Saturday, April 28, 2012

Kick-Off: Gameweek 36 Fantasy Preview

Fired as a West Brom coach, reached UEFA CL Final.
Overview
In midweek we saw two richest clubs in the world, namely Barcelona and Real Madrid, got knocked out in Champions League semi-final. £50m Spaniard Fernando Torres actually scored the game sealing goal, and that goal alone possibly has redeemed the huge money spent by Roman Abramovich. Dramatic game by Chelsea. Salute.

Super Gameweek Double
8 teams will be on double this week, namely:
  • Liverpool (@NOR, FUL)
  • Fulham (@EVE, @LIV)
  • Stoke (ARS, LIV)
  • Everton (FUL, @STO)
  • Chelsea (QPR, NEW)
  • Newcastle (@WIG, @CHE)
  • Bolton (@SUN, TOT)
  • Tottenham (BLA, @BOL)
In my personal view, Everton has a really sound fixtures, especially when attackers like Jelavic are in fine form.

Game of the Week: MANCHESTER CITY v MANCHESTER UNITED
Will Balotelli be forgiven?
Here comes the climax. Defending champion, leading by 3 points, Manchester United, travel to Etihad Stadium to challenge their #1 contender, Manchester City.

A series of shocking results saw Manchester United's 8 point lead got shrunken into just 3 points. With City at home, it's hard to say whether the title race will only be decided at round 38.

City is free of injuries at the moment so it is hard to expect who will Mancini partner for Aguero. While Tevez would be the most likely candidate, Balotelli could also get a head start despite protests from his teammates. Huge riddles to be solved for Sir Alex Ferguson then.

Another question for SAF would be the wings setup. Which two to pick from Nani, Young and Valencia? While Nani poses greater offensive threat, he also is more vulnerable in defence. What will be SAF's priority? My guess is defence.

It should be a dramatic contest, and I'm betting City to win to make create the most exciting Premier League finale ever.

Prediction: MCI 2-1 MUN

Fantasy Game of the Week: Everton's Double (FUL, @STO)
Pienaar enjoying his return
to Everton.
Everton have been in a pretty fine form at the moment, and that makes their players interesting purchases for this gameweek double.

Jelavic has been in superb form, scoring 4 goals in the last 2 games he played. Solid acquisition at interestingly cheap price.

His teammates such as Pienaar, Osman and Fellaini could also provide good offensive returns, while Hibbert will be the real value buy at the defensive line.

Prediction: EVE 2-0 FUL, STO 1-0 EVE
Pick and Captain: Jelavic
Pick: Pienaar, Osman, Hibbert, Fellaini

Gameweek 36 Dream Team
Friedel
Hibbert -- Bosingwa -- Simpson
Bale -- Dempsey -- Pienaar -- Ben Arfa (VC)
P. Cisse -- Jelavic (C) -- Suarez
Subs: Begovic -- Mata -- Kaboul -- Enrique

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Kick-Off: Gameweek 35 Fantasy Preview

Drogba: The man who took Barca down.
Overview
It's only 4 weeks away from the closing of the season with the battle getting more and more intense. It's five points separating the top two; the battle for fourth doesn't seem to be able to conclude before gameweek 38; 5 teams are still on a good race to escape from the relegation spots. It's just gotta be intense.

Game of the Week: Arsenal v Chelsea
Lampard continues to impress.
The team on form, Chelsea, will be looking forward to take the fourth spot for at two hours by taking down Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

The Blues are the team on form now, marching on in both cup competitions (FA Cup and UEFA CL). They defeated the unbeatable Barcelona at home, something which was quite surprising.

Drogba who scored against Barca will continue to become the team's focal point in offence, supported by Mata, Lampard and co. Defensively Terry and Cahill will have to work very hard against #1 favourite for Golden Boot, Robin Van Persie. Do not expect clean sheets.

On the other side, RvP and Walcott are expected to cause many troubles again. Don't expect clean sheet for the home side as well, as Chelsea is on a truly astonishing form.

Prediction: ARS 2-1 CHE
Pick: Van Persie, Drogba, Walcott, Mata, Lampard

Drop: Both defence


Fantasy Game of the Week: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City
Caveman back with
total demolition.
City will need to keep up the pace to continue to pressure against league leaders Manchester United.

The Wolves season has practically ended with more than two games difference from survival zone. This should become City's advantage, as the opposition's morale should be very low, not to mention Wolves have not won any of their last 10 league games.

Meanwhile, City seems to recover their early season form, scoring 10 goals in last two games. Ex-captain Carlos Tevez is certainly the shining man now, after scoring a whopping 19 fantasy points in City's 6-1 demolition over Norwich. Aguero and Silva have reactivated their fantasy scoring machine as well.

Should be an easy win and possibly a clean sheet as well for City.

