So that big cup draw has been made, your team has got the tie that they were praying for. A home tie as well. “All you can ask for is a home tie” apparently. It is going to be the game of the season, make no mistake. You simply have to get your tickets for this game. No, you don’t understand – you have to be there.

One snag. Your team’s ground holds 40,000 fans, 25,000 of these are season ticket holders. 7,000 are away fans. This leaves 8,000 seats for Mr. Nobodys like yourself. And about 30,000 people are thinking exactly the same as you.

There are solutions of course, there are loudmouth touts lurking outside the ground, but you are looking at paying through the nose (not even the nose in fact, the eyes) for even the shabbiest seat, with a fair chance that your “Golden Ticket” is in fact Golden Syrup carved into a Ryvita.

Thank the lord then for the internet. Here is your guide to boxing clever in the football tickets market.

Online Ticket Brokers

So to begin with, what exactly are we talking about when we say buying football tickets online? Who is selling these tickets? Well, a ticket broker is a business that sells tickets at market price. Market price is determined by the demand for a football ticket and the price associated with obtaining them. Market price fluctuates, but is often higher than the face value printed on the ticket. There are thousands of businesses that sell football tickets but only a few hundred are ticket brokers, and only a handful of those have experience in the ticket industry.

Ticket brokers like TicketBis sell tickets to events, and specialize in providing premium tickets or tickets for sold out events. Ticket brokers are a service business that save clients time and make buying tickets convenient.

So, what makes the internet any safer for buying football tickets than a shady corner on a shady street round the back of Anfield? After all, at least you can run away from a tout, and the only loss you will make will be a cash one, once a website has your card details it could rinse your account there and then.

But if you are smart, and a bit flush to be honest, there are ways in which you can get hold of priceless football tickets for just about any football match on the planet, and without ensuring that your wife goes without birthday presents for a year or two.

If you decide you fancy delving into this market, there are a number of shipping options which you can select, although obviously some of these are unavailable depending on the location, and the date of the game.

For foreign games, there is either a DHL service which will set you back between £30 & £70 depending on your location, or a hotel/domestic delivery service within Spain, Germany, Portugal, Holland or Italy which costs between £8 & £10.

For UK matches there is a special delivery service which can cost up to £15, or a UPS international delivery that will leave a £40 dent in your pocket, so remember to add that onto your ticket cost before you consider buying. Alternatively, you can in some cases arrange for a collection, free of charge. It just depends whether you fancy marching into the unknown to pick up tickets.

Looking to buy or sell football tickets? Get started with TicketBis.

Selling Football Tickets

In recent years the practice of individuals using football ticket sites to sell their own tickets has grown considerably, and most reliable ticket brokers will now allow you to sell football tickets online as well.

Selling tickets online through a tickets broker like TicketBis usually requires no upfront fees, although if you make a profit then you will need to pay a commission to the broker.

The best part about selling tickets online is that you don’t need to hand your tickets over to a stranger and hope for the best – you only send the tickets to the ticket broker once the sale has been confirmed and you’ve been paid.

It’s a nice way to be able to recover your costs on tickets for events that you can’t attend or, as is the case with many football fans, to make some money back on your season ticket if you’re going to miss a game or two.

Verifying Ticket Brokers

There is always a flip side of course. You do not have to look far on the web to find someone with a horror story to tell about online football tickets not arriving, fake football tickets, double charges and the like. For example, in 2006 two Arsenal fans who paid £1,100 for four tickets for their Champions League final clash with Barcelona in Paris were left heartbroken when said tickets failed to arrive. The online ticket company- The Online Ticket Shop- was named and shamed in the Daily Mirror, and soon after was forced into administration with debts of over £1.1m.

Other risks with buying football tickets online center around one of the fastest growing crimes in the world, identity/impersonation fraud. You are always taking a risk when inputting debit/credit card details onto a website, as in every corner of retail/commerce, there are as many unsavoury characters as there are decent sellers. Here are a few tips in finding a reliable ticket broker, and avoiding online scams:

• Check for hidden fees, some brokers hide their service charge until you have already provided your personal information.
• Know who you are buying from, make sure they have an About Us page and easily accessible contact information.
• Make sure they have a stated return policy.
• Verify whether they offer a money back guarantee.
• Make sure they offer safe, secure ordering on the web. Look for “https” in the URL of the order form, and the secure “lock” symbol somewhere on the browser.
• Ensure they offer a reliable shipping method.
• Look for membership in the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• Verify they have a stated Privacy Policy.
• Buy from a ticket broker who has been in business for 5 or more years in order to benefit from the experience they have over new brokers
• If the deal seems too good to be true then it probably is, so walk away.
• Be extremely careful when buying tickets on the street from a scalper.
• Do not buy tickets that require you to wire money to a foreign country.
• Be extremely careful buying tickets on free classified sites or auction sites.
• Avoid buying from a ticket broker who is not reliable.
• Buy tickets from a legitimate source, a reputable ticket broker (see above).
• Check the event, date and time to ensure it is correct.
• Know the location of the seats you are buying.
• Understand when the tickets will be delivered to you.
• Pay with a credit card

Recommended Football Tickets Site

Well, typing in “football tickets” will bring you back over 5m matches. These range from the professional to the downright substandard. Whatever your preference, it shouldn’t be hard to find a site that can (at least claim to) match your requirements. We recommend TicketBis – and with good reason:

5 Reasons to buy / sell tickets with TicketBis:

1. A well run, professional looking site that are able to obtain tickets for just about any game in Europe, including many Premier League games. Manchester City playing in the Champions League? No problem. Milan derby? Why not! Barça v Numancia? Easy.

