Fantasy Premier League

Mon Jan 14 04:07PM by Jeremy

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"It was the best of matches, it was the worst of matches."

Isn't that how you have to start a post if you're going to talk about a tale of two halves?  Of course I'm referring to the Uniteds of Manchester and Newcastle.  A first half that saw Rooney desperate to score and unable to do so.  Does he have some sort of grudge after being linked to Newcastle before joining ManU from Everton?  Wouldn't that transfer have changed the faced of English football over the last few years!  Regardless, Rooeny was sending in shots left, right, and center.  Given made a few good saves but mostly it was Rooney's profligacy and the ref's lenience on two potential pentalty awards that left the halftime score nil-nil.  I wonder what William Hill was giving for that line.

But in the second half it was comedy defending from NUFC that quickly put them down 0-2.  And then it was just sometimes stunning football that tripled that deficit.  CRon and Tevez had five of the six which brought much joy to the Manager's household.  But the sweetest goal of the half dozen may have been Rio Ferdinand ghosting in at the near post and burying a volley past Given. 

And good thing too, as somewhere in London his brother was on the scoresheet against Fulham.  Have we ever had siblings score in the top-flight on the same day?  Mum and Dad must be so proud.

The other scrorer for West Ham was blog favorite (and once Future Arsenal Striker) Dean Ashton.  He scored a beautiful glancing header after nice work from Freddie Ljundberg.  Oh what Neal would give to have seen that combination in red currant.  Ashton looked a good barn door pick at 7, but has to play MAC and LIV before a nice February run against Wigan, Brm, and Fulham again.  He's still under 10 and his price may go down after those first two fixtures in time for fantasy managers to pick him up for the latter set. 

In other blog favorite news, Laurent Robert returned to the Premier League.  This time for Derby.  Same result for them as they lose to a late goal against an improving Wigan.  Robert did have a shot on goal, however it was the weakest shot I think I've ever seen.  If I remember correctly, it was from a free kick.  But it took so long to bobble into Kirklands arms that I got senile in the mean time.  It took so long that Kirkland injured himself, missed what would have been a sure England call-up, and recovered in time to make the save.  It took so long that Robert had already fallen out with Paul Jewell and had reiterated to the press that he was unhappy sitting on the bench for a Derby side that didn't look likely to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking as they were just outside the playoff places with only a few matches to go and that he was looking for a new club by the time Kirkland made the save.  It took so long that I had time to write all these lame jokes about how weak a shot it was in the time it took to get from Robert's boot to Kirkland's gloves.

That being said, I'm sure tempted to pick him up for 6.43.  Past it player on a doomed team.  But I don't know if I'll be able to stay away.

If I do, it might be to pick up SWP instead.

(How are my transitions this morning?  I'm pretty happy with them.)

With Malouda back and Drogs, Sheva, and Kalou out, SWP has taken up an even more advanced and central role playing off Che's lone striker.  He had a big match agasint Everton in the Carling Cup semi (first leg) scoring one and forcing the own goal that won the match.  And then scoring again to beat Spurs at the weekend.  He could have had an assist as well when his leaping back-heel found Anelka unmarked on the penalty spot but the Elk's shot was well saved by Cerny.  If these two former Manchester City teamates can get the best out of each other, as they did at Maine Road, then the Elk will be worth 15 and SWP certainly worth 10-something.

Another player at value for 10-something (another good segue!) is KRich.  Our favorite former ManU winger-cum-left-back whom we picked at the beginning of the season to be the buy of the season is finally healthy and putting up the points.  He's no longer a 3-something middie or even a 6-something middie.  But if he keeps up anything like his goal a game pace (three in three with two Saturday against Portsmouth) his new price will be fair market value.

Not sure what that 0-2 thumping means for Portsmouth.  Especially as they face Derby this weekend.  But the week ahead isn't the Manager's job.  Though maybe we've given you something to think about. 

Until next week,

The Manager 

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