After Liverpool’s recent 4-1 win over West Ham at Anfield, manager Brendan Rodgers expressed his satisfaction at being “in the title conversation.” Following Sunday’s stunning win at Tottenham that killed off Andre Villas-Boas, they are now the team that everyone is talking about. The Reds delivered a complete performance at White Hart Lane, and whilst […]
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GW13 Preview: Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker makes BFG case for the defence
This week we’ve once again decided to shun the glory seeking midfielders and forwards and give you a preview focused entirely on improving your team’s defence (Andre Villas-Boas, take note).
Clean sheets and bonus points are up for grabs over a Fantasy weekend which features winnable games for plenty of the division’s elite, and although Arsenal might find it tough as they go to a Cardiff side who’ve beaten Manchester City and drawn with Manchester United at home this season, with a defender such as Per Mertesacker (£5.6m) in their team they’ll head to South Wales with confidence.
The big German registered a huge 11 points in the victory over Southampton last weekend thanks to being fouled for a penalty and keeping a clean sheet, feats which made him eligible for two bonus points from the Fantasy gods.
Mertesacker took a while to settle into the English game after he joined the Gunners from Werder Bremen in 2011, but he is now seen as his side’s main man at the back, and will be crucial to his team’s hopes of registering more points as they seek to prolong their time at the top of the table.
Cardiff may have scored twice in their draw with Manchester United, but prior to that they’d registered only one goal in their previous three games, and the likes of Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny (£5.3m) and Kieran Gibbs (£5.4m) will be targeting another clean sheet.
It’s hard to make it out from this picture, but the BFG is actually trying to tell people to join the FY Mini-League!
Elsewhere, Manchester City’s stellar home form has made their defence feel extremely comfortable when they play at the Etihad Stadium, where they’ve kept four clean sheets in six home Premier League games this season.
Pablo Zabaleta (£6.0m) played a part in all of those shutouts, whilst the signs are that Costel Pantilimon (£4.9m) will continue in goal for City in their domestic matches at least.
The latest one of those sees them host Swansea on Sunday, a match that is likely to see many Fantasy bosses lose faith in full-backs Angel Rangel (£5.4m) and Ben Davies (£5.0m), with the pair set for a torrid afternoon.
Better full-back choices are likely to come from Liverpool, who go to a goal-shy Hull City side who’ve scored just once in their last three home games this season.
An injury to Reds left-back Jose Enrique (£5.8m) has opened the door for the interesting (and cheap) youngster Jon Flanagan (£4.5m), but it might pay to go with the more established Glen Johnson (£5.7m) for this contest in which the England man is going to be looking to get forward at every opportunity.
Manchester United’s trip to Spurs has the potential to be a goalfest and so we’re going to overlook that particular fixture this week, and instead look at Chelsea’s home test against a Southampton side who are suddenly running into some tricky fixtures.
The Saints’ previously sturdy defence is going to come under pressure at Stamford Bridge, when Chelsea’s John Terry (£6.4m) and Branislav Ivanovic (£6.4m) will fancy keeping a clean sheet against an attack that, for all Southampton’s success, have still only scored four goals on the road all season.
At the other end of the country, a resurgent Newcastle go in search of a fourth straight victory when West Brom come to St James’s Park, and they’ll be helped in that quest by the return of full-back Mathieu Debuchy (£4.9m) from suspension.
The Baggies could only draw 2-2 with Aston Villa last time out despite leading 2-0, and Paul Lambert’s side will hope to build on that comeback as they host struggling Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.
Despite a couple of notable home wins during his time in charge, Gus Poyet hasn’t yet seen his team pick up a point or even score a goal away from the Stadium of Light, a run that Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar (£4.5m) will be determined to see continue.
Everton Vs Tottenham LINEUPS CONFIRMED and Preview
Nov 3
Lineups provided approximately 1 hour before kick off Everton team (to face Spurs): Howard, Coleman, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, McCarthy, Barry, Osman, Pienaar, Mirallas, Lukaku #EFCTHFC — Everton (@Everton) November 3, 2013 Team – Lloris; Walker, Chiriches, Dawson, Vertonghen; Paulinho, Sandro; Lennon, Holtby, Townsend; Soldado. #THFC #COYS — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 3, 2013 #SuperSunday If […]
GW9 Preview: Tottenham’s tricky Townsend to terrorise Tigers?
Picking out a player before they come popular with Fantasy Premier League bosses is often a sure-fire way to success, and the next must-have buy might just be emerging from North London.
Everyone knows about the likes of Mesut Ozil (£10.7m and with a 33.2% ownership rate at the time of writing), Aaron Ramsey (£6.8m and a massive 51.5%) and Olivier Giroud (£9.5m and 40.1%), but instead of Arsenal we’re looking at Tottenham, and their new England star.
Andros Townsend (£5.7m) grabbed his first Premier League goal in the win at Aston Villa at the weekend, and whilst that might make this seem like a simple reaction to that, there is plenty to suggest that a punt on the Spurs man will prove worthwhile.
