Fantasy Premier League

Sat Feb 23 06:32AM by Jeremy

The best laid plans. 

Two weeks ago (it seems longer ago than that, doesn't it?) I put K2, Koumas, and Benjani on the barn door.  To afford that I've been living with a big red "In order to receive scoring for this week's matches, you must have selected a player for all 11 positions." hanging over my head.

[aside:  Getting drunk on Friday night and passing out with less than your full complement of players is known as "pulling a Spealman".  Be sure to look for that in the upcoming blog dictionary.  Seriously.] 

[one more aside:  All the thanks in the world to my sister for getting married over the FA Cup semifinal weekend rather than forcing me to beg, borrow, and steal internet access on the road.] 

Where were we?  Oh, yeah... sitting with too much money invested in too few players.  So I've worked out my line-up.  Cutting here.  Trimming there.  I need to keep K2.  He's been in incredible form.  Probably one of the best streaks we ever seen from a striker not initialed TH or RVN.  Then the news comes out of N London that Adebayor is doubtful with a stiff neck.  Now we know he's stubborn, but that's ridiculous.  Just what I didn't need.  Granted he's likely to start.  And he's likely to do well against a stuggling Birmingham side.  But I can too easily see the other side.  He needs a break after the CL match (and miss).  Brm kept Arsenal in check at Highbury, sorry Emirates, last month.  Arsenal are showing a fragile streak and traveling to Birmingham might be the last thing they need.  And I just remember their trip to Sheffield United last season where even with Jagielka in net, RvP skying their best chance when he was my sure thing that week...

So K2 is gone.  I hope I can sleep better with Rooney in the team, but I probably won't.  In last month's demolition of NUFC, ManU scored six and Rooney only collected a booking.  I could drop from Rooney to Torres... home to Boro, two matches next week, always scores at Anfield, even if he only plays twenty minutes of the match.  That gives me the money to upgrade the Mok to a real defender.  But he's home to goal-shy Bolton and could be in line for a sub cs [again, look for the upcoming dictionary].  

So here's hoping that Rooney can break out of what seems like a prolonged slump.  Here's hoping that Tevez and Ronaldo can pitch in.  And that Muntari and Defoe put a hurting on Sunderland with with added bonus of Gordon getting cheaper before their trip to Derby.

What are you hoping for?  Let us know in this, your matchday open thread. 

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