K_Lock - What do you think about Adebayor as captain?
Grounderz - Chris, any thoughts on Adebayor and Agbonlahor? I've got one more spot for either one of them in the team but I don't know who to buy.
I am very much on board the Adebayor bandwagon, having been a big fan of his work at Arsenal and City (I must also admit to having a bit of a chuckle at his frankly ridiculous goal celebration against Arsenal - who doesn't love a pantomime villain?). He ranks second in the league with 2.3 shots on target per game, trailing only the red-hot Rooney. He's racked up huge PPI numbers in his 3 appearances suggesting that when he scores, the bonus points will be soon to follow. Spurs scored 1 goal in the 2 games before he arrived but have added 8 in 3 since Adebayor has been starting (we are looking at very small samples here though so don't get overly excited by that one). When it comes to captaining players though, I am extremely cautious and honestly a big boring. Does Adebayor have the potential to score 3 on his way to a 16 point game? Absolutely. However, he also carries a greater risk of dropping a 2 point game than the likes of Aguero or (a healthy) Rooney and thats' what I am keen to avoid. Who knows what to make of this Arsenal defense who have looked serviceable at times, but when they've been bad they've been horrific. There is certainly logic in giving Adebayor the armband but for me it's too soon to brand him as a reliable, every week stud and thus I would still rank him behind the United and City elite.
As for Agbonlahor, I was intrigued by his low price in the pre-season but I am concerned with his positioning. He's a pretty good finisher but he just isn't getting enough shots on goal to keep up his scoring record and I'd still be surprised if he reached the teens for the year. If there's any way to save money elsewhere, I think Adebayor is a big upgrade.
Breeze - I noticed that Gareth McAuley made a first start for WBA, with a clean sheet and 3 bonus points. Is he expected to be a regular starter? With an easy(ish) run of games and a 4m price tag surely he could be considered a useful addition to your squad.
Any time you get a 4.0m starter there is potential for value but I will need to see McAuley establish his place in the side on a permanent basis before I'm ready to consider him. I'm not particularly close to the West Brom team but there is some depth and the potential for rotation. Worth monitoring but it's too early for me to buy in just yet.
Gummi - I would love your take on the Given/Vorm combo for the near-future and rest of the season.
Given and Vorm's fixtures mesh very well according to the data. I like Vorm a lot but I'm not ready to make him the focal point of my GK-combo just yet, so I like the idea of a having a reliable keeper like Given on a generally solid team like Villa to fall back on, should Swansea hit a rough patch later in the year.
RLB - I'm surprised you didn't mention Bannan as a midfield bargain!
I probably should have thrown Bannan in the article this week, but he missed the cut based on a lack of minutes played. I like him in the short term quite a lot but as Steve points out, he will lose those penalty duties on Bent's return, hurting his value a bit. I like him, but I'd rank him below Moses and Dyer in the long term.
Pat Vivat - any idea on who are going to play Forward for MUTD this weekend??
Everyone seems to think Rooney will play but I still have my reservations. If he doesn't, you have to think Welbeck gets the nod to accompany Hernandez up front. If you don't already own any of them though, I'd stay away from the United front line this week. High reward but equally high risk. It's too early to be chasing points so hard.
Chemikilis - Where do you get these stats, particularly the first two [shots on goal and pass percentage]. I've had trouble trying to source shots on target stats for this season
The raw data is from a mixture of ESPN, Opta and the PremierLeague.com.
Tycho - Anyone venture an opinion on Ramires vs Mata? Ramires is vastly cheaper and has played 90 mins in all games so far while Mata have played anything from 28 to 75 mins and has poorer returns so far. I never hear Ramires name mentioned and I know your big on Mata.
I'm not buying Ramires at all yet. He's taking plenty of shots (13) but his passing totals are dissapointing and thus his assist potential is limited. Those box-to-box midfielders always tend to struggle to provide consistent fantasy returns as their positioning is often dictated by the opposition and with how well a game is going. As for Mata, I was very high on him when he arrived but I agree his progress has stalled a bit over the past couple of gameweeks. I think he is a notch or two below the likes of Silva, Nani and Young and thus it becomes tough to fit him into your side. Chelsea have a good looking run of games coming up and Mata provides a nice differentiating option for those looking to take a small chance.
Mel FantasyOnTheGo - With Rooney's injury, is RVP essential this weekend against Spurs away?
I like Aguero more for this week but if you're looking for a three week replacement, Van Persie makes it very close. Arsenal have been frustrating this year though, and with Tevez out of the picture for a while, Aguero looks to have a winning combination of certainty and upside.
@SyncJS - if you have to pick one player out of Petrov/Murphy/Walters/Barton, who do you think would be a more consistent player?
For consistency I think you have to go with Murphy, as discussed here. He can contribute in every category and his set piece duties ensure he never goes too long without having a decent game. I like M Petrov too this year, whose looked much better than last season despite Bolton playing a brutal run of games.
Friday, September 30, 2011
SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM | SELECTOR DEL BOSQUE HANDS IN LIST - CALLS UP JORDI ALBA
SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL Coach & Selector Vicente Del Bosque handed in his list of Spanish Football Players that will make up the National Team for the upcoming Euro Group matches against the Czech Rep & Scotland to be played on the 7th ( Praga) & 11th ( Alicante, Spain) of October respectively.
The novelty is the call up of Valencia defender JORDI ALBA & perhaps the surprise, the call up of
The novelty is the call up of Valencia defender JORDI ALBA & perhaps the surprise, the call up of
Gameweek 7 Preview
Suffice to say, you're going to want to go big on United players this week, and if you stuck with Rooney (which your humble blogger did not) you face an extremely tough decision whether to captain him or not. It is there our focus lies for this week.
Option 1 - Captain Rooney
Rooney seems to have recovered quicker than expected, but with Hernandez and Wellbeck now also fit along with Berbatov waiting in the wings, I am not convinced he will start the game. United have been scoring goals for fun this year and there seems little motivation to rush Rooney back if he isn't 100% and risk losing him for bigger games on the horizon (Liverpool and City are next for United). If he starts, he is probably the best captain play this week and his ceiling remains higher than anyone. If he doesn't play at all then it isn't too big of an issue as your armband passes to someone else. My concern, and the reason I would ultimately not captain Rooney is that he might only get 45 minutes, or worse, come on for the last 15 minutes of the game. The chance of this is probably slim but 1 point captain weeks are crushing, particularly given the other options available. Caveat Emptor.
Option 2 - Captain another United player
I'm generally scared of the whole up-front situation so I'm not willing to throw Hernandez into this category for the same reason as Rooney. However, two excellent options remain in Nani and Young and based on their ownership number (Young 32%, Nani 28%), most of us own at least one of them. Readers will know that I am very much into 'key passes' and shots on target as indicators for future success, and those break down as below for this pair:
- Young: 2 goals, 6 assists, 5 bonus points, 11 shots, 7 on target, 10 key passes
- Nani: 3 goals, 3 assists, 7 bonus points, 13 shots, 5 on target, 13 key passes
Option 3 - Go with a non-United player
Believe it or not, there are other games this week. Unfortunately, the two teams who provide the best captain options have road trips following tough midweek European games, so no one comes without risk:
Sergio Aguero
On paper, City's fixture isn't great, but this is largely based on Blackburn's solid home defense from last season, which has really taken a step back this season. Rovers have shipped 6 goals at home this year and haven't kept a clean sheet all season. Tevez's lack of 'want' will keep him out of the side for a while, paving the way for Aguero and Dzeko to start more often than not. Simply put, Aguero is possibly the most talented played in the league and deserves captain attention every week. Blackburn have conceded 6 goals over the last 2 games and are ripe for the picking here. Aguero's upside is off the charts and he will getting the famed Pure Juice armband this week.