The wide player has started Tottenham’s last seven games in the league, revelling the trust placed in him by boss Andre Villas-Boas and earning his place in the Portuguese’s team ahead of summer signings Erik Lamela (£8.1m) and Nacer Chadli (£6.9m).
Townsend is incredibly confident right now, enjoying his football for both club and country and seemingly encouraged to express himself by the managers of both.
His goal at Villa Park may have been somewhat freakish and fortunate, but those are the sort of things that happen for you when you’re on fire, and the 22-year-old will be seeking to continue in that form as he takes on Hull City at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
The visit of the Tigers will represent a match that Spurs expect to win, and the winger can help in that and look to provide service to forward Roberto Soldado (£9.2m), who might just have recovered some of his lost confidence thanks to his first Premier League goal from open play in the Villa game.
A win here will be crucial for Spurs if they are to keep the pressure on the teams at the top, and Townsend can contribute to that.
https://twitter.com/zoo/status/393330004597014528
Elsewhere, those aforementioned Arsenal players will all be vital as Arsene Wenger takes his side to the managerless (although Tony Pulis is lurking) Crystal Palace, whilst Fulham, the team that beat the Eagles on Monday, head for the tricky trip to Southampton. Pajtim Kasami (£4.5m) may have caught the eye at Selhurst Park, but Saints skipper Adam Lallana (£6.2m) might well be the man to back here.
The midfielder scored the equaliser at Old Trafford last weekend, but after a Champions League win in midweek Manchester United will seek another victory as they host Stoke.
Adnan Januzaj (£4.9m) remains the flavour of the month for many, but it is Wayne Rooney (£10.9m) who really makes United tick at the moment. He scored twice for the hosts in this fixture last season, and against a Stoke side who are winless in their last five league games – failing to score in four of those – he is sure to be a key man yet again as United chase what would be only a second home league win of the season.
Saturday also sees Liverpool face a potentially tricky clash with a West Brom side who have somewhat surprisingly won four of the last five league meetings between the pair.
It could be tight at Anfield, where Liverpool might end up relying on the penalty taking prowess of Steven Gerrard (£8.9m), who’s last five Reds strikes have all come from the spot.
Sunday’s big games pit Sunderland against Newcastle before the heavyweight meeting between Chelsea and Manchester City.
Oscar (£9.0m) retains the star billing amongst the hosts’ midfielders following his goal against Cardiff, but Eden Hazard (£9.0) scored twice in the same game and is now closing in on him.
If you fancy City to prevail though then Sergio Aguero (£11.1m) is sure to play a key role.
The forward’s brace in Moscow on Wednesday took his tally to eight goals in his last six games, a record sure to make Jose Mourinho sit up and take notice.
Crystal Palace vs Fulham: Monday Night Football Preview
Oct 21
With just one Premier League match remaining for Gameweek 8 we turn our attention to Crystal Palace vs Fulham. It has been a strong week in fantasy terms with a Gameweek average above 50 points. Players like Berbatov and Gayle amongst others feature in plenty of FPL teams so there are still points to play […]
West Brom vs Arsenal: The Lineups AFC CONFIRMED
Oct 6
West Brom vs Arsenal: Sunday 6th October KO 4.00pm Team news released approx 1 hour before kick off Albion team v @arsenal: Myhill, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Yacob, Mulumbu, Amalfitano, Sessegnon, Berahino, Anelka. — West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) October 6, 2013 Albion subs v @arsenal: L Daniels (gk), Popov, Morrison, Brunt, Lugano, Long, Rosenberg. — […]
Off the Mark: Fulham should give Martin Jol the boot and invest in youth
Oct 2
There might be other, more high-profile managers than Fulham’s Martin Jol on the back pages at the moment, but perhaps it’s time everyone started paying a little more attention to the men from Craven Cottage. Fulham have been one of the more curious elements of the Premier League ever since their promotion in 2001. The […]
Challenge YIRMA GW6: FantasyYIRMA vs ThatsAGoal.com
Sep 28
Gameweek 5 : FantasyYIRMA vs ThatsAGoal.com https://twitter.com/FantasyYIRMA/statuses/383841747375521792 Don’t forget to check out the FantasyYIRMA GW6 PREVIEW, now on @ZOO Magazine!!! https://twitter.com/ZOO/statuses/383254815880388608 Each week we will throw the Gauntlet down to a new Challenger and ask them to predict the scores from the upcoming Premier League Gameweek! Simple enough rules: 3 points for a correct result […]
GW6 Preview: All aboard the Rooney (Head) BandWagon!!
Sep 26
https://twitter.com/ZOO/statuses/383254815880388608 A mixed week for Manchester United got better around 87 minutes into their Manchester derby loss on Sunday, and they’ve got a man in a headband to thank for it. Wayne Rooney (£10.7m) has returned to form, with four goals in four games in all competitions since he returned from his head injury, a […]
Fantasy Football: Wildcard tale of Woe
Sep 21
I’ve deliberately held this article till Saturday morning so that when there are people stressing and wondering about selection they can read this, put their life in perspective and say … could be worse… Could be Walt from GW4… Firstly, credit to @EPLFanForLife, he has really came into his own over the past few […]
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