After Goal.com announced its partnership with Totel Football, Betting Editor Jim Knight will be posting his real money fantasy football team as he looks to profit against other players on the site.
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Goalkeeper
Tim Howard (Everton)
This may seem a strange selection given Everton’s inability to keep clean sheets in recent weeks, but it’s more about the opposition than anything else.
Sunderland are in real trouble and travel to Goodison Park sitting just outside the relegation zone. The pressure must be growing on Martin O’Neill, but with Steven Fletcher’s goals drying up recently I don’t see the Black Cats posing too much of a threat to Howard’s goal.
In the hope that he is more likely to keep a clean sheet against the lowest scoring team in the division than anyone else this weekend I’ll make the American my first-choice goalkeeper.
Defence
Rafael (Manchester United)
Manchester United play Aston Villa this weekend so although their defence has looked pretty leaky of late I’ll back Aston Villa not to give Sir Alex Ferguson’s men too much trouble.
Rafael is very much in the mould of the modern full-back where attacking attributes are given as much emphasis as the defensive ones.
He’ll be looking to get forward and cross the ball in and with two goals to his name already this season he could be a vital source of points from that angle too. Especially as goals by defenders are awarded more points than those by midfielders or strikers.
Jonas Olsson (West Brom)
Olsson isn’t flashy, but he is consistent, and a huge part of a very impressive West Brom side who have started the season well under Steve Clark. The Sweden international has a pretty good disciplinary record for a defender, having not picked up a single booking this season.
In fact, you have to go back to England’s game against Sweden at Euro 2012 to find the last time he was yellow carded in a competitive match. What’s more, he has started every Premier League game this season and hopefully West Brom can build on their clean sheet when they visit Wigan and Olsson will rack up some points in the process.
Robert Huth (Stoke)
QPR visit Stoke this weekend and although Mark Hughes may feel relief at the fact he now has some “easier” games than at the start of the season, I cannot see Stoke giving much away at Britannia Stadium.
QPR will need to try and break them down and Rangers’ disorganisation at set pieces means Robert Huth could contribute to the points total from an attacking standpoint as well as a defensive one.
Leighton Baines (Everton)
This is an easy choice, a huge amount of Everton’s attacking threat comes from the left flank and Leighton Baines can provide assists and score goals – he has got two already – and as a danger from set pieces he was one of the first names on the teamsheet this weekend for Everton’s clash with Aston Villa.
Midfield
Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
I’m a big fan of Sterling and he is one of the leading lights in an otherwise quite forgettable Liverpool side.
The game against Chelsea won’t be an easy for for Brendan Rodgers to prepare for, especially with a trip to Russia on Thursday meaning the squad will not have as much chance to prepare as the hosts.
In spite of that, Sterling is one of the few players who could worry the likes of David Luiz or John Terry. His direct running make him a likely candidate to assist goals as well as score them.
Michu (Swansea)
After arriving from Rayo Vallecano in the summer, Michu could prove to be one of the best signings this season. He has already hit six goals in 10 Premier League games, plus one in the Capital One Cup and although he has not found the net in three matches he should pose a danger to a Southampton defence that allow the opposition so much time and space in midfield.
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
A lot was expected of the player, who seemingly could have been transferred to any club he desired this summer, but Eden Hazard has given Chelsea fans reason to believe his transfer fee was money well spent.
He has assisted plenty of goals for those around him at Stamford Bridge and has hit two goals himself so far in the Premier League.
He is one of Roberto Di Matteo’s dangermen, and with the possibility of the side missing Juan Mata through injury, Hazard may well be the midfield focal point for the Blues against Liverpool.
Kevin Nolan (West Ham)
Kevin Nolan was another easy inclusion in the Premier League fantasy team for this week, the 30-year-old has contributed four goals already this season and with only two bookings to his name, he looks a solid inclusion to pose plenty of attacking threat without the danger of finding himself in the referee’s notebook against former club Newcastle.
Strikers
Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
This may be a risk as Sir Alex Ferguson may chose to rotate his forwards against Aston Villa on Saturday evening.
But with no club games scheduled until the following weekend, I think he will continue with Robin van Persie up front.
The former Gunner showed Arsene Wenger exactly what he is missing and I would back him to score against Paul Lambert’s side this weekend and further extend his total of eight league goals.
Peter Crouch (Stoke)
Peter Crouch may not be the most fashionable inclusion but I genuinely think QPR could struggle to deal with the threat Crouch could pose in the air. The former Tottenham and Liverpool man has also found himself among the goals this season, notching four for the Potters.
Against a Rangers side desperate to get some points on the board but seemingly unable to keep clean sheets, including Crouch could pay dividends on the points and profits front.
Jim’s starting XI
Tim Howard; Rafael, Jonas Olsson, Robert Huth, Leighton Baines; Raheem Sterling, Michu, Eden Hazard, Kevin Nolan; Robin van Persie, Peter Crouch
Substitutes
David De Gea (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham), Youssuf Mulumbu (West Brom)
You can read more about Totel Football here
If you think you can do better than Jim this week, why not sign up for Totel Football and receive up to £100 in free bets to start your Fantasy Football betting