Which managers have some selection headaches for the next few weeks…
Gameweek 20 review
The FA Cup was the main attraction last weekend but very few people will easily forget the last match-day in the Premier League, as goals hit the back of the net with more regularity than our own hungover 5-a-side games over the Christmas period.
Fraser Forster (8 points) was one of the few ‘keepers that managed to keep a clean sheet in the Saints’ impressive 2-0 win over Arsenal.
Jores Okore (9 points) proved good value for money, while Man City fans were thankful for their overlapping full-back Gael Clichy (10 points), who set up two goals in the champions 3-2 win over Sunderland.
Danny Rose didn’t curb his attacking instincts also as he got on the scoresheet and set-up one in Spurs’ impressive win over Chelsea.
In midfield, Nacer Chadli (15) has been one of the most consistent players in an otherwise inconsistent Spurs team.
He absolutely tormented Mourinho’s men, finding the back of the net and setting up two, while Dusan Tadic and Ahmed Elmohamady both registered 11 points each.
Jack ‘Ginger Pirlo’ Colback (13) won’t forget his thunderbolt against Burnley while Steven Gerrard (14) gave Liverpool fans a brief reminder of what they might be missing next season with his brace against Leicester City.
Harry Kane (18 points) will be regretting his own decision to leave himself out of his Dream Team after scoring and assisting twice, while Stefan Jovetic (11 points) made a goalscoring return from injury for Man City.
J-League
1) The Honey Badgers – Sean Kelly: 1,220
2) Ag Imirt Pellé – Stephen Lawlor: 1,214
3) Dr. Neo Cortex – Joe O’Neill: 1,213
4) 50 Shades of O’Shea – Joe Hodge: 1,209
5) Club Orange – John Hurley: 1,206
Which teams might suffer during the Asian and African Cup of Nations?
19 Premier League players have been called up for international duty as the African Nations Cup and Asian Cup get underway.
12 clubs will be without their best African and Asian players, those in the Afcon tournament could be missing for up to five matches with the final taking place on 8 February.
With this in mind, we’ve decided to look at some of the big losses starting with Champions League chasing Southampton.
Ronald Koeman couldn’t have wished for a better start to his tenure at St. Mary’s as his new-look side instantly gelled and hit the ground running.
Senegalese striker Sadio Mane has been a key-man for the Saints, scoring five times in the league including three in his last three matches.
While Shane Long will be delighted to get a run in the side , especially since Emmanuel Mayuka is also missing with Zambia, there’s no substitute for a striker in form.
The absence of Maya Yoshida will also be a blow to the Dutchman in terms of his defensive options.
Yaya Toure gave a timely reminder to Man City fans of his importance with a goal against Sunderland, but he’s missing with the Ivory Coast.
New Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew would probably love to swap his headaches for Koeman’s, because the incredibly dangerous and underrated Yannick Bolasie is a vital attacking outlet for the Eagles whose pace will be sorely missed, while the talismanic Mile Jedinak is probably a bigger loss.
Papiss Cisse has hit 9 goals in all competitions while the midfield enforcers Cheick Tiote, Nabil Bentaleb, Cheikhou Kouyate and Youssouf Mulumbu are also absent for their clubs.
This weeks picks:
Top Dollar: Diego Costa (£11.2 million) – Chelsea will be fired up for this match at Stamford Bridge having been humbled last time out in the league against Spurs and they’ll be eager to avenge their recent defeat to managerless Newcastle also.
An early goal for the hosts could be the signal for the floodgates to open and we expect the Spanish striker to add to his 14 goal tally.
Mid-range: Christian Eriksen (£8.2 million) – Mile Jedinak is a huge loss for Crystal Palace and Spurs’ confidence should be sky-high after beating the champions elect.
Pardew will want to make a strong impression in front of his home crowd and Palace will definitely be harder to beat but Eriksen could find himself with more time on the ball than previously expected.
Irish pick : Shane Long (£5.5 million) The Saints striker finally has an opportunity to nail down a place as a regular run in Koeman’s first XI thanks to Mane’s involvement in the Afcon.
The former Hull and WBA striker’s only goals for his new club came against Leicester in November and he has to make an impression this month.
Captain’s Pick: Eden Hazard (£10.7 million) – No one needs to know any more about the Belgian’s undoubted qualities but he’s also a man in goalscoring form having hit two in two.
We have a feeling that Saturday will be a long day for the Magpies and Chelsea’s creator in chief may add to his 8 goals and 5 assists.
