Fantasy Premier League

Matchday Open Thread

Sun May 24 12:58AM

Manchester United's Italian forward Federico Macheda (R) leaves the pitch at the final whistle after scoring the winning goal in a 3-2 win against Aston Villa during the English Premiership football match at Old Trafford, Manchester.

It's the final week of the season, and I'm finding it more stressful that any that preceded it -- save for maybe the opening weekend (when I stayed in the hotel room at Disneyland to follow the games!) or the two-game weeks around the holidays. This weekend there are no second chances and because holding cheaper options doesn't matter every player is on the table. However, very few clubs have anything to play for and those that do, most of those clubs are TERRIBLE. After all, that's why they're fighting for their Premier League survival. Add to that a healthy dose of injuries, a smattering of suspensions, the wholesale changes that some clubs (*coughManUcough*) are making, and the smaller changes - blooding youngsters or giving veterans an appropriate sign off - and it's the hardest week to pick.

Or is it the easiest? Just pick players for whom you want to root. Pick the Ashley Youngs and Liam Lawrence's of the Premier League. Gamble on Brunt or Arshavin. Maybe Bale, if you're an eternal optimist. This is the MDOT, but indulge me as I break it down TWA style.

Strikers

I probably should have sold Arshavin two weeks ago when he was suffering from the flu. A big zero and then just 1.50 last week was quite the climb down from his fantastic run of games. Contra Neal, I think Arshavin will play at home to Stoke. And Arsenal have been known to hand out the final day smackdowns before. I remember Henry's hat-trick on his final Highbury appearance (the final Highbury appearance) against Wigan a few years back. So he stays.

Speaking of Arsenal strikers, Anelka is gunning for the Golden Boot. And with CRon rested the Elk just needs one goal. Look for Chelsea to get a few against Sunderland and the Elk to be in there.

Otherwise, you could go cheap or expensive. I'm casting my eye over Emnes, Macheda, Geovanni, and Agbonlahor.

Midfielders

There are a couple of cheap options here playing as, or off, striker. Utatka? Yes, Pompey have given up and are lousy on the road, but Wigan are worse. That sounds like a children's taunt, but it's not. That sound's like a taunt as well, doesn't it? Johnny Utah has been busy for Pompey and scored last week. And they'll be without Hughes, so a place off Kanu or Crouch could be had. Fagan? Hull are terrible, yes. But have you seen ManU's team sheet. They're kids. And yes, they're still likely better than Hull. But a middie playing at striker - who also scored last week - costing you 5? Too good to be true (and likely is).

Other cheap middies, with reason for price, would be SDavis of Pompey (decent return over his last few matches and taking kicks), MPet (good bet but not a nailed on starter), Tosic for ManU, or Kilbane (see Fagan, above).

I'm sticking with Lawrence. He returned seven points when that's what he cost. And last week he cost ten and kept up with the increase. Perhaps Stoke get played off the pitch @ the Emirates. They have nothing to play for. But Arsenal's weaknesses - too short, too light-weight, both things making them vulnerable at set pieces - play right into Stoke's strengths.

BFAY, if fit. I was sure to pick him. Love him. Would love to root for him. Same reasoning as last week - NUFC have to go for it which plays right into Villa's counter-attacking style. But he's an injury doubt. All the news says he's sure to be ready, but I just can't go for that. So I'll keep my premium money on Gerrard. Spurs aren't the best matchup these days, but they are a bit thin at the back for the match and I see him getting his points. And recently his points have been in the twenties. So hopefully that will continue.

Defenders

Paintsil. Bos if you still have him. Bale if you think he'll play and take kicks. Dawson if you have the money. Neville if you believe in the kids. Shorey, Rodwell or Givet, perhaps. Hyypia should get to play but either he won't start or he'll start and be given the honor of being taken off early to get the cheers from the Anfield faithful. Either way he's not getting clean sheet points.

