stuff, just think they were a Beattie, and probably a central defender away from maybe staying up.
From alex.ayre on Tue May 19 05:36PM
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(22). I agree (B'burn vs WBA). I think there are going to be some goals on this one. So, MGP and Brunt aren't bad choices (at all). And Citeh too. But, who knows what the line-up will look like, esp the atacking line (Robinho,Petrov,Sturridge,Caicedo,SWP,Elano,etc), so as you said, we'll have to wait until Saturday. I love Robinho on this one (if he's fit) and CCole, but he looked a little rusty coming from the bench @Everton.
Any information on BFAY. It said that he left the field limping @Boro...
From fidan_recica on Tue May 19 06:00PM
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I want to have fun in my last weekend of the season so I was thinking of just picking players who are going to be featured on FSC. Unfortunately the only two games that will be shown is WHU v Middles and Hull v ManU. Not the greatest games. Who should I choose? I am about 100 points to the good in my private league so I am not totally out of the woods yet.
From dyosh15 on Tue May 19 06:31PM
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Am 45 points ahead in one league and 12 behind in another, far from fun
From kelly.mealing on Tue May 19 07:12PM
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Kuyt is a good player. Torres is a good player nobody can argue with that right? ;)
From nathward on Tue May 19 07:16PM
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Kuyt is average, Torres appears to be struggling with injury/second season syndrome
From kelly.mealing on Tue May 19 07:49PM
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On Torres, spurs are without Hudd in midfield and no news on palacios' return (I dont think hes coming back this season) and Harry seems to be experimenting with different formations, so liverpool might not be a bad choice. That said, liverpool seemed to have checked out for the season v Wbrom, and any 2nd choice players coming into the spurs line up will be looking to secure a move away/put themselves into plans for the first team next year, so who knows. Defoe is looking sharp too, wouldnt bet against him getting a goal, west brom created a lot last week.
From joshtottenham on Tue May 19 08:49PM
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@28: Liverpool definately haven't checked out. You can see it when Carrahger got into Arbeloa face about not letting the clean sheet slip. My reckon is that they will want to go out with a bang at home to Anfield. 2nd place may not be the trophy but its a hell of a lot better than previous years.
From kellz_86 on Tue May 19 10:36PM
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it showed commitment and determination from carragher and was wearing his heart on his sleeve!!
greg.lynch@footballadvisers.com
From ang_hughes on Wed May 20 07:46PM
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