Only one player actually managed to get a positive score, and it just so happened he was the leader. I improved one place to joint 10th overall with a score of -40 for the week. Here's a look at how my predictions league stands, as the Premier League is about to reach the halfway point for the season.
| Pos | Player | Week | Total |
| 1 | b_red_devils | 10 | 1055 |
| 2 | ahujag | -60 | 965 |
| 3 | GGooner | -80 | 915 |
| 4 | nitin004 | -55 | 895 |
| 5 | sanziano | 0 | 880 |
| 6 | gooner2194 | -40 | 870 |
| 7 | lubu722 | -60 | 760 |
| 8 | Rutland Gooner | -40 | 745 |
| 9 | Smashit_Tuckit | -55 | 705 |
| 10 | DK1247 | -60 | 695 |
Liverpool Vs. Newcastle United.
Friday December 30, 7.45 p.m., BST
Liverpool have only won three of their nine home games so far this season, and they have drawn the other six. They may have the joint best defence in the league, but their lack of goals is becoming a real problem for them. They will be without Luis Suarez for this game after he admitted a charge of misconduct after the recent game against Fulham and has been handed a one game ban.
Liverpool's defenders are all good buys at the moment, and Charlie Adam is the best bet among their attacking players. Steven Gerrard is on his way back from injury yet again, and if he can stay fit he always scores plenty of fantasy points too.
Newcastle had a very good win away to Bolton on Monday, and it eventually halted their slide down the table. They look very dangerous in attack with Demba Ba playing so well,and he will be sorely missed when he goes to play in the African Cup of Nations. Their defence has lost a few players to injury, and it's meant they have shipped a lot of goals recently.
Demba Ba is the Newcastle player most likely to score fantasy points at the moment until he departs for Africa very soon.
I think Liverpool will win, but it won't be easy for them.
Prediction 2-1
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Manchester United Vs. Blackburn Rovers
Saturday December 31, 12.45 p.m., BST
United have rediscovered their form, and they are now only behind Manchester City on goal difference. They beat Wigan 5-0 on Monday, and they will be delighted to have another home game against a team in the relegation zone. As long as United don't lose they will take over at the top of the table, as City don't play until Sunday.
Patrice Evra and Phil Jones are good defensive buys in the United team at the moment, and Nani and Wayne Rooney are scoring plenty of points at the other end too. Antonio Valencia is also performing very well at the moment with one goal and six assists in his last four games.
Blackburn are rooted to the bottom of the table despite getting a point away to Liverpool on Monday. They have scored in every one of their away games so far, but they have also got the joint worst defence away from home. They haven't won on the road either, and they could be in for a torrid time in this game.
Yakubu is by far the most likely player to score well for any fantasy manager at the moment, but maybe not in this game.
I can't see anything other than a United win in this game.
Prediction 3-1
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Arsenal Vs. Queens Park Rangers
Saturday December 31, 3 p.m., BST
Arsenal had a great chance to move into the top four at home to Wolves on Tuesday, but they could only manage a draw. They are finding it hard to score at home recently, but only two teams have conceded less home games than them. They need to win this game to keep pace with the teams around them.
Robin van Persie ans Thomas Vermaelen are in fine form at the moment, and worth considering for any fantasy manager.
QPR have only taken two points in their last six games, but they played well to get a point away to Swansea on Tuesday. They will have to play even better, and defend very well to get anything out of this game.
Heidar Helguson is the best of a bad bunch as far as QPR players are concerned for fantasy managers.
Arsenal simply have to win this game, and I think they will do so.
Prediction 2-0
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Bolton Wanderers Vs, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Saturday December 31, 3 p.m., BST
Bolton's home record is deplorable so far this season with eight defeats in nine games. If they don't start winning at home very soon they will be relegated. They have conceded more goals at home than any other team, but they can close the gap to Wolves to only one point if they win this game.
Ivan Klasnic had being doing well for Bolton this season, but he has only scored one goal in his last six games.
Wolves did really well to get a point away to Arsenal on Tuesday, and it halted a run of six away defeats in a row. They're still only one place above the relegation zone, but that result will have given them some real hope.
Wayne Hennessey is scoring well in goal for Wolves, and Steven Fletcher has four goals in their last five games at the other end.
I think Bolton will manage to get only their fourth home point of the season by drawing with Wolves.
Prediction 2-2
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Chelsea Vs. Aston Villa
Saturday December 31, 3 p.m., BST
Chelsea have had three 1-1 draws in a row, and they need to start winning games again. They are still scoring plenty of goals at home, but they are conceding too many as well. They will see this as an ideal game to get back to winning ways.
