| Introduction |

Enter my mind, enter the zone.

On your lap top, or on your phone.

If you dare.

This was written here, there & everywhere.

Stick with it, aside from my chaos, there is plenty of nice statistical bits in here to get stuck into.

Hopefully there is lots of info to soak up from a general football point of view and/or from a fantasy football point of view.

I sure do like unearthing some statistics.

(Yes, outward thinking, think on to be about outward thinking)

Previously on some lad picks footballers in a fantasy game…

Yeah, I’m into some weird stuff me…I have two fantasy footy teams and write about them on a weekly basis…

Hang on.

So.

I’ll show my scores then I suppose.

(If I put one of those images up then it’ll be the main photo showing up on Twitter)

(Vamos a ver, wait a minute)

(I may go back to that bit)

(Ah, here comes flow state, see this bit usually helps)

(A bit of imperfection helps)

(I can make it more conventional again in a bit)

Well, I got 82 points in FPL.

(Stay in the zone)

(Stay in the zone)

(Stay in the zone)

(It’ll be ready to put this out I’m a minute)

So I’m currently standing up writing this, as you do, well it’s 2023 (whatever works eh).

(Even if only 3 people read this then it’s for my CV/LinkedIn & it helps me do well at FPL & SKYFF/keep on top of the footy, be expressive, whatever)

(It gives me an outlet)

(It is satisfying during and afterwards)

This week on some lad picks footballers in a fantasy game…

(Actually, I’ll do bits on the previous week)

GW24 awaits, and for once it is not a DGW.

So most of this is written now.

Flippin’ eck lad/lady.

Do I really do this every week.

(Stop moanin’)

(Stop moanin’)

(Stop moanin’)

(Some tunes will get me through this)

Well.

Here we go.

I find this bit helps get some flow goin’.

Ok, here’s what I’m going to do, time to be decisive.

I’m putting my teams up (no transfers, no changes).

I’ll get this out, and I’ve got the option of doing another post (or putting something extra on social media or whatever) if I were to make any transfers between now and Saturday (18/02/23).

There is not that much standing out this week in my opinion, and some yard dog centre back will probably score a goal from a corner out of the blue or something (can’t really predict that, I’m sorta joking, but yeah I’m leaning towards leaving it really) – think I’ll stick with what I have.

Saving two transfers can be handy, but also from a psychology point of view I think it can be useful to refresh mentally (from a mental health point of view or to avoid decision fatigue).

I want to buy myself some thinking time, and a couple of transfers saved may be handy moving forward.

It can get help me fantasy footy wise too, although I’m mainly set at around this point (written on 17/02/23).

I don’t think I’m making any transfers for either side, or I’ll see where I’m at later on.

(Get this done bit lad)

This has become fun again, who cares about fantasy footy, just enjoy being in the zone (that is me talking to myself/to you).

| Band/Artist Music (Spotify) – The Coral |

Well done if you’re still reading this by the way, well, I’m proper in the zone here. (nearly there, nearly there, nearly there)

(I’ll get this out in a bit, later on)

(Double check those stats)

(Triple check those stats)

(Watch Fantasy Football Scout’s Team News Video, sound will do)

(Throw some photos of nature in for a laugh, sound will do)

Welcome to my mind, welcome to my consciousness, welcome to my psychedelic trips (sort, combined with music, it may give off a trippy vibe)

(Whatever, I’ll keep that bit in)

(Insert a few more songs, sound will do)

(Love it when I get in the zone, people may think I’m that I’m bonkers, who cares)

(Stay in the zone, stay in the zone, stay in the zone)

(Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow)

(Check my emails, nevermind that right now, stay focused)

Welcome to my mind again, it’s awful and amazing all at the same time.

(Funnily enough, putting songs in helps me when editing it)

Or the zone, whatever.

Facts corner –

I’ve seen The Coral five and half times (something like that)

I got thrown out of Coral gig once about half way through for crowd surfing (well you know I am a rebel)

(Stop writing about yourself)

Ok, I’m stopping this half way through because I need to buy some milk.

Don’t even read this post, just go listen to that song somewhere on repeat for ages.

| Team(s) Reveals |

| 18/02/23 | 12:30 (GMT) | Villa Park | Aston Villa (4-4-2 on paper) Vs Arsenal (4-3-3 on paper)| Emery Faces His Old Club, Villa’s Centre Back/Full Back Problems, No Partey (?)/Arsenal’s Mini Dip Or Are Arsenal Still In Flow Full (The Robert Pires & Paul Merson Derby) |

Aston Villa, 11th in the table, recently have lost back to back league matches against league leaders Manchester City (3-1) and Leicester City (2-4) respectively.

● Aston Villa have conceded 7 goals in their previous 2 Premier League matches

Villa had won 3 of their 4 league matches prior to being beaten by Leicester (then they lost 2 in a row, but it’s nice to know)

Arsenal are winless in their previous 3 league matches, and are now 2nd in the table, and need to respond in GW24.

With a game in hand on new leaders Manchester City, all is not lost, and Arteta’s side are set to face bottom half sides in their forthcoming Premier League fixtures.