Goalkeepers

Looks like Fabianski will be fit - for better or worse. Myhill is your cheapest option if you think that desperation wins the day. PRobbo has been good at home and is facing a relegated WBA side who have been bad on the road. But they haven't stopped playing football, and with Nelsen out , and well PRobbo being PRobbo, it gives one pause. Kuszscak is a possibility for ManU, but they could go for Amos, who isn't in the game, so I wouldn't recommend that.

So were does that net out for me? I'm at:

PRobbo, Paintsil, Shorey, ADawson, Gerrard, Utaka, Fagan, Lawrence, Arshavin, Geovanni, Anelka

And God help us. God help us, everyone. Here's the rest of the team news...

... and I look forward to your take on the final day in this, your matchday open thread.

Comments61 - 84 of 84
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Damn it! Finished 108th in the whole game after losing out on clean sheets from Bridge and Samba due to substitutions
My best year by far, though... Only took seven years to get to grips with this and I did come top of the Beat the Bloggers 3 group
From peterransom on Mon May 25 12:20AM
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well the last week went terrible for me, still finished with 2,169.00, which is pretty good considering i did not editing to my team (forgot about it) til feb/march
From smackitdown2005 on Mon May 25 01:39AM
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Took a gamble w Kuzscack and it paid off! I had Samba but he didn't even get a single point(is tt possible?)...boo... I changed Shorey to Fabio
Reckon its the last game so took some risk! Had V persie and torres and welbeck! Ended w 3199.5pts! Not quite happy but will try harder next season! Now, its going to be a boring few mths till season starts!
From aojk7164 on Mon May 25 03:51AM
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I just never got on a really consistent roll this year. Ended up finishing 1585th, about 700 places down from last year. It looks like the two terrible weeks where I only got 30-something are what really killed me. That, and the failure of two-gamers to really pan out very well at all this year. I probably should have concentrated more on defense, what with scoring down, but the lousy clean sheet rule made that seem a lot less attractive. It definitely worked well over in the Premierleague game though, where I did a lot better this year than in the past. Anyway, another year in the books, and thanks to our bloggers and the regular commenters for making the game much more fun to play.
From jddunn13 on Mon May 25 05:00AM
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Manage to reach my target 3200 pts with Overall rank: 777, Total points: 3,263.50.......Appreciate Neal, Jeremy and Fantasy blog managers for the constant info and hints.
From spwn07 on Mon May 25 06:42AM
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Neal and Jeremy - as ever, thanks for your tireless work, wit, and consistent investment in this free fun. As a fellow Yank (grew up overseas supporting Liverpool as a boy - next year the title's ours!) I appreciate the challenge of keeping up with the Prem intelligently.
Thanks again.
Cheers.
From geoffmumley on Mon May 25 06:46AM
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Floating around overall ranking 70-100 for the past 5 to 6 weeks but finished at 102… damn it my target was top 100 place!!! Another 2 pts would have done it!
Total pts: 3447.5
Rank: 102
From laiisok01 on Mon May 25 08:02AM
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67 - I share your pain... 108th
From peterransom on Mon May 25 10:14AM
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anyone know how many people are in the whole of yahoo fantasy premier league all together?
From bouncy_crew_miglock on Mon May 25 10:41AM
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#69 - There are around 300000 registered palyers now, but only around 100000 started from week 1. And no one knows how many ppl out there are seriouly playing... usually the higher you ranked, the more serious you would play.
From laiisok01 on Mon May 25 12:17PM
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I first started heard about fantasy and started playing it this year. Unfortunately, only from week 11. I think I should be pleased with a total of 2347pts I ended the year with. Next year, I hope to start from the first week and maybe even challenge the Top 100.
Neal and Jeremy, thanks for your great effort. You, along with active commenters, made the Premier League much more fun for me, and now I feel like I understand it much better. Looking forward to seeing you all next season!
