Transfers, transfers, transfers!  One thing you can count on as we approach Gameweek 24…the SoB Fantasy Fix won’t be changing teams on you.  The “Special One” is loyal to his readers, I won’t abandon you…and no one has stepped up yet to make my contract demands anyway.

As usual; our “Fantasy Zolo” league code is 694916-134116 to join our private league.  Select “Leagues” under your Fantasy Menu and then enter the code and you are good to go.

In the Premier League Fantasy Cup unfortunately Nittany Rebels (Andrew) got knocked out in the 5^th round after a great run in the cup.  Now the last 2 SoB teams left are the Pecan Sandies (Mike), and the team of your sometimes humble writer, SoBphillyHarchester*.  Only 32,768 teams are left in the competition in the 6^th round from the original field of 1,048,576.  This week will be tough.

Thoughts on last week

The past Gameweek results were dominated by ManU’s demolition of West Brom.  Those of you who had Cristiano Ronaldo got 14 points on the strength of his 2 goals and if you were wise enough to make him captain, you walked away with 28 points.  But the real surprise for me was ManU’s Ryan Giggs 15 points based on his 3 assists and full 3 bonus points (30 points if you captained him). 

As for my suggestions, Wigan “almost” pulled it off last week with a tough, gritty draw with Liverpool at home.  It only generated 2 points for their back four since they didn’t get the shutout but I still feel good about them in the near term.  This week they visit Aston Villa.  With a ManU shutout, Gary Neville’s six points was pretty much a given but I’ll take credit for it being a “fantastic” selection anyway.  As an aside, Van der Sar has gone over 1,000 minutes without letting in a goal.  If you were strong enough to play my hunch on Herita Ilunga, you were rewarded with 6 points from a clean sheet.  Not a bad overall week from me.

This week (Gameweek 24)

Something to consider this week are the teams that played FA Cup matches last Saturday, then played midweek matches for Gameweek 23 and face their 3^rd match in 8 days as we meet Gameweek 24.  Fatigue could be a factor especially for those who face FA cup replays on Feb 4^th.  Sunderland, Blackburn, Liverpool, Everton, Aston Villa, Arsenal, & West Brom, this means you.

Players to watch:

I don’t want to bore you with the traditional wisdom of the “Special One” on who to pick this week.  So with all the focus of the next 4 to 5 days being on the transfer window, I thought I’d focus on my thoughts on the latest transferred players and whether they can help you for the rest of the season.

• Andrei Arshavin: “If” he comes to Arsenal he will be worth adding to your squad.  It all depends on what price value he would be given by the fantasy gamemakers.  The latest rumors have him coming to North London but then again the “Special One” was rumored to coach the LA Galaxy…so don’t put your faith in rumors. 
• Robbie Keane:  “If” he goes to Tottenham, this could be a good pickup as he tries to revive his season.  So far a total disappointment at Liverpool, Keane would immediately get first team football back at the team that made him a star.  This would be especially true if the Defoe injury worries at Spurs are worst than originally thought.  Then Keane would truly be the main striker for Spurs again. 
• Emile Heskey:  Now at Aston Villa from Wigan he will partner up front with Agbonlahor.  It worked for Villa last week and at 6.6£m I’d say he is a good value but for the rest of the season.
• Craig Bellamy:  ManCity’s striker arrived from West Ham has already impressed after the move.  He partners with Robinho (if Robinho can keep from being arrested) at ManCity and Bellamy has scored a total of 30 points in the last 3 matches he played.  A good value play at 6.6£m.
• Nigel De Jong:  In to ManCity from Hamburg, he has started in midfield immediately.  If you have 5.5£m to spare, he is worth a look for the rest of the season. 
• Mido:  Joins Wigan from Middlesbrough to pair up with fellow Egyptian striker Zaki.  It’s an all Egyptian attack that would even make “the Rock” in the Scorpion King jealous.  In his first match with the new club, Mido was selected as the penalty taker & Wigan this season has more goals from the spot than any other Premier League club.  That plus his 6.3£m price tag is enough to make him worth considering as a third striker for the rest of the season.

Players (Transfers) to avoid:

·        Jimmy Bullard:  I don’t have a good feeling for him now that he has left Fulham for Hull City.  He went to a lower quality team in the move (Hull-most goals allowed-remember those negatives for midfielders with goals allowed) and he will have to carry the squad now.  Who knows if he is even really healthy?  

·        Marlon King:  A move from Hull City to Middlesbrough isn’t enough to make me change my opinion on him.  Most managers have already weighed in as you can see by his price drop.  Avoid. 

·        Jermain Defoe:  I know he has had a good run with his return Tottenham but what I have read about this stress fracture in his foot isn’t good and it may be worse than they are letting on.  Good old ‘arry Redknapp may bring in Robbie Keane which would mean less touches for Defoe when, and if, he returns. 

·        Jermaine Pennant:  He wasn’t able to impress much while at Liverpool & I don’t expect him to be much different now at Portsmouth.  He did get a full 3 bonus points for his 0 goals & 0 assists performance in his 0-1 loss at home to Stoke.  What!?!  That is exactly ½ of his bonus points for ALL of last season.  Who the hell awards these bonus points anyway?

·        Pele:  Wow! At 68 years of age Edson Arantes de Nascimento has joined Portsmouth in a surprise move…wait a minute…It’s not him.  It’s an imposter from Porto.  Avoid this guy.  Now if it was the real Pele…maybe…

My Moves:

My team is SoBphillyHarchester*. You can search for my team and take a look at it, I don’t mind, and see if you can find some ideas that may help your club.

• I was really fortunate to survive that ManU onslaught of points lead by Ronaldo last week, keep my lead & actually lengthen it a bit.  I was so focused on fixing my midfield; I neglected to look at my third striker problem.  It is now time to cut dead weight as I sold off Marlon King at a break even price of 5.8£m.  His replacement is Mido, the new transfer striker for Wigan, at 6.3£m in hopes that his stock will rise as he takes more penalties for the Latics.  I am not crazy enough to start him right away though…I haven’t been called the “Special One” for nothing you know.
• As requested, my starting XI remains unchanged: Cech, Bosingwa Jagielka Clichy Konchesky, Gerrard Arteta Lampard(C) Cattermole, Agbonlahor Cole

Next week:

Maybe we can get more teams involved in the relegation battle.  By my count there are “only” 12 teams currently in danger of going down.  Thanks for reading…Be good.