As with Aguero, City's fixture is probably better than the data shows. With Aguero looking set to start though, it's really hard to consider anyone in sky blue other than the little Argentine.If you aren't lucky enough to own Aguero, then Silva is a great fall back and he's only had one game scoring less than 5 points all year. I wouldn't put him ahead of the United midfield pair this week though.
Edin Dzeko
See Silva, David. I like Dzeko a lot but he just isn't in Aguero's class when it comes to scoring against any opponent. Again, a good option but I would put him below the United pair (and of course Aguero).
I'm not sure what to make of Spurs' defense, but one thing for certain is that, at home at least, they will put up a better showing than Norwich at Old Trafford or Blackburn against City. Van Persie is starting to rediscover his form from last year but the fixture scares me as while it could be another 4-4 barn burner, it could easily be a tight 1-1 affair. I am happy owning Van Persie for this week and beyond but the armband might be step too far for this one.
Answers to your questions will be posted later so those in the US can expect to see them tonight, while those in the UK should be able to see them before the deadline tomorrow morning.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Scraping the Barrel
Sometimes it pays to build a squad of 15 good players, sometimes you have to go with a 'stars and scrubs' approach and hope to find just enough talent at the bottom of the barrel to allow you the freedom to pack your side with Rooneys, Agueros and Silvas. So far this season, we are well and truly in the latter situation. Just look at the top 5 midfielders and forwards. The forwards are packed with 10m+ players while in midfield you have yet more 10m+ guys and then a group of players who've enjoyed one big week and then average production (good luck guessing which player that will be each week). In previous years we've had players like Charlie Adam, Andy Carroll and Steve Ireland emerge as elite options for mid-range price tags, thus freeing up a couple of million to use elsewhere. No one has really emerged like that this term, so we need to dig deeper and find some players who may not be ideal, but may have a part to play this year. I'll be honest, I'm probably not going to come up with someone you never heard of here, but hopefully I can help you get your plan in order by shedding some light on some of the better options out there:
'Keepers
Vorm (4.2m) - If you look at the league table, Swansea don't look like a very good defensive option. 9 goals conceded in 6 games is nothing to excited about, but if you look closer you see a side quickly developing into an elite home option (3 clean sheets) which is all you need for a rotation keeper. Swansea aren't scoring goals so they're going to need to keep it tight at the back, making Vorm delicious value at 4.2m. I have some concerns regarding the teams Swansea have kept out, but again you are only looking for a keeper who can do well in the easy games. I'd be hesitant to pair him with another high risk pick but if you match Vorm with someone like Schwarzer or Begovic, I think you have the makings of a great and cheap partnership.
Kenny (4.5m) - Take out the GW1 disaster and this defense have been very useful. The new arrivals have all settled quickly and the back line should be fairly settled going forward (unless Traore keeps getting sent off!). The appeal here is that - unlike Swansea - QPR have been able to perform well away from home with impressive clean sheets at Everton and Wolves already. Kenny doesn't have the save totals to boost his points on off days, but realistically this should only boil down to a handful of points at year end. As with Vorm, I would like to pair him with a reliable option, with Schwarzer and Begovic again looking like good matches.
I noted this week some thoughts on de Gea's save totals but with options like these available, I see no reason to depart from the GK rotation strategy.
Defenders
There's very good depth in the cheap defender pool this year and you could probably grab three, or even four of them and still generate enough defensive points to be competitive.
N Taylor (4.0m) - not much to add here that we didn't say for Vorm. This Swansea defense looks legit (at least at home) and Taylor seems to be locked into the first team. I like Rangel's (4.5m) attacking prospects but seeing as you'll be using these guys in a rotation, attacking points become even more dangerous to predict and you might find yourself benching him when he finally earns that assist or goal. When in doubt take the money.
D Simpson (4.1m) - I think Steve Taylor outscores Simpson on the year but now the difference is up to 0.8m I like the cheaper option more. Newcastle are yet to concede more than a goal in a single game and have already racked up 3 clean sheets (including 2 on the road). Tiote and Cabaye provide good protection for the backline, which has outperformed expectations already. There is some threat from Santon, who is now close to full fitness, but you have to think he slots in at left back, displacing Ryan Taylor who has been playing out of position this year. It might be worth holding off here for a week until you can be sure who will start (if Santon gets the nod then at 4.3m he too becomes interesting).
Gabbidon (4.0m) - I like this defense but with three of the back line coming from other Premier League teams, you are paying a premium, thus making Traore and Young way too expensive for this team's worth. Gabbiddon looks like a sure thing to play, and as noted for Kenny above, this defense has looked very good since the new signings were brought in. You aren't excited about signing him but 4.0m defenders with clean sheet potential are hard to find and he makes a great bench option.
Woodgate (4.5m) - The injury history is a concern and if you have money to spare then Shawcross (who also brings a better goal and bonus point threat) might be worth looking at. That said, Upson has been available for a few weeks now and Woodgate has held his place so the only threat is injury and you can deal with that if (or when) it rears it's ugly head. Stoke have some pretty good looking fixtures on the horizon and Woodgate could become a borderline every week starter over that period.
Evans (4.5m) - his time is probably done for now, but with Ferdinand unable to stay healthy for a sustained period of time and Vidic now suffering too, you should keep Evans in mind such is the unmatched value he can deliver at 4.5m for one of the best defensive teams in the league. Be ready to pounce at the first sign of long term injuries to Ferdinand or Vidic again.
Midfielders
In truth the options here are limited and you really need to be targeting mid-range options like Taarabt or Murphy, but that's a separate post for another day.
Faurlin (5.0m) - the QPR midfield is looking pretty stacked and Faurlin has really been lost in the shuffle thanks to big name arrivals and reputations. I'm generally reluctant to back a player with the majority of his points from one game, but the underlying stats for Faurlin are very impressive, ranking 10th in key passes (13) and 5th in passes in the opposition half while providing at least some goal threat (5 shots, 3 on target). He doesn't have the free role of a Taarabt or the advanced play of a Wright Phillips but if you're stuck with 5.0m and no wiggle room, Faurlin gives you a player with the potential to contribute in every category which might at least buy you time to find some better upside.
Moses (4.9m) - I liked Moses in the pre-season and while the returns haven't come yet, I'm not ready to abandon the Wigan winger just yet (though I'm getting closer each week). With as many shots as Ashley Young (11) and as many key passes as Yaya Toure (5), the potential is still there and he probably holds the highest potential of all these budget plays. That said, I am always keen to point out that I'd prefer to be a week late than several weeks early so my patience with Moses is very much waning. If you're strapped for cash though, you're not likely to find a sure thing so Moses remains interesting.
Dyer (4.8m) - I did Dyer a disservice last week, suggesting his good play had been for nothing, as he did of course find the back of the net in GW5. Dyer has impressed to the naked eye but his underlying stats disappoint a bit and I am souring on his prospects, especially given his 13% ownership. He's managed just 4 shots this year (2 on target) and while his 5 key passes are okay, Moses has the same number but brings a significantly better goal threat. I still like Dyer but of the two popular wingers, I still like Moses a touch more.
Forwards
Di Santo (5.7m) - Di Santo has been a revelation so far this year, and with great underlying numbers there is little reason to think he can't keep it going. His shots on target for the year (7 from 12 shots) rank him 6th among forwards after Rooney, Van Persie, Aguero, Dzeko and Suarez: impressive company. Based on historical data he isn't going to continue to score a goal every 2 shots on target but if he keeps up this shooting pace he should add another 8 goals or so, which in a side like Wigan will often bring bonus points too (based on the fact that the majority of goals they score tend to influence the result of a game as opposed to, say, Dzeko, whose effort may the 3rd of 4th goal of a contest). He doesn't bring too much of an assist threat and Wigan have only managed 5 goals all year so his scoring is going to be up and down. If I plan to sit a player most weeks I'd like to spend a little less than 5.7m but given the market this year, this might be as good as it gets.
