| Name | Badges | This Week | PTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) |   Michael Sheehy |   3 | +75 | 660 | |
| 2 (4) | sensisoccerworld | 2 | +90 | 545 | |
| 3 (2) |  Rutland Gooner |  4 | +60 | 525 | |
| 4 (3) | Wayne Hubbard | 5 | +30 | 490 | |
| 5 (5) |  Malcs | 1 | +60 | 300 | |
Monday December 28
Crystal Palace v Swansea City
3pm GMT, Selhurst Park, London
Palace drew away to Bournemouth on Saturday to move ahead of United and into fifth place. They have lost as many games at home as they have won though and they have actually taken more points away from home. They have taken 11 points from their last five games and could possibly move into the top four if they win this game.
Palace defenders have done well for fantasy managers recently and are certainly worth considering.
Swansea got a much needed win at home to West Brom on Saturday to move out of the bottom three. They have only won once in their eight away games and only three other teams have scored less goals on the road. That win against West Brom was their first in eight games and they will hope it is a turning point for them.
Swansea players haven't done much for fantasy managers in recent weeks and it might not be a bad idea to avoid them for the moment.
Despite doing better on their travels I think Palace will get the better of Swansea and take the three points.
Prediction: 2-0
Everton v Stoke City
3pm GMT, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Everton left it very late on Saturday, but they just managed to win 1-0 away to Newcastle. They have only won three of their nine home games, but only City have scored more goals st home. That win on Saturday was their first in five games and they need to start turning some of their draws into wins if they're going to progress.
Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley are still the outstanding fantasy options in the Everton team and Leighton Baines might be worth considering too now that's he's back in the team.
Stoke got a great win at home to United on Saturday, but they're still just in the bottom half of the table. They have only lost two of their nine away games and no other team has conceded less goals on the road. They have won seven of their last 12 games and kept clean sheets in eight of them.
Stoke's defenders are doing really well for fantasy managers at the moment and Marco Arnautovic hasn't done too badly either.
I think this game will be very close and it might just end with the honours even.
Prediction: 1-1
Norwich City v Aston Villa
3pm GMT, Carrow Road, Norwich
Norwich lost 3-0 away to Spurs on Saturday and they're only outside the relegation zone on goal difference. They have only won two of their eight home games and only Villa have scored less goals at home. They have lost seven of their last 11 games and have conceded in all but one of their games so far.
I can't see any Norwich players setting the fantasy world alright right now.
Villa could only draw at home to West Brom on Saturday and they're nine points from safety with the season almost half way over. They have lost six of their nine away games and only two other teams have conceded more goals on the road. They haven't won in 17 games now and have only kept one clean sheet in those games.
Jordan Ayew has three goals in his last five games and could be the Villa player to have if they manage to improve.
This is a game both teams need to win and I think Norwich will get the three crucial points.
Prediction: 2-1
Watford v Tottenham Hotspur
3pm GMT, Vicarage Road, Watford
Watford got a very good point away to Chelsea on Saturday and they're only three points off the top four. They have won four of their nine home games with only United conceding less goals at home. They have taken 13 points from their last five games and will be very hopeful of getting something from this game and their next one against City.
Odion Ighalo is the must have Watford player for fantasy managers with Troy Deeney, Huerelho Gomes and all of their defenders doing very well too.
Spurs beat Norwich 3-0 on Saturday to close the gap on two of the three teams ahead of them. They have only lost one of their eight away games and no other team has conceded less goals away from home. They have only lost once in their last 17 games, but like Everton they need to turn more of their draws into victories.
Harry Kane, Bamidele Alli and Christian Eriksen have all done very well for fantasy managers and the Spurs defenders have been pretty dependable too.
This a tough game to call between two form times, but I think a draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction: 1-1
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United
3pm GMT, The Hawthorns, Birmingham
West Brom were beaten by Swansea on Saturday in a game they desperately wanted to get something from. They have lost five of their nine home games and only Villa have lost more games on their own patch. They haven't won in their last five games and they're only three points above the drop zone.
I can't see any West Brom players who might make a difference for fantasy managers at the moment.
Newcastle lost with the very last kick (or header) of the game at home to Everton on Saturday and dropped back into the bottom three as a result. They have lost five of their eight away games with only Sunderland and Norwich conceding more goals on the road. That defeat against Everton was their first in four games and they're only in the bottom three on goal difference.
