Sometimes we, and by we I mean the blog, pay the price for this not being a full time job. There are times when the job that pays the bills takes precedence over the enjoyment of bringing you blog posts so long that your bosses, significant others, non-fantasy-playing friends, and children complain about the time spent on them on occasion. I enjoy writing them as much as (I hope) you enjoy reading them. Unfortunately, Wednesday and yesterday found me focused from dawn until dusk on my day job and with only enough energy to write part 1 of The Week Ahead. Because I'm guessing you'd rather have the player picks as soon as I can get them to you versus waiting until I come up with a good-sized rant to open the column, I'll dispense with the usual prelude and get right to the picks.
Showing posts with label Mikel Arteta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mikel Arteta. Show all posts
Week 6 Barn Door Team
It's all change at the back for me as Kieran Gibbs seems to have lost his place to Andre Santos. Who knows what is going on at Arsenal but the Brazilian did but up good points against Rovers, and gets Bolton at home this week. Another flying (former) Arsenal fullback, Armand Traore, gets the nod too. I was hoping to get him last week but didn't like the way he limped out of the Newcastle match previously. My loss as he even got an assist. Queens Park Rangers host Aston Villa, which isn't a great matchup, but I do like the option.
Another QPR new boy, Shaun Wright-Phillips, remains a bright spot in my otherwise run-of-the-mill lineup. He continued his good form in an advanced midfield role, and at 4 and change is becoming an indispensable player.
Maybe not as indispensable as David SIlva, however. This was Silva's worst week to date, but he's still putting up points with the promise of continued returns. Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero round out the Manchester City contingent. Hosting Everton isn't an ideal matchup, but I dare anyone to start dropping these players.
That being said, I did move former Gunner Nasri out for current Gunner Mikel Arteta. "Who knows what is going on at Arsenal" but Arteta scored a goal and was taking corner kicks. His price jumped as a result and it was worth getting him in the team before that happened.
The final midfield spot is a bit of an enabler. Yohan Cabaye is becoming the almost man for Newcastle, striking the bar against Aston Villa on a lovely snap shot from range. However, I like that he's shooting and taking kicks. Newcastle also host Rovers on Sunday and that seems to pay off. I was origianlly looking at Gabriel Obertan as a true enabler, but picking Dedryck Boyata in defence allowed me to move off someone whom I'm taking to calling "The Invisible Man". I just never see him on the pitch. Sometimes I do see him, but I've yet to see him make an impactful play. Until then, I'll keep my distance.
Of course, all this movement is to afford Wayne Rooney. I didn't keep him against Chelsea and I almost paid a very heavy price. He ended the day with a respectable 9.5 points, but missed a penalty, hit the post on another shot, and had Dimitar Berbatov skew what would have been a assist off target. Manchester United are at Stoke this week, and as we know that's a tough place to play. In fact I originally had Javier Hernandez in the team, but with his potential injury layoff combined with Rooney's irresistible form at the moment, I don't want to take the chance of missing out.
Who's on your barn door team this morning?
After the Window: Arsenal
Volumes and volumes have been written about Arsenal and their travails from February of 2011 through the close of the transfer window. Since we're pretty sure you've read quite enough about "contending in 4 competitions to nothing in the blink of an eye" and "Nasri/Cesc/Clichy out" and "will anyone arrive?" that we won't cover that ground again. Instead, we'll spend some time focusing on what we have learned from the first three matches of the season plus the final touches from the transfer window.
Season Preview - Everton
Quick Reminder, Real Life
Stop me if you’ve read this before but Everton didn’t start out the season particularly well. Shocking, I know. This time around, it took them a little longer to revert to being a top half team but they got there eventually with a late charge up the table well after there was any chance of them challenging for a Europa Cup spot. Still, they finished 7th in the table which is something for a team that hasn’t spent much money on their squad in a few years. Throw in the injuries to key players like Mikel Arteta, Marouane Fellaini, and Louis Saha (although the latter’s frequent absences can hardly be considered a surprise at this point). Of note during the season, Leighton Baines continued to be exceptional going forward while being a very solid defender on the left. Tim Cahill did what he always does with a brief injury interruption. Jermaine Beckford took a while to adapt to the Prem but ended the season with solid goal numbers that belied the reputation he earned early as “in over his head”. Finally, Seamus Coleman moved into a more regular starting role - split between right midfield and right back - and played pretty well.
