Week 23 - Player Picks

After what seems like an eternity (2 weeks to be precise), it's time for my Week 23 Player Picks. Following the craziness of Week 22, I'm sure many of us were praying for a single week but unfortunately it was not to be. 

Manchester Utd  & West Ham have a double week, as they play Everton & Hull respectively this weekend before meeting each other at Old Trafford next Tuesday (5 days before Man Utd face Villa in the Carling Cup Final).

Week 23 Fixture
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Arsenal v Sunderland, 15:00
Everton v Man Utd, 12:45
Portsmouth v Stoke, 17:30
West Ham v Hull, 15:00
Wolverhampton v Chelsea, 15:00

Sunday, 21 February 2010
Aston Villa v Burnley, 14:00
Blackburn v Bolton, 12:00
Fulham v Birmingham, 15:00
Man City v Liverpool, 15:00
Wigan v Tottenham, 16:15

Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Man Utd v West Ham, 20:00

As with any double week, there is a risk of players being rested, but while I'm sure Ferguson wants to win the Cup, his priority is catching Chelsea in the League so he'll go full strength to Goodison & I doubt he'll rest anyone for the Hammers game. 5 days rest should be more than enough for his players to recover for Wembley.

To be honest, with injuries at centre back, no reserve left back, no Giggs, no Nani, an out of favour Anderson & apparently no faith in Owen or Berbatov, it's difficult to see who he'd rest anyway. As for West Ham they need every point they can get, so Zola won't be resting anyone unless he changes system (which he might actually...)

If you don't fancy backing the double then there are plenty of great picks from the single gamers. The stand-out fixtures are Arsenal at home to Sunderland, Chelsea at Wolves & Villa at home to Burnley. I also have a sneaky suspicion that Portsmouth may turn Stoke over at Fratton Park. I can't back Spurs at Wigan, even after the 9-1 reverse earlier in the season; we're just not playing well. City v Liverpool, Fulham v Birmingham & Blackburn v Bolton are all close to call, but there will be points around for the home teams.

So with that in mind, here are my Week 23 Player Picks

KEEPERS
Van Der Sar
Robbo
James

If you've hung on to VDS since he was mega cheap then this is the week you get ultimate payback! He is without doubt the keeper pick of the week, BUT there is no way (in my opinion) you should be paying the full £15m+ for him just in case he "does a Cech".

So if you don't already have Edwin, who do you go for? Well, with Almunia likely to be missing with his finger injury, my next best pick was going to be Fabianski for Arsenal at home to Sunderland, but after last night's utter embarrassment at Porto I can't see how Wenger can play him. Maybe Mannone will get the nod? He's the same price so he's one to look at, but I imagine the medical staff will be doing everything they can to get Almunia fit.

If none of these choices take your fancy then you have the bargain option of David James at home to a goal-shy Stoke, although going with a Portsmouth keeper is always a slight risk. An alternative is Paul Robinson, home to Bolton & reasonably priced.

DEFENDERS
Evra
Vermaelen
Upson
Evans
Tomkins
Bale
Hutton
Spector
Shorey
Finnan
Emerton

Picking a defence is  tricky this week. I imagine all of you will be holding a bargain defender such as Bale, Hutton or that bloke from Hull beginning with M. As well at that, you may still hold Vermaelen or a discounted Dunne (as always, both great picks), but the chances are you have 2 spaces to fill.

Evra is the top pick, expensive at £11m+ but pretty much guaranteed 2 games, so it makes it very tempting to fit him in. Other than that it's very tricky to choose another United defender. At right back Rafael will probably get 1 game, Neville 1 game. At centre back Vidic seems to still be injured but could be back, Ferdinand will miss the first game through suspension but will be back for the 2nd, so Evans could get 1 or 2, but he had a nightmare vs Milan, so Brown might take over...

...confused?