Best (5.3m) - I hate to just pick the obvious players but there really isn't much else to look at. Best has been good when he's started and my concerns with him are less about him and more about his place in the side. With Ba starting to come round after a slow start and Ameobi close to full fitness, Best's place in the team is no guarantee and even at this price, starting minutes are a must. I like his assist potential (6 key passes) to supplement his goal scoring and his strong aerial presence (13 aerial duels won) will always give him a chance to score from set pieces and win flick ons for his teammates to convert. Straight up I would take Di Santo but 0.4m is not to be ignored and if Best can secure his place in the starting lineup he makes a nice addition to any squad.
Hoilett (6.0m) - The thing I like most about Hoilett is his ability to contribute in every category, which gives him the potential for consistency that the above players lack: a valuable attribute for a bench player who will be forced into action off your bench at unknown times. His total shots (5) are a concern, though he has been accurate when shooting (4) thus making his goal/shot rate about at the league average. His key passes (10) are elite and Yakubu's presence increases the chance that these shots are converted into goals. If he was 5.5m or less I'd probably slap a buy sticker on him but until he starts getting into consistent goal scoring positions it's hard to get overly excited a 6.0m man who will struggle to hit 8 goals for the year.
Yakubu (5.5m) - This is premature but color me intrigued. Two appearances, two shots, two on target and two goals tells you all you need to know about Yakubu. Bill James used to say that once you exhibit a talent it's yours to lose, and Yakubu's previous goalscoring exploits could be categorised in this way. True, he's probably lost half a step and he's no longer a threat to touch 20 goals but double digits wouldn't blow me away, which at this price cannot be ignored. With 25 passes in two games, he clearly isn't going to be involved in everything Blackburn do, but as a comparison, Darren Bent has only averaged 17 passes per game, such is the way they play the game. I haven't seen Yakubu play aside from highlights this year so I am personally hesitant to recommend buying him on stats alone, but there's something here and we should at least monitor him over the next few weeks (when the fixtures are tough) to see if we want to bring him in for their nice run of games between GW12 and GW17.
Check back shortly for the weekly preview, which will focus on captain picks, with the weekly forecasted goals conceded and scored given above. In the meantime, please post your comments/questions below or @plfantasy and I'll try and answer as many as possible before this week's deadline.
'Keepers
Vorm (4.2m) - If you look at the league table, Swansea don't look like a very good defensive option. 9 goals conceded in 6 games is nothing to excited about, but if you look closer you see a side quickly developing into an elite home option (3 clean sheets) which is all you need for a rotation keeper. Swansea aren't scoring goals so they're going to need to keep it tight at the back, making Vorm delicious value at 4.2m. I have some concerns regarding the teams Swansea have kept out, but again you are only looking for a keeper who can do well in the easy games. I'd be hesitant to pair him with another high risk pick but if you match Vorm with someone like Schwarzer or Begovic, I think you have the makings of a great and cheap partnership.
Kenny (4.5m) - Take out the GW1 disaster and this defense have been very useful. The new arrivals have all settled quickly and the back line should be fairly settled going forward (unless Traore keeps getting sent off!). The appeal here is that - unlike Swansea - QPR have been able to perform well away from home with impressive clean sheets at Everton and Wolves already. Kenny doesn't have the save totals to boost his points on off days, but realistically this should only boil down to a handful of points at year end. As with Vorm, I would like to pair him with a reliable option, with Schwarzer and Begovic again looking like good matches.
I noted this week some thoughts on de Gea's save totals but with options like these available, I see no reason to depart from the GK rotation strategy.
Defenders
There's very good depth in the cheap defender pool this year and you could probably grab three, or even four of them and still generate enough defensive points to be competitive.
N Taylor (4.0m) - not much to add here that we didn't say for Vorm. This Swansea defense looks legit (at least at home) and Taylor seems to be locked into the first team. I like Rangel's (4.5m) attacking prospects but seeing as you'll be using these guys in a rotation, attacking points become even more dangerous to predict and you might find yourself benching him when he finally earns that assist or goal. When in doubt take the money.
D Simpson (4.1m) - I think Steve Taylor outscores Simpson on the year but now the difference is up to 0.8m I like the cheaper option more. Newcastle are yet to concede more than a goal in a single game and have already racked up 3 clean sheets (including 2 on the road). Tiote and Cabaye provide good protection for the backline, which has outperformed expectations already. There is some threat from Santon, who is now close to full fitness, but you have to think he slots in at left back, displacing Ryan Taylor who has been playing out of position this year. It might be worth holding off here for a week until you can be sure who will start (if Santon gets the nod then at 4.3m he too becomes interesting).
Gabbidon (4.0m) - I like this defense but with three of the back line coming from other Premier League teams, you are paying a premium, thus making Traore and Young way too expensive for this team's worth. Gabbiddon looks like a sure thing to play, and as noted for Kenny above, this defense has looked very good since the new signings were brought in. You aren't excited about signing him but 4.0m defenders with clean sheet potential are hard to find and he makes a great bench option.
Woodgate (4.5m) - The injury history is a concern and if you have money to spare then Shawcross (who also brings a better goal and bonus point threat) might be worth looking at. That said, Upson has been available for a few weeks now and Woodgate has held his place so the only threat is injury and you can deal with that if (or when) it rears it's ugly head. Stoke have some pretty good looking fixtures on the horizon and Woodgate could become a borderline every week starter over that period.
Evans (4.5m) - his time is probably done for now, but with Ferdinand unable to stay healthy for a sustained period of time and Vidic now suffering too, you should keep Evans in mind such is the unmatched value he can deliver at 4.5m for one of the best defensive teams in the league. Be ready to pounce at the first sign of long term injuries to Ferdinand or Vidic again.
Midfielders
In truth the options here are limited and you really need to be targeting mid-range options like Taarabt or Murphy, but that's a separate post for another day.
Faurlin (5.0m) - the QPR midfield is looking pretty stacked and Faurlin has really been lost in the shuffle thanks to big name arrivals and reputations. I'm generally reluctant to back a player with the majority of his points from one game, but the underlying stats for Faurlin are very impressive, ranking 10th in key passes (13) and 5th in passes in the opposition half while providing at least some goal threat (5 shots, 3 on target). He doesn't have the free role of a Taarabt or the advanced play of a Wright Phillips but if you're stuck with 5.0m and no wiggle room, Faurlin gives you a player with the potential to contribute in every category which might at least buy you time to find some better upside.
Moses (4.9m) - I liked Moses in the pre-season and while the returns haven't come yet, I'm not ready to abandon the Wigan winger just yet (though I'm getting closer each week). With as many shots as Ashley Young (11) and as many key passes as Yaya Toure (5), the potential is still there and he probably holds the highest potential of all these budget plays. That said, I am always keen to point out that I'd prefer to be a week late than several weeks early so my patience with Moses is very much waning. If you're strapped for cash though, you're not likely to find a sure thing so Moses remains interesting.
Dyer (4.8m) - I did Dyer a disservice last week, suggesting his good play had been for nothing, as he did of course find the back of the net in GW5. Dyer has impressed to the naked eye but his underlying stats disappoint a bit and I am souring on his prospects, especially given his 13% ownership. He's managed just 4 shots this year (2 on target) and while his 5 key passes are okay, Moses has the same number but brings a significantly better goal threat. I still like Dyer but of the two popular wingers, I still like Moses a touch more.
