Kicking off the new year with...

more of the same...

As we approach the end of 2004, its time to hand out some wishes for the New Year...

1) To Everton...continued good health and hard work and a spot in Europe - maybe even a striker who can put the ball in the net (Mr. Beattie, perhaps?)...

2) To Boro...a long run in the UEFA Cup, another run in Europe next year, and enough stature and money to keep Stewart Downing away from the "big teams".

3) To Liverpool...a healthy striker - not sure they have the stuff to break the top 4 but I hate to see them lose out because of injury.

4) To Pompey...an in form Yakubu - he's just fun to watch when he's on his game.

5) To Joe Cole and Scott Parker...some playing time somewhere - they've got to be atrophying despite Cole's goal this past weekend.

6) To Theiry Henry...some help, you get the feeling that he's doing almost all the work.

7) To ManYoo...a spot in the UEFA Cup - you just get the feeling that there's another slump coming in the second half. They just don't frighten you like they used to.

8) To my hero, Dennis Bergkamp...one more run of form towards the end of the season leading to a graceful retirement.

A quick set or recommendations before heading off to some new years cheer...

Strikers
Not much out there this week with some tough match-ups for the big teams - I'm going with Henry and Andy Johnson at the top of a 3-5-2.

Midfielders
Downing gets ManYoo and Chelsea which doesn't seem like a recipe for points so I'm going to tempt the karma gods and drop him again. I'm also breaking up the Chelsea triumverate - partly because its bad business to have too many eggs in one basket. This leaves me with Giggs, Scholes, Pires, Lampard & Robben.

Defenders
Stayin' with what I got - Gallas, Terry and Heinze.

Keeper
I'm going out on a limb with Alumania since Cech has some tough games this week as does Carroll.