Gameweek 23 provides us with a really super Sunday. We have the Second City, Tyne-Wear and Merseyside derbies to look forward to and if that’s not enough there is Man Utd’s visit to Tottenham to cap it all off. A day of goals, drama, high emotion and controversy is on the cards.

Aston Villa’s short trip to St Andrews looks to be a close encounter, and it could be at the back where the points are to be had. Ben Foster(5.2) is having an impressive season which has seen him notch 89 points so far. Birmingham’s uncompromising Liam Ridgewell(5.8) could be worth a run out. It’s a game that could be decided by a set play and Ridgewell will be right in the mix. Villa find themselves well and truly in the relegation battle and will be willing skipper Stylian Petrov(5.1) to recapture his inspirational form. Gerrard Houllier’s men need a boost fast, and their fit again Captain could be the man to provide it.

The only thing on Steve Bruce’s mind will be revenge come Sunday. Sunderland’s mauling at the hands of their rivals is still fresh in the memory. Phil Bardsley(4.7) will be hoping that goals are like buses after scoring his first goal for the club last gameweek and Mackem’s Goal-machine Darren Bent(8.6) must fancy his chances of getting on the scoresheet. In the absence of Andy Carroll the Magpies main threat will come from the engine room, in the form of Kevin Nolan(6.1) and Football’s Mr Popular Joey Barton(4.7), love him or hate him at 4.7 million with 76 points Barton is value for money.

King Kenny is back on the throne at Anfield. He is two matches into his reign and it is clear he has a job on his hands. Confidence is the main issue, if Fernando Torres(11.9) start’s banging the goals in on a regular basis, confidence will begin to spread throughout the side. Rivals Everton just can’t seem to decide what sort of season they are going to have and they must now cope without Asian Cup bound Tim Cahill. Extra pressure in Cahill’s absence falls upon string-puller Mikel Arteta(8.0). If you’re feeling brave then why not throw Luis Saha(7.6) into the mix, he may have porcelain hamstrings but he’s scored two goals in his last two games and who knows he might be on the start of a goal-scoring run.

If Tottenham are to be considered genuine title challengers then Sunday’s game is must win for them. Stand up Rafael Van Der Vaart(8.8), Gareth Bale(7.4) and Luka Modric(7.2), whoever can control the midfield in this one should come out with all three points. Dimitar Berbatov(9.4) will be desperate to spoil the party for the club he sulked his way out of and Nani(9.5) will also pose a threat to a side which tend to try and outscore their opponents. The clash at White Hart Lane has all the ingredients of a classic in the making.

And finally, if you feel the need to freshen up your attack, Robbie Keane is on the brink of signing for Birmingham City. Keane’s lack of action has seen his price drop to a very tempting 4.8 million.

That’s your lot 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

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 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

Phew!! Well what can I say? If it hadn’t been for the antics of Nani and the reliable consistency of Charlie Adam, last week’s effort would have been disastrous. This could end up being a cryptic tips column where doing the exact opposite will prove the most rewarding! I have always been taught to hold your hands up and admit when you are wrong, well my arms are aching having been raised apologetically all week.

My quest for redemption begins at the back where there is a definite bargain to be had. Jose Bosingwa is fit again and available for 5.6 million. He may not have forced his way back into the Chelsea starting eleven yet, but he will, and if you have space to add to your squad I recommend you snap him up before his value increases.

There are more defensive bargains available. Liverpool’s Sotirios Kyrgiakos may play havoc with most spellcheckers but is a snip at 5.1 million. The Greek is proving to be a rock at the back for the Reds and a threat going forward at set pieces.

White Hart Lane’s current hot topic is marauding down the left wing, but if you cast your eye to the opposite flank you will see that Alan Hutton has slotted in very well at right back. He is a rampaging attack minded full back and is excellent value at 4.8 million.

Now that I’ve mentioned it I can’t ignore it. Gareth Bale has the World at his feet after having had Maicon on toast, and remarkably the Welsh wonder is currently available for 6.7 million. How the likes of Man Utd, Barcelona, Inter Milan et al must wish that Fantasy League transfer fees translated directly into the real world.

If you don’t feel like hopping on board the Bale bandwagon then for the same price you can pick up Fulham’s goal getting midfielder Clint Dempsey, or for an extra million you can opt for Arsenal’s Samir Nasri. Both are locked on 47 points and are both are bang in form.

