Fantasy Premier League Football Top Picks & Tips 20/21 – Forwards

Firstly, forwards score goals. Secondly, goals lead to points. As a result, it’s important that your attacking line is right. Here are 5 to consider when choosing your Fantasy Football forwards.

5. Rodrigo (Leeds)

Leeds have finally returned to the top flight. Led by Marco Bielsa, they’ll be hoping to show what the League has been missing. Accordingly, Bielsa has brought in Spanish striker Rodrigo to bolster the attack. Signed from Valencia, he is a proven goalscorer. For £6 million, he’s a worthy inclusion. Bielsa’s tactics will set up the team favorably. Rodrigo should profit from this.

✍️ #LUFC are delighted to announce the signing of Rodrigo from Valencia for a club record transfer fee

— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 29, 2020

https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1299618539813265408

4. Timo Werner (Chelsea)

Likewise, Werner joins the Premier League this season. Lampard signed the much sought-after striker from RB Leipzig for £48 million. In Fantasy Football, he’ll cost you £9.5 million. Chelsea have added a plethora of attacking options this summer. Werner will no doubt rack up points as a result.

3. Raúl Jiménez (Wolves)

A reliable contributor among Premier League forwards. The Mexican played in all 38 League games last season. This yielded 17 goals and 7 assists. With this in mind, £8.5 million is a modest price tag. Apart from Man City in Gameweek 2, Wolves have a kind opening schedule where he could score early points.

2. Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

Last season’s top scorer. It’ll cost a cool £10 million to avail of his services. Being 33 has not slowed Vardy down. His form has Leicester back among the top teams competing for Europe. Equally as important, he has a decent team around him. When you’re in the market for marquee forwards, you could do worse than to add this prolific scorer.

1. Harry Kane (Spurs)

Finally, Mourinho’s main man is a Fantasy Football favourite. After a long injury last season, the England striker will make up for lost time. 18 goals in 29 games makes you wonder what a full season would have meant for him. He’ll cost you £10.5 million of your £100 million budget. When spending this big you want to be sure you’ll get the points. However, Mourinho has his team built around his talisman.

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Fantasy Premier League Football Top Picks 20/21 – Midfielders

Midfielders are often the most thought about picks for a fantasy footballer. Thankfully, we’re here to help. With a lot of strikers who play out wide listed as midfielders, there is a chance to beat the system here.

5. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

The 18-year-old exploded onto the scene last year. Used initially as a make-shift left-back, Saka often saved Arsenal going forward. Incredibly versatile, he can play anywhere and will likewise see a lot of minutes, even when not in the eleven. For just £5.5million, Saka could save you money to spend elsewhere. However, this will not come at the expense of points. With a rapid turnaround between games for Arsenal, Saka will continue to feature.

4. Kevin de Bruyne (Man City)

This is another selection of the obvious variety. At £11.5 million, he is a big investment. However, it will undoubtedly pay off. Indeed, 13 goals and 23 assists is a return worthy of a couple of players. Man City do not play in Gameweek 1 though, so have an option on the bench. A strong contender for captain.

3. Phil Foden (Man City)

Again, Man City’s creativity among midfielders is to be taken advantage of. The loss of David Silva is less of a headache for Guardiola thanks to the young Englishman. 5 goals and 2 assists last season is an impressive return considering most appearances were off the bench. For only £6.5 million this one is a steal. If you could afford to have him on a rotational policy you’ll be rewarded massively. Similarly, he won’t be around in Gameweek 1 though.

2. Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)

Of all the new Midfielders to arrive for 20/21, Ziyech is the pick of the bunch. The Moroccon should slide straight into Lampard’s side. Expect his pinpoint passes to benefit the likes of Werner. In addition, he could chip in with goals himself. For £8million, if you plan on buying Ziyech, do it early.

1. Sadio Mané (Liverpool)

Finally, spending £12 million on a Liverpool talisman is a must. 18 goals and 12 assists added up to 221 points. Even when not on the scoresheet himself, Mané is contributing elsewhere.

Alternatives here include Aubameyang, Salah, and Sterling. Or for those on a budget, you could do worse than Adama Traoré and Diego Jota.

