96’ Yep. Sometimes you’re the windshield; sometimes you’re the bug.
France - Morocco
5' Game over, five minutes in? Morocco have been very fortunate in game-state all tournament and now France can bunker and break through Mbappe.
World Cup 2018 Fantasy: To the Nines
The nine. The finisher. The poacher. The goal scorer. El zorro en la caja. In these days of false nines and wide forwards, there is a crop of men - so manly, so dashing, so cool - that they could only be center forwards. It's on these players that a team will rest their goal scoring hopes.
- Robert Lewandowski
- Romelu Lukaku
- Harry Kane
- Luis Suarez, and Uruguay blessed with not only an easy group, but also with...
- Edinson Cavani
- Sergio Aguero
- Timo Werner
- Andre Silva
- Olivier Giroud
- Diego Costa
- Javier Hernandez, or...
- Oribe Peralta
- Radamel Falcao
- Marcus Berg
- Paolo Guerrero
- Aleksandar Mitrovic
- Odion Ighalo
- Blas Perez
You're probably getting at least one of the top five or six names in that group on to your fantasy team. If you bring in an OMAC, you're probably looking down the list for value. Falcao is particularly interesting to me. He's in teammate James Rodriguez's shadow this summer, but is back to form in Monaco after a few years of injury recovery paid for by some of England's bigger clubs. If Colombia can live up to their well-earned entertainers reputation, Falcao will be banging them in.
World Cup 2018 Fantasy: Ten
The OMAC is the player you build around - in real life, and in fantasy. The nine is your Golden Boot hopeful. But the ten... the ten is something magical. The attacking midfielder. The small, skillful player directing his teams forward play, taking set pieces, and finishing moves. They may play off a striker, or behind a pair. They may be a false 9, but especially come the World Cup, these are the players the hipsters love, and at whom scouts can't throw enough money.
- Antoine Griezmann (he's part 9, part 10, and almost an OMAC, and will get a mention in each of those posts)
- David Silva (he's part 10, part wide-forward. In fact, half the Spain side fits that bill, so let's add...)
- Isco
- Luka Modric
- Mesut Ozil
- James Rodriguez
- Gylfi Sigurdsson
- Carlos Vela (listed as a forward, and probably starting)
- Giovanni Dos Santos (listed as a midfielder, and probably not starting)
- Hakim Ziyach
- Shinji Kagawa
- Christian Cueva
- Joao Mario
- Giorgian De Arrascaeta
Hakim Ziyach and Christian Cueva, would complete my bargain tens. My (playing at the tip of the) diamonds in the rough.
World Cup 2018 Fantasy: OMAC
My first category, and the one you should look at first, is OMAC: One Man Army Corps. These are the players around whom their national teams are established. These are the rare few players who coaches construct systems around and who will be expected, indeed needed, to lead their teams. Needless to say, these players will be the most expensive, but still the most heavily owned players in the game.
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Lionel Messi
- Neymar
- Christen Eriksen
Probably no surprises here. Eriksen is interesting. He's the only one on the list classified as a midfielder, and by far the cheapest of the lot. As such, I think he's a must own. If you want to squeeze one of the big fish into your team, I would suggest Neymar. Hopefully he's fit. He's definitely rested. I think Brasil are the most balanced team of the three (Brasil, Argentina, and Portugal) and there seems to be an enthusiasm in that side that the others are lacking.
Mohamed Salah might have made the cut were he healthy, and maybe he is. We just can't take the chance in round one. I would have also considered James Rodriguez, Sadio Mane, Robert Lewandowski, and Antoine Griezmann. Griezmann especially has a Golden Boot ceiling, and would have made the list if I thought Deschamps was a little more committed to him.
Mohamed Salah might have made the cut were he healthy, and maybe he is. We just can't take the chance in round one. I would have also considered James Rodriguez, Sadio Mane, Robert Lewandowski, and Antoine Griezmann. Griezmann especially has a Golden Boot ceiling, and would have made the list if I thought Deschamps was a little more committed to him.
Former Southampton Eleven
Updated to address some Spurs-blindness, noted by @FFScout_Anorak.
— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) December 27, 2017
With the news that Virgil van Dijk's long-anticipated move to Anfield is becoming a 75-million-pound reality, we thought it would be fun to come up with a Premier League all-ex-Saints eleven. We'll line up in a 4-2-3-1, as is the fashion, and see if we can fill a bench as well.
