The Week Ahead

So maybe you're wondering what those crazy sounds were that you heard over the last 24 hours.  Well, they were my cries of anguish as the news emerged that Arsenal had not only dropped 2 points to Villa on Wednesday but that they had potentially lost Verm long-term to a broken leg.  That initial sound was followed today by the equally loud sigh of relief when it was revealed that the leg was not broken and he went from doubtful for the rest of the season to a possibility (albeit a small one) of playing on Sunday.  Talk about your roller coaster of emotions.  Throw in the added news today that his opposite number Rio Ferdinand would definitely miss this weekend's clash as well as the three matches following and I went from feeling like Arsenal's season was once again coming to a pre-mature end in February to feeling like disaster had been narrowly avoided and there should still remain a reasonable amount of hope that a serious title drive could be mounted well into the Spring.

Am I entirely over the mid-week blues? Not at all, my fantasy team - coming off of a really nice week last week - was either not present (Degen, Kranjcar, Aquilani, and Valencia) or they might as well have been (I'm looking at you Anelka).  Throw in the fact that I didn't have Rooney and it was one of those situations where I just managed to pick around the points.  It happens but its never fun when it does.


So, how to turn it around? The most obvious answer is piling on the 2-gamers and hope to repeat the exceptional performance of two weeks ago.  Chelsea, Hull, Fulham, and Pompey are all 2-gamers with Chelsea the obvious choice with Burnley and Hull both on the docket even if both are away.  Where I will be cautious is with the other teams on the list.  Hull get both matches at home with one even being against someone they could/should beat (Wolves).  Fulham have Pompey at the Cottage in mid-week but host Villa over the weekend in a match that's tough to call as the away team is both more talented and in better form but is trying to overcome home field advantage.  Finally, Pompey are Pompey and who the heck knows what you're going to get from them - especially with two road matches against superior talent (Fulham and Citeh).

Of the one-gamers, Citeh and suddenly hot Everton have the best match-ups.  I'd add Liverpool to that mix if they were still actually playing football at Anfield but since there's no evidence that they are, you'll excuse me if I remove the last traces of myself from the 'pool bandwagon even for fantasy purposes.

If you're looking for teams to stay away from then ManYoo, Arsenal, Spurs, and Birmingham lead my list as they match up with opposition of similar talent and form.

So, who to pick?

Forwards

• Drogba - possibility that he'll only play one of the two but he's been hard to keep out when he's played;
• Zamora - two matches and with any luck Fulham regain their form with a striker healthy;
• Donovan - he's been on fire for Everton since coming over from MLS to keep himself sharp for the World Cup;
• Tevez - one wonders why he never did this at ManYoo;
• Piquionne - only as an enabler but two matches to do the little fantasy business required to justify his price;
• Kalinic - still cheap and the match-up ain't bad if you're looking for a really cheap enabler;
• Fagan - desperation? sure but he barely has to kick the ball to justify his price and you get two matches worth of a starting striker.

Midfielders

• Lamps - expensive but unlike Elk and Drogs he'll almost definitely start both matches unless an injury comes up;
• FloMal - inexplicably hot but a risk to be rotated with Kalou and Drogs back - he's also expensive unless you picked him up on the BD;
• Duffman - also expensive and with FUL having slowed down his production has tailed off;
• Hunt - not the best value at over 11 but one of the few Hull players who consistently produces;
• Garcia - the cheap alternative to Hunt, not nearly as productive but an enabling option the enormous number of worthwhile expensive players this weekend
• Giovanni - the middle option between Hunt and Garcia (please only pick one of the three from Hull if any)
• Utaka - an old favorite seems to be getting a run in the team and has been productive
• KPB - I'm a bit off the bandwagon but he's always a danger to shoot 5 or 6 times per match and maybe some will hit the target with the slight possibility that one will go in;
• Arteta - I'm more inclined towards him on the BD but if he's back he's a huge bargain at 8.35 - hard to figure out what happens with Everton's midfield with everyone healthy;
• SWP - seems like a bit of a bargain either now or on the BD if he's back to full health and going to be starting;

Defenders

• Verm - obviously not for those of you who don't have him already but I'm keeping him through the injury unless it is ruled worse tomorrow;
• Ivanovic - a rare premium defender recommendation but he's been producing and he has two matches;
• Baird and/or Smalling - both producing well enough to be worth it as two-gamers;
• Heitinga - I'm a fan, what can I say?
• Bale - but only if you have him cheap; 

Keepers

• Cech - pretty attractive for this week although his price edged up after the mid-week clean sheet;
• Schwarzer - 7.68 for two home matches against beatable opposition - not a sure thing on Fulham's current form but if you need the money elsewhere;
• Given - looks tailor made for a clean sheet against Pompey at Eastlands;

To be honest, that's about it for the keepers, there really aren't any extremely inexpensive options unless you're ready for the Robbo risk which is a little rich for my blood.