2. You can also get tickets for other sports and events, making it an excellent source for planning a memorable vacation.

3. Accepts all major credit/debit cards, with a 100% guarantee for all transactions.

4. Allows you to both buy and sell tickets (football as well as other events).

5. A range of reliable shipping / delivery methods as well as a hellishly easy to use website.

Buying or Selling?

Selling football tickets online has become a bit of a no-brainer. Sure, you can ask bloggers to retweet you when you’ve got a couple of spare tickets, but it’s a last-ditch, desperate strategy. If you know ahead of time that you’re going to miss a game, a football tickets website is your best bet for selling your tickets / covering your costs / making a profit.

However when it comes to buying, most fans are still hesitant, citing the ticket prices as an obstacle. However you wouldn’t be looking to buy a football ticket online if you already had a friend with a spare ticket or two, would you?

All in all I would say that the thriving online football ticket market has its merits, the better sites should lead you to tickets for just about any match you need, and as seen above there is plenty of scope for organising a barn-storming trip abroad to see a European/South American game.

Yes your success in buying tickets will undoubtedly depend on your budget and the vendor you choose, but there are so many sites around which have pretty good advice on how to avoid getting ripped off (and the points above will help no end) that you really can’t go far wrong, providing you don’t get too desperate.

And let’s face it, anything beats handing over a wad of dirty twenty pound notes to a grubby little man outside Wembley doesn’t it?

Looking to buy or sell football tickets? Get started with TicketBis.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Dirk Kuyt’s proposed move to Inter Milan took a new twist this weekend after the Dutchman revealed that the European Champions had submitted a formal offer to Liverpool.

The 30-year-old, speaking to Dutch media, revealed that he was informed of the Italian giants’ faxed offer during the Reds’ Europa League game with Trabzonspor at Anfield on Thursday.
Kuyt sat out the 1-0 victory, with reports suggesting that Liverpool had been reluctant to scupper any potential move by cup-tieing the player.

“On Thursday night, during the Europa League game against Trabzonspor, the board of Liverpool informed me officially that they have received a fax from Inter”said Kuyt.
“You can call this a luxury situation for me now.”

Despite this news, there has been no suggestion from the player that he is eager to end his stay on Merseyside. Kuyt was keen to stress during the summer’s World Cup – in which he helped the Netherlands to the final – that he saw his future at Anfield.

“Of course I want to stay,” he said. “Liverpool is a great club with a great history.

“Unfortunately in my four years I haven’t won anything but hopefully in the future I will still have that chance.

“We will have to see what happens but hopefully the manager wants me to stay.”

Reds boss Roy Hodgson was quick to deny that Kuyt, along with fellow target Javier Mascherano, were bound for Italy, claiming on Friday that Inter president Massimo Moratti had informed him that no bids would be made for any Liverpool players.

“I spoke to Massimo Moratti on Wednesday about the fact that they are not going to buy any Liverpool players, and (Dirk) Kuyt comes into that category,” said Hodgson.

“I believe Inter were only interested in two of our players and they are not going to buy them. Moratti said they are not going to do that. Kuyt is not for sale.”

Nonetheless, Soccerlens understands that Inter submitted a cash-plus-player offer, with Nerazzurri boss Rafa Benitez eager to be reunited with the man he brought to Anfield from Feyenoord for £10million back in 2006.

Inter’s initial offer is thought to consist of £7.5m plus Nigerian forward Victor Obinna –valued by the Italians at around £7m. Liverpool have rejected this offer, but are said to be willing to engage in further talks.

Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari and Brazilian winger Mancini have also been touted as potential makeweights in any deal, though it is thought that Hodgson and Liverpool would prefer a cash-only deal.

With only nine days left until the closing of the transfer window, Hodgson is still eager to bring in at least one new face – probably a centre-forward – and remains hopeful of hanging on to want-away midfielder Mascherano.

Liverpool have been linked with a host of strikers, with FC Twente star Bryan Ruiz the latest name to be touted, but Hodgson is well aware of the qualities, professionalism and versatility which Kuyt, who has scored 51 times in 201 appearances for the Reds, possesses, as well as the rapport he shares with the Liverpool support.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Krisztian Nemeth is set to join Olympiakos next week, after the Greek giants agreed a €1.5m fee with Liverpool for the young striker’s services.

The 21-year-old has agreed terms on a three-year deal, and is expected to finalise the move on Monday, following the completion of a medical. The Greek club announced on their official website that an agreement had been reached.