I am; to be honest there are just too many "ifs and buts" so I'm banking on Evra and avoiding all other United defenders unless I hear some news from Fergie suggesting Vidic is back. For West Ham it's more straightforward - Upson, Tomkins & Spector should all play both games & tend to score okay even without clean sheets.

There are also plenty of attractive single game options; Shorey is really tempting at under £8m, taking set pieces at home, while Finnan & Emerton have decent home games & are both very affordable. I've already mentioned Vermaelen, Dunne, Bale & Hutton.

MIDFIELDERS
Valencia
Fabregas
Carrick
Fletcher
Milner
O'Hara
Bentley
Downing
Parker
Collison
Park
Duff
Zhirkov
A Johnson
Faubert
Rosicky
Arteta

Again, plenty to choose from in midfield. With no Nani or Giggs you have to imagine Valencia (top pick) & Park will line-up on the wings, so both are fantastic options for the double week. I'd also expect Scholes, Fletcher & Carrick to share the 3 central midfield spots, with Rooney up top on his own, although Scholes may get a rest for one of the games.

For West ham, not a lot to get too excited about, although Parker is consistent, Collison always has a chance of a goal & Faubert could act as a double game filler.

Single gamers offer greater choice - I expect Fabregas to go to town on Sunderland & also see Rosicky as a really decent value bet at his price. Milner has been quiet lately but will relish the space he'll get vs Burnley & Bentley should keep his place on the right for Spurs at Wigan, taking all set pieces & generally racking up loads of phantom points.

Jamie O'Hara is always a good pick at home, Downing is surely due a performance & is the value Villa pick, Adam Johnson frees up money elsewhere, as does Zhirkov (although he'll be playing left back without the chance of clean sheet points). Arteta is in there, but it may be worth waiting 1 more week with Man United coming to town.

STRIKERS
Rooney
Diamanti
C Cole
Drogba
Bendtner
Mido
Agbonlahor
Kalinic

Did anyone notice Rooney dropped down to £21m after being £24m last week, or is it just my imagination he was ever that expensive? Whatever, I woke this morning to find an extra £3m burning a hole in my fantasy football related pocket & it made me very happy.

I think you have to have Rooney given his current form & apparent price drop - he'll be bang up for it vs his old club & then faces West Ham at home. Yes, there is a risk Fergie rests him for that game, but the chances are he'll give him 60 mins and then sub him once he has his goal or 2. I must say I like this approach - get the job done first, then he can rest.

I'm sure the majority of you will also be going with either Carlton Cole or Diamanti. I'm going with Cole as I've been badly burned by the Italian in double weeks gone by (as I know many others have been). I'm aware it's a decision I could end up regretting as Diamanti will get the home game at Hull and he'll probably do very well, but I'd be surprised to see him line-up at Old Trafford where I expect West Ham will pack the midfield with hard workers & stick Cole upfront on his own. He may well still outscore Cole in 1 game, but I couldn't afford the extra £3m on the barndoor & certainly can't afford him at his current price.

I still hold Drogba at £20m, but I don't think I'm going to hang on to him, even at Wolves. Obviously if you have him at £10m you're laughing but I don't (so stop it) and can't splash £40m+ on 2 players in a double week. My final spot may well go to Bendtner - as I've mentioned, Sunderland could be in for a battering & the arrogant Dane should be on the end of multiple through balls & crosses, so at under £6m he is an utter bargain.

Mido is another option (seems to be given a left hand side attacking role), as is Kalinic as a filler at home to Bolton & I expect a goal from Gabby Aggy at home to Burnley, although he's out of my price range for the final striker spot.

So those are my picks for another week. I'm still split on whether to load up on all double gamers or single gamers...but as always, finding the right balance is key. Evra, Valencia, Rooney & Cole are definitely in, Bale, Bendnter & David James will probably fill another 3 spaces, the rest are still up in the air.

Let me known how you team is shaping up for Week 23. Anyone you feel I've missed from the list about?

Cheers,
AM

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