AT THE BEGINNING of the season, I came up with what seemed like an ingenious idea.
Given that last year, Man City were notoriously conservative in attack, it seemed wise to fill one’s FF team with their defenders, while refraining from including any of their strikers.
Besides, players such as Nasri and Aguero would take ages to settle into Mancini’s needlessly complex system, wouldn’t they?
Well, I was wrong. City now possess arguably the most formidable attacking force in the league, and the team can afford to concede the odd sloppy goal and still get away with winning comfortably. Time for a change in policy, I reckon.
Two players to pick this week
Asmir Begovic (Stoke): Stoke have been reliably solid so far this season. Although they face an in-form Newcastle at the weekend, better teams than the Magpies – most notably Man United – have struggled at the Britannia Stadium recently. One of the main reasons for their imperious home form is due to their goalkeeper’s outstanding performances. Begovic has scored more FPL points than any other goalkeeper this season and at 5.2million, he represents good value.
Stilian Petrov (Aston Villa): Another solid performer and one of the Premier League’s most underrated players, Petrov has made more interceptions than any other player in the league and he is not short of skill on the ball either. The Bulgarian was unfortunate last week to have been part of a Villa side handicapped by the referee’s inexplicable decision to send off Chris Herd (Herd’s ban has since been overturned). Expect his influence to be greater this Saturday, as they take on a struggling Sunderland side.
Two players to avoid this week
Mario Balotelli (Man City): Okay, I know this goes against every impulse you may have right now, but despite his magnificent performance in the Manchester derby last week, including Balotelli in your team represents a risk of the highest order. At his best, he is admittedly extraordinarily talented, however I am unconvinced he currently has the discipline or the maturity to perform well on a regular basis for City. Moreover, he is prone to getting sent off and engaging in other unwise antics – bad habits he needs to shed if he is to fill the void left by Carlos Tevez’s ostracisation from the first team.
Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal): Like Balotelli, Arshavin is undoubtedly talented and also like the Italian, you don’t always know what sort of performance you’re going to get from the enigmatic Russian. Arshavin was spectacularly bad in Arsenal’s recent Champions League game against Marseilles and it’s doubtful whether he’ll even play this weekend. The invariably lackadaisical performances he produces means he is at times guilty of epitomising the all-style-no-substance stereotype that is often associated with Arsenal.
Predictions for the week:
Everton 1-2 Man UnitedChelsea 2-1 Arsenal
Man City 4-1 Wolves
Norwich 1-1 Blackburn
Sunderland 1-2 Aston Villa
Swansea 2-2 Bolton
Wigan 1-1 Fulham
West Brom 1-2 Liverpool
Tottenham 3-1 QPR
Stoke 1-0 Newcastle
How my team got on last gameweek: Bit of a nightmare week I’m afraid. Let’s just say, I was banking on United playing well.
Who’s leading TheScore.ie’s league? Pa Morrissey’s Bullcelona remain on top following another solid gameweek from them.
