Week 6 - High Average Points!

Falling down into the depths of the table, blaming myself for not doing my due diligence on those injured / suspended and fielding Chico and Krul. Starting off from the goal keeper department, I have recruited Julio Cesar, at 8.54, on 2.46 price per point and averaging 10.5 points for 2 games, he seems like a good choice.

Upfront, I dropped Podolski, as Arsenal takes on Chelsea. In place, I got Crouch, the style of play for both teams is very contrasting, I am hoping that long ball tactic from Stoke will allow Crouch to score this weekend. I have kept Suarez and Cisse, even though there is a chance where Cisse might be dropped because of the missed penalty.

Midfield wise, I managed to barndoor Fellaini, hopefully his good form for points continues. As I was scouting through the midfielders for this week,  I came across Duff! Looking at this stats, he is averaging 13 points and at Price per point at 5.34. Looks like he is on top form, however the risk of picking him is that Fulham will be taking on Man City. Lets just see what he will bring us this week!

Not too many changes for my defenders. With the amount left, I went for Arsenal's Jenkinson, again low cost and high average points!

Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 6

First off, a message from the Yahoo team if you are having issues with your lineup.
“Due to schedule inconsistencies across our servers last week, some users are not seeing their Week 5 changes on their Week 6 lineup. If this has happened to you, you can completely remove the Week 6 lineup below (and restore your Week 5 lineup by clicking here.” 
 
So Liverpool went down 1-2 to Man U. They were close to brilliant in the first half. Rodgers showed heart of steel by fielding young Sterling against their great rival. He performed admirably, along with Suso, who came on in the 2nd half and orchestrated Gerrard’s goal. Bad calls from the ref though. It was painful to see Liverpool playing so well and not win it. But I took heart from the positive team performance. They will come good.

Jussi did nothing but still managed a -5. Following his miraculous >25 points from each of the previous 2 weeks, Murphy’s Law took over just when I grabbed him on the barndoor for Week 5. Luckily, Bale, Cazorla, HBA, Nolan and Defoe saved my Week. Propped me up a notch to 4th on the table.

Gonna stay away from the Arsenal vs Chelsea game this week, except for Cazorla. Everton looks like the pick for Week 6. Playing at home against poor travellers, Southampton. I think these home teams - Stoke, Sunderland, QPR and Villa, have good and winnable games.

Didn’t get the chance to BD Howard last week. At 11.66, he is still affordable and should give you a good ROI. Cesar and QPR will be going for their first win of the season. I’m keeping Jussi at the moment, this looks like the kind of game that will bring out the many saves from him. Reina away to Norwich and dirt cheap could be a good filler. So too, Guzan if Given stays on the bench.

I’m trying to fit Baines into my team. He is on fire, averaging 14 points from the last 5 games. Villa’s RB Lowton has a goal and 2 SOTs so far, or get Lichaj as a filler. No Bosingwa or Fabio this week, they are both out for QPR. Bramble, Cameron and Wilson may come in handy at only 6-7ish.

I’m sticking with Cazorla and HBA from last week. Still holding Nolan and Michu for now, but may switch them to Hoilett/Granero or Pienaar/Fellaini. Michu seemed to be losing steam, may just let him go and get him back for next week if he’s performing. Definitely will be getting an Everton MF, and looking at my available fund, it is likely to be the Belgian afro.

Lets make it short for the forwards.
Crouch, Jelavic/Mirallas, Fletcher, Bent or Zamora(if you want to stand out from the crowd).

My team is still very fluid now, especially the Forwards and GK. My failure to land any Everton players on the BD really cost me this week. Lets hope I wake up to a better strategy tomorrow!

<update>

Howard
Cameron Lowton Bramble
Cazorla HBA Pienaar Fellaini
Crouch Jelavic Fletcher

No budget for Baines. But I managed to snag 4 blues players.
I'm betting on Everton to win big.
Come on!

Week 5 - Still is the most exciting and anticipated match!

Both Liverpool and Manchester united have chalked up 37 league titles. However, Liverpool have fallen behind in recent years and are even hardly considered as title contenders. After so much that have been said between these 2 clubs, come match day it will still be the most anticipated, the game of the week!

As a fan, I am silently optimistic of what is to come. Not because Liverpool have a knack of performing well against the big teams, nor is it because we are playing at home. Its is because I am starting to see the style that Brendan Rodgers is bringing to the team. Lets just hope that it will be a good game, and not be over shadowed by Suarez and Evra.

Now to the my team for week 5. Keeping the back line of Vertonghen, Ivanovic and Chico. Along with Krul as the keeper. I got a feeling that Newcastle is going to do well for this week.This is also why i dropped Tevez for Cisse; hoping that he start to discover the last season's form.

For my midfield, I dropped Kagawa, in place of Nolan. Since West Ham is playing at home, I do hope that erratic Nolan bangs in a few!

Go Liverpool!

