Clinical Clint
American star is MVP on a high-scoring week
By Jonathan Witty - Twitter: @skybet_Jonathan. Last Updated: January 23, 2012 6:38pm
Dempsey: Firing on all cylinders
The transfer window may be slowly creaking shut, but one man Sky Sports Fantasy Football bosses should be targeting is Clint Dempsey.
The Fulham man bagged 22 points this week with a second-half hat-trick against Newcastle, as the Cottagers romped to a 5-2 victory.
It was his second treble of the month, the first did not count as it was in the FA Cup, and it moved him up to third in the overall leaderboard for midfielder points scored.
Dempsey looks a snip at £6.7 million on 106 points, only behind David Silva (125pts) and Gareth Bale (119pts) in the standings.
His teammate Bobby Zamora also made the Team of the Week with a 16-point haul as he bagged one against the Magpies and created three more.
There was also an impressive haul for Aston Villa striker Robbie Keane (17pts), who bagged a brace against one of this many former clubs as Alex McLeish's men edged Wolves 3-2.
Keane refused to celebrate after scoring, but if that is his attitude to goals scored against his old flames then it probably means we won't be seeing his trademark roly poly gunslinger action.
Insipred
New manager Martin O'Neill effect has inspired Sunderland to a host of impressive results recently, including a 1-0 win against league leaders Manchester City, but nothing will match the importance of having a hat-trick of stars in our starting XI.
The clean sheet in the Black Cats' 2-0 victory against in-from Swansea meant defenders Wes Brown (7pts) and Man of the Match Phil Bardsley (12pts) made the cut as well as goalscorer Stephane Sessegnon (10pts).
Saturday was a good day for clean sheets with the live Sky Sports game between Norwich and Chelsea ending goalless.
This was particularly beneficial for Blues full-back Jose Bosingwa (7pts), Norwich defender Zak Whitbread (7pts) and goalkeeper John Ruddy, who was awarded the MoTM award, to earn 12 points.
Despite goals galore in the Super Sunday clashes, only Antonio Valencia made the cut with a goal and an assist to help Manchester United edge Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates.
Finally, there was nothing subtle about Akos Buzsaky's path to the starting XI as his outstanding 30-yard free-kick and MoTM award in QPR's 3-1 win against Wigan saw him snaffle 12 points.
