This week, our fantasy football insider takes a look at the teams with it all to play for as they fight to avoid relegation – and the players that might just secure their survival.
The Barclays Premier League season is heading towards a thrilling climax but not every team still has something to play for – beyond what spot they will occupy in the mid-table. It goes without saying that the top tier teams competing for the title or spots in Europe next season will be closely watched for transfer targets but the teams fighting for premier league survival at the other end of the table can also throw up some impressive performers. This week joe.ie’s fantasy footbal insider takes a look at some of the players that might pull their side out of the relegation zone – and earn you a few points in the process.
Scott Parker (West Ham)
West Ham would have looked unlikely relegation strugglers at the start of the season given the strength of the Hammer’s squad. Like Newcastle last season, they could still find themselves being a team thought of as ‘too big to go down’ suffering a stint outside the Premier League. A shocking run of form saw a string of defeats culminating in home losses to Wolves and Stoke and although they have got some points on the board, they are still under threat. If they do stay up, then Scott Parker’s inspiring form will have played no small part in it. The 29-year-old looks to be back to his best after a series of injury-related lay-offs. Another plus is that Zola has taken note so Parker is an almost invariable starter. He’s currently in the bargain bucket for 5.3m.
Hugo Rodallega (Wigan Athletic)
If Hull get their act together then Wigan, currently sitting fifth from bottom with just one point more than West Ham, could still go down. Wigan have struggled this season although Hugo Rodallega has been a major plus. His form has been noted by Fantasy Premier managers and just under 8 per cent of you have him in your ranks. It’s not difficult to see why – despite playing in an often lackluster side, the striker has scored 10 times this campaign and could well add to that tally over the course of the run in. Although not likely to be competing with the Drogbas and Rooneys of this world, at 6.3m, he would be well worth a punt for your third striker.
Craig Fagan (Hull City)
Hull’s chances of survival may be looking slim, but they are still in with a shout of edging out some of the teams around them to secure another term in the English top flight. They have had a revolving front line up for much of the season in the search for goals and Craig Fagan has been among the faces to take to the field. However, with Altidore out and Vennegoor of Hellelink doubtful, Fagan should be a definite starter for Hull’s remaining games. Maybe not yet worth a berth as a stalwart in your front line, but at 4.8m he is another definite contender for your third striker spot.
Best of the Irish
Anto Moyles is back on top of the 200,000-strong league of Irish managers after a recent blip saw his ‘The Chris Eagles XI’ side briefly over-taken by Gerard Greaney’s ‘Mary’s Cats’ side. Anto has been a stalwart in-and-around the top of the table and last week’s strong showing has put him back into second place in the overall league of 2,312,891 managers. A sensational achievement for the Irishman. The Irish top five is as follows:
Team                                     Manager                                GW                            Overall
The Chris Eagles XI               Anto Moyles                          100                             2450
Mary’s Cats                            Gerard Greaney                     81                               2433
Sean Phobal FC                     Dan Murphy                           87                               2427
Feed the Yak                          Jonathan Hore                        74                               2393
Puuure Hawnty Beores          Conor Browne                       72                               2392