Week 5 - The Big One

The focus this week obviously is on Sunday. Man U at Anfield, will try to heap more misery on Liverpool. I am quietly optimistic. Liverpool showed some character and strength to draw level at MON’s Sunderland, which is always a tough ground to visit. I’m beginning to see Rodger’s philosophy taking shape. They had 66% possession, 23 SOGs and 6 SOTs. If they can work on converting the SOGs to SOTs and start Borini up front with Suarez floating behind, I think the goal drought problem will be solved.

Had another bad week. Collected only 68 points for Week 4. Good thing is, the other managers are doing likewise and so I’m still at fifth on the table. My gamble to play DDG backfired. SAF decided to put his faith on Lindegaard. Lesson learnt - stay away from Man U GKs. Michu returned with -0.50 points. Lets hope this is just a blip

Jussi took 27 amazing points from a goalless draw last week. Been hesitating to get him for the past 2 weeks. Not going to miss out this week, especially since I got him at BD 6-ish price. Harper could be an option as well, also at 6-ish and playing at home. If you like something different from the others, Davis at only 4.29 will be good value. The Saints are due a win. Get Cech if you have a bit more to spend and I guess would guarantee >10 points.

Sold Jenkins and Gibbs since they will be traveling to Citeh and also I think they are due a lost (haha). Gotten Vert and Fox as replacement. Holding on to Hammer’s Reid at the moment, he’s been scoring points from nowhere. Vidic at 8 seems like a good choice, but he is jinxed at Anfield. Turn to Santon or Tate if you are low on budget, or Ivanovic if you are feeling generous. I have doubts about Maicon, he played for 70 mins against Real and we all know Citeh has a big squad for Mancini to choose from.

I will be keeping Cazorla, Michu and HBA. Leaving only 1 more slot for the midfield. Lallana and Ramirez are very good options. Both dirt cheap and playing at home, looking for their first win of the season against Villa. Lampard and Bale are the premium picks for this week. If they are not scoring, they will be getting the points from SOTs, assists and set pieces. Dembele and Lennon are mid priced if you must have a Spurs MF in your team. Alternatively, Nolan and Matt Taylor (if you are feeling dangerous, cause you never know when he gets another big week).

The forwards are a little easier. One word - Hazard. Defoe is on form and looks set to continue his scoring spree. I am just afraid that AVB goes crazy again and puts on K2. If you can’t afford Ba, get Cisse who is looking to hit form again this season. May just drop Tevez, as I am unsure if he will be starting. Lambert, Long, Lukaku (dirt dirt cheap and Odem is out!) and maybe Wigan’s Di Santo, who has been quietly doing his job at Wigan. 


My team for now.
Jussi
Vert Fox Reid
Cazorla Michu HBA Lampard
Defoe Hazard Tevez

My prediction at Anfield? 2-0. Gerrard and Suarez to score.
What do you think?

Week 5 - Wedding Week

Hahaha ... not mine but my brother's so not much time to post anything comprehensive.

Just a short summary on what I am going to do with my team:

GK: I like what I have got last week and I will certainly keep this guy in my squad for as long as I can ... Julio Cesar is the man.

DEF: My supposedly season-keeper at a dirt cheap price of 1-ish is injured for at least a few matches ... so it's time to bring in someone who is equally, if not better, in returning the goods. Why not the former World Defender of the Year?

MID: HBA ... skill, technique, speed, flamboyancy .. he's a class act!

FWD: Well, Aguero looks certain to start this week so I am not sure whether to let go of RVP or not ... The only uncertain for this week.

How about you?

Week 4 - Lets get going again!

After the international break, got a raring to go feeling! This week the most significant thing was the knowing the truth of Hillsborough. Finally after 23 years, the fan and families have been vindicated!
During one of the anniversary minute silence was when I came to know about the Hillsborough incident. I do vaguely remember the incident over TV, however I guess I too young to understand it all.

Back to this week's selection, keeping the shape of those who were on form for the past week, however its always unpredictable what the international break will do to players. This week, I am largely unchanged, however I traded Dyer for Fellaini, in hope the will head in a couple more goals this week. While Fellaini plays well on the pitch, he is not a high points scorer so I am still not decided if I will go for him.

As for my strike force, I recruited Podolski in hope that we will start to perform and score more goals! Whats your take this week?

Week 4 - The Hillsborough Truth

The Truth after 23 years. I remember that day in 1989. Sitting in front of the TV at home and waiting for the FA Cup semi-final match to start. Just minutes into the game, the ref stopped the match. I saw that some fans were climbing over the fence and onto the pitch behind Grobbelaar.  I was still rather young then and just wanted the ref to re-start the game, thinking that it was just a minor pitch invasion kind of incident. But it was not. I sat and watched the tragedy unfold with horror. The human crush took 96 lives. It was finally acknowledged that the Liverpool fans were not, in any way, responsible for the disaster. After 23 years, it is time to lay this ghost to rest.

You can watch the 2 documentaries here by ITV and BBC, if you want to know more about the background.

