Week 8 Preview
Firstly, before we kick off Week 8 chat I'd like to discuss Week 7. I still have some BIG decisions to make, but I've at least managed to cut the list of players I'm considering from 45 to 18
Keepers: Foster, Hennersey, Myhill
It's almost certainly going to be Foster but I've been playing around with the idea of Myhill as I can then strenghthen my midfielder hugely. Hennersey is another option to free up £3m.
Defenders: Vermaelen, O'Shea, Heitinga, Sonko
Not alot going to change here, with the only option to downgrade O'Shea to Sonko to save £2m, again to upgrade a midfielder.
Midfield: Fabregas, Arshavin, O'Hara, Billy, Kightly, Cahill, Hunt
This is where I'm having trouble. I'm seriously thinking of either Cahill or Hunt in place of Kightly or Billy, which is why I may need to downgrade Foster. It'll be something I'll spend today thinking about but I have this real hunch about Cahill. I've watched Everton's past 2 games & he looks close to his best again - like he could score everytime makes his late runs in to the box.
Strikers: Torres, Drogba, Van Persie, Rooney, Berbatov, Crouch
Torres & Drogba are staying. I know people are thinking of dropping Torres but at £16m I think he'll be a long term pick for me, despite his tough upcoming schedule. His Liverpool league record is now 46 goals in 58 starts + 6 substitute appearences, which is phenomenal. The other spot is uncertain. I like all 4 of the options, especially Berbatov but I'm leaning towards Rooney because...well, he's Rooney!
So lots of Friday decisions still to make, I'm sure many of you are in the same situation.
Now after this weekend there's a break for internationals (boooooooo), so the next round of games aren't until October 17th - plenty of opportunities for injuries etc but there will still be a barndoor to utilise this weekend. So we move on to the Week 8 Preview (which could end up as Week 9 depending on what Yahoo decide)...
Week 8 Fixtures
Saturday, 17 October 2009
Arsenal v Birmingham, 15:00
Aston Villa v Chelsea, 12:45
Everton v Wolverhampton, 15:00
Man Utd v Bolton, 15:00
Portsmouth v Tottenham, 15:00
Stoke v West Ham, 15:00
Sunderland v Liverpool, 15:00
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Blackburn v Burnley, 13:00
Wigan v Man City, 16:00
Monday, 19 October 2009
Fulham v Hull, 20:00
The stand out fixtures? Well, almost all of them offer value this week. Arsenal at home to Birmingham, Man Utd home to Bolton, Everton at home to Wolves, Spurs at Portsmouth really stand out. Others to look out for are Fulham at home to Hull, City at Wigan, Liverpool at Sunderland & Blackburn home to Burnley who are terrible away. I'll avoid Stoke v West Ham & Villa v Chelsea with the exception of Drogba.
Players to grab on the barndoor? Blimey...
Man Utd: Rooney, Berbatov, Giggs, Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, O'Shea, Vidic, Evra, Foster
Arsenal: Van Persie, Fabreagas, Walcott, Arshavin, Rosicky, Vermaelen, Mannone/Almunia
Everton: Saha, Yak, Billy, Cahill, Pienaar, Baines, Heitinga, Howard
Spurs: Defoe, Keane, Crouch, Kranjcar, Modric (if back), Lennon, Hudd, Bassong
Fulham: Johnson, Zamora, Murphy, Dempsey, Paintsil, Schwartzer
Man City: Adebayor, Tevez, Petrov, Wright Phillips, Richards, Bridge, Given
Liverpool: Torres, Gerrard, Benayoun, Riera/Babel
Blackburn: Roberts, Dunn, MGP, Givet, Robinson
Others: Drogba, Ballack, Zhirkov, J Cole, C Cole, Diamnti, Noble, Milner, Young, Agbonlahor, TUNCAY ;)
I will be properly loading up on Man U, Arsenal, Spurs & Everton this week.
Top Pick: Rooney at home to Bolton.
Again, 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.
Week 7 Injury News & Match Previews will be up later today, until then post your teams up - I'll try & have a go a giving advice on as many as I can. What are the "make or break" decisions keeping you awake at night?
Cheers,
AM
21 comments:
AM - why not give a copy of Fifa 10 to the top 5 finalists??
@10:29am...and maybe their own weight in gold? ;D
A nice thought, but the shirt I'm offering is costing me £40 out of my own pocket so I'm afraid I can't afford to offer another £150 worth of computers games!
Cheers
AM
LOL
AM you really need to block those anonymous posts... usually it's just people being silly.. or too lazy.. either way.. more fun when people post their name.
Actually dont think any of us entered this blog/ the league or the yahoo fantasy game to win any prices. There are other fantasy games for that.
