Fantasy Football 2012-4-27

Game week 36

barcaRONAN’s last game week Score – 63

Average Score on site – 47

Highest Haul: 26 – Rooney (He was my captain, so it was 13 points doubled)

Lowest Haul: 0 Points, Johnny Evans, nice work Mr concede-four-goals.

Average Score Per Player 5.7

Accrued Score – 1660

Place in my own fecking league – 50, up 2 places

Points off the top – 323, rose 6 points closer to the top.

Points off ‘The First Page’ – I’m on it baby! 50^th position.

State Of Play

What a midweek of Champions League football folks, so much that I’d somewhat forgotten the 4-4 goalfest at Old Trafford last weekend. Threw the cat amongst the pigeons on fantasy football to say the least, without a modicum of research I’m going to say that this must be one of the highest scoring individuals gameweeks in a very long time, that is to say many players for 12 or so points or more? Does that make sense? I’m already doubting myself.

Vindication

Leaving the captaincy with Rooney I guess, he drew nearly 50% of my points this week (41.3% to be exact, this is a game of specific margins folks). But once again it’s not like he was a dark horse. None of my squad are any sort of wild card to be fair.

D’oh

Jaysus a lot of 2s or less, 5 players just didn’t perform.

Did I get the Keeper right?

Yes, Krul got 6 compared to Vorm, or should I say DOUBLE!!! It looks better doesn’t it.

Subs in general?

Nope, Song did better than every midfielder I did play, ie all of them! And while Richards didn’t play, Cahill, did better than every defender of mine that did play.

Screenshot of my team from last game week.

Questions / Hunch  / Trends / Dramatic Narrative this game week before Sky have spotted it.

Jeez, are Villa gone? I’ll be honest and say I’d prefer them to go down than some of the ‘smaller’ clubs, they and Spurs seem to have essentially just given up trying to win, or being bothered to win even. Having said that I’m gonna pick up a Spurs player this week.

While the relegation battle and race for 3^rd/4^th is exciting, the drama is focused on Monday with the biggest Manchester Derby ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (or so the papers are saying)

8 teams play twice this week, so this is last chance for some of us to get that extra few points over the people ahead in the league table. Trying to work out the doubles actually cause more hassle than it’s worth sometimes, obviously players might be rested for one and general tiredness at this end of the season affects form too. I anticipate Chelsea will be looking backwards and resting players as well as looking forward to both Finals they have coming up so players will be playing for their places (other than the suspended 4!), I also assume Liverpool are only thinking of two things: (1) Their chances to play in the FA Cup final and (2) Not getting cream suits.

           

Transfers

While Cahill is injured, it Micah Richard’s I’m getting rid of and bringing in Hibbert at Everton, a few people are tipping Huth, as Stoke play twice at home this week, but Hibbert is very cheap and Everton have 4 fixtures that could bring them 3 clean sheets, possibly 4.

Well Spurs simply have to step up and win their matches, factoring that in with people playing for their Euro Squad place I am gonna bring in Lennon AND Bale, saying goodbye to Segurdsson and Valencia, I doubt the latter will play all three of the next matches, certainly not 90 minutes of all and for the former Swansea play Man Utd and Liverpool in their final 2 games of the season. Bringing players who should play all four of the remaining fixtures their clubs have imply more points being gained.

Shipping Bendter out, bringing popular boy Jelavic in. Simple reasoning Jelavic will play twice this gameweek. On a similar reason, Song is gone (away to Stoke, can’t see him doing much) and brining Fellani in, so putting a lot of faith in Everton this week, 12 points of faith.

Theory/Selection

Basically playing everyone that is playing twice, so that’s 9 of the team picked, then dropping Evans (more chance of Williams keeping a clean sheet against the already relegated Wolves than Evan against Man City) and to decide between Rooney and McClean, errah I’m going with the Shrek!

My Captain, My Captain.

I’ll go for Bale, two winnable games this week, certain starter for both (unless injured obviously)… Jelavic will be my vice, even though it’s a needless back up plan methinks.

My Team this week

Keeping An Eye On

Jeez, noone really, just the telly!

Captain's Corner

[NB Back Of The Net Boy is not responsible for Captain’s Corner spelling, grammar and basic text layout]

I think he’s gone to a stag. Sorry folks, we’re closing early this week.

Fantasy Football 2012-4-20

Game week 35

barcaRONAN’s last game week Score – 75

Average Score on site – 38

Highest Haul: 26 – Rooney (He was my captain, so it was 13 points doubled)

Lowest Haul: Cisse – 0 points, as he didn’t play at all

Average Score Per Player 6.8

Accrued Score – 1597

Place in my own fecking league – 52, up 9 places

Points off the top – 329, rose 12 points closer to the top.

