Welcome to week three of the English Premier League season.
Things are beginning to settle down with all the usual suspects filling the top four places after just two weeks – Manchester City, United, Chelsea and Hull.
Yes, unbelievably Hull City are sitting nicely in third place in the Premier League, the team with only half a squad. They are like a throwback to the days before the Premier League existed, when only one substitute was allowed. They have made only one substitution in two games. Surely that has to be a Premier League record?
I suspect Hull may crash and burn this weekend though as they host a rejuvenated Manchester United who appear re-born under Jose Mourinho this season.
Elsewhere this game week, Spurs and Liverpool go head to head at lunch time on Saturday and Manchester City and West Ham close week three on Sunday at four o’clock.
So just after things start to get interesting, we will have the first international break of the season and the Premier League won’t return until September, so make the most of it while you can.
Free to enter £25 prize game on Premier Punt
This column will concentrate on the weekly game and, as such, there is a free to join £25 prize game sponsored by The Press & Journal this weekend. I will select my team and punters are welcome to challenge me for the £25 prize.
This game is exclusive to P&J readers and the details to enter are as follows:
· Password: MEDIA
Congratulations to me for winning the top prize in last week’s game on Premier Punt, the fantasy football gaming website. You can also download the Premier Punt app from the app store. Android users can download the app from the mobile website (www.premierpunt.com ).
I was surprised to win as I had two West Ham players, Payet and Carroll, who didn’t start and therefore scored nil points.
Get on to Premier Punt and try to knock me off my perch this week!
Formation
I’m moving away from my usual 3-4-3 formation this week and trying out a 4-4-2 alternative. I can see Chelsea and Manchester City keeping a clean sheet and I want to exploit it by picking an extra defender.
As usual, a 3-5-2 formation is also available on Premier Punt.
Keeper
My keeper last week was Michel Vorm who scored six points on Premier Punt with a clean sheet. I’m dropping Vorm in favour of Joe Hart’s superior, Willie Caballero, at Manchester City. As I stated above, I fancy Chelsea and City to keep a clean sheet but Caballero is cheaper than Courtois and gets the nod this week.
Defenders
Last week I went all out in backing Spurs not to concede any goals by selecting two defenders to go with their keeper. This was successful and earned me eighteen points. This week I’m taking three Chelsea defenders and a City defender for my back four. If successful I stand a great chance of winning most challenges. If not, it’s the relegation zone for me.
Chelsea are at home to Burnley this week so, even though the Northerners had a great result against Liverpool last week, I’m gambling that they won’t do so well away from home this season.
Manchester City entertain West Ham at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon. The Hammers have a big injury list to contend with at the moment so I don’t think they will be expecting to pick up anything more than a point at City.
Midfielders
With the exception of the world’s most expensive player, I’m having to flood my midfield with journeymen because I’m using all my budget at the back and up front.
Paul Pogba is a generous £10.2M on Premier Punt which I reckon is excellent value. United are away to fellow Champions League challengers Hull City this weekend.
My other three are Cabaye of Crystal Palace, Gardner of West Brom and Redmond at Southampton. Three steady players with the potential to get a goal.
Cabaye takes Palace’s penalties and free-kicks around the box. Palace are at home to Bournemouth this week.
Craig Gardner also takes a decent set-piece and West Brom host the Boro.
I saw Nathan Redmond at Old Trafford last week and thought he was unlucky on a few occasions. He’s looked Southampton’s most creative player in the opening two games so far.
Strikers
As with the previous two weeks I’m sticking with Aguero up front. He will also be my captain. He scored twice last week and, until he gets his inevitable injury, I will keep picking him and keep picking up the points. He’s the most expensive player at £16M on Premier Punt but I reckon it’s still a bargain until he breaks down, which he will. Maybe with the international break next week he will survive a few weeks further into the season.
I’m bringing back Ibrahimović this week after not being able to select him last week due to United playing on the Friday night. Hull City might still have Jake Livermore at centre back as they are struggling for players and I’m sure he’s not looking forward to playing against Zlatan. Ibrahimović will also be my vice-captain.
I had a nightmare up front last week with Andy Carroll getting injured (what a shocker!) in the warm-up and Jermaine Defoe failing to hit the target against Middlesbrough.
Remember, join the Press & Journal free to enter game on Premier Punt and show me how it’s done.
GET IN THERE!!!!