Fantasy Premier League

Mon Feb 11 04:27PM by Jeremy

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Spurs almost fell through the trap door, didn't they?  As I wrote over the weekend, I thought Spurs might overlook Derby because of the slate of big matches they have both before and after.  Leaving Berbatov on the bench, which had to but the anger into the ~12% of fantasy managers with Berba King on their teams, and being held by a limited Derby side for over an hour.  But in the end, they won 3-0 and Berba King iced the game with a 90th minute penalty kick.  Sending Spurs fans home happy and fantasy managers as well.  However, the best values in the match were THud with a 9pt return and Hutton with 11.5pts for a less than 6 defender.  Of course, if you have him you wonder if he's worth holding through this weekend where Spurs don't play in the league due to the Carling Cup final.  He's up a full unit/dollar/pound/linden, but still at under 7 it might be worth the wait.

Anyone else looking forward to Spurs/WHU (8 March)?  Think about it... should be a good match, right?  But the highlight for me will be the matchup on Spurs right, WHU's left.  Lennon.  McCartney.  Lennon/McCartney.  Is it just me?

Speaking of Lennon and musical allusions, I picked the small sprightly one alongside Manuel "Sexy M.F." Fernandes for my midfield this weekend.  Lennon earned a measley 3pts against Derby (and I was sure his pace alone would earn him more corners, crosses, etc) and Sexy MF didn't even come out for the second half after being completely anonymous in the first.  I should have just stuck with Wilson Palacios against Sunderland.

I am really taking a liking to Palacios.  He's not the type of player I normally select.  He doesn't take kicks.  He's not a winger or an especially creative, attacking player.   But he's quietly doing the business for Wigan and earning the points each week that belie his price tag.  I keep buying him and selling him for sexier players - MF, Duff, etc - but each week I should have just kept him and I would have earned more points overall.  He's getting fouled a lot and making a lot of tackles.  If he can start shooting more, he'll be very worth his new, higher value (6.06).  Especially next "week", home to Derby County.

Other Wigan players to watch out for over the next two weeks as we prepare for the next round of matches will be Heskey and King, starting forwards that together won't cost you 12.  Though don't expect Heskey to see the hour mark of the match.  Ryan Taylor and, well actually, or Jason Koumas.  RTay left the Sunderland match with an injury but has time to recover.  If he does, and you have the money, he'll be the perfect choice for your defence.  If not they Koumas will likely be the replacement and designated kick-taker.  And of course, there's always the Captain (Captain Kirk.  Kirkland.  Am I making these jokes to myself, here?) who, thanks to Wigan's road loss to Sunderland, is back down to around 3.

Personally I'm tempted to pick up the Captain.  Home to Derby right?  But I've got Gordon at a full unit cheaper.  And Sunderland have been very solid defensively, at least at home.  Unfortunately, next "week" they travel to Pompey.  But I can probably convince myself that POR aren't great shakes and Sun can match them - even though I've got Defoe in my fanatsy team.  And then Sunderland are back home to Derby County!  It would be nice to have the 9million pound man at his cheaper price then.  But with the barn door, it may just be best to rotate and grab him back at 5.  After Derby, Sunderland play Everton, Chelsea, and @ Villa.  So he's probably not a long term investment anyway.

Hopefully that's enough to hold you over for a while.  Lots of matches in the next two weeks, but only today's Ars/Bla match to tide us over in the Premier League.  Please consider this your matchday open thread. 

So until next week, well... next "week",

The Manager 

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