John Terry, Juan Mata and Daniel are probably the three best fantasy buys in the Chelsea team. Mata has performed very well in their home games so far with four goals and five assists in the eight games since he joined.
Villa got a good point away to Stoke on Monday night, but they have only managed one away win so far. They have drawn more games than any other team so far this season, and they need to turn a few of them into victories.
Gabriel Agbonlahor has been Villa's best fantasy player so far this season, but he hasn't scored in his last six games.
I think Chelsea should have far too much for Villa, and should win easily enough.
Prediction 2-0
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Norwich City Vs. Fulham
Saturday December 31, 3 p.m., BST
Norwich have still not kept a clean sheet so far this season, but they have also proved very hard to beat. They play good football, and they are in a safe mid-table position at the moment.
Norwich tend to change their team a lot, and it's meant that none of their players are scoring too many fantasy points.
Fulham bounced back from their 5-0 drubbing at home to Manchester United with a creditable 1-1 draw away to Chelsea on Monday. They are still the lowest scorers away from home in the Premier League, but they have managed one win and four draws in their nine away games.
Clint Dempsey continues to score very well for Fulham, and he's well worth considering for any fantasy manager.
I think Norwich should just about do enough to win this game.
Prediction 2-1
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Stoke City Vs. Wigan Athletic
Saturday December 31, 3 p.m., BST
Stoke's only defeat in their last six games came against table toppers Manchester City. They're up to eighth in the table even though they have only scored 18 goals in their 18 games so far. They have being having a lot more success in recent games with their more traditional style of football.
No Stoke players are performing very well in the fantasy stakes at the moment, but both Jonathan Walters and Matthew Etherington are probably their best bets.
Wigan had being performing very well until they lost 5-0 to United on Monday. They have being playing well, and they will hope their style will overcome the substance of Stoke.
Ali Al-Habsi is still the best fantasy performer among the Wigan players.
I think Wigan could struggle with Stoke's approach, and Stoke will emerge as winners.
Prediction 2-0
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Swansea City Vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday December 31, 3 p.m., BST
Swansea still have the best defensive record at home in the Premier League, but only Wigan have scored less goals than them. They need to keep taking points at home, as they have the worst away record in the league.
Michel Vorm has been by far Swansea's best fantasy performer so far, but Ashley Williams and Scott Sinclair have done well too.
Spurs have only lost one of their last 15 Premier League games, and only Manchester United have won more away games than them. They are in great form at the moment, and in some quarters they are even considered title contenders. I'm not so sure about that, and they could suffer with a few injuries to certain players.
Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor are almost must-buys at the moment, and Brad Friedel is performing very well too.
I think Spurs will have too much for Swansea, and take all three points.
Prediction 1-2
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West Bromwich Albion Vs. Everton
Sunday January 1, 12.30 p.m., BST
West Brom are up into the top half of the table after they took seven points in their last three games. They did well to get a draw at home to Manchester City on Monday, but they have lost five home games already this season.
No West Brom players are scoring really well in the fantasy stakes at the moment.
Everton have only scored three goals in their last five games, but they did well to get a point away to Sunderland on Monday. Their defence is doing quite well at the moment, but they simply don't have anyone to score for them.
Leighton Baines is slowly starting to score well again, and Royston Drenthe looks like he can do well for them too.
I can see this game ending in a low scoring draw.
Prediction 1-1
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Sunderland Vs. Manchester City
Sunday January 1, 3 p.m., BST
Sunderland have only won two of their home games so far, but their defence is holding up quite well. If they can start putting away some of the chances they are making they should move well clear of the relegation zone. It won't be easy for them to get anything from this game though.
Seb Larsson and Stephane Sessegnon are Sunderland's best performing fantasy players so far.
City were held away to West Brom on Monday, and they are now only ahead of United on goal difference. They will need to win this game to keep their lead, and I expect them to throw everything at Sunderland.
Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany are probably the best fantasy buys at City, but Silva's output has slowed recently.
I think City will win this game, but Sunderland won't make it easy for them.
Prediction 1-2
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That's it for this week, but as always feel free to tell me where I might have gone right or wrong. I'll be back with the next set of predictions before the next round of games, which get underway on Tuesday.
It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league, and there are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.
To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.
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I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.
See you tomorrow.
Liverpool totally destroyed Newcastle last night. Bellamy and Gerrard did the magic again. Read more about the liverpool vs newcastle highlights here.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say they destroyed and only for a magnificent goal line clearance by Skrtel it might have ended 2-2. I was impressed with Gerrard's crosses for Carroll though and maybe he should be played on the right with Downing on the left while Suarez is out.
ReplyDelete