No rest for the wicked then! Whilst the festivities go on around us many serious fantasy managers will be scrambling for their last minute transfers and captain choices as yet another deadline looms on New Years Day at 11.30am. Many will be looking to make their transfers today we imagine just in case they happen to sleep in for whatever reason! Let’s have a quick look at your options then this week as we give you our pick for each position and round off with our captain analysis for game-week 20.
Goalkeeper
One look at the league table and you will see that Crystal Palace currently sit just outside the relegation places in 17th position. However, if you take a look at the current form table you will see that they sit 9th with four wins and four losses from their last eight games. 
What’s more impressive is that fact that across these eight games they boast the best defensive record in the league, conceding just seven goals in that period. A key figure in this recent revival is undoubtedly Julian Speroni. The Argentine has now kept five clean sheets this season which might not seem that impressive, what is impressive though is the fact that these shutouts have all come in Palace’s last nine games. With three of their next four games at home to Norwich, Stoke & Hull we firmly believe that Speroni could very well pick up another couple of clean sheets and therefore he represents superb value at just £4.5m.
Defence
Everton continue to go from strength to strength and have picked up five wins and two draws from their last eight games, conceding just eight goals. Now the obvious pick from the Everton defence is Seamus Coleman, however the Irishman is now priced at £6.6m and as a result those that do not already have him may be reluctant to pay such a premium price. With this in mind, our tip from the Everton defence is Antolin Alcaraz. With Phil Jagielka side lined for a number of weeks the Paraguayan is likely to deputise at centre back and with Everton facing Stoke, Norwich and West Brom in their next three games Alcaraz could prove to be an absolute bargain at just £4.3m. Obviously this would be a short term move but it worth remembering that we all have a wildcard to play in January, so it is as good a time as any to be considering short term moves!
Midfield
With David Silva suspended for the trip to Swansea the debate over which one of these two fantasy power-houses to own will be a little one-sided this week. With nine goals and three assists so far Yaya Toure is sitting joint second in the overall midfield standings having been pipped this week by Hazard due mainly to the fact that he was rested for the game at home to Palace. We wouldn’t bet against him regaining that top spot this week though as he now has penalty duties in his locker, due to the absence of Aguero and with Silva out he should snaffle all the free-kick duties as well which he has become an expert at this season. The fact that Silva is absent may well see Toure push on into more advanced areas as well which will only enhance his appeal as a fantasy asset against a Swansea team who have only won two at home this season and have conceded fourteen goals in the process.
Forward
For those managers looking for a one week punt in front of a possible wildcard, we would look no further than recommending Lukas Podolski. In the absence of the injured Olivier Giroud, we expect Podolski to lead the line against Cardiff. Having made a successful return from injury, Podolski came on in the win at West Ham and in his 26mins of game time he managed to score and assist, scoring 10 fantasy points for any lucky manager that gambled upon him. Wenger has wisely chosen not to rush the German striker back from injury and has instead spent the last month getting himself 100% match-fit, hence he should walk straight into the team vs Cardiff. With the creativity of Cazorla, Walcott and Rosicky behind him, we would expect the striker to get a fair few chances in the match and, as he demonstrated at Upton Park, he can be ruthless and will be looking to make up for lost time this season. Owned by just 1.6% of managers and priced at 8.1m he could be a perfect fit into your team.
Captain Picks
Having considered your possible transfers from the tips above, all that is left is the all-important choice as to who gets the armband. Who is likely to start 2014 off for you with a lovely haul of double points? Let’s have a look at the standout options:
Luis Suarez
The Liverpool striker is the obvious Captain’s pick for GW20 and will, undoubtedly, top all Captain’s polls. Difficult to ignore, the forward has scored 18 goals and created 12 assists in the fourteen league games since returning from his start-of-season ban – 13 of those goals have come at Anfield. Having gone two games without a goal (albeit vs Man City & Chelsea), Suarez will be hungry to get back on the goal trail and a home match vs Hull would appear to offer him the perfect opportunity. Some will point out Hull’s decent defensive record, which has impressed many, but more so at the KC Stadium than on the road. They have failed to keep a clean sheet on their travels this season and with Steven Gerrard believed to be ready to return from injury and the inform Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling operating just behind Suarez, it would only take Phillipe Coutinho to rediscover his creating talents to make it a long evening for Steve Bruce’s men. Suarez has scored in every match he has played at home this season – it would take a brave manager to ignore him this week.
