Fantasy Premier League

Tactical review: Hot Rod

Mon Oct 26 04:29PM

First off, The Fantasist would like to express its sympathy with frustrated managers who had to wait the best part of two days to get their points.

It cannot say too much for fear of some terrible retribution from its paymasters, but a Fantasy Football game that takes 40 hours to update points is clearly less than ideal.

Your fury is entirely justified and has been duly noted by people more important than The Fantasist.

- - -

So how did The Fantasist get on with Choose 'em or Lose 'em? Well, better with Lose 'em than Choose 'em.

Didier Drogba (21 pts) apart, it failed to identify the weekend's top performers, who included Hugo Rodallega (31.5 pts), Robin van Persie (25pts), a rejuvenated Damien Duff (22 pts) and our old friend Frank Lampard (29 pts). No apologies for failing to pick Steve Simonsen (26 pts), however.

Shay Given (1 point) is the most popular keeper in the game but failed to do the business against Fulham. Boaz Myhill (8pts) repaid The Fantasist's faith with a clean sheet at a bargain price, although he blotted his copybook with a late booking, and Petr Cech (12 pts) justified his big price tag with a clean sheet and a win.

Paul Robinson (1 pt) was a logical drop at Chelsea, and his owners will be relieved to see him in credit after conceding five. Robert Green (3pts) continued to struggle, but Chris Kirkland (9 pts) defied The Fantasist's predictions of doom.

In to defence where the recommended Carlos Cuellar (5 pts) was OK, Branislav Ivanovic (10.5 pts) was good and Graham Alexander (3 pts) was underwhelming yet again. As for the Lose 'ems, you were well shot of James Collins (3.5 pts) and Pascal Chimbonda (didn't play) , but Mario Melchiot (11.5) made The Fantasist look a bit foolish.

It was a bit of a horror show in midfield, where the eye-wateringly expensive Cesc Fabregas (3.5 pts) did nothing and Jermaine Jenas (3 pts) did not even start. Tamir Cohen (5.5 pts) did OK but was the wrong Bolton midfielder to go for - Lee Chung-Yong picked up 13.5 points.

The Fantasist at least saved a bit of face by opposing a trio of trendy midfield selections, Jimmy Bullard (0 pts), Antonio Valencia (5 pts) and David Dunn (possible swine flu)

Up front, it was another big week for Drogba. He's owned by 52 per cent of managers, which makes you wonder what the other 48 per cent are thinking about. Worrying times for Emmanuel Adebayor (3.5 pts) owners after a series of subpar performances since his suspension. And don't pick Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (0.5 pts) again. Hull could have played for a week against Portsmouth and it would still have ended 0-0.

Again, the Lose 'em selections were much better. Wayne Rooney (6.5 pts) duly failed to deliver for Manchester United at Liverpool, while Birmingham's Christian Benitez (-0.5 pts) and Bolton's Kevin Davies (-2 pts) both plumbed the depths of negative points.

