The Technical Area – Bendtner, Bent or Saha?

With many FPL managers looking to rid themselves of double gameweek 27 forwards such as Tevez, Adebayor and Rodallega this week, the FFS boards have been buzzing with the dilemma of replacements.

Mainly, much of the discussion has boiled down to three choices: Nicklas Bendtner, Louis Saha or Darren Bent. For those with an eye on the FFS Cup, results so far in the recent poll suggest the “All scores for GW29, minus points hits” option will determine the qualifiers, and it’s worth noting that all three of these players have excellent ties that particular gameweek: Bendtner has BUR, Saha has HUL, and Bent has BOL. Perhaps a look at this weekend’s performances of all three is worth checking out, then…

Bendtner

Nicklas Bendtner’s passing and goal attempts chalkboard at home to Sunderland, shows he had five shots at goal in total, of which three efforts were inside the penalty box, producing one goal. Passing-wise, he saw plenty of the ball, dropping deep and moving from wing to wing in an impressive show of link-up play that was more in line with what’s expected of the lone striker role at Arsenal.

His season stats show the big Dane has 33.3% of all league shots on target. As centre forward for Arsenal, he will get more chances than most forwards to find the net, but with the Gunners next fixture away to Stoke, GW29 is maybe better timing, where Bendtner’s next five games would be BUR, hul, WHM, bir, WLV.

At 5.9m in FPL, and backed by Cesc and co in a team going for the title, Bendtner could easily add substantially to this weekend‘s goal in the win over Sunderland during the remainder of the season.

Bent

Darren Bent’s chalkboard is less impressive; just one shot all game (on target, inside the box). He saw very little of the ball, having to drop into his own half to get involved, in a performance- indicative of his team’s overall impact- that saw him virtually non-existent in the opposition half of the pitch.

His season stats show he has had 42.5% of all shots on target this season, though he has netted just once in the last five games, as Sunderland, without a win in thirteen league games, find themselves just three points above the relegation zone.

A win for Villa over Palace this midweek in the FA Cup replay means Sunderland will have four league games in a row at home (meaning the next five would be FUL, BOL, MCY, BIR, liv) as they struggle to climb the table. Despite helping himself to 15 league goals, being awarded 12 FPL Bonus Points and being the club’s penalty taker, Bent’s FPL value has dropped by 0.5m in recent weeks, with the England hopeful now sitting at 7.6m in the game.

Saha

Louis Saha’s weekend chalkboard shows he had two attempts at goal, with one on target, taken from way outside the box. Passing-wise, he got involved occasionally; popping up from flank to flank and dropping back into his own half as part of a great team effort in beating Man Utd 3-1.

His season stats show that 33.8% of all his shots are on target for an Everton side who have lost just once in their last twelve league games. The Frenchman has overcome injury problems this season- failing to take part in just two league games- and helping himself to 13 league goals (and 16 FPL Bonus Points) already.

With a tricky away tie at Spurs next up, perhaps Saha, at 6.9m in FPL, would be best brought in for GW29, where Everton’s next five fixtures would be HUL, bir, BOL, wlv, WHM, although given that the Toffee’s last two league games have seen both Chelsea and Man Utd put to the sword, David Moyes’ team will be entering each fixture with the utmost of confidence.