Never Manage Alone - All Posts

The NMA Blog Cup Final Results

2013-05-21T12:25:41Z

The Barn Door Live: Season Finale Edition

2013-05-19T14:08:24Z

There is no Barn Door heading into the last match of the season but there will be drama for fantasy managers as well as Arsenal and Spurs supporters. Share the highs and lows with us one last time before the summer starts.

I have Andres Lindegaard, Phil Jones, Maicon, Sebastian Coates, Santi Cazorla, Gareth Bale, Philippe Coutinho, Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski, Darren Bent, and Chicharito.

I'm hoping to head into summer on a high note along with a fourth or even third place finish for Arsenal.

What are you hoping for today?

Week 38 Fantasy Football Pre-Deadline Live Chat

2013-05-19T09:09:10Z

The final deadline countdown of the season!

My current Yahoo line-up is:

Robles, Bardsley, Coates, Dawson, Cazorla, Coutinho, Michu, Walcott, Adebayor, Podolski, Sturridge

and I think it will stay like that, which would mean no Gareth Bale. The only change I've made is bringing in Coutinho for Yaya Toure but I do have 3.31 left in the bank so I could always upgrade a defender.

How's your team looking?

Late Fitness Check: The Big Finale Edition

2013-05-17T14:49:38Z

The end of the season is always a bittersweet thing. I hate the actual day for fantasy purposes because it is generally extremely difficult to figure out a) who is going to play; and b) who is going to be motivated. I also hate the gap that the lack of the fantasy Premier League game and all of the associated interactions like writing, reading comments and weekend chatting is going to leave in my life over the next three months. If those are the negatives then the positive is the brief respite from the tyranny of writing. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we love doing this but as the season draws to a close it feels a lot like we've run a 9 month long marathon. We try our best to keep everyone up-to-date with news and analysis and doing so over and above families, day jobs, and social lives it is a difficult task. As you might imagine, we need our summer rest almost as much as the players do or we'd go a bit insane. Honestly, over the summer, it isn't that I don't want to write but rather it is that I really appreciate not having a schedule dictated by someone else's schedule.

In any event, it is with both relief and sadness that I dive into the last Team News Analysis of the season. As always, the comprehensive compilation of Team News Reports can be found over at SoccerNet. Here are the important bits for fantasy managers:

Chelsea vs. Everton: John Terry and Eden Hazard are out (Ryan Bertrand too but I don't think that really matters) which means that Victor Moses is very likely to get a start and Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic are likely to be the CB pairing. Moses is listed as a Forward which is stupid but he's definitely affordable at 5.34 if you think I'm reading the tea leaves on this one correctly.

On the Everton side, the only major absentees are Phil Neville and Leon Osman - it seems likely that Darron Gibson and Ross Barkley will get starts as a result of the absences and both are very affordable at 6.46 and 2.80 respectively.

Liverpool vs. QPR: Lots of opportunity in the Liverpool line-up with Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Daniel Agger all definitely missing. Jamie Carragher will start and captain the team but either Martin Skertl or Sebastian Coates will be affordable partners if you choose correctly.

For QPR, Loic Remy will be available and presumably starting despite his mid-week legal troubles while Adel Taarabt is out. I don't know anything about Remy's legal situation but it feels like bad mojo to pick him.

Manchester City vs. Norwich City: No useful information about who City will rotate their players unfortunately and I can't imagine anyone is going in heavily after Norwich players so we'll leave it at that. My gut tells me that Eden Dzeko is the choice this weekend.

Newcastle United vs. Arsenal: Olivier Giroud is eligible again after his suspension but given the performances from Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski last week you wonder if he'll go right back into the line-up. Mikel Arteta is a question mark with Jack WIlshere his potential replacement - I'd avoid both.

Southampton vs. Stoke City: Gaston Ramirez is suspended and Rickie Lambert is an injury doubt for the Saints while Charlie Adam is suspended for Stoke. Zzzzzzzz.

Swansea City vs. Fulham: Not much here either other than Steve Sidwell being suspended (again).

Tottenham vs. Sunderland: Not much here that is noteworthy from a fantasy point-of-view.

West Brom vs. Manchester United: It looks like Phil Jones and Jonny Evans will start with Jones being a great value. The news is rather definitive as it says flat out that Anders Lindegaard has been promised the start. That's two very affordable players (Jones and Lindegaard) for Sir Alex's last match. Just saying.

West Ham United vs. Reading: Unless James Tomkins' fitness (uncertain) is of interest to you, there isn't much here.

Wigan Athletic vs. Aston Villa: Callum McManaman is out with an ankle injury (but presumably we'll see him next season in the Prem with a different team after his late-season performances). On the Villa side, Christian Benteke is suspended which means Darren Bent is a huge potential bargain at 3.38 as he auditions for a new job for next season.

AM's Week 38 Fantasy Player Picks

2013-05-16T15:42:35Z

And so we come to the end of the season. It's a shame that the major issues of title winners and relegated teams have already been resolved as the final day can often offer the best drama of the entire campaign. However, there are two teams with something very big still to play for - Tottenham and Arsenal will battle it out for 4th place and a chance to qualify for next season's Champions League.