Flowers
Clyne Fonte Van Dijk Shaw
Schneiderlin Cork
Oxlade-Chamberlain Lallana Mané
Walcott
Bench: Rodriguez, Lambert,Surman, Wanyama, Lovren, Jones
Clyne Fonte Van Dijk Shaw
Schneiderlin Cork
Oxlade-Chamberlain Lallana Mané
Walcott
Bench: Rodriguez, Lambert,
Goalkeepers
We're going to bring two keepers out of retirement for this team. Tim Flowers gets the nod because he was sold by Southampton to Blackburn Rovers for a then record fee, and he went on to win the title. Paul Jones is on the bench because he was loaned from Saints to Liverpool, which is just too perfect for the purposes of this list.
Defenders
These names are pretty obvious as top clubs have bought most any good defender Saints have developed - the majority to Liverpool. Nathaniel Clyne and Manchester United's reclamation project, Luke Shaw, are the fullbacks We'll let West Ham man Jose Fonte partner Virgil van Dijk for variety's sake. That will leave Dejan Lovren on the bench, as he's found himself for Liverpool, and will expect to be going forward.
There's been some shouts for Toby Alderweireld to be included in this team, and oh boy would we love to do it! He's the best center back in the world for our money. However, he was a Saint on loan from Athletico Madrid, and as such, we're going to have to pass. It's like a competition where a less-qualified candidate advances because the one who should have won violated some stupid technicality that no one really cares about. But rules are rules. Even the rules one makes up on the fly.
Midfielders
Our holders are Morgan Schneiderlin and Jack Cork. Who would have thought the latter would be having the better post-Saints career? That's 2017 for you. The attacking trio is a Liverpool clean-sweep with Adam Lallana, Alexander Mark David Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Sadio Mané starting.
Forwards
We've given the lone-forward role to Theo Walcott, who incredibly moved to Arsenal eleven years-ago! He'll be coming into his own soon enough. He'll have to perform though, as we've got competition for the role. Jay Rodriguez, now of West Bromwich Albion can play center-forward, or cover for the attacking-midfield. Then there's Rickie Lambert, Southampton legend who moved to Liverpool and then to West Brom himself. He's available on a free now, having been released by Cardiff City, and that is well enough for our squad.
Gareth Bale gets his name in this team as soon as the ink is dry on his Manchester United contract.
I think we can be safely mid-table with this squad, and if things go right we can challenge for Europe. Kind of like a certain selling club on the south coast of England. Don't you think?
Star Wars Football XI
A long time ago in a social media platform far, far away.
Could we get a Star Wars XI? Jar Jar Okocha. Obi Mikelnobi. Luke Young. Kyle “Sky” Walker. Gareth Bale Organa.— Jeremy Spitzberg 🇺🇸 (@jspitzberg) December 9, 2017
Here's what we have. Feel free to add more in the comments. Thanks to @FantasyYIRMA, @FantasyGaffer, @jbullDFS, @alstra78, @wrigavin, @Nutk1ns, @JamesMartin013, and anyone else I may have missed.
The team would play at the Vicente Alderaan Staidum, and be managed by Gerardo Daniel "Tauntaun” Martino. Obviously, they would look to play with X-wing backs, and Bothans would be in charge of scouting the opponent.
Here's the 24-man squad:
Goalkeeper
- Edwin Vader Sar
- Michel Vormtrooper
- Cassian Schmeichel
Defenders
- Poe Darmian
- Poe Cameron
- Grand Moff Tarkowski
- Kyle “Skyle” Skywalker
- Young, Luke
- Fabi Yoda Silva
- Robert Hoth
Midfielders
- Jar Jar Okocha
- Alex Ewoki
- Gareth Bale Organa
- Uncle Owen Hargreaves
- Xhaka the Hutt
- R2DBruyne
- Count Doucouré
- C3PÖzil
- Obi Mikelnobi
Forwards
- Bobba Fettmino
- Niall-Gon Quinn
- Aunt Berubatov
- C3POkazaki
- Lando Calrissian-Lewin
In defence of Big Sam
My colleague and friend, Neal Thurman (formerly of these pages), had this little nugget buried in his Monday Morning Manager post:
"As much as I appreciate what Big Sam accomplished at Bolton back in the day, it seems like a poor fit of manager and roster. The Black Cats are handing a roster full of attacking midfielder-types to a guy best known for blood-and-guts football."Neal, you're talking about a manager who ran out Jay Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff, Stelios Giannakopolis, etc behind (pun intended) the not-inconsiderable backside of Kevin Davies. At West Ham, he converted Stewart Downing from a winger to a (temporarily, at least) surprisingly effective number 10.
Big Sam has a plan, and works that plan to a hard edge. It may not always be pretty, but sometimes it can be.
