Pleased with 53 points even if it is just below the average for the week of 57. Overall position has dropped to 850033 but that is still considerably better than the 2059634 of week 1. The season high is 319506.
Cleansheets for Ruddy, Taylor (first start this season) and Johnson (he went off before WBA scored). Goals for captain Sturridge and Lukaku. But Huth, Walters, Parker, Sidwell, Joe Cole, and Anelka got just 7 points between them. Moses didn't play.
Sadly I stuck with Anelka instead of going for the goal scoring Borini. Have Borini and Sunderland turned a corner? Should I ditch Anelka?
The other question is whether Scott Sinclair is fit and if so, who should he replace? If anyone.
Monday, 28 October 2013
The Winning Strategy in Gameweek 9 slightly above average
60 points is only slightly above the average for the week of 57. Really need to be doing better than that. In the overall standings it is a drop to 131941, a season low and a far cry from 9213 in Gameweek 5. The wildcard does not seem to have had the desired effect.
The main scorers were clean sheets for Baines, Walker and Szczesny together with goals for Lukaku, Sturridge and Captain Giroud and an assist for Ramsey. But Ivanovic, Oscar, Barclay and Januzaj only scored 7 points between them. Ivanovic was substituted in for the absent Vidic. Vidic is on borrowed time. He is not playing regularly and United are shipping goals with or without him. Looking at the Premiership table, Southampton have a surprisingly impervious defence. I may go for one of their defenders and possibly save a bit of money too.
The main scorers were clean sheets for Baines, Walker and Szczesny together with goals for Lukaku, Sturridge and Captain Giroud and an assist for Ramsey. But Ivanovic, Oscar, Barclay and Januzaj only scored 7 points between them. Ivanovic was substituted in for the absent Vidic. Vidic is on borrowed time. He is not playing regularly and United are shipping goals with or without him. Looking at the Premiership table, Southampton have a surprisingly impervious defence. I may go for one of their defenders and possibly save a bit of money too.
Friday, 25 October 2013
Realwrexhamcelery for Gameweek 9
Two transfers after last weeks abysmal showing. Scott Sinclair is still injured and is replaced by Joe Cole. Damien Duff is not starting for Fulham and so Jon Walters is getting another chance although as Stoke are playing Man Utd he is the odd one out on the bench.
Carlton Cole's return to West Ham means I have two strikers to ignore now while Borini continues his unimpressive run for Sunderland who look doomed.
Sturridge is once again captain.
Carlton Cole's return to West Ham means I have two strikers to ignore now while Borini continues his unimpressive run for Sunderland who look doomed.
Sturridge is once again captain.
Tactical Change for The Winning Strategy in Gameweek 9
With Chelsea and Man City playing each other, I am anticipating that nether side will keep a clean sheet and so I have relegated Ivanovic and Zabeleta to the bench thus adopting a 3-4-3 formation.
Also, having mistakenly missed out on Januzaj last week, I have brought him in at the expense of Brady who was flagged as doubtful anyway. The odd one out of the midfield is Morrison who is moved up to first sub. Ivanovic is second sub as Chelsea are the home team for the City game.
The big 3 strikers, Lukaku, Sturridge and Giroud keep their places. Giroud is captain as Arsenal are playing Palace. It was a choice between the 3 Arsenal players given Palace's problems but Giroud is due a goal.
Also, having mistakenly missed out on Januzaj last week, I have brought him in at the expense of Brady who was flagged as doubtful anyway. The odd one out of the midfield is Morrison who is moved up to first sub. Ivanovic is second sub as Chelsea are the home team for the City game.
The big 3 strikers, Lukaku, Sturridge and Giroud keep their places. Giroud is captain as Arsenal are playing Palace. It was a choice between the 3 Arsenal players given Palace's problems but Giroud is due a goal.
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
The Winning Strategy Gameweek 8
A disappointing week. 49 points is just less than the average of 53. And a strange week too.
All 5 defenders were selected in a week when there were not that many clean sheets. But two of them, Vidic and Zabeleta did not play and of those that did, only Walker gained extra points. The absence of defenders meant 4 in midfield where Ramsey and Oscar delivered goals. Unfortunately the one left on the bench, Morrison, did get an assist.
In attack Captain Lukaku did not deliver against Hull, but Sturridge and Giroud got a goal and two assists respectively.
Stupidly, when I played the wild card, I forgot about Januzaj. At £4.9m he is too good and is going to play too often to ignore. If I bring him in he has to replace Brady, or Barclay. (Too expensive to replace Morrison). It might be Barclay as Pienaar is returning for Everton and may edge him out.
