TIPS
Tactical review: Rough diamond Mon Aug 24 02:24PM
The Fantasist has just emerged, bleary-eyed and sweating,from its tactics truck, and has drawn the following conclusions from theweekend's Premier League action.
Chelseaboss Carlo Ancelotti continues to employ his diamond midfield formation. Itought to mean a points bonanza for Frank Lampard (20.75), but he has been oddlyquiet so far this season.
Full-backs Jose Bosingwa (10.00) and Mr Cheryl Cole (10.44)get plenty of licence to go forward, and will score consistently throughout theseason on both attacking and defensive fronts.
Manchester United'smidfield is being rotated to the point of Fantasy uselessness. Having goneNani-Scholes-Fletcher-Valencia against Birmingham,Alex Ferguson selected Giggs-Carrick-Anderson-Park for Burnley, beforereverting to the original quartet at Wigan.
Unless Fergie intends to continue this scheme ofalternating foursomes, you can really forget about United midfielders until itbecomes more apparent who his first-choice players are.
Andy Johnson's dislocatedcollarbone has opened a vacancy up front for the next six weeks. Clint Dempsey(9.28, listed as a midfielder) filled in against Chelsea, but think twice before adding himbecause he is actually more pricey than the pre-injury Johnson (9.05).
Consecutive clean sheets have made Burnleydefenders hot property, and their inflated prices reflect this. If you fancythe Clarets to continue their stingy form, there is only one man to go for;Graham Alexander (5.15) is listed as a defender but has been playing inmidfield, and is no stranger to the odd goal.
Tottenham are firing on all cylinders, and Wilson Palacios(6.69) has emerged as a key man. While the Honduran and his tough-tackling ilkrarely score well in Fantasy, he has shown himself unafraid of having a pop atgoal and already has one goal to his name this term.
Franco Di Santo (5.60) had his big chance to start forBlackburn against Sunderland, but limped offafter 13 minutes and could be out for some time. Enter Nikola Kalinic, whomissed three absolute sitters in a debut performance to forget.
Kalinic will come into the game with a 6.39 price tag, anddespite Saturday's evidence TheFantasist thinks the Croatian may yet come good.
Manchester City's team sheet brought a sigh of relief from allCarlos Tevez (9.48) lovers. The Argentine started ahead of Craig Bellamy (9.07)and notched a superb assist plus two shots on target. The Argentine is now alegitimate option.
Interesting goings on at Hull, where the introduction of new boy JozyAltidore (7.33) brought a goal for Kamel Ghilas. Those two could makethemselves a fixture up front in coming weeks.
The Fantasist doesn't know what Cher's'If I Could Turn Back Time' is about, but for now it will assume she issinging from the perspective of a Fantasy manager ruing his or her failure tosign Abou Diaby (10.42) before his value hit double figures.
David James (7.25) is having his injury assessed after goingoff against Arsenal. If it is more than bone bruising, it could give AmirBegovic (5.04) a chance in the Portsmouthnet. However, the way Pompey are playing, The Fantasist wouldn't take their keeper if his price was minus-five. |