The Week Ahead


You'll have to excuse me if my heart hasn't exactly calmed back down after Arsenal's first 5 minutes in Belgium today. The only thing that kept me even close to sane was switching back over to the "headline match-up" between Inter and Barca - if ever there was a match that could lower your heart rate then this was it. I believe my one sort-of word summary of it to Jeremy over instant message was "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" (although I probably had a few more z's in there). It is why, despite my respect for the accomplishments of both, I really can't stand either Serie A teams or Jose Mourinho. Both have been incredibly effective over time but that doesn't make me any more interested in spending 2 hour increments of my life watching them.

Speaking of Arsenal-related stories (as I so often do), here's my take on the Citeh loss last weekend. All of the summer talk in the press and among the supporters was about the need for more defenders and a better holding midfielder. While I'd never turn down additional help at either position, somehow the big gap between the pipes never really came up. Almunia wasn't entirely responsible for Arsenal's demise but he certainly didn't help and could be classified as a decidedly negative influence on the outcome as far as the visitors were concerned.

Now, you might think that this was about to set me off on a rant about Wenger or Arsenal's financial situation. Instead of that, I'm going to ask a more basic question about the value of goalkeepers. Why is it that players so able to influence the outcome of a match are so undervalued? I don't have specific statistics on goalkeeper transfer fees but if you consider that the value in strikers is that they can turn a match by putting the ball in the net then why wouldn't a keeper who can turn a match by keeping that same ball OUT of the net be equally valuable? The fact that Given, Schwarzer, Friedel, and Howard have all switched teams for a combined sum of less than what Spurs paid for David Bentley to sit on the bench for the last year and a half. If any of those gentlemen were at Arsenal you'd have to think that Arsenal would have at least 4 points for their travels to Manchester the last two weeks rather than having nothing to show for those two trips.

The final point in my pre-analysis digression is a reference to the famous baseball book "Moneyball". I won't talk about the baseball part of the book but the underlying lesson was that for someone trying to build a sports team on a limited budget, the best approach is to figure out what skill or set of skills other teams are under-valuing and then invest in those skills as opposed to investing scarce resources in the same traits that everyone else is paying (or even over-paying) for. My point? If you're Arsenal and you're financially challenged compared to your rivals or you're a bottom of the table team without any oil money attempting to bring you up to the top - why aren't you investing heavily in an excellent keeper at £5 million as opposed to trying to compete for a slightly better-than-average midfielder like Stuart Downing at £12 million? What would you rather have? Brad Friedel and £7 million in the bank or Downing? Granted, the same team ended up with both but what would you consider the better use of money?

OK, enough of my ranting, on to the analysis of the upcoming week in Fantasy Footie, after the jump.


Schedule
On paper, there are only two matches that should really have fantasy managers salivating - Arsenal hosting Wigan at the Emirates and Villa welcoming Pompey to Villa Park. Sure, there may be some minor advantage to be had in Everton hosting Rovers, Sunderland heading to Burnley, Liverpool traveling to Upton Park, and Hull hosting Birmingham minus at least two major cogs in an already thin squad but if you're looking to invest then Arsenal and Villa should be your outlets.

If you're looking for players to stay away from then I'd studiously avoid the obvious candidates from the Manchester Derby and the slightly less obvious Force-over-Skill Derby between Bolton and Stoke at the Reebok.

Strikers
Best Value Striker of the Week: So, the conversation in my head here was really between Gabby Agbonlahor, EdS, and Kenwyne Jones. Why these three you ask? Well, the nominations of Gabby and EdS were pretty obvious based on the match-ups and a sort of low price for Gabby and a very low price for EdS. Kenwyne entered the conversation because it seems that the best strategy with Sunderland strikers this season is to pick the one that DIDN'T score over the previous weekend. With Bent having hit a brace last weekend, it seems likely that it is KJ's turn. I'm not putting the mortgage payment on that happening but for a reasonable price, it seems like a good direction to turn. I'm going with Gabby over EdS because I'm still not convinced that I have any feel for who is going to be healthy for Arsenal and if there are multiple healthy strikers, who will play. I may change my answer by Friday depending on the injury updates but for now, Gabby is my answer.

