Good luck for this weekend, you are going to need it…
This weekend is one of those nightmare weeks we all dread when it comes to selecting fantasy football teams.
The FA Cup means only 12 teams are playing and eight are not, which right after a tricky Easter period could not come at a worst time.
For plenty, it will be a struggle to get 11 players out, so there will be dilemmas over how many players to transfer in and out.
At four points a transfer after the first one, paying for changes is always a risky decision.
What makes it even more difficult is that in two gameweeks time, all the players who don’t play this weekend, will play twice- so there is extra reason to think about leaving them be, rather than paying to switch them out and buy them back again.
So, make the best of it, but save your spending for Gameweek 36 if you must, when the rewards will be higher, at the most- take the free transfers and pay for one.
So who should you bring in?
Look at three big games for a source of points.
Manchester United v Aston Villa, Arsenal v Wigan, and Sunderland v Wolves.
United v Villa is not as much of a banker as it was a week ago, considering United’s midweek slip, but it should make their players even more determined.
We can’t see United conceding here, so bank on their defenders and David de Gea to keep a clean sheet, while we expect Wayne Rooney to do the business.
Paul Scholes will be back in action too, so don’t bet against him scoring for the second game in a row.
Robin van Persie showed in midweek he is back to his best, and expect him and Theo Walcott to do the damage against Wigan, who will put up a good fight at Arsenal.
Sunderland face a Wolves side already practically relegated, and Stephane Sessegnon has to be our big tip here to pile on the woe for Terry Connor’s men.
Swansea v Blackburn will be a fascinating one, with the Swans winless in four games. They will be determine to get that final win which will lift them above 40 points.
Their poor form will give hope to Blackburn’s Yakubu, who scored four times past Michel Vorm when the sides met last Autumn. He is certainly worth a look at bringing in.
QPR travel to West Brom, who rested several players in midweek, and we see goals for both sides in this one, even though Djibril Cisse is still suspended.
Jamie Mackie is the form striker and our top tip for a goal here, with QPR desperate for a win which would lift them even further clear from the relegation zone.
Norwich, high on their win at Spurs, play host to a rejuvenated Manchester City.
City will be gutted if they do not capitalise on United’s midweek slip-up, and a goal for David Silva was most welcome.
It will have lifted him at a crucial stage of the season, while Carlos Tevez remains only an option for the brave.
Grant Holt up against Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott will be a great tussle and we fancy the striker for a goal.
Remember not to over-invest, and take what you can in the way of points and move on.
Captain tips: Van Persie, Rooney, Walcott, Sessegnon.
Good luck!
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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