Surviving the Winter

If my fantasy team was a TV show then Bear Grylls would be waist deep in freezing cold water while being chased by a hungry, pissed off bear. The season was going relatively well but starting to sputter so I did what any fantasy obsessive would do - blow up the team and replace them with too many spot starters (O'Shea), players on the decline (Berbatov) and injured stars (Fabregas). Four of my five best weeks came in GW1 -5 and I haven't topped 50 points since GW10.

My points per week are on the decline and my overall position in the game is taking a beating. However, all is not lost. My team is fit (outside of Fabregas who has been sold) and I'm hopeful for the weeks ahead. My plan is to survive until I can play my second wildcard, and then reload for a push for the final third of the season. We have 9 gameweeks until the wildcard window opens so let's take a quick look at who looks to be valuable between now and then (for those not looking to use their wildcard them, 9 weeks is a useful timeline to make transfers for so the below rankings still hold some use).

Defensive Rankings

Jose Mourinho division (bona fide class team, a great play nearly every week)
1. Chelsea (6 green light, 1 red light, 0.75 GPG avg)
2. Man City (6 green light, 1 red light, 0.83 GPG avg)
3. Everton (5 green light, 1 red light, 1.06 GPG avg)

Arsene Wenger division (can be great but have too many off weeks to be considered elite)
4. Arsenal (6 green light, 3 red light, 1.01 GPG avg)
5. Sunderland (5 green light, 2 red light, 1.11 GPG avg)
6. Man Utd (4 green light, 3 red light, 1.25 GPG avg)
7. Birmingham (5 green light, 4 red light, 1.19 GPG avg)
8. Liverpool (4 green light, 3 red light, 1.22 GPG avg)

Sam Allardyce division (not flashy but they do have some value every other week or so)
9. Blackburn (4 green light, 4 red light, 1.56 GPG avg)
10. Aston Villa (4 green light, 4 red light, 1.55 GPG avg)
11. Fulham (2 green light, 1 red light, 1.15 GPG avg)
12. Tottenham (3 green light, 3 red light, 1.25 GPG avg)
13. Newcastle (3 green light, 4 red light, 1.30 GPG avg)
14. Stoke (3 green light, 2 red light, 1.40 GPG avg)

Tony Pulis division (you aren't happy with them but they sometimes get the job done)
15. Bolton (1 green light, 4 red light, 1.52 GPG avg)
16. Wigan (0 green light, 2 red light, 1.42 GPG avg)

Gary Megson division (please God no, I thought we were rid of you)
17. Wolves (1 green light, 6 red light, 1.60 GPG avg)
18. West Brom (2 green light, 5 red light, 1.80 GPG avg)
19. West Ham (2 green light, 6 red light, 1.72 GPG avg)
20. Blackpool (1 green light, 8 red light, 1.92 GPG avg)

Attacking Rankings

Leo Messi division (might have the odd bad week but class is permanent)
1. Chelsea (8 green light, 0 red light, 2.27 GPG avg)
2. Man Utd (6 green light, 2 red light, 1.79 GPG avg)
3. Arsenal (6 green light, 3 red light, 1.58 GPG avg)

Kevin Davies division (whatever you say, these guys are solid almost every week)
4. Bolton (4 green light, 3 red light, 1.82 GPG avg)
5. Man City (6 green light, 1 red light, 1.49 GPG avg)
6. Blackpool (4 green light, 2 red light, 1.52 GPG avg)

Nicolas Anelka division (should be better but tough fixtures make these teams inconsistent)
7. Sunderland (5 green light, 2 red light, 1.39 GPG avg)
8. Tottenham (4 green light, 2 red light, 1.39 GPG avg)
9. Newcastle (2 green light, 4 red light, 1.41 GPG avg)

Emmanuel Adebayor division (have some talent but find a way to not score)
10. Liverpool (3 green light, 4 red light, 1.34 GPG avg)
11. West Brom (2 green light, 2 red light, 1.28 GPG avg)
12. Stoke (2 green light, 3 red light, 1.24 GPG avg)
13. Birmingham (2 green light, 2 red light, 1.23 GPG avg)
14. Fulham (3 green light, 4 red light, 1.17 GPG avg)
15. Everton (3 green light, 4 red light, 1.15 GPG avg)
16. Blackburn (2 green light, 3 red light, 1.15 GPG avg)

Carlton Cole (you can try and talk yourself into them but eventually you'll be disappointed)
17. Aston Villa (3 green light, 5 red light, 1. 03GPG avg)
18. Wolves (1 green light, 6 red light, 0.89 GPG avg)
19. Wigan (0 green light, 8 red light, 0.76 GPG avg)
20. West Ham (1 green light, 7 red light, 0.71 GPG avg)

Don't forget to check out this week's rankings and as always posts are welcomed below or @plfantasy.