Last week’s big tip Emile Heskey won’t be kicking any balls for a while, no, he hasn’t rediscovered his World Cup form, the big striker has picked up a knee injury. I’d look to Blackpool’s front line to fill the gap, Luke Varney and Gary Taylor-Fletcher, 4.6 and 4.5 million respectively, are performing well and confidence will be high after picking up their first home win of the Season.

I can’t leave without mentioning Newcastle, after a barnstorming derby win against Sunderland Messrs. Nolan, Barton, Carroll and Ameobi will be looking to capitalise on Arsenals disappointing showing in the Champions League. The exciting thing about Newcastle this season is their total unpredictability, Sunday’s lunchtime clash at the Emirates could be a high scoring classic.

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

Saturday in the Premier League was eclipsed by the top three clubs in the table while Sunday witnessed two massive local derbies play out to incredibly different results. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United survived their respective matches to gain three points without dominating inferior opponents while Sunday’s rivalries produced a 0-0 and an emphatic 5-1 demolition.

The work in progress that is Manchester City again took one step forward and two steps back as a deserved Wolves side beat the Citizens in front of a brilliant crowd at Molineux. City took a well deserved early lead when a Jerome Boateng through ball put David Silva in on goal and Silva was subsequently felled by Richard Stearman and a penalty was awarded.

City looked the part of title challengers until just after Emmanuel Adebayor slotted home the penalty. After the lead, Manchester City all but sat back and invited Wolves to attack. Wolves obliged emphatically while £100m of attacking and footballing talent fell prey to the league’s 19th best team. City fans must soon start questioning the tactics and first team selection of boss Roberto Mancini as City’s loss on Saturday marks their second in a row, both with winger Adam Johnson far from the starting XI.

Honorable Mentions -

Matt Jarvis, Wolves – Jarvis started the match at home against City on the left flank and produced a number of good crosses into the box throughout his side’s 2-1 win. The 24 year old midfielder who gives fits to all in his path has been in fine form for Wolves this season yet the club still languish in 19th. Saturday’s home win could be just what Wolves need to jump start their season while Jarvis’ recent performances could be enough to warrant England consideration from Fabio Capello.

Mick McCarthy will want more of the same from his star man as Wolves hope to avoid any late season flirtation with relegation in their second season back in the top flight.

Matt Jarvis is the kind of player who thrives when he’s able to get at defenders one on one and provide service to a waiting striker in the box. He’s not as pacey as Gareth Bale or Nani, but he’s easily as efficient and hard working as any winger in the Premier League. Jarvis, along with opposite side winger Stephen Hunt, were the difference makers as they succeeded in stretching the City defense which enabled them to create two scrappy goals for the win.

Robert Green, West Ham – Rarely do I mention or award a player whose team lost over the weekend but Robert Green’s exploits for West Ham at the Emirates on Saturday deserves at least a nod. Green was sensational on the day between the posts for the Hammers who lost 1-0 and remain bottom, but it was the kind of inspirational performance Hammers fans would have wanted to see as their beloved continue to struggle.

Save after save was witnessed until Alex Song scored his third goal in three games late on for Arsenal to snatch all three points at home when West Ham were deserved of at least a point. Green has had a difficult run of form since his blunder for England at the World Cup this past summer but remains a quality shot stopper when tested.

Clint Dempsey, Fulham – The US international scored a brace for Fulham on Saturday against Wigan to lead the Cottagers to a much needed three points. After just a half hour, Dempsey jumped to meet a Carlos Salcido cross into the box to head home his first of the match. Dempsey’s opener was an impressive display of his attacking and heading abilities as he simply rose above the Wigan defenders to meet the ball first.

Dempsey’s second was twice as impressive when just before the half he was able to turn scraps into gold when he met a Chris Baird ball with a swinging right foot and volleyed his shot past Ali Al Habsi in the Wigan goal.

For Fulham, the points were secured before the half which allowed the London club to climb to 9th in the table.

Premier League Footballer of the Week -

Kevin Nolan, Newcastle – Newcastle’s Captain scored a hat-trick in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear Derby while Toon fans pinched themselves and asked the question, ‘does it get any better than this?’. When former Newcastle player Titus Bramble saw red and the goals continued to flood in, most Geordies started to answer that question with an unequivocal ‘No’.

