Fantasy Football Focus- This is the End my Friends

So this is it, end of another season of ups and downs.  Don’t fret though this is the week where we can get points a plenty and win are respective leagues.  Here is a quick round up of what to look out for when your setting out your team for the final time this season.

The Champions will be Mancunian; the big question is Red or Blue?

Manchester City

City will fancy their chances at home where they have been unbeaten thus far in this campaign.  17 wins from 18 played and only 1 drawn, it’s been an exceptional season at the Etihad.  With one hand placed firmly on the Championship trophy and only QPR to play this result looks like a foregone conclusion most would say.  After last week’s hard fought  victory against Newcastle achieved in style, one more win this time round and the Noisy Neighbours will become even louder!

Player Watch

Every City player will want to get on the score sheet but Yaya Toure (2, 2, 15) is an outside shout to get a goal and with his low ownership rate of 11% is still a differential. Samir Nasri (11, 3, 3) is also worth considering with only 4% ownership. Carlos Tevez (5, 2, 2) has the lowest ownership rate of all with a mere 2.3% and who would bet against the prodigal son scoring the winning goal for the title?

Manchester United

One  thing is for certain, United and Fergie no matter what will give it their all against Sunderland even though there is the slimmest of chances that they can beat City to the title.  I can’t see United winning by 10 goals but you never know with with red devils anything could happen! Of course the big surprise has been how over last 5 games they have ruined what has been a great season with them, with Sir Alex’s side only winning  2 and drawing  1, lets face it not the time of year you expect them to wobble.   A result for United looks like a definite, but is it too little to late after dropping points against sides like Everton and Wigan in the run in.

Player Watch

United have a few interesting players with low ownership who could get you some points this week. Paul Scholes (2, 2, 11) has 1.5% and JavierHernandez has 2.9% but only 3 points from the last 3 gameweeks.  A very big outside bet could be Dimitar Berbatov with 1% ownership; he also came off the bench in the last game against Swansea so is likely to see some action and all but certain to leave in the summer, Swan song anyone?

 

Relegation – C’est La Vie

With Blackburn and Wolves already down it is either Bolton or QPR who will be joining them next term in the Championship.

QPR have the toughest task ahead of them this weekend when they will try and spoil the celebrations at the Etihad.  They have the best person in charge to achieve this though with an ex Utd playing former gaffer returning to extract his revenge and spoil his former employer’s party.   Only one slight problem for them is they are woeful away from home.  They have lost the last 6 on the bounce and their last win away from home was in November when they beat Stoke. It’s not all doom and gloom for the R’s though, they currently hold a 2 point advantage over Bolton which means anything but a win for Owen Coyle’s side will see them relegated and that could prove to be the case as the R’s look unlikely to get anything from the game at the Etihad.

Player Watch

If he doesn’t get sent off he will score and with only 0.2% ownership Djibril Cisse (0, 6, 8) is worth a go if your playing catch up.  Adel Taarabt (8, 0, 3) is also a good outsider with 3.1% but with QPR playing the incumbent Champions choosing either of these is not for the faint hearted.

 

Bolton have a slightly easier game against Stoke who have nothing left to play for.  They have picked up some form with only 1 loss in the last 5 played, but they have drawn 3 of those which will not be enough to keep them up.  Now is the perfect time to be facing Stoke though who have not won in 10 games and that came against Wolves.  It’s not going to be pretty but will they care if the result comes in and they survive the drop.

Player Watch

As I have said it’s not going to be pretty so Martin Petrov (5, 2, 12) with 6.8% ownership could produce the points and one of last years fantasy favorites Kevin Davies 3.6% (13, 2, 2) is always capable of coming up with the goods at the right time, there will be goals and Bolton have to go for it so either is worth a shout.

 

Champion’s League or Thursday Night Euro Vase

If Chelsea beat Bayern next week then it’s only top 3 who qualify for the Champions league; they play Blackburn and have no chance of getting 4^th.  With only 2 points separating Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle who stands the best chance of securing that 3rd spot?

Spurs have the best chance of a win playing Fulham at home.  Newcastle face a tricky fixture at Everton who are a tough cookie on home soil and Arsenal play West Brom in Woy’s last match before he takes over the toughest job in world football.

I really have  have no idea on where the points will be in these games but it’s certainly worth looking at the old reliable’s like Robin Van Persie,Pappis Cisse, Rafael Van der Vaart and Nikica Jelavic, but bare in mind these will most certainly not be differentials so may hold little value as you try and close the gap at the top of your league

Notable Punt Player Watch

Frank Lampard (2, 1, 0) 2.7% and Didier Drogba 2.1% could be playing their last game for Chelsea but might not feature due to the Big Cup Final next week.  Emmanuel Adebayor (2, 13, 7) 10% should also be considered as Tottenham are in pole position for that elusive 3rd Champions League spot  Arsenal have a number of injury concerns so it’s a tough call picking anyone from the Gunners aside from their enigmatic captain .  Newcastle of course have a number of players that could be on the money this week in Hatem Ben Arfa 8.3% (2, 3, 1) and Yohan Cabaye 4.7% (2, 2, 2)  but Everton beating Chelsea and City at home this season a move for either of these two could backfire royally.

 

Bragging Rights

If Everton beat the Magpie’s at Goodison it will be the first time since 2005 they have finished the season above Liverpool.  Swansea (12) and Norwich (13) will also be fighting it out to see who finishes top of the new boys.  Both have been awesome so far and a win could potentially see them in the top half of the table. So beware of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Grant Holt

 

Fantasy Fact

If the final 10 games produce 30 goals or more then this will have be the highest scoring Premier League season ever; With last season producing a total of 1,063.  This season 1,034 goals been bagged so far so I am hoping it goes out with a bang rather than a whimper!

 

And that’s it, the end.  Hope it all goes well for you and see you back in August to tackle next season.

 

By Rich Murphy @RichMurphy