Who’s hot? Who’s not? Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United v Wolves are among the games we run the rule over in part one of our weekly tips column…
After a fortnight’s break due to FA Cup action it is time to start making decisions again.
How easy those picks will be will depend slightly on whether you have one free transfer available like me, or two.
With Liverpool and Everton not playing, it could also provide a dilemma for some managers, should you sell, or just leave them on the bench.
It sort of depends how many you have, if you have two from each club you could be in a difficult spot, but don’t panic and sell them all.
We’ll kick things off with Chelsea v Bolton – a game where the Blues keeping a clean sheet is not as clear cut as it once may have been.
The only Chelsea defender worth keeping is Gary Cahill, such is football’s propensity for players scoring against their former clubs. Cahill has a good goal ratio for a defender and is yet to notch for his new side, so this could be a perfect opportunity, and with John Terry injured he is due an extended run in the first team.
Ryo Miyaichi has looked promising for Bolton and is priced at just 4.9 and could be a good investment.
Daniel Sturridge is Chelsea’s Mr Consistent, and he too is facing his former teammates, after a successful loan spell this time last year. He is priced at just 7.2 and seems odds on to score.
Overpriced Frank Lampard has scored 11 goals against Bolton in the past and is also worth considering if you can afford him.
Newcastle v Wolves is another game where goals are certain to feature.
Ryan Taylor should be back from injury and likely to start, and the return of Cheik Tiote improves Newcastle’s chances of keeping a clean sheet, although Wolves’ Steven Fletcher has proved master of the consolation goal so far this season.
You have to fancy Demba Ba to score in this one, Wolves are going to be a real unknown quantity under their new caretaker manager, but they stand little chance here of keeping a clean sheet.
Papiss Cisse will make his first start, and Newcastle will feel like they really owe their fans after their 5-0 loss to Tottenham, but they can pile the pressure on Arsenal in the race for fourth with a win.
QPR v Fulham is a tasty looking derby, and the R’s will be determined to exact revenge for their 6-0 thrashing earlier in the season.
They have Bobby Zamora up front now of course, who scored that day, and it is inevitable he will score in this one. Don’t bet on a clean sheet for either team, and Clint Dempsey is an obvious dangerman for Fulham.
If you fancy a striking choice out of left-field, Pavel Pogrebnyak has one in one for Fulham, and he could endear himself to supporters by netting against their rivals. He is priced as just 6.0.
West Brom v Sunderland is a match where the Black Cats will be strongly fancied to win again. If you have Stephane Sessegnon in your side, which you really should, don’t drop him for this one.
James Morrison is in good form, providing two assists against Wolves and priced at just 5.3, and could be a dangerman for the Baggies. Peter Odemwingie will be looking to follow up on his hat-trick last time out, although Roy Hodgson says he intends to keep playing him on the wing. He is priced at a more expensive 7.2.
Wigan face an Aston Villa side struggling for form and will fancy their chances. Darren Bent netted twice when these sides last met and he will like his chances again. Wigan will hope Jean Beausejour can keep up his early good form and do well.
Our tips: Pogrebnyak, Sessegnon, Beausejour, Morrison, Zamora, Cisse, Sturridge, Cahill
See part two for our tips for Man City v Blackburn, Norwich v Man United, Stoke v Swansea, and Arsenal v Spurs
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