The Week Ahead - Season Finale Edition

So as a Gooner, it is hard for me to say this but Congratulations to Spurs on the confirmation of fourth place and a Champions League spot.  It was well-won in direct competition against their rival for the spot on that opponent's home turf.  Can't argue with them winning if they did it head-to-head as well as coming through  down the stretch against some of the best teams in the league.  The fact that they still have a chance at 3rd brings us to our most critical theme of the week - who still has something to play for and who is the most likely to throw out the B team because the match doesn't matter for them (or because of other priorities).

Before we get to that, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for making this a great Premier League Fantasy Season back at the old blog.  We've enjoyed testing new functionality like Live Chat and welcoming new bloggers to Yahoo! Fantasy family (YFF Assistant Manager and YFF Scout).  We've been published in print for the first time ever (thanks again to our loyal readers at Time, Inc who made the connection for us and got us the gig). We've got our thinking caps on to start figuring out what we're going to do:

• Over the Summer - See our new Transfer Update page that we'll update all summer;
• For the World Cup - We'll pick a fantasy game and give it the same treatment if everyone wants to get on board - if you have nominations as the games are rolled out, let us know (we'll probably start by looking at FIFA and Yahoo! options but will keep an open mind); 
• Next Season - Hoping to keep innovating and providing the best experience we can for fantasy Premier League players;

Now, one last thing before we get to our final Week Ahead.  We'd be missing out on a huge opportunity if we didn't occasionally use this platform we have for a good cause.  I recently read the book Outcasts United about a program here in the States (Georgia specifically) that helps refugees adapt and achieve through participation in a youth soccer program.  At about the same time, I came upon an organization called Soccer in the Streets that supports similar programs in Atlanta, GA (one of my former places of residence) and wanted to know how I might be able to help.  They are currently attempting to raise funds to send a team Football for Hope Festival 2010 that will run concurrently to the World Cup in South Africa.  The Festival will cover some expenses for the team but they are on the hook for a pretty hefty sum for a local charity.  I am asking all of our readers to consider making a donation through the blog.  As an incentive to everyone who is interested in donating, I will match donations from our readers up to $500US and I'd like to get to the $1,000 total that my match would enable.  If you are interested in participating, please shoot me an email at neal_thurman@yahoo.com and we can figure out logistics.  If you're interested in learning more about Soccer in the Streets, here is how you can get connected to them via Facebook and Twitter.  

OK, now back to our regularly scheduled blog entry.  So, who is left with something to play for?

• Chelsea - that title thing, perhaps you've heard of it - they win and they're the champs - even better for them, they have Wigan at Stamford Bridge;
• ManYoo - they have to keep the pedal down in hopes that Chelsea slip up - they also have a relatively easy one with Stoke coming to Old Trafford;
• Arsenal - Spurs may have secured their Champions League spot today but they'd LOVE to pip Arsenal for the last direct entry into the group stages and finish ahead of the Gunners for the first time in ages - Arsenal have Fulham's B team at the Emirates Stadium a few days before Fulham's Europa Cup Final;
• Spurs - See above - their hopes are pinned on an away match at relegated Burnley;
• Young Players and Bench Players - with the relegation and Europa Cup places all decided there is little left to play for other than prize money which, lets face it, is more important to club accountants than players - look for lots of little-used players to feature and try to use the opportunity as an audition for starting spots or transfers;

So, what do we get out of all that? Chelsea, ManYoo, and Arsenal are at home against inferior opponents who have little left to play for and Spurs are in a similar situation but on the road against the worst opposition of the bunch.  Outside of that, I'm particularly interested in Everton and the line-up they put out there since Moyes generally sends out the younger kids when he has the chance.  Throw in the match-up at home to focused-on-the-Cup-Final Pompey and there may be some interesting and inexpensive possibilities out there. 

Otherwise, though, I'm focused on adding as many players as possible from the four teams that have something left to play for.  Here's how it breaks down for me (same format as last week)...

• RvP/Rooney/Drogs/Lamps - the premium players who all have something left to play for in home match-ups against inferior competition.  You're only going to be able to afford 2, maybe 3 of them and the order I have them in here is the order of my preferences; 
• Fabianski - he's certainly been much maligned in his starting opportunities and rightfully so but at his current price 5.36 and playing against what is likely to be an unmotivated and toothless Fulham squad he's probably the best goalkeeping value going; 
• Arsh - He really hasn't done much to write home about in 6 or 7 match weeks and hasn't had an exceptional fantasy match since about mid-season but I don't know I want to bet against him at an affordable price - especially in a week where there aren't many affordable options; 
• Walcott - Arsenal have to go for the win so I'm pretty sure they'll opt for attacking skill (Walcott) over defending (Eboue) on the right side;
• O'Shea - one of the few inexpensive options starting in defence for one of these teams;
• Bassong - one of the few affordable ways to get in on the Spurs defence because King certainly can't play 3 in 7 days/won't be risked now that the Champions League is secured; 
• Giggs/Nani/FloMal - The trending says go with Nani who has been closing strong over old man Giggs (one exceptional fantasy match in 2010) and the fading FloMal (only one good fantasy match in the last 5 or 6 match weeks) but my gut tells me to go with Giggs in the clutch if I'm choosing between the three - guess we'll see which is more attuned, my gut or my brain; 
• Modric - He can't keep sucking as much as he did over the two matches last week can he?  Playing Burnley will improve his output, right?  
• THud - Apparently he was the bargain Spurs midfielder you should have gone with over Modric - the goal was probably an aberration but we know that he'll shoot when he has a chance; 
• AJ - Breaking the "guys with things to play for in the league" rule here because he still has a WC place to play for and I'm pretty sure he'll lobby hard to keep his spot in the line-up; 
• Carew - breaking the rule again because he just keeps scoring late in the season and his price isn't too high despite his recent goal-scoring success; 
• Rio - if you're looking for a higher-priced defender then he's probably your best value assuming that he manages to keep himself healthy between now and Sunday;
• Scholes - if you need a cheap option to get you to some of the more expensive options, his corpse HAS been showing signs of life when he has played in recent weeks; 
• Fulop - not sure if he'll play or not but the price is right and if you don't like/trust Arsenal/Fabianski then he's probably the best bet for the money; 
• Diaby - I have a feeling, don't ask; 
• Anichebe/Rodwell - I have a feeling that Moyes will start both as motivation for next season and with prices at 6.80 and 5.36 respectively I think there's value with Pompey coming to Goodison (I'd recommend Arteta as well but am not convinced that he'll be risked for no good reason); 
• KPB - I know I just knocked Pompey and their chances @EVE but if he is risked, I could see KPB taking about 10 SOTs; 

That's about it for my recommendations for the season, I hope you've found them useful and look forward to seeing you again during the summer and then next season.

Cheers - Neal