New Year. New Scores.

We've had 6 matches since the new scoring system was introduced and we're beginning to see the effects.


The first match was in the FA Cup, Arsenal at home to Leeds, and the highest 5 scorers were Arshavin, Eboue, Bendtner, Gibbs and Fabregas - which, barn-door Bendtner apart, wouldn't have been far off a strong Big Game before the changes. Fabregas sneaked into the top 5 with a goal but the next two, Denilson and Leeds keeper Schmeichel, were also unsurprising. Perhaps the biggest lesson learned from this first game under the new regime was that even woefully out of form players like Arshavin and Bendtner are worth a sniff as you still get 5 points if a shot hits the corner flag.
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Evra and Carrick made the top 5 in the Man Utd./Liverpool clash but more interesting were the other three, Giggs, Berbatov and Reina. Giggs scored but even under the old system that goal would've left him 9 points clear of second placed Evra. 9 completed crosses gave him 27 points, worth only 9 in old money, which was the significant reason for his stellar performance. Arshavin picked up 21 points for crosses in the previous match but his was a more balanced improvement, picking up enhanced points for shots on target, shots blocked and corners won. Berbatov was a surprise, the languid Bulgarian rarely drags himself over 50 points. 4 shots on target were the difference in this game though, he'd only matched that once before in 15 Picklive appearances. Reina finally, two matches running, two busy away team goalkeepers. In the old days Reina would've picked up 65 points but his 9 saves, worth 8 points each, swelled his score to a mighty 92.


West Ham/Birmingham was more of the same, a couple of goalscorers, a winger getting a boost from the new  CC points and an away team keeper. The only surprise here was that Birmingham managed to get 4 of the 5 top scorers. Arsenal dominated but lost away to Ipswich but there was a familiar look to the top 5. Again only one surprise in this match, Theo Walcott getting 4 shots on target but still ending up well short of the top players.


The Merseyside derby brought two more monster scores, both on the Red side, Kuyt getting 116 and Meireles 104. Howard had a busy day and would've been 28 points clear at the top if the match was goalless.  Spurs dominated against Man Utd. and the Londoners had a familiar top 5 - perhaps the cagier the match the more old school the Big Game winners will seem.


So, in summary:


Monster scores are now more common: Giggs, Evra, Denilson, Fabregas, Gibbs, Kuyt and Meireles all 100+


Busy goalkeepers are now a solid bet: Reina, Foster, Schmeimcel and Howard all made the top 5, in the other two matches the goalkeeper was the best player in the two losing (in Picklive points terms) sides.


Crap performances can still pay dividend - Arshavin, Bendtner etc.


The wingers are back: Wide boys were top in 3 matches and second in 1. A totally different story to the black and white days.


60 is the new 50: over 7 players per match are getting 60+, all of your Big Game picks should be getting this.


Live Game Top 3s have changed slightly, without goals good scores bump around the low 20s, get a goal and they leap to 50/60ish. Spoonzy's Socceroos got 63 without a goal picking up a few shots and saves to build a nice score. That 75 is still out there though....


FC Roger will be back as normal from Saturday.


Until then good luck!


by BensBulls
(Ben Wraith)