There are only nine games this weekend instead of the usual 10, as Liverpool take on Cardiff City in the Carling Cup final which means their Premier League game with Everton has to be rescheduled. No date has been decided for that game yet, but fantasy managers should be aware that their Liverpool and Everton players will not play this week. With the FA Cup reaching it's later stages there will be a few teams having to play twice in a gameweek before too long, and it's very useful for fantasy managers to have a player playing twice in a week.
Here's a look at how my predictions league strands.
| Pos | Player | Week | Total |
| 1 | ahujag | 15 | 1260 |
| 2 | b_red_devils | 10 | 1200 |
| 3 | GGooner | 120 | 1060 |
| 4 | nitin004 | 90 | 990 |
| 5 | gooner2194 | -20 | 965 |
| 6 | JamrockRover | 75 | 935 |
| 7 | Rutland Gooner | 85 | 860 |
| 8 | Gooner2194 | 0 | 855 |
| 9 | sanziano | 5 | 830 |
| 10 | Smashit_Tuckit | 55 | 805 |
Chelsea Vs. Bolton Wanderers
Saturday February 25, 3p.m., BST
Chelsea have only won two of their last 10 Premier League games, and none of their last four. The rumours of player unrest grow by the day, and it can only be a matter of time before Andre Villas-Boas loses his job as manager. They have slipped to fifth in the table, but a win in this game could see them climb back into the top four.
Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge would seem to be the current best fantasy bets among the Chelsea players.
Bolton have slipped back into the relegation zone, but they have won four away games so far this season. Only Blackburn have conceded more goals than them, but they have also scored as many goals as Liverpool.They will have to be at their very best to get anything out of this game.
Bolton players aren't exactly setting the world alight, but Arsenal loanee Ryo Miyaichi might be a good outside bet.
I think Chelsea will get the win they need to get them back on their defeat until the next crisis.
Prediction 3-1
________________________________________________
Newcastle United Vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Saturday February 25, 3p.m., BST
Newcastle are only a point off the Champions League places despite losing 5-0 to Spurs in their last Premier League game. They have only lost two of their 12 home games so far, and a win against a struggling Wolves team would keep them right in the melting pot.
Tim Krul, Ryan Taylor and Demba Ba are the best fantasy choices among the Newcastle players, and they're all available at fairly good prices too.
Wolves have taken only seven points from their last 11 Premier League games, and they have slipped into the relegation zone. Mick McCarthy lost his job as a result, and they're having problems finding a replacement for him. They have only won twice away from home so far this season, and things don't look good for them at the moment.
Steven Fletcher would seem to be the only Wolves player performing well at the moment.
I think Wolves problems will be added to, as they are beaten by Newcastle.
Prediction 2-0
_________________________________________________
Queens Park Rangers Vs. Fulham
Saturday February 25, 3p.m., BST
QPR have only taken six points in their last 13Premier League games, and they are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference. They have only won twice at home so far this season, and Mark Hughes looks to have his work cut out to keep them up. He spent a lot of money in January, but his defence still isn't up to scratch.
Bobby Zamora is probably the QPR player most likely to perform for fantasy managers.
Fulham have only one Premier League win away from home so far this season, but they will see this game as a game they can get something from. They have only lost two of their last eight games, and they are sitting comfortably in mid-table as a result.
Clint Dempsey is far and away the best fantasy player among the Fulham players.
I think Fulham will manage to take a point, and keep the pressure on QPR.
Prediction 1-1
__________________________________________________
West Bromwich Albion Vs. Sunderland
Saturday February 25, 3p.m., BST
West Brom have only taken eight points at home so far this season, and no other Premier League team has less points at home. They're the lowest scorers at home too, but thankfully for them they have a great away record.
West Brom still don't have any outstanding fantasy performers, but they operate very well as a team.
Sunderland have taken 22 points in their 11 Premier League games since Martin O'Neill became their manager. It has seen them move into the top half of the table, and through to the quarter finals of the FA Cup too.
Simon Mignolet, Stephane Sessegnon and James McLean are probably the best fantasy bets among the Sunderland players.
I think Sunderland will continue their impressive form with another win.