Comments1 - 27 of 27

first
From iyaz121 on Mon Oct 26 04:33PM
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2nd
From marco101078 on Mon Oct 26 04:37PM
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U tried this time; though I don't wait for your advice.
From ugosmartgov on Mon Oct 26 04:41PM
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cheaper top picks for next week:
GKs - VDS, Given
DFs - M. Richards, Verm, Dystin, J. Evans, G. Neville, B. Ivanovich
MFs - Arshavin, Deco, Ballack, Geovani, Fletcher, Giggs, M. Petrov
FWs - Drogba, Rodallega, Berbatov, Crouch, Saha, Bent
From staffer84 on Mon Oct 26 04:47PM
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Would you like to make friends with people from other country or place?
Log on--------- T ALL Cha t ---C o m ----
Then you can get help and suggestions from all over the world.
While you may find your true love or friendship there.
From dlauuv on Mon Oct 26 04:57PM
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The wait for 2 days to get points is frustrating, game is more interesting if points are updated on time as there will be managers who make changes to their teams and such.
Anywayz, did the beachball get any points for cameo appearance?
From momo.chacha on Mon Oct 26 05:39PM
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What about the upcoming Villa/Hammers double week or lack there of??
From barglancy on Mon Oct 26 06:24PM
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What about the upcoming Villa/Hammers double week or lack there of??
From jsv023 on Mon Oct 26 06:48PM
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hey man, i jumped 3,362 places upfront... hhahaha
i've got Van Persie and Drogba in my team as well
From olahdave on Mon Oct 26 07:05PM
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anyone know when modric will be back for spurs. I'm tempted to buy him as he's so cheap and should be back soon... or...
From ptothej on Mon Oct 26 07:11PM
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WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH VILLA/HAMMERS DOUBLE WEEK?
From bvb_10 on Mon Oct 26 07:42PM
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Hi guys - I'm confident it'll be a double week, it's just yahoo being slow to update the fixtures...there's nowhere else for the game to fit in other than Week 10. By the way, if you'd like to enter my own Blog Cup competition, please head over to the url below and join Blog League 6.
YAHOOFANTASYFOOTBALLUK.BLOGSPOT.COM
From yffassistant on Mon Oct 26 10:36PM
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I just don't get it. Was'nt Christin Benitez in Eurosports 'Team of the week', then how could he have been so @#$% 2 score -0.5 in the fantasy, I'm confused about how this fantasy thing works, or else the newspaper journalists are all blind
From grincheuxdoyle on Mon Oct 26 10:46PM
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This week, pick as much MU players you can. Blackburn is gonna take a really big beating, and with some of their stars down with the flu (Dunn, Chimbonda, Samba), expect them to really struggle that day.
Scholes, Giggs and Rooney would be nice. Valencia is also worth a mention.
From zerosofinfinity on Mon Oct 26 11:30PM
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Whooooohooooo...Scholesy at 3.84? Is it a dream come true, and against Blackburn as well? I'm taking my chances, even though he may not play...hecks I've taken my chances with Mokoena so why not Scholesy? Also have Giggs and Rooney in my team. I would love to load up on Berv's but have Diamanti and Drogba so I'm just gonna leave it like it is. Can't wait to bounce back from a not so good week...71 points. Lately I've lost my touch, went 5 straight weeks at over 100 points and now I can't even hit the mark. Ah well, better luck next week.
From pimpmunguia1984 on Tue Oct 27 12:09AM
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I will use Adebayor in my team NO MORE!!! he's just plain lazy, barely moved at all, maybe he expects that whenever the ball comes to him it will somehow automatically find its own way to the back of the net....., can't help but get irritated watching him play last week......Any suggestion for strikers this week anyone?? Berba, beattie, saha??
From wallpaper000 on Tue Oct 27 05:59AM
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# 19 - I am also b/n Saha and Berba...given the situation in Everton I believe Berba will be a better pick since Man U play Blackburn.
From staffer84 on Tue Oct 27 08:21AM
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@5, No Villa or West Ham players mentioned. A worry.
@19 & 20, talk of strikers, yet no mention of Villa or West Ham strikers... another worry.
This double week is going to catch quite a few managers out, and boy are they going to complain about it.
From morreypaul on Tue Oct 27 08:26AM
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@21 - Do you know why is it a double week only for AV and WH? Is this the game from week 2 that they didn't play?
From staffer84 on Tue Oct 27 09:07AM
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@21... I mean - Is it going to count the team we had in week 2 or the new team we have? Cause I had Agbolanhor in my week 2 team and I don't know whether it will count him or not?
From staffer84 on Tue Oct 27 09:26AM
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@22 & 23. It won't count from your Week 2 team no.
The team you pick this week will count towards it.
From morreypaul on Tue Oct 27 10:53AM
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you should chose 2 players from vila.they will have 2 matches.in weekend an next wendsday against. West Ham.milner an dunne.what you think?
From ovi_dinamovistu2007 on Tue Oct 27 12:56PM
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Will the Villa - West ham game be added to this weeks fixture list for fantasy points??????????????????
From dualdellortos on Tue Oct 27 02:29PM
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@18, I'd choose Beattie...takes PK's and is paying weak team. Berba may perform, or Ferguson may choose to partner Rooney and Owen.
From pimpmunguia1984 on Tue Oct 27 04:15PM
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@25, Adding more question marks will not make someone answer you more quickly, in fact, it put me off answering at all. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From technically.alive on Tue Oct 27 06:20PM
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Why isn't Ricardo Carvallho not given points for a clean sheet?! Chelsea won 5-0!!
From chirag_eragon on Wed Oct 28 08:05AM
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Attention everyone: West Ham united - Aston Villa has just been added.
From willhebben on Wed Oct 28 12:31PM
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