NFL Week 15 Picks 2025 (Thursday 11th December-Monday 15th December)

This is a thread that will be a little longer by the time the Sunday games come around- I will have a few thoughts about how the Playoff Picture looks, but Thursday Night Football has come around quickly this week and there is a selection from that game, which can be read below.

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: Once again, the NFC South looks like it will only be sending one team into the post-season and in recent times the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) have found a way to win the Division. However, a poor defeat in Week 14 has just opened the door for the Carolina Panthers who have the same record as the Buccaneers and those two teams are facing one another twice in the final three weeks of the season.

Those games are likely going to decide the fate of the Division, but the Buccaneers will be keen to find some momentum after recent setbacks. The loss to the New Orleans Saints means the Buccaneers have dropped five of the last seven games and injuries are just taking a toll on the team ahead of this Thursday Night Football game.

Divisional games against the Panthers will be key to the outcome of the NFC South, but that does not mean Tampa Bay can overlook the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) who have confirmed to be having another losing season.

Head Coach Raheem Morris may struggle to hold onto his role at the end of the season, but the Falcons will be keen to bounce back from a blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks. After upsetting the Buffalo Bills, the Atlanta Falcons have lost seven of eight games played, but they have to be motivated by trying to play spoiler for a long-time dominant Divisional rival.

The game in Week 14 was tied at 6-6 at half time, but the Falcons allowed a Kick Return for a Touchdown and then imploded with turnovers to allow the Seahawks to pull clear.

Veteran Quarter Back Kirk Cousins has struggled since coming in to replace an injured Michael Penix Jr, but he may benefit from handing the ball to Bijan Robinson to try and keep the Offensive unit in a stronger position. The Running Back may have had issues running against the Buccaneers Defensive Line in the past, but over the last few games there have been clear signs that the Tampa Bay front has worn down and that should be a positive for the Falcons.

Of course Kirk Cousins has to prove he can still make the throws needed to keep the chains moving and he is trying to do that without Drake London, who is set to miss out again.

There have been a couple of holes that have opened up in the Buccaneers Secondary as they have struggle to stop the run and this should give Atlanta a chance to at least move the chains with some consistency.

The question in this short week is whether Tampa Bay can at least produce a bit more out of their own Offensive unit, which has let them down a little during this poor run. Baker Mayfield has been playing through an injury, as have the Offensive Line, and the Buccaneers have just found it tough to keep the ball moving as they were perhaps doing earlier this season.

A part of the problem has been the injuries that have piled up around the Quarter Back and the Offensive Line, although the return of Bucky Irving has given the running game a boost.

Tampa Bay could have the likes of Mike Evans back in Week 15 too, which would be a monster addition to the passing game and give Mayfield a target who can make the big catches for him. You cannot be sure that Evans is completely ready and instead his big impact could come in the final three weeks of the regular season, although just having his presence could at least open some spaces for Baker Mayfield's other Receivers.

In recent games the Falcons have at least played the run a little better and that could be key in forcing Baker Mayfield to show his shoulder is not giving him issues after back to back poor passing games. The Falcons Secondary could still make a few stops if the team continue to build the pressure up front if, or when, the Buccaneers are in obvious passing situations and the road team can take advantage of having more than a Field Goal worth of points in this one.

The Buccaneers are 0-7 against the spread when playing at home on Thursday Night Football, while they have already beaten the Falcons this season and that could see the home team suffer a bit of complacency.

Atlanta have won on their last two visits to Tampa Bay- as long as they can avoid making the mistakes that saw the Week 14 game get away from them, the Falcons can keep this close enough on the scoreboard to make the points being given to them earn the cover.

New York Jets @ Jacksonville Jaguars Pick: A few weeks ago it looked like the AFC South was going to be sending the Divisional Winner into the post-season as perhaps the Number 1 Seed. Injuries have curtailed the Indianapolis Colts and the defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) in Week 14 has allowed the latter to take control of the Division instead.

Four wins in a row have been put together by the Jaguars since the defeat to the Houston Texans and that gives them a game lead over both Houston and Indianapolis in the standings.

There are still four weeks of the regular season to negotiate and the Jaguars have two Divisional games as well as a tough looking road game at the Denver Broncos to come, which makes this game in Week 15 important. With such a narrow lead in the standings, the Jacksonville Jaguars cannot afford to lose focus against the struggling New York Jets (3-10) who will be down to a third string Quarter Back.

New York have lost three of the last four games, including a blowout home defeat to the Miami Dolphins in Week 14, while Tyrod Taylor joins Justin Fields on the sidelines.

It means Brady Cook is set to make the start and it is a big test for an Undrafted Free Agent rookie- he came into the game against the Miami Dolphins last week, but threw two Interceptions and now faces a Jaguars Defensive unit that have been looking stronger and stronger down the stretch.

Brady Cook had a decent enough career with the Missouri Tigers, but the step up to the NFL level is huge and the New York Jets do not have a lot of experience around him. With the rookie in at Quarter Back, it is going to be even tougher to run the ball against the Jaguars Defensive Line which has been playing at a high level during this winning run and keeping Cook in third and long spots is an obvious win for the home team.

An Offensive Line that has been struggling to protect whoever has been behind Center is going to be challenged by the Jacksonville pass rush and the Jets are going to be even more reliant on their Special Teams to keep them in this game.

Credit has to be given to the Jets for continuing to play hard on the Defensive side of the ball, despite trading away a couple of key pieces several weeks ago.

They are a bit easier to run the ball against and so Travis Etienne Jr may have a bigger impact than he has been able to produce consistently in recent weeks. Trevor Lawrence has also been keen to use his legs when the pocket has collapsed and you should expect to see the Jaguars moving the ball into third and manageable spots.

Jakobi Meyers has arrived to give the Jaguars legitimate threats in the passing game and Trevor Lawrence has made full use of that and getting up to 24 points may be enough to cover if Brady Cook struggles on the other side of the ball as much as is expected.

The spread is a concern with Jacksonville simply not used to being asked to lay double digits as a favourite- it has happened once since 2018 and the Jaguars were beaten outright on that occasion.

However, this is a Jaguars team with more momentum than most in recent times and it really is a selection opposing the Jets as much as backing Jacksonville.

New York have found Special Teams plays that have kept them more competitive than they have deserved to be in games this season, but Jacksonville's Defensive unit may create a couple of turnovers to really swing this game in their favour.