The derby really was a tale of one side’s competence in front of goal and the other side’s incompetence at everything else. Newcastle opened the scoring through Nolan when the midfielder found the ball approaching him deep in Sunderland’s box. Without the time for a touch to settle, Nolan flicked the ball over his head while falling to the ground to beat Simon Mignolet for his first but not his last goal of the day.

Nolan’s second was the result of some shoddy defending by Sunderland, inept in all rights, but the Captain found himself in a forward position at the right place at the right time and showed enough poise to again beat Mignolet when the ball trickled into his path. Nolan’s third and final came off of a well taken set piece from Newcastle when Joey Barton’s corner found the other man of the moment, Shola Ameobi, who flicked on to Nolan to head home an unsaveable effort.

It was a day Newcastle won’t soon forget while most importantly the win places them 7th in the league table.

By all accounts it has been a rollercoaster week for Newcastle United boss Chris Hughton. After an impressive win away to West Ham, bookmakers suspended betting on Hughton been the next Premier League manager to lose his job.

The pressure was heightened after the Toon were dumped out of the Carling Cup by Arsenal , but today Hughton’s side were in stunning form as they brushed aside Sunderland to record a stunning 5-1 win over there local rivals.

A hat-trick from Kevin Nolan and as well as a brace from Shola Ameobi was easily enough to guide Newcastle to victory, but perhaps more importantly for Hughton, the win could go a long way to saving his job.

Hughton himself received the backing from the Geordie faithful during today’s game and was delighted with the crowds support. He said: “It means a lot and I’m always grateful to hear that. They are a spirited group of fans. All of the decisions on contracts will be made by the club.

 “But we will enjoy today and so will the supporters. The most important thing has always been seeing a wonderful group of players doing well and wanting to do it for this football club. The win is three points against our local rivals and you can see what it means to the players.  It was a wonderful team performance with some outstanding individual performances too.”

You really do have to hope that this result will go a long way to earning Hughton a new contract. While the Toon have had a very inconsistent start to life back in the Premier League, it was only to be expected given the lack of funds spent during the summer. In many ways I think Newcastle have vastly exceeded expectations with 14 points from their opening ten games.

The pressure on Hughton comes because he does not have the big name reputation as previous managers. But previous managers have all failed at Newcastle, maybe a low-profile manager like Hughton is exactly what they need in their bid to ensure Premier League safety.

After the disastrous conclusion to the 2008-09 season saw Newcastle fall in to the Championship, the only conclusion they wanted to last season was promotion. No other result was acceptable and the club cantered over the finish line as April began. A complete reversal of fortune from the doldrums the club went through prior to its relegation, The Magpies breezed to the title in imperious form.

With a squad with the quality of players such as Kevin Nolan, Steve Harper and Jose Enrique, they were always going to be favourites to return. Avoiding the perils of stagnation or losing large chunks of their squad to Premiership clubs, Newcastle were able to use the pain of relegation as a driving force for redemption.

Placing the quiet and softly spoken Chris Hughton as manager paid dividends for the club. As a player he’d played in some major matches for both club and country but last season was surely the pinnacle of his professional career so far. 102 points amassed, a goal difference of +55, unbeaten at home and only 4 defeats in the league. It was an impressive campaign from start to finish and 4 players, Nolan, Enrique, Carroll and Coloccini were all chosen in the Championship Team of the season. To top it off, Hughton was voted the Championship manager of the season too.

A more reflective sense of perspective seems to have descended on St. James Park this summer, as the club reflect on the forthcoming Premiership season. Transfer wise only two fairly low key signings have arrived, James Perch, the utility player from Nottingham Forest and Dan Gosling who has walked on Everton through a transfer loophole. Gosling is likely to be unavailable until at least Christmas as he recovers from a cruciate ligament injury.

It’s certainly not the usual hubbub of transfer action that we expect from the North East, but it seems lessons have been learnt from previous recruitment drives. My only concern is the lack of strength up front, though Andy Carroll certainly cemented a consistency that added to the expectations that had been laid upon him. The Newcastle fans love nothing more than one of their own leading the line and Carroll continues a tradition that goes back all the way to Jackie Milburn and beyond. Niall Ranger could also be another rough diamond that needs a polish up.

