Three Premier League Games Postponed, More May Come

"England is my new home."

Unfortunately, three premier league games this week, which are:

• Fulham vs Portsmouth
• Burnley vs Stoke City
• Sunderland vs Bolton

will be postponed due to heavy snow. More may come, and Liverpool had already requested for postponement on the match against Tottenham.

A big pain to fantasy gamers, really.

Pre-Match Analysis: Gameweek 21

It's gameweek 21 now. How's the preparation of your fantasy squad for this brand new year?

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Fantasy Predictor

My predicted results of matches this week.

HUL vs CHE [1-2]

ARS vs EVE [3-2]

BUR vs STO [1-1]

FUL vs POR [3-1]

SUN vs BOL [2-2]

WIG vs AST [1-3]

BIR vs MANU [0-1]

WHU vs WOL [2-1]

LIV vs TOT [2-1]

MANC vs BLA [4-0]

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Fantasy Focus

Analysis of big showdowns this week.

Birmingham vs Manchester United

Prediction: 0-1

Yet another hard time for the red devils as they will travel to Birmingham to battle against the rock solid Birmingham FC. The home side is now 11 matches unbeaten, which is their best record in club history, thanks to their defence led by the spectacular goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Something that United can relieve is that their injury crisis was over now and Ferguson is now able to deploy a complete defender line-up. But given that they were lost to Leeds United shockingly on last weekend, it might give you a big question mark whether they can claim full three points from their superbly on form opponent.

Still, I am going to back United since they are on full throttle to fight for the title, especially when January is the best chance to surpass Chelsea.

Will he be able to smile when the game with Birmingham is over?

Liverpool vs Tottenham

Prediction: 2-1

The most exciting fourth spot challenge this season continues as the defending team Liverpool are going to face Tottenham who have beaten them 2-1 at White Hart Lane. The reds have got their first league back to back wins since September and will be keen to build on the momentum they have just established, while the visitors are set to destroy Liverpool's title hopes to push them nearer to the fourth position.

A good news for Liverpool is Tottenham's ultimately threatening winger Aaron Lennon is not available for this game. This is a big relieve for their defence at left flank as Emiliano Insua was having a hard time guarding him on their first encounter this season. But his job wouldn't be much easier as he might be facing the on form ex-Pompey Niko Kranjcar.

I'll back the all time big team Liverpool as finally with those awful run of form, Mr Luck seems to be finally be friends again with them. It's still highly doubtful though.

"We'll stop Torres!" I don't think so...

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Fantasy Line-Ups

My recommendations to strengthen up your fantasy team.

GW21's One-Gamer

The highly expected top achiever of the gameweek.

Carlos Tevez (£8.9m)

I can see that he'll score at least one goal, and might end up with three.

GW21's Five-Gamer

The highly expected top achiever in the next five games.

Fernando Torres (£11.5m)

Good coming fixtures to build up the team's momentum.

GW21's Best Line-Up

My preferred squad of the week.

Given

Richards --- Rafael --- Ivanovic

Duff --- Arshavin --- Lampard --- Petrov

Tevez(C) --- Torres --- Klasnic

---Subs (in order): Kuszczak, N'Zogbia, Traore, R Johnson---

Captain: Tevez

Second Captain Choice: Lampard

Team Value: £102.1m

Starting XI Value: £83.5m

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Fantasy Times

The latest premier league news to enrich your day.

Weather Storm

This winter in UK is very severe based on past history and quite a number of games were forced to be delayed. Among all, the game of Arsenal vs Bolton pretty much frustrated a lot of us as most of us loaded a lot of Arsenal's players for this particular double games this gameweek.

So if any of the games this week get cancelled, don't be surprised.

Snow is beautiful, but not its consequences.

Maxi Set to Join Liverpool

Rafa Benitez made his first move in the winter transfer season after successfully made an agreement with Athletico Madrid to sign their right winger Maxi Rodriguez with fee as low as £1.5m.

The Argentine isn't having a good time this season in Madrid and is keen to get away from the club to enhance his world cup chances. The entry of Maxi will mean that Benitez will be able to deploy a full Latin with players such as Lucas, Mascherano, Torres etc.

Meanwhile, Birmingham is said to place a £9m bid on the Dutch winger Ryan Babel.

"Yo Masch, I'm coming!"

Vieira Backs to Premier League

The former Arsenal captain is set to join the English Real Madrid Manchester City when he arrives England today for a medical check.

The French had his last national appearance in September 2007 and will hope to bolster up his World Cup hopes by returning to United Kingdom.

His experience will be a great asset for Manchester City to realise their top four ambition.

Another fairy tale like Giggs?

Bolton Raids Owen Coyle

A sad news for Burnley supporters as coaches are also transferable during the transfer season - Owen Coyle had headed to replace Megson's position at Bolton.