Cleveland Browns @ Chicago Bears Pick: The late Interception as the Chicago Bears (9-4) were driving for a tying-Touchdown has meant losing the lead of the NFC North, but the players are simply focusing on bouncing back. They are back at home in frigid conditions in Week 15, and it is important for the Bears to not think ahead to earning revenge against the Green Bay Packers when the Divisional rivals meet for a second time in three weeks in Week 16.

The Bears have been set as the favourites against the Cleveland Browns (3-10) who have officially been eliminated from the post-season having been beaten for the fifth time in six games.

Shedeur Sanders has come in to give the Browns a boost at Quarter Back, although there are still big questions about whether he is someone that Cleveland will look to get behind next season. The last four games will continue to be a learning experience for both Quarter Back and team, although there is no doubting that Sanders has offered a spark.

He will be looking to lean on the running game against a Bears Defensive Line that have had issues in stopping the ground attack- however, the Cleveland Offensive Line has been battered by injury and they have not been able to exert real control up front, which has put the pressure on the Quarter Back to make plays with his arm.

To give him his credit, Shedeur Sanders has been able to do that and even this improving Chicago Secondary could allow Cleveland to make a few plays in the passing game to keep the chains moving.

Scoring points as they have against Las Vegas and Tennessee will give the Browns Defensive unit a huge boost and that will allow them to pick up their intensity to try and help earn the upset.

You have to like what has been produced by Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears when they have the ball in their own hands, but there is no doubt that they are facing one of the stronger Defensive units in the NFL. The key is the Line of Scrimmage where Chicago have been doing well to establish the run, but who are now facing a Browns team that have prided themselves on making it very difficult to push the ball against them on the ground.

If the Cleveland Defensive Line can stand up, they have the personnel who can rush Caleb Williams and a Secondary that is capable of making big plays. This could be all important in the expected conditions and there is every reason to believe the Browns can at least keep this competitive.

Most will still need convincing about Shedeur Sanders, which is the same for me personally, but he can use the Cleveland strengths at the Line of Scrimmage to be placed in a position for success.

Avoiding turnovers will be key in what are going to be tough conditions, especially if holding onto the ball too long.

As long as Shedeur Sanders can avoid those, he should be capable of helping the Cleveland Browns stay within this spread set.

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots Pick: The AFC East is still up for grabs, but it is the New England Patriots (11-2) who have stolen the march on the Buffalo Bills (9-4).

They have already beaten the Bills on the road, which means another win on Sunday will earn the New England Patriots the Divisional crown, although everyone associated with the road team are going to be expecting a big test from the long-time AFC East dominant team.

Ten straight wins have taken the Patriots to the top of the Division, although the win over the Bills is the standout victory in that run. That victory was all the way back in early October and New England have beaten those teams they would have expected to beat, which is still going to give them a lot of confidence as they edge closer to a return to the Playoff.

It should mean New England play with plenty of motivation to prove themselves by sweeping an opponent that will be thinking Super Bowl or bust.

We will learn plenty about the Bills this week too- over the course of the season the team have had issues on the Defensive side of the ball, but they look to be rounding into Playoff form at just the right time, although that is going to be tested by the Patriots.

A positive for the Bills Defensive Line is that they should be able to maintain recent standards when it comes to playing the run- they have held recent opponents to way below the season average and Buffalo will be facing a New England team that will look to pound the rock, but who have been struggling to rip off big gains.

Drake Maye will not be intimidated by the challenge he could be facing at Quarter Back and the numbers have remained very strong.

However, he is also going to be tested by an improving Buffalo Secondary as injuries have begun to clear up and this is a real opportunity for the Bills to close the gap at the top of the Division if they can maintain recent levels.

Josh Allen and company will feel the Buffalo Offensive Line can be the dominant unit on the Line of Scrimmage on either side of the ball and the Quarter Back can use his own legs and James Cook's in a bid to put his team in third and manageable spots. The Bills will be firm in that belief and will continue to pound the rock against this New England Defensive Line, which has struggled to clamp down up front, and that could be the edge needed in this big AFC East game.

This will also be key in giving Josh Allen time when he does step back to throw the ball down the field, although he will be aware that this New England Secondary are the strength of the team.

New England won a tight game on the road at Buffalo and there is every reason to believe this one will be competitive throughout too.

However, it is that Buffalo Offensive Line versus New England's Defensive Line edge that has to be given to the road team and it may be the factor that makes all of the difference in the final outcome.

The Bills have been solid road favourites when they have had Josh Allen under Center, while the Quarter Back has a very strong winning record against the spread when operating with revenge. After losing to the Jets and Patriots in Divisional games in 2023, Buffalo were able to win the second time around and it feels like an experienced team can do that in Foxboro in Week 15.

Indianapolis Colts @ Seattle Seahawks Pick: Three straight losses and four defeats in the last five have pulled the Indianapolis Colts (8-5) backwards at a time when injuries have decimated them in key positions.

Losing Daniel Jones to injury has really hurt a team that is going to be down to a third string Quarter Back with Riley Leonard looking likely to earn the call on Sunday.

Things have become so desperate that grandfather Philip Rivers has been signed up to the practice squad for the Colts- he has previously played here back in 2020 and Rivers feels he can make a big impact for the team, although he might only be seen as someone who can potentially come into the game if things do not go right for the starter, at least this week.

No matter the experience, or inexperience, at Quarter Back, this is going to be a huge test for the Indianapolis Colts.

Three wins in a row have taken the Seattle Seahawks (10-3) to the same record as NFC West leaders Los Angeles Rams and the teams are meeting in a big game on Thursday Night Football. The Colts have to hope that serves as a distraction, but it is the Seahawks Defensive unit that has really impressed and so it could be a very difficult day for Riley Leonard or whoever lines up under Center.

Indianapolis do have Jonathan Taylor, but the Offensive Line have been struggling to open up holes for the Running Back and there are not going to be a lot of spaces allowed by this Seahawks Defensive Line. They have been strong against the run anyway, but you have to believe Seattle will make sure Taylor is not going to beat them and instead it is up to the Colts Quarter Back to make the plays needed.

A strong Defensive Line is backed up by very good work in the Secondary and this just feels like a difficult game in which to move the ball with any consistency as far as the Indianapolis Colts are concerned.

Turnovers could be key to helping Seattle pull clear in this game, much as they were in the win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Extra possessions and/or short fields gives the Seahawks an edge and they should be able to make enough plays to push forward and earn a big victory.

Running the ball against the Colts Defensive Line has been a challenge all season, but there have been improvements made in the Seattle run blocking and that could at least help them keep Sam Darnold in third and manageable positions on the field. The Quarter Back has been solid in his first season with the Seahawks and he should be able to expose an injury hit Colts Secondary.