Forwards
Di Santo (5.7m) - Di Santo has been a revelation so far this year, and with great underlying numbers there is little reason to think he can't keep it going. His shots on target for the year (7 from 12 shots) rank him 6th among forwards after Rooney, Van Persie, Aguero, Dzeko and Suarez: impressive company. Based on historical data he isn't going to continue to score a goal every 2 shots on target but if he keeps up this shooting pace he should add another 8 goals or so, which in a side like Wigan will often bring bonus points too (based on the fact that the majority of goals they score tend to influence the result of a game as opposed to, say, Dzeko, whose effort may the 3rd of 4th goal of a contest). He doesn't bring too much of an assist threat and Wigan have only managed 5 goals all year so his scoring is going to be up and down. If I plan to sit a player most weeks I'd like to spend a little less than 5.7m but given the market this year, this might be as good as it gets.
Best (5.3m) - I hate to just pick the obvious players but there really isn't much else to look at. Best has been good when he's started and my concerns with him are less about him and more about his place in the side. With Ba starting to come round after a slow start and Ameobi close to full fitness, Best's place in the team is no guarantee and even at this price, starting minutes are a must. I like his assist potential (6 key passes) to supplement his goal scoring and his strong aerial presence (13 aerial duels won) will always give him a chance to score from set pieces and win flick ons for his teammates to convert. Straight up I would take Di Santo but 0.4m is not to be ignored and if Best can secure his place in the starting lineup he makes a nice addition to any squad.
Hoilett (6.0m) - The thing I like most about Hoilett is his ability to contribute in every category, which gives him the potential for consistency that the above players lack: a valuable attribute for a bench player who will be forced into action off your bench at unknown times. His total shots (5) are a concern, though he has been accurate when shooting (4) thus making his goal/shot rate about at the league average. His key passes (10) are elite and Yakubu's presence increases the chance that these shots are converted into goals. If he was 5.5m or less I'd probably slap a buy sticker on him but until he starts getting into consistent goal scoring positions it's hard to get overly excited a 6.0m man who will struggle to hit 8 goals for the year.
Yakubu (5.5m) - This is premature but color me intrigued. Two appearances, two shots, two on target and two goals tells you all you need to know about Yakubu. Bill James used to say that once you exhibit a talent it's yours to lose, and Yakubu's previous goalscoring exploits could be categorised in this way. True, he's probably lost half a step and he's no longer a threat to touch 20 goals but double digits wouldn't blow me away, which at this price cannot be ignored. With 25 passes in two games, he clearly isn't going to be involved in everything Blackburn do, but as a comparison, Darren Bent has only averaged 17 passes per game, such is the way they play the game. I haven't seen Yakubu play aside from highlights this year so I am personally hesitant to recommend buying him on stats alone, but there's something here and we should at least monitor him over the next few weeks (when the fixtures are tough) to see if we want to bring him in for their nice run of games between GW12 and GW17.
Check back shortly for the weekly preview, which will focus on captain picks, with the weekly forecasted goals conceded and scored given above. In the meantime, please post your comments/questions below or @plfantasy and I'll try and answer as many as possible before this week's deadline.
EUROPA LEAGUE RESULTS | ATHLETIC DE BILBAO 2 PSG O - RENNES 1 ATLETICO DE MADRID 1
EUROPA LEAGUE Group matches tonight with two SPANISH FOOTBALL Clubs in action with relatively positive results. Here is a quick summary of the games , the results & the scorers.
At.Bilbao
ATHLETIC DE BILBAO managed to put together a good performance at home against French team PARIS ST GERMAIN winning 2 - 0. The Group F match saw the first goal arrive in the 14th min when Bilbao player
At.Bilbao
ATHLETIC DE BILBAO managed to put together a good performance at home against French team PARIS ST GERMAIN winning 2 - 0. The Group F match saw the first goal arrive in the 14th min when Bilbao player
FC BARCELONA | LIONEL MESSI EQUALS KUBALA WITH 194 GOALS
Hi, I may have "breezed throught" in yesterdays post below on FC BARCELONA & their 0 - 5 victory , although mentioned, of an important historical milestone achieved in the game against BATE BORISOV. Argentine midfield star LIONEL MESSI made Barça History again.
Kubala - Messi
Yesterday Messi scored two goals & thus took his all-time tally with Barça to 194. This may sound normal if it wasn´t
Kubala - Messi
Yesterday Messi scored two goals & thus took his all-time tally with Barça to 194. This may sound normal if it wasn´t
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS | VALENCIA 1 CHELSEA FC 1 | BATE BORISOV 0 FC BARCELONA 5
SPANISH FOOTBALL Clubs Valencia CF & FC Barcelona had their turn tonight in CHAMPIONS LEAGUE with each in their respective Groups & in their respective scheduled matches. Good results in each case with a brief summary below, along with results & the scorers.
Lampard-Soldado-Torres
VALENCIA CF drew in their Group E clash with CHELSEA FC 1-1 in an exciting & entertaining match. The first half
Lampard-Soldado-Torres
VALENCIA CF drew in their Group E clash with CHELSEA FC 1-1 in an exciting & entertaining match. The first half
THE FOOTBALL COUNTER-ATTACK | CRISTIANO RONALDO - REAL MADRID GOAL AGAINST AJAX IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | VIDEO
Yesterday during the REAL MADRID - AJAX Champions League match we had the chance to all witness a perfect text book example of the use of a "counter-attack" in Football. It occurred around the 23rd min & it all started from defender Sergio Ramos ending up with Cristiano Ronaldo 16 seconds later & goal. Here is the VIDEO:
For the youngsters & the technical profiles here is an image of the
For the youngsters & the technical profiles here is an image of the
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Ten Top Tens
Shots on target per 90 minutes (minimum 3 starts)
1. Rooney 3.0
2. Van der Vaart 2.8
3. Aguero 2.4
4. Dzeko 2.4
5. Adebayor 2.3
6. Van Persie 2.2
7. Defoe 2.1
8. Anelka 1.9
9. Suarez 1.5
10. Di Santo 1.5
We've seen that correlation between shots on target and goals is (unsurprisingly) strong and the majority of the above players have benefited from that fact. Van der Vaart and Di Santo stand out for me and deserve a couple of words. Owned by just 3% of managers, Van der Vaart is somewhat of a forgotten fantasy force but the above indicates his lack of goals is not through a lack of trying. In his career, Van der Vaart is averaging a goal every 4 shots on target so if he carries on his current pace (9 shots on target in just 287 minutes) he should see his points tally start to rise quickly as his shots begin to hit the back of the net at their historic rate. As for Di Santo, he is obviously the cheapest option on this list but is still held by just 5% of managers. Shots on target aren't everything (Graham is 11th among forwards) but they are fairly predictive of future success, providing you feel Di Santo will continue to get into these good positions and continue to pull the trigger. He is making a strong push to be rated the best sub-6.5m forward.
Pass percentage in opponents half (minimum 100 passes)
1. Anelka 73%
2. Mata 68%
3. Rosicky 68%
4. Downing 67%
5. Arteta 66%
6. Taarabt 66%
7. Osman 66%
8. Nasri 65%
9. Suarez 65%
10. Dembele 64%
I'm not sure if this means too much, but it certainly can't hurt to play in advanced positions for the majority of the game. Osman's name stands out and it highlights the good start he's made to the season, however, he is priced out of the market at 6.9m (who set that price!). Downing's stats across the board are fairly impressive and given his safety on that left side with Gerrard set to return, he makes a pretty good case for being the best Liverpool midfielder to own in the short term, until things shake out. This ranking underlines the value of three players I am very high on - Mata, Arteta and Taarabt - as each could develop into the focal point of their team, despite costing less than many of their peers.
