Waiting for holidays to start in earnest, its time to contemplate...

The beauty of the quarter final Champions League matches - are Arsenal and Liverpool now the most likely of the English sides to move through to the round of 8? Chelsea is in form and talented but Barca will be tough and given their current form, ManYoo certainly can't be considered favorites to beat Milan although it wouldn't be a shock.

More importantly, though, as we look forward to the Christmas season, how can you get yourself the gift that keeps on giving (by allowing you to talk trash to your friends below you in the standings? and you know who you are...) - the answer, of course, is read on...

Strikers
Henry, Arsenal - since Arsene had a chat with the man and told him to play up top more, he's been back in form. Can't think of a single reason not to include him.

Smith, ManYoo - Rooney is the high risk/high reward pick here but he's been more risk than reward when I've played him so I'm going with the guy who seems to be in the points every time he gets a game.

Johnson, Palace - Yup, I'm throwing the match-up out the window on this one - he's playing well and ManYoo haven't proven to me that they're THAT good yet.

Midfielders
Lampard, Chelsea - As Phil Knight chuckles to himself constantly in his retirement, "Just Do It"

Robben, Chelsea - No reason to change now.

Gerrard, Liverpool - He's really all that Pool have going for them right now. The only question you have to ask is whether they'll score enough for him to have a great week. He should do enough on his own even if they're shut out to have a good week.

Downing, Boro - I get infatuated with Alonso and his two games for a week and my boy punishes me by having significantly more points in one game than Alonso had in his two. Lesson learned - stop overthinking it and keep this guy in unless he's hurt.

Defenders
Terry, Chelsea - Who would have guessed he'd become a scoring machine? Can't risk NOT having him in the line-up since he's apparently a threat in the air every week as well as very likely to get a clean sheet to his credit.

Gallas, Chelsea - Chelsea's defense has been putting up some good offensive numbers and it feels like it might be his turn this weekend.

LeSaux, Southampton - He's playing left midfield, albeit for a crappy team, but he gets a lot of offensive points consistently. Being away at Tottenham isn't great, but it isn't tragic either in terms of a possible clean sheet.

Keeper
Cech, Chelsea - After a week where he gave up two - neither of which he could have done a thing about - its back to a save or two and a clean sheet at the Bridge (vs. Naawich).