Pass rush pressure has been able to get to Sam Darnold at times and the Colts can still find a push up front, although it will be difficult to make stops consistently and especially if the Offensive unit are losing the field battle.

The spread is a wide one and the Indianapolis Colts have to be respected for the fight they have been showing, despite injuries beginning to really take a toll.

They were unable to stay with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14, who also have a solid Defensive unit, and the Seattle Seahawks may make enough plays on that side of the ball to be in a position to win and cover.

MY PICKS: Atlanta Falcons + 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Jacksonville Jaguars - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Cleveland Browns + 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Buffalo Bills - 1 Point @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Seattle Seahawks - 13.5 Points @ 1.85 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Week 14: 0-1, - 1 Unit (1 Unit Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 13: 3-4, - 1.50 Units (7 Units Staked, - 21.43% Yield)

Week 12: 1-5, - 4.17 Units (6 Units Staked, - 69.50% Yield)

Week 11: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.34 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.67% Yield)

Week 9: 2-2, - 0.18 Units (4 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 8: 4-3, + 0.52 Units (7 Units Staked, + 7.43% Yield)

Week 7: 3-2, + 0.69 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.80% Yield)

Week 6: 3-4, - 1.09 Units (7 Units Staked, - 15.57% Yield)

Week 5: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 4: 2-3, - 1.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 22.80% Yield)

Week 3: 5-3, + 1.56 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.50% Yield)

Week 2: 3-2, + 0.67 Units (5 Units Staked, + 13.40% Yield)

Week 1: 0-2, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

2025 Season: 34-41, - 10.54 Units (75 Units Staked, - 14.05% Yield)

Midweek Football and Fantasy Football GameWeek 17 Picks 2021 (December 14-16)

Another round of Midweek Premier League matches have been scheduled, but the new variant of the Coronavirus is beginning to affect all walks of life.

Footballers are no different and that means the Brentford vs Manchester United game scheduled for GameWeek 17 has been postponed.

Brighton, Norwich City, Aston Villa, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur are all dealing with issues of their own, but the Manchester United game looks to be the only one that will be postponed.

Obviously health concerns are the most important factor, but it is also means difficulties for those playing the Fantasy Premier League game and more on that below.

Norwich City v Aston Villa Pick: Covid-19 issues are likely going to impact everybody and Premier League footballers are no different.

It does make it a little more difficult to make predictions when a sudden outbreak can impact the line up of teams up and down the country and both Norwich City and Aston Villa have had issues ahead of this fixture.

At the time of writing, this fixture looks like it will be played and it is an important one for both Norwich City and Aston Villa after going down to battling 1-0 defeats to top five opponents on Saturday.

Dean Smith's presence on the sidelines will add to the intrigue having managed Aston Villa a little over a month ago before being Sacked and taking up the position at Norwich City. He has made an impact with Norwich City, but the problems that Daniel Farke failed to resolve remain and that is namely a lack of clinical finishing in the final third.

Norwich City missed some big chances against Manchester United, but they will be at least pleased to see the football that is being played. The defensive issues is something that will make it more important to find an avenue to scoring goals consistently, but Norwich City should be able to create chances against Aston Villa.

At the same time, Steven Gerrard's team looks to be getting healthier, not withstanding the players that have had positive Covid tests, and they will feel this is a much more winnable fixture than the defeats suffered against Manchester City and Liverpool. However, I do think Aston Villa are still a work in progress when it comes to their attacking play under a new manager and that should give the home team a chance to earn a vital result.

Dean Smith should know the ins and outs about the Aston Villa squad that helps Norwich City here and I do think they will be able to have the attacking threat to expose any vulnerabilities the former Villa manager knows about. That may be enough for Norwich City to earn a good result and I think they can be backed on the Asian Handicap to do that.

Manchester City v Leeds United Pick: After taking the lead and then seemingly securing a late point, Leeds United have to pick themselves up following the 3-2 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday. An injury hit squad put in a huge effort into that game and Leeds United have continued to be competitive without key players involved, but this is a tough ask of them with so many missing on a short week.

Just days after losing at Stamford Bridge, Leeds United will be travelling to Manchester to take on the Premier League leaders and it will be difficult for the players to maintain the intensity that may be needed.

After putting in a huge effort and coming up short, you have to feel the stretched squad may struggle to stay with Manchester City here. The home team can make more changes to the starting eleven and have a relatively healthy squad, while they have had a few more hours to prepare for the fixture.

Manchester City narrowly beat Wolves here on Saturday, but they created the chances and could have won by a wider margin on another day. Once again they gave up very little defensively and I think they will be able to hold Leeds United at arm's length in this one too.

With the likes of Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez expected to come in and freshen up the starting eleven, I think Manchester City will have too much for Leeds United. Pep Guardiola is unlikely to have forgotten the home loss to this opponent last season and I think Manchester City will secure another victory with a clean sheet as they look to keep the pressure on their title rivals.

Brighton v Wolves Pick: Covid issues are likely going to have a big impact on fixtures around European Football during the winter of 2021 and the Premier League has seen a rise in cases over the last week.

One of the clubs feeling it is Brighton, but this fixture is set to be played on Wednesday despite that. A growing injury list coupled with the Covid cases means Brighton have a squad that is being stretched as they bid to end a run of 11 games without a victory.

The fans have been a little impatient in recent games, although some would say they are being arrogant considering the football Brighton have been playing. Graham Potter certainly hasn't been pleased by some of the jeers he has heard, but his team continue to look decent going forward and they are a team that will create chances.

The question mark is always around whether they can put a finishing touch to the football they are producing and it is the main reason they have not been able to turn a few draws into victories. Brighton should be well rested for this fixture though and they should be well prepared, even though there are issues in the camp, and it may give them a chance to get back to winning ways.

Brighton will also benefit from having had a weekend off at the same time as Wolves were working hard to try and earn a result at Manchester City. Playing the entire second half with ten men will have sapped some energy of a small squad being used by Bruno Lage and Wolves are another team that play good, eye-pleasing football, but who have struggled to put an end product to that football.

They have scored just 12 League goals this season and none in their last 4 so the absence of Raul Jimenez is a bitter blow for Wolves. The Mexican striker was a little foolish to get himself sent off at Manchester City and making up for his absence will not be easy.

Games between these two teams have been surprisingly entertaining in terms of goals in the last couple of seasons despite the obvious issues both Brighton and Wolves have in the final third. However, I think Wolves have looked organised at the back and I am not sure they can make up for the absence of Raul Jimenez, while Brighton are down to the bare bones in the squad.

