The Week Ahead
Thu Mar 13 03:11PM
OK, I have about 30 minutes left before I head out for my bachelor party (yes, I'm getting married in May - I'm sure the three women who read the blog are crushed). Should be enough time to get us up to speed on the coming week.
The big news, of course, is that Chelsea and ManYoo are two-gamers (along with Spurs and Bolton). Now, everyone is bound to get overly excited about Chelsea since they just put a pasting on Derby. Please remember, that EVERYONE puts a pasting on Derby and more importantly, ManYoo get Derby as part of their double. If you want to get excited about something, get excited about that.
I have to say, the most difficult part of my week will be deciding what to do with Gerrard and Torres - they've been playing at an incredibly high level and 'pool are home to Reading. I'm sure they'll return between 35 and 40 points at a minimum but with the opportunity to look at guys like Anelka, Lampard, Tevez, and Rooney for two matches, its hard to bet on the Liverpool guys no matter their level.
The next question is how to value Spurs players. Yes, they have two matches which puts them in a good spot. The trip to Eastlands is much less intimidating than it was earlier in the season but the visit of Chelsea is less than thrilling for the 2nd match. I'm considering Spurs players in the same general realm as I am Liverpool and Arsenal players (both home to bottom-half squads).
In a week that is otherwise uninspiring when it comes to match-ups, Bolton is next on the list. They have two matches and the first is away to Wigan which isn't a horrible thing but the second being at ManYoo is almost a non-match.
The final somewhat interesting match-up is Birmingham who host Newcastle. NUFC is going so badly right now that you have to be excited about the prospect for Birmingham to win and get a clean sheet.
OK, on to the specific picks...
Strikers
The biggest question is how much playing time Rooney, Tevez, Drogba, and Anelka get across the 180 availabe minutes at each striker position. My prediction is that the order of minutes ends up going Tevez, Anelka, Rooney, Drogba, Kalou, and then Saha by the end of the two matches. I'm betting that Tevez and the Elk are both well over 120 minutes, Rooney and Drogs are both right around 120, and that Kalou and Saha are between 60 and 90 each. As such, if you're looking for the best value, I'd go with Tevez and Anelka. If you can fit him in, picking up Saha at just over 10 will give you a great front line.
Further down the price list, if you're looking for a bargain, I'd think about Kuyt who has to score one of these weeks as defenders collapse on Gerrard and Torres.
Midfielders
Lamps, CRon, and Ballack are the most interesting options here. Obviously, CRon is the most interesting. I'll leave you to figure out who you prefer for these situations. Other interesting plays include Aaron Lennon and Kevin Nolan. I also like Larsson when Birmingham have a good match-up.
Defenders
John Terry is surprisingly affordable (although he hasn't been very productive this year). Hutton for Spurs is also reasonably priced as is Woody. John O'Shea's starting status is uncertain but I have to think that he'll get at least 2 substitute appearances which might both lead to clean sheets which is good value for a small investment.
Keepers
Here, my friends, is the big question. Who will start and for how long? It appears that van der Sar is out for a while and Kuszczak is suspended for the Derby match. On the Chelsea side, Cech's return date is similarly cloudy making Cudicini a question mark. Certainly no one wants to test the idea of going with Jussi or Robbo. I'm sticking with Carlo for now and waiting for the team sheets to come out tomorrow and hope for the best. Keeper is going to be a bit of a crap shoot this weekend.
Wish me luck staying alive and out of jail this weekend - should be a blast. For the 10 of you who care, I'll report back on the US Olympic qualifying matches that will be part of the agenda in Florida.
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IM this storycongratulation on your wedding, i will pick ballack,rooney,tevez and kalou .
lankapo.com
From azllan on Fri Mar 14 10:47AMI have an interesting conundrum for all you fantasy football pro's: I am away for the next two weeks so I have to pick players that will perform well in BOTH weeks (15th to 21st and 22nd to 28th March)! Aaargh! Any suggestions? (p.s. Congrats to Neal!)
From ginger_management on Fri Mar 14 11:47AMRonaldo can get 30 pts in 45 mins vs. the likes of Bolton, and particularly Derby. Lamps performance vs. Derby should be a good reference point, if you watched the entire fixture. Rooney & Tevez could also rack up the points, particularly Rooney. Do not forget goal difference, as well. SAF will not. (21) Birmingham is scoring at home and away. NUFC could find themselves looking up at BRM come next week's table. Also, even though expensive, if Nolan is out, Taylor's value maybe worth the cost... even w/no chance of a CS... he'll get his points.
From donegal08 on Fri Mar 14 11:54AMfoster for utd in goal!
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=51
6443&cc=4716From the_great_one2000000 on Fri Mar 14 12:05PMSomeone must have seen Dirty Harry.
From monjini on Fri Mar 14 01:11PMwell kucszak (however you spell it) is back from suspension midweek making foster not really worth a punt. i'm gonna stick with DNH shay and spend up top...berbs or the elk? currently sitting on berbs cos he scores well even if he don't bag a goal...