ARSENAL @ Newcastle
TOTTENHAM v Sunderland

Arsenal have a vital 1 point lead so they will travel to Newcastle with their destiny in their own hands. If they win at St James' Park, they will finish in the Top 4 for an astonishing 17th consecutive season under Arsene Wenger. Spurs must beat Sunderland at White Hart Lane and hope Arsenal draw or lose to stand any chance of snatching it from the Gunners. If Spurs draw and Arsenal lose, Arsenal will still take 4th as they have a far superior goal difference.

I'm obviously praying for a slip up from Arsenal, but if Tottenham do finish 5th I still feel it's been a great first season for Andre Villas-Boas. Having lost both Luka Modric and Rafael van Der Vaart before the season began he has had to make do without Younes Kaboul and Sandro for the majority of the season and a lack of strikers with Emmanuel Adebayor having "one of those years" and Jermain Defoe injured for large portions of the campaign. If Tottenham can take all 3 points from Sunderland they will have amassed their own highest ever Premier League points total and you can't really complain too much about that.

So Spurs and Arsenal are definitely the teams to focus on for the final week, but it's also worth looking at:

LIVERPOOL v QPR
SWANSEA v Fulham
WEST HAM v Reading
MANCHESTER CITY v Norwich

Liverpool have been doing just fine without Luis Suarez and I expect them to give relegated QPR a final thumping on Sunday, with Daniel Sturridge in outstanding form. You also have to fancy Swansea to end their excellent first season under Michael Laudrup with a bang at home against notoriously poor travellers Fulham, and West Ham should have far too much for woeful Reading, with the Hammers fans whipping up a fine atmosphere at Upton Park for the final game of a decent season. I also expect Man City to put on a bit of a show in front of the home fans against a Norwich side whose minds may already be on the beach after they secured survival last weekend.

So for the final time, here are the players worth looking at ...

KEEPERS
Lloris - The pick of the keepers if you have the funds with a must-win game at home to Sunderland, but there are some cheaper options.
Boruc - At home to Stoke and priced below 5.00, he represents good value for the final weekend.
Robles - Facing a Benteke-less Aston Villa and costing just 1.00, he's the man I'll be selecting this weekend to free up funds elsewhere.

DEFENDERS
Dawson - Still well priced, he'll captain Spurs for this vital match, he has a clean sheet chance and is always a threat at set pieces.
Coates - The bargain of the week, he should partner Jamie Carragher in the center of Liverpool's defence against QPR and costs less than 2.00.
Jones - The ugliest man in football should get another start for Manchester United's trip to West Brom and he's another fine value pick below 5.00.
Taylor - The Swansea full-back is finally at the end of his injury nightmare and could earn a start in the final game of the season.
Debuchy - He's not had a particularly good time of it recently, picking up cards and giving away penalties, but he's guaranteed a start and costs less than 2.00.
Bardsley - A trip to Spurs in hardly idea, but Barsley loves a speculative long shot and if you're holding him at his barnoor price you only require one to hit the target for him to return his value.

MIDFIELDERS
Bale - The Welsh wizard is obviously the top option for the week, but can you afford him without severely impacting the rest of your team? I imagine most fantasy managers will pick him so if you are trying to close a gap perhaps consider going without him and strengthening the rest of your midfield and attack.
Walcott - Bound to cause Newcastle all sorts of problems with his pace, but too expensive at his current price so I hope you had him last week or grabbed him on the barndoor.
Cazorla - You have him.
Coutinho - The little man never ceases to impress me whenever I watch him play, his movement and skill will be the stuff of nightmares for QPR.
Michu - He's had an amazing first season in the Premier League (as I predicted, hat-tip to myself) and will be looking to end it with a bang against hapless Fulham. But could it be his last game for Swansea? You have to feel a bid from a bigger club could come in this summer and it may be too good for Swansea to turn down.
Yaya Toure - I have a fairly solid hunch he'll grab a goal against Norwich and as such he'll be in my team this week.
Lennon - A cheap way to include a Spurs midfielder if you choose not to go with Bale.
Collison - A bargain option at home to Reading if he's set to start for West Ham again.
Shelvey - As above Jonjo is a great filler if he's going to start against QPR.

STRIKERS
Sturridge - As mentioned in my fixture analysis he's on fire and will almost certainly grab a goal and whole bunch of shots on target this weekend.
Podolski - You have to feel he'll start again after two goals on Tuesday night and if he does he's a fine choice, although Olivier Giroud is available again after suspension.
Adebayor - It's no coincidence that Ade is showing his best form at the end of the season with his future at Tottenham in question and potential suitors watching him, but while he's scoring goals I don't care one bit. Expect him to make it 3 in 3 against Sunderland.
Aguero - AGUERO!!!!!!!!! Ok, so it's not going to be as explosive as the last day of the 2011-12 season, but I still expect City to win at a canter and Sergio is finally looking fully match-fit.
Dempsey - Deuce has been quietly effective all season for Spurs and his excellent display against Stoke will ensure another start this weekend.
Carroll - With his Liverpool and West Ham future in doubt he'll want to knock in a goal to remind people that he still exists, and you don't get a better chance than at home against Reading.
McManaman - He'll be auditioning for a move straight back to the Premier League so expect another big performance from the young winger.
Bent - Could forgotten man Darren Bent get a rare start in place of the suspended Benteke? If so he's dirt cheap so could be a cheeky punt.