Points off ‘The First Page’ – 27 points closer to 50th

State Of Play

To use a phrase more commonly used in NBA Jam… Boomshackalacka!!! An amazingly good week at Camp Ro, only 4 teams did better than moi in the BOTNB league this week. Hopefully we can use this as a stepping-stone and have a strong finish to the season. Can’t wait for the Euros now!

Vindication

Nothing particularly inspired to take credit for, even though overall I did very well this week, 6 or 7 prominent players all did what they are well known for doing and I managed to captain a player who did well.

D’oh

Similarly nothing to rue either, 3 players getting 2 points or less was statistically likely.

Did I get the Keeper right?

Moot point, as he wasn’t playing.

Subs in general?

Even mootier point.

Screenshot of my team from last game week.

Questions / Hunch  / Trends / Dramatic Narrative this game week before Sky have spotted it.

Wahey! we are officially in the business end of the season that people refer to, so let’s get down to bizness. Couple of slug outs now – The Title; 3^rd & 4^th place; and the drop, and then there are the other 8 or 9 clubs who really are almost twiddling their thumbs looking at the brochures for sun holidays already.

Having said that not much stands out this week, other than two returning figures, O’Neill returns to Aston Villa as Sunderland manager, it’d be safe to say that both parties probably wish they could rewind the clock two seasons as they have been forgettable for both.

On a smaller note Darren Gibson returns to Man Utd now in the colours of Everton, Gibson was in the shadow of Paul Scholes for a few seasons and now it looks like they will be playing against each other.

           

Transfers

Making no transfers this week, the only reason would be to bring in the players playing twice this week and there isn’t a Villa or Bolton player interesting me at all. There is no point trying to be clever and get the jump on all the doubles coming up in the next gameweek yet cos there could be a bevy of injuries.

Theory/Selection

Simple really, playing as few defenders as possible (in this case benching Cahill, who is away at the Emirates, and Williams, who is away at Bolton). While Krul has an orange mark against him, I’ll go with him as first choice keeper, and finally my fourth benchee will be Song for Arsenal, my reasoning is basically that my other 4 midfielders are in better recent form.

My Captain, My Captain.

I might go with the safe choice of having Rooney as captain again, might change my mind over the course of the night though, he never really shines against his old club Everton but they are bound to be out of sorts since losing that FA Cup semi final and a visit to Old Trafford is never easy at the best of times.

My Team this week

Keeping An Eye On

Darren Gibson, on a personal note, to see if he scores a 35 yard screamer on his return to Old Trafford. But also Lennon at Spurs, who seems to be fully fit again and his return to the right wing could lead to resurgence for both Spurs as a team and him as an attacking player.

Captain's Corner

[NB Back Of The Net Boy is not responsible for Captain’s Corner spelling, grammar and basic text layout]

RVP disappointed and Rooney looked out of sorts (despite getting two goals!), and City seem to be returning to their early season free scoring form, giving us lots to think about.

Arsenal@home to Chelsea - Tricky to call this one. But i will. 2-2. RVP and Walcott for Arsenal, Drogba could well be rested here for Champions league next week, Torres to deputise. Not a great fixture for your armband though.

Wolves@home to City - This looks mouth watering. Tevez is back with a vengeance and his partnership with Aguero looks deadly. Both are excellent picks. Aguero probably the more likely to get 90 minutes and should be on pens so he's slight favourite imo. Silva is a good shout too. Oh and Hennessey's out for Wolves, uh oh. 

(I'm forever blowing) Doubles! - Villa and Bolton have doubles this week, but most will be overlooking this on account of both teams being very poor recently and much bigger double gameweek fish to fry next week. Still though, the likes of Myaichi for Bolton or maybe a Villa defender (2 home games) could be a good bet, but it's risky.

Newcastle@home to Stoke - Cisse and Ben Arfa.

Gamble picks - For the 3rd or 4th time this season, Yakubu! (Yes, I’m a terrible gambler)

Fantasy Football 2012-4-13

Game week 34

barcaRONAN’s last game week Score – 56

Average Score on site – 47

Highest Haul: 18 – Cisse (He was my captain, so it was 9 points doubled)

Lowest Haul: Cahill, Evans and Crouch – 1 point

Average Score Per Player 5

Accrued Score – 1522

Place in my own fecking league – 63, down 3 places

Points off the top – 341, raised 18 points closer to the top.

Points off ‘The First Page’ – 57 points, 13 points closer to 50th

State Of Play

Jaysus, the two gameweeks over one weekend caught a lot of us eh? I was able to get my shit together to make a few changes before the deadline on Sunday morning (or Monday morning? whichever it was) but no point in blogging about I felt. Anyway nothing I did was of much note anyway.

