Fantasy Premier League

Mon Oct 23 04:29PM by Jeremy

Sometimes as a Manager you just get it wrong.  The trick is to get it right again quickly.  Unfortunately, that's often easier said than done.  Just as our "poster boy" Alan Pardew is finding out. 

After the international break played havoc with the line-ups, this week it was European matches that did the same.  (Looking for any excuse, aren't I?)  Five players idle and another disappointing result for the Manager.

Everton claimed the expected win against Sheffield United.  Arteta grabbed the opening goal, and THo kept out any Blades riposte.  But the win certainly wasn't as convincing as fantasy managers may have hoped.  And with Everton travelling south to face a resurgent Arsenal next week it looks like the Everton bandwagon has hit a stop.

Meanwhile Sheffield United host the champions next.  Chelsea finally got Shevchenko and Ballack (+9) off the mark, but it was Robben who caught the eye.  He looked back to his barnstorming best.  If he can keep Joe Cole on the bench a bit longer he may be a real force in fantasy football as well as Chelsea's drive for three.

West Ham continue to struggle, but Martin Jol made it difficult for fantasy managers (including this one) to profit, keeping Murphy and Berbatov off the pitch.  We'll see if the former returns as soon as the latter.  The best bet in this match was Tottenham's defence, and if Huddlestone's screamer had gone into the net rather then curving wide of the post, well, Neal would be grinning from ear to ear.  As it was, Tot still get @Watford next.  So no reason to bail on them yet.  And if Zokora really has malarial fever, that sounds like it might keep him out for a while. 

Rovers get on the WHU gravy train next.  Let's just hope, for their sake, that the game doesn't get decided on penalties.  David Bentley continues to put up good numbers, even against Bolton, and looks a good pick for the up-coming week.  As do Friedel, Niell, Khizanishvili (yes, I cut and pasted that), and maybe, just possibly, even Ooijer (had to look that one up too).  On the back of his PK miss, Benni McCarthy may also fit into the Manager's (or your) budget as a third striker.

Speaking of missing, can someone please see if the National Missing Persons Helpline can locate a Mr. Hatem Trabelsi.  He was last seen somewhere in the greater Manchester area and has been missing since some time early Saturday.  In fact, there are 16 others in pale blue clothing that qualify as missing.  Missing in action.  What a terrible showing to Wigan (and how can Kilbane make it through a 4-0 win without collecting more than 3 points?).  Dunne's stunning, unmarked header into his own net was the defining moment of that game.  Replays showed Weaver shouting and coming for the ball but Dunne must have so little faith in him that he put the ball away regardless.  As for Weaver, I don't know that waiting for the ball to settle in your bread-basket was the right choice in that situation.  Get up and claim the cross!  If you won't, Joe Hart will.  Or maybe they can arrange a loan for Yves Makaba-Makalamby.

Until next week.

The Manager 

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