At Sunderland, he has some talent in the likes of Jermaine Lens, and Yoann M'Villa. He has the target-forward he likes in Steven Fletcher. And while Bruno N'Gotty isn't walking through the door, he's got... well, maybe the less said about Sunderland's defensive options the better.
I'm not saying that Sunderland are poised for a run at the European places, but Allardici is a good manager who has done more with less in the past. I'm fascinated to see what he can do with the Black Cats, starting this weekend against Newcastle, who may have just had their own dead-cat bounce against Norwich.
The Five Stages of Fantasy Manager Grief
With the news that Sergio Aguero has injured his hamstring playing for Argentina, we turn to Twitter, the internet's id, to demonstrate fantasy managers going through the classic five stages of grief.
-
Denial — The first reaction is denial. In this stage individuals believe the diagnosis is somehow mistaken, and cling to a false, preferable reality.
Won't believe anything people say about Aguero's injury until it's confirmed by him! I've heard knee, hamstring, quad
— Jaßon〽️✌️ (@Jason1874__) October 9, 2015 -
Anger — When the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue, it becomes frustrated, especially at proximate individuals. Certain psychological responses of a person undergoing this phase would be: "Why me? It's not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?"; '"Who is to blame?"; "Why would this happen?".
Why is Aguero allowed to play in these pointless shit fucking games? It's a fucking JOKE
— FPL Waffle (@fpl_waffle) October 9, 2015
@mcfc after Aguero picking up his injury playing when he wasn't 100%. If Belgium start Kompany & he gets injured I'll hunt their boss down!👌
— JσrdanBrσwn (@Browny_MCFC91) October 9, 2015
-
Bargaining — The third stage involves the hope that the individual can avoid a cause of grief. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. People facing less serious trauma can bargain or seek compromise.
I'll donate my hamstring to Aguero. Lord knows I'm not using it. Don't think it'll help much though.
— Mike L. Goodman (@TheM_L_G) October 9, 2015
-
Depression — "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die soon so what's the point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?"
During the fourth stage, the individual becomes saddened by the mathematical probability of death. In this state, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time mournful and sullen.
i'm not going to think about sergio aguero until he comes back from injury. my heart can't take it. 💔
— Nabil Baracat (@nabilbaracat) October 9, 2015
Anytime I hear bou aguero' injury, my mood changes 😭😭
— Unknown Citizen (@addiswell) October 9, 2015
-
Acceptance — "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it."; "Nothing is impossible."
In this last stage, individuals embrace mortality or inevitable future, or that of a loved one, or other tragic event. People dying may precede the survivors in this state, which typically comes with a calm, retrospective view for the individual, and a stable condition of emotions.
@BantersyFPL Knew injury will befall one or two of my FPL players. Costa in for Aguero seems logical
— ifeanyi (@BlueFromNigeria) October 9, 2015
Assuming he'll be out for a few weeks, Lukaku, Sturridge or Costa look like my potential Aguero replacements.
— . (@James__1905) October 9, 2015
Serious Question
Has anyone broken the news to them?
Amidst all the, justified, excitement around Jurgen Klopp's appointment as Liverpool manager is one thing I haven't heard. How do Liverpool fans - not ones to give up on their image of the club as a premier destination - feel about Klopp's deigning to take the job in the first place?
“I’m really very relaxed – but only because I know that is how it goes sometime. I’ll be back to train a team. It must be somewhere in the world that is not an absolute top club, there are other good projects that are exciting who need help.”
"not an absolute top club"
"good projects"
"need help"
Really? And Liverpool fandom is accepting of this? It seems to me that some of their most fundamental self-images (Delusions, if you're being mean. Which I'm not.) are being challenged.
But, hey.... YNWA and all that.
Robin Van Persie is not impressed
It seems as if the ex-Arsenal, ex-Manchester United star isn't happy with his lot in life with Fernebache. Here he is, on the bench, "celebrating" one of teammate Fernandao's recent goals:
I don't know why it's gone wrong for him. Maybe he's just past it. Maybe all those injuries didn't save his body from wear and tear - the theory when he was healthy and scoring - and he can't compete physically anymore. Maybe he's just missing London. If that's the case, I have a wonderful idea! I know he'd probably just end up at Chelsea on a loan back to the Premier League. It's just the sad way things work. But they already have a Falcao-batross (™ © ® Jeremy Spitzberg) around their collective necks. The last thing they need is another reclamation project.
However, no such baggage weighs down the Eagles of Crystal Palace. Hear me out on this.
This January, Chelsea recalls Patrick Bamford from his loan spell at Palace. He's not getting any playing time there anyway so that is helping no one. Bamford, with youth on his side, and a chip on his shoulder, immediately becomes second choice at the Bridge behind the oft-suspended Diego Costa (27? You're having a laugh!) and we finally learn whether or not he's good enough for Chelsea.