Key passes by budget midfielders (6.5m or less)
1. Murphy 21
2. Taraabt 15
3. Cabaye 14
4. M Petrov 13
5. Faurlin 13
6. J Morrison 12
7. Watson 12
8. Larsson 11
9. Sessegnon 10
10. Ramsey 10
Danny Murphy might be the very definition of an unsexy fantasy player. He rarely has big games, he doesn't do back flips, he didn't cost 30m but he does produce every year. He's already shown his worth across the board adding a goal, two assists and four bonus points while his underlying data (21 key passes and three shots on target) suggest more success to come. At 6.0m his price is too steep to bench consistently but he'd make a very nice three man rotation with a couple of the other names on this list. Watson bears mentioning as he penalty duties give his a good goal threat to compliment this assist ranking, while Faurlin deserves some attention due to his low price tag (5.0m).
P$ (points per million spent) (minimum 270 minutes played)
- Best 1.500
- S Taylor 1.232
- Vorm 1.220
- Aguero 1.183
- R Taylor 1.163
- Pilkington 1.155
- Boyce 1.152
- Begovic 1.133
- Di Santo 1.114
- N Taylor 1.110
It's probably a touch early to start looking at P$ numbers just yet but I just wanted to highlight just how good Aguero has been. To deliver such value with his price tag is without precedent and if he carries this up for much longer, he needs to be owned by everyone (even more so than Rooney). Tevez's tantrum will help Aguero's ability to stay on the field and it's hard to look past him at the moment.
Defender touches in opponents half
1. Bosingwa 182
2. A Cole 161
3. Rangel 159
4. Assou Ekotto 126
5. Sagna 124
6. Jose Enrique 124
7. Ward 115
8. P Robinson 114
9. Baines 109
10. Shorey 105
The top two aren't two surprising here, though Bosingwa's ranking does underline just how good value he could be this year. With Swansea emerging as a decent defensive option (at home anyway), Rangel's forward play could make him a very interesting 4.5m option, though he doesn't have anything to show for it yet. Baines owners might be somewhat concerned given that he was second in this category (to Sagna) last season, though he is on pace to come close to his totals from prior year.
Defensive units with reliable (played every minute when available) 5.0m or less options available
1. Swansea - 3 clean sheets - Rangel, Williams
2. QPR - 3 clean sheets - A Ferdinand
3. Newcastle - 3 clean sheets - D Simpson, S Taylor, F Coloccini
4. Wolves - 2 clean sheets - Ward, Berra, Johnson
5. Wigan - 2 clean sheets - Figueroa, Caldwell
6. West Brom - 2 clean sheets - Shorey, Olsson
7. Sunderland - 2 clean sheets - Brown
8. Aston Villa - 2 clean sheets - Warnock
9. Bolton - 1 clean sheet - Knight, Robinson
10. Norwich - 0 clean sheets - Tierney
I'm not suggesting that I like all of the above players, just that there is real depth in the budget defender range this year. Ideally, you would settle on your premium forwards and midfielders for the long term, add a couple of reliable mid-rangers like Murphy or Taarabt and then grab a bunch of the above guys, rotating them weekly and replacing them in 5-8 week blocks. That of course is easier said than done, but the point is clearly that quality is much cheaper at the back than in midfield this year.
Corners taken
1. Taraabt 34
2. Cabaye 27
3. M Petrov 25
4. Watson 24
5. Larsson 22
6. Adam 22
7. Nasri 20
8. Duff 19
9. A Young 17
10. Fox 17
It's hard to say how much impact taking corners has on a players' value, but it obviously can't hurt it. Of the 19 players to take over 80 corners last year, all but Nasri and Watson added 4 assists for the year with 12 players notching 6 or more. I liked Fox after seeing him in the year but his place in the first team doesn't seem assured and the above doesn't suddenly excuse that fact. For a player like Young or Nasri though, you might conclude that this gives the edge over teammates Nani and Silva (I disagree in those particular cases but the thought process is logical). Taraabt's lack of fantasy points continues to amaze, but is he keeps generating these kind of stats, the points will surely sure start flowing soon.
Saves
1. de Gea 36
2. Friedel 26
3. Begovic 25
4. Vorm 24
5. Hennessey 22
6. Al-Habsi 21
7. Jaaskelainen 19
8. Schwarzer 18
9. Given 18
10. Reina 18
I'm highlighting this list for two reasons. Firstly, and most predictably, I want to point out that saves are the great equaliser for goalkeepers and the reason the big names rarely dominate their cheaper colleagues in the same way a Rooney or Aguero may crush a Zamora. 8of the top 10 keepers in fantasy points so far could have been had for 5.0m or less to open the year with, including 3rd ranked Vorm who came in at just 4.0m. A similar story is true for the above list with only de Gea and Reina ranking as high priced options from 'elite' teams.
The second point to make is somewhat contradictory of the first. I say saves are the great equaliser, which is generally true, but occasionally you get a player from an elite team who also generates big save totals. So far, that is the case with de Gea. The United defense has suffered a number of injuries and thus being pretty disjointed, leading to just 2 clean sheets and plenty of chances for the opposition. This has been good for de Gea's save totlas but bad for his clean sheet points. The key is whether United can stiffen sufficiently to keep clean sheets but allow de Gea to keep his save totals high. If that happens, he might just about justify that lofty price tag, though I'd still only be tempted if I had cash to burn, which is looking unlikely in these early stages of the season. Worth monitoring though.
EA Sports PPI per 90 minutes
1. Rooney 47
2. Aguero 38
3. Welbeck 34
4. Dzeko 34
5. Adebayor 33
6. Milner 32
7. A Young 31
8. Yakubu 26
9. Ba 26
10. Silva 25
Looking at the PPI points on a per 90 minute basis can be misleading, as finishing 4th on your team every week will generate a lot of PPI but precisely zero bonus points. However, racking up the PPI will generally lead to bonus points success and should be widely indicative of a player doing a lot of the things that lead to fantasy success. Aside from obvious candidates, a couple of names stand out. Welbeck's start to the season (though a small sample) cannot be discounted and with two mores goals tonight against Basel, he will surely jump back ahead of Berbatov in the pecking order and be odds on favourite to absorb Rooney's minutes for the next couple of weeks. His return to fitness would make me nervous about picking up Hernandez to replace Rooney as there could well be a time share situation when Rooney returns if Welbeck proves himself to be undroppable. Adebayor's presence on a number of these lists demonstrates how quickly his stock is rising and he should now be considered in the second tier of forwards, behind only Rooney and Aguero.
Defender shots on target
1. Wilson 2
2. Naughton 2
3. Koscielny 2
4. Jagielka 2
5. Ivanovic 2
6. A Cole 2
7. G Cahill 2
8. Baines 2
9. Lots of players 1
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS | NAPOLES 2 VILLAREAL 0 | REAL MADRID 3 AJAX AMSTERDAM 0
Two SPANISH FOOTBALL Clubs participated tonight in their respective CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Group matches with mixed end results. Here is a brief summary of events, along with the final results & the scorers.
Napoles scores from penalty
VILLAREAL travelled to Italy to face NAPOLES in their Group A ( "Group of Death") match & lost 2 - 0. Villareal knew beforehand that a victory here was vital for
Napoles scores from penalty
VILLAREAL travelled to Italy to face NAPOLES in their Group A ( "Group of Death") match & lost 2 - 0. Villareal knew beforehand that a victory here was vital for
SPANISH FOOTBALL LOSES JESUS PEREDA AT 73
SPANISH FOOTBALL has lost a member of its historical family with the passing away of Spanish Football player JESUS PEREDA at the age of 73 due to cancer.
