Fantasy EPL, Features POSTS

Fantasy EPL – it’s a quiet week

Published by DSAdmin on February 11, 2009

Its FA Cup weekend in England so many of the fantasy football leagues will be having a quiet week but thankfully there are two games in the next few days that will still be relevant for points. The good thing is that many players may decide to leave their team as it is which can let the more dedicated managers tinker with their line-up to achieve better results, while some leagues won’t even let you do any tinkering having closed the transfer windows. The only league game over the weekend is Portsmouth versus Manchester City and this one has intriguing issues written all over it.

Portsmouth were cruelly defeated by Liverpool in their last match but that was enough for the Pompey board who decided to sack manager Tony Adams. It’s almost an unwritten law in football that when a team sacks their manager they go on a good run in their next few games. Playing against the magnificently inconsistent Manchester City will give the Pompey players the perfect opportunity to show they aren’t duds.

One player who has more to prove than most is David Nugent and if Portsmouth score, it is likely he will be the man who gets one. Nugent had a torrid time under Harry Redknapp and was a virtual spectator in his reign but since the departure of Jermain Defoe, he has staked a claim for a regular spot and showed glimpses of the form which earned him an England call-up.
shaygiven
**Photo Credit: thatelf **
Of course, if you haven’t gotten around to adding Shay Given to your fantasy line-up you may want to now before you miss out on too many points. The goalkeeper has been one of the most consistent shot stoppers in Premier League history and his recent move to City has probably came at the right time for him and his enthusiasm will be high for the next few months. Given had a sparkling debut, keeping a clean sheet and making a number of good saves against Middlesbrough and there is no reason why he wont do the same against Portsmouth.

The other league game in the short term comes when Manchester United finally play that game in hand versus Fulham at Old Trafford. All signs indicate another home win but surely United can’t keep a clean sheet again can they? Their run of form means that anyone who has had Van der Sar, Vidic or Ferdinand in their line-up has been racking up points like a learner driver on the motorway but with the pressure and attention on them building with every passing game, it may not be too long until their backline is breached.

Andy Johnston obviously carries Fulham’s main threat but Danny Murphy may be worth considering if you have space for a midfielder in your line-up. Murphy has made a habit of scoring against United in his career, particularly in his spell at Liverpool and whilst every player would love to be the one that finally scores against United, you get the feeling Murphy would enjoy it a little bit more. With Bullard gone, Danny Murphy will likely be taking the free-kicks as well as penalties for Fulham so the opportunities for goals and assists are going to be higher for this industrious midfielder.

**Photo Credit:Murpy & Konchesky nicksarebi **

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