Week 7 - Player Picks

Arsenal, Man U, Everton, Spurs, Wolves, Wigan, Burnley...there are so many good options with great fixtures for Week 7 that it's been very tough to narrow down a list. Here are 45 or so picks to get you thinking in what must be one of the most difficult weeks to make your mind up..

KEEPERS
Mannone - What a difference he's made to Arsenal...he seems to make so many more saves than Almunia ever did. Obviously he's too expensive at £15m but if you have him pre-update then hang on as the Arse face Blackburn.

Foster - Should've got some confidence back after the shocker he had vs Man City & a home game for the Champions makes him good value as Sunderland don't seem to travel too well.

Jensen - The Beast has a good fixture at home, we know he makes saves & his value has dropped down to a very affordable level. Could be a great pick.

Given - Tough fixture but if you've made him your season keeper than hang on to him as (like Jensen) he'll always makes saves to get you points.

Hennersey - Pompey at home...and he only costs £4m. Wolves will know they need to win these games & the home fans will be right behind them. Pompey are in desperate trouble and I can see a 3-0 Wolves win.

Myhill - Costs 1.00 but he plays for rancid Hull. Purchase at your peril.

DEFENDERS
Baines - May lose some set pieces to Billy so don't pay full price, but if you have him at around £10m then he'll keep giving you a great points return, home or away.

Vermaelen - Season keeper for anyone who has him for around £6-£7m, & a great fixture

Mears/Carslie - Both around £7m, both returning their value, both with a good home fixture for Burnley, both good choices.

Alexander - See above, but is cheaper & takes penalties.

O'Shea - Home fixture for the Champions, scored last weekend & tends to get a couple in a row on the few occasions he does get a goal.

Distin - Been really impressed with him since he joined Everton, despite his cost he's scoring well & has a decent fixtures at home to a Stoke side who are frankly rubbish away from the Britania.

Roger Johnson - Keeps on racking up points without cleans sheets, still cheap & not the worst fixture.

Heitinga - I actually think he's looked pretty ropey so far but he's going to get games, he's being given a few freekicks & he has a good fixture. If you have him at his old price of £5.5m then he's one of the best defensive picks this weekend.

Bassong - Bolton away has never been a fun place to go for Tottenham but if you're looking for a defender for under £6m, a definite starter with a chance of a win/clean sheet then SeBass is an option.

Mancienne - Cheap with a home game vs Pompey.

Sonko - Cheap with a home game & scoring surprisingly well.

MIDFIELDERS
Fabregas - Cesc usually thrives in games like this at home & even though he's a touch pricey, I'm recommending neither Gerrard or Lampard this week, so it's possible you'll have the spare funds. I honestly think Arsenal could hammer 5 past Blackburn so he's a great option.

Giggs - We'll see if he's rested tonight, but if he is then it's likely he'll get a start vs Sunderland. At 36 he's in the form of his life, thrashing out assists all over the place & is on my radar for sure.

Arshavin - He's not scored well so far this season but he was elecric last night in the Champions League & he could break out for the same reason as Fabregas. He's a risk at over £14m but if you fancy his chances then I think it could pay off in Week 7.

Lennon - Didn't get going vs Burnley but I expect him to terrify Bolton with his pace on the counter attack & score well.

Billy - Surely he'll get a start vs Stoke? It's been confirmed that Pienaar's knee injury isn't as bad as first feared but I doubt he'll be risked when you have someone with Bill's ability to replace him. At under £5m he's the bargain of the season so far.

O'Hara - Still taking all set pieces, still scoring well. I'm very glad I grabbed him at under £5m weeks ago as the money I'm able to spend elsewhere is great AND he keeps returning over his value. Still a good buy at just over £6m

Jarvis - The Milijas love-in is well & truely over & Jarvis is now getting all set pieces for Wolves. Great fixture for him & still well priced. Someone I'm seriously considering.

N'Zogbia - Outstanding vs Chelsea (17 points) & now has a chance to continue his form at Hull. At £9m he's a good outside bet that not many others will pick up & the way Hull are playing means he has a chance of another bumper week.

Cahill - Was back to his dangerous best vs Pompey, constantly arriving late in the box & winning everything in the air. With Billy swinging in the crosses he could be good for a goal so £11m seems like value to me.

Petrov - Only if you barndoored him at before his performance vs West Ham...and only if you're sure he'll keep his place. He should.

Kightly - If he starts then he's a decent bet but it's tough to be sure. I may wait a week to see how he performs vs Pompey but he is a player I rate highly so he may sneak in for Week 7.

Hunt - Always worth a look in a home game, but beware Jimmy Bullard's imminent return in future weeks as he's likely to take a lot of his set pieces away.

Rosicky/Walcott - If they play then they represent fantastic picks & value but it's so difficult to be sure that i'll probably stay away. If you take the risk with one of them it could pay off hugely given their fixture.

STRIKERS
Van Persie - Could well be in my team. Great fixture & he's starting to find the net on a regular basis. He's burned me so many times but I keep coming back for more.

Rooney - With his value dropping below £18m he's very hard not to pick up vs Sunderland...there just aren't enough spaces in my team!

Torres - Very very tough fixture but he's in world class form so don't let that put you off keeping him. Don't pay his current price though.

Drogba - Again like Torres he has a tough fixture but I don't think many defences can cope with him at the moment. No way should he be leaving anyone's team.

Saha - Scoring goals for fun now & will be missing the Europa Cup game so will be nice & rested for the weekend. SOme people will be holding him for around £9m but even at £12m he's worth a punt.

Rodallega - If he can do what he did to Chelsea last weekend, imagine what could he do to Hull?

Crouch - He'll definitely start vs Bolton as he's such a massive help defensively as well as offensively. He'll have a massive point to prove so he's my pick of the Spurs strikers & costs only £9m.

Doyle - Scoring goals & at home to Portsmouth. Say no more.

Berbatov - If you think United will win well then he's a good outside pick as an alternative to Rooney.

Nugent - Scored twice on his home debut & there's no reason he can't bag a goal vs Birmingham. Another great value pick.

Carlton Cole/Diamanti - West Ham are no where near as bad as their league position suggests & I think they'll beat Fulham this weekend. Hardly anyone will have these 2 players so going with either could prove a masterstroke.

Eduardo - Always good for a goal at the Emirates, whether starting or coming on a sub. Cheap too!

So those are the player I'm considering this weekend & there really are some fantastic options/difficult choices to make...I'm leaning towards value midfield picks and top £££ strikers at the moment but it's still a bit up in the air.

A reminder that The Blog Cup starts this Weekend for all members of the 3 Blog Leagues. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, please click here. Remember, The Blog Cup is just a bit of fun so don't sacrifice long term strategy for it (unless you really want to!!).

Also, remember we have the Facebook Group which is continuing to grow in numbers & helpes me put faces to names & have some additional chat.

How's your team looking? Did you miss anyone on the barndoor which really annoyed you? Have I missed anyone in my list above?

Cheers,
AM