Week 21 - Player Picks

Before I start, a quick mention of last night...

After Rooney bagged me 45 points on Saturday I was dreaming of a 130-150 point week, but thanks to 4 big fat zeros from 3 no-shows (Aquilani, Stearman, Bily) & Robbo, plus -3 from Vermaelen, I think I have to be pleased with my final total of 104.5 points. Big thank you to Lampard & Kalinic!

Regarding last night's games in the Premier League - Chelsea look scarily efficient, brushing aside a 15-game unbeaten Birmingham side, Villa & Arsenal played out a 0-0 which was probably fair, Blackburn scraped past Wigan 2-1 & Everton easily dismissed free-falling Sunderland, 2-0. Great points for Lamps, Malouda, Cahill, Donovan & Pederson amongst others.

And as for the Carling Cup Semi, there are no words other than...WHAT A GAME!

Now, time for the Week 21 Player Picks. Firstly a look at the fixtures.

Saturday, 30 January 2010
Birmingham v Tottenham, 15:00
Burnley v Chelsea, 17:30
Fulham v Aston Villa, 15:00
Hull v Wolverhampton, 15:00
Liverpool v Bolton, 15:00
West Ham v Blackburn, 15:00
Wigan v Everton, 15:00

Sunday, 31 January 2010
Arsenal v Man Utd, 16:00
Man City v Portsmouth, 13:30

Monday, 1 February 2010
Sunderland v Stoke, 20:00

Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Hull v Chelsea, 19:45

Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Fulham v Portsmouth, 20:00

So double weeks for Hull, Chelsea, Fulham & Portsmouth. Yahoo STILL haven't updated their fixtures to reflect this, but expect them to do so today or tomorrow.

There is no doubt that you want to be getting as many double game players from Chelsea (2 easy away games) & Fulham (2 home games) as you can, maybe 1 or 2 from Hull (2 home) & Portsmouth (1 home & 1 away). The only single game to get really excited about is Man City at home to Pompey, and maybe Liverpool at home to Bolton.

All other games are too close to call for me, so hang on to any big discounts but don't go spending crazy money on single gamers.

With that in mind...

GOALKEEPERS
Cech
Schwarzer
Given

I can't see any real reason for not going with either Cech or Schwarzer this week. Personally I'd feel a lot more comfortable with the Chelsea keeper in my team (despite 2 away games), but going with Schwarzer will save you some vital pennies & Fulham are pretty tight at home. It's really up to you which way you go.

If some reason you don't fancy either of those chaps then Given is the only viable option; City should have a decent chance of a clean sheet vs Pompey. Avoid Myhill, I feel Hull could be in for a battering when Chelsea come to visit. Craig Gordon is back for Sunderland, so he's a cheap alternative, but also a huge risk.

DEFENDERS
A Cole
Terry
Ivanovic
Baird
Bale
Smalling
Hreidarsson
McShane
Zabeleta

For the first time this season, no Vermaelen. The suspected broken leg means he's gone... goodbye Verm, thanks for everything (UPDATE - the injury not as bad a first feared, but he's still likely to miss this weekend). It leaves a small group to choose from really, because there isn't much choice about. I have a single gamer in Bale so I want to fill the other 2 spots (or 3 if I go with 4 at the back) with 2 gamers.

Baird will find his way into most teams as he represents the best value, Hreidarsson is a nice cheap option & you'll probably want to try to squeeze in a Chelsea defender. Ashley Cole is the dream but the chances are you're priced out unless you grabbed him 2 weeks ago. Otherwise, I'd go for Ivanovic over Terry.

MIDFIELDERS
Lampard
Fabregas
Duff
Hunt
Utaka
J Cole
Gera
Boateng
Geovanni
Murphy
Malouda
Ballack
Petrov
Aquilani
Maxi
O'Hara (if he returns)

A bit more choice in the middle, with lots of double gamers finding form. Step forward Frank Lampard, 4 goals in 2 games, getting in to the box again - I hold him at £17.91m so it's very hard to drop him. If you hold Fabregas at big discount then I wouldn't drop him either (he was a lick of paint away from another goal last night) but obviously don't pay full whack.

Next in line is Damien Duff - back to his best this season, 2 home games, set piece taker...I think he's close to a "must have". I also really like Stephen Hunt for this week, but unfortunately I don't think i'll be able to afford him on top of Lamps & Duff. Malouda is also a great option if you have him cheap (as I know some of you do), as is Joe Cole (finally looking back to match sharpness), KP Boateng will always score points & Danny Murphy is another I'm considering.

Utaka, Gera, Aquilani & Maxi are cheaper choice that could fill a spot & keep an eye on Jamie O'Hara. If he's back at Portsmouth in time then you have a fantastic value set piece taking double gamer!

STRIKERS
Drogba
Anelka
Rooney
Tevez
Zamora
Kalinic
Nevland/Kamara
Piquionne (added after comments)


The big question for those of us who sold Drogba is whether to get him back for the double week. For me, unless Anchelotti categorically states the Ivorian will play both games, I'm leaning towards sticking with Anelka. I've read lots of quotes from the Italian stating Drogba is very tired & he made a point of saying how well his team have done without him over the past 3 weeks, so I can see Drogba being on the bench for the first game.

Once you resolve that predicament, 2 single gamers who stand out are Rooney & Tevez. Both players are on fire, and Rooney will be facing an Arsenal defence with no Vermaelen - if Stoke scored 3 without him, what could Rooney do? If you still have him under £17m then I'd keep him. I'm personally tempted by Tevez, who will surely score at home to Pompey & is far more affordable.

However, I'm also thinking I'm going to hang on to Kalinic; it's not often you can own a goalscoring striker for £2.6m...yet Zamora is another option. My forward line will probably be 'Anelka, Tevez, Kalinic' or 'Anelka, Zamora, Kalinic' - I'm undecided, it'll depend on what I do with my midfield.

That's it for another week, I hope I've helped in some way...Please join the blog Facebook Group if you haven't already!

Let me know how your teams are shaping up for Week 21...anyone you feel I've missed from the lists above? What are you doing about Drogba?

Cheers,
AM