Vindication

This is bizarre vindication cos I’m very sure I had decided to leave Rooney as my captain but for some reason Cisse has been allotted the armband and double points. So that extra 7 or 8-point swing has helped in my battle for First (page)… top 50 will do me now.

D’oh

Six players getting two points or less, with your team pulling those scores you know yer not gonna do well. To be honest it’s just pride keeping me going as well as trying to keep match fit for the Euros.

Did I get the Keeper right?

Yes Krul got 7 to Vorm’s 2. But him being brought in last week was for this gameweek in mind.

Subs in general?

In the sense that all three of them only got 2 points or less anyway, yes.

Screenshot of my team from last game week.

Questions / Hunch  / Trends / Dramatic Narrative this game week before Sky have spotted it.

This is probably the most exciting fortnight of the premiership season, as it stands everything is “all to play for”, but Wolves could be a write off in 2 weeks time, Man Utd could have the title tied up OR be fighting tooth and nail for the trophy.

I have no hunches or narratives this week to be honest, I’m more looking forward to Liverpool v Everton match to be honest. Come on Moyeserton! You deserve it.

           

Transfers

Cos of all the teams not playing this game week, as it stood I only had one keeper and 8 outfield players available for selection, so simply put Crouch has to go, and a striker playing this week is coming in. Scanning the fixtures I reckon it will be a Sunderland player, what with 2 favourable home games in the next 3 (against Wolves and Bolton) and sandwiched in between an away game against O’Neill’s former club Aston Villa… So since I’m picking a Sunderland striker, so guess who it is… drum roll… Yeah it’d Bendter, who is returning to Camp Ro where he started this season.

Theory/Selection

This week’s team is simpler than usual; I’ve 10 players that are eligible to play. SO that’s my team.

My Captain, My Captain.

Rooney is my only big big hitter in the team this week, he had a howler against Wigan so maybe he’ll swing back with a big performance at home to Villa? I’m hoping so, even though he seems to always go through bursts of form, it’s what I read in papers anyway.

My Team this week

Keeping An Eye On

The FA Cup and any possibly replays adding any more double/treble gameweeks, I anticipate making 2 or even 3 transfers next week to make use of the double gameweeks in 35 and 36.

Captain's Corner

[NB Back Of The Net Boy is not responsible for Captain’s Corner spelling, grammar and basic text layout]

A tricky weekend this gameweek, only 6 fixtures to pick our captain from. Fantasy managers will be struggling to field a full 11 whilst also being mindful of the upcoming double gameweek bonanza in GW36.

Arsenal@home to Wigan - Wigan are hitting form just when they need to as they battle for survival with a well-deserved victory at home to United last week. They're away to in form Arsenal too though and you'd have to fancy Arsenal here. RVP ended his brief goal drought last week but is definitely not looking as sharp as he did during the year. But even when not fully in form, you'd be a brave man not to back him for a goal here. Walcott is an equally good pick.

Man United@home to Villa - Perfectly set up for the famed Man United bounce back here, United should get a few goals. Rooney is dipping in form as well though and Valencia's place is perhaps a slight risk from a returning Nani. 

Norwich@home to Man City - Man City showed showed some of their early season form with a convincing 4-0 demolition job on West Brom. But their away form is awful and Norwich can easily get a goal or two here and are on a high after dispatching Spurs last week. I'd expect goals galore here on both sides. Aguero is back on the radar and Silva too. If you have one, captain them.

Sunderland@home to Wolves - Wolves end of season hell continues, it's damage limitation at this stage. Sunderland will be looking to bounce back (lot of bouncing this week) from the defeat to Everton. Bendtner may feature, coming back from a back injury. He's a good shout along with Sessegnon and McClean.

Gamble picks - Yakubu. Hitting form again, check. Record of scoring against Swansea. Check. (four in the last fixture). Opposition defence looking ropey recently. check.

Fantasy Football 2012-4-6

Game week 32

barcaRONAN’s last game week Score – 64

Average Score on site – 39

Highest Haul: 13 – Valencia

Lowest Haul: Cahill & Richards – 0 points (out of interest why is it plural of points when it means none, which is the opposite of plural??? But a singular when 1: Zero points, One point) – [please note, I am not stoned at moment]

Average Score Per Player 6.8

Accrued Score – 1392

Place in my own fecking league – 70, up 2 places

Points Off the top – 359, raised 7 points closer to the top.

Points off ‘The First Page’ – 70 points

State Of Play

Happy Good Friday folks, hope you got yer booze in, to non Ireland based readers, we have a quaint custom where pubs and off licenses are closed on Good Friday and it is one of the busiest days for our livers in the year. House parties-a-rama – Do you wanna hear the amount of women I am gonna score with tonight at some mad parteeeeee…. I’m going to be playing Risk with my buddies Cormac and Ricardo for the night, and not just Risk… STAR WARS THEMED RISK

Good week last week for me, only 6 people ahead of me in the BOTNB league got more points than barcaRONAN.