It could mean we return to what we should expect from these two teams- that is good football, but with a struggling end product and I think one of the teams will fail to hit the back of the net.

Burnley v Watford Pick: Claudio Ranieri has spoken about Watford's season starting now after steering his team through a difficult fixture list, but he has to be very frustrated with the points dropped at Brentford on Friday night in the Premier League. He will be looking for a big reaction against a relegation rival on Wednesday evening, but there has to be some encouragement by the kind of level Watford have produced in recent weeks even if the results have not been the best.

A win for Watford will see them earn some breathing space to the bottom three, but they are facing a Burnley team who have only lost 1 of their last 7 Premier League games.

Like Watford, Burnley look to be in the midst of a relatively good schedule, but they were beaten at Newcastle United and that has left them mired in the bottom three. A point against West Ham United is a positive result, but Burnley will have to show improvement if they are going to take the points away from this fixture.

It has not been a good year for Burnley at Turf Moor and they have won 1 of their last 17 Premier League games here. That was earned recently against Brentford, but Burnley have struggled for the balance needed in the final third at both ends of the pitch.

While they scored six goals against Brentford and Crystal Palace, Burnley have failed to score in 3 of their last 5 here and they are a team that struggles to create quality chances. I expect Burnley to have more success against this Watford team that have not defended well, but The Hornets will also offer a sting in the final third.

Burnley have not defended as well as they would have liked and Watford should be able to offer a real threat on the counter attack. That will give the visitors a chance of earning something from the match and I do think they are an underdog that can produce a bite to back up the bark.

It could be a tough, competitive game, but Watford have goals in the side and I think the extra preparation time for the fixture may also be a key to the outcome of this one.

Crystal Palace v Southampton Pick: It would be harsh to discredit the kind of football that Southampton like to play under Ralph Hasenhuttl, but the lack of quality has held the club back. They are pleasing on the eye and Southampton can create chances, but losing Danny Ings has hurt and they have not been able to put the finishing touches on their football as the manager would have liked.

He may be facing more issues this week when Southampton travel to South London without Adam Armstrong, Che Adams and Armando Broja. All are doubtful and that means Southampton may be lacking a cutting edge even more than usual.

It comes at a bad time for Southampton as they get set to meet a Crystal Palace team who will be feeling very good about themselves after their 3-1 victory over Everton on Sunday. Patrick Vieira is really getting a tune out of his squad, but the results have not always backed that up and so the win on Sunday was vital for Crystal Palace having lost 3 Premier League games in a row prior to the fixture last time out.

I do have to say that Crystal Palace have been difficult to back considering the amount of leads they have blown and the fact that half of their home fixtures have ended in draws. However, they have won 2 of their last 3 at Selhurst Park and Crystal Palace have attacking players in form who will feel they can hurt a Southampton team that has begun to leak goals.

Patrick Vieira has been keeping his attacking players fresh with rotations and I think Crystal Palace can back up their win on Sunday. They should create chances and Southampton being without their top attacking players should only aid The Eagles even more.

Crystal Palace do tend to score plenty of goals here and have made it a habit of scoring first having done so in 3 of their last 4 at Selhurst Park. Doing so here should see Crystal Palace have enough to secure another three points and I think they can be backed to do that.

Arsenal v West Ham United Pick: This is the headline fixture on Wednesday evening in the Premier League and both Arsenal and West Ham United will be looking for the result that will see them end the night inside the top four.

Both earned clean sheets this past weekend, but Arsenal scored the goals to see off Southampton, while West Ham United had to settle for a goalless draw with Burnley. David Moyes was a little disappointed by the result and is demanding his players return to the kind of levels they have shown they can produce this season.

West Ham United have tended to reserve their better performances for the top teams they have faced, but those have largely been played at home. They were not really competitive in the defeat at Manchester City and so there are some questions to answer for a team that has been considered to be having a successful season to this point.

If they have a genuine ambition to reach the Champions League for next season, The Hammers have to show they can win big games away from home. In recent weeks they have hit the wall on their travels, especially in front of goal, but West Ham United are facing an Arsenal team that have been vulnerable against the best teams in the Premier League.

Defeats at Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United and another at home to Chelsea underline the point, but Arsenal have won 5 in a row at the Emirates Stadium. Many would consider Arsenal to be underachieving, but it says plenty that they could move above West Ham United with a victory and The Gunners will be looking for a seventh home success in a row against this London rival.

Arsenal have been dangerous going forward at home in recent weeks and they have largely been pretty solid defensively. That will be encouraging for Mikel Arteta, but West Ham United should offer a much more consistent threat compared with Watford, Newcastle United and Southampton.

Both Premier League fixtures between these clubs ended with three or more goals last season and I do think that could be the outcome of this one. Arsenal will attack and that will leave spaces for West Ham United on the counter attack, but I also think the home team will create chances against this opponent who have defensive injuries to deal with.

An early goal could really get this fixture going and I think there will be at least three goals shared out.

Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: At the time of writing, this Premier League fixture is trending towards being given the go-ahead rather than being postponed despite the Covid issues that both Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City are dealing with.

Leicester City have been able to battle through their issues, but Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to return after seeing two matches postponed/cancelled.

They are still going to be short of a number of players who will be in self-isolation and there have been reports that another first team player has been handed a positive test, but Tottenham Hotspur are back on the training ground and expected to head to the Midlands for the fixture.

Brendan Rodgers will not be feeling too sorry for Tottenham Hotspur considering the amount of players he will be missing, but Leicester City did have a confidence boosting win over Newcastle United last time out.

Since losing to Chelsea here, Leicester City have been finding plenty of attacking joy with 3 wins in a row at the King Power Stadium and scoring at least three goals in each win. I think despite the issues in the home camp, Leicester City will be better prepared than Tottenham Hotspur for this Premier League game and it should mean the home team are able to get the better of the London club.

It will be close and Tottenham Hotspur have been good under Antonio Conte, but Leicester City have momentum from the win on Sunday and I think they can back that up.

Chelsea v Everton Pick: Injury issues and a loss of form have been hurting both Chelsea and Everton in recent weeks, although the quality of the Chelsea squad has helped them produce some big wins through sheer effort.

The 3-2 win over Leeds United will have really bolstered the confidence of the Chelsea group, but Thomas Tuchel will be looking for much better defensively. Individual mistakes continue to be costly for Chelsea, but they could soon have their full choice of midfield options which should make Chelsea tougher to play against.

It won't be the case in time for this game, but Chelsea could be facing Everton at the right time considering the struggles of the visitors. They lost for the fourth away game in a row at Crystal Palace on Sunday and Everton have lost more key players, which leaves them incredibly vulnerable here.

