The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 3
Filed under: The Watchlist - Posted by: Mark
With Chelsea skipping the Gameweek, the early season form of Swansea and Everton ensures that their Fantasy assets hold firm in our Watchlist rankings. Up front, both Carlos Tevez and Robin Van Persie continue to stand out as the heavyweights of choice…
Goalkeepers
Two clean sheets in two, it’s little wonder that we see Michel Vorm retain top spot in the keeper rankings. Tim Howard climbs to second off the back of Everton’s superb start to the season – his fixtures also improve in the coming weeks, and with Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin in such strong form, further clean sheets seem likely. Howard looks a good option in goal for those without the funds to stretch to the raiding Leighton Baines.
Joe Hart’s lack of clean sheets will be a concern but with Vincent Kompany now seemingly the only secure option in front of him, the City stopper’s stock takes a rise for the month ahead for those willing to spend in this area. Hart remains the favourite as top ranked keeper, despite the early stutters and is your “fire and forget” option.
West Brom’s Ben Foster looks a decent option in the mid-price along with Newcastle’s Tim Krul, who now begins to benefit from a stronger schedule. Meanwhile, Brad Friedel has the fixture list on his side but his stock has taken a knock following persistent speculation surrounding the signing of Hugo Lloris at Spurs. Wigan’s Ali Al-Habsi is your budget option lower down the rankings, with Jussi Jaaskaleinan also worth a glance or two.
Defenders
Angel Rangel retains top spot, having superseded team-mate Chico following the doubts surrounding the centre-back’s fitness going into the win over West Ham. Rangel justified the backing with a goal and clean sheet return, and with fixtures remaining strong, the enterprising right-back holds firm under pressure from Everton’s Leighton Baines in second. Baines’ form epitomises the Toffees right now and, if you’re investing heavily in your defence, the left-back looks the prize option on offer.
With clean sheets so hard to find, the temptation is to opt for cheap options and those defenders that offer attacking potential – Wigan’s Emmerson Boyce fits the bill in both cases and claims a spot in our top five courtesy of some strong short-term fixtures.
While City’s defensive returns have been non-existent, an improved fixture list, and the fact that he stands out as the only apparently secure option, boosts Vincent Kompany in our thinking for the month ahead. He clings to a top five spot, with Tottenham’s Kyle Walker just retaining his place in that select group.
There are a host of mid-price options to consider below that, with West Brom’s Liam Ridgewell and Newcastle’s Steven Taylor appearing to offer decent potential.
Midfielders
Our faith in Gareth Bale wavers but Tottenham’s fixtue list remains strong enough to help him retain his top ranking, holding off the charge from United’s Shinji Kagawa, who now looks set to benefit from Wayne Rooney’s injury with a run of assured starts.
In truth, Eden Hazard would be sitting on top of the rankings had it not been for his blank at the weekend so, right now, he looks up on the likes of Hatem Ben Afra, Yaya Toure, Michu and Marouanne Fellaini as mid-price options. The latter just gets the nod over team-mate Steven Pienaar, although it’s ridiculously close between them – Fellaini’s goal threat just gives him the edge right now, while he continues to be deployed in support of Nikaca Jelavic.
Forwards
It’s no surprise to see Carlos Tevez remain on top here following his returns at Anfield on Sunday. Robin Van Persie cements his second place rank following Rooney’s injury, while Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse is the significant climber in third. The Senegalese striker now has stronger fixtures to come and will surely be well backed to break his duck for the season against Aston Villa this weekend.
Both Nikica Jelevic and Emmanuel Adebayor surely have goals to come given their forthcoming schedules, while Swansea’s Danny Graham still looks the strongest option in the budget bracket over the next month, having opened his account in the win over West Ham.
Lower down there are some great differentials if you want them – Fulham’s Mladen Petric rivals Graham in the budget bracket, as does Wigan’s Arouna Kone who impressed with his first strike at Southampton in Saturday’s win.
About The Author
“Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.”
Mark
Commenting is now closed for this post.
Recent Comments
-
united 93 good film » -
:( » -
Nopli finally got one!!! ... ... pity the question had already been asked before... :roll: » -
No issues mate.All about the fun » -
;) Atleast I have a good memory ;) »
-
Shhh. 7, for now. » -
Haha, i was hoping the crowd would be different this time » -
Correct » -
Excellent stuff TFF. This is my pre-season training guys. I'll be quicker than that floppy-haired fool Demi come August… » -
Julio Baptista »
“We have dynamic players with good movement, so if he can link with them fine. He can play a bit higher because his timing getting into the box is very good.”
