This week is a little unusual in that Fantrax has the schedule as a standard single game week for all, whilst FPL and Togga has a double week for Everton and Crystal Palace players. To start then we will take a look at those double week options.
Palace have two home games against Norwich City and Everton. Whilst they are more suited away from home they are under growing pressure with sides below them picking up points. Norwich have been on excellent form winning 2 and drawing 1 of their last 3. That includes a clean sheet against Manchester City. Having said that I do think Palace will turn things around and they may do so this week.
The Toffees meanwhile travel twice to Watford and then the Palace match. Until they lost at Manchester United in week 32 Everton had lost just once away from home in the league all season. The evidence suggests the back to back away days are not a reason to put you off.
Joel Robles
We have to respect Everton's ability to avoid defeat away from home. If this remains we can hope for perhaps a win and a clean sheet over the two games. The performance at Old Trafford was shocking, I can't see it being as bad again. In Fantrax against a Watford side really in cup mode he is a decent one week gamble.
Scott Dann
With double weeks you often get joy picking defenders. Dann offers you a clean sheet shout and real goal threat over the two games.
Leighton Baines
May have won his 1st team place back from Bryan Oviedo and with Lukaku missing his last pen he may have even won those back. Normally a must in a double week the concern on him starting twice takes the edge of picking him at his FPL price. However, if you are playing catch up then pick away people.
Phil Jagielka
Solid Phil is likely to start both games and could spring a clean sheet in one of them.
Yannick Bolasie
The Eagles man weapon is right back to sharpness. He often lacks the finish to go with his approach play, something that may hold the bigger clubs off bidding for him in the summer. But he is a decent fantasy player and there is an assist or 2 for him over the double week and maybe a goal. I will likely be adding him to my FPL side.
Yohan Cabaye
Missed out last time with fitness so we need to keep an eye on this weekend's team news. If fit he will play and will hold pen duties. In FPL he scores weaker than Fantrax but if he plays twice I think there is a goal in the week for him.
Ross Barkley
Young Ross has gone off the boil in recent weeks but at this stage of his career he will be inconsistent. What he is though is a very hot scorer on his day and lover of shooting from outside if the box. His place in the England national side isn't certain and a strong end to the season is needed. I fancy a goal and assist from him are possible over the two games.
Romelu Lukaku
We all forget King Troll is just 22 years old, treating him like the finished article but for now as always picking him brings the risk of a good trolling. But as I said earlier in the week he has 18 goals to his name and Everton are better away from home. When you then add he follows this double week with a second and a 3rd to follow he is one you just have to go with in the FPL format until the seasons end in my view.
In Fantrax/Togga I think Bolasie, Baines, Robles and perhaps Cabaye are options this week. The rest probably not. Now on to the single gamers
Joe Hart
Expensive in Fantrax and minus Vincent Kompany always a risk of losing his clean sheet. Having said that surely if you can't score against Sunderlands back line a patched up City team should hold out. The premium pick of the week.
Vito Mannone
About 2.5m in Fantrax he has trebled his value in the last 3 games. This is a big game and the Black Cats have won big games at season's ends in the few years we didn't expect them to. The Foxes goals have dried up and while a big gamble pick I think Mannone offers value to the bold fantasy player this week.
Simon Mignolet
I don't think he will be Liverpools No1 next season but he is a very good shot stopper and a cheap Fantrax price. Even with Dortmund matches around it I think Pool win this game.
Charlie Daniels
Here we have one of my gut picks of the week ahead. Daniels got a lesson in levels against City where Jesus Navas and co turned him inside out resulting in Daniel's being at fault on a few occasions. Against Aston Villa he won't have near the problems defensively and he should be able to get forward much more himself. In Fantrax his scores show he is a stronger pick in home games but Villa may be more vulnerable in home matches than away. I can see Charlie bombing down the wings supplying crosses and chances for the attacking players. Then add he has pen duties and he appeals more. In FPL a great one week option. In Fantrax his price is the problem. I really like him this week liking him to return double figures this week. It's just I seem be lacking funds.
Gael Clichy/Aleksandar Kolarov
Clichy has started a string of games and is clear 1st choice. I keep thinking he will get a rest but it never comes.
