Enabling the Future

There's a long time until "next week's" matches with the Premier League deferring to the FA Cup this weekend. There are a lot of games to be played between now and then and there are a lot of players whose injury status is in flux - Nani, Robin van Persie and Rafael van der Vaart come immediately to mind. Hell, this game week isn't even over as we have Chelsea/Blackpool and Everton/Birmingham still to be played.

But is any of that a reason, an excuse, not to be looking ahead? I think not! So here's an out-of-the-blue suggestion as you add, drop, and trade players, and configure and re-configure your lineup:


Ali Al-Habsi.

I guess that's not very dramatic. I have his photo at the top of the post after all. Maybe this will help.

I know what you're thinking. "Al Habsi!?! WTF, Spitzberg. He's terrible. He plays for Wigan. They've been getting shelled. And did you see his howler against Manchester City this weekend!?"

Not entirely true. True. Somewhat true. Of course I did.

But hear me out.

Maybe I'm just over-reacting to the horror show that was Birmingham City this weekend, but Wigan will be at home to said Blues who are tied for second-bottom in the away goals scored table (behind Wigan, naturally) and who've only picked up 11 points away from St. Andrews.  And what I saw against Manchester City was a team that could, and did, at least compete all game.

And the best part is that Al-Habsi is only 3.96.  That leaves a lot of money available to re-purchase the likes of Robin van Persie, Rafael van der Vaart or Charlie Adam.  Maybe even Gareth Bale, depending on how you've spent your money (or haven't) over the last few weeks.

Of course, this is still Wigan.  And we've been down this road before - we all remember the first week of the season, don't we? I don't know if I'll keep him, but for now, he and his price tag sure makes adding, dropping, and trading players, and configuring and re-configuring my lineup a lot more fun.