FPL Player List Analysis – The Midfielders

Having analysed the Keepers and Defenders, the second part of our breakdown of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) player list turns to the midfielders. With David Silva the only player in this position to be valued in double figures, there’s perhaps a little more scope for budget in this area, depending on how many Fantasy managers plan to utilise their allocated cash:

Looking at the 4.5 options here, there is little to no appeal – the likely starters in this price bracket are defensive midfielders in the main, who will seldom offer more than a two-point return. At 5.0, though, Mark Noble comes into our thinking, with spot-kick duties and a fair share of set-pieces for West Ham, while Shaun Maloney could prosper for Wigan if he can remain injury free and maintain his role behind a lone forward in the Latics’ 3-4-2-1 formation. West Brom new boy Yaccine El Ghanassy is similarly priced and can operate up front, though we’ll hedge our bets until we see what Baggies boss Steve Clarke has in mind.

Moving onto the 5.5 bracket, Jean Beausejour is a stand-out; he averaged 4 points per game (ppg) since joining Wigan last January. Nathan Dyer returned 122 points last term and offers strong value in the Swansea midfield, while many will be hoping Stephen Ireland or Marc Albrighton can prosper under new Villa boss Paul Lambert. Reading captain Jobi McAnuff returned five goals and 11 assists last season and could be one to watch if the Royals can produce the goods.

It’s when we reach the 6.0 mark that matters become far more appealing. Kevin Nolan and Adam Lallana offer options from the promoted clubs – the latter has a fair share of corners for Southampton and produced 11 goals and 10 assists in the previous campaign. Adel Taarabt and Wes Hoolahan both finished the 2011/12 season strongly after disappointing starts – their respective form towards the tail end of last term suggests they could be potential bargains here, though Anthony Pilkington could contest Hoolahan for our Norwich affections. Baggies pair James Morrison and Chris Brunt will be on the radar, while new signings such as Brett Holman and Jonathan De Guzman could prosper following moves to Villa and Swansea respectively.

The mid-price bracket continues to offer us plenty to consider. Analysing the 6.5 options, Steven Pienaar could be exceptional value if he completes his move back to Everton – the South African was a superb Fantasy force in the second half of last term at Goodison, though Leon Osman offers potential at the same price for the Toffees. Charles N’Zogbia is another stand-out here; the former Wigan man could well prosper under the attack-minded Paul Lambert at Villa, after last season’s disastrous spell with Alex McLeish in charge. James McClean managed 4.4 points per game in 2011/12 and looks better value than Sunderland team mate Seb Larsson, while Stoke pair Jonathan Walters and Matt Etherington arrive on the back of solid returns in the previous campaign, with the former continuing as an out-of-position prospect.

Victor Moses now comes in at 7.0 after the Wigan winger accrued 140 points last season, though of all the players in this price bracket, Scott Sinclair was the top scoring player in 2011/12 – with spot-kicks in his locker, the Swansea man still looks appealing. Chelsea duo Ramires and Marko Marin will also set you back 7.0; if the latter can establish himself as a regular under Roberto Di Matteo, he could prove to be an absolute steal. Further up the price list, Hatem Ben Arfa’s cost of 7.5 should still prove strong value if he maintains the level of display on the right of a front three in the final few months of last term, though Stephane Sessegnon (8.0) may struggle to pick up suitors, given McClean’s relatively cheap price tag at Sunderland.

Theo Walcott finally proved himself as a bona fide Fantasy option in the season gone by after returning 169 points – the Gunners winger has been slapped with a 9.0 price tag, though many will be hoping the rumours of a move transpire, with Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Gervinho both available for 7.5. Yaya Toure (8.0) and Samir Nasri (8.5) offer alternative routes into the City midfield for those who are reluctant to splash the cash on 10.0 David Silva.

Picking the right option from Spurs and United has never looked so essential. There’s a four-way tie for our affections at Old Trafford; Ashley Young and Shinji Kagawa will set you back 8.5, with Antonio Valencia and Nani only slightly more expensive at 9.0 apiece. Over at the Lane, new boy Gylfi Sigurdsson mirrors Rafael Van der Vaart’s 9.0 price tag after the former averaged 5.7 ppg at Swansea last term, while Gareth Bale comes in at 9.5, after accruing 195 points in the previous campaign.

There are similar dilemmas to ponder over at the Bridge, with very little between Frank Lampard (9.0), Eden Hazard and Juan Mata (both 9.5). With Mata likely to miss the start the season due to a combination of Euro 2012 and Olympic participation, Hazard could start the campaign the strongest of the trio, though Lampard’s spot-kick duties could offset his deeper role in the Blues 4-2-3-1. Finally, Clint Dempsey’s valuation of 9.5 still looks acceptable, bearing in mind he racked up 209 points last season – only Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero managed more.

With plenty of strong options in the upper price range, then, the budget bracket may be more crucial than ever this term as we look to look for cheap, value options in order to spread our cash evenly across the classifications. The likes of Silva, Bale, Mata and Dempsey are likely to receive substantial investment after their 2011/12 exploits but with so many others offering similar potential at a similar cost, there’s the chance (or hope) our midfields won’t quite be so identikit this time round.