Kick-Off: Gameweek 22 Fantasy Preview

Josh McEachran is on loan to Swansea. Great fantasy prospect?

Overview
FPLZ wishes a happy Chinese New Year for all Chinese who are visiting this site as there are plenty to enjoy from Premier League this weekend - the title decider game between Manchester City and Tottenham, and also the all time classic between Arsenal and Manchester United.

Transfer News

• Papiss Cisse joins Newcastle. He had scored 37 goals in 65 games for Freiburg. We can only see him after the African Cup of Nations anyway.
• Josh McEachran is loaned to Swansea. At £4.6m the future of Chelsea could be a great stud if he get enough of playing minutes and performs.
• Blackburn will not let Christopher Samba to go in this transfer window even though the captain had requested to be transfer listed. Arsenal is keen to grab his signature.
• Jermaine Defoe is happy to stay with Tottenham Hotspur. He is reportedly a target for Liverpool.
• Ritchie De Laet was sent back to Manchester United as the loan of the plagued defender seems to be a bad business for the Canaries.
• Talks are still being done by QPR to land Chelsea outcast Alex.

Game of the Week: MANCHESTER CITY v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
It's one of the title deciding game as Manchester City takes on third-placed Tottenham at Etihad Stadium.

Emmanuel Adebayor will not be eligible to face his "actual" club as the loan contract suggests. That means Jermaine Defoe will lead the line to face Kompany-less defence. Players like Bale, Van der Vaart and Modric will be very happy to exploit on that weak point of City.

However, one must not underestimate the aura of Etihad Stadium. The Citizens are yet to slip even a point at their home ground, scoring an average of 3 goals per game and conceding only 4 goals in all 10 home games played. Aguero has scored an average of 9.1 fantasy points at home - a possible captain candidate despite the toughness of this fixture.

I hope Tottenham can win the game and take themselves to the summit at May, but City at home is just too strong to be beaten.

Prediction: MCI 1-0 TOT
Pick: Aguero, Silva


Fantasy Game of the Week: NORWICH v CHELSEA
Well, Liverpool are visiting to Reebok Stadium, but I believe the Blues can give something more than the Reds.

Chelsea only managed to grab a 1-0 victory against Sunderland on their last fixture, but Sunderland is a much better team than Norwich under the leadership of Martin O'Neill. Against the Canaries I believe they can deliver more.

Much hopes on attack will be on Fernando Torres who performed a spectacular bicycle kick which deflected and rebounded by Lampard. The Spaniard had also being fouled inside the box twice but were not awarded a penalty for both offences.

Expect the best from El Nino, Lampard, Mata and Sturridge. I still have no clue whether Gary Cahill will be slotted in directly to pair up with Terry, but if he plays I believe Chelsea will not concede silly goals like when Luiz is around.

As for Norwich, there is still a high chance that either one of Holt and Morison to break the duck, but I believe Chelsea will get the much needed three points.

Prediction: NOR 1-3 CHE
Pick and Captain: Torres
Pick: Lampard, Mata, Sturridge


Pick and Drop
Pick and Captain:

• Gerrard - Should be leading his team to take charge against Bolton.
• Helguson - Should fire under the better approach of Mark Hughes.
• Van Persie - Will be looking forward to send Evans to hell.

Pick:

• LIV defence - Reliable especially against sides like Bolton.
• STO defence - West Brom are losing their direction recently.
• S. Fletcher - Super consistent.
• Valencia/ Nani - Much to exploit on the flanks against Arsenal's patchy defence.
• Ben Arfa - Cabaye is still injured so he should get his chance to show off.

Drop:

• ARS defence - Too patchy to face Manchester United.
• BOL players  - Liverpool's defence is just too tough while Bolton's is too weak.

Transfer Traffic

Green light (buy):

• Gerrard - If Liverpool scores, it is most probably his goal or assist.
• Steven Fletcher - Super ace of Wolves which resembles Van Persie's importance at Arsenal.
• Dyer - Running on a hot streak.

Yellow light (watch):

• Torres - Still not trustworthy until he proves himself.
• Gary Cahill - Never buy before his performance is reviewed.
• Rooney - His finishing looks really poor recently.

Red light (sell):

• Yakubu - Suspended.
• Adebayor - Pretty silent recently plus ineligible to face City.

Gameweek 22 Dream Team

Sorensen

A. Ferdinand -- Skrtel -- Gary Cahill

Valencia -- Gerrard (VC) -- Mata -- Silva

Torres -- Van Persie (C) -- Aguero

Subs: Vorm -- Dyer -- Savic -- Simpson

Saturday Stage

Kevin Davies (13 pts) and Elmander (13 pts)
United they FLY.

A big feast for fantasy managers as most of the fantasy key men have a point burst this weekend. Here are the highlights:

• Chelsea stumbled again. Birmingham got it right with only one shot and that made it very difficult for the away side. Don't tell me I didn't tip you about this as I even listed Foster as the first choice keeper. Well rewarded with eight points. Surprisingly, Alex started the game.
• Bolton overpowered Newcastle with both Davies and Elmander scoring two goals and one assist. The duo have been spectacular under Owen Coyle this season. With easy fixtures ahead, grabbing both of them is not a stupid choice.
• Jonathan Walters came from the bench and returned home with two goals. He may secure a starting spot in the next two to three games so continue to monitor him.
• Nani didn't reward his fantasy managers despite a 2-0 victory for Manchester United. Rooney was back for the game but didn't make enough impact for the Red Devils.
• The injury news look like a cheat as Charlie Adam played as for Blackpool as well. Varney again recorded his name on the score sheet.

Chelsea on Danger?

John Terry
Injury could sideline him for months.

Chelsea could be now in a deep, deep trouble with the injuries sustained by its two main centre back - Terry and Alex. The former is out for an unknown period - maybe weeks or months - while the latter has confirmed to out for six to eight weeks.

This means that Chelsea can only continue their games with one natural centre back - Ivanovic. I highly doubt Ferreira's ability to cover up that position.

A very good chance for Arsenal and Man Utd to steal the title away.