Vindication

Errah the 6 scorers of major points were all obvious selections, so nothing to feel largely vindicated about – Krul, Evans, Valencia, Dempsey [interesting stat on football weekly extra yesterday that Only Rooney and RVP have scored more this year than him in the PL], Sigurdsson and Cisse.

D’oh

If only I’d captained Valencia eh? I’d have got highest point haul in BOTNB League.

Speaking of Captains, Rooney not doing much was a ball sack. And 2 of my 3 defenders each only playing one half of the game and conceding, so getting me a great haul of nothing, nada, zilch.

Did I get the Keeper right?

I finally get to use this gag, Je Ne Regrette Reina! As in I don’t regret not playing him, Krul got 6 and Reina got –2 points due to his vicious assault on Perch… (To LFC Fans/Pat, that is sarcasm, there was nothing vicious about it)

Subs in general?

2 of my subs got 1 point, Williams and Enrique, which still would have been better than the afore mentioned Richards/Cahill.

Screenshot of my team from last game week.

Questions / Hunch  / Trends / Dramatic Narrative this game week before Sky have spotted it.

This Chelsea revival is looking good but can they possibly be focusing on the Champions League rather than this title run in, especially since players know they will be cleared out at end of season so leaving with a Champions League Medal rather than a 4^th place wage bonus?

I’m looking forward to this Newcastle Swansea game, I have 4 players involved Krul & Cissé for the Magpies; Sigurdsson and WIlliams for the Swans.

The Man Utd machine keep on rolling and I can only assume it will go over QPR with relative ease.

I imagine Arsenal, and particularly Arsene, would love to further derail Man City (who have poached a few former stars at the Emirate now).

                                                                                                 

Transfers

While it’s gonna cost me perhaps .2 or .3 million, gonna save my transfer for Sunday and get rid of Reina then and then have 2 transfers to make in preparation for so many of the empty fixtures in GW 34.

Theory/Selection

This week’s team kinda picks itself, only one GK option, I assume Terry will be rested and therefore Cahill will play, I don’t trust Richards at the Emirates to keep a clean sheet, and since I have Cisse (one of the top, top, top form players at moment) it’d be counter productive to also play Williams at the back. I don’t know what is going on in Drenthe’s personal life, and I don’t care to, but he has been on compassionate leave from Everton so is unlikely to play anyway.

There you go, pure simples, I’m quite happy with the team I have there, even though Nani is back in contention I really doubt SAF will drop Valencia.

My Captain, My Captain.

Going against the theory of “once bitten and twice shy”, Rooney you are still my captain. With Crouch as his wingman, a fading Wolves at Stoke could be in for a hammering... which could had a few more nails in their coffin. [Good metaphor usage Ronan, if that is a metaphor perhaps it’s just an image]

My Team this week

Keeping An Eye On

The players at Spurs/Arsenal/Chelsea in the race for 3^rd/4^th

Captain's Corner

[NB Back Of The Net Boy is not responsible for Captain’s Corner spelling, grammar and basic text layout]

Lots of captain friendly fixtures this week, let's have a look.

Well we're balls deep in the business end now and things are getting a little complicated. There's a double gameweek coming up in GW36, but the teams playing twice here aren't playing at all in GW34, so a balance has to be struck between fielding a full 11 for GW34 while getting in a few doublers for GW36. Anyway, a full weekend of matches this weekend, let’s take a look.

Man United@home to QPR - United are showing their experience now as they put more distance between themselves and City, a win here puts them 8 points ahead. QPR have taken a few scalps though from Arsenal and Liverpool as they fight for survival through a truly awful fixture list. You have to fancy the champions though, Rooney has had a quiet few weeks, playing quite deep against Blackburn, but unless he's so deep he's playing in goals, he is always a threat. Valencia is in storming form though; he's a great pick this week too.

Arsenal@home to Man City - Must win game for City to retain any hopes of a title this year, and it's a big ask. Arsenal had 7 wins in a row until last weekend's upset to QPR and RVP is going through a mini slump (by his standards). Lescott and Aguero are back for City. I see goals in this one; RVP, Walcott and Aguero are decent picks.

Chelsea@Home to Wigan - Chelsea's confidence is flowing after reaching the semi final of the Champion's league. Brave John Terry could be out here with broken ribs but is prepared to play through the pain for his team, what a hero. Wigan haven't actually played that bad recently, but you'd have to fancy the home side. Torres looks like he might be getting over his fear of the ball at last. If his head's right, he's easily capable of a few goals. How many times have we captained him for a 4-point return though? This time will be different though right? Right?

Gamble picks - Crouch against a shambolic Wolves that seem more likely to fight amongst themselves than fight for survival.