Fantasy Premier League

Monday Morning Manager

Mon Dec 17 04:43PM

Wigan - though lord knows I think they are terrible and are doomed this season - play @FUL,NUF. I'm not picking Bramble or MBent, but there could be some points in those matches.

Madame Blogger's House of Voodoo. Curses. Zombies. Hexes. Available for weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Specializing in reverse jinxes.

We throw a photo of Denilson up and he doesn't make the bench. Anderson's pic has pretty much tanked his fantasy value over the last few weeks. And now that little snide jab in the matchday thread and Rovers defense decides to make MBent look like MvBasten for the day. Unbelievable. At least they had their own hat-trick hero in RSC. Kudos to the 5spot in our private league who now sits just 13points out of second place (me) - we're all 40pts off the pace Neal is setting - thanks to his pick of the Paraguayan.

Crazy weekend. Let's take a quick look at the matches and see what we learned and what we don't know but hope to find out:

Arsenal 1 - 0 Chelsea

This one had it all! Flowing moves, crunching tackles, and blooper reel material. We know Cech won't make too many mistakes like that. We know Cesc and RvP are back. But Eboue is out. And how about Gallas? He's the anti-Rosicky. Last week's Manager's post talked about how 'sicky doesn't pitch in when it matters. He gets his points when the match has already been decided. On the flip side of that is Gallas who invariably decides matches. What a move for Ars to pick him from Chelsea. Head to head with ACole, it looks like they got the better of the swap.

Liverpool 0 - 1 Manchester United

1-0 to Manchester United. How predictable was that scoreline? Very, I'd say. Tevez continuing his hot streak and seemingly playing at the point of the Red Devil attack.

As for Liverpool, they get cheaper heading into the two-game week. But as much as I want to pick up Torres and Kewell home to POR and @DER, I can't believe that Rafa won't be rotating his squad over the next two weeks/four matches. Caveat Emptor.

Fulham 0 - 1 Newcastle United

Who was that making fun of my highlighting the NUFC defense last week? One clean sheet later and facing probably the best possible upcoming two-game schedule their looking like the picks of the week. Let's just hope they can continue. What we don't know, and this is crazy from a Newcastle team but perhaps not from a Big Sam side, is where is their offense going to come from? Is Dukes back? Martins already with Nigeria in his head? Smith, Milner, Barton? N'Zog, even if he's playing at left back?

West Ham 0 - 2 Everton

Everton are a well oiled machine these days. Too bad that most of their players are too expensive to pick up here and there. But if you have the Yak, or Arteta, you're pretty happy. The Hammers should pick up after facing CHE and EVE. They get MID and RED this week which makes FASDA under 8 an attractive option.

Sunderland 1 - 1 Aston Villa

This one was a bit of a surprise with a lot of teams betting on Villa. As it went Maloney was the only pt scorer and I doubt that was the bet many made. Villa, like Rovers, play CHE and MAC this week so like them are probably best avoided. Though they do get MAC, who don't travel well, at home.

Portsmouth 0 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur

Clean sheet for Spurs and POR home struggles continue. Ain't that a topsy-turvy thing to write! POR has been the team tipped to struggle the most when their African players go away on national team duty, but their schedule lets them off the hook. They have to play Liv and Ars before the end of the year, so don't jump too soon. But after that week from hell they have MID, @RED, @SUN, DER before @MAN & CHE. There are a few weeks in there where the likes of Matt Taylor, Niko Krancjar, and David Nugent might be very attractive bets.

Manchester City 4 - 2 Bolton Wanderers

Citeh make hard work of Bolton at home. But Bianchi scores again - albeit on his only touch of the game. MPet was the star of the show, but will his points haul continue when he has to share with Elano? Probably still a worthwile pick if you have him cheap enough. Bolton aren't as bad as they were, but still aren't good yet, eh?

Derby County 0 - 1 Middlesbrough

Tuncay scores in his third straight match. Is he for real?

Birmingham City 1 - 1 Reading

De Ridder droppped as Eck played Forrssell (I can never remember which consonants are double in his name, so from now on I'm just doubling them all) and the Finn scores. CJerome was our pick but didn't do anything. Who to hold on to and who to pick up (Seba Larsson?) for BRM's soft week @BOL, MID.

Wigan Athletic 5 - 3 Blackburn Rovers

Already discussed up top, but wow! What a result. What can Wigan do in their soft week? And whom (if any) to bet on? Word on Koumas this week will be nice, but you have to figure Bruce sticks with a winning side. Is RTaylor too much at 9? Scharner @ 8? MBent!!!

As they used to say on Soap, "Answers to all these questions, and more... " as we blog through these big holiday weeks.