EPL Fantasy Preview: Match Week 27

With last weekend being full of FA Cup action and this week having both Champions and Europa League matches, we finally get back to what is most important this weekend. The EPL returns with Chelsea still on top of the table by one point over Arsenal. Fulham, once again, has a new manager. Rumor is that I am now only 3^rd in line for the top spot at Craven Cottage.

Goalkeepers

• Joe Hart (Manchester City) - The ongoing saga of whether or not Hart will be the main guy in goal for England come July continues. Luckily, he has Stoke City this week. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Tim Howard (Everton) - Sorry pal. This is not your week. (VERDICT: BENCH)
• Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion) - It must get boring when playing in goal against Fulham. Your team is always in control of the ball and, well, Fulham's strikers don't exactly instill fear in goalkeepers. (VERDICT: PLAY)

Defenders

• Patrice Evra (Manchester United) - Played well against Arsenal in what turned out to be a boring match. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa) - Despite making a tackle that broke HIS OWN TEAMMATE'S LEG last month, Clark has been playing well for the Villains. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Bacary Sagna (Arsenal) - Arsenal's defenders are going to have to make a quick recovery from Wednesday when they were forced to play in their own end most of the match against Bayern Munich. (VERDICT: BENCH)
• Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) - Is this the season Spurs get back to the Champions League? If so, they can't be the chokers that they have been in the past. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Davide Santon (Newcastle) - Playing well for a team that is doing the opposite. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Johnny Heitinga (Fulham) - I still can't say his name without disgust after his boner last week that gave Liverpool the penalty in extra time. You are NOT going to win any fans doing that. (VERDICT: BENCH)

Midfielders

• Mezut Özil (Arsenal) - He was never the same after missing that penalty on Wednesday. Even before that, he has started to check out of games. (Note: WHY would you have Mezut of all people take that penalty? You have to know that Neuer knows his moves! I blame Wenger for that miss.) (VERDICT: BENCH)
• Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal) - Not to pick on Arsenal players, but Flamini clearly got beat on the second goal of the match against Bayern and gave Kroos too much room on the first. Not exactly his best day. (VERDICT: BENCH)
• Lewis Holtby (Fulham) - Holtby has been solid since coming over to Fulham. If Fulham want to stay up, they need him to continue this success. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Michael Carrick (Manchester United) - It always amazes me to look at United's roster. You come away saying, "Wait, they are in what place?" (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Samir Nasri (Manchester City) - Nasri came out yesterday and said that he still feels City can beat Barcelona. Well, they should start by beating Stoke. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Chris Brunt (West Bromwich Albion) - A key match for both West Brom and Fulham, the captain of the Baggies will continue to show why he is the man in charge. (VERDICT: PLAY)

Forwards

• Clint Dempsey (Fulham) - HEY CLINT! WE DIDN'T BRING YOU BACK ON LOAN FOR YOU TO JUST COLLECT A PAYCHECK! (VERDICT: BENCH, AND LOOK AT FULHAM'S CURRENT FORM. JUST SHOOT ME NOW!)
  
• Rickie Lambert (Southampton) - I like Lambert a lot. That is all. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Eden Hazard (Chelsea) - Is he underrated or is he overrated? Depends on who you talk to. I tend to go with the former. (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) - I'm back on the Sturridge bandwagon, so you know what that means? (VERDICT: BENCH and...)
• Luis Suarez (Liverpool) - (VERDICT: PLAY)
• Yannick Sagbo (Hull City) - Sure, might as well make him my guarantee of the week. Why the hell not? (VERDICT: PLAY)

Once again, feel free to contact me via Twitter (@brianjstultz) or email (brianjstultz@gmail.com) with any questions or comments. Let's all hope that 3^rd time (or manager) is a charm for my Whites! Have a great weekend.