Gameweek 11- They had to meet sometime
- Goalie: Sorensen (Stoke)
- Defenders: Collins (Aston Villa), Warnock (Aston Villa), Faye Ab (Stoke), O’Shea (MU), Evra (MU).
- Midfielders: Fabregas (Arsenal), Arshavin (Arsenal),
- Forwards: Agbonlahor (Aston Villa & Captain), Drogba (Chelsea), Bent (Sunderland).
Subs: Simonson (Stoke), Benayoun (Liverpool), Cohen (Bolton), Fahey (Birmingham).
Villa’s Three
I’ve taken an eight point hit, to fit Agbonlahor and Warnock into the side ahead of their 180 minuet gameweek. Villa are on form with five points from their last three games and share the record for least goals conceded in the league with Chelsea. Brad Friedal, who makes his 200th consecutive league start, has had the misfortune of taking the ball from his net only eight times (six minus the season’s opener against Wigan). So that will stand my two defenders (Collins and Warnock) a decent chance of landing six, maybe 12 points each.
It hurts to say, but Saha has been replaced by Agbonlahor, the reason being obvious, to score points from two available games. I’ve got Aggy in as captain. Both games are away, but even a modest estimation sees him scoring at least once. That would provide eight points (doubled by the captaincy). I watched him playing for England recently, his pace, confidence and will to make it on Capello’s plane next June makes for a very determined and skilled striker. So it is easy to vision him doing everything up front for Villa and in doing so, granting me a dream fantasy week.
Big 4
What a game it will be when Tottenham meet up with Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon. For Arsenal this will be another D-Day, the last two against City and United were far less than satisfactory. Spurs travel across London to the bitter side where their arch rivals will be awaiting. They come with high hopes and sitting fourth in the league this will be a test, telling if or not they are pretenders in the race for the top four. I am hoping for something similar to last season’s corresponding fixture, an eight goal thriller.
This time I have my midfield kitted out with the Gunners best. My Premier League favourite Arshavin will dominate the left. Fabregas, who leads the points per game stats with 9.6, will revel in the wide open spaces of the Emirates park where Arsenal average over four goals a game. But not against Redknapp’s men you say? The two attacking midfielders will fancy their chances against the neighbours, who have won only twice in sixty-nine Premier League meetings against the top 4.
Chelsea have lost twice on the road in succession and while I’d love to see Bolton make it three, I am still looking for a Drogba hat-trick. His form is incredible, nothing less. He’s averaged eight points since I gave him a berth after week three. With ten games his stats read- eights goals, seven assists and nine bonus points. I know he won’t let me down. Tamir Cohen takes the second place on the bench. He’s been relegated because the goal flurry has ended; Chelsea won’t be an easy club to restart it against. Somehow I hope Joe Cole doesn’t lift off again like he did against Blackburn and the league leaders find a way to drop points.
This week my two guys representing the champions are O’Shea and Evra. It’s interesting to see these two working as closely as they are just weeks away from the most critical matches of their lives. All friendship will be put on hold when they clash at the world cup playoffs. Until then there is the matter of landing me two clean sheets and twelve points. Against Blackburn at Old Trafford there will be a decent chance of that happening, but the greater prospects lie with Rooney and whoever lines up by his side. Blackburn have seen thirteen roll past their defenceless goal-line over the last three matches. Will they put in a performance like last season, when it took a rocket from CR7 to separate the North-Westerners? No, probably not.
Spot on analysis of the Arsenal v Tottenham match. I had Cesc and Arshavin in my midfield as well as Gallas and Vermaelen in my back line. Fabregas will win the POY award within a year, hopefully he will still be at Arsenal come that time. Cmon you Gunners!!!!