How picking three West Ham players could have won you £325 - Fantasy Stakes Team of the Week

The international break is over and the players, fans and managers can get back to the real business of the Premier League.

This week the Premier League is back with a bang with league leaders Chelsea visiting Aston Villa, Blackburn facing Burnley in the East Lancashire derby and Fulham versus Hull City on Monday Night Football.

Mirror Fantasy Stakes give you a chance to prove you know what your talking about each week and win money at the same time.

If you haven't already - enter a team today right here and start earning points from this weekend's matches.

In the last game week, before the international break, the best mirror winner was Matthew Gowdy from East Ham in London.

Matt won £325 in the £5 unlimited league. Where he beat 184 other people with his team called 'Happy Hammers 4' which scored 70 points.

We have broken down the players who helped Matthew to the money:

Tim Howard (£5.8m)
The USA international goalkeeper has scored 22 points over 7 games this season and after a slow start the Everton defence is starting to play better and better.

Leighton Baines (£5.6m)
Howard's Everton team mate, is always a great pick because he takes the set pieces and sometimes the penalties from left back.

Johnny Heitinga (£5.6m)
Everton's new signing has found his feet in the Premier League and could be a regular for many managers in Fantasy Stakes this season.

James Tomkins (£4.3m)
West Ham's England under 21 international has played in four league games this season and played in England Under 21's victory over Macedonia. Tomkins is another player who came through the West Ham youth ranks and the classy central defender is looking to build on his relationship with England defender Matthew Upson.

Andrey Arshavin (£9.5m)
The little Russian magician has scored two goals so far for Arsenal. Andrey was also one of Arsenal's six goal scorers against Blackburn in round 8.

Cesc Fabregas (£8.5m)
The Arsenal captain was in unbelievable form against Blackburn before the international break. Cesc scored 20 points and was the main reason behind Matthew win £325.

Frank Lampard (£9.8m)
The Chelsea midfielder hasn't been in great form this season, but can you afford not to include Frank in your team this week?

Mark Noble (£5.5m)
Noble has been ever present for West Ham this season, however in the last game he only scored 3 points. Mark is West Ham's second highest scorer in Fantasy Stakes this season.

Carlton Cole (£6m)
Carlton Cole has been in great form all season, scoring 4 goals in the league and forcing his way in the England squad. In the last game week Cole scored the opening goal of the game.

Didier Drogba (£10.1m)
In round 8 Dider Drogba didn't find the back of the net but he did set up both goals scoring 7 points in Fantasy Stakes.

Robin van Persie (£9.1m)
Van Persie has been leading the line this season for Arsenal. In round 8 Robin scored 7 points.

All this weekend's fixtures:

Saturday, October 17, 2009
Aston Villa v Chelsea, 12:45
Arsenal v Birmingham, 15:00
Everton v Wolverhampton, 15:00
Man Utd v Bolton, 15:00
Portsmouth v Tottenham, 15:00
Stoke v West Ham, 15:00
Sunderland v Liverpool, 15:00

Sunday, October 18, 2009
Blackburn v Burnley, 13:00
Wigan v Man City, 16:00

Monday, October 19, 2009
Fulham v Hull, 20:00

Player to Watch in Round Nine

Danny Murphy - Scored five goals last season, all from the penalty spot. If Fulham get a pen at home to Hull this week expect Murphy to put it away.

How to play

Step 1: Select Your Team
On the Team Selection page you have a budget of £80 million to spend on 11 players. You pick your players from the list on the right hand side – use the filters to help narrow down your choices. You can also name your team before sending it into battle…

Step 2: Select Your League
On the League Selection page you can make the following choices:
The stake you wish to play at – options are £2, £5, £10, £25, £50 and £100. For each game you pay a small admin fee which does not contribute to the Prize Fund. For example, a £10 game has a fee of £1.

Step 3: Register your details
Register your details here and put some money in your account.

Step 4: Get your mates involved
Any user can create a private league and invite as many people as they like to compete. Prize structures are the same as in public games. An e-mail will be sent to you with full details.



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