Nemeth spent last season on loan with AEK Athens, and had been courted by Olympiakos’ fierce rivals Panathinaikos, as well as numerous others across Europe, but the player’s agent, Tibor Pataky, has revealed that the Hungarian will be moving to Piraeus.

“It seems Krisztian will sign at Olympiakos on Monday”said Pataky, “But it is not complete yet, though every paper is, I think.

“It is a very big story in Greece because he was at AEK last year, and now the two big rival Panathinaikos and Olympiakos are in a competition for him. And still there are teams from Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal interested.”

Nemeth joined Liverpool from MTK Hungaria in the summer of 2007, and impressed for the Reds’ reserve team in his first season. His goals helped them to the Premier League Reserves title in 2008, and earned him the Player of the Season award.

However, despite shining for Hungary at youth and U20 level, the Gyor-born forward found it tough to break into former manager Rafael Benitez’s plans. A loan move to Blackpool was scuppered when he sustained a fractured cheek bone in his first game for the Seasiders, and Nemeth eventually ended up heading for Athens with AEK last season.

He scored 3 times in 18 appearances for the Greeks last term, and in May was rewarded with a first call-up to the senior Hungarian squad, for a friendly with Germany in Budapest.
But with Benitez gone, and Roy Hodgson looking to reshape his squad, Liverpool have taken the option to cash in on their young asset.

Nemeth was not included in any of the Reds’ pre-season fixtures, with the likes of Lauri Dalla Valle, David Amoo and Nathan Eccleston drafted in from the youth and reserve teams ahead of him and, with the player setting his sights on a place in the Hungary squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers, a move to Olympiakos – where he will link up with former Anfield team-mate Albert Riera – looks to be in the best interests of all parties.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Roy Hodgson’s reshaping of his new Liverpool squad is gathering pace, with news that midfielder Alberto Aquilani is on the verge of completing a season-long loan switch to Juventus. And reports in Italy and Holland also claim that Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt could be poised to follow the Italian out of Anfield, with European Champions Inter Milan interested.

Hodgson confirmed, after Liverpool’s 1-0 Europa League play-off win over Trabzonspor last night, that Aquilani was on the verge of completing a loan move back to Serie A, and it has emerged today that Juventus are on the brink of sealing his signature.

Hodgson said:

“At the moment we are considering possibly loaning him to an Italian club, but nothing is sure about that yet so I don’t have anything to report.”

“I didn’t want to use him [against Trabzonspor] just in case the loan goes through because for Aquilani this year it’s very important that he plays regular football, every week as the number one man on the team sheet.”

“I can’t promise him that here so if a loan move to Italy could help him in that respect it might be good for all parties.”

The 26-year-old has struggled to establish himself following a £17.1million move from Roma last summer. An ankle injury hampered the beginning of his Anfield career, whilst a number of knocks and illnesses further restricted his appearances in the second half of last season.

Despite featuring only sporadically, Aquilani did show flashes of quality throughout his 23 appearances last season, scoring two goals and creating a further six. Hodgson had claimed in pre-season that the Italian was back to 100% fitness, but believes some time away to rediscover his confidence and form may be in the best interests of all parties.

“It would certainly be what he needs. It would certainly protect the value of the player and when he does return to Liverpool no doubt we will see the Aquilani that we signed before he came here injured last year.”

The deal with Juventus, who were linked with the player earlier in the year, is believed to be a one-year loan deal, with an option to make the move permanent at any time during that period. The Italian giants will pay up to 50% of the player’s £65,000 per-week salary.

And additional reports coming out of both Italy and Holland today suggest that 30-year-old Kuyt could also be set for a move to Serie A, with Inter Milan, managed by former Reds boss Rafa Benitez, leading the chase for the Dutch international.

Kuyt’s agent, Rob Jansen, has opened the door for a potential move to the San Siro, telling the Press Association:

“Yes, there is real interest from Inter, but Dirk has not yet decided if he wants to leave Liverpool.”

He added:

“This is also a complicated transfer. Dirk Kuyt is a key player for Liverpool; he has an ongoing contract and was recently in the World Cup final. Of course he has a strong relationship with Rafa Benitez.”

“He may move to Inter or just stay at Liverpool. There is also the possibility that a player from Inter could be included in the deal with Dirk Kuyt.”

Kuyt was left out of the Reds’ side last night, with rumours surfacing that Inter had asked Liverpool not to cup-tie their potential new signing. Reports today stated that the Italians are readying a bid for the former Feyenoord man. Inter’s board are expected to meet in Milan today to discuss the deal, having shelved plans to sign winger Giuseppe Sculli from Genoa this week.

The deal for Kuyt is said to be in the region of €16m (£13.1m), though it is believed that Inter are hoping to use either midfielder Sulley Muntari or winger Mancini as a makeweight in any transfer.

Liverpool, naturally, would prefer a cash-only deal, and are also bracing themselves for a bid from the same club for midfielder Javier Mascherano, who has told Hodgson he would prefer a move away from Merseyside this summer.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

“Sign up now for the biggest multiplayer, PvP football game ever. Go head-to-head with players and teams from around the world, competing in friendly matches, leagues and cash prize tournaments.

