Week 34 - Player Picks

After 9 long months, the final week of the Premier League / Yahoo Fantasy Football season is upon us! It's been a great season in my opinion, not just because of the success Spurs have achieved, but generally because no team has "run away" with it & we've had a number of sides contesting the title-race, Champions League & Europa Cup places.

I think the top of the league is more competitive than ever - Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Spurs, Man City, Liverpool, Aston Villa & Everton are all strong sides who have taken points off each other & I believe it'll be even closer next year as everyone looks to build / improve. The breaking of the Top 4 cartel for the first time in 5 years should give other sides belief that it can still be done.

We've also had the fairytale of Fulham reaching the Europa Cup final despite starting their campaign last July & the same with Portsmouth reaching the FA Cup final despite all the turmoil. The league climax is just a few days away, with everyone expecting Chelsea to walk the title at home to Wigan, but you just never know in this game...we love it because the impossible is only ever round the corner.

Another reason for loving this season has been the unbelievable success of the blog. It will sound like the saddest thing ever, but last June I actually had a dream where I had started writing a Fantasy Football Blog. Not quite in the same ballpark as Martin Luther King I know, but writing has always been something I loved to do, football is a passion & I'd been enjoying Yahoo Fantasy Football for years - it all made sense!

On Sunday 21st June 2009 I wrote my first post & since then it's really gathered pace beyond my imagination, to the stage we're at now - over 400,000 hits, 60,000+ visitors from around the globe, up to 4000 hits per day, over 600 fans on Facebook, 100 replies to some posts, blog regulars constantly discussing football affairs in the chatroom - when I think about it like that it makes me really proud of what it's become.

I couldn't have done it without the help of Jeremy & Neal over at FantasyEPL & the support of the community we've built here, It's been bloody hard work (especially the admin side of the Cup competitions), but totally worth it - I'll be taking a bit of a break over the summer but I'll still be adding the odd post of relevant news (World Cup Fantasy Football anyone?) & I'll be back next year refreshed & ready for the new season!

But before that, we have the final player picks to think about! The final day of the season gives teams the chance to give their fans something to shout about & gives you the chance to secure 1st place in your private league, or grab that Top 50/500/5000th place finish you've worked so hard for. I'm in 316th, so hoping to finish in the Top 300!

It's also the final of The Blog Cup where Stephane's FrenchCannons face off again AlexDarlo's Supermassive FC, with the winner rewarded with the prize of the Premier League football shirt of their choice. Good luck to both!

So let's look at the final day fixtures:-

Sunday, 9 May 2010
Arsenal v Fulham, 16:00
Aston Villa v Blackburn, 16:00
Bolton v Birmingham, 16:00
Burnley v Tottenham, 16:00
Chelsea v Wigan, 16:00
Everton v Portsmouth, 16:00
Hull v Liverpool, 16:00
Man Utd v Stoke, 16:00
West Ham v Man City, 16:00
Wolverhampton v Sunderland, 16:00

The only teams with something massive to play for are Chelsea & Man Utd, so Chelsea at home to Wigan & Man Utd at home to Stoke are the two you want to be loading up on. Spurs can mathematically still get 3rd so they'll be going for the win at Burnley, but I don't expect Arsenal to slip up at home to a Fulham reserve side.

Away from the 4 teams with something to go for you have to fancy Everton & Aston Villa to put on a decent show in front of their fans after pretty successful seasons. They face Portsmouth & Blackburn respectively, so I can see a couple of home wins & quite a few goals.

I won't be getting excited about any of the other games. I suppose Liverpool could win at Hull, but West Ham v Man City is difficult to call now neither have anything to go for although I'd slightly favour City with the pressure off, while Bolton v Birmingham & Wolves v Sunderland are only attractive for the possible cleans sheets (0-0, 0-0?)

With that in mind, here come my final player picks of the season. It's worth noting the deadline has been pushed to midday on Sunday so you have an extra 24 hours to decide on your team...

KEEPERS
Fulop
Fabianski
Jaaskalainen

I'll be keeping Fulop at 1.60 as he was pretty impressive last night despite Man City's defeat & West Ham rarely score a bagful. If you want to buy him now he'll still only cost you £3m & I feel he's the pick of the bunch.