All 5 defenders were selected in a week when there were not that many clean sheets. But two of them, Vidic and Zabeleta did not play and of those that did, only Walker gained extra points. The absence of defenders meant 4 in midfield where Ramsey and Oscar delivered goals. Unfortunately the one left on the bench, Morrison, did get an assist.
In attack Captain Lukaku did not deliver against Hull, but Sturridge and Giroud got a goal and two assists respectively.
Stupidly, when I played the wild card, I forgot about Januzaj. At £4.9m he is too good and is going to play too often to ignore. If I bring him in he has to replace Brady, or Barclay. (Too expensive to replace Morrison). It might be Barclay as Pienaar is returning for Everton and may edge him out.
Realwrexhamcelery Gameweek 8
A poor week. 34 points is well below the average of 53. Only Huth, Sidwell and Sturridge managed any extra points. Captain Lukaku delivered just 4 points.
The game did see the return of Glen Johnson and a first appearance for Neil Taylor which meant that for the first time the interlopers Baines and Evra were not required.
The return of Carlton Cole at West Ham means another option up front, but Anelka is still ahead of him and Borini in the pecking order.
In midfield there are the same candidates of Joe Cole, Joe Allen, and Jon Walters in contention. A lot may depend on who Fulham are playing.
The game did see the return of Glen Johnson and a first appearance for Neil Taylor which meant that for the first time the interlopers Baines and Evra were not required.
The return of Carlton Cole at West Ham means another option up front, but Anelka is still ahead of him and Borini in the pecking order.
In midfield there are the same candidates of Joe Cole, Joe Allen, and Jon Walters in contention. A lot may depend on who Fulham are playing.
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
The Winning Strategy for Gameweek 8
It's time for the wildcard. Some players are just not delivering and their names are Walters, Nolan, Paulinho, Lucas and Lambert. Four in midfield and one striker. I am comfortable with my keepers (Szczesny and Vorm), my defenders (Walker, Vidic, Baines, Ivanovic, Zabeleta), one of my midfield (Ramsey) and two strikers (Sturridge and Giroud).
My approach to the wildcard is to pack the midfield with youthful, cheap talent and to bring in a lively striker and one big hitting midfielder.
The striker coming in is Lukaku who is on fire at Everton.
The cheap midfielders are Barclay (Everton), Morrison (West Ham), Brady (Hull).
The expensive midfielder is Oscar who is playing regularly at Chelsea and is scoring.
This is a big gamble. The young players may misfire. Oscar might fall out of favour. The players being replaced may suddenly spark into life. But it has to be done.
Barclay, Brady and Morrison are on the bench in a 5-2-3 formation. Lukaku is captain as Everton play Hull.
My approach to the wildcard is to pack the midfield with youthful, cheap talent and to bring in a lively striker and one big hitting midfielder.
The striker coming in is Lukaku who is on fire at Everton.
The cheap midfielders are Barclay (Everton), Morrison (West Ham), Brady (Hull).
The expensive midfielder is Oscar who is playing regularly at Chelsea and is scoring.
This is a big gamble. The young players may misfire. Oscar might fall out of favour. The players being replaced may suddenly spark into life. But it has to be done.
Barclay, Brady and Morrison are on the bench in a 5-2-3 formation. Lukaku is captain as Everton play Hull.
Real Wrexhamcelery for Gameweek 8
This week the decisions are all about midfield.
Scott Parker for Fulham is showing as injured but expected to return this week.
Joe Cole is now fit for West Ham.
Do I bring in either or both?
Of the current squad, Jon Walters of Stoke is showing a 75% probability of playing and Scott Sinclair for WBA is showing as injured but is expected to return. Moses (Liverpool) and Duff and Sidwell (both Fulham) are fit. Joe Allen (Liverpool) is fit but not playing and also is a 4th Liverpool player and therefore above quota. I need to choose 5 out of these 8 players or rather, 3 have to be left out. Allen is one of those 3. Fulham are playing Palace and that leans me to choose Parker ahead of Walters, especially as Stoke, who don't look like scoring ever, are playing a revitalised WBA. Walters out and Parker in. Moses stays. Duff and Sidwell stay because of the Palace factor. That gives me a choice between Cole and Sinclair. Are either likely to play as they are both returning from injury? West Ham are playing Man City and WBA are playing Stoke. I'll go with Sinclair.
Elsewhere Glen Johnson may return for Liverpool.
Scott Parker for Fulham is showing as injured but expected to return this week.