Take your player from Sunday League unknown to International Superstar by training hard, winning games and being interviewed by journalists to advance your celebrity status.”

So screams the blurb of Football Superstars, the latest online Fantasy Football game set to take the world by storm. It is quite a boast, and one which offers a rather unique appeal to online gamers. After all, isn’t football superstardom all kids dream about these days?

Well, if it is, then this is the game for you. As an idea, Football Superstars (henceforth to be known affectionately as FS) may have a slightly adolescent feel to it, but as a game it plays like David Villa. On a good day.

Ok, first, the bad news. FS takes a while to get into. Literally. The software needed to run the game, whilst free and relatively easy to download, takes a while to arrive. Obviously this issue is dependent on your PC speed, but for me it took around 35 minutes to download. Not a problem if you have the time, but still something of a pain in the “need it now” modern age.

Additionally, although the game is ostensibly free to play, there is ‘premium’ content which can be accessed only through paying a monthly subscription fee. Again, this is fine if you intend to get stuck into your career as a superstar, but a bit less appealing to the casual gamer, bred on a diet of FIFA and PES.

Nonetheless, once the game is downloaded and installed – and I would also recommend a thorough browse through the ‘Game Guide’ section on the game’s homepage (see below) – it is immensely rewarding.

The game’s intriguing feature – its ‘hook’, if you like – is that it comes closer than most to merging fantasy with reality. Of course the basis of FS is that it is a fictional game, but the options available to players mean it is possible to immerse oneself in the idea of being a genuine footballer, a genuine star. The fact that you play your own matches, using your PC/laptop’s keyboard as controls – which, in truth, are way too complex to go too deeply into here – adds to the experience, and means that you cannot afford to go at the game half-heartedly. Just like in real-life, I guess.

Basically, after setting up a player profile, and then downloading a further load of information, players enter into an FS ‘world’ – Pele for experts, Cruyff for beginners (though perhaps Babel would have been more appropriate). In this world, your aim is to develop your footballer from eager beaver beginner to seasoned superstar. Simple? Well, not quite.

Setting Up a Profile

Much like the career of a modern footballer, with off-field issues now as prevalent as anything else in the game, there is incredible complexity to the game. And at times in FS, this complexity can border on being plain baffling.

You start off at the ‘Puma Academy’, where you will (hopefully) learn the basics of FS. There are many types of games in which you can involve yourself – ranging from simple training exercises (designed to help players master the game’s controls and nuances), to full-blown PMC (Player Managed Clubs) matches. Confused? I was.

These games are played out in glorious – if slightly clunky – 3D (see below), and you control your own individual ‘superstar’ amid a team of other players. Experience, and money, is gained through performing well, scoring goals, making tackles, and winning matches. This is then used to help upgrade skills (which can be done in the FS Gym as well as on the training field), purchase equipment (boots for example) and boost fame.

It is painstaking stuff, though the fact that the game is fully interactive – there are chat/messaging features which help players converse with their peers across the network, and give the game a less insular feel than, say, Championship Manager. And, with the off-field activities, the game opens up a whole new world.

Fancied attending awards ceremonies? Living it large in the bars of LA and Monte Carlo? Dating a model? You can (kind of) do all that here. Fame is the new sibling of football success, and FS is prepared to use it to good effect here. Boot deals are negotiated, FS ‘Bonds’ (which can then be transferred into FS ‘Dollars’) can be used for off-field ventures, so users can follow in the footsteps of Steven Gerrard and launch a restaurant, or have their own range of aftershave like David Beckham. Glitz, and indeed, glamour.

Of course this does not really have much to do with football, when all is said and done. And for those angry at the modern game’s desire to move as far away from the working-class roots from which it sprung, the morals of FS can stick in the craw. Yes it encourages hard work, but for material rewards only. Glory is not something that feels real in this game.

Which is a terrible shame, as the game has gone to great lengths. It is undoubtedly layered in a way that it would be almost impossible to see the full benefits from just a couple of days’ (or even weeks’) play. The game engine itself, whilst hardly FIFA or PES, is passable, and the system is well presented, and pretty easy to navigate. The FS site also provides in-depth coverage in other areas; their forum is extensive and well-managed, and there are enough statistics there to sink a battleship.

The trouble with the game is two-fold; firstly, the time it takes to play, and the level of knowledge required to do so. This will undoubtedly deter those who like their Fantasy Football fixes short and sweet. Secondly, the idealisms for which it stands. Become a ‘superstar’ it tells you, live life fast and get your face on the telly. The problem is, a lot of football supporters are sick of seeing footballers’ faces on their screens, on billboards, on front pages.

The age of the ‘Superstar’ may be upon us, but not everyone is ready to embrace it. Not yet, anyway.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Sign up to play 11Kicks.com fantasy football.

It had to happen eventually. The conversion of football from a joyful sporting pursuit into a sprawling global business had to have side effects. They are visible everywhere; from shirt sponsorships to endorsements, from stadium names to media coverage.

And now, it seems, the world of fantasy football has decided it is time to get with the times.