Rafael Benitez won't get much respite from the away fans if Everton start poorly, but the Chelsea fans won't be offering any sympathy. Even as a former manager here, Benitez and the Chelsea faithful did not really see eye to eye and they will relish putting him under pressure.

As porous as Chelsea have been defensively of late, they have been scoring plenty of goals and I do think they can hurt this Everton team. Thomas Tuchel would love to see his team produce more in open play having been a big threat from set pieces, but they should have more joy against a struggling Everton team.

Everton will try and counter against a vulnerable Chelsea defence, but I think it will be difficult for them without the quality of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The fixture list gets a little easier after this game, but Everton may have to suffer another tough night in London before heading into those matches and I think Chelsea can win by a comfortable margin.

Liverpool v Newcastle United Pick: There have been some classic Premier League matches between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield, but it feels like a stretch to think this may be one of those.

A huge gulf exists between the clubs at this moment and Liverpool have been attacking with a real threat. They may not have been rewarded with the goals, but on their current pace you would expect someone could take a real thumping from them.

Newcastle United may be the poor victim.

They were poor at the King Power Stadium on Sunday and Eddie Howe has proven to be a manager that will not want Newcastle United to sit back. It is a real problem against Liverpool, but even defending deep may not be good enough with the issues the visitors have had at the back all season.

Liverpool have had 1-0 wins in back to back Premier League games, but Newcastle United have been well beaten at Arsenal and Leicester City. The team they are facing this week are a lot stronger than those two and I think Liverpool will have far too much for Newcastle United who are trying to scratch and claw their way out of the bottom three.

An early goal for Liverpool would really spell trouble for Newcastle United and I do think this is going to be a game that is comfortably won at the end of the evening. Liverpool have created enough chances in their last two Premier League games to have won those by much wider margins and I think they can punish a Newcastle United team that have struggled to keep teams from getting on top of them.

MY PICKS: Norwich City + 0.25 Asian Handicap

Manchester City Win to Nil

Brighton-Wolves Both Teams to Score- NO

Watford + 0.25 Asian Handicap

Crystal Palace - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Arsenal-West Ham United Over 2.5 Goals

Leicester City - 0.25 Asian Handicap

Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap

Liverpool - 2.5 Asian Handicap

Fantasy Football GameWeek 17

Covid issues were always going to be a problem in the FPL game this season, but it has been a frustrating time for my team.

I selected Tottenham Hotspur players who have had one game postponed thanks to snow and another because of a Covid outbreak.

Of course I replaced them with two Manchester United players, but again I have been hit with a postponement, while I have too many players who are not getting the minutes I would have liked them to.

Andreas Christensen looks out of favour, but the Christian Benteke rotation has really been a frustration- he scored twice at Burnley, but I brought him into my team following that outing and his minutes have been managed since.

Leaving 22 points on the bench in GW16 summed it up after Benteke, Christensen and Diogo Jota all managed to be used as subs and earned my a combined 3 points.

Making decisions is difficult with a Covid outbreak seemingly impacting a number of clubs and we simply don't know which players have been affected and which have not. That makes it more challenging and there are going to be tough moments through the next two months before the booster shots and the improving weather begins to turn the tide on the new variant.

At the time of writing I am going to have ten players that are expected to play after Joao Cancelo was booked and will serve a suspension. I don't think this is the time to take a hit, but it is a good opportunity to move out Bryan Mbeumo as Brentford hit a more difficult portion of their schedule.

He can be brought back when the DGW is announced, if I want him back, but I am going to keep my powder dry other than that move.

The bigger question is who is best to target and I think my final decision will come down to a Manchester City midfield asset or a West Ham United one. Manchester City have the easier game in GW17, but Pep Roulette is a miserable game to play and one I have been happy to avoid for much of the season.

West Ham United have a more difficult game, but fixtures ease after the game at Arsenal, although any final decision on a transfer doesn't mean much with a fluid virus ripping through the nation.

Changes need to be made to my team, but I am going to use the week between GW18 and GW19 to really get a better feel as to the direction I want to take.

Weekend Football Picks and Fantasy Football 2019 (December 14-16)

The games keep coming thick and fast for those clubs in the English Leagues and it is another round of Premier League fixtures upon us this weekend.

These come at the end of the final Group fixtures in the Champions League and Europa League and fans of the English Premier League clubs will all be looking forward to where they may be heading in February when those competitions resume. Those ties will be drawn out on Monday so the focus this weekend will solely be on the Premier League at the start of a week in which the majority of teams will know will be their final chance to rest up wary legs ahead of the festive schedule.

The likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton, Aston Villa and Leicester City do have Cup commitments to come this week, but the other fourteen Premier League clubs will have a week to prepare for their next fixture following this one. We then have a thirteen day period in which FOUR full rounds of Premier League fixtures are going to be played including the traditional Boxing Day and New Year's Day commitments.

We do have a Winter Break this year... Except that is going to come in the second week of February and that means the festive time of the season is as busy as it ever is. Most managers won't appreciate the short time between games, and for fans it can also be stressful particularly those who make the effort to travel to fixtures.

Those sitting down in their warm homes to watch the games probably can't get enough with live fixtures throughout those thirteen days mentioned.


November was a pretty miserable month for the Football Picks, but December has opened much better and it was another winning week last time out. The Fantasy game did not go nearly as well for me as I continue to arrogantly overlook Leicester City much as I did four years ago, although I have at least been smart enough to ride them on their strong winning run as far as the Picks go.

My Fantasy thoughts were GW17 will be seen below as I consider the use of my first Wild Card of the season, but before that let's get on with the Picks from the games to come over this weekend.


Liverpool v Watford Pick: The first Premier League game of the weekend comes from Anfield and Liverpool are very firm favourites to extend their lead at the top of the table for a few hours at least.

A solid win at Salzburg in the Champions League during the week has helped Liverpool into the Last 16 draw in that competition and they continue having to face a busy fixture list during this festive month. Jurgen Klopp has rotated his squad efficiently, but there are plenty of days between the Salzburg, Watford and then the World Club Cup Semi Final to ensure he can pick the players he wants.

On recent showings it doesn’t really matter what kind of team is selected by Klopp as Liverpool have worked their past teams comfortably. Changed teams beat Everton 5-2 here and Bournemouth 0-3 at the Vitality Stadium and I think it is going to be a very difficult match for their visitors.

For the third time this season Watford players will have to listen to a new voice leading the dressing room. Nigel Pearson has surprisingly been given the task of picking the players up as they have found themselves 6 points from safety while occupying bottom place in the Premier League table.