🔮 My team will finish _______ in the 2020/21 #PL season pic.twitter.com/ZhKJidttKm

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 2, 2020

https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1301173819453906950

http://34.245.76.62/soccer/transfer-news-shane-duffy-signs-with-celtic/

Fantasy Premier League Football Top Picks & Tips 20/21 – Goalkeepers

We look at 5 goalkeepers to choose for Fantasy Football ahead of the Premier League restart. While teams like Arsenal and Man United have competition for this position, others have the security of a set number 1.

5. Guaita (Crystal Palace)

Since his arrival in 2018, Guaita has been a revelation for the Eagles. He played in 35 of the 38 games last campaign. As a result, he finished with 137 points. One of the highest among the goalkeepers, Guaita is a safe pair of hands. At £5.0 million, he’s a very good choice.

4. Patrício (Wolves)

The Portuguese number one has been an ever-present figure in Wolves’ meteoric rise. Since joining in 2018, Patrício has made 75 appearances. Furthermore, he’s claimed 20 clean sheets. Wolves are unlucky to not have Europa League football this season. However, this may allow them to push even closer to a top 4 finish in the league. Costing £5.5 million, this is a worthy inclusion.

3. Ederson (Man City)

Ederson and Alisson are the two goalkeepers who will set you back £6 million. While it is easy to include them both in the top 5 picks, we’ve chosen one. Man City have already added Nathan Aké to their defence. Additionally there’s been links with Napoli’s Koulibaly. With relieved pressure on him, Ederson will likely surpass last season’s 133 points tally. With a lethal left foot too, he may even give you an assist or two.

2. Pickford (Everton)

Another team who are strengthening in the transfer window. With big additions outfield, Everton could play more on the front foot this year. The England international played every league game last year. A cheaper option at just £5 million, you wouldn’t be the only one to include him.

1. Pope (Burnley)

With 170 points, Pope topped last year’s Goalkeeper standings. Sean Dyche has his team set up well. They sit deep and have proved very hard to break down. As a result, Pope finished with 34 catches and 11 clean sheets. Another England hopeful, Pope will be hoping to only improve this year. He will cost you £5.5 million of your £100 million budget.

Nick Pope and Burnley.
A glove story.
Maybe even a golden one? 🤞 pic.twitter.com/2Iak4Pcbi2

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) July 19, 2020

http://34.245.76.62/uncategorized/ireland-v-bulgaria-what-time-channel-odds/

https://twitter.com/BurnleyOfficial/status/1284792247859503104

Uefa Nations League: Where to watch this weekend

The Nations League continues this weekend and a host of games are being televised. Those with Sky Sports will benefit the most but Virgin Media are also covering games.

Friday 4th

Sky Sports are showing three games on Friday night simultaneously. Firstly, Scotland vs Israel is on Main Event. The Scots open their campaign at home to Israel. Czech Republic and Slovakia are the other teams in this group.

Meanwhile, on Sky Sports Football it’s Romania vs Northern Ireland. The Northern Irish hope to build on a good 2019 with an away win in Romania. On Monday, they’ll be at home to Norway.

Thirdly, Sky Sports News’ channel even has a game. Here, it’s The Netherlands vs Poland. This one could be exciting for the match-up between van Djik and Lewandowski.

All of these Nations League games kick-off at 19:45.

Saturday 5th

Those planning to stay in all day Saturday are not short of entertainment. Sky are starting with the 2 pm game between Macedonia and Armenia.

Next, England are out for revenge against Iceland. The 2-1 defeat at Euro 2016 still sits in the minds of many. Gareth Southgate has employed the services of a host of youngsters this time around. Also, Virgin Media Two are showing the game for those without Sky.

At the same time, Estonia and Georgia are on Sky Sports.

England’s group also contains Denmark and Belgium. These two face off at 19:45 on Sky Sports. Eden Hazard, de Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku could all play in this game.

Again, Virgin Media Two are bringing Nations League coverage. Portugal vs Croatia is also at 19:45 for those who’d prefer to watch Cristiano Ronaldo. The Juventus striker just needs one goal to reach 100 for his country.