11kicks.com is a new game boldly venturing into a field usually dominated by the all-conquering, stupendously simplistic Premier League.com Fantasy Football. Its premise is simple; pick yourself eleven players – you will notice a theme emerging around the number ‘11’ soon I’m sure – enter into an eleven-team public league (or alternatively create a private one yourself), and see how many points you can pick up. Hopefully it will be more than 11.

There are Premier League, Champions League and La Liga games available, you are not allowed more than 2 players from any one club and there are no imaginary values for players. Simple.

But here’s the twist. And, unsurprisingly, it revolves around money.

Profiting from your fantasy management skills

For whilst there is the satisfying prospect of playing for pride in one of 11Kicks’ ‘practise’ leagues, the real appeal of the game is that it gives users a chance to win genuine cash. And nothing makes football more appealing than cash now, does it?

By credit card, PayPal or Neteller, users can add funds to their 11kicks account, which can then be used to enter into as many competitive leagues as can be afforded (there is no limit imposed by the game). With ‘Silver’ league entry costing £9.99 per entry – and both Gold (£20) and Platinum (£40) to be added shortly – it is up to the user how confident they feel about their fantasy management skills, and how much money they are willing to risk.

Leagues can contain anywhere between 2 and 11 (see the theme yet?) teams, with the overall ‘pot’ shared out between the top scoring sides as shown below.

So if mathematics have never been your strong suit, let me explain. If 11 teams compete in a ‘Silver’ league at £9.99 each, making a total ‘pot’ of £109.89, then the prize money would be shared thus;

• The winning team would receive 63% of £109.89 = £69.23
• The second placed team would receive 25% = £27.48
• The third placed team would receive 12% = £13.18
• The rest of the league would be down £9.99 each, and heading into the fantasy boardroom for ‘showdown talks’.

Complicated? A little. But then so is football. And whilst £69.23 may seem a strangely-uneven figure to win, it is better than nothing, no?

11Kicks basics

Financial intricacies aside, the game is actually pretty simple to set up. The usual basics apply; you name your team, you pick your team from the vast database of Premier League, Champions League and La Liga players, and you select a formation (4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2 or 4-5-1 – none of this messing about with holding midfielders and withdrawn central strikers, thankfully). Once you decide, away you go.

Of course a drawback in having no fantasy ‘budget’ on which to assemble your team is that the likelihood of teams consisting of largely the same players is increased. Maybe it is just me, but one of the most satisfying elements of other fantasy football games is the less-heralded, bargain-basement players who are in your side simply to make up the numbers, but who miraculously come good with a hot-streak.

This season alone, I have been left dumbfounded by the performances of Liam Ridgewell, Stephen Carr and the frankly terrific Bobby Zamora. That is what fantasy football should be about, not sticking Fabregas, Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney in the same side and watching the points roll in. Anyone could do that.

Still, this is a game in its infancy, with plenty of time to grow and adapt. It has plenty of other redeeming features, aside from the obvious financial rewards. Its points system is pretty fair with a couple of subtle differences from the usually-preferred model. For example, goals scored via a penalty receive less points (for defenders and midfielders at least) than those scored in open play.

Additionally, a sending-off consisting of two niggly yellow-card fouls receives a lesser punishment than one arriving courtesy of a headbutt or a two-footed, straight-red, lunge. The full points system is below:

There are other features which impress. The idea of a ‘live chat’ is one that few other games have experimented with, but with 11kicks users are given the chance to “converse with, and trash talk” fellow competitors. And with 2222 (you’d expect it to be 1111, wouldn’t you?) teams already signed up to the game, the system is clearly taking off.

The usual array of statistics are on show, whilst there is a handy ‘blog’ section, which offers a neat little round-up of the previous week’s action, a preview for the coming round of fixtures, as well as general, opinionated football pieces.

iPhone Application

Given how much we love our iPhones, it’s criminal that no one has done a decent fantasy football management app already available. 11Kicks does an outstanding job of it (the app is still in beta but should be publicly available for the World Cup) and gives you all the functionality that you get on 11Kicks.com, allowing you to:

• Quickly and easily pick your fantasy team and make last minute changes
• Trash-talk with friends and fellow competitors
• Keep up-to-date with the events and scores
• Follow your fantasy team’s points and scoring in real-time

You can catch the screenshots and more details here.

Final Verdict

All in all it is a game with plenty of potential. The megalomaniacs will doubtless be excited by the prospect of lining their pockets with strange cash figures, whilst the idea of user interaction is one that should be explored further – in the style of Xbox live and the likes. There are of course issues which could do with ironing out, such as the overall presentation of the game, but for a new game of less than 3000 players (compared to the Premier League version, which currently has more than 2.3million worldwide), it is finding its feet.

Expect to hear more from 11kicks.com in the next 11 weeks, 11 months and 11 years. Just a shame we can’t award it 11 out of 10.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Another week, another manager under-fire. This week it is Arsene Wenger’s turn to assume what has recently become known as “The Rafa Benitez” position in front of the media’s firing squad. Back-to-back league defeats, coupled with a League Cup exit, have led to some uneducated souls calling for the Frenchman’s head. Short memories eh?

