Showing posts with label Adebayor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adebayor. Show all posts

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Bantasy Football: Time for Tottenham

The last day of the season has thrown up some wild ones over the years: Man U and West Brom's 5-5 last year; Man City's epic last-gasp Agueroooooo in 2012. This year the shortest odds for a home side not challenging for the title fall to Spurs. Dare you pick players from a team that has nothing to play for? Yeah, baby - That's what fantasy football's all about. Yeah. 


Just desserts?

Your first thought will be of the slovenly loss to West Ham and how Spurs have nothing to play for - or maybe of how some players have been faking injuries to get out of playing (probably so they can focus on their fantasy teams). Some are even suggesting the real match this week will be the Ledley King Testimonial on Monday. But Tottenham have recently developed a penchant for spanking rubbish teams at home (Sunderland 5-1, Fulham 3-1) - and Aston Village are just that - as evidenced by the drubbing Man City are about to give them (score not available at time of writing due to the linearity of time).

The result may be irrelevant to their final table position or whether Sherwood gets sacked (he will be) but a show will be expected - the White Hart Lane faithful have endured an unsatisfying dog's dinner of a season and will demand something delicious and conciliatory for pudding.


More goals please

Emanuel Adebayor (7.4)

If Spurs are going to crush Villa, one man is bound to be doing a funny dance celebration and that's Adebayscore. He's drawn a blank in his last four but remains the Lilywhites' most prolific threat with 10 goals and six assists. He is owned by 4.9% but probably not the guys you're trying to catch - certainly worth a risk. 


Harry Kane (4.4)

Oh Harry. A few weeks ago I touted you and you set the world alight. Then you went and scored that silly own goal against Wham. Though sacrificed in that game to sure up the defence, he could start again - but Soldado (8.4) is now fit and Levy may be giving Sherwood a cheeky prod in the back to remind him that a striker who has scored two goals from open play in a season isn't worth much on the transfer market these days. Kane's cheap so he's a great option if you're making two transfers to bring in a superstar but Ade is your best bet if you can afford him. 


Christian Eriksen (7.2)

Some call him "midfield dynamite"; others a "free-kick maestro". I'll just get on with the business and tell you he's put up 9 points seven times since Christmas. Guaranteed a start ceteris parabis sine funnybusiness, the Dane has 44 points in his last four home matches. Turn on your metronome, say that out-loud and that's baby-making music.  


Eriksen's home form: Sexier than the sexiest song ever

Vlad Chiriches (4.5)

With Kaboul suspended and Vertonghen probably out with severe "injuredness", Vlad will start - whether he'll get a clean sheet is another matter entirely. Spurs have only managed one in nine. That poor Hugo Lloris. He tries his best. 


Kyle Naughton (4.1)

Even cheaper - and more likely to play (Walker surely won't be risked with Rio on the horizon) - is the worst full-back in the Premier League. This man is responsible for more catastrophes than Stalin, Hitler and Adam Sandler put together. If Spurs shut Villa out, though, he'll get credit. Unfair I know - but them's the rules. 

The poster's actually pretty good compared to the film


For more Bantasy Football, visit www.bantasyfootball.blogspot.co.uk or follow @BantasyFootball. 






Friday, 21 June 2013

Marwan's take on CAF Players in the PL last season


I would like to talk about Confederation of African Football (CAF) players in the Premier league last season and how they fared individually. As we know, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) had a significant impact on some of their performances and appearances in the latter half of the season.  Yaya Toure was probably affected the most by it and may have made a bigger impact for City had there been no AFCON.  As for his brother Kolo, he was a bit part player at best who barely made the bench and won’t be at City next season.

Senegalese players were not able to participate in the AFCON due to Senegal's ban. Ironically, in spite of this, Demba Ba had a superb first half of the season with Newcastle, scoring 13 league goals in 20 matches. However, he only scored 2 in 14 after transferring to Chelsea.  As for his fellow countryman Papiss Cisse, he struggled to live up to his billing and made no major impact at Tyneside.

West Ham's Mohamed Diame had a fairly good season.  So much so that he was linked to Arsenal at one stage.  He highlighted his talent via a well taken goal against leaders Manchester United. His teammate Guy Demel also had a fairly good season in defence as they both guided West Ham to mid-table safety.  As for Chamakh, on loan from Arsenal, he had a season to forget.  Of course, Chelsea's Moses and Mikel triumphed at the AFCON with Nigeria but didn't have much influence in the league with the Blues.

Sessegnon’s influence on Sunderland's survival can’t be overlooked.  He occasionally shined during Fletcher and Graham's periods of inconsistency, while fellow Egyptian teammate Ahmed El-Mohamady, enjoyed a terrific season on loan to Hull City.  He helped them secure Premier league football next season while also winning the club's player of the year award.

Ameobi had the usual “lack of goals” season that we expect of him, while Cheikh Tiote underperformed before and after AFCON. Tottenham's Assou-Ekotto and Adebayor also had a terrible season compared to their usual standards; the first struggling with injuries and squad competition, where as the latter scored 5 league goals compared to 17 the season before.  On the other side of London, Adel Taarabt had a dire season with QPR as they got relegated and Arsenal's Diaby had an injury plagued season.

Gervinho had a very stop-start season. I would be surprised if he manages to keep his place on Arsenal's bench next season.   Aside from Youssouf Mulumbu’s antics against West Ham when he picked the ball up and aimed a shot at Gary O’Neill, he had a reasonable season of sorts.  In summary, some may stay and some may leave come August.  But overall, the CAF contingent will be a force to be reckoned with.