Theo Walcott
For those looking for an alternative to Suarez, Theo Walcott appears to be a sensible choice for the armband. Since his return from injury, the England winger has scored 4 goals and created 3 assists for his team-mates in just 412mins of playing time and looks to be getting back to his best. Owned by just 12% of managers, Walcott could prove to be a brilliant choice for captain, especially if Suarez doesn’t perform as expected vs Hull. Cardiff are Arsenal’s opponents at the Emirates and to say they are having a rough time is somewhat of an understatement – they are without a manager since the unpopular sacking of Malky Mackay, they have conceded eight goals in their last three games, have won just once in nine games and have already been beaten 3-0 at home by Arsenal at the end of November. It is worth pointing out that Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey are both missing for the Gunners, though will plenty of midfield options at his disposal, Arsene Wenger will be hopeful that his team and Walcott can carry their good form into 2014 although in his pre-match press conference, the manager did say Walcott will need to be assessed before the match as he has a small niggle.
Wayne Rooney
If passed fit to play, United will be hoping that Wayne Rooney continues his impressive form, which has seen him score 9 goals and create 11 assists so far this season, a lot of the time from a deeper role than he is accustomed to, due to the Reds having suffered significant injuries in midfield. But with Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher now back and fully fit, we would expect Rooney to operate in his preferred position further forward. United have won their last four matches and are gradually hauling themselves back into contention for a top four spot and Rooney’s form, coupled with RvP’s expected return to the first team soon, should see the goals stating to flow again. Interesting to note in those last four wins, United scored 3 goals in the 3 matches Rooney played, but only once at Norwich at the weekend, when the striker didn’t travel. Spurs kept their first clean sheet in nine games at the weekend in the win over Stoke, but with Rooney having already scored twice vs Spurs already this season, he will be confident of continuing that run. There has been 23 goals in the last 6 meetings between the two clubs at Old Trafford, so it’s a clearly a match that produces goals – and when United score, Rooney is generally involved. The only word of caution is his groin injury that kept him out of the Norwich game – while we expect him to play vs Spurs, keep an ear out for the latest United team news from David Moyes before handing him the armband.
Other options:
There are clearly other options to consider and of course, it’s not always the obvious candidates that score the highest in a game-week. Other names that should be considered include Alvaro Negredo, Yaya Toure, Kevin Nolan, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Loic Remy.
Happy New Year from everyone at FF247 and good luck tomorrow!
This article was written by Cookie, Kop and inittowinit
Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (C), Nastasic, Kolarov, Navas, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Nasri, Negredo, Dzeko
Tremmel, Rangel, Chico, Williams (c), Davies, Canas, de Guzman, Shelvey, Hernandez, Routledge, Bony.
TJ-Im putting you forward for a community action trust reward for services!
City – Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (C), Nastasic, Kolarov, Navas, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Nasri, Negredo, Dzeko
DDDZZZEEEKKKOOOOO!!!!!!
Who takes penalties for palace?????
Gayle takes them
Bannan is on FK duty mate.. Not sure on pens.
Any more news on Walcott’s injury?
When is he being assessed?
He’s fit to play according to most websites
Thanks Veer, is it possible for me to also join your league please?
Redmecca, definetly! The code is 205650-681484
Veer, can I also join in?
Yes Albertini, for sure
Thanks mate, I’m in.
Veer – you ok with me joining?
I’m also considering playing my W/C immediately, could you please RMT?
Krul -Westwood
Burner – Chester – Coleman – Shaw – Gabbidon
Hazard – Silva – Walcott – Sissoko – Bannan
Suarez – Aguero – Rodriguez
I would obviously put Rooney up front until Aguero is fit.
Your views would be greatly appreciated.
I would shave off 1m with Krul and get a 4.0 keeper. Looks good tho. Maybe oviedo over bannan. Oviedo is playing in midf now.
Thanks for your help chopper.
Are you playing an early wc also?
Its the law! Yep, Ive got a few fringe players. 4.9 tied up with vrom etc!
Hi redmecca.
