Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 38

And we are down to the last week of the season. Wigan is finally relegated. The only meaningful games left will be for Spurs and Arsenal. Almost half my team is loaded with players from Spurs. Playing at home to Sunderland, who just managed to escape the drop to the Championship. I think Spurs will turn on the style for this home game and snatch the final Champions League spot from Arsenal. Unpredictable Newcastle may just spoil Arsenal’s season by causing an upset at St James.

So here’s the team atm..

Lloris

Vert Dawson Coates

Cazorla Lennon Oscar Coutinho

Mata K2 Sturridge

Oscar and Mata will most likely make way for MIchu (argh!) , Nolan, Yaya or I may try to bring in Walcott at a premium. Not sure if Mata will be starting for Chelsea, so he will go too with Podolski coming in his place. Managed to BD Sturridge last week after his hat trick. He is on red hot form now. I am pretty happy with the GK and defenders situation, unless I have some spare change to swap Coates for someone else.

Come next season, we will be seeing Cardiff, Hull (again) and either Crystal Palace or Watford in the EPL. Its going to be a busy pre-season. Watch out for the new players coming in. 

Till August...

Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 37

I’m back after my holidays and some busy weeks at work.

The EPL season is coming to an end and the title stays in Manchester, this time to the Red side. Citeh has secured 2nd spot. 3rd and 4th is still a toss between Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal. The 6th (and Europa) spot should go to Everton, while Liverpool will remain just below their neighbours at 7th (and maybe an Europa slot through fairplay). The drop for QPR and Reading is confirmed. Tough fight for the remaining relegation spot among Wigan, Newcastle, Norwich, Sunderland and Southampton.

The players to pick for this week and next, obviously, should come from the teams that are still “fighting” for something. Time to splash the cash.

Wigan - Robles (though Al Habsi may be back), Maloney, McArthur, Kone

Newcastle - Elliot, Taylor, Debuchy, Cabaye, HBA, Cisse

Norwich - Bunn, Bass, Garrido, Snodgrass

Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal - Lloris, Dawson, Ekotto, Cazorla (since week 1), Walcott, Bale, Lennon, Oscar, Lampard, Podolski, Defoe, K2, Mata

Others - Kompany (if you had him on the cheap), Lallana, Puncheon, Graham, Dzeko, Agbonlahor.

My team atm...

Lloris

Vert Dawson Ekotto

Cazorla Oscar Cabaye Lennon (yes Michu is finally off the team)

Mata Defoe Podolski

I hope Sunderland stays up, so we can see more of Di Canio and his sideline antics.

 Will Wigan perform another miracle? I guess luck will not be with them this time and maybe paving the way for Martinez to Everton.

Oh and Fergie is finally retiring. Incredible managing career with United since 1986. Moyes has got huge..HUGE shoes to fill. The rivals will be smiling and waiting...

 

 

Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 31

Week 30 turned out to be the same for almost everyone, bad. I am still about 20+ points from the leader after gaining some ground in the past few weeks.

The team for now...

Lloris

Vert Vidic Monreal

Cazorla Michu Cabaye Silva

Sturridge Giroud Tevez

I am feeling doubtful about Cabaye. Had him on the cheap but he is a pretty injury prone player. But overall I’m quite happy with this formation. Will be going on holiday from tomorrow for 2 weeks. So whenever I have wifi I’ll try to check for team news and maybe grab a couple of barndoors before the points update!

Ciao, Afscheid and Goodbye!

Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 30

The team atm...

Lloris
Vert Vidic Mbiwa
Cazorla Michu Cabaye Lallana
Remy Suarez Benteke

With 8.5 more in the bank, I’m looking to replace Mbia, Lallana, Remy and maybe even Suarez. The possible players coming in are Scharner, Wilson, Coutinho, Valencia, Defoe/K2 or even RVP, whose price is at all season low.

Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 29

Very brief one for this week.

My current team...
Lloris
Vert Vidic Monreal
Cazorla Michu Cabaye Lallana
Lambert Suarez Remy

Players that I may bring in..

Defender - Debuchy, Kelly, Samba
Midfield - Ramirez, Coutinho, Bale (for fun), Akpan
Forward - Gouffran, Cisse, Snodgrass


Monreal and Lambert will most likely make way for a Newcastle Defender and Snodgrass.
Lallana to be monitored with Ramirez waiting.
Will be keeping Vidic and Cazorla.

Only 12 teams will be playing this week guys. Don’t forget.

Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 28

My team atm...