Pereda on the left
Jesus Pereda played for FC BARCELONA, REAL MADRID ( his only Spanish League Title) & SEVILLA FC. He was also member of the Spanish National Football Team that won the 1964 European Nations Cup against Russia. His last
Pereda on the left
Jesus Pereda played for FC BARCELONA, REAL MADRID ( his only Spanish League Title) & SEVILLA FC. He was also member of the Spanish National Football Team that won the 1964 European Nations Cup against Russia. His last
REAL MADRID | ARSENAL-PARIS ST GERMAIN DON´T FORGET KAKA
The new season has been just a few weeks operating & already there is talk & rumour about possible moves in the January "Winter Transfer Market". Today REAL MADRID Brazilian midfielder KAKA is again in the news with apparent interest from ARSENAL & French Club PARIS ST GERMAIN.
Kaka
The interest from theses two Clubs is not new & sounded even before the start of this current season. Both
Kaka
The interest from theses two Clubs is not new & sounded even before the start of this current season. Both
Monday, September 26, 2011
SPANISH FOOTBALL - LIGA ROUND 6 MONDAY NIGHT RESULT | GETAFE 1 REAL BETIS 0
Round Six of the SPANISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE - La Liga - concluded tonight with its Monday match between GETAFE & REAL BETAS. Real Betis landed back to earth after a string of victories placed them flying high as Spanish League Table leaders . Tonight's game gave Getafe a much needed 1 - 0 victory & halted the aspirations of Betis escaping from the rest of the teams on the leader.
Diego Castro
Diego Castro
REAL MADRID "FOLLOWING" FRENCH TALENTS GONALONS - GREINER OF LYON
Big Football Clubs are constantly looking for & at new talent, so this story coming out of France should not really surprise. This would be correct if it was any another Club than SPANISH FOOTBALL giant REAL MADRID. Football magazine France Football claims that Real Madrid is following very closely 22 year defensive midfielder MAXIM GONALONS & 20 year old attacking midfielder CLEMENT GREINER both
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Lineup Lessons Gameweek 6
In order to keep the length of this post down, and to get it up as soon as possible, I am only going to comment on lineup issues for the week. I will then add general thoughts/news/trends in a separate scouting notebook piece later in the wek.
Arsenal
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Song, Ramsey, Gervinho, van Persie, Walcott
Subs: Fabianski, Rosicky, Andre Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Frimpong, Chamakh
Not really sure what happened with Santos, who was replaced by Gibbs for the week. I'm not sure he's worth owning anyway as better options exist on his own team (Mertesacker or Koscielny while Vermaelen is hurt) and of course across the league. Arshavin was benched here which really underlines how that trio of Gervinho/Walcott/Arshavin is tough to predict, leaving Arteta and Van Persie as the only real reliable options in this side offensively.
Aston Villa
Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Petrov, Ireland, Delph, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Bannan
Subs: Guzan, Albrighton, Delfouneso, Beye, Weimann, Lowry, Gardner
I very much like Bannan here, who seems to have permanently replaced Albrighton on the first team. His penalty duties are of course a bonus and suggest his manager has a confidence in him which indicates a prolonged run in the team. I keep promising a chalkboard post and Bannan deserves some attention in that upcoming review. Elsewhere it's as you were and this team is looking very settled.
Blackburn
Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Givet, Dann, Hoilett, Lowe, Nzonzi, Olsson, Formica, Yakubu
Subs: Bunn, Grella, Petrovic, Rochina, Vukcevic, Roberts, Hanley
The lineup is still pretty up and down though some constants can be found in Hoilett and possibly an emerging Yakubu. Rotation risk is only a concern if your players have value in the first place though, and at the moment the Rovers players deserve monitoring at best.
Bolton
Jaaskelainen, Wheater, Robinson, Knight, Steinsson, Eagles, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Pratley, Petrov, Ngog
Subs: Bogdan, Sanli, Gardner, K Davies, M Davies, Boyata, Kakuta.
Kevin Davies hasn't been enjoying a good start to the season and the fact he is now benchable really hurts his value, much of which was derived from his reliability. At this point I'd prefer to role the dice with a Long, Ba or Di Santa rather than stick with Davies. The rest of the team is pretty much as you were, with Wheater only getting a game due to Cahill's illness. Steinsson versus Boyata is becoming a frustrating battle and there isn't enough potential value there to bother getting involved with that.
Chelsea
Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Mata, Meireles, Ramires, Torres, Anelka.
Subs: Turnbull, Luiz, Lampard, Drogba, Malouda, McEachran, Kalou
We can conclude that Malouda has fallen badly down the pecking order and cannot be owned anymore. No one has really covered themselves in glory up front in Drogba's absence and with Torres' suspension, the Ivorian will surely reclaim a place in the first team. I don't read too much into Lampard's benching, who has actually been playing fairly well this year, despite a lack of elite production. That back line looks set, though expect Luiz to get a game soon as Villas-Boas looks to keep his side fresh.
Everton
Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Neville, Fellaini, Rodwell, Osman, Coleman, Cahill
Subs: Mucha, Heitinga, Bilyaletdinov, Saha, Drenthe, Stracqualursi, Vellios
Saha reclaims a place on the bench but of course his fantasy value remains non-existent until he can prove he can hold a first team place and stay healthy. Based on their value, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable owning a single player from this team. 26 forwards have as many points as ALL Everton forwards combined.
Fulham
Schwarzer, Baird, Grygera, Hangeland, JA Riise, Kasami, Sidwell, Murphy, Dempsey, Dembele, Sa
Subs: Etheridge, Kelly, Ruiz, Senderos, Gecov, Etuhu, Briggs
This defence is starting to get a bit annoying now, and it's only going to get worse when Aaron Hughes gets healthy. Riise and Hangeland look safe but those price tags put them in the borderline elite category which I really struggle to justify for a good but not great defensive unit. As the newest signing, I wonder if Grygera will now establish a place in the first team, which would deliver good value at 5.0m. It's too early to take that risk after just one appearance though. Honestly, if you like Fulham, I'd just grab Schwarzer and plug him into a rotation strategy. Up front you have to imagine Ruiz will play at some point but I wouldn't be looking at him for a while yet.
Liverpool
Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Henderson, Lucas, Adam, Downing, Carroll, Suarez.
Subs: Doni, Gerrard, Coates, Kuyt, Spearing, Flanagan, Bellamy
It will be interesting to see what happens when Gerrard is fully fit as there is no obvious candiate to be dropped. My first thought is Henderson but he's played a lot so far this year and gives them width on the right which they would lose with Gerrard, particularly with Johnson still sidelined. He could take Adam's place in the middle but this seems less likely given the way Adam has really been the focal point of so much Liverpool have done this year. Finally, he could play off a striker, as he did for a while with Torres, but Suarez isn't a great fit for that role and it seems highly unlikely the Uruguayan would be benched. Some might suggest that they go Adam/Gerrard in the middle but I would be very surprised if Liverpool decide to proceed with no defensive option. I'd suggest that Downing and Suarez owners can sleep well but if you have Henderson/Adam/Carroll I would at least start thinking about what you're next move is, even if you don't pull the trigger yet.
Man City
Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Nasri, Barry, Toure Yaya, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero
Subs: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Milner, Kolarov, Savic, Tevez, Balotelli
Did City really just name an unchanged lineup? Unfortunately that probably means there will be some rotation on the horizon but you can handle that when the ceiling is high when they do play and I would therefore be happy owning pretty much anyone in this lineup aside from Barry (benched for De Jong soon?), Lescott (better options available for less money) and probably Yaya Toure (deep role for a high price).
