Fantasy Premier League

Tactical review: Gutted for Given

Mon Nov 09 02:54PM

Time for The Fantasist to trawl back through Friday's picks from Choose 'em or Lose 'em and see who came up with the goods.

GOALKEEPERS

Choose 'em: So, Burnley "simply do not score away from home", eh? Shay Given (7.84) had a rare bad week in goal for Manchester City as his side shipped three. A haul of -6 points and a massive price drop are surely a blip on an otherwise upward trajectory. Mind you, next up for City is a trip to Anfield. Talking of Liverpool, well, we can't, as they host Birmingham this evening, so no comment on Pepe Reina (9.79).

Lose 'em: Burnley's Brian Jensen (7.35) also let in three in the game against City, but he also made five saves to keep himself out of negative equity. Edwin van der Sar (12.77) made five saves in the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea too, so it wasn't such a disaster if you decided to hang on to him.

DEFENDERS

Choose 'em: A first Manchester City goal for Kolo Toure (12.43) meant he brought in a decent score of 14, while a booking against Wolves wiped out any points scored by Kieran Gibbs (5.63). Branislav Ivanovic (10.17) managed a shot on target against United as the Serb helped himself to 11 points.

Lose 'em: As expected, Jose Bosingwa (9.20) did not play, while Hull's Kamil Zayatte (8.53) proved to be as pricey as The Fantasist feared, pulling in just 2.5 points despite Hull winning for once.

MIDFIELDERS

Choose 'em: Both of Friday's midfield picks were made with half an eye on the future; Joe Cole (6.70) was a late sub for Chelsea, as was Samir Nasri (7.49) for Arsenal.

Lose 'em: More fool you that went against The Fantasist's advice and plumped for Mark Noble (12.88) - the Hammers midfielder didn't even make it off the bench against Everton. Lorick Cana (4.88) was banned, while Aaron Mokoena (1.09) has seen his price drop again despite a monster - by his standards - 0.5 point haul.

FORWARDS

Choose 'em: Jermain Defoe (13.04) is a good fantasy asset because a) he's scored plenty of goals this season and b) he's a selfish little blighter. So what if he made his first assist of the season against Sunderland? The Fantasist wants shots on target, and lots of them. Darren Bent (11.21) missed a Premier League penalty for the first time, but even so 0.5 points is disappointing, while Emmanuel Adebayor (13.16) didn't fare much better.

Lose 'em: Roque Santa Cruz (6.02) didn't make it off the Manchester City bench against Burnley, while we're all being left to wait and see on Fernando Torres (19.82) tonight.

Comments1 - 22 of 22

No clue whatsoever!!!
From yawboakye86 on Mon Nov 09 03:07PM
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horrible, horrible week for me...all my picks went bad and I dropped three players who all scored.
From joelconner_stlmc on Mon Nov 09 03:11PM
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Aaron Mokoena in the lose 'em is kind of stating the obvious, isn't it? The picks are hardly imaginative...instead of picking stone-wall contenders for he lose 'em section, such as players who are banned, perhaps you could be a little more daring? As for the choose 'em part, well, you're just cra p.
From rwilsonuk84 on Mon Nov 09 03:27PM
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This week was very bad for me,just 46 points.I hope McFadden will get some points at anfield,why not?
From painkiller14 on Mon Nov 09 03:38PM
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I have 40 points with Benayoun left, it's been pretty rubbish, but some teams have done even worse. 2nd place in my league has just 22.5 points for the week and has nobody for tonight!! While 4th in our league has just 16.5 points!!!! They do however have Torres and Babbel for tonight.
Oh and to all the sad sack managers. Will you stop going on about the fantasist please, it's bloody November, we're all well aware of your opinions by now!!!!
From morreypaul on Mon Nov 09 03:55PM
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Drogba only sc0red 0.5!
From grincheuxdoyle on Mon Nov 09 04:02PM
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Drogba only got 0.5???? WTF? Glad I shipped Given thou - will see how reina gets onto night! Mon the pool!
From ian.lapsley on Mon Nov 09 04:21PM
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So basically, terrible, terrible advice...
By the way, why didn't Eduardo get any points for an assist?? I'll never understand YFF points scoring.
From ashleybaker75 on Mon Nov 09 05:49PM
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no assists for own goals
From shadowgex on Mon Nov 09 06:46PM
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@12 It's funny you mention terrible advice, and yet you don't even know the rules!! Class.
From morreypaul on Mon Nov 09 08:15PM
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Stop moaning at The Fantasist and pick the players yourself.
From wils0408n on Mon Nov 09 10:59PM
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The fantasist, you do need to improve this bolg. I don't want to be mean but everybody's miss the old blog from JEREMY & NEAL. It's up to you to reverse this. Good luck.
From omarmenezes on Tue Nov 10 02:43AM
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this week suxxx.....bad selection of players! Given slump terribly!!!!
From abdulrahimovic79 on Tue Nov 10 08:11AM
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@17 "but everybody's miss the old blog from JEREMY & NEAL"
It's NOT bloody everyone!!! And anyway those 2 still do their old blog!!!
You people are worse the spammers. Yeah, you heard me.
From morreypaul on Tue Nov 10 09:26AM
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@19 to be honest, I just come here to read the flaming...
From danncasswell on Tue Nov 10 10:24AM
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/5 Huddlestone, Milner, Bellamy?
From v.asko on Tue Nov 10 10:49AM
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/10 Good thinking
From v.asko on Tue Nov 10 11:42AM
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the fantasist is @#$%
From kingvc25 on Tue Nov 10 04:44PM
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@15 - agreed, I think everyone should pick their own players...having said that I feel we all come to this blog for a reason, and that reason is to help us with our picks, or to get a second opinion. Now I agree with 6 & 17 as well, the fantasist needs to put more effort!!! Plain and simple, this blog is s h i te. I'm sure a lot of us would love to have his job.
From pimpmunguia1984 on Tue Nov 10 04:50PM
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@20 "to be honest, I just come here to read the flaming' - lol so did I! Fantasist, u didn't even pick enough players to form a team in the right formation... shows how interested u r in the job...
From aojk7164 on Wed Nov 11 12:10AM
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Mokoena...drop him at all costs?
Given (-6) + Gibbs (0) + J. Cole (2.5) + Drogba (0.5) + Verm (3) = 0 total points
Mokoena = 0.5 total points
I'd say he had a GREAT week! Lol! (Yes, it's called sarcasm). Can't believe the past week. Complete disaster.
From bocala12 on Thu Nov 12 12:30AM
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Most of you douchebags really need to learn to "manage" your own teams. Take what advice you get here or elsewhere, and then make your own decisions. Geez.
From slowride_76 on Fri Nov 13 03:29PM
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