Quick Reminder, Fantasy
Baines was an absolute stud with 5 goals and 11 assists and a ton of phantom points for the formats that count those sorts of things. Coleman was the unquestioned value play in the squad since he was listed as a defender but played in midfield more often than anywhere else increasing his chances at both attacking and defending points. Quietly, Osman had a nice run of starts in a more advanced role and good fantasy production late in the season that reminded us that he can be a valuable player if injuries provide an opportunity for regular starts. On the down side, Tim Howard (incredibly inconsistent as a fantasy keeper) and Arteta (not as productive as he used to be and still just as expensive) were disappointing to fantasy managers who fondly remember better seasons from both in the past.
Summer Changes
Second Thoughts
Great post by Neal, exploding some of the easy myths around Arsenal. And great comments everyone. I think you've hit on some interesting points. Let me add my $0.02:
Season Preview: Everton
No Arteta at Villa
Mikel Arteta and Victor Anichebe will miss Everton's game at Aston Villa on Wednesday.
The Spaniard has been missing since the Blues' 2-0 win over Manchester City last month, while Anichebe was stretchered off against Bolton earlier in March.
The news means David Moyes is expected to draw from the same squad that drew 2-2 with West Ham last time out.
"I don't see Mikel being fit for the game," Moyes told the media at his pre-match press briefing.
"Victor Anichebe won't be fit for the game either. I see everybody else as being okay though."
Monday Morning Manager
It's been a while since one of these posts. And the ones I have done have been a bit all over the place. This will certainly fall into that category, but hopefully that's its beauty.
So, what is on the Manager's mind this Monday?
Matchday Open Thread
Today we get into the midweek portion of our program. Unlike last week, there are no huge "Drogba, or not Drogba" issues hanging over our heads. With Manchester United and West Ham United being two-gamers it's more a matter of how many of those players can you afford or stomach.
But there are still many interesting subplots... injuries, suspensions, new arrivals and returning heroes. All of which we'll chronicle and comment after the jump.
And, as always, consider this your midweek matchday open thread.
Around the Premier League
An all-encompassing round-up of the Premier League's weekend action -- on the pitch, in the boardroom and on the treatment table.
Friendlies
Jo at the double for Toffees
Posh slayed by slick Villa
Arsenal held on Rosicky's return
City plundered by Pirates
Owen nets winner on debut
Thomas nets on Tigers debut
Round-up: Spurs ease to win
Cherries suffer Spurs defeat
Grant strike sinks Latics
Round-up: Blackburn hold Roma
Round-up: Stoke embarrassed
Transfers
Adebayor completes City move
Wigan finalise Scotland deal
Manucho heads to Valladolid
Everton reject Man City bid for Lescott
Forest agree Gunter fee
Thomas handed Tigers chance
Villa sign Downing
Injuries
Arteta taking recovery slowly
Ferguson sets date for Hargreaves return
McShane concern for Bruce
Cole has new knee knock
Torres lands monthly gong
I'm sorry, but this is crap! Yes, he scored three goals to win matches. But two were at home against a 10-man Chelsea side and the last was after coming on as a substitute against a Portsmouth team that were (and still are) falling apart.Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has been named the PFA Fans' Player of the Month for February.
The Spaniard, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, was back to his lethal best at the beginning of last month when he struck two late goals against Chelsea, before hitting another dramatic winner to break Portsmouth hearts.
If one wanted to recognize a Spaniard on Merseyside for their performances in February they should look no further than Mikel Arteta. Period. End of story. He scored two goals in February. Granted they were penalties. But he was the main creative force in a team shorn of their strikers and who still managed to dump Liverpool and then Aston Villa out of the FA Cup. That they haven't scored in two of the three matches they've played since he went out for the season with a knee injury is testament to his importance to the side.
His being overlooked for the Spanish national team I can understand, as they have so many exceptional midfielders at the moment. But this award going to Torres? That just isn't right.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)