Man Utd
De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Nani, Anderson, Fletcher, Young, Berbatov, Hernandez.
Subs: Lindegaard, Owen, Giggs, Park, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva, Valencia
Berbatov gets a game! And not at centre back! Rooney's injury was a massive blow, after I had suggested he was my captain pick for the week. Evans' injury was also a disappointment and we should probably downgrade this unit as it isn't clear who can even start this week. Rooney is supposed to be out for a couple of weeks and my current thought process is that they will be targeting the City game for his return (Oct 23, GW9). Given that the City matchup is a tough one, that gives you three gameweeks where you wouldn't mind being without Rooney and so if you have transfers to spare, I might consider flipping him for Van Persie or Aguero, and then buying him back at a lower price in 3 weeks. If you want to make that move though, you need to act fast as many managers will surely sell Rooney this week, despite his excellent form to date.
Newcastle
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, R Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ba, Best.
Subs: Harper, Guthrie, Ben Arfa, Lovenkrands, Perch, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi
Not much to add here as this team looks pretty settled. Ben Arfa may replace Obertan when fully fit but until we see proven production from him, neither are ownable anyway.
QPR
Kenny, Young, Ferdinand, Hall, Traore, Faurlin, Derry, Wright-Phillips, Taarabt, Barton, Bothroyd.
Subs: Murphy, Orr, Campbell, Buzsaky, Connolly, Smith, Helguson
Gabbidon was injured for this one so I still like him as an every week starter and that midfield is now looking pretty solid, suggesting a 4-5-1 shape will continue and Bothroyd will own that top spot on his own. I can see value in Taarabt, Wright Phillips, Barton and even Faurlin and with a solid looking defense, this team is quickly developing into one of the best sources of cheap options in the league.
Stoke
Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Woodgate, Wilson, Pennant, Delap, Whelan, Etherington, Walters, Crouch
Subs: Sorensen, Huth, Whitehead, Upson, Shotton, Jerome, Palacios
Huth was a surprise drop here but I'd be surprised if this is anything more than a one week aberration. Huth has adapted fairly well to the right back spot I'd forecast him to return there next week. Woodgate once again proved he is without a doubt the first choice partner to Shawcross and I like him (when fit) as a very useful rotation play.
Swansea
Vorm, Rangel, Monk, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Gower, Allen, Dyer, Lita, Sinclair
Subs: Tremmel, Graham, Dobbie, Routledge, Moore, Bessone, Richards
Graham found himself on the bench again and now needs to be sold. Despite his low price, you simply cannot carry players who aren't playing. Players in his price range are really limited though, so you might need to juggle a couple of players to replace him. Outside of Dyer, who has threatened but so far come up empty, I am not seeing too much here to get excited about.
Tottenham
Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto, Modric, Parker, Sandro, Bale, Van der Vaart, Adebayor
Subs: Cudicini, Giovani, Bassong, Corluka, Livermore, Townsend, Carroll
I wondered how Redknapp would deal with Van der Vaart, but with Defoe out we didn't receive a conclusive answer. He did however tip his hand by showing a willingness to move Modric outside, which could pave the way for a spot in the middle of a 4-4-2 for Van der Vaart, leaving Lennon as the odd man out. Either way, Defoe and Lennon don't look like great options in this side, with Adebayor, Van der Vaart and possibly a re-merging Bale looking like the value here.
West Brom
Foster, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Shorey, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Brunt, Odemwingie, Long, Thomas.
Subs: Fulop, Tchoyi, Morrison, Dawson, Jones, Cox, Scharner
Brunt found himself back in the lineup this week but I will need to see a consistent run and some production before I trust him again. The Baggies mustered just 8 shots all day and despite the consistent appearances for Odemwingie and Long, I am starting to get disheartened by this team's play. I like the team to bounce back at some point but as I said with Brunt last week, I am no longer willing to hold their assets while I wait.
Wigan
Al Habsi, Gohouri, Caldwell, Figueroa, Van Aanholt, Diame, Watson, McCarthy, Moses, Di Santo, Gomez
Subs: Kirkland, Crusat, Maloney, McArthur, Sammon, Jones, Stam
Much like West Brom, Wigan have a few promising options up front but there is little predictability in the production with Moses in particular flattering to deceive. A lack of replacements for Moses and Di Santo make it tough to sell them and I think a separate post is in order on budget plays given the disappointing returns we're seeing from so many promising prospects.
Wolverhampton
Hennessey, Stearman, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Henry, Hunt, Edwards, O'Hara, Jarvis, Doyle
Subs: De Vries, Elokobi, Fletcher, Hammill, Milijas, Guedioura, Doherty
I don't know what Fletcher has to do to start every week but until he does, I find it hard to recommend owning him. I've liked Hunt all season so I was pleased to see him pick up the assist but this team is also a bit up and down and it's getting hard to distinguish between Jarvis, Hunt and O'Hara (at least in terms of underlying stats).
Arsenal
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Song, Ramsey, Gervinho, van Persie, Walcott
Subs: Fabianski, Rosicky, Andre Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Frimpong, Chamakh
Not really sure what happened with Santos, who was replaced by Gibbs for the week. I'm not sure he's worth owning anyway as better options exist on his own team (Mertesacker or Koscielny while Vermaelen is hurt) and of course across the league. Arshavin was benched here which really underlines how that trio of Gervinho/Walcott/Arshavin is tough to predict, leaving Arteta and Van Persie as the only real reliable options in this side offensively.
Aston Villa
Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Petrov, Ireland, Delph, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Bannan
Subs: Guzan, Albrighton, Delfouneso, Beye, Weimann, Lowry, Gardner
I very much like Bannan here, who seems to have permanently replaced Albrighton on the first team. His penalty duties are of course a bonus and suggest his manager has a confidence in him which indicates a prolonged run in the team. I keep promising a chalkboard post and Bannan deserves some attention in that upcoming review. Elsewhere it's as you were and this team is looking very settled.
Blackburn
Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Givet, Dann, Hoilett, Lowe, Nzonzi, Olsson, Formica, Yakubu
Subs: Bunn, Grella, Petrovic, Rochina, Vukcevic, Roberts, Hanley
The lineup is still pretty up and down though some constants can be found in Hoilett and possibly an emerging Yakubu. Rotation risk is only a concern if your players have value in the first place though, and at the moment the Rovers players deserve monitoring at best.
Bolton
Jaaskelainen, Wheater, Robinson, Knight, Steinsson, Eagles, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Pratley, Petrov, Ngog
Subs: Bogdan, Sanli, Gardner, K Davies, M Davies, Boyata, Kakuta.
Kevin Davies hasn't been enjoying a good start to the season and the fact he is now benchable really hurts his value, much of which was derived from his reliability. At this point I'd prefer to role the dice with a Long, Ba or Di Santa rather than stick with Davies. The rest of the team is pretty much as you were, with Wheater only getting a game due to Cahill's illness. Steinsson versus Boyata is becoming a frustrating battle and there isn't enough potential value there to bother getting involved with that.
Chelsea
Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Mata, Meireles, Ramires, Torres, Anelka.
Subs: Turnbull, Luiz, Lampard, Drogba, Malouda, McEachran, Kalou
We can conclude that Malouda has fallen badly down the pecking order and cannot be owned anymore. No one has really covered themselves in glory up front in Drogba's absence and with Torres' suspension, the Ivorian will surely reclaim a place in the first team. I don't read too much into Lampard's benching, who has actually been playing fairly well this year, despite a lack of elite production. That back line looks set, though expect Luiz to get a game soon as Villas-Boas looks to keep his side fresh.