The Hornets were a touch unfortunate not to beat Crystal Palace at home last weekend, but prior to that their three losses in a row had come in games they had been dominated. Better finishing from opponents would have seen heavier losses for Watford and Pearson is likely going to want his team to get back to basics and at least defend better than they have been.

However it is a big ask of them with injuries piling up and I think Watford might be in for another forgettable visit to this ground.

The last six visits have all ended in losses, but the last three have come by five goal margins each time as Watford have been outscored 16-1 in that time.

I can only see a relatively comfortable win for Liverpool who have had back to back clean sheets this week. Only two of Liverpool’s eight home wins have come by more than two goal margins which is needed to cover this Asian Handicap, but I think Liverpool will earn a push at the very least and recent history suggests they can blow this short of confidence Watford team away.


Burnley v Newcastle United Pick: These teams have slipped past one another in the last couple of weeks as Burnley’s form has plummeted at the same time Newcastle United have begun producing some big results.

It might have changed the feeling around the two clubs too, but I think you have to look a little deeper at the factors in play to determine what has been happening.

Newcastle United have earned 7 points from a possible 9, but to say they have been a touch fortunate might be an understatement. These two teams have both hosted Manchester City in the last couple of weeks and the underlying numbers were superior for Burnley compared with Newcastle United, but Burnley were beaten 1-4 and Newcastle United drew 2-2.

Even in the last couple of wins earned by The Magpies you could point out that they have been on the right side of the luck and I do think that is something that can’t be ignored.

Burnley have been very poor the last couple of games in terms of their defensive performances, but Sean Dyche has had a week to work with his players and I would expect them to be a lot better on Saturday. Aside from the Manchester City defeat, Burnley have actually played well at home and deserved more than what they got in their defeats to Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

Those teams mentioned are also stronger than Newcastle United in general and I can see Burnley bouncing back for a win this weekend. Being able to back them on the Asian Handicap which returns half the stake in the event of a draw is tough to pass up and I will look for the home team to return to winning ways on Saturday.


Chelsea v Bournemouth Pick: For the most part I do think Chelsea fans are going to accept their current position as a young team continues to lack the consistency that those fans have become accustomed to. However Frank Lampard will point out how well his team are doing considering they are in the top four in the Premier League and in the Last 16 of the Champions League.

Recent results might have been disappointing and Chelsea concede too many goals, but they have flourished going forward and the removal of the transfer ban could see them improve further in January.

In saying all that, Chelsea are a pretty hard team to get a strong read on. They do play some very good football, but they are not clinical in the final third and that has meant some tighter than expected games. Take Tuesday as an example as Chelsea hammered Lille for a large majority of the fixture, but conceded and had to hold on a little bit in the 2-1 win.

Every team will come to Stamford Bridge and think they do have a chance to score goals, but Bournemouth might be short of some firepower this weekend. Injuries have really hurt a team who have lost 5 Premier League games in a row and 5 of their last 6 away from home in all competitions and it was more of the same last weekend.

Both Nathan Ake and Callum Wilson are set to miss out and that really hurts Bournemouth on both sides of the field. It may make it more difficult to keep a Chelsea team at bay who have been creating a lot of chances, while the loss of a threat like Wilson should make things a touch easier for Chelsea to deal with too.

Bournemouth have won 2 of their 4 visits to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League and they have been largely competitive in games. However they needed two very late goals to claw back a 3-0 deficit to Tottenham Hotspur in their last visit to London a couple of weeks ago and I think Chelsea can win by a comfortable margin.

The Blues are hard to trust to do that considering the amount of goals they have been conceding, but I think they have the attacking threats to pull away for a solid win this weekend.


Leicester City v Norwich City Pick: In the last few weeks Leicester City have been easy winners for anyone reading my picks, but they have perhaps been found out now by the layers.

During that time we have been able to comfortably back Leicester City at - 0.25 and - 1.25 on the Asian Handicap in home games in the Premier League, while we also hit a couple of games where we could back Leicester City to win fixtures that feature at least two goals.

All of those markets have been comfortably dominated by Leicester City in their 9 game winning run, but the layers are now asking them to cover a much bigger handicap. Forget about backing Leicester City to win a game with two or more goals as that is very, very short too, but I do think Brendan Rodgers has his team playing with a lot of confidence at the moment.

It is hard to see Norwich City changing that, although Leicester City have to be focused. They do have a big League Cup Quarter Final coming up in the week before facing Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League, so it is easy for fans and players to take a fixture like this for granted, but I would expect Rodgers to have drilled professionalism into his team.

If that is the case, I do think Norwich City will have a very difficult day as they continue to allow teams to create too many chances against them. Daniel Farke wants his team to play in a particular way, but that has not really worked out as planned and Norwich City are a team who can be punished by one like Leicester City.

I am going to take some of the juice out of this price as it is hard to see Leicester City clearing the bigger Asian Handicap. While they can do it when at their best, Leicester City have only won 1 of their 8 home League games by more than a two goal margin.

However 4 of those games have ended with wins by exactly two goals and so backing The Foxes to cover the smaller Asian Handicap is reasonable enough at the price.


Sheffield United v Aston Villa Pick: These two teams were both promoted together last season and both should be happy with the way things have gone for them so far in the 2019/20 campaign.

The happier are going to be Sheffield United, but they needed to come from behind to beat Norwich City last weekend and snap a run of 4 games without a win in the Premier League. Last time out here they were beaten 0-2 by Newcastle United and that makes it very hard to look at the odds on quotes for a home win and be satisfied with the price.

On the other hand Aston Villa have also been in poor recent form, although they have been involved in a difficult part of their fixture list having faced all of the current top six in their last 7 Premier League games. It won't surprise that they have lost a fair few of those games, but Aston Villa were only narrowly seen off by Chelsea and earned a draw at Old Trafford in the last couple of weeks.

Those results have to be respected and I think Aston Villa play enough attacking football to cause problems for the hosts. Defensively they look very vulnerable though and I think it makes this a very difficult game to call.

Backing at least three goals to be shared out appeals and both League games between Sheffield United and Aston Villa produced at least five goals last season. Recent Sheffield United games have perhaps been a little harder to get a read on with the team capable of strong defence, but also showing they can create chances and score goals.

However Aston Villa games have largely featured plenty of goal-mouth activity and I think that will be the case when these teams meet for the first time as Premier League clubs since 2006/07.


Southampton v West Ham United Pick: In the last couple of months I have mentioned a few times that Southampton home games tend to be high-scoring and both teams scoring has been a regular occurrence.