Good luck everyone today with keeping their hands off their selection ;)
I'm sure if anyone wishes to donate any prizes (or cash) AM would appreciate it.
tss.. being at home on a friday is not a good thing! Too much options... to pick around the points. Yahoo should add 3 substitutes.. for which you would get half the points? Better than double points for a captain..as in some other games..I think.
On 3 unsaved friday changes for now :S
Indeed Ian ;)
I've added a Paypal "Donate" button in the top right of the blog just incase anyone feels especially generous & wants to donate the odd penny here or there.
I'd also been planning on offering a prize to the overall top scorer in all 3 of the blog leagues at the end of the season & this will again come from my pocket, but anything people give (even pennies) would be a massive help. I'm not expecting anything mind you!
Cheers,
AM
Hi AM,
First, you're the man. Thanks for the massive effort you're putting in the blog.
What's your thought on:
Jarvis, Alexander -> Cahill, Sonko
Alexander is taking penalties and Jarvis should have a good game against Pompey (especially because I think they will play less motivated because of the pay checks problem).
Also I have Saha and I'm thinking replacing him with Crouch?
Cheers,
Blanco
Hey Blanco - I'd keep Saha, as for the other 2...I like Cahill but if you already have Saha then go for the first option of Jarvis/Alexander.
Thanks for the kind words!
AM
AM,
i am still torn
gallas, heit. verm.
fabregas, lennon, ohara, bily
or
sonko, heit, verm.
geovanni, lennon, ohara, bily
i never go for high end defenders. i have verm. and heit., like the rest of us, at beginning price. i looked at gallas and i can get 10-12 out of him and geovanni. is that more than what fabregas and sonko would get me? this is coming from an arsenal fan and a fan of fabregas.
Hi AM,
Doubt Nani(8.76) or Ballack (9.43)/Deco(7.58) will be play this week.
Any replacement other than Hunt(8.96)?
Rgds.
Ajani
oh sorry,
i forgot to mention i have giggs now with bridge in defense, at +.36. do you think i should keep giggs with lennon? there is a 2 week break after this weekend and giggs might be more inclined to be included in the starting line-up.
i never get around to thanking eveyone who has given me advice over the season, so thank you!
Greghino - your options don't make sense...Gallas/Fabregas cost significantly more than Sonko/Geovanni so there must be some corresponding change in your front line/GK as well?
thanks doctor teeth i had it backwards. i was in such a hurry
it would be fabregas and sonko
giggs and bridge
or geovanni and gallas
sorry
I'd go for option three, I think.
Still too much uncertainty over whether Giggs will start, I think.
Sonko has been punching above his weight.
Geovanni seems to be hitting his stride and Gallas has a good chance for a clean sheet (and goal).
Hi AM, Rate my team please
Jensen
Verma, Hei, Bassong, Alexander
O'hara , Bily , Lennon
Drog, VPersie , Rooney
Still thinking to replace Jensen with Myhill, and use the money to strengthen my midfield, what do u think?
From
Joseph
Ajani,
what about k. boateng or jarvis?
if you can afford geovanni he is another great pickup
decisions decisions...
at the moment going with a mid priced midfield of dunn, hunt, cohen, and billy
back is set. drogs and nando cheap and untouchable up top.
that leaves bent at +5.5, but 14 points to spend.
thoughts on replacing him with rooney? other option being an upgraded midfield where not as much value is locked in (dunn an exception at +3).
Hi All need help
Team 1
Myhill
Vermalen Hertinga Sonko
Arshavin/Fab Milner Billy O Hara
Drogba Torres RVP
or
Given
Vermalen Hertinga sonko
Fab Milner Arshavin Billy/ohara
Drogs Torres Tuncay
Please help, head melted
Fancy Arsenal big time , could have rooney in team 1 ,but not gone on it
Wat you think
AM good decision on Cahill if I must say so. I was thinking the exact same thing and Cahill even said it himself, he isn't the same player without Arteta feeding him dangerous balls, etc. and with Billy now taking that spot I see Cahill becoming a steady good producer, and when Arteta comes back, no one will touch him in terms of attacking midfielders. He was going to be my hunch pick (him or Geovanni)
Just wanted to say thanks to Am for this amazing Blog. It has been a HUGE help this season, and I am so glad I came across it. Excited for the weekend!
Given
Vermaelen, Heitinga @7.27 :( , Bassong
O'Hara, Bily, N'Zogbia, Lennon
Drogna, Torres, Rooney
I've had a bit of a hunch with Cahill as well... and am considering switching Lennon for him. Both have good match-ups though and Lennon at 11 is hard to pass up. If I had Heitinga on the BD, the problem would be solved. Just swap him for N'Zogbia.
Hope to see Bily get the start. If he doesn't will probably swap Kightly in for him.
Anyone think Bassong to Alexander would be the right decision? Or Lennon to Cahill for that matter?
I knw O'Hara is on loan at Pompey, so will he be available to play against Spurs on Week 8?
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