If Newcastle are going to climb the table then Georginio Wijnaldum is their player to have for fantasy managers while Rob Elliott has done well in goal for them.
Both of these teams could do with a win in this game, but I think it will end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
Arsenal v Bournemouth
5.30pm GMT, Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal put in an awful performance on Saturday night and lost 4-0 away to Southampton. They have only lost one of their eight home games with only United conceding less goals at home. They have only won three of their last seven games and need to find more consistency if they're going have a genuine chance of winning the league.
Despite their poor performance on Saturday night players like Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott are all well worth considering for fantasy managers.
Bournemouth got a good point at home to Palace on Saturday to move three points clear of the relegation zone. They have lost five of their nine away games, but only six other teams have won more games on the road. They're unbeaten in six games and playing football which deserves to see them stay in the Premier League.
Junior Stanislas still looks like he's a bit of a bargain for fantasy managers as a squad player at least.
Arsenal need to bounce back after their dreadful display against Southampton and I think they will do just that.
Prediction: 3-1
Manchester United v Chelsea
5.30pm GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
United lost away to Stoke on Saturday and Louis van Gaal's days will be numbered if they lose this game. They have only lost one of their eight home games and have the best defensive record at home. They have only taken two points in their last five games though and need to turn things around quickly.
The way they're playing at the moment United players are better off avoided by fantasy managers.
Chelsea could only draw at home to Watford on Saturday and they're still only two points above the bottom three. They have lost five of their eight away games and only three other teams have lost more games on the road. They have only won twice in their last nine games, but they might just fancy their chances against a United team so low on confidence.
Diego Costa looks like he could be the Chelsea player to benefit from the change of management, but he's suspended for this game.
I think this will be a very close game and it will more than likely end in a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
West Ham United v Southampton
5.30pm GMT, Upton Park, London
West Ham got a point away to Villa on Saturday and scored for the first time in four games too. They have only won two of their eight home games and have taken more points on their travels. They haven't won in eight games and are sliding down the table despite drawing six of those games.
West Ham's defenders look like fairly good fantasy options at the moment.
Southampton got a great 4-0 win at home to Arsenal on Saturday night to put an end to a bad run of results. They have only lost two of their eight away games and only three other teams have a better defensive record on the road. That win was their first in six games, but it should surely give a huge boost to their confidence.
If Southampton have changed their fortunes some of their attacking players might just be worth watching for fantasy managers.
West Ham's inability to score is really hampering them at the moment and it could well cost them all three points in this game.
Prediction: 0-2
Tuesday December 29
Leicester City v Manchester City
7.45pm GMT, King Power Stadium, Leicester
Leicester lost away to Liverpool on Saturday and failed to score for the first time this season. They have only lost one of their eight home games though and only four other teams have scored more goals at home. That defeat against Liverpool was their first in 11 games, but they will have to be at their best to avoid defeat in this game too.
Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy are still must haves for fantasy managers despite drawing a blank against Liverpool.
City won 4-1 at home to Sunderland on Saturday and can go ahead of Leicester if they win this game. They have only won three of their eight away games and they're the lowest scorers away from home in the top half of the table. They have won three and lost three of their last six games and that inconsistency is the biggest obstacle to them winning the league.
Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva and Yaya Toure are all looking good for fantasy managers at the moment, but picking Sergio Aguero still seems like a risk as he continues to miss games.
This should be a very open game and I think City will get the better of Leicester despite their poor away form.
Prediction: 1-2
Wednesday December 30
Sunderland v Liverpool
7.45pm GMT, Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Sunderland lost 4-1 away to City on Saturday and it doesn't get any easier for them in a tough festive schedule. They have only won two of their eight home games, but no other team in the bottom half of the table has conceded less goals at home. They have lost their last four games and they're five points from safety with the season almost half way completed.
I can't see any Sunderland players to currently interest fantasy managers.
Liverpool beat the league leaders on Saturday and maybe that will be what they need to start climbing towards the top four. They have only won three of their nine away games though and have conceded more goals than they have scored on the road. That was their first win in four games, but they're still only five points off the top four.
If Liverpool are going to improve them Phillippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson could possibly do well for fantasy managers.
I think Liverpool will continue on from where they left off against Leicester and take the three points.
Prediction: 1-2
That's it for this week.
See you next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment