FOOTBALL CLUB WORLD

The end is nigh - just 3 fantasy weeks to go until the end of the 2010/11 season. Week 36 is our final double game week this term and unfortunately it's one of those annoying occasions when only two teams have two games.

Those teams are Tottenham Hotspur & Manchester City. City are in form, Spurs are not, but Spurs have a nice fixture at home to Blackpool (probably the stand-out game of the weekend in terms of attacking fantasy points), whereas City have a tough trip away to Everton. The sides then meet at Eastlands where City are favourites, but a draw wouldn't be a great surprise.

The big question is - which players do we think are certain to start both fixtures? When you think about it there aren't actually that many we can be sure of getting two games. Spurs will field their strongest side in both, but City have an FA Cup final coming up, so with 4th almost in the bag they could rest some players.

I see it like this:

Spurs DG certainties: Gomes, Gallas, Dawson, Sandro, Modric, Bale, VDV
City DG certainties: Hart, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Yaya, Silva

Balotelli, Lennon, AJ, Dzeko, Defoe, De Jong, Pavlychenko, Milner, Crouch, Barry, Kaboul & Zabaleta are all likely to get one start (except maybe Defoe) and some may start both, but I'm less confident about them. Strikers are a big problem for Spurs as none of them are likely to start both, with Dzeko & Balotelli likely to get a start each & Tevez's possible return for the second game only adding to the confusion.

Kaboul could go down as a certainty at right-back if Corluka's injury is as bad as it looked (with Bale moving to left-back) and Zabaleta the same if Richards isn't ready. Both sides are struggling defensively at the moment so there isn't a lot of room for rotation, although Boyata & Bassong are available. I've ignored Jenas, Pienaar, Hudd, Vieira & Wright Phillips as I doubt they'll see much pitch time.

Now of course it's not only the DGers we have to worry about, there are 18 other teams playing once in Week 36. There aren't really any real stand-out fixtures but there are some decent ones.

Should Win
SPURS v Blackpool
BOLTON v Sunderland
ASTON VILLA v Wigan
WEST BROM @ Wolves
ARSENAL @ Stoke
LIVERPOOL @ Fulham

After Spurs I reckon Bolton & Villa are probably my favourites here against two struggling teams, followed closely by massively in-form West Brom at Wolves. Arsenal have no pressure and Stoke have one eye on the FA Cup final so I think the Gunners will shade it, while Liverpool are on fire under Dalglish so may have too much even for a vastly improved Fulham. Definitely some nice SGers about from these teams.

Close/Draws
Man Utd v Chelsea
Newcastle v Birmingham
West Ham v Blackburn
Everton v Man City
Man City v Spurs

All these games look close on paper, I can't really favour either side, so while the odd SGer looks appealing I wouldn't go crazy. I'd especially avoid spending big money in the Man Utd v Chelsea match as I expect that one to be as fiery as it gets!

We move on to the players and while I always say you should fit in as many DGers in as you can, I think there are plenty of doubts over City & Spurs players playing twice, so use the information above/below and your own initiative to make your decisions.

KEEPERS
Gomes
Hart
Friedel
Carson

DEFENDERS
Kolarov
Bale
Kompany
Gallas
Lescott
Dawson
Kaboul
Luiz
Shorey
P.Robinson
Craddock

MIDFIELDERS
Van Der Vaart
Silva
Modric
Yaya Toure
A.Johnson
Lennon
Sandro
A.Young
Brunt
Hitzlsperger
CY Lee
Nolan
Arteta

STRIKERS
Balotelli
Crouch
Dzeko
Pavlyuchenko
Suarez
Sturridge
Bent
Van Persie
Odemwingie
Keane

That's it - I'll try to do some analysis later tonight or tomorrow, but I think it's quite self explanatory this week.

My own team page currently looks like this:

Hart, Kaboul, Kolarov, Gallas, Yaya, Modric, Silva, VDV, Suarez, Dzeko, Crouch

I'm not certain on it at all & could actually see myself ending up with just 6 or 7 DGers.

Kaboul's place depends on team news so Luiz (held behind the scenes) could stay. I may downgrade Hart to Friedel/Carson and look to bring Sturridge (if fit) in for Dzeko or Crouch (although I have a hunch he may score well vs Blackpool).

I haven't counted out trying to fit Bale in somewhere. I quite like my midfield but could trade Yaya to Hitzlsperger closer to deadline. Kolarov, Gallas, Modric, Silva, VDV & Suarez will stay.

I'll leave it there for this week but I'll be back on Friday for a full Update post (no weddings!). Please let me know how your team is shaping up for Week 36. What's your opinions on the DGers?

Cheers,
AM