For Fantasy Managers, the pressures are much less of course, but Arsenal’s troubles are playing havoc with many a team, especially as the goals have seemingly dried up at the Emirates since Robin Van Persie’s international injury. Chelsea are suddenly the team en vogue, their free-scoring forwards and water-tight defence making them Fantasy League must-haves. What a difference a week can make.

You can join the Football Media fantasy football league (and try your hand at beating Neil to the finish line) by signing up here.

The Men in Form

So where better to start than at Chelsea? Carlo Ancelotti’s pace-setters are looking good bets to end a four year wait for the league title. Solid at the back, where John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole look especially impressive, they also boast the league’s most potent double-act in Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka, who have more than 150 points between them.

Manchester United are hot on their heels, however. Last week’s hat-trick for Wayne Rooney secured his status as United’s main man, but the impact of the evergreen Ryan Giggs should not be underestimated either. The Welshman’s goal and two assists took him to 63 points for the season, and 100 goals for the club, which at 36 is not bad going at all.

The Men to Avoid

Clean sheets are what defenders dream about, so I’m told. In which case you probably wouldn’t want to be playing for Manchester City this season. City’s recent run of draws – seven in a row in the League – have brought just one clean sheet, with the likes of Wayne Bridge, Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott shredding their reputations at every turn. Mark Hughes will likely sort that problem out in due course, but with Chelsea in town this weekend, City defenders should be off the menu.

Bargain Hunt

Paul Scharner (Wigan, £4.5m) – Ok, he might have hair that would have made Kevin Pietersen circa 2005 cackle, but the eccentric Austrian is having a useful season at the DW Stadium. Last week saw a goal and a clean sheet, to follow his goal the previous week (the 1 in a 9-1 thrashing). Considering Scharner has played in midfield in the past, he might be worth having in your squad, especially when Wigan are at home – as they are this week.

Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea, £5.7m) – A Chelsea defender is a must at this moment in time, but with John Terry and co pushing or exceeding the £7m mark, it may be worth taking a chance on the young Serbian. Jose Bosingwa’s injury has given Ivanovic a chance to impress, and he has slotted in well at right-back. Will probably relinquish the role when Bosingwa returns, but until then should be snapped up.

Steven Pienaar (Everton, £6.2m) – One of the few positives for Everton after a derby day defeat. The South African’s knee injury has prevented him from maintaining his early season form, but with his value suitably diminished, he should be on the radar now as he returns to action. Creative, eye-catching and with a fierce shot. Won’t get many better for £6m-ish.

Premier League Fixtures

Portsmouth v Burnley
Arsenal v Stoke City
Aston Villa v Hull City
Blackburn v Liverpool
West Ham v Man Utd
Wigan v Birmingham
Wolves v Bolton
Man City v Chelsea
Fulham v Sunderland
Everton v Tottenham

Manchester City v Chelsea stands out of course. The Nouveau Riches v the Nouveau Riches. Chelsea are the form team, but City have home advantage. Manchester United have struggled in recent seasons at Upton Park, and cannot afford a repeat this weekend. Arsenal have a home game against robust Stoke in which to get back to winning ways, whilst Liverpool look to replenish their points tally at Blackburn. Everton v Spurs on Sunday is another eye-catcher.

My Team

Back to some kind of form at least. Poor captain choice – Fabregas’ late booking at the Emirates only exacerbated that – was offset against a hat-trick for Rooney, two for Drogba, and usual clean sheets for Carvalho, Thomas Sorensen and Liam Ridgewell. Kevin Prince Boateng’s omission was regretted, however, as I missed out on six points from the German-Ghanaian.
This week’s transfer is a low-key one. Aaron Hughes of Fulham replaces the injured James Collins of Aston Villa. It leaves me with £1.5m in the bank, which can be used to upgrade elsewhere.

Football Media League

Jon Reeson’s Westfield Irons assume top spot, after a swashbuckling week – inspired by captain Rooney. He replaces Pavenpal Bhullar’s Boca Juniors at the top, whilst behind them the pack is bunching up neatly. There were good weeks for Savage Cabbage (Joe Cassidy) and The Gronners (Jonas Gronners), whilst my team – Baroque Social – sit well placed in 12th spot, ready to launch into action this Christmas.

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From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Crisis. That’s what the papers are saying. A team in crisis, a manager who is losing the plot. No, I’m not talking about Liverpool here. This is about the Baroque Social! A bad week for me in the Fantasy League, but a memorable one for most. Unless, of course, you happen to be a Wigan defender.

Tottenham’s 9-1 win over the Latics equalled the second-highest ever winning margin in the Premier League, as records tumbled in the rain at White Hart Lane. The win puts Harry Redknapp’s side in pole position in the race for fourth place, with Liverpool and Manchester City sharing the spoils in the dullest four-goal thriller on record.

Elsewhere, we had Arsenal imploding without Robin Van Persie – well, they lost one game – Chelsea and Manchester United rampant in home wins, and Portsmouth’s slightly unfortunate defeat to Stoke proving a defeat too far for their mysterious board, who sacked manager Paul Hart.