Everton
Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Neville, Fellaini, Rodwell, Osman, Coleman, Cahill
Subs: Mucha, Heitinga, Bilyaletdinov, Saha, Drenthe, Stracqualursi, Vellios
Saha reclaims a place on the bench but of course his fantasy value remains non-existent until he can prove he can hold a first team place and stay healthy. Based on their value, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable owning a single player from this team. 26 forwards have as many points as ALL Everton forwards combined.
Fulham
Schwarzer, Baird, Grygera, Hangeland, JA Riise, Kasami, Sidwell, Murphy, Dempsey, Dembele, Sa
Subs: Etheridge, Kelly, Ruiz, Senderos, Gecov, Etuhu, Briggs
This defence is starting to get a bit annoying now, and it's only going to get worse when Aaron Hughes gets healthy. Riise and Hangeland look safe but those price tags put them in the borderline elite category which I really struggle to justify for a good but not great defensive unit. As the newest signing, I wonder if Grygera will now establish a place in the first team, which would deliver good value at 5.0m. It's too early to take that risk after just one appearance though. Honestly, if you like Fulham, I'd just grab Schwarzer and plug him into a rotation strategy. Up front you have to imagine Ruiz will play at some point but I wouldn't be looking at him for a while yet.
Liverpool
Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Henderson, Lucas, Adam, Downing, Carroll, Suarez.
Subs: Doni, Gerrard, Coates, Kuyt, Spearing, Flanagan, Bellamy
It will be interesting to see what happens when Gerrard is fully fit as there is no obvious candiate to be dropped. My first thought is Henderson but he's played a lot so far this year and gives them width on the right which they would lose with Gerrard, particularly with Johnson still sidelined. He could take Adam's place in the middle but this seems less likely given the way Adam has really been the focal point of so much Liverpool have done this year. Finally, he could play off a striker, as he did for a while with Torres, but Suarez isn't a great fit for that role and it seems highly unlikely the Uruguayan would be benched. Some might suggest that they go Adam/Gerrard in the middle but I would be very surprised if Liverpool decide to proceed with no defensive option. I'd suggest that Downing and Suarez owners can sleep well but if you have Henderson/Adam/Carroll I would at least start thinking about what you're next move is, even if you don't pull the trigger yet.
Man City
Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Nasri, Barry, Toure Yaya, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero
Subs: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Milner, Kolarov, Savic, Tevez, Balotelli
Did City really just name an unchanged lineup? Unfortunately that probably means there will be some rotation on the horizon but you can handle that when the ceiling is high when they do play and I would therefore be happy owning pretty much anyone in this lineup aside from Barry (benched for De Jong soon?), Lescott (better options available for less money) and probably Yaya Toure (deep role for a high price).
Man Utd
De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Nani, Anderson, Fletcher, Young, Berbatov, Hernandez.
Subs: Lindegaard, Owen, Giggs, Park, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva, Valencia
Berbatov gets a game! And not at centre back! Rooney's injury was a massive blow, after I had suggested he was my captain pick for the week. Evans' injury was also a disappointment and we should probably downgrade this unit as it isn't clear who can even start this week. Rooney is supposed to be out for a couple of weeks and my current thought process is that they will be targeting the City game for his return (Oct 23, GW9). Given that the City matchup is a tough one, that gives you three gameweeks where you wouldn't mind being without Rooney and so if you have transfers to spare, I might consider flipping him for Van Persie or Aguero, and then buying him back at a lower price in 3 weeks. If you want to make that move though, you need to act fast as many managers will surely sell Rooney this week, despite his excellent form to date.
Newcastle
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, R Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ba, Best.
Subs: Harper, Guthrie, Ben Arfa, Lovenkrands, Perch, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi
Not much to add here as this team looks pretty settled. Ben Arfa may replace Obertan when fully fit but until we see proven production from him, neither are ownable anyway.
QPR
Kenny, Young, Ferdinand, Hall, Traore, Faurlin, Derry, Wright-Phillips, Taarabt, Barton, Bothroyd.
Subs: Murphy, Orr, Campbell, Buzsaky, Connolly, Smith, Helguson
Gabbidon was injured for this one so I still like him as an every week starter and that midfield is now looking pretty solid, suggesting a 4-5-1 shape will continue and Bothroyd will own that top spot on his own. I can see value in Taarabt, Wright Phillips, Barton and even Faurlin and with a solid looking defense, this team is quickly developing into one of the best sources of cheap options in the league.
Stoke
Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Woodgate, Wilson, Pennant, Delap, Whelan, Etherington, Walters, Crouch
Subs: Sorensen, Huth, Whitehead, Upson, Shotton, Jerome, Palacios
Huth was a surprise drop here but I'd be surprised if this is anything more than a one week aberration. Huth has adapted fairly well to the right back spot I'd forecast him to return there next week. Woodgate once again proved he is without a doubt the first choice partner to Shawcross and I like him (when fit) as a very useful rotation play.
Swansea
Vorm, Rangel, Monk, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Gower, Allen, Dyer, Lita, Sinclair
Subs: Tremmel, Graham, Dobbie, Routledge, Moore, Bessone, Richards
Graham found himself on the bench again and now needs to be sold. Despite his low price, you simply cannot carry players who aren't playing. Players in his price range are really limited though, so you might need to juggle a couple of players to replace him. Outside of Dyer, who has threatened but so far come up empty, I am not seeing too much here to get excited about.
Tottenham
Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto, Modric, Parker, Sandro, Bale, Van der Vaart, Adebayor
Subs: Cudicini, Giovani, Bassong, Corluka, Livermore, Townsend, Carroll
I wondered how Redknapp would deal with Van der Vaart, but with Defoe out we didn't receive a conclusive answer. He did however tip his hand by showing a willingness to move Modric outside, which could pave the way for a spot in the middle of a 4-4-2 for Van der Vaart, leaving Lennon as the odd man out. Either way, Defoe and Lennon don't look like great options in this side, with Adebayor, Van der Vaart and possibly a re-merging Bale looking like the value here.
West Brom
Foster, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Shorey, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Brunt, Odemwingie, Long, Thomas.
Subs: Fulop, Tchoyi, Morrison, Dawson, Jones, Cox, Scharner
Brunt found himself back in the lineup this week but I will need to see a consistent run and some production before I trust him again. The Baggies mustered just 8 shots all day and despite the consistent appearances for Odemwingie and Long, I am starting to get disheartened by this team's play. I like the team to bounce back at some point but as I said with Brunt last week, I am no longer willing to hold their assets while I wait.
Wigan
Al Habsi, Gohouri, Caldwell, Figueroa, Van Aanholt, Diame, Watson, McCarthy, Moses, Di Santo, Gomez
Subs: Kirkland, Crusat, Maloney, McArthur, Sammon, Jones, Stam
Much like West Brom, Wigan have a few promising options up front but there is little predictability in the production with Moses in particular flattering to deceive. A lack of replacements for Moses and Di Santo make it tough to sell them and I think a separate post is in order on budget plays given the disappointing returns we're seeing from so many promising prospects.
Wolverhampton
Hennessey, Stearman, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Henry, Hunt, Edwards, O'Hara, Jarvis, Doyle
Subs: De Vries, Elokobi, Fletcher, Hammill, Milijas, Guedioura, Doherty
I don't know what Fletcher has to do to start every week but until he does, I find it hard to recommend owning him. I've liked Hunt all season so I was pleased to see him pick up the assist but this team is also a bit up and down and it's getting hard to distinguish between Jarvis, Hunt and O'Hara (at least in terms of underlying stats).
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