Football Reloaded

Another week, another manager under-fire. This week it is Arsene Wenger’s turn to assume what has recently become known as “The Rafa Benitez” position in front of the media’s firing squad. Back-to-back league defeats, coupled with a League Cup exit, have led to some uneducated souls calling for the Frenchman’s head. Short memories eh?

For Fantasy Managers, the pressures are much less of course, but Arsenal’s troubles are playing havoc with many a team, especially as the goals have seemingly dried up at the Emirates since Robin Van Persie’s international injury. Chelsea are suddenly the team en vogue, their free-scoring forwards and water-tight defence making them Fantasy League must-haves. What a difference a week can make.

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The Men in Form

So where better to start than at Chelsea? Carlo Ancelotti’s pace-setters are looking good bets to end a four year wait for the league title. Solid at the back, where John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole look especially impressive, they also boast the league’s most potent double-act in Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, who have more than 150 points between them.

Manchester United are hot on their heels, however. Last week’s hat-trick for Wayne Rooney secured his status as United’s main man, but the impact of the evergreen Ryan Giggs should not be underestimated either. The Welshman’s goal and two assists took him to 63 points for the season, and 100 goals for the club, which at 36 is not bad going at all.

The Men to Avoid

Clean sheets are what defenders dream about, so I’m told. In which case you probably wouldn’t want to be playing for Manchester City this season. City’s recent run of draws – seven in a row in the League – have brought just one clean sheet, with the likes of Wayne Bridge, Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott shredding their reputations at every turn. Mark Hughes will likely sort that problem out in due course, but with Chelsea in town this weekend, City defenders should be off the menu.

Bargain Hunt

Paul Scharner (Wigan, £4.5m) – Ok, he might have hair that would have made Kevin Pietersen circa 2005 cackle, but the eccentric Austrian is having a useful season at the DW Stadium. Last week saw a goal and a clean sheet, to follow his goal the previous week (the 1 in a 9-1 thrashing). Considering Scharner has played in midfield in the past, he might be worth having in your squad, especially when Wigan are at home – as they are this week.

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea, £5.7m) – A Chelsea defender is a must at this moment in time, but with John Terry and co pushing or exceeding the £7m mark, it may be worth taking a chance on the young Serbian. Jose Bosingwa’s injury has given Ivanovic a chance to impress, and he has slotted in well at right-back. Will probably relinquish the role when Bosingwa returns, but until then should be snapped up.

Steven Pienaar (Everton, £6.2m) – One of the few positives for Everton after a derby day defeat. The South African’s knee injury has prevented him from maintaining his early season form, but with his value suitably diminished, he should be on the radar now as he returns to action. Creative, eye-catching and with a fierce shot. Won’t get many better for £6m-ish.

Premier League Fixtures

Portsmouth v Burnley
Arsenal v Stoke City
Aston Villa v Hull City
Blackburn v Liverpool
West Ham v Man Utd
Wigan v Birmingham
Wolves v Bolton
Man City v Chelsea
Fulham v Sunderland
Everton v Tottenham

Manchester City v Chelsea stands out of course. The Nouveau Riches v the Nouveau Riches. Chelsea are the form team, but City have home advantage. Manchester United have struggled in recent seasons at Upton Park, and cannot afford a repeat this weekend. Arsenal have a home game against robust Stoke in which to get back to winning ways, whilst Liverpool look to replenish their points tally at Blackburn. Everton v Spurs on Sunday is another eye-catcher.

My Team

Back to some kind of form at least. Poor captain choice – Fabregas’ late booking at the Emirates only exacerbated that – was offset against a hat-trick for Rooney, two for Drogba, and usual clean sheets for Carvalho, Thomas Sorensen and Liam Ridgewell. Kevin Prince Boateng’s omission was regretted, however, as I missed out on six points from the German-Ghanaian.
This week’s transfer is a low-key one. Aaron Hughes of Fulham replaces the injured James Collins of Aston Villa. It leaves me with £1.5m in the bank, which can be used to upgrade elsewhere.

Football Media League

Jon Reeson’s Westfield Irons assume top spot, after a swashbuckling week – inspired by captain Rooney. He replaces Pavenpal Bhullar’s Boca Juniors at the top, whilst behind them the pack is bunching up neatly. There were good weeks for Savage Cabbage (Joe Cassidy) and The Gronners (Jonas Gronners), whilst my team – Baroque Social – sit well placed in 12th spot, ready to launch into action this Christmas.

You can join the Football Media fantasy football league (and try your hand at beating Neil to the finish line) by signing up here.

“Fantasy Football: Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea to clean up this week” was originally published at Soccerlens.com – Football News.

Crisis. That’s what the papers are saying. A team in crisis, a manager who is losing the plot. No, I’m not talking about Liverpool here. This is about the Baroque Social! A bad week for me in the Fantasy League, but a memorable one for most. Unless, of course, you happen to be a Wigan defender.