The majority of the squad know all about the Premiership, so for a promoted side it is unusual for them to not look towards major surgery. Getting Joey Barton fully fit and concentrating solely on football would be like signing a new player, such were the issues that over took his career in the last couple of years. There is top level experience running throughout the squad and Hughton knows that will be vital to keeping Newcastle up. Adding a few more bargains to strengthen the squad should be the main transfer aim before the deadline comes down.

Forget crazy ideas of finishing in the top ten, this club needs to concentrate on re-establishing itself in the Premiership before anything else comes to mind. No doubt Sky Sports will be scouring the town to look for the over optimistic nutters they only ever use when discussing Newcastle United who will be banging on about European qualification, but most Geordies know that stability and consolidation are the key words to any success, anything above 18th is all they need to worry about.

Please leave me your comments and you can follow me on www.twitter.com/paulbestall

Ah, Gary Megson, never a manager to pass the blame on to anyone else for his own shortcomings, has decided that today he would announce that certain players are trying to destabilise the club. After watching Sundays performance, I don’t blame them, they look a team with no self confidence, no belief and no faith in the manager. At least he’s not blaming the fans this week. It’s always some else’s fault in Gary Megson’s mind. On Sunday, they’d lost their zip. Now, dark forces are working against Gary Megson, not the fact he played two left wingers in the same midfield and substituted their best player on Sunday, Ricardo Gardner. Witchcraft is abound on Burnden Way in Megson’s eyes.

The fans do not need a reason to increase their dislike of a manager that they never wanted.The boo’s that came cascading down from the Reebok faithful when Ricardo Gardner was removed served to remind Megson that regardless of the chairman’s support, If enough fans stop going, it won’t matter. Money makes the world go round and Bolton’s gates have never been the highest. Currently 5,000 down on 2005-2006 season, even a local derby on Sunday against Blackburn couldn’t raise the attendance over 22,000.

To be honest, I think Gary Megson would lose a popularity contest if he was the only person in it and only his friends could vote. His dogmatic, banality at all costs style of football makes you want to stitch your eyelids together. That’s no attack on Bolton Wanderers, they have the quality of player to be able to get the ball down and play football. Under Allardyce, they attracted a quality of free signings and rough diamonds that played a high tempo, effective and physical game.Megson’s teams just won’t play football because he doesn’t know how to.

Under Megson, they look lost, without purpose and drive. A key point of this is Johan Elmander. Now, I’ve seen a bit of Elmander play over the last 3 or 4 years and right now, he looks like he’s never played the game before. There is no doubting that Elmander is a quality player and he made Toulouse a different side during his time there. Now, he looks like a fish out of water.Elmander is no Fernando Torres, but he’s a damn fine striker.

The chairman Phil Gartside has said there was no need to panic and he wasn’t the type to do so, but tell that to Sammy Lee. Gartside came out with this gem: “The season is 38 games and we are confident. We have been playing some good football, it’s been decent stuff. No one presses panic buttons around here. I have been in the game long enough not to do that.” Now I’ve yet to find a Reebok regular that would agree with any part of that statement.

Since Megson took over at the Reebok stadium, Bolton have played 92 games in all competitions under his stewardship. Incredibly, they’ve only won 26 of those matches. That’s a win ratio of 28.2% and Paul Hart who has so much to deal with and got sacked today had a win ratio at Pompey of 30%. With the fans baying for his blood, Bolton now face Fulham and Wolves away before Manchester City arrive and these are crucial games. The Christmas fixture computer has given them some tough local games and relegation six pointers, so things aren’t going to get any easier.

By once again blaming everyone else, Megson shows a thin skin to his limitations as a manager. As I mentioned earlier this year, Megson has a dreadful record as a manager, but keeps getting jobs. It astounds me how the same names keep going round and round and never achieving anything but the jobs keep coming. Mind you Megson claimed he’d been black balled after his dreadful spell at Nottingham Forest, which when you consider he only won 17 games out of 59, speaks for itself.

The dreaded vote of confidence has come, the fans are chomping at the bit to let him know just how little they think of him, attendances are falling, Megson is blaming the fans, the players and the club are second bottom. The question Bolton fans must be wondering is just how bad to things have to get at the Reebok before Megson gets sacked. We’ll find out soon enough if there is a happy ending in Horwich.

