The Week Ahead

I know I'm running terribly late with this post but the last two days (and really the last two months) have been a bit of a whirlwind of activity in my little corner of the world.  Since no one has seen fit to pay us enough to make this our day job, we occasionally have to bow to the pressures of schedule conflicts.

Speaking of schedule conflicts (in the media biz, we call that a segue way kids) we continue to suffer as fantasy managers for the oddities created by UEFA's desire to reduce the number of knockout stage matches on the same day, the subsequent changes to the FA Cup schedule, leading to a marked lack of "normal" weekends in the Prem where all 20 teams play.  We've seen a consistent run of match weeks like this one where most teams play once and a few play two to make up for cup cancellations.  However, before we get to the scheduling ups and downs and their impact on your line-up for this week, a few words on Landon Donovan, Everton, and the status of MLS labor negotiations...

• As I was watching Everton's match this past week, I was struck by the fact that they're REALLY deep now that they're healthy - does ManYoo have a single midfielder that would break into the Arteta, Donovan, Osman, Rodwell, Pienaar, Gosling, Cahill, and (eventually) Fellaini group? Nani on a good day (but they're few and far between)...Valencia is maybe at par with the EVE wide players but certainly not clearly better...Giggs was certainly better than them all on his day but at his age he'd be a sub at Everton.  The defence - even minus Lescott - is now deep with Rodwell, Yobo, Heitinga, Hibbert, and Senderos all quality squad players behind the first team.  The striking depth is a little weak but with so many attacking midfielders, there really isn't much of a need for cover beyond Saha and Yakubu.
• Donovan specifically has been excellent - he isn't a star and he isn't the cause of Everton's drive up the table (he's helped but a lot of players have returned to health) but he's a great piece to the ensemble cast that Everton have assembled, his teammates and the supporters seem to have taken to him, and while his presence for the rest of this season is probably irrelevant to the outcome of the Toffee's season - he'd be a great boost to a Champions League chase if they could land him for all of next season.
• Finally, for those Toffee supporters in the audience - here's an update on MLS labor negotiations which, if they lead to a player strike, could lead to Lando sticking around at Everton.  Certainly doesn't look good for the new season to start as scheduled.

OK, back to the discussion of schedule and players.


Schedule

• Villa and Wigan have two matches each with Villa's match-ups being by-and-large favorable but both on the road (@Stoke, @Wigan) while Wigan have a mixed bag with @BOL and AST.
• Of the promising one-gamers...
• Arsenal travel to Stoke with the caveat that half their squad is hurt
• Chelsea host WHU with the caveat that they still have no goalkeeper
• Liverpool host Pompey with the caveat that they stunk up the place against almost as inept Wigan last weekend and in Europa Cup action against Lille earlier today
• Spurs host Rovers with the caveat that they're Spurs and can't be trusted to do what they need to do against bad teams (see Spurs 0 - Wolves 1; Spurs 0 - Hull 0; Wolves 1 - Spurs 0)
• ManYoo host Fulham but let's not get carried away by their drubbing of Milan - they've still been average in the league in their last 5 WDLWW with last weekend's win over lowly Wolves hardly inducing confidence
• Citeh travel to Sunderland with the caveat that they've dropped points away to Wigan, Bolton, and Hull and when Sunderland came to Manchester they allowed 3 goals even though they got the win

So with the message essentially being "there are no sure things"  we get to the players...

Forwards

• Drogba - No caveats here - he and Rooney are the league's best this season and Drogs has the better match-up;
• Rooney - See above - whichever you have at a better price is the right answer;
• Torres - Coming off of a terrible match against Wolves but his price didn't come down as much as I'd like so I'm only so inclined to recommend him;
• Bendtner - He's on fire and the match-ups continue to be good ones for Arsenal;
• Agbonlahor - Sort of an obvious choice with two matches but the price is higher than I'd like to see at over 15;
• Carew - FA Cup hattrick hero for 6.43?  Seems like a great way to get in on the 2-game action cheap if you're looking to spend elsewhere.
• Yayga - Hugo is really expensive after the GWG last weekend against Liverpool and he's been a sporadic producer but you can't completely ignore the two-game thing - consider this the obligatory mention without really being a full-on endorsement.

Midfielders

• AJ - Great value for the money;
• Modric - the only affordable attacking player for Spurs who have a good match-up;
• Diaby - somebody is going to pick up Cesc's slack and he's my bet over Nasri who will likely be the more popular pick based on his fantastic goal against Porto;
• Wilshere - it would seem he's a starter, he's got talent, and the price isn't that bad;
• Maxi - He's been returning his price and the match-up is pretty solid for him yet again (better than Gerrard can say over the last few weeks);
• Park - ManYoo's midfield is really not good for fantasy purposes but if there is a price/value option this is it if you're looking to buy expensive players elsewhere;
• FloMal - his price has come down a bit which makes him somewhat attractive;
• Milner - double match makes him an attractive option even at his elevated price;
• McCarthy - he has settled down since his exceptional fantasy debut this season but with two matches he's not a bad idea - N'Zog will likely have more points across both matches but I'm not convinced that he'll be better value for the money;

Defenders

• I have to admit that I haven't changed out my core group of defenders in about a month with Verm, Bale, and Hutton having done great work for me for a combined price of about 12 so I'm not likely to start making changes now, that said...
• Fox - Burnley doesn't have many attractive fantasy options but Fox has been very good at a reasonable price of 7.28;
• Steinsson - Bolton's match-up isn't bad and the price is right on one of last year's pleasant surprises;
• Kyrgiakos - Hard to get too excited about LIV but another defender at an affordable price;
• Campbell - He's probably in a better position to get points than Kyrgiakos but he isn't certain to recover from his mid-week Champions League exertions so I rate him a shade lower;
• Rio - another central defender who is affordable and could get you some cheap points;

Keepers

• BBBF - Friedel has two matches and though the price is high he'll be worth it;
• Jensen - Probably the best bet among the cheaper options at keeper

Good luck and I'll be back in the morning (Eastern Time) with Injuries and Suspensions.