For a long time the layers seemed to ignore this despite all the underlying stats suggesting it was not just a lucky trend, but one where teams were both creating chances and being challenged by Southampton regularly.

Now the layers are winning with very short prices on both the over 2.5 goals and both teams to score market. Some of that may also be down to the opponent as West Ham United have continued to concede far too many goals, but also score a fair few themselves.

Southampton have won back to back home games which has seen them placed at odds on to win this one, but that looks incredibly short to me. As good as they have been to win those games, you can't ignore one was against Watford and the other against Norwich City, while Southampton needed late goals to overturn the 0-1 deficit they faced against The Hornets.

They are facing another team who are struggling so Southampton are rightly expected to win this game, but I would want a better price than I am seeing. Even backing goals might not be ideal in this one considering how poor West Ham United have been away from home in recent games and the fact they have failed to score in 3 of their last 4 on their travels in the Premier League.

Games between these two teams have been high-scoring in recent times, but I think this one I can move past.


Manchester United v Everton Pick: After beating Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, facing AZ Alkmaar was a slightly flatter game for Manchester United and for the first half you could see that in the performance.

However Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clearly fired up the players and reminded them of their responsibilities and Manchester United went on to win the game 4-0 and top their Europa League Group. They can put that competition to the back of their mind for a couple of months, while Manchester United will be hoping they can keep the momentum going with a fourth win in a row.

They are back at Old Trafford for the second of three straight games here and Manchester United have begun to find a lot more goals in recent games. They have scored at least twice in 5 straight in all competitions here and unsurprisingly Manchester United have managed to win 4 of those games with the sole exception being a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

Confidence is flowing through the squad at the moment and some of the key performers have been well rested on Thursday so they should be ready to go.

The same can be said of Everton though after being fired up by former player turned interim manager Duncan Ferguson who was beloved at the club. The fans will get behind Ferguson, someone I have admired for his play, and he was someone who loved scoring against Manchester United from his days on the field.

Duncan Ferguson will be hoping to take that former pedigree against Manchester United into his managerial career, but he is dealing with a few injuries in the Everton squad. It also doesn't help that the side are playing away from Goodison Park and Everton have been conceding far too many goals on their travels which makes it hard to see them earning a result here.

Manchester United have not have many clean sheets and I have no doubt that will encourage Everton, but I do think the defensive concerns override the ones at the other end. Injuries are not helping the cause for Everton and they have conceded at least two goals in 5 of their last 7 away Premier League games.

The recent record at Old Trafford does not make for great reading either for Everton and I think Manchester United can keep the positive vibe going through another weekend. A rested set of players can come out and secure the win and I will back Manchester United to do that in a game featuring two or more goals too.


Wolves v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: I was a little surprised to note that this is not a game that was selected for television coverage considering how much fun the two Premier League games played between Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur were in the 2018/19 campaign.

Both were won by the away team who needed three goals to secure the points and it could be more attacking football on display on Sunday.

The television companies surprised me, but so did the layers who have Tottenham Hotspur as favourites to win here. Jose Mourinho has made an immediate impact since taking over what was an underachieving team, but 3 of the 4 wins earned have been secured at home.

As they did under Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham Hotspur have struggled on their travels and they have been beaten at Manchester United and Bayern Munich in their last couple away from home. The latter was a dead rubber, but Tottenham Hotspur continue to concede goals for fun and only in 1 of the 6 games under Mourinho have they allowed fewer than two goals.

Wolves have been strong and they have managed their European and domestic commitments better than most would have expected. Over the last sixteen months they have constantly shown they can give the top teams something to think about and I don't think they will be intimidated by Tottenham Hotspur, especially not when you consider they have won 3 of their last 4 here.

The home team have been creating chances and scoring goals and that gives them every chance of upsetting Tottenham Hotspur in this one. I can only imagine it will be a fixture that features goals considering the recent form of the two clubs, but I can see Wolves avoiding defeat and that makes me want to go for a 'same game multi' at Paddy Power.

Backing Wolves to avoid defeat and adding the fixture to be one that features two or more goals can be found at odds against at that layer. Considering the recent level of Tottenham Hotspur it is very difficult to imagine them failing to score, but they concede enough to give the home team confidence to maintain their unbeaten run here and that looks the selection for me.


Arsenal v Manchester City Pick: If you are someone who enjoys watching high-scoring football matches I do think this could be the right match for you on Sunday afternoon when Arsenal host Manchester City.

Neither team has looked very comfortable at the back and teams are able to create chances against them, while both Arsenal and Manchester City have been productive in the final third when looking to attack.

Goals can quickly change games and I do feel the team to get their nose in front in this one will be difficult to pull back. I don't think either is playing with a lot of confidence, but both Arsenal and Manchester City have recovered from being a goal behind in matches this week and that may be the only encouragement for whichever team concedes first.

Arsenal are going to be playing in a difficult environment as the fans have been quick to get on the backs of players at the Emirates Stadium. I do think that is contributing to the poor run here and losing home matches to Eintracht Frankfurt and Brighton is not ideal preparation for a fixture like this one.

They have to deal with a Manchester City team who have arguably produced their two best away performances in wins over Burnley and Dinamo Zagreb this month. Playing away from home has given Manchester City the chance to exploit more gaps as their hosts have come onto them and I do think the defending Champions are still playing well enough to believe they can win here.

As I have mentioned, I would not be surprised if both teams score in this fixture and I am expecting goals. However my bigger feeling is that Manchester City are going to continue to be too good for an Arsenal team who have defended very, very poorly and I like the visitors to win here.

They have beaten Arsenal 5 times in a row and all of those wins have come by two or more goal margins including the last 2 at the Emirates Stadium. If Manchester City score first I can see them really hurting Arsenal with the spaces that are likely to be left behind by the home team and I will look for Pep Guardiola's to get back to winning ways in the Premier League in an Asian Handicap covering effort.


Crystal Palace v Brighton Pick: Monday Night Football might not look that appealing on first glance, but any derby game should bring plenty on intensity to the fore.

The M23 rivalry is a strange one as Crystal Palace and Brighton really aren’t that close in terms of distance. It developed in a different way to most rivalries, but that does not mean it is any less fierce and there should be plenty of passion on display in the stands.

The atmosphere will help, but the bigger factor here is the improving Brighton team who are learning more and more about the style Graham Potter wants them to use. There is no doubting that The Seagulls are a lot more pleasing on the eye than when under the guidance of Chris Hughton, but importantly it is a style that is producing positive results too.