Prediction: WOL 0-3 MCI
Pick and Captain: Aguero, Tevez
Pick: Silva, MCI defence
Drop: WOL team


Pick and Drop
Pick and Captain:
Yakubu - Norwich always give goals.
Dempsey - Just so good.
P. Cisse  - Extremely prolific.

Pick:
AST and BOL team - Gameweek double.
Rooney/ Valencia/ Young - Usual offensive prospects from United.
Ben Arfa - Brilliant lad.

Drop:
NOR defence - Unlikely to withstand Blackburn's offence.

Transfer Traffic
Green light (buy):
Gameweek 35 double gamers - Check the fixtures.
Tevez/ Aguero/ Silva - Sensational form.
AST and BOL team - Gameweek double.

Gameweek 35 Dream Team
 Krul
Lescott -- Evans -- Collins
Silva -- Walcott -- Ben Arfa (VC) -- Dempsey
Tevez (C) -- Yakubu -- P. Cisse

Subs: Given -- M. Petrov -- A. Hughes -- Wheather

Friday, April 13, 2012

Kick-Off: Gameweek 34 Fantasy Preview

Back with unstoppable form.
Overview
First of all, a big apology to fellow loyal readers for missing two consecutive previews for you all. I was very busy last week and therefore wasn't alert of the gameweek deadlines. Rest assured as FPLZ will continue as usual until the end of the season.

Some big news over the last week:
  • Manchester United extended the lead to as much as 8 points but was closed down by City later thanks to their shocking defeat to Wigan.
  • Keeper crisis at Liverpool as Brad Jones is the only available senior goalkeeper currently (the other two were suspended).
  • Tottenham has only one win over the last eight league fixtures as Newcastle now goes level with them in points.
  • Wolves is almost certain to book a place in League Championship with nine points away from survival zone.

About This Gameweek
There will be only six games (12 teams) playing this week due to FA Cup semifinals and those delayed fixtures will be replaced in gameweek 35 (1 game) and gameweek 36 (4 games). Plan your transfers well.

Game of the Week: Swansea v Blackburn
Operation Yakubu:
Survival from Relegation
Not really have any game with intense match-up this week, so let's stick to Blackburn who's eager to get a win to escape from relegation.

The Rovers almost defeated Liverpool last gameweek with one-man advantage, but somehow had squandered to comeback. Yakubu remains to be the team's top scorer with 16 goals on hand now. A great striker.

But his supremacy will be tested by Vorm, the most acrobatic keeper in the Premier League. The Swans has leaked for at least two goals per game for the last four games, but you just can't underestimate what this keeper can do.

Sigurdsson will be the man who cause the most threat again, but personally I think Blackburn will be more motivated to get three points.

Prediction: SWA 1-2 BLA
Pick: Yakubu, Sigurdsson

Fantasy Game of the Week: Norwich v Manchester City
Operation Kun:
Revival of title hopes.
Sure, Arsenal are facing Wigan at home. But resurgent City against leaky Canaries are much more appealing to me.

Aguero has found his early season dominance as he scored two and made two last gameweek. Splendid and definitely deserve a captain armband this gameweek. His compatriot, Tevez, started the game and scored one too. Too expensive to own but nonetheless deserves a mention.

In the middle I expect Silva to play the craftsman role again, supplying the creativity needed to breakdown the defence. City's defence has back to its usual resoluteness again, though Kompany is perhaps too expensive to own at the moment.

Should be a comfortable win for City.

Prediction: NOR 0-4 MCI
Pick and Captain: Aguero
Pick: MCI defence, Silva
Drop: NOR defence

Pick and Drop
Pick and Captain:
Van Persie/ Rooney - As always.
Sessegnon - Wolves might have probably given up by now.

Pick:
MUN defence - Villa are quite weak on offence.
ARS defence - Certainly more composed now.
Valencia/Young - The most threatening flanks across the league.
Walcott - RvP's best partner.
Taarabt - Finally shown his true potential.
SUN defence - Wolves have little to fight for.

Drop:
WOL players - It's only a matter of time to get relegated.

Transfer Traffic
Green light (buy):
Aguero - In form for City's final push.
Taarabt - The real playmaker has been unleashed.
Yakubu - With intense desire to take Blackburn to the shore.

Red light (sell):
LIV defenders - Not even paying attention to league.
TOT players - Totally disjointed.
Pogrebnyak  - Doubtful indefinitely.

Gameweek 34 Dream Team
De Gea
Evans -- Sagna -- Lescott
Valencia -- Walcott -- Silva -- Sessegnon
Yakubu -- Aguero (C) -- Van Persie (VC)
Subs: Mignolet -- Sigurdsson -- Turner -- A Ferdinand

Saturday, April 7, 2012

An Apology

The author was too busy with his tasks and thus did not realize that gameweek 32 has already commenced. Due to that, gameweek 32 preview will not be issued.

He apologizes for his ignorance.