Fantasy Premier League

Matchday Open Thread

Sat Feb 09 05:12AM

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.

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Prica also on the bench. Glad I went with Berbatov!
From donegal08 on Sat Feb 09 02:59PM
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damn this game.dropped anelka for berbatov and he gets benched.dont u just love this game
From sophiesmightymacs on Sat Feb 09 03:00PM
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Looks good so far for me...Have Carew & Barry from Villa and Keane, Lennon & Hutton from Spurs...
From wrigavin on Sat Feb 09 03:03PM
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anyone notice hutton's zero salary?
I dropped him to rebuy at a lower price but can't get him back because his salary is actually zero... whats the deal?
From limprock369 on Sat Feb 09 03:03PM
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re(34) - I noticed that too. Trying to work on barn dooring some players and not being successful because I can't update my team value. Frustrating.
From wrigavin on Sat Feb 09 03:05PM
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It's going to require a lot of magic elsewhere to make up for the Berba-benching. Let's hope DBent is still returning to fitness and won't go the full 90 and Dimi comes on to do his thing. On the bright side, glad I didn't go with Mido, Dempsey, Alves, or Prica. Still, 15 lost so Dimi could get splinters in the rear...ouch for both of us. Maybe some goals from the back with Wheater or Pamarot, fingers crossed.
From the_burning_pen on Sat Feb 09 03:12PM
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Keane already has a SOT. Should have gone w/my heart over Berbatov!
From donegal08 on Sat Feb 09 03:14PM
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argh!!! pienar not even in the bench..
From rooney_mufc2020 on Sat Feb 09 03:22PM
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Re 38: Pienaar came back from AfCup injured. He's out a few weeks.
From the_burning_pen on Sat Feb 09 03:27PM
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Carew, Torres, or RSC for next week?
From the_burning_pen on Sat Feb 09 03:56PM
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Was going to go for Carew but, then, being the Gooner that I am, went for Eduardo instead. Now Eduardo really had better do good on Monday!!!
From yteh_agb on Sat Feb 09 03:59PM
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re(40) Any news on whether Torres will be healthy? I've got Carew & RSC in my lineup for next week, along with Tevez. I'd say go with Torres over Carew if he's healthy, but RSC remains my #1 choice. I've got Carew at a good discount though after the hat trick today.
From wrigavin on Sat Feb 09 04:03PM
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Pamarot subbed for injury. Wow, there are no cheap (under 5.5) defenders worth having.
From the_burning_pen on Sat Feb 09 04:17PM
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if there is a clean sheet, does Pamarot still get it?
From gentrykirby on Sat Feb 09 04:20PM
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And Juande, please bring Berbaking on and let he and Robbie grab ya the full three. It's Derby, man, you gotta take all three any which way you can!
From the_burning_pen on Sat Feb 09 04:20PM
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keane scores
From joshtottenham on Sat Feb 09 04:34PM
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ghghf
From wood_vv on Sat Feb 09 05:33PM
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Any reason the Matchcast isn't updating? Or is that just my computer? Anyway, what a week so far for me. Carew, Keane, Diarra all score match winners. Hutton, Collins, Gordon with clean sheets and Vidic still to play in defense. Hopefully tomorrow goes as well as today.
From wrigavin on Sat Feb 09 05:43PM
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Re: (45) Yes, there SHOULD be a CS for Pamarot. They're based on appearances, not minutes. Subs get CS all the time. HOWEVER, Yahoo screws up CS frequently (see Eboue earlier in the season), so we can't be sure. As of right now, Pamarot is showing -0.50 points on my team and no CS, but at the same time Defoe and Nolan show nothing at all. Obviously we'll have to wait for updates later.
From jamesdowney on Sat Feb 09 06:12PM
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Ok, just refreshed and the CS is credited to Pamarot now. Defoe was a killer this week though. And apparently you can't say u-p-d-a-t-e in the comments. Odd that.
From jamesdowney on Sat Feb 09 06:24PM
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when you have bauma in all week, then drop him at the death for o'shay, then bauma scores, you just know its gonna be one of them weeks : (
From petegoddard11996655 on Sun Feb 10 10:21AM
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well it's all or nothing w/ Benjani... but today is an all! Goal. Barn Door, even home to Everton next?
From jspitzberg on Sun Feb 10 02:43PM
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Why don't Citeh play like this every week? United seem to be missing a spark with Rooney out but Citeh look solid in the back and an excellent in the counter. And if there was any doubt about who you'd rather have between Benjani and Defoe...
From neal_thurman on Sun Feb 10 03:01PM
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Wow, how happy is Arsenal right now?
From the_burning_pen on Sun Feb 10 03:30PM
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how is a "successful cross" decided ?
From wood_vv on Sun Feb 10 04:44PM
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(56) I guess it's when a cross is met by a touch from his teammate. Bad week for me. My total pts from F is 13.5 and Gordon got the 15 pts (highest pts) in my team. Better luck next time, I hope.
From zzzeclipse on Sun Feb 10 05:04PM
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