Arsenal’s next seven fixtures are *mostly* against sides in the bottom half (providing that fixtures do not get moved about, written on 16/02/23).

Vs Aston Villa (A)

Vs Leicester City (H)

Vs Everton (H)

Vs Bournemouth (H)

Vs Fulham (A)

Vs Crystal Palace (H)

Vs Leeds United (H)

| 18/02/23 | 15:00 (GMT) | The Brentford Community Stadium | Brentford (3-5-2 on paper) on paper Vs Crystal Palace (4-3-3 on paper) | Brentford’s (Home) Form, Toney & Palace’s Counter Attacks (?) |

Brentford are on a big unbeaten (Premier League) run (no defeat in the Premier League since October think that am I right in saying).

Brentford come off the back off a positive result away against Arsenal (1-1), having created numerous chances at the Emirates, with 9 attempts on goal (they had a higher xG than Arsenal on the day too).

● Brentford are unbeaten in their previous 6 Premier League matches (4 wins)

● Brentford (8th) have only lost 1 league match at home thus far in 2022/23 (written on 16/02/23)

● Crystal Palace are win-less (without a win) in their previous 6 Premier League matches

● Toney is Brentford’s top scorer with 14 goals

Palace look like they will be without Wilfred Zaha in GW24.

| 18/02/23 | 15:00 (GMT) | The Amex Stadium | Brighton (4-2-3-1/3-4-2-1 on paper, depending on the fixture) Vs Fulham (4-2-3-1) | Brighton’s Chance Creation, Estupiñan, Fulham’ Improved Defence (?) & Mitro’s Shooting Volume/Numbers |

● Brighton are unbeaten in their previous 5 Premier League matches (3 wins)

● Brighton are 6th in the Premier League

● Brighton are 6th for xG (33.8) in 2022/23 (self-compiled by using FBREF)

● Fulham are 7th in the Premier League (you get amazing information here)

● Fulham are 7th for points taken away from home (14) in the Premier League in 2022/23

Mitrovic had 100 shots last week I think, mesin, think he had 6 or 7 jokes aside – the Serbian international bagged multi goals at the World Cup – (scored at Leicester) and remains one of the top scorers in the league (only Haaland, Kane, Toney & Rashford have netted more) this season.

Mitro is a doubt (75 per cent), but he’ll sound, just get the magic sponge on him (well I’m starting him, as things stand).

● Fulham have picked up 4 clean sheets in their previous 8 Premier League matches

(It is almost if there is a correlation between points taken away from home and league position

(It is almost as if that there sometimes is a correlation between xG/goals scored and league position)

| 18/02/23 | 15:00 (GMT) | Stamford Bridge | Chelsea (every formation, Potter is their manager/coach) Vs Southampton (New manager, ask him what formation they’ll play) – The Le Saux Derby | Chelsea’s Attacking Flare & Saint’s Winless Run |

Chelsea (10th) were defeated by Dortmund in Germany midweek, drew at West Ham, against Fulham and Liverpool in recent weeks (7 draws, only Newcastle United & Brentford have drew more this season with 11 & 10 respectively) – generally speaking they have had a few better results in weeks as they are unbeaten in 4 league matches having picked up several clean sheets in the process (8 league wins in 2022/23) but they do not have a particular decent scoring record in 2022/23 (they have quite a low xG at home too).

They do have lots of quality players though for sure, although they are not currently convincing, they will surely improve sooner or later.

Southampton kinda have nothing to lose in this one (apart from the match), and are free-ed up now that Jones has departed the club as manager/coach.

● Southampton have won only one Premier League match in 2023 (they did win at Everton & beat City at home in the League Cup)

| 18/02/23 | 15:00 (GMT) | Goodison Park | Everton (18th, 4-4-2/4-4-1/4-5-1 ish on paper) Vs Leeds United (17th, 4-3-3/4-1-4-1) | Will The Old Lady Be Rockin’, Everton’s Threat In Wide Areas/Set Piece Threat,Can Leeds Land Knock Out Blows / Leeds Chance Creation / Runs In Behind |

Everton were victorious in their previous home match against Arsenal (1-0), and may feel like they can get at Leeds in wide areas given how Leeds lack pace on their right hand side (Ayling has been starting recently) and how Firpo can be got at.

Dyche’s sides are not renowned for attacking football, but he can set up sides to attack in wide areas and of course have a threat on set pieces.

Leeds United have lost 7 matches away from home in the Premier League in 2022/23 – have an xGA (expected goals against) of 16.8 – and they do tend to concede away from home (this season).

Leeds United continue to create numerous chances.

Leeds United have created a high volume of chances in their previous 6 Premier League matches having created racked up (aproximately) 73 shots in their previous 6 league matches

Leeds United’s overall away from home xG reads as 14.7 (7th best away from home in the Premier League in 2022/23, think that is right).