Despite the fact he's one of the worst goalkeepers I've ever seen (including at School & Sunday League), Fabianski will be in goal as Arsenal play Fulham's reserves, a game they should win to nil, so at £5.36m I feel compelled to recommend him as an alternative to Fulop. If neither appeal to you then Jussi is probably the best bet at home to Birmingham.

DEFENDERS
Bale
Jagielka
Vidic
Terry
O'Shea
Smalling
Mancienne
Campbell
Bassong
Steinsson
Yobo
Elokobi

Obviously Bale & Jagielka are recommended only at discount, but if you're looking to spend on money on defenders likely to get clean sheets & possibly grab a goal then Vidic & Terry should be top of your list, with O'Shea a decent option too.

At the next level down you have Bassong (who'll replace Ledley), Sol Campbell, Steinsson & Yobo, who should all do well with clean sheet chances, although keep an eye on news on Heitinga because if he returns then Yobo could find himself on the bench.

There's also a few choices for cheap defenders, with Mancienne, Smalling & Elokobi all definite starters at bargain prices.

MIDFIELDERS
Lampard
Nani
Malouda
Arteta
Valencia
Arshavin
Young
Walcott
A.Johnson
Nasri
Wilshire
Ballack
Benayoun
Rodwell
D.Jones

Lampard is the midfielder I really wanted this week, but spending close to £23m seems crazy when there are plenty of other options. The outstanding Arteta is too pricey for me too, but Nani & Malouda are two alternatives I'm seriously considering given their must win home games. I missed Nani on the barndoor, so it's possible I go with Valencia instead to save a few million.

I've got a funny feeling that both Arshavin & Walcott could have big weeks for Arsenal, with Nasri also on my radar, while it's hard to discount set pieces takers like Adam Johnson & Ashley Young. This also brings in the bargain David Jones, who should be on set pieces for Wolves with Jarvis out & costs under £5m!

Some outside bets I'm looking at are Jack Wilshire, Ballack (playing defensive midfield), Benayoun at Hull & Jack Rodwell, who's due some game time at home to Portsmouth - Moyes may play the youngsters with Everton guaranteed 8th position.

STRIKERS
Drogba
Rooney
Van Persie
Anelka
Tevez
Defoe
Carew
Crouch
Kalou
K.Davies
Doyle
Anichibe

Drogba's ruddy expensive but expect at least a goal from him, while Van Persie & Rooney are sure to want finish their season's on a high. A bit like the Arsenal middies, I feel RvP could be in for a monster week as he looks to make up for an injury hit season.

If those guys are out of your price range than Anelka is a bit more affordable & playing for a new deal, many of you will have Tevez for around 15-16 & Defoe surely has to get a goal at leaky Burnley? John Carew is ending the season strongly & is tempting at under 10 / home to Blackburn, Crouch & Kalou should keep their places, with Kevin Davies & Kevin Doyle outside picks if you're looking to do something different.

My final pick is another risky one but I think I'm going to go with - Victor Anichibe. He's playing well & as I mentioned earlier I think Moyes may give some of the youngsters a run out versus Portsmouth. I remember right at the start of the season I said that you should always try to go with a hunch pick - he's mine in this final week & I feel it's a good way to end my final player picks list of the season!

My team page currently looks like...

    Fulop

      Mancienne  Smalling  Bale

       Walcott  Jones  Malouda  Nani

     Van Persie  Anichibe  Anelka

Fulop, Bale, Smalling, Anichibe & Van Persie will all probably stay but literally every other position is still up for consideration, with players like Yobo, Campbell, Lampard, Valencia, Nasri, Rooney & Kalou possibly coming in.

How's your team shaping up? Anyone you feel I've missed from the lists above?

Please remember to join the Facebook Group if you haven't already. I know it's the end of the season but you'll get notifications whenever I post something new on the blog, I'll be able to alert you about new cup competitions planned for next season & it's also nice for me to put some faces to names...we've passed 600 members - join us!   

BEST OF LUCK FOR THE FINAL WEEK - THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!

Cheers,

AM