Making that possible, is Robin Van Persie's loan to Palace. He is miles ahead of the other options like Gayle, Campbell, and Wickham. His movement (albeit slowed by time) allows Palace's other attacking players new, and more dangerous lanes to... attack. His finishing turns chances into goals. Humbled by his travails in Turkey, he's a team-player, deferring to Yohan Cabaye, and the other leaders already at the club.
There! It all adds up!
Sadly, porcupines are allergic to raisins.
What I'm reading - October 7, 2015
I do love this photo.
First, the fantasy tips:
Premier League Power Rankings: 5 October
Fantasy Premier League Gw9 Tips – The Early Bandwagons And Sinking Ships
FPL Scout Extra: Chips should be held despite Aguero heroics
Hopefully, you don't have any of these players in your fantasy side:
The Premier League's underperforming (but undropped) players
Of course there's a lot more about Jurgen Klopp to Liverpool. Today's trend is pragmatic, leaning towards pessimistic. Yes, he's a great manager, but what about the players and what about the boardroom?
New approach needs to follow new manager at Liverpool
Assessing Liverpool's Klopp Coup
What Jurgen Klopp can do with the players he inherits at Liverpool
Finally, ESPN FC has an interesting, side-by-side look at the Milan clubs.
Roberto Mancini has rebuilt Inter into a throwback side all about athleticism
AC Milan are in crisis again despite summer transfers and a new coach
I'm intrigued by the notion of Inter "zigging" when others are all "zagging". Are we seeing a return of the colossus midfielder? The Patrick Viera, Roy Keane type? Arturo Vidal... Nemanja Matic... Paul Pogba... Blaise Matuidi... Moussa Sissoko...
Wow, the French are stocked in the middle of the park! Throw in Yohan Cabaye and Morgan Schneiderlin for good measure and you're looking at a collection of players that would be the envy of any manager - international or club.
What I'm reading - October 6, 2015
Today, I have been mostly reading about Jurgen Klopp.
Jurgen Klopp the logical hire for Liverpool job
The Liverpool Offside Roundtable: Where Did It All Go Wrong for Brendan Rodgers?
Liverpool has big problems that a manager can't solve
Juventus 2-1 Dortmund: Juve bypass the midfield press for both goals
Dortmund 0-3 Juventus: deep defending and quick countering
Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action
What I'm reading - October 5, 2015
What I'm reading, on the heels of a fantasy gameweek that saw me jump into the top 3K places despite having sold the player who scored five goals and was the leading choice for everyone's coffee cup (that's the captaincy for everyone not making jokes based on old AOL Instant Messanger icons).
Six things we learned from Norwich City’s narrow loss to Leicester
EPSN FC Tactics & Analysis Blog
When replacing Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool need to think weird
Should Jurgen Klopp replace Brendan Rodgers?
Southampton Were Never Bad
What I'm reading this week
Some of what I'm reading this week, heading into the eighth round of Premier League action.
--
The Movement of Strikers in Mauricio Pochettino’s Tactics
Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 8 – The Strong
Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 8 – The Weak
Premier League Weekend Predictions & Tips
The Bargain Hunter - Week 8
Anthony Martial's success at Manchester United proves Arsene Wenger is stuck in the past
Fantasy Premier League Rankings: Gameweek 8
FPL Scout Extra Differential: Erik Lamela
Arsenal need to make one big change to win the Premier League
PL Predictions GW 8
--
One bonus article from the continent:
Pep Guardiola’s evolution unlocks the brilliance of Robert Lewandowski
#ProudToPlay
"Sport has the power to change the world…it has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers."YouTube and a host of sporting institutions and stars are joining together to promote equality on the occasion of LGBT Pride month and the World Cup. We are at an inflection point in LGBT awareness and rights, and it's good to see our soccer/football community taking the lead in normalizing sexuality and gender identity of all types.
-- Nelson Mandela
Getting Messi
... or, Just Higuain Around. A one-act play in three part.
Me: Thought this would be of interest to you:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2014/may/30/-sp-world-cup-kits
Co-worker: Argentina's away jersey this year is ugly.
Me: It looks better on paper. Much like their team in general.
... and, scene. Thank you.
Cardiff City sign Frederico Macheda
TRANSFER NEWS: #CardiffCity can confirm the signing of Federico Macheda on a three-year-deal. #WelcomeKiko pic.twitter.com/cLrCJb5e7K
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) May 27, 2014
Not bad for someone who, as far as I know*, has only ever scored one goal. Albeit this one:
* I know. I know.
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