Matt Ritchie
Ritchie hasn't been the consistent fantasy gem we had hoped for this season but there have been odd moments he threatened to be. Still improving as a player I think he is one to consider next season with the experiences of this. Once again not cheap in Fantrax but like Daniels I expect him to be given too much time and space. In the Fantrax format he is a consistent points scorer, capable of a monster score and is overdue goal.
Philippe Coutinho
Slightly risky in that he may get a rest between the Dortmund games. If you are sure he starts he is In tremendous form.
Sadio Mane
He want out of St Mary's and we assume he gets his way in the summer. Whether that is to a bigger club may depend on his late season finish. There is so much talent in the player but too often he lacks end product. We saw in his cameo against Liverpool what he can do when hot and with Newcastle's defending horrific he will the chances in this one. All of that assumes he turns up on time of course, failure to do so will see him benched. What a frustrating player he must be to manage.
Dimitri Payet
Form horse, free kick specialist and awesome playmaker. Facing an Arsenal side that will play with two physical sorts in central midfield he may have less time and space this week. But that lack of time and pace could be in the first 70 minutes of the game. If both side are chasing the win in the final 20 expect it to open up and Payet has shown how effective he can be late in games.
Kevin De Bruyne
Back and a must pick if fit. But like it or not KDB is coming back from injury and has started twice in a week. With PSG leg two on Tuesday he is a bench risk.
David Silva
Whilst not having the impact of seasons prior he is picking up the assist and fantasy points. I think Pulis will plan to strangle the player of space but when he is feeding players the quality of KBD/Kun an assist is a real shout.
Jesus Navas
Few will go with him but the super quick winger has been playing well and returning decent Fantarx scores with 3 double figure returns in the last 4 games. His price makes him value and few will be bold enough to pick him but that first goal of the season is due.
Max Gradel
Gradel can often be relied on to score over his value as we saw with his game against Swansea return. He does get subbed early and If this was at home he would be in my side. Away from home it's a decision but betting against Villa has worked so often.
Graziano Pelle
Very much like our favourite troll he doesn't do much if he doesn't score. Fortunately Newcastle are in town so he should get chances.
Alexis Sanchez
I tipped his big haul last week and gambled with him in all my sides. This week though it's a tough matchup so this one is a risky selection. Arsenal must win but so must the home team. That could mean an end to end game and we saw on opening week of the season just how effective West Ham can be at shutting a side down and picking the off on the break.
Jermain Defoe
Tipping a forward facing a defence who have 5 clean sheets in 6 make no sense. However, Defoe has 4 double digit scores in a row and got off 8 shots against the WBA parked bus. I'm tipping Sunderland to score and Defoe is the most obvious route. His livewire and cleaver runs seem the perfect style against Leicester huge but slow turning centre backs.
Kun
But of course.
Harry Kane
Facing a Manchester United side with decent defensive stats you could make the play to leave him alone this week. Utd have also been pretty good against the big sides this season. What Utd have struggled against is when opposition teams effectively pressed when Utd held possession. We saw that in the Liverpool games in the Europa knockout matches and at times in the win against City.
Spurs press extremely well and I think will start fast. Kane should then get a similar set of chances that Kun had a couple weeks back. If we see the normal Spurs and the normal Manchester United then I think he takes at least one of them in a must win game for the home side.
It is also worth considering the effects Leicester City's result has on the team. Should the Foxes win again the gap will grow so big it's possible the Spurs player feel just a little down. Utd are well organised so do take some breaking down. In these circumstances Kane will struggle to return value.
If the Foxes drop points or even lose you can expect the excited young Spurs squad to fly out the traps.
Where I am
My FPL side will see the wildcard played with the intention of getting 15 double game players for week 34. It will likely include a couple Palace and Everton players.
In Fantrax I have the Kun, Alexis and Kane front 3. They are all players I'm concerned not having. Kun stays, Kane probably although I actually hope he is not in the game for obvious reasons. Alexis is a question I need to run through in my mind. The PSG game does make me unsure on the number of minutes the City side will get. All these choices are blocking my anti Aston Villa plan. Decisions as always then.
Sp how do you all see the weeks picks? Anyone fancy the Black Cats to take points from the league leaders? Will City rest bodies? Can Utd withstand the league top scorer?
Stall