Fantasy Premier League

Matchday Open Thread

Sat Feb 09 05:12AM by Jeremy

Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov

Through all the ups and downs this season, the one common thread has been, "bet against Derby."  Week 4 - Torres' double.  Week 6, Adebayor does him one better with a hat-trick.  Week 11 Carson keeps a clean sheet.  Week 12, Solano with a goal and CCole with two assists.   Two weeks ago, MPet with an assist on seven successful crosses.  And last week, Larsson's sweet goal.

So why do I have reservations about backing Spurs this week?  They're an in-form team with new players and good results in their last few matches.  Seems like a no-brainer.  Well, it wouldn't be a week in fantasy if I weren't over-thinking things. 

And what I'm over-thinking is that this is a classic trap match for Spurs.  They've had a run of big matches - two each against ManU and Arsenal in league and cup - and they've got a series of UEFA and Carling Cup matches upcoming.  And so everyone expects them to win this match and do so handily.  It would be so easy for them to overlook Derby.

And Derby are improving, though that's a relative compliment.  Jewell has brought some experience into the side with the likes of Carroll, Stubbs, and Savage.  They've been more competitive and held BRM and MAC (granted, both horribly out-of-form teams) to draws in their last two matches.

Finally, the one thing I'm noticing is that this season the home team is normally the good bet.  Spurs haven't scored one goal away from home since Dec 18. @ Man Citeh.  And Derby haven't been blown away on their own patch.

All that being said, I've got Berba King and Lennon in my team this week.  I had Woodgate in until I found out he was suspended this week.  In fact, I thought I had made all my trades and realized that I still had Woody in the team and was afraid I was going to have to start over!  I've been back and forth with AJ, Palacios, K2, Sexy M.F(ernandes), etc.  As many reservations as I have about this match and as much as I want to differentiate my team to make up ground on Neal and the others, I can't.  As Neal said earlier this week in chat, Spurs can take apart a weaker team and will pile on rather than holding back.

So all eyes on Pride Park.  Are you backing Spurs?  Jenas?  Steed?  Hutton?  Everton home to travel-sick Reading too.  And Sunday's Manchester derby and the top, um... five clash between Chelsea and Liverpool.  So eyes on Pride Park but wandering elsewhere.  

What catches your eye?  Share with us here, inyour matchday open thread.

(56 user comments)

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  • (1)

    oh who to choose.have anelka ho is doing well for me but think he wont get much against a negative liverpool.thinking of changing to keane or berbatov against derby.berbs might be the better call now that he is on pensinstead of keane. any advice

    Posted by: sophiesmightymacs on Sat Feb 09 06:18AM | Report abuse
  • (2)

    I'm in for Jenas and Hutton. I went to Alves at F to be able to get to Jenas, so I really hope A(l)fonso plays and Spurs don't lay an egg.

    Posted by: jddunn13 on Sat Feb 09 06:45AM | Report abuse
  • (3)

    Afonso, who isn't a sure starter against a leaky Fulham, or Marlon King, who will play as a winger against the Black Cats? Any help is appreciated.

    Posted by: zzzeclipse on Sat Feb 09 08:33AM | Report abuse
  • (4)

    I would advise you to go for Afonso.. he is definitely going to play, whether a starter or a substitute and a forward is always a better bet than a winger (marlon king) However Marlon King might have a go at goal and get you some points through shots on target. so that wouldnt be a bad buy as well. But i guess i would go for Afonso if i were you. My forward for the week is ANELKA - TORRES (not available) - BERBATOV

    Posted by: varsef on Sat Feb 09 09:58AM | Report abuse
  • (5)

    Berba and Lennon or Keane and Jenas?

    Posted by: alex.ayre on Sat Feb 09 10:05AM | Report abuse
  • (6)

    hahaha.. thats funny.. i think both are good.. go with your heart..

    Posted by: fear_zone_911 on Sat Feb 09 10:41AM | Report abuse
  • (7)

    Thanks varsef. After a long consideration, I went for Ashley Young, Afonso and Prica (who might bang in some goals against Captain Kirkland). In Midfield, I have CRon, Jummy, BFDB and Palacios. For my D, Sagna, Huth and Hutton and lastly Gordon. Any thoughts?

    Posted by: zzzeclipse on Sat Feb 09 11:11AM | Report abuse
  • (8)

    (3) Or Prica. Who is cheap. At home vs. Wigan... Hutton, to me, is a no-brainer this week, particularly for those looking to unload Senderos. I still do not get the Mok bandwagon, but, to each their own, hey?! As for Jenas...I get this feeling Lennon may come up big, though Noble is also intriguing, based on match up. Good luck, one and all! (Let's hope Alves does not become the next Shevchenko!)

    Posted by: donegal08 on Sat Feb 09 11:42AM | Report abuse
  • (9)

    Also... Z-Knight should play today. No mentio of him? Davies is out, I believe. Also, Defoe is no getting a lot of print here.

    Posted by: donegal08 on Sat Feb 09 11:52AM | Report abuse
  • (10)

    Last minute move. Grabbed Noble. Moved Lennon. Fingers crossed!

    Posted by: donegal08 on Sat Feb 09 11:54AM | Report abuse