Brighton’s win over Arsenal and the draw with Wolves shows what they can achieve, although it is also a style that has made Brighton a little less solid defensively. That is the balancing act Graham Potter is playing with, but it does mean Brighton games have featured more goals than previous seasons.

Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace can’t really say the same though as they continue to be a functional side that relies on one or two special moments to win games. At home it has been hard for them as teams won’t be as open to leave spaces for Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend to exploit, but Crystal Palace have been dragged into high-scoring games by Brighton in recent times.

In fact the last four times this derby has been played it has featured at least three goals scored. I can see both teams having their chances in this one with Brighton showing good threat in the final third without being as tough defensively.

A lack of creativity continues to hurt Crystal Palace, but I expect them to have one or two more chances than usual at Selhurst Park and backing at least three goals to be shared out at a big price is the selection for the last Premier League match of this round of fixtures.

MY PICKS: Liverpool - 2 Asian Handicap @ 1.86 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Burnley - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.70 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.71 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Leicester City - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.62 Bet365 (2 Units)
Sheffield United-Aston Villa Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Manchester United & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.15 Coral (2 Units)
Wolves/Draw Double Chance & Over 1.5 Goals @ 2.07 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Manchester City - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.84 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Crystal Palace-Brighton Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.20 Bet Victor (2 Units)

December 2019/20: 9-6, + 4.56 Units (30 Units Staked, + 15.20% Yield)
November 2019/20: 9-16, - 12.66 Units (50 Units Staked, - 25.32% Yield)
October 2019/20: 16-14-2, + 6.14 Units (62 Units Staked, + 9.90% Yield)
September 2019/20: 13-9-1, + 8.82 Units (46 Units Staked, + 19.17% Yield)
August 2019/20: 14-17-2, - 8.78 Units (64 Units Staked, - 13.72% Yield)

Fantasy Football GameWeek 17

Just like Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park: The Lost World, my first reaction to seeing Jamie Vardy had scored yet again was 'hang on, this is going to be bad'.

And it was.

I had a terrible GameWeek 16 and one which has seen me fail to Qualify for the FPL Cup after a lowly 48 points for the week.

The last month has been pretty terrible to be honest and it has seen what was a very positive start lose a lot of momentum. The Vardy run has been a killer and it is more irritating that he has got away with some real luck in that time with a couple of penalties including a retaken one which produced a massive swing for those who had him in their squad and especially those who had Captained him.

Some may say it is my own arrogance that is doing me in, but I mentioned Vardy before the Southampton game and decided to go a different way when he was valued at less than 9 million. Now he is over 10 million and with the couple of big League games coming up I am going to take the pain of knowing he is facing a defensively inept Norwich City this weekend.

Another aspect which has hurt during this Leicester City run is the lack of returns from Youri Tielemans who was someone else I had considered removing from the squad. While the fixtures were decent I decided to leave him in, but have had little reward although he does have one more week to make up for it.

The Captain pick continues to let me down too an dI have left far too many points out there, although the frustration is expected to continue during the festive period when players are rotated in and out during a hectic time of the year.

Thank God for Anthony Martial and Danny Ings who at least helped me produce a semi-competitive score and I know am in a position where I believe I am going to be using my WildCard next weekend.

I can carry two transfers over and make enough changes to have a full eleven next week despite Liverpool and West Ham United not being in action, but my decision is leaning that way because I have gone big at the back with the League leaders (and typical they get a clean sheet on the one day when one of those defenders is rested having failed to have one in eleven previous games).

While both Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have produced returns, a difficult run is coming up for Liverpool and as I don't support them I am hoping it will be one where they can drop points. It will mean making changes at the back, but I feel those are best served if I can make big improvements in the midfield and attacking areas to make those transfers worthwhile.

The reality is I am not making a vast change to the process- the Wild Card was either going to be used for the Boxing Day fixtures or the GW18 coming up, so I am maintaining what I want to do with my squad.

With that in mind I should have a fuller FPL portion of this thread next week as I write down some of my decision making in reshaping the squad. This week I am going to use my one transfer to remove Fiyako Tomori from my squad, although it is not one that is going to affect the first eleven I am selecting.

48 points was a terrible score last week, I am expecting a lot better this time around.

My GW17 Team

David De Gea- Manchester United have found some form and I do think the underlying statistics suggest they will get back amongst the clean sheets sooner than later. The next three games might be that opportunity for the team.

Andrew Robertson- rotation is a concern for Liverpool, but this is the biggest game they play this week. A chance for a third clean sheet in a row.

Trent Alexander-Arnold: one more booking will mean a suspension for the right back and that would come against Leicester City on Boxing Day if he gets it here. It might mean the full back is rested to avoid that scenario which would not be a big surprise despite Liverpool defensive injuries.

Caglar Soyuncu- Leicester City host Norwich City who have struggled for goals away from home all season.

Sadio Mane (C)- was rested against Bournemouth, but Liverpool played last Tuesday and will be next out with the first team on Wednesday. It should mean Mane is starting against Watford who have conceded 16 goals in their last three visits to Anfield.

Raheem Sterling- people are jumping off the Raheem Sterling bandwagon at an alarming rate, but he should have an opportunity to punish them against Arsenal.

Anthony Martial (VC)- a goal in the Manchester derby should give Anthony Martial a lot of confidence. Got 60 more minutes in the Europa League to build sharpness and is the Manchester United Number 9.

Youri Tielemans- has not really provided an attacking return even if he remains a quality midfielder. One more chance to impress me from a stats view, I already know he is someone I would love in the Manchester United midfield.

Dele Alli- a tough game at Wolves this weekend, but Alli was rested during the week and is Jose Mourinho's 'main man' in the Number 10 position at Tottenham Hotspur.

Lys Mousset- was taken off early last Sunday, but Chris Wilder says that had nothing to do with an injury. Should get the start against a defensively suspect Aston Villa.

Danny Ings- I brought him in because of the Southampton fixture list and Danny Ings has not disappointed. You would think he will have one or two chances to keep his own goal streak going when facing West Ham United at home.

Bench- Michael McGovern, John Lundstram (I don't mind him as the first sub as a potential midfielder coming in to play against Aston Villa who concede a lot of goals), Serge Aurier (Now this is the transfer I am using this week even though I am keeping Aurier as my second sub- my thinking is that he has established himself as the right back of choice at Tottenham Hotspur and offers attacking returns, while I think he has the potential of improving in value. A game at Wolves and then home against Chelsea isn't easy, but Spurs have a good set of matches after that in which I will be using Aurier more often than not and only 300K more expensive than Tomori who has been banged up), Xande Silva