Best Premium Striker of the Week: RvP didn't feature today in Arsenal's Champions League drama so we'll have to reserve judgment on his candidacy for this category until we find out if he is going to play. A lot of the other candidates are sort of over-priced for this week - Anelka, Kuyt, Robinho (if he's even healthy), and Berbs are all selling for significantly more than their production and are unlikely to make up the difference this weekend based on their match-ups. That gets me down to Rooney and Nando (I know, I know - not exactly rocket science but we're talking about the premium guys here, it isn't like there are any unknowns). Rooney has been the better (and more consistent) player thus far but given the emotional charge of the Derby combined with Citeh's upstart status challenging the Big Four, I'm going to go Nando based on the chance that Rooney will blow a gasket and see Red (or at least Yellow with a bunch of other fouls committed and SAF withdrawing him after 60 minutes so he doesn't see the RC).

Best of the Rest: There is surprisingly little to like this weekend but I like Jo to open his account for the season; If Beattie is still out, I'd be willing to take a chance with Ricardo Fuller; he hasn't had the run of form that we had all expected at Fulham but AJ has an OK match-up and the price isn't crazy; and finally, I wouldn't be surprised if my Jozy Altidore bandwagon rant from a few weeks back becomes relevant this weekend.

Midfielders
Best Value Midfielder of the Week: Until the price goes up, I'm going to keep on this theme...Stephen Hunt is the best value out there. Price is 9.72 and he is averaging 12.20 points/match (and he's only had one bad match). Not too much else to write on this topic until Hunt's price climbs above noted absentees from this campaign like Jummy, Bentley, and Arteta or even guys who have played like Osman or Cahill really.

Best Premium Midfielder of the Week: Most weeks this is going to come down to Lamps and Gerrard but this weekend I'm going to go with BFAY as my number one choice with Cesc being second but a bit behind Young. My logic? Young has a great match-up and he's generally in the middle of everything that Villa do. Cesc is probably a better player but so much of what he does doesn't show up in fantasy stats - sure he has his exceptional matches like he did the first week of the season but he has far too many stinkers to justify investing all of your cash in him.

Best of the Rest: Milner, Lawrence, MGP, Duffman, Rosiky, Gomez, O'Hara, and if you have the stomach for it - Diaby (Jeremy and I had a lengthy chat about this option this afternoon with him coming out in favor of this option and me against on the logic that he's already had his brace - I invite you to come to his own conclusions on this one because I'm too bitter about the ManYoo loss to think about Diaby rationally).

Defenders
Best Value Defender of the Week: I'm not sure who is going to start between Beye and Cuellar at right back for Villa but if there is a definitive statement on the subject then that's probably your guy for value this week. If there isn't a clear answer at Villa then Vermaelen is probably the best answer for fantasy managers looking for strong value for the money.

Best Premium Defender of the Week: I know it's getting a bit dull with all of the Villa picks but if I were selecting between the best Arsenal premium defender (Clichey) and Villa's best premium defender (Warnock) then you have a clear case for Warnock who has a better match-up AND has been more productive this season AND Warnock is cheaper. Case closed.

Best of the Rest: If you want to go all the way down the price scale then this is probably one of the few weekends where Sonko might be more than just an enabler of other options; Also a reasonable weekend to get our old favorite from last year Pantsil back into the recommendation rotation; I'm also still in on Wilko even after his -2 point weekend last weekend - the match-up isn't that bad this weekend and he's been solid for the money for the rest of the season.

Keepers
Best Value Keeper of the Week: I know Burnley have been fairly tough at home and I'm very suspicious of Sunderland on the road but Gordon has to be a strong bet this weekend and even more so with a price of 5.61.

Best Premium Keeper of the Week: I'm sure you're expecting me to go Friedel here but not so fast my friends...I'm going Schwarzer to mix it up as well as based on his lower price. He's still relatively expensive compared to my usual keeper selections but he's more worth the money than Big Brad.

Best of the Rest: I like Given to have a lot of points even if Citeh lose (this is more attractive for people like me who have Given for 6-ish than those buying him at just under 9 this week but I'm going to keep saying that he's a pretty strong bet EVERY weekend no matter the opposition). Myhill would be the other option here at the low, low price of 1.56 - if you need the money, you know what to do and the match-up shouldn't cause you to lose any sleep on Friday night.

Good luck with your selections and stay thirsty my friends...