Frankly speaking, this might prove to be a bizarre for the clarets as they strive for survival of the top flight league. Turf Moor might collapse its status of fortress. Fantasy wise, Bolton players might get awaken with Owen Coyle, so let's observe and decide!

Fine, everyone has the right to choose, but I certainly disagree with his action.

Monthly Express: January

Transfer season reopens this month! Will it be a turning point for your fantasy performance?

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Fantasy Hotshots: Evaluations

The review of last month's fantasy hotshots.

Patrice Evra (£6.8m)

22 pts, +£0.1m

Not really a hotshot, but can still be said decent.

Fernando Torres (£11.5m)

19 pts, +£0.1m

A little bit disappointing, but it's acceptable given Liverpool's awful run of form.

Wayne Rooney (£11.8m)

44 pts, +£0.4m

Super hotshots. Superb performance, superb value rise.

Aaron Lennon (£8.3m)

30 pts, +£0.3m

Quite good in general but he ended up with an injury on his last game.

Matthew Taylor (£6.6m)

19 pts, -£0.1m

Too bad to have a fall in price.

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Team Focus

A focus on the must see teams.

Arsenal

Games: EVE (H), BOL (A), AST (A), MANU (H)

Expected points: 9

Comments: I recommend you to sell everyone except Fabregas after Bolton's game since they will have hell fixtures until the mid of February.

Birmingham

Games: MANU (H), POR (A), CHE (A), TOT (H)

Expected points: 4

Comments: I certainly don't think that the Blues can extend their unbeaten run throughout January with such powerful opponents. Keep their defenders in you fifth spot or sell them if you want.

Chelsea

Games: HUL (A), SUN (H), BIR (H), BUR (A)

Expected points: 10

Comments: They must be lucky not to face any tough matches during this month where many of their key men go to Africa. Lampard, Ivanovic and Sturridge should be great prospects.

Liverpool

Games: TOT (H), STO (A), WOL (A), BOL (H)

Expected points: 9

Comments: A good time to get in our fantasy favourite Fernando Torres. Liverpool seemed to have bounce back from the bottom of their form and luck.

Manchester City

Games: BLA (H), EVE (A), STO (A), POR (H)

Expected points: 12

Comments: What a great fixtures for them. Continue to place your bets on Carlos Tevez! Have an eye on Petrov as well.

Manchester United

Games: BIR (A), BUR (H), HUL (H), ARS (A)

Expected points: 7

Comments: A tough month for them. See how Rafael is doing, he might be a great bargain.

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Fantasy Hotshots

The list of must haves to earn both points and values. Unsorted.

Carlos Tevez (£8.8m)

He will continue to bang and bang with out of form opponents ahead.

Fernando Torres (£11.5m)

Liverpool will need his great class to revive their top 4 ambition.

Frank Lampard (£12.9m)

He'll reclaim his ace status with Drogba absent this month.

Martin Petrov (£6.5m)

Cheap and reliable under Mancini's era.

Branislav Ivanovic (£5.9m)

His header is always a big threat.

Post-Match Analysis: Gameweek 20

Happy new year everyone! Hope you guys are ready for the new challenges coming up this year. Well, it's a pretty unusual new year with Ramsey and Nasri on top of the board this week, shabby Liverpool won Villa and much more!

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Fantasy Scoresheet

Results of my score prediction.

Final Score [Prediction]

*Correct outcomes are bolded.

TOT 2-0 WHU [2-1]

BLA 2-2 SUN [1-0]

CHE 2-1 FUL [2-1]

EVE 2-0 BUR [2-2]

STO 0-1 BIR [0-0]

WOL 0-3 MANC [1-2]

AST 0-1 LIV [2-1]

BOL 2-2 HUL [3-1]

POR 1-4 ARS [1-3]

MANU 5-0 WIG [5-0]

STO 3-2 FUL [1-2]

ARS vs BOL [Postponed]

2 Perfect Result(s)

0 Correct Goal Difference(s)

3 Other Correct Outcome(s)

6 Incorrect Outcome(s)

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Fantasy Commentary

My view towards matches this week.

Chelsea 2-1 Fulham

Yet another worrying match for the blues and they struggled so much to win their derby rivals Fulham - and that have to thanks to an own goal by premier league debutant Chris Smalling.

The match at Stamford Bridge begun with much pressure for the host, and the away team scored as early as at 4th minute with Zoltan Gera directed in an assist by the on form Bobby Zamora. Chelsea's offences were effectively neutralized by Fulham's defence in the absence of last year fantasy jewel - Brede Hangeland. Smalling was indeed fitting Hangeland's boots nicely. Meanwhile, Dempsey and co continuously provided cold-sweating threat with their ferocious counter.

