The Watchlist – Robert Huth
Filed under: The Watchlist - Posted by: stilicho
Leaping like a sixteen stone salmon, Robert Huth is the scourge of 18-yard boxes the length and breadth of the land. Equally terrifying at both ends of the pitch, Huth’s aerial despotism has long ensured that he is as much “on” Stoke’s set-pieces as whoever happens to have the honour of hoofing the ball in his general direction.
The top scoring defender in the Premier League last term, Huth’s six goals were augmented by three assists, eight clean sheets and fourteen bonus points. Amassing 138 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points from a starting price of 5.0, it was no surprise when he was unhesitatingly elected to our team-of-the-season. With the Potters’ defensive parsimony a proverbial constant, and their attacking prosperity ever predicated on set-plays, a price hike to 6.0 this time round seemed unlikely to present a significant impediment to would-be investors.
Three clean sheets in the first four games seemed to forecast a business-as-usual campaign for Tony Pulis’ men, but with new arrivals Matthew Upson and Jonathan Woodgate now competing for centre-back spots a formerly settled defensive line began to betray an uncharacteristic uncertainty. A long clean sheet drought saw Pulis’ protracted search for a solution assuming the character of a rotational merry-go-round, and Huth often found himself out on a limb at full-back or even, at times, on the bench.
The restoration of last season’s centre-back pairing of Ryan Shawcross and Huth has applied a much needed prophylactic to Stoke’s unusually profligate campaign. The re-galvanised Potters have secured two clean sheets in their last six, and a goal and an assist last weekend in the FA cup saw man-of-the-match Huth back to his imperious best in the opposing penalty area.
Three home games in the next four make Stoke’s upcoming run an inviting proposition (SUN ful SWA NOR), and a January sale price of 5.6 seems eminently reasonable for a player boasting a strong record in both attack and defence. With the threat of rotation hanging ominously over Stoke’s budget defensive options, Shawcross represents the only other safe choice in the Potters’ back line, but priced at 5.1 and offering little competition to Huth in terms of attacking threat, a saving of 0.5 may well be a false economy.
With more attempts on goal in the last six games than the rest of the Potters’ defence combined, and the prospects for clean sheets never remote at the Brittania, Huth may offer the strongest value in the Stoke side over the coming weeks.
About The Author
“stilicho spent a lot of money on rent, food and sundries, the rest he just put in a savings account.”
stilicho @FFScout_stili
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February 3 at 11:15 am
Ginkapo says:
NEW POST
February 3 at 11:15 am
philman says:
Okay, WC nailed. Please feel free to rate.
Krul/Bogdan
Richards, Huth, Evans, Simpson, Kelly,
Silva, Bale, Dempsey, Valencia, Sess
RVP, Aguero, Ba
February 3 at 11:21 am
colin1201 says:
i’d trade evans away, cuz man u’s fixtures are that good.
i’ll prob trade either krul or simpson away too, but thats because i dont like doubling on defenders from the same team.
maybe taiwo?
February 3 at 11:16 am
Gaz Downright says:
last
February 3 at 11:16 am
Common Barn Utd says:
has fiso crashed ?
February 3 at 11:16 am
Binman_UK says:
How does my bench/subs look? Right order etc?
Vorm
Caulker RTaylor Huth
Sinclair Bale Silva Sessegnon
Ba Aguero(c) RVP(v)
Bench: Mignolet Walters Enrique Kelly
February 3 at 11:21 am
Jaymz says:
Looks bang on to me
February 3 at 11:28 am
RenNy says:
I`d play Walters and bench Sinclair.
February 3 at 11:18 am
WeWuzRobbed says:
Aright there peps. Gonna take a nearly punt on Ba but who for?
Fletcher – Ba
Wellbeck – Ba
Think after last week it could be Wellbeck but then you never know with ol’ rede nose o he could start against that slightly less than water tight chelski defence…
Thoughts?
February 3 at 11:21 am
Jaymz says:
Welbeck out for me. He’s less of a guarantee. Plus Fletcher performs better away from home, and Wolves are away this week.
February 3 at 11:23 am
frankie_fryer says:
in this weeks wild card i got rid of
ade
ekotto
sess
mclean
mata
sturridge
skrtel
which one will i regret first
February 3 at 11:30 am
RenNy says:
Probably Sess..I got rid too and think it might have been a mistake already..
February 3 at 11:23 am
colin1201 says:
kelly + clichy+ shotton + gerrard + ba/ cisse
or
taiwo + richards + shawcross + valencia + graham
thanks
February 3 at 11:24 am
choppers13 says:
Dempsey or Valencia in my wildcard team.
I am 18 points clear in my mini league and most of my rivals have Valencia.
February 3 at 11:25 am
swaganeer says:
last.
So Huth is a good defender who also scores a few goals for a team with good clean-sheet prospects? Surely that proposition could had been propounded in just one pithy paragraph.
February 3 at 11:26 am
razmo says:
Does the January wildcard still count if i do it today or have i missed the boat please?
February 3 at 11:30 am
colin1201 says:
still able to.
February 3 at 11:31 am
AFC Silence says:
nope, you didnt missed the boat. sure you can use it, just make sure you are confirming at least two transfers and WC will show up.
February 3 at 11:31 am
swaganeer says:
You have until 4 Feb, 11:30. I’d wait until about 11.07 and act upon any news of postponed matches owing to inclement weather.
February 3 at 11:38 am
s_jbuntin says:
Who would you rather captain
Ba
Aguero
February 3 at 11:45 am
Heiro says:
Ag
February 3 at 11:52 am
dwmr says:
Advice on my team for this week guys? (linked) gonna have a bit of a defensive crisis I think. Might start Shotton anyway just in case he does play.
February 3 at 11:57 am
Gaz Downright says:
went to the kfc for the first time in…. 5 or so years
what a bloody let down
February 3 at 12:11 pm
skooldaze - the cult of personality says:
Hi guys
After getting stung with RTaylor on the bench and the last minute Swansea goal – I’ve rearranged my team. Any suggestions for transfers forthis week?
Krul
Simpson
Taylor R
Assou-Ekotto
Bale
Dempsey
Sessegnon
Silva
Fletcher
Aguero
Van Persie (C)
I have a freebie transfer left
February 3 at 12:19 pm
rangerdad says:
Looking at moving out Enrique, who would you consider as his best longterm replacement ?
Already have Richards, Simpson, Taiwo, Kelly
February 3 at 2:55 pm
Qwertyu says:
Which side has the most favourable fixtures over the next 4-5 GW?
February 4 at 5:59 pm
pdxor says:
Bahahahahahaha! You can do it to me on keister@hindquarters.bum