My own team is currently:

Robles, Bardsley, Coates, Dawson, Cazorla, Yaya Toure, Michu, Walcott, Adebayor, Podolski, Sturridge

As you can see I'm going without Gareth Bale at the moment as I try to do something a different to keep my dreams of a Top 100 finish alive. I'm currently 190th overall so will need a monster week of 150+ to have any chance but I haven't given up hope after securing a massive 170 points in Week 37 which pushed me up almost 155 places in the standings. There's still a possibility that I bring Andy Carroll in for either Podolski or Adebayor in attempt to further my differential picks compared to the sides above me, but I'll wait until closer to the deadline (which is on Sunday this week) to make that decision.

That's it for my Player Picks for the 2012-13 season. Thank you so much to all our readers for another fantastic year of support here on NeverManageAlone.com, I hope you've enjoyed playing the Yahoo game, reading our opinions and that come Sunday night you'll have been successful in your own aims of a Top 100/Top 500/Top 1000 finish (winning your private leagues in the process).

Good luck this weekend - I'll post the NMA Blog Cup Final results (from Week 36) early next week to crown our champion!

MLS Fantasy Insider: Player to Add, Drop and Watch Week 12

2013-05-15T20:05:45Z

The Round 12 transfer window closes at 7:15pm ET tonight so be sure to get all your transfers done before then. Not all injuries have been reported so try to have an additional sub or two on your bench that can slide into your lineup in case there's a late scratch. There's a new episode of Starting Lineup up on MLSSoccer.com and don't forget to follow @MLSFantasy for a consistent flow of MLS fantasy news and advice. Their page was just updated with some new graphics so check it out!

The Disciplinary Committee suspended three players in addition to the guys already missing due to yellow card accumulation. Marvin Chavez had his two-game suspension reduced so feel comfortable inserting him back into your starting lineup.

Here are my players to add, drop and watch for Round 11. Good luck everyone!

Player to ADD -> Amobi Okugo ($7.8m), Midfielder - Philadelphia Union

Okugo is not just a player to add for this week. He's one of just eight midfielders to accumulate 50 points or more through the first 11 rounds and the second lowest in price, at $7.2m. Okugo started the year at $6.0m so his value has been on the rise ever since. I'd like to think his value will increase to roughly $8.0m in the coming weeks so if you buy now you can still make a profit. Okugo is only averaging 4.0 points/game at home this season, but he's consistent and rarely gets injured or cautioned.

Player to DROP -> Aurelien Collin ($7.0m), Defender - Sporting KC

Collin is out this week due to yellow-card accumulation. Following their game this week against DC United, Sporting KC has two games at home (Houston and Montreal) before back-to-back bye weeks. Collin is owned by nearly 36 percent of all managers, but at $7.0m, you can't afford to be keeping all that cap space on the bench. He might have a decent game against Houston and Montreal, but the money you've made can definitely be used better elsewhere.

Player to WATCH -> Chris Klute ($4.5m), Defender - Colorado Rapids

Klute has been a permanent fixture in the Rapids starting lineup the last seven games. In his last six games he's logged four clean sheets, 52 CBI's, 31 recoveries and 37 total points. After Round 12, the Rapids have two home games before their bye week in Round 15. Even after that they have a stretch of winnable games (three home, three away) before another bye in Round 21. If Klute remains a starter and Colorado stays strong defensively, he could be a great bargain pickup for you down the road.

Check your MLS Fantasy Soccer: Manager Team now!

MLS Fantasy Insider: Player to Add, Drop and Watch Week 12

2013-05-15T20:02:02Z

Here are my players to add, drop and watch for Round 11. Good luck everyone!

Player to ADD -> Amobi Okugo ($7.8m), Midfielder - Philadelphia Union

Player to DROP -> Aurelien Collin ($7.0m), Defender - Sporting KC

Player to WATCH -> Chris Klute ($4.5m), Defender - Colorado Rapids

Check your MLS Fantasy Soccer: Manager Team now!

MLS Fantasy Insider: Player to Add, Drop and Watch Week 12

2013-05-15T19:59:43Z

Here are my players to add, drop and watch for Round 11. Good luck everyone!

Player to ADD -> Amobi Okugo ($7.8m), Midfielder - Philadelphia Union

Player to DROP -> Aurelien Collin ($7.0m), Defender - Sporting KC

Player to WATCH -> Chris Klute ($4.5m), Defender - Colorado Rapids

Check your MLS Fantasy Soccer: Manager Team now!