Prediction 1-2
__________________________________________________
Wigan Athletic Vs. Aston Villa
Saturday February 25, 3p.m., BST
Wigan managed a great win away to Bolton in their last game, but they are still bottom of the table. A win in this game could see them move out of the relegation zone, but it won't be easy for them. They have only won at home once so far this season, and no other team has won less games at home.
Ali Al-Habsi is still Wigan's best fantasy performer thanks to his four penalty saves so far.
Villa have only won twice in their last 10 Premier League games, and they have drawn more games than any other team in the league. They're still seven points clear of the relegation zone, but they need to start winning a few games before they join in the fight to avoid the drop.
Robbie Keane is probably the best fantasy bet among the Villa players until he returns to America to play his football.
I think this game has a draw written all over it.
Prediction 2-2
__________________________________________________
Manchester City Vs. Blackburn Rovers
Saturday February 25, 5.30p.m., BST
City have won all 12 of their home games so far this season, and only conceded six goals in the process. They're two points clear at the top of the table, and a home game against a struggling team is an ideal opportunity for them to keep their lead. They have the firepower to cause Blackburn an awful lot of problems.
Joe Hart, David Silva and Sergio Aguero are probably the best fantasy bets among the City players, but there are so many to choose from.
Blackburn have eventually managed to climb out of the relegation zone on goal difference despite conceding more goals than any other team so far. Only the top five have scored more goals than them, and they have scored in all of their away games so far. They will have their work cut out to get a result from City, but they will give it a go.
Yakubu is the best fantasy performer among the Blackburn players, and he's available at a very good price too.
Blackburn might manage to score, but I can't see them taking any points with their dodgy defence.
Prediction 4-1
__________________________________________________
Arsenal Vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Sunday February 26, 1.30p.m., BST
Arsenal are a club in crisis at the moment, as their season looks like it could be about to implode. They went out of the FA Cup last week, and they are as good as out of the Champions League too. All they have left is their battle for fourth place, and they need a win over their fiercest rivals to remain in fourth place.
Robin van Persie is an absolute must for any fantasy manager.
Spurs are having an excellent season so far, and they are in third place in the Premier League. They are10 points clear of Arsenal with 13 games left, and they look likely to finish ahead of them for the first time since Arsene Wenger became Arsenal's manager in 1996. They seem to have the upper hand on Arsenal at the moment, and they will do all they can to get a win in this game.
From a fantasy perspective Brad Friedel, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor are all great buys.
Arsenal need to get a result from this game, and I think they will come out on top in a very tight game.
Prediction 3-2
__________________________________________________
Norwich City Vs. Manchester United
Sunday February 26, 1.30p.m., BST
Norwich are sitting comfortably in mid-table, and they are almost certain to avoid relegation. That was their aim at the start of the season, and they have almost achieved it while playing attractive football too. They will give their all in an effort to beat United, but it won't be easy for them.
Anthony Pilkington, Grant Holt and Steve Morison are all doing pretty well, and available at a good a good price too.
United are only two points behind City at the top of the Premier League despite having a very tough schedule recently. They have the best away record in the league with eight wins and only one defeat in 12 games so far. Despite a few injury problems they are still clear favourites to win this game.
Patrice Evra, Nani and Wayne Rooney are the current best fantasy bets among the United players.
I think Norwich will give it a go, but United will have too much for them.
Prediction 1-3
__________________________________________________
Stoke City Vs. Swansea City
Sunday February 26, 3.00p.m., BST
Stoke have lost their last four Premier League games, and only scored two goals in the process. Only Wigan have scored less goals than them, but they're still in a relatively safe position in the table. They have only managed four home wins so far this season which is very unlike Stoke.
Jonathan Walters has been Stoke's best fantasy performer this season, but he hasn't scored in six Premier League games.
Swansea have played some excellent football since their promotion, and they are a very good team to watch. They have lost seven of their 12 away games though, and they will find Stoke a very tough opponent.
Michel Vorm, Scott Sinclair and Danny Graham are the best fantasy performers among the Swansea players.
This game will be a real contrast of styles, and I think Stoke's more robust approach might just triumph.
Prediction 2-1
__________________________________________________
That's it for this week, but feel free to tell me where you think I might have gone wrong or right as the case may be.
See you tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment