Ugh!  I am not feeling well.  I am not sure what exactly the culprit is.  The big double week that I was looking for from my squad never really happened due to the unforeseen Fulham flop.  My predictions supporting those “Craven” Cottagers went down in flames faster than the Hindenburg.  But that can’t be it.  I watched in horror as “Meester Alex” seemed to get the best of “THE Special One” in the Champions League match at Old Trafford.  How was that possible?  I have my doubts about that match being on the level…but that can’t be it.  I know…with my “Special One” powers of self diagnosis; I have got it now.  I must be suffering from altitude sickness from being at the top of the table for most of the season!  Very nice.

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.

Thoughts on last week

“The Tottenham Conspiracy”, as I shall now call it, took effect last week when Manager ‘arry” Redknapp started many tired players last week after their (AET) penalty kick loss in the Carling Cup final & shockingly, they actually performed well. 

This was obviously done to make your very humble writer look bad after my less than flattering comments about the Spurs manager who should be cleaning chimneys for Mary Poppins.  I don’t take this as a negative or as evidence of an anti-Gooner bias against me.  No.  This is obviously proof of the success of our Fantasy Zolo and this column by the “Special One” because the old chimney sweep Rednapp must be reading about us each week.  That’s Fantastic!

The true disappointment last week came from the banks of the river Thames.  You can locate its source by following the decaying smell emanating from the stadium location.  Back to back Premiership losses sandwiched around a FA Cup debacle that absolutely embarrassed the previously heralded Fulham Craven Cottage defense are troubling signs for the former clean sheet masters.  My question to Fulham is, “How can you expect to now keep clean sheets when, under pressure, you constantly crap the bed?” 

Congratulations to manager Vince Simpson and his Philadelphia FC club for joining Fantasy Zolo last week.  I want to wish him the best as he will benefit from the wisdom of your very humble writer. From his comments, it seems that he has already learned the “Game”, how to play the “Game” and that, unlike the clueless Rafa Benitez, the best part of the “Game” is to deny there is a “Game”. http://www.sonsofben.tv/?p=80

Very nice.

This week (Gameweek 29)

Well it’s a full slate this week but as always we must be mindful of fixture congestion.  Well done to all four Premiership sides for advancing to the Champions League semifinals.  Those matches will be a factor who starts this week but that will vary by team.  Liverpool has its season on the line versus ManU at Old Trafford.  The Reds should field their best side but with Rafa in charge, you never know.  By the way, that Inter match at Old Trafford wasn’t on the level because Jose wanted to lose that match to “Meester Alex” so Jose can take over ManU when Fergie retires.  It was all part of “THE Special One’s” master plan…just ask him, he’ll tell you as much.

ManCity should be rotating players after their UEFA Cup win on Thursday since they are not expecting to get anything from their match with Chelsea at the Bridge.  After 120 minutes and penalties in Rome, Arsenal’s next most important match is when they host Hull City on Tuesday not their Premiership duel with Blackburn this weekend so be warned about many changes for them.

Players to watch:

Let’s focus on non Champions League players this week

·        Leighton Baines:  Everton’s defender could do well this week in his game with Stoke City.  At 4.7£m he is cheap but has been on the rise.

·        Matthew Upson:  Fresh off a 3 point bonus last week, I expect the West Ham defender to do the same again this week while helping his squad to a clean sheet against West Brom.  Seventh place in the table hosting twentieth place tells the story.  Still a bargain at 5.0£m.

·        Scott Parker:  I have mentioned the West Ham midfielder in the past but he is a hot commodity now with the suspension of Carlton Cole last week.  I really like their matchup versus a bad West Brom side.  His price has really exploded over the last 4 weeks. 

·        David Di Michele: I didn’t intend for it to be this way but let’s make it a West Ham trio this week.  With the 2 quick yellows shown to Carlton Cole and the Hammers’ long injury list, Di Michele figures to be the target man for them on Monday Night Football as they say in the U.K.  With Cole being one of the most selected players in this game but unable to play, David Di Michele is a gamble that might be worth taking to try and outsmart your fellow managers.  Very cheap at 5.2 £m. 

Players to drop/sit:

·        Carlton Cole:  If you aren’t sitting him, did you read any of the above? 

·        Roque Santa Cruz:  A week after I recommended playing him, the ever fragile Santa Cruz proves why he is labeled as fragile.  Who knows if and when he will ever get healthy? 

·        Geovanni:  If you still have this Hull City midfielder you should sit him.  He is back healthy now but his most important match in the next 7 days is the trip to Arsenal for the chance to enter the FA Cup semifinals.  Remember, he did score the goal that beat Arsenal earlier this year at the Emirates. 

·        Arsenal starters:  After their lucky performance in a shootout with Roma at midweek after playing a dreadful 120 minutes, it is anyone’s guess as to who Arsene Wenger will start in their “sandwich” game with Blackburn before the Tuesday FA Cup game.

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 am a gambler so I have picked up the very cheap David Di Michele of West Ham and dropped Carlton Cole.  I was able to lock in a .3£m gain on Cole and maybe I can pick him back up in the future at good price.  I don’t see Di Michele as a long term solution at striker but he is worth the gamble this week.

·        Schwarzer gets dropped just because I am disgusted with the last 2 weeks for Fulham and I can’t bench all of them at once.  Clichy goes out because he may be rested this week and Taylor comes in and makes up a 3 man midfield.

·        As requested, my starting XI is Cech, Vidic Hangeland Jagielka Konchesky, Gerrard Taylor Lampard(C), Beattie Agbonlahor Di Michele

Next week:

Next week the schedule returns to normal…whatever normal means anymore and we will know the Champions League fixtures that will play a part in who starts or gets rested in mid-April.  Keep the comments coming & who knows who will join us next week.  Thanks for reading…Be good.