<a href="http:\/\/epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/clint-dempsey.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/clint-dempsey.jpg"></a></figure></div>
Four of the top five battle it out with each other this week while Man City travel to bottom of the table West Ham. Arsenal could end gameweek 17 in fourth position, having started it Top of the table. Chances are it will be as you were. It has been such an unpredictable season that this has to be the weekend where the top five match each other and pick up a point a piece.
Having written off the Premier Leagues big hitters I’m looking further down the&nbsp;table for points this week. Fulham need to take three points off an in form Sunderland on Saturday. Midfielder Clint Dempsey(6.8) leads the way with 69 points this season. Man mountain Brede Hangeland(5.6) has also performed well picking up 53 points.
Sunderland are flying at the moment, due to the form of Ghanaian goal machine Asamoah Gyan(7.1), Jordan Henderson(5.5) and Nedum Onuoha(5.3). The Black Cats good run can also be attributed to the return of stopper Craig Gordon(4.5), the Scot has amassed 21 points in five games keeping two clean sheets along the way.
In gameweek 14 I said that Stoke’s Matthew Etherington(5.8) was worth a gamble. The winger has notched 27 points in his last three games, his good run is sure to continue against a Blackpool side that has conceded 29 goals in 16 games.
Alan Pardew’s first task as Newcastle boss is to address their inconsistent home form. Next up at St James Park is Liverpool in Saturday’s late game. Steven Gerrard(11.2) could feature, Fernando Torres(11.9) finally looks interested, Joe Cole(8.3) is nearing full fitness and most surprising of all Ryan Babel(6.7) played 90 minutes and scored a goal. The Magpies will be hoping that Kevin Nolan(6.1) will return from injury and that Andy Carroll(6.2) can add to his fantastic tally of 94 points.
Everton find themselves stuck in no man’s land. Right now their season could go one of two ways – An assault on the top eight, or a scrap in the bottom six. David Moyes men need to follow on from their point at Stamford Bridge with victory at home to Wigan. Centre Back Phil Jagielka(5.8) has reached a half century of points for the season, Tim Cahill(9.1) is doing for the Toffees what Steven Gerrard so often does for rivals Liverpool and Jermaine Beckford(5.1) may just be getting the knack of top flight Football. The Latics welcome back Hugo Rodallega from suspension, but I feel Roberto Martinez men will leave Goodison Park empty handed.
Last mention goes to Blackburn’s Chris Samba(5.1), one of those defenders who is imposing at the back and a genuine goal threat from set plays. Rovers have responded well after having their bottoms well and truly spanked by Man Utd and big Chris is an integral part of a normally(Old Trafford annihilation apart) tight defence.
That’s your lot for this week. If you feel like joining in the fun then join the EPL League by visiting: http:\/\/fantasy.premierleague.com/ the code you need to join is 13413-5300

Fantasy Premier League Tips Gameweek 17 - World Soccer Talk

Fantasy Premier League Tips Gameweek 17

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-june-2010/image/9230084?term=Gyan" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
Sunderland’s record signing Asamoah Gyan has admitted he faces a stern task to justify his £13million transfer fee. The Ghanaian forward completed a move to the North East on deadline day, but the transfer raised eyebrows with its vast price tag, and Gyan is well aware that expectations from him will be high.
The 24-year-old told BBC Sport: “It has been my dream to go to England and it is one of the best moments of my career. I am somebody who can soak up the pressure. Sunderland is not like Chelsea who can buy players for £15m, but they did which suggests the coach has a lot of confidence in me and sees the calibre of player I am.
“As a spearhead people will expect you to score goals. Secondly they bought me with a huge amount of money and most of the fans will be expecting extraordinary things. But &nbsp;I can deal with the pressure.”
Gyan’s confidence is admirable, but whether he can live up to his promises is another question.&nbsp; Top players aside, It is rare that players come in from abroad and make an immediate impact in the Premier League, and you do feel that Sunderland have paid over the odds for a player with no experience of playing in England.
But what Gyan does have going for him is his physical qualities and exemplary attitude. While English fans won’t have seen much of Gyan, in the World Cup he was superb , showing some lethal pace and strength coupled with excellent finishes.
The worry for Sunderland fans will be that Gyan follows a long list of players signed on the back of a good World Cup.&nbsp; A quick look over his past reveals a forward who although never clinical has always chipped in with goals, but has struggled with injuries. In the 2007-2008 season Gyan, &nbsp;then at Udinese,&nbsp;was struck by injury and missed virtually the whole campaign.
But a move to France followed and Gyan scored 14 times in 48 games&nbsp;for Ligue 1 club Rennes.&nbsp; That sort of record demonstrates the sort of role that Sunderland boss will be looking Gyan to play.&nbsp; I suspect that Gyan will be the forward to do the dirty work, letting Darren Bent be the clinical goal-getter.
The problem with this though is that Gyan might not get the glory to justify his price. Football fans are fickle and often don’t recognise players who bring the subtle qualities of the squad together. But I hope for Gyan that Sunderland fans take note of what he brings to the team, should he not score the goals his price tag demands.

Pressure Is On Sunderland&#039;s New Star - World Soccer Talk

Pressure Is On Sunderland's New Star

Latest news from Asamoah Gyan. Find out about all the news related to Asamoah Gyan on worldsoccertalk.com

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Asamoah Gyan"

Arsenal

Fantasy Premier League Tips Gameweek 17

General

Pressure Is On Sunderland's New Star