Sunday 6th

Sky Sports have two games on at 14:00. On Sports, Wales play Bulgaria. Ireland will be hoping Bulgaria can stop Wales winning two in a row.

Likewise, the Faroe Islands are going for back to back wins. They’re away to Andorra on Sky Football.

Then, Hungary and Russia is on Sky Sports at 17:00. Both of these teams won their opener so are battling for top spot.

Of course, Ireland have their first home game too. They host Finland at 17:00. Sky Football is the place to watch Stephen Kenny try and get his first win as manager.

Finally, Switzerland and Germany play on Sunday evening. At 19:45, Sky Football are giving a taster of Timo Werner in action ahead of his Premier League debut.

REPORT | Bulgaria 1-1 Ireland – Duffy earns point on Kenny's Ireland bow

Plenty of positives as a last-minute equaliser ensures an away point in Bulgaria 👍

Report & all post-match interviews 👇 | Highlights will be available at midnight tonight 📺

➡️ https://t.co/ffIY67cvmO pic.twitter.com/CNx3IQ7r7s

— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) September 4, 2020

https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1301763299235770368

http://34.245.76.62/feature/late-duffy-goal-gives-ireland-a-point/

Video – New Heineken Champions Cup Rugby format explained

We have a video explaining the new Heineken champions cup rugby tournament format of two groups of 12 teams for 2020/21, Connacht, Munster, Leinster & Ulster are involved.

‪The updated seedings for what tiers each team fits into the Champions Cup will be as follows: Connacht are in Tier 3 not in tier 4

The decision to alter the formats for next season on an exceptional basis has been made against the backdrop of the COVID-19 public health crisis and its ongoing impact on the professional club game in Europe.

Champions Cup explaining video

The 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup will be competed for by 24 clubs with the eight highest-ranked representatives from the Gallagher Premiership, the Guinness PRO14 and the TOP 14 securing their places.

The clubs will be divided into two pools of 12 by means of a draw and the tournament will be played over eight weekends with four rounds of matches in the pool stage followed by a knockout stage consisting of home and away quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final in Marseille on 22 May 2021.

Separated into tiers

For the purposes of the pool draw, the clubs will be separated into tiers, and clubs from the same league in the same tier will not be drawn into the same pool. The number 1 and number 2 ranked clubs from each league will be in Tier 1, the number 3 and number 4 ranked clubs will be in Tier 2, the number 5 and 6 ranked clubs will be in Tier 3, and the number 7 and number 8 ranked clubs will be in Tier 4.

The Tier 1 and the Tier 4 clubs which have been drawn in the same pool, but which are not in the same league, will play one another home and away during the pool stage, as will the Tier 2 and Tier 3 clubs which have been drawn in the same pool, but which are not in the same league.

The four highest-ranked clubs in each pool will qualify for the quarter-finals, and the clubs ranked numbers 5 to 8 in each pool will compete in the knockout stage of the Challenge Cup.

“With an expanded knockout stage and no repeats of domestic matches during the pool stage, this format creates brand new competitive opportunities for Europe’s elite clubs and their fans,” said EPCR Chairman, Simon Halliday. “In this time of change, the Heineken Champions Cup with its global stars of the game, its passionate supporters and its unique match-day atmosphere undoubtedly remains The One to Win.”

QUALIFIED CLUBS FOR 2020/21 HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP

PRO14: Leinster Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby, Munster Rugby, Ulster Rugby, Scarlets, Glasgow Warriors, Connacht Rugby, Dragons (Rankings TBC at conclusion of current season)
TOP 14: Bordeaux-Bègles, Lyon, Racing 92, RC Toulon, La Rochelle, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Toulouse, *Montpellier or Castres Olympique
Premiership: TBC

The updated seedings for what tiers each team fits into the Champions Cup will be as follows:

Tier 1: Both Guinness PRO14 Finalists for the 2019/20 season.
Tier 2: Both losing semi-finalists from the 2019/20 season.
Tier 3: Scarlets (37 pts after R13), Connacht (35 pts after R13)
Tier 4: Glasgow Warriors (34 pts after R13), Dragons (22 pts after R13).