Joe Cole is now fit for West Ham.
Do I bring in either or both?
Of the current squad, Jon Walters of Stoke is showing a 75% probability of playing and Scott Sinclair for WBA is showing as injured but is expected to return. Moses (Liverpool) and Duff and Sidwell (both Fulham) are fit. Joe Allen (Liverpool) is fit but not playing and also is a 4th Liverpool player and therefore above quota. I need to choose 5 out of these 8 players or rather, 3 have to be left out. Allen is one of those 3. Fulham are playing Palace and that leans me to choose Parker ahead of Walters, especially as Stoke, who don't look like scoring ever, are playing a revitalised WBA. Walters out and Parker in. Moses stays. Duff and Sidwell stay because of the Palace factor. That gives me a choice between Cole and Sinclair. Are either likely to play as they are both returning from injury? West Ham are playing Man City and WBA are playing Stoke. I'll go with Sinclair.
Elsewhere Glen Johnson may return for Liverpool.
Monday, 7 October 2013
Real Wreaxhamcelery Gameweek 7 Holding Their Own
48 points is above average and the team has moved to its highest overall position of 319,506. This is in spite of having very limited choices available. Points came from captain Sturridge, Lukaku, interloper Evra and solid midfield scoring from Duff, Sidwell and Moses.
For Gameweek 8 there are decisions to be made about Joe Cole, Scott Parker and Scott Sinclair depending on who is fit.
For Gameweek 8 there are decisions to be made about Joe Cole, Scott Parker and Scott Sinclair depending on who is fit.
The Winning Strategy Gameweek 7 Nightmare
Awful week. With the notable exception of captain Sturridge, all the players scored only 1, 2 or 3 points. Leaving Nolan on the bench proved to be a mistake as he at least got an assist, not that it did the team any good.
Now dropped to 50,575 in the overall standings.
I feel a Wild Card coming on. Radical surgery for the midfield. Paulinho, Nolan, Walters, and Lucas could all be ditched. And Lambert. The defensive 6 will probably survive along with Ramsey, Giroud and Sturridge. Maybe.
Now dropped to 50,575 in the overall standings.
I feel a Wild Card coming on. Radical surgery for the midfield. Paulinho, Nolan, Walters, and Lucas could all be ditched. And Lambert. The defensive 6 will probably survive along with Ramsey, Giroud and Sturridge. Maybe.
Friday, 4 October 2013
Real Wrexhamcelery for Gameweek 7
When your own self imposed rules give you a restricted pool of players from which to choose in the first place, the last thing you need is injuries.
Already out with no prospect of replacement are Ben Foster and Glen Johnson. Foster gets replaced by the bench keeper Ruddy. Johnson by the interloping non-Chelsea/Wrexham Baines.
But now I have lost Sinclair and Parker from Midfield and Walters is only rated at 50%.
And in attack Anelka is only at 50%.
The only attacking option is to bring in Borini. (Although Carlton Cole has apparently rejoined West Ham he is not in the available players list). But he is by no means guaranteed a start and is unlikely to score anyway. Should I just take a chance on Anelka?
In midfield the potential replacements are Duff (fit), Joe Cole (50%) and Joe Allen (unavailable because it would mean a 4th Liverpool player and he is not playing for them anyway).
So my choices look very limited. Duff must come in for, let's say Parker. Joe Cole is a gamble. Is it worth using a wildcard to bring in Borini as well? Are there any other conceivable circumstances in which I would use the wildcard? If I use the wildcard, I will only be able to bring in either Anelka of Joe Cole the following week and the week after that Parker and Sinclair.
This is harder than it should be. But Sunderland are playing Man U and so it is not worth bringing Borini in. So a single transfer, Duff in for Parker. Duff on the bench with Sidwell starting. Sturrideg as captain.
Already out with no prospect of replacement are Ben Foster and Glen Johnson. Foster gets replaced by the bench keeper Ruddy. Johnson by the interloping non-Chelsea/Wrexham Baines.
But now I have lost Sinclair and Parker from Midfield and Walters is only rated at 50%.
And in attack Anelka is only at 50%.
The only attacking option is to bring in Borini. (Although Carlton Cole has apparently rejoined West Ham he is not in the available players list). But he is by no means guaranteed a start and is unlikely to score anyway. Should I just take a chance on Anelka?
In midfield the potential replacements are Duff (fit), Joe Cole (50%) and Joe Allen (unavailable because it would mean a 4th Liverpool player and he is not playing for them anyway).
