Initial Match-up Thoughts

As our friend Jeremy pointed out, despite all the Roonaldo-mania running wild, the Gunners are still the class of the EPL. The question is, which Arsenal team will show up this weekend. Will it be the lively side that dominated the Charity Shield and the first few weeks of the EPL season? or will it be the just-good-enough 11 that has seemingly been sleep-walking against Bolton, PSV, Man City and Rosenborg? That first group had fantasy points aplenty for everyone in the offensive end of the pitch, the latter group seems to have only enough for Henry and one guest scorer per match. Charlton is a mediocre squad and the game is at Highbury so maybe this is the week that they break out, but then again, maybe not.

ManYoo on the other hand, gets Boro at Old Trafford and has all the hype from their Champion's League fixture on their side. Boro was a defensive powerhouse out of necessity last season but seem a little more vulnerable this year since no one has even confused Viduka and JFH with strikers who work back into to midfield to be disruptive to their opponent's attack. As much as it pains me, there are a few Devils who are solid fantasy bets this weekend including Heinze (my favorite EPL newbie so far this season), Giggs and Rooney (assuming Sir Alex doesn't buck popular opinion and sit the young lad).

Chelsea/Liverpool might provide something not seen frequently at the Bridge this season, goals. Liverpool's recent EPL form has been strong and their defense seems vulnerable enough that even Chelsea might be able to break through.

Newcastle has been strong, but playing away at Birmingham is never a recipe for lots of goals. Tottenham's match at Goodison Park has "low-scoring" written all over it so it is probably best to avoid any offensive players in this one. Villa and ManCiteh both have favorable match-ups this week but both are on the road where neither has been terribly successful. Finally, the Monday game seems on track to be yet another in a long line of terrible games in front of a national audience - how do they pick these games. If one or both of the teams were underperforming or injured I could understand how these things happen, but who saw Palace v. Fulham and thought that would be an entertaining way to cap off a Monday.

See you tomorrow for Match-ups O' The Week...