Sam Bennett takes the green jersey

Sam Bennett became the first Irishman to wear the green jersey since Seán Kelly in 1989 and the first Irish cyclist to lead a Tour de France classification in more than 30 years after finishing third in today’s fifth stage.

The Carrick-On-Suir rider finished just behind stage winner Wout van Aert and Cees Boll but ahead of green jersey holder Peter Sagan, who was fourth on the 183km trip from Gap to Privas.

Bennett won the intermediate sprint after 48 kilometres at l’Épine this afternoon, giving the Deceuninck – Quick-Step cyclist 20 points. With the incumbent Peter Sagan of Slovakia claiming only 13 points for a fourth-place finish in the sprint, Bennett moved to the head of the standing with 103 points, ahead of Sagan on 96 points, with the yellow jersey wearer after stage 1 on Saturday, Alexander Kristoff next on 90 points.

Bennett’s teammate Michael Morkov took second in the intermediate sprint, taking 17 points away from the Irishman’s main rivals, with the stage winner on Monday, Australian Caleb Ewan finishing third. With Bennett finishing ahead of Sagan in the sprint at the end of the stage, the Irishman moved to 123 points, ahead of Sagan on 114 in the points classification.

“It’s special for me to be the third Irishman to wear the green jersey,” Bennett said. “I will do everything I can to keep it.”

“I’m honoured to wear (green) at least once and I’m really happy that happened today. It’s hard to go for stages and the green jersey – today I was so focused on the green I almost forgot to really, really try to win”, the 29-year-old Irishman said.

“I’ve never had such mixed feelings in my career. I’m really happy to have green but sad to have lost the stage. But I did everything I could. In the last two kilometres I didn’t have the legs to sprint, but I’m pretty happy with my performance in the end.

“It was a really hectic sprint, and to be honest, at three kilometres to go I felt that I didn’t have the legs to sprint anymore. The final was really difficult, I could feel that as we were approaching the line. I was focused today on taking the green jersey and having it and following in the footsteps of Seán Kelly and Stephen Roche feels amazing. I am delighted and proud with it and want to enjoy this moment and continue fighting for green.”

Seán Kelly was the overall winner of the green jersey four times in the Tour de France, 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1989, while former Tour de France winner Stephen Roche also wore the green jersey.

Sam Bennett on the podium after being presented with the green jersey. A.S.O./Alex Broadway.

The stage victory for Van Aert was another success for the Jumbo-Visma team after Primoz Roglic’s stage win to Orcieres-Merlette on Tuesday.

Dan Martin of Israel Start-Up Nation was 137^th today, 4 minutes 50 seconds behind the leaders, while Team Sunweb’s Nicolas Roche was 7 minutes 4 seconds behind the stage victor. Though Roche falls from 22^nd to 44^th in the general classification, he still remains the leading Irishman on GC in this year’s Tour de France.

Unfortunately for Bennett’s teammate, Julian Alaphilippe, he lost the yellow jersey when penalised 20 seconds by the race jury for taking a water bottle inside the last 20 kilometres of the stage. The Frenchman lost the race leader’s jersey to Briton Adam Scott of Mitchelton-Scott and slips down the general classification to 16^th position, 16 seconds behind the new leader.

Former Mayo GAA Footballer Pearce Hanley retires from AFL

Former Mayo GAA Footballer Pearce Hanley has called time on his AFL career. Since 2008, the Mayo native has played 169 games down under.

The 31-year-old was recruited in 2007 by the Brisbane Lions. By that time, he had already made his Mayo senior debut.

Subsequently, Hanley made a name for himself in Australia. He played 129 games for the Brisbane Lions. Then, in 2016 he switched to the Gold Coast Suns.

Since then he has struggled with injury. Consequently, he has only managed 40 appearances on the Gold Coast. Still, Hanley is one of the most successful Irishmen to play in the AFL. Only Jim Stynes, Tadhg Kennelly, and Zach Tuohy have made more appearances.

Hanley said he didn’t make the decision lightly. “It’s obviously a big decision but I’m ready for it.” He continued to say he’s “excited for the next phase of his life”. It remains to be seen if he will return to Ireland and the GAA.

