Well last week didn't go entirely to plan, did it? We were successful with our selection of Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny, but we can admit that the selection of the Frenchman against Aston Villa was effectively our banker of the weekend. As for the rest, it just didn't work out.
Peter Crouch helped Stoke City beat Queens Park Rangers but he couldn't find the back of the net, Marouane Chamakh started for Crystal Palace versus Everton but had to be replaced after 25 minutes, while Ashley Williams made us look rather silly for including him in our 'who to avoid' list by producing one of his best displays of the season to shut out Southampton at St Mary's.
If you still have faith in us, Sports Mole's six selections for week 24 are below.
Who to pick
1. Sergio Aguero
He may have been ineffective in his three starts and one substitute appearance since his return from a knee injury, but that's not a run that is likely to be extended for too long. Before being sidelined, Sergio Aguero was in lethal form, netting eight goals during a seven-game spell, which included a hat-trick against Bayern Munich, and sooner rather than later, he will rediscover that touch in front of goal. That could occur on Saturday afternoon when a Hull City outfit lacking in confidence make the trip to the Etihad Stadium, and if the Argentine can get on the board in the early stages, who would bet against more goals being netted later in the match?
2. Christian Eriksen
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It may have taken him a while to adapt to the tactics of head coach Mauricio Pochettino, but Christian Eriksen is really beginning to flourish in his role at Tottenham Hotspur. Half of his four recent goals have come from set pieces - two of the best that we will see all season - but it's the fashion in which he is linking up with Harry Kane that has given Spurs fans plenty of reason to be encouraged. It's the North London derby on Saturday, which is a game in which the flair players may struggle to display their full skill-set, but despite Arsenal keeping three top-flight clean sheets in a row, we are backing Eriksen to rise to the occasion and produce another match-winning performance for his side.
3. Vincent Kompany
Over the past six weeks, Manchester City have found clean sheets hard to come by, with their last shutout being registered five days before Christmas. Since that day, nine goals have been shipped in six Premier League outings, but last week's showing against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge suggested that the Premier League champions were on the brink of turning a corner. City ensured that the Blues barely created a chance for the final 50 minutes of that contest, and if they can continue where they left off against a Hull team who have only scored in four of their last 15 fixtures, they should be able to complete a more assured performance at the back.
Who to avoid
1. Winston Reid
Despite establishing themselves as a top-eight Premier League side and reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup, albeit controversially, it's been a mixed bag from West Ham United since the turn of the year and improvements are required if they are to sustain their current top-flight position. The Hammers have won just two of their last nine matches in all competitions, with their only clean sheets coming against goal-shy Hull City and League One Bristol City. After last week's defeat at Liverpool, the pressure will be on the home side at Upton Park this weekend when they play Manchester United, and with Louis van Gaal's team travelling to London on the back of just one defeat in 16 matches, it's advisable to stay clear of any of the West Ham defence.
2. Christian Benteke
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If you are a striker for Aston Villa, it's been a long couple of months, hasn't it? With the team receiving constant criticism for their performances in front of goal, much of the responsibility is falling on the shoulders of Christian Benteke, who is needed to break the club's run of 612 minutes without a Premier League goal. However, so far, the Belgian has failed to deliver with just one top-flight goal coming in his last nine appearances. The striker, once valued at £30m, has the potential to improve his recent run, but with Chelsea in town on Saturday afternoon, the odds are against the forward doing that at the weekend.
3. Jose Fonte
Jose Fonte has been one of the mainstays of a Southampton defence that has impressed throughout the course of the season, but over the past few games, small vulnerabilities have started to appear in the backline. The Saints only lost out to a long-range effort from Jonjo Shelvey last week, but conceding three against Crystal Palace during the previous game may suggest a bit of uncertainty in the back four. Ronald Koeman's team travel to managerless Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, but Loftus Road has been the setting where QPR have registered all of their Premier League points this season. Combine that with the absence of left-back Ryan Bertrand, and we think that you should avoid any Southampton defenders this week.
