Week 4 - Player Picks

It's only Week 4, but I'm starting to get really frustrated with the organisation of Yahoo's Fantasy Football game this season...and I'm sure I'm not alone!

We've already had numerous technical issues with pricing, points and delays since the season began, and now we're having to deal with another ...the (non) addition of new players. I know we still have 3 days until the Week 4 deadline and there is a chance they could be added before then, but the transfer window closed 7 full days ago and there's still no sign of Van Der Vaart, no sign of Gyan, no sign of Squillaci, Hleb, Gallas etc. In my opinion it's just not good enough.

I'm aware this game has always had it's share of problems, but the scoring system always seemed to outweigh these to make it worth the occasional pain. However, I don't remember this many mistakes occurring in such a short space of time and it's trying my patience. I've had emails from a couple of regular readers from last season saying goodbye and wishing me luck as they are quitting the game and worryingly I've found myself less bothered about it, which is not good when you're trying to motivate yourself to write a blog about said game! It's such a shame because we know it has the potential to be the best fantasy football game of them all...hopefully Yahoo can turn it around, but they need to do it quickly.

Anyway, before I start crying let us move on to the Week 4 fixtures. Stand-outs appear to be Chelsea @ point-less West Ham, Man City at home to Blackburn, Newcastle at home to Blackpool and Arsenal (despite a mounting injury crisis) at home to Bolton. Honourable mention to Spurs @ West Brom, although the defeat at home to Wigan has certainly dented my early season optimism, and Man United @ Everton, but be wary that the Toffees have a habit of upsetting the big boys at Goodison.

Aside from these match-ups, Fulham will be aiming for 3 points at home to Wolves but could find it tough as McCarthy's squad look well up for a fight this season, and a draw is my prediction. Who knows what Wigan/Sunderland sides will show up at the JJB, could be 0-0, could be 1-0, could be 0-3, it's hard to know, so I'll guess a draw too. The remaining two games to be played on Sunday & Monday are also very difficult to call, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see score draws between both Birmingham v Liverpool & Stoke v Aston Villa.

So Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle and Arsenal players are the ones to go for, which leads me on to my recommendations...

KEEPERS
Harper
Hart
Stockdale  (injury confirmed)
Cudicini

Harper is undoubtedly the bargain keeper this week with a home game vs Blackpool so I'm probably going in that direction, but if you've hung on to Joe Hart and still have him around 8 then I'd continue with him vs Blackburn as I'd expect a clean sheet for Man City. I'm already regretting my decision to get rid after barndooring him in Week 2.

Alternatives are the in-form Stockdale for Fulham at home to Wolves (Update: injured - confirmed by Jeremy from FantasyEPL) or Cudicini at West Brom provided he's still set to start in Gomes' absence...although new loan signing Stipe Pletikosa could have something to say about that so keep an eye on team news.

As we've seen so far it's been very difficult to pick a keeper, with lots of negative scores flying around and ruining our outfield player's success, so I wouldn't blame anyone who goes for Kirkland @ 1.17 for a zero with Al-Habsi almost certain to continue in goal for Wigan.

DEFENDERS
Bale
Vermaelen
Boateng/Richards
Ferreira
Kompany
Koscielny
Terry
Kelly
Pantsil
Williamson
Enrique
Skrtel
Faye
Stam
Van Damme

I'm assuming Bale is now in everyone's team, so you'll be looking to fill 2 defensive positions. Now I reckon the majority of you will be looking at Harper in goal, meaning you'd already have the Newcastle clean sheet covered, so an Arsenal, Chelsea or City defender would be ideal to cover the possible clean sheets in these 3 games.

Vermaelen is the premium pick and he's certainly due a goal, but if he's too expensive then Koscielny offers a cheap alternative. However, as I write this I'm reading news that suggests Squillaci could be in line for his debut after Kos struggled at Blackburn - as always, Friday team news should make things clearer.

For Chelsea Ferreira is tempting if Ivanovic is indeed out, while John Terry should return from injury to face the Hammers after missing the England games and for Man City you'd be looking at Boateng if he's set to return at right-back (Richards if not) and Kompany, who's had a fine start to his season.