Lloris
Vert Vidic Monreal
Cazorla Michu Cabaye Lallana
Mata Rooney Lambert

Would like to get one Everton player, Fellaini or Piennar, but that would mean dropping Cabaye or/and Lallana. Cabaye was brought in at a discount of 9.4 and is now priced at 17.85. He is the form player now for Newcastle and its unlikely that I will swap him for someone else. Puncheon is now at a reasonable 10-ish if you do not have enough for Lallana. Sessegnon played really well last week, even though Sunderland lost. If you didn’t have him on the BD, you can consider Adam Johnson, who’ll be whipping in the crosses and creating assists for the two british-styled centre forwards. Holtby is still getting the games and is a cheap Bale alternative for Spurs playing at Home in the North London derby.

Mata and Lambert should be fixed for Week 28., while Rooney should be playing this weekend, since both Welbeck and Chicharito were in the midweek FA cup fixture. Other forwards for consideration in order of prioritization are Kone(if you got him on the BD), Anichebe and Walters.

My keeper and defenders remain.
Fingers crossed. I’m within 20+ points from the lead.
 

Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 27

No games for Swansea and Liverpool this week. Sadly, I had to drop Sturridge on a discount. Will still be holding on to Michu though.

The team atm...

Lloris
Vert Vidic Nacho
Cazorla Michu Holtby Cabaye Walcott
Gouffran Giroud

Will be banking on Arsenal to overrun relegation contender Villa, after their disappointing losses in the FA cup and Champs League. Grabbed myself 4 Arsenal players, Cazorla (who’s always there), Walcott, Giroud and the newcomer Cheesy Nachos. This should be a goal feast. Newcastle, with almost all their first team players back, will most likely grab a home win over Southampton. Cabaye will be eager to make up for the first half season absence, while Gouffran will strive to impress Pardew further. Holtby may go for Nolan, since I have another 12 in the bank to play around with.

That’s about it for Week 27. I’m still dead tired after waking up in the wee hours to catch Liverpool beat Zenit 3-1. But it was still in vain. Good game though, I thought they almost did it. Chin up..

Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 26

Its a double game week again - this time its Liverpool and Swansea. Liverpool should have an easier time with 2 home games vs WBA and the Swans.

The team atm..
Lloris
Vert Vidic Debuchy
Cazorla Michu Cabaye Gerrard Holtby
Mata Sturridge

Sturridge for now because Suarez cost too much. Mata may go to bring in Suarez and one more forward. I am even toying with the idea of having both Sturridge and Suarez! Sturridge has taken a central role with Suarez moved to the flank/floating position. Observed that he can be rather selfish and takes many shots at goal, which is good for fantasy football. On the other hand, Chelsea needs to bounce back quickly after another disappointing draw last week and Mata will be eager to punish Wigan.

In midfield, Michu and Gerrard are the double gamers. Michu has gone quiet recently, resulting in a price dip, while Gerrard has been in scintillating form lately - drop him at your own peril. Not many choices in midfield since Cazorla , and recenty Cabaye, are holding on to the season keepers role for me. With little funds left, I grabbed Holtby on the BD last week. Defoe looks to be out for at least 3 games, so Holtby may be given the chance to shine. Lallana is back from injury and should be starting vs Citeh. Southampton may spring a surprise and inflict another blow on Citeh’s Championship challenge. Snodgrass or filler Becchio for Norwich at home vs Fulham are my other considerations. The former, though pricey, is always sniffing around for goals and offer good fantasy points.

Vert, Vidic and Debuchy are all bought on discount and will be staying in my team for a long time. Agger seems like the best priced double gamer, with CS potential and always a threat at set pieces.

Lloris continues to be my season keeper keeper and playing at home, while Reina is priced at a low 7-ish with 2 very winnable home games.

Meanwhile, Carragher has announced his retirement at the end of the season. The childhood Everton fan has made 723 appearance for Liverpool, the second highest for the club. From defensive midfield to right-back to left-back and then to centre-back, he has done it all! The epitome of a one-man club who gives his 101% in every game. I hope he will stay on in a coaching capacity and manage Liverpool eventually. He's a tough cookie...

Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 25

Almost forgotten about Week 24, but managed to tweak my team just before the deadline and hence, there was no time to put up any blog entry. Anyway, other than Cabaye and Mata with double digits each, the rest of the team performed poorly. Strangely, I managed to move up 88 rungs in the overall ranking with just 59.5 points.

Team atm...
Lloris
Vert Vidic Debuchy
Cazorla Michu Cabaye Cole
RVP Mata Remy

The 3 players that I am unsure for now are Cole, RVP (will release much needed funds) and Mata. Thinking of replacing them with Fellaini, Anichebe, Walcott and Giroud. I pretty happy with the rest.