Instead of Burner, assume you mean Turner of Cardiff? Have you had Coleman all along or you bringing him in now? If bringing in, Id personally go Merte as Coleman wont score every week.
3 promoted teams in defence with Westwood down there too. I wouldn’t have him until he plays as Mannone has potentially been too good to drop but was second choice.
The only question id have is Bannan in midfield, Id try go for a non Palace player as you have Gabbidon – perhaps Redmond?
the question is really a top notch “3” in mid verses a top notch 3 in attack.
its a good team though
Hi Dreamers
I had Coleman near the start and then dropped him, but some time ago,
Would Koscielny save me some cash over Mert though?
The theory about the promoted team defenders is that Cardiff, Hull and Palace have all kept 5-6 clean sheets this season each. Ok, Arsenal for example have had 8, I think, but consider the difference in cost of the defenders in their team. So this strategy frees up abit more cash to spend in midfield/attack.
ya fair point. you will see I have similar thoughts below. The thing with Mert is he tends to get a lot of bonus points. Koscielny is a decent option but if you have Coleman for a while, Id prob hold on to him.
The opposite is the case, I already have Mert, I think, I transferred Coleman out in GW 14.
So probably best to keep Mert then?
I would keep Mert
@Dreamers he does mean Turner from Cardiff, but calling him Burner ( Ben Turner ) is the way some people have started calling him to distinguish him from Turner of Norwich.
ah – had noticed that a bit but was wondering what the hell
I had to ask someone else who Burner was – spent about 10 mins looking for his name and wondering who he played for?!!
Redmecca
I’m also playing my wildcard now and I’m about to make the same cheap rotation in gk/def you do. I already have Krul, not sure if I’ll keep him or swap him for Marshall and save some 0.4.
Still believe Mannone should keep his place for a few weeks, he’s been playing good. Instead of Shaw you might consider Clyne if he is confirmed to be back in the team today, it will save you another 0.3; I’d go for Mutch instead of Bannan.
How much budget do you have mate? I’m struggling with mine 101,6…
Good luck mate.
Early Wildcard thoughts.
Keep McGregor
Merte, Debuchy
Cabaye, Walcott, Hazard
Suarez, Rooney and Lukaku
thoughts on
1) Foster in for Jussi – seems to rotate well, but not great at the back at the moment
2) Bardsley in for Ridgewell – so as not to double up
3) Parr for Chester for same reason – not sure about this one though
5) Evans for Terry – not sure on this one either. If everyone was fit, would he be nailed
6) Fer out , Kasami out. Depends on money but either Lallana or Silva in with a cheap nailed on 5th midfielder.
Initial thoughts please?
1) What about Krul in for Jussi?
3) I’m not sure about this, Hull look the strongest of the 3 promoted teams to me,
6) I agree with, bringing Silva in and perhaps Bannan or Mutch
I wish my team was worth £109m!!
thanks redmecca.
Krul doesn’t rotate well with McGregor and it would then mean I double up also on Newcastle defence.
3) Ya I am half thinking of not having Evans and still bringing in Parr though
Rotating doesn’t always work with keepers. Krul has kept CSs away at United and Spurs for example.
thanks bihom – good point
whats peoples thoughts on 2 keepers that plan verses a second being the cheapest you can find?
I’m thinking of striking a balance with 2 half decent keepers – McGregor, Marshall and Mannone seem to fit that bill for me.
TheDreamers
Nice thoughts mate. Not sure if Bardsley is the right choice for Sunderland, Brown is cheaper and attracting more bonus points, being his yellow and red cards the main worry with him… Do you think Parr will be nailed on? I have been following his return and he could be quite a good pick, I have Gabbidon but I could save some cash with Parr. Evans is also a good pick but he’s game time risk is quite high, specially if Vidic and Rio are fit. Overall is a good team, are you planning to bring in Aguero later?
Good luck mate.
Albertini – Looked at Brown and also o Shea, O shea being a bit more expensive. Brown just seems a bit undisciplined at the moment.
Parr has played the last 2 and reckon he only didn’t play cos of injury. Today will be interesting.
Reckon would sacrifice one of the mids and Lukaku ideally when Ageuro back. Got burned though by bringing Beneteke in straight away so need to see he is back first.
thanks for the thoughts