Gold Coast Suns General Manager Jon Haines was thankful for Hanley’s contribution. He cited his experience and leadership as major attributes. Accordingly, Hanley was the team’s vice-captain.

After 169 AFL games, former vice-captain Pearce Hanley has called time on his career. As a valued part our footy club over the last four years, we wish him all the best in the future. Go raibh maith agat, Pearce ☘️

👉 https://t.co/7Zl48JrtZb pic.twitter.com/t9NtBaFCYA

— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) September 2, 2020

Pearce paved the way

In recent years links with Australia have been a major talking point of the GAA. Complaints about Ireland’s top prospects being poached by the professional game have been plentiful. Nevertheless, Hanley was one of the first big names to go.

However, success at home does not guarantee success away. A lot of Irish players tested the waters of AFL but returned home. Ciarán Kilkenny will testify to this. Meanwhile, the likes of Conor McKenna (Tyrone) and Zach Tuohy (Laois) have stuck it out.

It finally seems like the Irish are figuring out the AFL. The most notable youngsters to leave recently are perhaps Stefan Okunbar and Callum Brown. With so many going before them they have lots to learn from. Of course, they always have to option of returning home.

Prior to Hanley’s arrival in 2008, the AFL was an unknown force for GAA players. In contrast, it is now a happy hunting ground. Irish hopefuls in Australia can look to Pearce Hanley for inspiration.

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https://twitter.com/GoldCoastSUNS/status/1301037588996792320

20,000 tickets go on sale for England v Barbarians rugby match

Tickets have gone on sale for the International rugby match between England v Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday, October 25.

Strange news for Irish sports fans but 20,000 spectators are set to attend England play the Barbarians next month, which goes totally against the medical advice in Ireland where zero supporters are allowed to attend sporting events.

English Rugby governing body the RFU has not got the full go-ahead from the British Government but the tickets go on sale today and they expect no issues for the 20,000 fans attending at a social distance.

Tickets for the Quilter Cup at Twickenham Stadium will go on sale today, 2 September.

RFU CEO Bill Sweeney said: “We continue to work closely with government and the local authority on the return of sports fans to the stadium. The numbers of fans able to attend, given social distancing requirements, will be significantly lower than normal and subject to final agreement from government.

“Local resident and spectator safety is our top priority and numerous measures are being implemented for the events that either adhere to or exceed the guidance provided by the government and the Sports Ground Safety Authority. A test event will be held to put into practice our operational plans and demonstrate that Twickenham Stadium is well prepared.”

England head coach Eddie Jones said: “This game will be an important start to the autumn for us. We are excited to represent England. We will train and prepare well and are looking forward to being back at Twickenham Stadium.”

Barbarian F.C. President John Spencer said: “We are working closely with the RFU to ensure England v Barbarians will be an exciting match in a safe environment.

“The safety of players, staff and supporters is paramount. The RFU are working hard to put the necessary protocols in place and we look forward to returning to Twickenham.”

TICKET DETAILS

The number of fans allowed into Twickenham Stadium for the fixture is based on social distancing requirements to mitigate against the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Subject to obtaining the relevant license and approvals including those from public health authorities, spectator numbers will be up to 20,000; less than 25 per cent of the stadium’s total 82,000 capacity.

Attendees can only buy tickets seated together for people in a single household, including their support bubble; this includes any transferred tickets. Tickets will initially be available to those with an existing booking from the postponed fixture, followed by a priority booking window for First XV members on 7 September. Any remaining tickets will be available for public sale from 8 September via EnglandRugby.com/tickets. Hospitality can be purchased via EnglandRugby.com/hospitality.

Numerous safety measures will be put in place, including:

Above normal staffing levels for the crowd size in order to manage social distancing and safety measures;
Mandatory use of face coverings by spectators except when in assigned seats or eating or drinking;
All tickets for the match will be digital and, with the exception of accompanied children and those with accessibility requirements attending with a companion, each mobile ticket will need to be on a separate device;
One way systems to manage crowd movement;
Assigned entry gates to minimise the build-up of queues;
Extensive queue lanes outside the stadium, on Rugby Road and Whitton Road to manage socially distanced queues;
Hand sanitisers will be provided throughout the stadium;
External toilet provision will be the same as an 82,000 capacity match, despite the reduced spectator numbers; and
The cleaning and waste collection regime will be significantly increased.