This little guy will not be travelling to Manchester this weekend. I will be keeping my eye on him in the coming games.

 

Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 23

Sorry guys. Internet was down and now my router is not working as it is supposed to. Just a quick one before I head back to fixing the router issue.

Double games for Arsenal and West Ham. Everybody should already have Cazorla. The other double gamers that I have now or am considering - Walcott, Podolski, Giroud, Verm/Gibbs, Nolan, J Cole and C Cole. The rest of my team should be the season keepers, Michu, Vert and Lloris, along with Gerrard.

So the team for now.
Lloris
Vert Vidic Verm
Cazorla Michu Walcott J.Cole Gerrard
Podolski Giroud

One more thing to note. A few lower league games had been cancelled due to snow. I will be keeping my eyes on any related news up till the deadline, before clicking on the save button. 

You should too. Fingers crossed.

Week 22: Big games!

Apologies for my MIA period over the holidays. I am back and looking forward, as the January transfer window opens and Liverpool finally got a striker to ease the pressure of scoring goals upfront. And what a good way to put the new acquisition to the test in the form of our greatest rivals Manure.

Man Utd vs Liverpool is one of the big games over this weekend. As my usual idea of not investing in players for big games, I only have my season keeper Suarez in my squad this week! Lets hope he gives the Manure defense a good run for their money!

Another big game, is Arsenal vs Man City, again only season keeper Carzola for this game!

If you have not already known, its a double game week for Chelsea and Southampton. I have decided to invest in some Southampton forwards and midfielders in view that they take on the leaky defense of Aston Villa. Both J. Puncheon and R. Lambert seem to be in good form!

I am not sure if dropping A. Taarabt for Ramires is a good idea as Ramires might not be starting / playing for the 2 games. Perhaps I should get back Taarabt?

Mel’s Fantasy Team Selection - Week 22

 And we are back for 2013.

Wisdom has signed a new contract extension, joining fellow LFC academy graduates Suso and Sterling on long term deals. It has been many years since the Academy boys did good. With Coady, Robinson, Morgan, Flanagan and Sama waiting on the wings, I’m sure there will be a good supply of homegrown talents for the years ahead. Just like them...

Some things to take note for Week 22.
Double games for Chelsea and Southampton. Players gone for ACN. Players in/out due to loan/transfer. Some notable transfers - Ba to Chelsea, Sturridge to Liverpool, Joe Cole to West Ham, Chamakh to West ham, Mathieu Debuchy to Newcastle and Bebe off to Rio Ave, LOL. Players affected by ACN - K2, Gervinho, Obi Wan Kenobi, Moses, Toure brothers, Tiote and Kone.

I’m holding on to Lloris still. If you didn’t have him on the BD, Turnbull should be in your team. The trip away to Stoke may be a tricky one, but I’m sure he will chalk up the points in their home game vs Southampton. Villa’s Guzan is a slightly cheaper alternative and may offer good value at home vs the Saints.

I had Vidic on the cheap some weeks back and his price has since gone up by 3. Not too keen on the Saints defenders this week, since both their games are away and looking very likely to concede some goals. If you have the funds, get both Cole and Luiz, with the latter playing in midfield. If not, get any of the Villa defenders in descending price order Lowton / Clark / Bennet / Lichaj. Vert stays.

Cazorla (for next week’s double game too!) and Michu stays. Joe Cole looks lively in the FA cup fixture vs Man U, providing the assists for both goals. The Saints’ midfield looks more appealing for the double games. Puncheon and/or Ramirez, both on form and scoring many fantasy points recently, must be considered. I may just stay away from the Chelsea midfield. Who’s to know what’s on Rafa’s mind. Fellaini’s price has gone down to 10-ish recently and will be playing at home vs Swansea this week, as Everton looks to keep up the pace for a Champions League finish.

Rafa’s fondness for playing with 1 forward, means Torres and Ba will be getting only 1 game each. Mata is a must have on current form and I think Hazard will get his two games. Trying to squeeze in Lambert as well. Spurs should dispose of QPR quite easily, and with K2 away at ACN, Defoe will be their main man upfront. Southampton’s defence is still leaky and should be easy pie for Benteke.

My team atm...
Lloris
Vert Vidic Cole
Cazorla Michu Fellaini Ramirez
Defoe Mata Hazard

May trade Cole, Fellaini and Defoe to get Puncheon, Lambert and a filler in defence.  
Hoping to see this on Sunday.