If you aren't going for Harper, or just want to double your cover on Newcastle then Williamson and Enrique are the two defenders I prefer, while Fulham also have a good defensive record at Craven Cottage so Stephen Kelly or our old friend John Pantsil offer decent value. Skrtel should continue at centre back (assuming Agger would be dropped for Konchesky?), while Faye, Stam & Van Damme could suit those looking to go in a slightly different direction.

MIDFIELDERS
Malouda
Arshavin
Walcott Rosicky/Eboue
Barton
A Johnson
Nolan
Nani 
Milner
Lampard
C Gardner
Etherington
Adam
Scholes
Y Toure
D.Jones
Etuhu

Again, Malouda will be in almost everyone's team, and I imagine it was the same for Walcott before last night, but it appears he's set to miss out for at least a week with his ankle injury (update: apparently 4-6 weeks now). This means looking at Arsenal alternatives - I feel it's still too early for me to recommend anyone spending £18m on Fabregas, but Arshavin has started the season in fine form so is certainly an option if you can stretch to 14. I doubt Wenger will rush Nasri back, so I expect Eboue and Rosicky to fight it out to replace Walcott and both cost under 7, but await team news on Friday.

You'll probably be wanting a Newcastle middie, so it's between Barton & Nolan (or both if you fancy it) with my preference being Barton, and Adam Johnson is another tempter and possibly a replacement for Walcott (funnily enough as he was vs Switzerland) under 8 at home to Blackburn and on a massive high after 2 goals in 2 games for England.

If you have a bit more money to spend then you could go for Milner instead, or even Nani who was outstanding vs West Ham. Speaking of West Ham, Lampard is expected to be back to face his old club and he almost always scores against them. Not many people will pick Frank up and you know a 30 pointer is only ever round the corner with him, so why not this weekend?

Craig Gardner has had a superb start to the season and is very reasonably priced, while Matt Etherington always scores well when Stoke play at home. I'm really not keen to drop Charlie Adam after his start to the season, Scholes is still dirt cheap, Yaya has been quite impressive with his bursts forward and should've scored at Sunderland, with Dave Jones & the recently more attacking Etuhu available as adequate filler options.

STRIKERS
Drogba
Carroll
Defoe  (injury confirmed)
Chamakh
Tevez
Dembele
Torres
K Jones

I think you have to spend the money on Drogba against West Ham, even though he needs big points to return his value, he usually does just that. I'd also be looking at Andy Carroll provided he's passed fit for the game against Blackpool - it's a must win game for Newcastle so I'm sure he'll play and you'd have to fancy him to notch up at least one goal.

Defoe has just had 2 great performances for England, including a hattrick and despite his knock I've seen that he's likely to be fit for the West Brom game, so he's in my thoughts for that (Update: Defoe is now out injured according to a few sources, Crouch/Pav/Keane come in to the reckoning). Another option is Chamakh - he's had a slow start to his Arsenal career but it's early days and he's guaranteed to get chances as he spearheads the attack in Van Persie's absence.

Balotelli is unlikely to feature as he continues to struggle with a knee injury (Update: now set for surgery and out for 6 weeks), so Tevez is a great pick assuming he starts after a long international trip, although he will set you back quite a bit of cash, as will Torres, who started to show his old form vs West Brom. Zamora is doubtful so the impressive Dembele could find himself pushed right upfront vs Wolves and after 2 assists last week he'll be looking to open his scoring account, as will Kenwyne Jones for Stoke.

That concludes my Week 4 Player Picks. The Walcott injury has thrown my team in to disarray so I have lots to think about over the next 48 hours, but my XI will come from the player lists above. Please note that many of the new signings mentioned in my opening rant (e.g. VDV, Gyan) would've been recommended, but they aren't available.

Please remember to vote in the Week 4 Player Poll: http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/499898

I've removed Bale, Malouda & Drogba from the poll this week because everyone always votes for them and they're likely to remain in the Blog Team for the foreseeable future, and I'm hoping it might give us a more even spread of votes for the remaining 8 positions.

That's it for now until we get more detailed team/injury news nearer the weekend...how's your Week 4 team shaping up? Anyone you feel I've missed from the lists above?

Cheers,
AM

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