So my choices look very limited. Duff must come in for, let's say Parker. Joe Cole is a gamble. Is it worth using a wildcard to bring in Borini as well? Are there any other conceivable circumstances in which I would use the wildcard? If I use the wildcard, I will only be able to bring in either Anelka of Joe Cole the following week and the week after that Parker and Sinclair.
This is harder than it should be. But Sunderland are playing Man U and so it is not worth bringing Borini in. So a single transfer, Duff in for Parker. Duff on the bench with Sidwell starting. Sturrideg as captain.
The Winning Strategy for Gameweek 7
I had every intention of swapping Jon Walters of Stoke out and replacing him with the slightly cheaper but higher scoring Robbie Brady of Hull. Especially as Walters is rated 50% for this week. But Brady has a hernia and is out until early November. Looking at the remaining midfield players in that price bracket there is only Barkley who catches my eye, but Everton are up against a wounded Man City this week and will struggle to pick up points. So I will keep Walters on the bench for now and save the transfer for Gameweek 8 when I will have 2 transfers to play with and trade more flexibly.
Also dropping to the bench is Nolan as I don't expect West Ham to get much change out of Spurs. This means that Baines is included in spite of the fact that Everton play City. That is because Baines is always likely to score or create.
Sturridge is captain as Liverpool take on Palace.
Also dropping to the bench is Nolan as I don't expect West Ham to get much change out of Spurs. This means that Baines is included in spite of the fact that Everton play City. That is because Baines is always likely to score or create.
Sturridge is captain as Liverpool take on Palace.
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Real Wrexhamcelery Gameweek 6 A Massive Week
A massive 61 points lifted the team to a majestic 440807 in the overall standings. It is the highest position so far.
Those points came from 3 players in reality; captain Sturridge, the awesome Lukaku and the lucky Ruddy. Everyone else failed. Taylor was fit and on the bench but did not play. His normal replacement Evra was not selected although I bet Moyes wishes he had been. Anelka was injured. And neither of the two Scotts, Sinclair and Parker made it into the second half.
For next week there are some decisions to make. Will Anelka be fit or should Borini come in? Will Parker and/or Sinclair be fit? Will Joe Cole return for West Ham? Will I have to play my wildcard to get 11 players on the pitch? I'll wait until Friday to decide.
Those points came from 3 players in reality; captain Sturridge, the awesome Lukaku and the lucky Ruddy. Everyone else failed. Taylor was fit and on the bench but did not play. His normal replacement Evra was not selected although I bet Moyes wishes he had been. Anelka was injured. And neither of the two Scotts, Sinclair and Parker made it into the second half.
For next week there are some decisions to make. Will Anelka be fit or should Borini come in? Will Parker and/or Sinclair be fit? Will Joe Cole return for West Ham? Will I have to play my wildcard to get 11 players on the pitch? I'll wait until Friday to decide.
The Winning Strategy in Gameweek 6 - Not the best
There were very few clean sheets around this week, and who would have thought they would belong to Hull, Southampton and Norwich. I don't have any of their defenders or midfield players. I have Leighton Baines as captain and he scored precisely no points and so wasted that responsibility.
Fortunately my strikers, Lambert, Sturridge and Giroud conjured up 2 goals and 3 assists between them and Ramsey pitched in with a goal too. There were very slim pickings amongst the others which meant barely above average 48 points. The team now stands at 27120 overall having plummeted from a towering 9213 the week before. In fact this is the lowest position since week 1.
For now I will resist the temptation to play a wildcard, but heads will roll. Walters is not delivering and heaven help him if Stoke get another penalty. I can't see Stoke scoring more than another 3 goals this season and so unless any big injuries occur before next week he will be gone. I'm seriously thinking about Robbie Brady of Hull. He is in form and cheap. This means I will be able to upgrade from Paulinho who is proving that adding "-inho" to the end of your name does not guarantee goals.
Fortunately my strikers, Lambert, Sturridge and Giroud conjured up 2 goals and 3 assists between them and Ramsey pitched in with a goal too. There were very slim pickings amongst the others which meant barely above average 48 points. The team now stands at 27120 overall having plummeted from a towering 9213 the week before. In fact this is the lowest position since week 1.
For now I will resist the temptation to play a wildcard, but heads will roll. Walters is not delivering and heaven help him if Stoke get another penalty. I can't see Stoke scoring more than another 3 goals this season and so unless any big injuries occur before next week he will be gone. I'm seriously thinking about Robbie Brady of Hull. He is in form and cheap. This means I will be able to upgrade from Paulinho who is proving that adding "-inho" to the end of your name does not guarantee goals.
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