So Kevin Nolan will now face a three match ban for violent conduct, after his dreadful tackle on Victor Anichebe in today’s match, but I don’t think it’s sufficient punishment for such a bad challenge. It’s about time that the Premier League and the F.A. clamped down on such challenges more often. His team mate Danny Guthrie also received a 3 match ban after breaking Craig Fagans leg with a horrible and downright shameful tackle back in September.

Anichebe is lucky not have had his shin broken by Nolans two footed stamp and his look of shock when receiving the red card was pitiful. Chris Hughton has said that his first impression is that the challenge was poorly timed and not malicious. Quite how you can badly time a two footed lunge on to someone’s leg I do not know, but comments like that are frankly daft. Hughton may be trying to deflect the focus from Nolan, but mistimed? Never. It was a deliberate and controlled challenge by someone who knew exactly what he was doing. Let’s remember that Nolan was bragging about getting his former team mate at Bolton, J’Lloyd Samuel, to kick Theo Walcott as he was too fast for him back in September. Hardly the actions of an innocent man.

It’s about time the F.A. pulled their fingers out and started throwing the book at players who commit such tackles. I’m a big believer in suspensions matching injuries in situations like this. Guthrie should have been banned for 3 months after what he did to Fagan, Nolan should be banned for as long as Anichebe is out for. The lad has had a terrible season with injuries and this couldn’t have come at a worse time for him. He’s just back in to the first team squad and now gets clobbered by Nolan who claims it was accidental.

It just makes a mockery of the disciplinary process when players can commit such fouls and the F.A. sit silently by without reacting. After Gerrards behavior in the match against Chelsea, when he should have been sent off, Boswinga stamping on a players back whilst the assistant referee looked on and then Steve Bennets revelations, well, admissions, that players deliberately foul people to pick up cards to get time off makes you wonder just what is the point of the F.A.’s disciplinary panel. The Respect campaign seems to have fallen off the radar again but it takes the players, managers, the authorities and referees to all pull together.

When John Terry had his red card rescinded after being sent off against Manchester City, the Respect campaign simply fell apart.  How on earth can referee’s be expected to make a decision and then have it reversed on a whim? Having said that, Howard Webb had an absolute mare in yesterdays Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers game. The penalty incident especially. If it’s not a foul, then what happened to booking the player for simulation? Personally, I thought Gamst Pedersen went down very, very easily but if that had happened outside the box, what would the decision have been.

The F.A. need to start showing some guts and get tough with players who commit such challenges. Enough is enough.

If Alan Parry thinks refereeing is so easy, let’s see him be the man in black next week.

Football commentators sometimes stoke the fire by criticizing referees, which makes the TV viewers get emotional and forces undue pressure on referees, as well as countless subsequent articles in the press and people moaning on football radio shows.

Even worse is when referees get a crucial decision correct, such as the disallowed Bolton goal against Liverpool today. Alan Parry got it wrong claiming that Bolton goal should have been allowed. Parry must have missed the way Kevin Nolan manhandled Jose Pepe Reina and locked his arms around the Liverpool keeper before Gary Cahill nodded the ball into the Liverpool net. Even co-commentator Nigel Winterburn missed the foul too. Watch the video of the incident to help you make your own decision.

Worse still, Parry kept on claiming how Bolton were cheated of a goal and continued to criticize Rob Styles, an easy target for Parry.

Just as referees make mistakes, commentators need to be held accountable for their remarks too. Commentators often call for technology being introduced into the game, but it’s hypocritical when commentators, even with all of the technology available to them on TV, are unable to make correct calls too.

An interesting subplot to this story is that Alan Parry is a Liverpool supporter who has been criticized in the past by many TV viewers for being too biased toward Liverpool. As a result, Parry rarely commentates any games involving Liverpool on Sky television. Today’s Bolton against Liverpool match was on TWI, the international feed for football fans around the world.

Is it possible that Parry has been so concerned with his perceived bias against Liverpool that he is subconsciously trying too hard to be unbiased? And in doing so, he ends up being more biased against Liverpool. Or was it a simple mistake on his behalf?

As for Liverpool, they continue to look like true Premier League title contenders after scoring two sublime goals to win 2-0. The final score could have been at least 4-0 to Liverpool after several players missed easy changes in front of goal. Bolton, meanwhile, have a long season ahead of them if they want to elude relegation.