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The Men in Form

One place to start I guess, at White Hart Lane it was the Jermain Defoe show as the would-be England line-leader rattled in five second half goals – equalling the record set by Andy Cole in 1995 and Alan Shearer in 1999 – to rack up a preposterous 25 points for the week.

His team-mate, Aaron Lennon, was in similarly fine form. His trio of assists, plus a goal of his own, netted him 18 points, with even David Bentley (2 assists) contributing as Wigan were swotted aside.

It was also a good week for Hull City. Four points from six, six goals scored, and plenty of points flying round for the Tigers. Stephen Hunt, Jimmy Bullard, Kamil Zayatte and Andy Dawson all featured in the Dream Team for Gameweek 13. How many times will that happen this season?

The Men to Avoid

I guess it is too easy to criticise Wigan and their defence for the debacle at the Lane. The nature of the result, and the speed at which the goals arrived, suggest it was a freak result. A one-off. But still, the likes of Chris Kirkland, Emmerson Boyce and Titus Bramble are unlikely to be high on many shopping lists this week.

Nor should Everton’s defenders. Six goals conceded in the week, and some defending that would make Bramble and Boyce chuckle, David Moyes’ men are struggling at the moment. Languishing in 14th place, with Sylvain Distin, Lucas Neill and Joseph Yobo out of sorts, the Merseyside derby this weekend offers little comfort.

Bargain Hunt

Clint Dempsey (Fulham, £6.5m) – Ok, he costs more than some, but “Deuce” is fast becoming one of the most dangerous midfielders around. His all-action style may not be technically exquisite, but boy is it effective. He sits behind only Cesc Fabregas and Frank Lampard in the midfielder charts, and his side host beleaguered Bolton this week.

Lee Bowyer (Birmingham, £4.7m) – Remember when Lee Bowyer was good? Circa 2002, he was seen by some as the future of England. A snarling, dislikeable future. It never worked out, but at Birmingham, the veteran midfielder is showing signs of recapturing the form which made him so valuable at Leeds. Not a huge points getter, but capable of chipping in with goals semi-regularly, and plays every week.

David Ngog (Liverpool, £5.2m) – People laughed at this lad. How can he be a replacement for Fernando Torres, they asked? Silly people. The young Frenchman is in fine form deputising for Torres, and is one of Liverpool’s few bright spots this autumn. He will probably be benched once Torres returns, but in the meantime….

Premier League Fixtures

Blackburn v Stoke City
Fulham v Bolton
Man City v Hull City
Portsmouth v Man Utd
West Ham v Burnley
Wigan v Sunderland
Aston Villa v Tottenham
Wolves v Birmingham
Everton v Liverpool
Arsenal v Chelsea

Another week, another big clash. Arsenal/Chelsea will dominate the SKY adverts this weekend, and should be intriguing. Everton v Liverpool is a battle of two struggling sides, whilst Avram Grant’s first game as Pompey boss should be against Manchester United (just as it was when he took over Chelsea, spookily).

There is a black country derby as Birmingham travel to Wolves, a chance for Sunderland boss Steve Bruce to avenge former chairman (and rent-a-quote) Dave Whelan at Wigan, whilst Villa face Spurs in a battle of the pretenders at Villa Park.

My Team

The less said the better! Poor week, lit up only by Stoke’s clean sheet, and a penalty save from Thomas Sorensen. Poor transfers made by me, neither Ricky Carvalho nor Robbie Keane played, cost me dearly. My side picked up just 45 points this week. Bad stuff.

This week, I have turned to Manchester. Darren Fletcher and Emmanuel Adebayor come in for Michael Ballack and Keane. It is another gamble, but gambling gets you places if you do it right. So I’ve heard.

Football Media League

Two clear leaders at the moment – Messi’s Boca Juniors and Westfield Irons – who have a 30+ point lead over the chasing pack. Captain Defoe assisted Messi and co with 50 points, whilst the defence played its part with a minimum 8 points each. Lucky lucky lucky.

Honourable mentions should go to Rod Perez and his Rodney FC, not just for a great, simple, name, but for a 110 point gameweek, which propelled him into the top 50.

You can join the Football Media fantasy football league (and try your hand at beating Neil to the finish line) by signing up here.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

So the last international break of the noughties has been and gone, we know who will be lining up in South Africa next summer, and we know that Robin Van Persie’s ligaments will soon be enjoying the sweet, sweet smell of placenta fluid as he looks to regain the momentum lost in another meaningless friendly.

But, more importantly, the Fantasy League is back. Managers up and down the country have been anxiously pacing the floors of their homes, awaiting terrible news of their charges. It was not just Carlo Ancelotti who grimaced when word of Frank Lampard’s thigh strain reached England.

Gameweek 12 was nothing too special, we had Captain JT leading Chelsea to a controversial win over Manchester United, big John Carew slaloming his way through Bolton’s defence like a graceful giraffe, and another Arsenal masterclass at Wolves. The more things change….

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The Men in Form

It is getting tiresome to say so now, but if you don’t have Cesc Fabregas in your team, you really need to remedy that. The Spaniard is in majestic form for Arsenal, picking up another 13 points in their 4-1 win at Wolves last time out. His value has already risen by £1m since the start of the season, and it would appear that this figure is only going to rise further.