But once again Drogba shown to us why he can overcome the 1m price difference with Torres to become the most expensive striker in the fantasy premier league (Rooney is the highest now anyway). He saved the team by putting in a goal and minutes later, Branislav Ivanovic provided a pass which somehow led to Smalling's own goal.

The 2-1 scoreline maintained to the end and Chelsea bagged 3 points scarily to remain on top of the league. But can they still protect the league leading position when Drogba comes back from African Cup of Nations?

A good prospect.

Manchester United 5-0 Wigan

Another five star performance from the lads of Ferguson as United repeated their traumatic five goal win over Wigan again in the very same season.

Rooney opened the show in 28th minute after a good cross from Rafael Da Silva. Valencia made an assist with such a good vision to help Carrick to double the lead minutes later. Then Rafael made himself a goal before Berbatov and Valencia completed episode three of Wigan's pathetic loss of the season.

It was a very great result for Ferguson's squad. Not only that the five goals were scored by five different people but Valencia and Rafael are both very threatening on the right flank. But, how many of you do own Rafael the 16 pointer?

A great prospect.

The Rest

Luka Modric made a wonderful return as he tapped the first goal of their two goal victory against West Ham, while Blackburn were held drawn by Sunderland in a four goal thriller.

Everton win 2-0 against Burnley thanks to Jordan's red card; Joe Hart yet again helped Birmingham to lift another three points and to extend their longest unbeaten run in history with a 1-0 win against Stoke City.

Tevez scored two as Mancini led Manchester City to get back-to-back victories since August with nil goals conceded, whereas Aston Villa now are suffering in back-to-back defeats after Torres struck in a stoppage time winner.

Stephen Hunt made a heroic display to help Phil Brown's side to come back from a two goal deficit and share a point with Bolton, which indirectly caused Megson to be sacked.

Arsenal yet again displayed their power to attack with a 4-1 win against Portsmouth with Fabregas absent, while the fixtures in midweek saw Stoke nearly handed their three goal lead on the first half against Fulham with Zamora having a serious injury.

Arsenal's second game of the gameweek was delayed due to heavy snow.

Buh-bye~

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Fantasy Report Card

Results of my fantasy line-ups.

GW20's One-Gamer

The highly expected top achiever of the gameweek.

Andrey Arshavin (2pts)

Very disappointing.

Five-Gamers

Didier Drogba (GW16-20)

Final Score: 24pts

Points per Game: 6pts

Quite good since he had absent for one game during this period.

Carlos Tevez (GW17-21) [29 pts - provisional]

Incredible form.

Ivan Klasnic (GW18-22) [8 pts - provisional]

Not bad.

Andrey Arshavin (GW19-23) [5 pts - provisional]

He fails.

Bobby Zamora (GW20-24) [6 pts - provisional]

One assist against Chelsea. Unfortunately dislocated his shoulder on the second match.

GW20's Best Line-Up

My preferred squad of the week.

Sorensen(2)

Vermaelen(2) --- Shawcross(2) --- Evra(6)

Barry(3) --- Duff(9) --- Arshavin(C)(4) --- Milner(2)

Rooney(11) --- Zamora(6) --- Tevez(12)

---Subs (in order): Kuszczak(6), Eagles(3), Dunne(1), Givet(1)---

Captain: Arshavin

Total Score: 59

Best Possible Score: 74

Team Value: £101.7m

Starting XI Value: £81.6m

Verdict: Too bad to trust Arshavin.

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Fantasy Times

The latest premier league news to enrich your day.

FA Cup Action: Beckford and Leeds Destroyed United

It was a stunning weekend for United as they lost to Leeds United who are two divisions lower than them!

Being Manchester United's third biggest rivals, the roses derby was never easy for the red devils. Beckford, their season's top scorer so far, opened the account in as early as 19 minutes with a beautiful low shot across Kusczcak to knocked out Manchester United from the competition in first round for the first time under Sir Alex Ferguson.

This result easily left Ferguson with humiliation in his late stages of career. A very frustrating result for them. And their streak continues again: everyone they lost, they couldn't score a goal!

My favourite player of Leeds when playing FIFA10's manager mode.

Winter Transfers

The January transfer window reopens but just as the weather, it's cold. Really cold. Other than Landon Donovan who came to Everton on loan for three months, no other new entries to premier league has yet to be confirmed. I certainly hope that there will be a reshuffle of league positions with the transfers made during this month.

Links with Liverpool.

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Fantasy Awards

Some rewards and punishments to players who performed and did not perform this week.

Fantasy Top-Gun Award

Antonio Valencia (17 pts)

Played an important role to raid his former employer.

Fantasy Super Sub Award

Clinton Dempsey

Although it's an accidental substitution, this lad almost changed the game.