English Premier League - The Ever-Present Brigade and Bad Boys Inc.

As YTM 07/08 enters the crucial middle third of the season, your teams should now be settling down into a nice groove. You will have used three or four transfers shipping out those early-season mistakes (Matt Taylor anyone?) and snapping up this season’s must have bargains.

But with only fifteen transfers to cover the whole season, you’ve got to be sure that your men have what it takes to last the distance…

So far, 10 goalkeepers and 15 outfield players have appeared in every minute of every game for their team. These guys are reliable. Barring injury, there’s no doubt that they are always going to be first choice, so if you’re after a trustworthy season-long pick, look no further.

Goalkeepers

• Brad Friedel - Blackburn Rovers
• Jussi Jaaskelainen - Bolton Wanderers
• Stephen Bywater - Derby County
• Pepe Reina - Liverpool
• Mark Schwarzer - Middlesbrough
• David James - Portsmouth
• Marcus Hahnemann - Reading
• Craig Gordon - Sunderland
• Rob Green - West Ham United
• Chris Kirkland - Wigan Athletic

Defenders

• Kolo Toure - Arsenal
• Olof Mellberg - Aston Villa
• Stephen Kelly - Birmingham City
• Liam Ridgewell - Birmingham City
• Christopher Samba - Blackburn Rovers
• Javier Garrido - Manchester City
• Sylvain Distin - Portsmouth
• Matthew Upson - West Ham United
• Titus Bramble - Wigan Athletic

Midfielders

• Gareth Barry - Aston Villa
• Olivier Kapo - Birmingham City
• David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers
• Stephen Pearson - Derby County
• Stewart Downing - Middlesbrough

Strikers

• Gabriel Agbonlahor - Aston Villa

So, a few bargains to be had. While big Titus may be best avoided, the likes of Garrido, Distin and Kapo represent great value in this season’s YTM competition, and with an extra game coming up for Blackburn, Villa, Arsenal and Newcastle, the ever-reliable Barry, Bentley and Toure are all great picks.

But beware Christopher Samba - he is one of 14 players walking a disciplinary tightrope on 4 yellow cards. One more, and these guys miss a game through suspension.

Those bad boys in full:

The 4 Bookings Club

• Nigel Reo-Coker - Aston Villa
• Liam Ridgewell - Birmingham City
• Christopher Samba - Blackburn Rovers
• Nicky Hunt - Bolton Wanderers
• Michael Essien - Chelsea
• Diomansy Kamara - Fulham
• Jamie Carragher - Liverpool
• Didi Hamann - Manchester City
• George Boateng - Middlesbrough
• Fabio Rochemback - Middlesbrough
• Ivar Ingimarsson - Reading
• Dickson Etuhu - Sunderland
• Michael Chopra - Sunderland
• Michael Brown - Wigan Athletic

Don’t be surprised to see a few of these guys pick up a booking for dissent shortly before an ‘easy’ Premiership game - an outcome every YTM manager dreads.

Good luck this weekend,

Andy @ YTM

Tags (click to view more!): Pepe Reina, Kolo Toure, Arsenal, bad boys, Christopher Samba, Liverpool, Premiership