Meanwhile, England’s friendly with Brazil may not have had the excitement the name suggested, but there were lessons learnt. One was that Aston Villa’s James Milner is very much in contention for a place at next summer’s World Cup. The 23 year-old is tearing up the flanks at Villa Park, his goal and two assists against Bolton gave him 11 points – a figure which would have been even greater had he not fluffed a penalty in the second half (although Steve Sidwell is the man who should be embarrassed!).

Ok, and finally, a mention for Blackburn. Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy may have only inconsistency in common, but both emerged from the Ewood Park bench last week to change the game against Portsmouth. Roberts netted twice and picked up a cool 12 points, not bad for 45 minutes’ work.

The Men to Avoid

Injuries are mounting around the Premier League, and some big names are slipping under. Among the biggest has to be Rio Ferdinand. The Manchester United defender has been ruled out for an indefinite period due to back and hamstring complaints, after a string of substandard performances. As a £6m plus defender, he should be off everyone’s radar until the spring at least.

Likewise Gael Clichy, although he should be expected back much sooner than Ferdinand. The Arsenal and France full back has sustained a stress fracture of his lower back, and is likely to miss at least a month. His Arsenal colleagues Nicklas Bendtner and Robin Van Persie are also set for lengthy absences.

At Chelsea, meanwhile, Frank Lampard, Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole are all facing at least four weeks out, with both Michael Ballack and Yuri Zhirkov also struggling. Picking a side this week is looking like a tough ask, for Ancelotti, and for you.

Bargain Hunt

Cameron Jerome (Birmingham, £4.4m) – Right, he might never hit another ball so sweetly again, but Jerome’s goal at Anfield last week was something special. The lanky frontman may lack consistency, the howitzer in the fog was his first of the season, but he is one of the cheapest strikers around, and with Garry O’Connor injured, Christian Benitez awful, and Kevin Phillips ancient, Jerome is likely to start plenty of games. A useful, money-saving, third choice striker if ever there was one.

Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa, £4.9m) – An England international for under £5m? That has to be worth a look. Warnock’s form since his August switch to Villa from Blackburn has been good enough to re-register him on Fabio Capello’s radar, and his crossing is improving Villa’s side. Both he and James Collins are available at knock-down prices, and both are useful punts.

Zavon Hines (West Ham, £4.5m) – You can tell Hines is going places at West Ham, his two late misses in their defeat to Everton were greeted not with derision, but disbelief by the Upton Park faithful. The pacy, diminutive winger-cum-striker is making a name for himself under Gianfranco Zola, and is very much a regular these days. Should not be banked upon, but certainly a worthy squad player for Fantasy gamers.

Premier League Fixtures

Liverpool v Man City
Birmingham v Fulham
Burnley v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Wolves
Hull City v West Ham
Sunderland v Arsenal
Man Utd v Everton
Bolton v Blackburn
Tottenham v Wigan
Stoke City v Portsmouth
Hull City v Everton
Fulham v Blackburn

Right, points of interest. Liverpool v Man City starts the weekend, the pretenders versus the vulnerable in the race for 4th place. Liverpool should have Steven Gerrard back fit but not Fernando Torres. Manchester United and new-dad Wayne Rooney face Everton, Wazza’s old club. Tottenham and Chelsea have winnable home games whilst Arsenal travel to Sunderland for a thorough examination minus Van Persie and co.

Furthermore, Hull, Everton, Fulham and Blackburn have two fixtures in this gameweek. Stick Jimmy Bullard, a Fulham defender or David Dunn in your side and hope for the best.

My Team

Another so-so week, lit up by Cesc and Van Persie as usual, with Milner making his move into my first choice. Let downs from Drogba and Rooney in their head to head, Drogba’s first game without a goal or assist by the way. Sorensen and Shawcross looked nailed on for a clean sheet at Hull until a second half collapse, and Gallas conceded a late goal to Wolves which drew more than a few expletives from my mouth.

This week I have been forced into 2 changes, ceding 4 points to my rivals. Van Persie’s injury is too long term to ignore, so in comes Spurs skipper Robbie Keane. The money saved allowed an upgrade in defence, so Ricardo Carvalho replaces Michael Turner. Hopefully Chelsea and Spurs will win those winnable home games.

Football Media League

Well, my sojourn at the league’s summit was a brief one. These newcomers are dangerous. Ray Wall’s Razors United remain top after a solid 63 point gameweek, but competition beyond him is fierce. Jon Reeson’s Westfield Irons, Pavenpal Bhullar’s Boca Juniors and Jon-Eggert Hallsson’s Handavinna are all lurking between the Baroque Social and a title push.

Kudos should also be given to the week’s top scorers (in the top 100 anyhow), George Bowles’ Jammy Donuts, who amassed 81 points. Jammy? Yes. Donuts? Not this week.

You can join the Football Media fantasy football league (and try your hand at beating Neil to the finish line) by signing up here.

The winners announcements have been delayed but they will be made (for the months of September, October and November) during the first week of December 2009.