Tottenham’s 9-1 win over the Latics equalled the second-highest ever winning margin in the Premier League, as records tumbled in the rain at White Hart Lane. The win puts Harry Redknapp’s side in pole position in the race for fourth place, with Liverpool and Manchester City sharing the spoils in the dullest four-goal thriller on record.

Elsewhere, we had Arsenal imploding without Robin Van Persie – well, they lost one game – Chelsea and Manchester United rampant in home wins, and Portsmouth’s slightly unfortunate defeat to Stoke proving a defeat too far for their mysterious board, who sacked manager Paul Hart.

You can join the Football Media fantasy football league (and try your hand at beating Neil to the finish line) by signing up here.

The Men in Form

One place to start I guess, at White Hart Lane it was the Jermain Defoe show as the would-be England line-leader rattled in five second half goals – equalling the record set by Andy Cole in 1995 and Alan Shearer in 1999 – to rack up a preposterous 25 points for the week.

His team-mate, Aaron Lennon, was in similarly fine form. His trio of assists, plus a goal of his own, netted him 18 points, with even David Bentley (2 assists) contributing as Wigan were swotted aside.

It was also a good week for Hull City. Four points from six, six goals scored, and plenty of points flying round for the Tigers. Stephen Hunt, Jimmy Bullard, Kamil Zayatte and Andy Dawson all featured in the Dream Team for Gameweek 13. How many times will that happen this season?

The Men to Avoid

I guess it is too easy to criticise Wigan and their defence for the debacle at the Lane. The nature of the result, and the speed at which the goals arrived, suggest it was a freak result. A one-off. But still, the likes of Chris Kirkland, Emmerson Boyce and Titus Bramble are unlikely to be high on many shopping lists this week.

Nor should Everton’s defenders. Six goals conceded in the week, and some defending that would make Bramble and Boyce chuckle, David Moyes’ men are struggling at the moment. Languishing in 14th place, with Sylvain Distin, Lucas Neill and Joseph Yobo out of sorts, the Merseyside derby this weekend offers little comfort.

Bargain Hunt

Clint Dempsey (Fulham, £6.5m) – Ok, he costs more than some, but “Deuce” is fast becoming one of the most dangerous midfielders around. His all-action style may not be technically exquisite, but boy is it effective. He sits behind only Cesc Fabregas and Frank Lampard in the midfielder charts, and his side host beleaguered Bolton this week.

Lee Bowyer (Birmingham, £4.7m) – Remember when Lee Bowyer was good? Circa 2002, he was seen by some as the future of England. A snarling, dislikeable future. It never worked out, but at Birmingham, the veteran midfielder is showing signs of recapturing the form which made him so valuable at Leeds. Not a huge points getter, but capable of chipping in with goals semi-regularly, and plays every week.

David Ngog (Liverpool, £5.2m) – People laughed at this lad. How can he be a replacement for Fernando Torres, they asked? Silly people. The young Frenchman is in fine form deputising for Torres, and is one of Liverpool’s few bright spots this autumn. He will probably be benched once Torres returns, but in the meantime….

Premier League Fixtures

Blackburn v Stoke City
Fulham v Bolton
Man City v Hull City
Portsmouth v Man Utd
West Ham v Burnley
Wigan v Sunderland
Aston Villa v Tottenham
Wolves v Birmingham
Everton v Liverpool
Arsenal v Chelsea

Another week, another big clash. Arsenal/Chelsea will dominate the SKY adverts this weekend, and should be intriguing. Everton v Liverpool is a battle of two struggling sides, whilst Avram Grant’s first game as Pompey boss should be against Manchester United (just as it was when he took over Chelsea, spookily).

There is a black country derby as Birmingham travel to Wolves, a chance for Sunderland boss Steve Bruce to avenge former chairman (and rent-a-quote) Dave Whelan at Wigan, whilst Villa face Spurs in a battle of the pretenders at Villa Park.

My Team

The less said the better! Poor week, lit up only by Stoke’s clean sheet, and a penalty save from Thomas Sorensen. Poor transfers made by me, neither Ricky Carvalho nor Robbie Keane played, cost me dearly. My side picked up just 45 points this week. Bad stuff.

This week, I have turned to Manchester. Darren Fletcher and Emmanuel Adebayor come in for Michael Ballack and Keane. It is another gamble, but gambling gets you places if you do it right. So I’ve heard.

Football Media League

Two clear leaders at the moment – Messi’s Boca Juniors and Westfield Irons – who have a 30+ point lead over the chasing pack. Captain Defoe assisted Messi and co with 50 points, whilst the defence played its part with a minimum 8 points each. Lucky lucky lucky.

Honourable mentions should go to Rod Perez and his Rodney FC, not just for a great, simple, name, but for a 110 point gameweek, which propelled him into the top 50.

You can join the Football Media fantasy football league (and try your hand at beating Neil to the finish line) by signing up here.

“Fantasy Football: Manchester United and Manchester City to clean up this weekend” was originally published at Soccerlens.com – Football News.