From satheesh85 on Fri Mar 14 01:16PMThese double headers always cause me no end of grief, CRon is a must and it should be a crime not to have him in your team, but the rest of the midfield is risky on the ManYoo and Chelski front. Essien is almost certain to start against Sunderland, but old man of the mountain Makelele may come on or start against Tot, tough choice. Even wose is ManYoo, Fletcher/Anderson/Carrick all affordable and possible starts or sub appearances, out of the cheap midfielders who are people backing to get some points?
From hevydevy2002 on Fri Mar 14 02:20PM(36) You should consider Robbo... chance for points (or to lose, I know... but he could win both fixtures. Spurs defence is tighter than earlier this year)
From donegal08 on Fri Mar 14 02:21PM(37) Steed may be a better investment than all the ManU midfielders. Lamps, to me, is the only sure thing in Chelsea's midfield. Old Man Mak has seen more time than Essien, of late. Park may play more than Carrick/Anderson/Fletcher. We shall see, but Steed makes the most sense for a two-game scenario...
From donegal08 on Fri Mar 14 02:24PM(36) shouldn't kuczsvzvczsvczak's straight red entitle him to 3 matches off?
From the_great_one2000000 on Fri Mar 14 02:37PM(38) That's a good point, Steed seems pretty safe and could prove productive, leaves me with 1 slot to fill in midfield, i only have 5.11 available, so it leaves me with either Old Man Mak, Fletcher or Anderson, i think they are all much of a muchness to be honest, so it's a real stab in the dark. I may go with Mak in the end as there is reallo only Essien who plays in his place, where as Anderson and Fletcher have a bunch of other plays to compete with.
From hevydevy2002 on Fri Mar 14 03:00PM(41) My only reservations w/Steed. Spurs are horrid on the road. And, if he is not in Ramos future, like Lennon, he may sit. He was taken off for Gilberto last match. We shall see. It's between Scholes and Steed, for me. Steed does get up in the play, though. I like him. Good luck!
From donegal08 on Fri Mar 14 03:12PMapparantly spurs fans are giving Steed a bad time cos he didn't take a pen the other night, accusing him of having no bottle!
From petegoddard11996655 on Fri Mar 14 04:21PM@(40) not according to the fa website. i think it's only a 3 game ban for violent conduct
http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/Sus
pensionLists/From satheesh85 on Fri Mar 14 05:01PMJust 2 wich you (Neal) a very happy married life!!!... as long as it doesn't hinder/damage our beloved "Fantasy-Football-Blog" - lol
From daniel_menezes on Fri Mar 14 07:16PMAnother good week for me and it's hard to do too many "deck chairs", so my option is pretty simple: 'Elk' or Tevez? (I passed on the 'Yak' last week, but I'm still able to buy him, so he could be in the mix as well). Based on Neal's forecast, they seem equal--based on opponents, Tevez seems the better choice, but based on losing chances to other players on the team, Tevez might be shut out of the fun again (I had him for the match at Newcastle, but Roo and CRon hogged the goals).
What annoys me is that in the 'Latest Premiership News' which shows the *anticipated* starting lineups, NEITHER the 'Elk' NOR Tevez is shown as starting the Saturday match. It shows Sa-harrrr paird with Roo, and 'Drogs' in a 4-5-1. *grumble*
Shall I flip a frippin' coin? Or ditch both two-gamers and go with the 'Yak', who might be fed more consistently (at Fulham, too) than the 'Elk or the Tev?
RE: The Olympic qualifying: I don't think the US has much to worry about after Cuba's, um, "drop" in form... wow. Does MLS stand to get a few "free transfers" out of that? Perhaps there *should* be a Miami team again...
From pusich on Fri Mar 14 07:24PMAccording to Sky Sports Saha is still an injury doubt (when isn't he) so even if he does make the start the fact he hasn't played for about 4 years or so will mean he won't finish and I doubt he will do both games...there speaks someone with Tevez in the Team!!
From alex.ayre on Fri Mar 14 07:30PMCongrats Neal, and dont end up in jail!
From mamur_a on Fri Mar 14 11:35PMi'm sure mrs thurman knows what she is gonna get when she marries neal .... i'd expect her to give neal some alone time so he can keep blogging
quick question: what are the chances of ronaldo being rested against derby? c'mon, you know you would ... its derby after allFrom littlecallix on Sat Mar 15 02:20AM(43) Saw that. Does Ramos care? He's ready to gut the team! Steed played after the PSV loss... so, Ramos is probably happ with him. That said, I am starting to feel "Scholesy"... this will be a final minute decision, for me.
From donegal08 on Sat Mar 15 02:33AM(43) Saw that. Does Ramos care? He's ready to gut the team! Steed played after the PSV loss... so, Ramos is probably happ with him. That said, I am starting to feel "Scholesy"... this will be a final minute decision, for me.
From donegal08 on Sat Mar 15 02:33AMNeal, while on holiday in our lovely state, maybe you could find some replacement players for the Cuban team. I hate watching the poor lads from the little island struggle with only 10 men. Good luck staying upright on the trip and out of the slammer.
From bodeyzafa on Sat Mar 15 02:40AMJeremy/Neal, where is the "BAR DOOR report" for week28???
From daniel_menezes on Sat Mar 15 09:03AM
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