Week 3 was a pretty bad week for me, as I slipped from first to fifth on 83 points. Fantasy managers who bought RVP were rewarded with 35 points from his hat-trick at St Mary’s. The Saints were 2-1 up and looking the likely winner, if not for some individual brilliance from RVP. Krul managed a miserable 6 points (and I was juggling between him and dirt cheap Jussi!!). At Swansea, Chico got the red card, Neil Taylor suffered a horrible injury early in the game and Michu did good again. Cazorla ran rings around Anfield and destroyed Liverpool, despite another eye catching display from Allen. He is going to be the pass master ala Molby. K2, Kagawa and Ba were disappointing, returning a total of 7 points. Luckily I had Ben Arfa, who scored a goal and brought me up to fifth on the group table.

Here’s a quick guide for Week 4.

Arsenal and Man U have got good home games with potential clean sheets. Its between Mannone/Szczesny (look out for team news) and DDG for me. Fulham and Schwarzer at home looks a good deal too. If you are squeezed for cash, Ruddy or Jussi may give you some good ROI.

I’m keeping Vert and Jenkinson at dirt cheap price. Gibbs is getting expensive but still affordable. I’m deciding between Riether and Vidic. I am swayed towards Vidic, given Man U’s better match up against Wigan. Heads up for Citeh’s Maicon. He’s on my barndoor list.

Carzola and Michu stays. Some injury doubts on Kagawa, but I think he should be fit this weekend. Pienaar is back to his best after some miserable bench time at Spurs last season, while Fellaini will look to add on to his 2 goals playing in a more advanced role.  I feel both players will do well against a depleted Newcastle. Get Granero if you need to spend on other areas. Good filler and playing at home against Chelsea without Terry’s leadership.

The forwards selection are obvious this week IMO. Tevez, Hazard and  Podolski. Giroud if you can’t afford Podolski. Wenger has to play him and get him to score. RVP if you had him before the hat trick and Petric who will be looking to reproduce his brilliant debut performance.

<updates>
Ok saved my team.

DDG
Jenkins Gibbs Vidic
Cazorla Michu Pienaar HBA
Hazard Podolski Tevez

I'm expecting clean sheets from my GK and defenders.
Swapped Riether with Gibbs. I think Arsenal will have a better chance for a clean sheet. Still no goals conceded so far! Would have gotten Mannone too if not for the uncertainty of having Szczesny back fit. Even DDG is a risk this week with the Champs League game coming up. Sold Kagawa for Pienaar as I am not sure if he will be starting after suffering a back injury during international week. There were news that Pienaar will be fit after a thigh injury and was left out of the South Africa friendly. So another risk there. Kept HBA. Best player for the Magpies so far.

Will be keeping an eye on a few Saints' players to barndoor (Lallana, Ramirez, Lambert, Fox, Clyne). Chelsea, Newcastle and Spurs are the other teams to pick for next week. Who will you be barndooring?

Week 3 - Keeping up!

According to my previous records, I should have a couple of low scoring weekends already, however it seems that after starting to write about my pre-game plans and post game dedux, I have managed to keep up by scoring my 3rd consecutive above 100 points week! Hope this keeps up.

Was gutted at what happened during the transfer deadline with Liverpool losing a striker before securing one. It really makes me wonder if manager and owners are still "green" in the transfer market. Looking at the bright side Allen and Sterling seems to be pretty good performer, now we just need to score, of course its easier said than done.

By keeping 3 of my strikers from week 2, Tevez and Lambert repaid by getting a goal each. Again Swansea looking good at home with Michu scoring 4 goals in 3 matches.

I am sure some of you did pick the very expensive RVP and was rewarded. He seems like a keeper for the rest of the season, however perhaps he has become too expensive for me to buy once again?

Week 3: Post Vacation

I have been lazy .. I have been suffering from post vacation syndrome ... I have been wols ... but

I AM BACK!

It has been a crazy transfer deadline day for most clubs and I was really really surprised to see that the ex champ has signed Richard Wright as backup keeper ... Mancini getting senile liao ah?

I am not really sure about things this week but my hunch is that Swansea and Man U will certainly run riot against their opponents. So you know who to bank on, right?

yea baby, it's me :)

Good luck everyone and as always, may the odds be every in your favour! Adieos!

Week 3: Keeping faith!

Hello fellow fantasy-ers, it was quite an eventful last weekend! Both Suarez and Tevez scored and got me more than 10 points each. Even Lambert got 16 points without scoring! A true manager would not hesitate to field them again for the next match. But of course this is fantasy football and people would argue to that things are different. I have decided to keep them for week 3.

Swansea plays at home this weekend and they have impressed me enough last and this season when they play at home, so I have picked 3 Swansea players Chico and Michu were from last week, I have added Dyer for week 3.

Chelsea won't be featured in week 3 but I am still undecided if I should keep Ivanovic as he is a whooping 15mils now! I have chosen Krul in place of Cech and thinking if I should also invest in any Newcastle strikers because I think they should be able to do well against Aston Villa.

Good luck people!