Fantasy Premier League

Monday Manager

Mon Nov 27 04:44PM

Because we're only half-way through this week's slate of games, the Manager is going to fall back on two sports writing cliches.  First the minute by minute report.  Then a team of the week (so far).  With these and the 'mailbag' from Friday, I think all we're missing is the up-close-and-personal profile piece.

Minute-by-Minute Report

0805: Game begins.  Still sore from last week, which was the first time I've played in a while.  But a nice pass to begin the morning.  Pitch is soggy.  Hope that isn't a problem.

0806:  Cheeky back heel!  Everyone expecting the safe pass back into defence but no!  Back heel launches a counter.

0808:  Still sore.  Not easy going in the mud.

0809:  How do you lilke that.  You really can feel/hear a "pop" when you injure your groin.

0809:  Match ends.  At least for me. 

Thank you.  Be sure to tune in next week for a new episode, "Jeremy Sits This One Out".   Now back to our regularly schedule program:

Team of the Week (so far)

Have to start with The Nic.  Two sweet goals for Nicolas Anelka against his old club.  And how about that pass from Campo?!?!  It was as if Bergkamp drove back into England, put on a fright wig and a set of novelty teeth, and was back on the pitch.  I was having flashbacks.

Joining Le Sulk up top in our 3-5-2 is the Bulgarian maestro, Dimitar Berbatov (+10).  Great game for Spurs, scoring as well as creating for others. And finally he puts together back to back quality games.  Whether it has been the result of injury, form, or rotation, he hasn't done that yet.  And he's a two-gamer next week, albeit with one of those game the derby against Arsenal.

In midfield we've got the drive of Gareth Barry on the left, the tenacity of Steven Gerrard on the right (should he be playing in the middle, even on this team?), the pace of Kieron Dyer in an advanced role,  and Kevin Nolan and Paul Scholes running the show from the center of the park.

A bit more on Scholes.  Though he's dead to us for fantasy purposes, the Manager thought that he had an excellent game against Chelsea.  He was always where he needed to be and was so calm and assured on the ball.  He took the sting out of several Chelsea moves and dictated the pace of the game throughout.

In defence, we're starting with the unlikeliest of choices - Nolberto Solano.  You would think the winger would be more comfortable moving up the pitch than back, but he filled in for Stephen Carr and helped Newcastle to keep a clean sheet against Portsmouth.  His best moment was being in the right place to block Kanu's goal-bound shot.  (The Manager was especially happy about that one as his closest competition in his private league has fielded Kanu this week.)

From the more traditional defenders, we'll pick Nemanja Vidic and Ricardo Carvalho from the top-of-the-table clash between Manchester United and Chelsea.  Carvalho had a good game in defence and of course it was his header that won a point for Chelsea.  He is wont to pop up for few goals each season, and this was the perfect moment for him to add another.

However my man-of-the-match was Vidic.  A performance marred only by some play-acting when fouled (or fouling).  But he kept Drogba in check by giving as good as he got and the Manager feels that he was the best defender on show amongst some other qualilty candidates.  He looks a different person than when he first came to United in January.  He's seemingly lost a lot of weight and must finally have added fitness to his earlier, um, solidity.

In net, the Manager will take Reading's Marcus Hahnemann.  Despite playing with a man advantage for most of the game Reading needed the American's saves, especially against his compatriot, McBride, to preserve their thin margin of victory.

That's what the Manager thinks.  Who makes your Team of the Week (so far)? 

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