Cheers - Neal

30 comments:

  1. I think a case can be made for Myhill as your value keeper for the week. Especially for folks like me who have Given at (or just below) cost and have half a mind to get him out of the Manchester derby firing line.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Paul W10:15 PM

    Still no love for "The Beast" Jenson...look at his cumulative point score and the teams Burnley have played to date and WOW!! Even as a Burnley fan I couldnt put him in from the start with the fixture run but after 11 points in a big loss against CHE I whacked him in and loving it...would expect it to be very rare for the one shot one goal one loss to occur

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post Neal, and an even better game (Arsenal). And how ironic that you end with "Stay thirsty my friends". I have been watching that commercial for the last 3 months after moving to the States from the UK and guess what I have in my hand..a nice cold bottle of Dos Equis...it's no Carling but it's not too bad! It should be "TWA sponsored by Dos Equis" not Coke Zero!

    ReplyDelete
  5. may i know your team for this week neal?huhu

    ReplyDelete
  6. How do u like BFAR this week?

    ReplyDelete
  7. BFAR will start and probably do well, but I wouldn't expect another 20+ points from him.

    ReplyDelete
  8. burnley is going to shut out sunderland this week, as they have there 2 home games versus man united and everton, obviously much better teams than sunderland.
    g. alexander is a great pick for defence, as is jensen in goal.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous10:30 AM

    Who is EdS?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Eduardo Da Silva. Not to be confused with EvDS.

    It's all explained here in the infamous, "Who is K2?" post.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous3:38 PM

    Keep Benayoun on the cheap or go with Dunn?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous4:36 PM

    What about shorey, he seems pretty good, is he not guaranteed to start or something?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous4:52 PM

    ah, I see, him and warnock are both competing for the same spot...Dunne anyone!?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Brandinho5:39 PM

    Not much of a competition, mate. Warnock's clearly the superior player, I'd be surprised if Shorey got many starts over him.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Brandinho5:42 PM

    My team, if anybody cares:

    Given
    Vermaelen-Warnock-Sonko
    Milijas-Hunt-Young-Rodwell
    Drogba-Rooney-Torres

    Feeling pretty good about this lineup. Milijas is on a short leash though, this might be the last time I pick him if he doesn't come good.

    ReplyDelete
  16. My team
    Myhill
    Vermaelen-Warnock-Wilko
    Gerrad-Hunt-Young-Rosicky
    Drogba-A.Johnson-Tuncay

    any comments?

    ReplyDelete
  17. do u think, rosicky and tuncay will be in the starting lineup or not?

    ReplyDelete
  18. It's a pity Bielantinov (nickname ASAP please) got hurt in Everton's UEFA Cup game.... After looking at the gamecasts and highlights it seems like he could be what BFDB used to be

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tuncay is proving to be quite a quandary. He's a value at 1% of your total roster but not if he doesn't notch a point all weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  20. nickname: Bily?!

    I wish I had Tuncay at 1.00 now that K2 is suspended for 2 premier games...

    ReplyDelete
  21. i bought Tuncay at 1.00..i dont want sell him for now..but i dont know if he will be in the 1st 11 or not..

    ReplyDelete
  22. jeremy, whose in your team this week?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous5:50 AM

    how about milijas 4 this week?? im thinking twice in retaining him in my squad..... he isnt producing much......

    ReplyDelete
  24. i dumped milijas. not producing that much, and fulham isn't an easy opponent. oh well, at least jordi and hunt are still piling up the points.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Brandinho3:12 PM

    Give Milijas one more chance is my bet. If he doesn't perform or gets 6 points and comes off after 45 again, it's probably safe to drop him.

    ReplyDelete
  26. @Mohd... Myhill, Verm, Givet, Warnock, O'Hara, Hunt, Gomez, Gerrard, Drogba, DBent, Gabby.

    Thus ensuring a Jensen clean sheet and a Chucho double.

    ReplyDelete
  27. F me for Friday trades...
    I am keeping Milijas for 1 more week and will switch to either OHara or Bily.
    K2 suspended and a CHEAP Myhill threw my group out of whack.
    Myhill, Verm, Givet, Sonko, Milijas, Lamps, Gomez, BFAY, Drogs, DBent, Nando.

    ReplyDelete
  28. @jeremy, what do u think about BFAY for this week?

    ReplyDelete
  29. If BFAY gets less than 20 points against Portsmouth... I will not pick him again for the rest of 2009.

    What's with this hype with City? You guys seriously think they are a threat to ManU??? Benjani is paired with Bellamy for Buddha sake. Vidic will eat them aliveeee....Robinho might play but considering Mark Hughes's hate toward Petrov, pretty sure the Brasillian is sitll crippled.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Ricky S4:16 AM

    Jezza - Wilko or Givet do you reckon?

    ReplyDelete