Fantasy Football Friday: Out goes failing Fernando Torres, in comes deadly Dirk Kuyt

By Chris Davie

FANTASY LEAGUE STOCK MARKET

As ever, you’ll find a few wise choices below, but one decision in particular may upset the blue half of west London. Apologies in advance.

GOALKEEPER

Buy
Ben Foster – Birmingham City

Alex McLeish’s side have a decent run-in and despite their at the wrong end of the table this term, we hope this chap can continue his fine form and rack up the points. Snap him up for £5.3 million.

Sell
Brad Fiedel – Aston Villa

Clean sheets are not a regular thing at Villa Park these days. Probably worth getting the American out of your side and recouping £5.5m.

DEFENDER

Buy
Michael Dawson – Tottenham

He’s £5.1m and Spurs’s rock at the back. Here at Fantasy Football Towers we seem to have overlooked this for a number of weeks. If you’re in the hunt for a cheap(ish) defender, this chap will get games in Harry Redknapp’s quest to seal fourth.

Sell
Richard Dunne – Aston Villa

A bust-up with Gerard Houllier and now we can’t agree with him on his overzealous valuation. £6.5m it costs to have the Irishman in your team. Considering David Luiz is £0.1m cheaper, we know who we’d go for.

MIDFIELDER

Buy
Dirk Kuyt – Liverpool

A big-game player who always seems to pop up with an important goal has the chance to do the same at Anfield this weekend when Liverpool take on Roberto Mancini’s merry men. Fairly expensive at £9m but we consider this value, going on his recent record.

Sell
James Milner – Man City

His price – £8.1m – is a lot of dough to be parting with for a player who can’t even hold down a first-team place. If you have him, get rid.

STRIKER

Buy
Bobby Zamora – Fulham

“Hit Bobby, hit Bobby” – Fantasy Football Towers can imagine Mark Hughes’s tactical instructions when this chap’s on the pitch. We already reckon Tony Pulis is sniffing around for another gigantic striker and since he’s returned to fitness, Zamora bagged a brace last weekend and we back him to carry on this trend. Well worth £6m.

Sell
Fernando Torres – Chelsea

He just doesn’t look like scoring, does he? Not for lack of trying, mind. Just recoup that £11.4m and move on.

TREATMENT TABLE

Take a peek to see how your crocked favourites are getting on.

	AlexThe Brazilian is back in training but don’t get him in your team just yet.
	Marouane FellaniThe Belgian has been ruled out for the season. Get him out of your team now.
	Louis SahaCrutches and fears that the striker’s season is over are a sign to get him out of your team, pronto.
	Mikel ArtetaSidelined for six weeks, worth cashing in and seeking a replacement.
	Theo WalcottHe’s doubtful for the trip to the seaside against Ian Holloway’s side.
	Steven Gerrard Murmurs about the Liverpool skipper missing the rest of the season have turned out to be true.
	Glen Johnson You’ll be without the full-back for a month as he’s picked up a hamstring injury.
	Aaron Lennon The nippy winger felt queasy before lining up against Jose Mourinho’s side in midweek. We’re not sure if he’s returning this week.
	Kevin Doyle You may have this chap as a back-up striker. If you do, bad news. He’s out for at least a month.

WHO YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD…

Take a look at the best performers from the last gameweek. A little side note, Joe Hart and Paul Robinson were tied with seven points, but since the Manchester City stopper is £6.9m and the Blackburn keeper is only £4.6, we’ve gone for the latter, seeing as we like a bargain.

FIRST NAME ON THE TEAMSHEET

This is the part where we tip a player to do well this weekend and then said player goes and has a shocker. We don’t hold it against you if our advice is declined.

Javier Hernandez | Man Utd

Fulham are not brilliant on the road and we reckon the Mexican poacher could be in with a chance of adding to his tally. Even without Wayne Rooney, he’ll have the service through Nani, Antonio Valencia and Dimitar Berbatov and at £6.7m, he doesn’t cost the earth to get in your side either.