From striker_4eva on Mon May 25 05:08PM
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Why are the little things that make a FF league missing in YFF making it such utter arse?
Little things like, oh I don't know, how many TEAMS ARE IN THE LEAGUE ALTOGETHER?
FFS!
From spawn_of_santa on Mon May 25 09:59PM
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don't play next year then
From kellz_86 on Tue May 26 12:16AM
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I lost my league by three points on the last day after leading the ENTIRE season. aagghhh. what a season....two months until retribution.
From bodeyzafa on Tue May 26 01:31AM
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And thus starts a long summer of bringing Morecambe from League 2 into the Premier League and sigining CRon
From kellz_86 on Tue May 26 06:20AM
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Re: 72, this question hasbeen answered many times. Theanswer is ....
From iansanderson197 on Tue May 26 09:32AM
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Wonder why the answer is either no answer at all or "don't play next year then", instead of attempting to make this game better?
Sry, i forgot, the people running it don't give a @#$%.
From spawn_of_santa on Tue May 26 10:43PM
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exactly so don't play next year then, I had a great time with it, if you don't move on
From kellz_86 on Tue May 26 11:03PM
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JSpitz and The Thurminator,
Not that you owe anything more to the rest of us but it would be cool to have an end of season wrap-up. No topics in mind but rather a simple culmination of the season. Seems that there are still people, me included, that are still making the trek to the blog site. Some habits die hard.
From dyosh15 on Wed May 27 10:53AM
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Re(79) Exactly.
Final day just able to peep and get a bronze medal.
Drop Torres for Elk which Torres score 1st. Also thanks for Nani and Malouda for the contribution.
From yujinpredator on Wed May 27 11:26AM
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@79 - Agreed, I must admit I thought there would be a "wash up" post reviewing the season, maybe there will be one to come in the next couple of days? I love YFF BUT the only minor criticism for the game is the CS rule. I totally get that it is to stop players such as MOK getting CS's for playing 5 mins but surely a rule that states if a player plays more than an hr and his team gets a CS then he gets his 6 points too. Chris Samba being a classic case this weekend just gone. Who's with me on the CS rule?
From ketzz on Wed May 27 02:33PM
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@81 - agreed on the CS. I preferred last year really since although it was a bit odd to give 5 points for someone who might not even have touched the ball, at least you could predict which players were more likely to get the points instead of being at the mercy of late substitutions. OK, it affects everyone but it seems a bit of a random thing as it stands. How about awarding CS points in a ratio of the amount of time a player was on the field - 90min=6 points, 45min=3, 15min=1 etc, obviously only awarding any at all if the team kept a clean sheet for the full 90 minutes. It might make the points updates slower though!
From guysjames on Wed May 27 03:22PM
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WHAT A CONSPIRACY! BARCA WON! SO, AS A F.C. BARCELONA PASSIONATE FAN I MUST CONGRATULATE THE ENTIRE SPANISH ORGANISATION! THERE IS NOTHING MUCH TO SAY. THE PLAYERS DEMONSTRATED ON THE PITCH W H O IS T H E B(arcelona) E S T IN EUROPE!
TO ALL THE MAN U FANS - ALL OVER THE GLOBE BUT ESPECIALLY IN ENGLAND AND U.S. STARTING WITH MY "DEAR FAVORITE BRITISH COMMENTATOR", MR. TOMMY SMITH, YOU LADIES AND GETLEMEN LEARNED THE HARD AND RIGHT WAY WHO IS THE BEST! AND MOST OF ALL HOPEFULLY YOU LEARNED HOW TO RESPECT A TEAM THAT HUMILIATED, EMBARASSED, DOMINATED, DISMANTLED AND IN THE END PROVIDED MAN U WITH A LESSON OF PURE FOOTBALL PRACTICED BY LATIN - FOR THE MOST PART - PLAYERS! THIS GENIUS FOOTBALL TEAM IS NAMED B A R C E L O N A! IT IS NOT PART OF THE EPL !
CONGRATULATIONS BARCA !
From roxal82 on Wed May 27 10:57PM
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I got my gold premiership..woohoohhh!!!hi roxal82!1yeah baby..
From engineer_gch on Tue Jun 02 02:27PM
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