Leeds United’s overall xG (home/away) is 29.00 (10th).

| 18/02/23 | 15:00 (GMT) | The City Ground | Nottingham Forest (14th, 4-2-3-1 ish) Vs Manchester City (sometimes 3 at the back, 4-2-3-1/4-1-4-1/4-3-3/4-4-2 I don’t know ask Guardiola)| Forest’s Recent Respectful Home Record, Forest Have Wood, Forest & City Again At Notts Forest’ Gaff & Manchester City’s Slightly Off Away Days |

● Nottingham Forest are unbeaten at home in the Premier League since September (double/triple checked that, think that is right yeah)

Manchester City are a bit 3 at the back sometimes, I don’t know – maybe that was just for Arsenal/recent matches – they remain first for Xg/for most goals scored in the Premier League in 2022/23.

● Manchester City have scored 3 goals or more 5 times in the Premier League since the World Cup (get on that for a stat lad)

● Manchester City (1st) are the league’s leading scorers

● Erling Haaland is the league’s top goal scorer (top analisis…analysis en inglés/analysis in English here)

| 18/02/23 | 15:00 (GMT) | Wolves Vs Bournemouth | Wolves (3-4-3/4-3-3/4-2-3-1 on paper, depending on the fixture) ‘ Home Dips (?) & Bournemouth’s Counter Attacks/Transitions |

A couple of Wolves’ wins of late have came away from home, curiously enough, but the Midlands club have won 3 of their previous 6 Premier League matches (home/away).

Bournemouth (19th) have the lowest xG away from home (7.7) in the Premier League.

Eye test wise, I think Bournemouth do have it in them to counter/transition well, and may well take a lot from an impressive performance against Newcastle United (and a half decent result) in GW23.

| 18/02/23 | 17:30 (GMT) | St.James’ Park | Newcastle United Vs Liverpool | Newcastle United’s Slight Dip/No Bruno G (?), Newcastle’s Home Record, Liverpool’s Away Record in 2022/23, St.James’ Park Atmosphere, Liverpool’s New Midfield Combination, Liverpool’s Returners Boost & Can Liverpool Channel The Spirit of 2018/19 |

Newcastle United still have the best defence in the Premier League in 2022/23 in terms of least goals conceded (13).

Newcastle United are unbeaten at home in the Premier League in 2022/23.

Liverpool come off the back off a big boost after beating their Merseyside rivals Everton (2-0) in (D)GW23.

Liverpool have a chance to close the gap on Newcastle United – and to try to gain some momentum – whilst having a game in hand.

(I need help to stop writing lad, actually I’ve not written too much this week, ah being too sensible isn’t really me)

Liverpool may provide a threat on the break a big pitch (top analysis this).

Liverpool’s Xg is pretty impressive (3rd best in the league), Liverpool’s away record in 2022/23 is nothing to write home about but they are the only side to have beaten Newcastle United in the Premier League this season.

Liverpool were victorious against Newcastle United (2-3) at St.James’ Park in 2018/19.

Liverpool looked far from compact, and despite Everton creating a couple of decent chances, Liverpool came away with their 6th clean sheet in the Premier League in 2022/23.

| 19/02/23 | 14:00 (GMT) | Old Trafford | Manchester United Vs Leicester City | Manchester United’s Record Against Leicester, Manchester United’s Home Form, Shaw’s Form, Fernandes Without Eriksen/Ronaldo, Rashford’s On Fire & Leicester’s Goal Scoring Form |

Manchester United picked up a decent result in Europe on Thursday (16/02/23) away at Barcelona (2-2) in the UEFA Europa League.

Manchester United tend to beat Leicester City at home.

● Manchester United have won 6 of their previous 7 matches at home in the Premier League

Bruno Fernandes continues to make impressive runs in the area – as well as getting into advanced positions in the final third – he’s returned (goals/assists) fairly well since the World Cup (he may be getting more joy with Eriksen/Ronaldo not bring in the side/at the club)

● Only Bournemouth & Southampton have conceded more goals than Leicester City in the Premier League in 2022/23

● Leicester are the 7th/8th/9th (36 goals scored, level with Brentford & Liverpool) top scoring team in the league (or something like that)

| 19/02/23 | 16:30 (GMT) | The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | Spurs Vs West Ham United | Spurs’ Home Form, Spurs Vs West Ham Head To Head Record & The Hammer’s Mini Improvements Or Not (?) |

● Spurs are the 3rd top scoring team in the league 2022/23 (there’s a new stat for you)

● Spurs have won 3 of their previous 6 Premier League matches (all or nothing, 3 defeats too)

Spurs were beaten in Milan by AC (1-0), are without Conte (he is resting), face a West Ham side that set up fairly similarly to how Milan did in midweek (different styles) – they may look to play with a low block & counter.

West Ham do alright against Spurs don’t they, I don’t know, they’ve definitely had a result or two there/against Spurs in recent seasons.

● West Ham United (16th) are unbeaten in 4 of their previous 6 Premier League matches

| Recap/Overview |

● Arsenal play twice in DGW25

● Manchester United, Newcastle United & Brighton do not feature in DGW25

● Brighton feature in DGW27 (Brentford, Southampton, Palace do too)

…

I’ll figure the rest out ASAP – future me can worry about it, mesin – I’m very much aware of what’s coming up DGW wise…sorta.

Ok, I’ve checked this loads now, it’s getting posted.