The Metropolitan Police is supportive of the plans in place to manage the return of fans to the stadium.

Fans can expect a different experience given the safety measures being implemented at the stadium and spectators will need to read and agree to follow a Spectator Code of Conduct to help mitigate the risks of COVID-19 transmission. An explanation of the experience can be seen in an animated video below.

Transfer News – Shane Duffy signs with Celtic

Irish defender Shane Duffy has confirmed his switch to Celtic.

The 28-year-old will join Neil Lennon’s side on a season-long loan. Duffy will be hoping for game time after falling down the pecking order at Brighton and Hove Albion. For instance, the likes of Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk, and Ben White have all been preferred.

He managed just 19 appearances last season. By comparison, in 18/19 he played 35 times. Likewise, he featured 37 times the season previous.

My dream to play for Celtic is here. I can’t thank everyone enough who helped me get this move done . I will give it my everything for this club to succeed while I am here now let’s go do it I CANT wait ☘️💚 pic.twitter.com/J5wFWdi5UV

— Shane Duffy (@shaneduffy) September 2, 2020

Neil Lennon spoke to Celtic FC’s website about the move. Firstly, he stated that the signing was “a real coup for the club”. Secondly, he referred to Shane as “a leader and a warrior”.

Duffy is looking forward to helping the Glasgow side. This season they challenge for their tenth League title in succession. He had a chance to speak about the move. “I just can’t wait to start working with the Manager, the staff, and the players.”

Duffy completed his medical in Dublin to facilitate the move. Currently, he is on international duty. As a result, the former Everton player had to seal the deal remotely.

Duffy a Key Man for Ireland

The Irish squad have flown to Sofia ahead of their game with Bulgaria. This will be Stephen Kenny’s debut as an international manager. Duffy is expected to feature heavily in the coming fixtures. The Nation’s League opener against Bulgaria kicks off at 19.45. After that, the Irish host Finland in Dublin on the 6th.

More international games arrive in October and November. Therefore, Duffy can impress Kenny from Celtic. Kenny’s arrival has been long-awaited. He will bring some exciting prospects to the team. However, Duffy’s place in the back four is likely to remain.

http://34.245.76.62/soccer/nations-league-football-betting-ireland-11-8-to-beat-bulgaria/

https://twitter.com/shaneduffy/status/1301081968176762882

Sam Bennett discusses today’s Tour de France stage

Today is stage 5 on the 2020 Tour de France, a stage that should suit sprinters.

Ireland’s Sam Bennett, now level on points with green jersey wearer Peter Sagan, spoke this morning at the stage start in Gap.

“I’ll probably just try and stay safe. I don’t think we need to make the race today” the Carrick-On-Suir cyclist admitted. “It’s a long way to Paris and the boys are doing a great job so far but if we keep going, working hard every day, we might blow-up after the first week.”

Regarding the final kilometre in Privas of Wednesday’s 183 kilometres, Bennett offered the following assessment:

“I think (the last km today) will be hard. I think the wind will play a big role but I’ll just try to stay calm and stay up there. If we keep riding the way we are, we’ll be done by the first week so it’s up to the other sprint teams today and if they don’t play their part then we’re just going to be rolling home. (I’ll) just try and survive the little drags and then I’m trying to keep open-minded – it’s very hard to predict. (My) confidence is ok but I’m still looking for that win. If I get that maybe that will help.”

The Deceuninck – Quick-Step rider, while admitting to making a mistake in the stage 1 sprint on Saturday, feels other sprinting teams have to work more and not just expect his team to bring it to a bunch sprint.

“I made a mistake in the first stage, but there was nothing else I could do in any other stage” says Bennett. “Today, I’ll just try and read the situation and go for it. I don’t know can we do too much today because we have yellow and have to defend that as long as possible. If the other teams don’t today, then there won’t be a bunch sprint. It’s something we’re not really targeting. You want it to be a bunch sprint but we’re not going to make it a bunch sprint ourselves. I think every sprinter here is good in this type of finish.”