Rafa Benitez talks up the role that Frank Lampard can play in his Chelsea revolution
-
Mark @FFScout_Mark
-
Paul @ffscout_paul
-
greek fan @FFScout_Greekf
-
Andy @ffscout_andy
-
G-G-Granville @FFScout_Granny
-
Akers @FFScout_Akers
-
Big Dunc @FFScout_Dunc
August 30 at 10:58 am
bennett661 says:
Alright lads
First post on here, looking for some feedback on my team! Shipped out Mata and Torres with no hit incurred this week as i had saved my free transfers, have enough money to bring Torres and Hazard back in next GW with a 4 point hit. Bench abit bare this GW due to Chelsea and Reading players but not willing to lose anymore points!
Here we go!
DDG (Begovic)
Hangeland Clichy Shawcross (Williams, Cole)
Allen Dyer Kagawa HBA (v) Yaya
Ba Tevez (c) (Pogrebnyak)
Cheers
August 30 at 2:10 pm
stupendous says:
Dont like DDG never have, never will, don’t like your defense at all, don’t like allen, don’t like dyer now he faces less playing time and dont like Pogreb for many reasons.
You want my honest opinion….total revamp from back to front.
August 30 at 2:29 pm
bennett661 says:
Wow!
Wish I hadn’t have asked!! Thought it looked alright, had a decent start, 70odd and 80odd in the first couple of GW’s…granted not up there with the pro’s!!
How does Dyer face less playing time if Sinclair is on his way out??
Ok, total revamp, Who would you say are must haves?
August 30 at 4:12 pm
berbsacki - losing makes winning sweeter says:
70odd and 80odd is very good in fact. Don’t be too worried.
August 30 at 4:47 pm
bennett661 says:
Quite happy with my performance so far, was just interested in what other people thought of the team.
I guess not everybody is going to like the same players!
No way Dyer is coming out of my team, he was a beast after xmas last year and Michu will go off the boil for sure so not jumping on that bandwagon.
August 30 at 11:24 am
dripsey3 says:
Berbatov to Fulham heh? He’s 6.8 in FPL. I’d imagine there would a run on him if he does sign. The man scores goals. He doesn’t do much else, but he does score goals, did I mention that?
Charlie Adam to Stoke. I can’t see Stoke having enough room in their dressing room, never mind their 1st eleven for all the players they have signed. Still I always felt Adam was better suited to a smaller club and Stoke may fill that bill. Would be worth keeping an eye on, if it goes through.
August 30 at 4:05 pm
obe_jones says:
Any thoughts on my team?
Vorm (Ruddy)
Clichy-Baines-Ash Williams (Bertrand-Clyne)
Bale-Yaya-Pienaar-Routledge-Kagawa
Tevez-Petric (Torres)
It’s going to be a bit of a leap of faith with only Clyne on the bench this week! Unsure whether to have Routledge or Kacaniklic / Clichy or Zabaleta…
August 30 at 4:11 pm
berbsacki - losing makes winning sweeter says:
Front line of 6.9 + 7.0 + 5.4. IT’S ON!!!!!!
August 30 at 7:21 pm
scout parag says:
1. fellaini or pienaar?
2. graham or petric?
August 31 at 10:40 am
Berbagoth says:
All of them.
August 31 at 12:05 pm
Gn1us says:
Pienaar (safe bet, less likely to get yellows)
Graham (Better fixtures imo)
August 30 at 9:11 pm
Tony cascarino irish roots says:
Have had cracking start but having 3 chelsea players (Hazard torres and Iva) and a 4.5 MILLION substitute in the shape of readings Guthrie leaves me a player short this game week.
I dont fancy cutting any of d CFC players but will move on Guthrie
Uncertain as to which 4.5 million midfielder represents value..
Thoughts please?
August 31 at 12:48 am
frankarno2112 says:
sterling looks good for me…
August 30 at 9:21 pm
Walter Ego says:
You are my podcast
My only podcast
You make me happy
At bedtime
You’ll never know dear
How much I love you
So put it on now,
please ffs!
August 31 at 5:34 am
telboy123 says:
Anyone know why “the hole” needs inverted commas?
August 31 at 8:52 am
Pairidiz says:
Hi all!
Long time lurker, first time poster.
RMT for GW3 please and I will return the gesture!
Vorm (Jaaskelainen)
Gallas, Hangeland, Jenkinson (Demel, Cuellar)
Routledge, Kagawa, Michu, Gervinho (Hazard)
Tevez, Ba, RVP
Who do y’all see as a liability going forward?
Much obliged!
August 31 at 9:23 am
Gunner6288 says:
Why no Figueroa in the watchlist? As an attacking Wigan defender at less than Boyce, shouldn’t he be?
August 31 at 11:44 am
irishbjj says:
Agree 100%, more likely for a bonus too.
He’s in mine !
August 31 at 10:37 am
marelica says:
Friedel
Baines Vermaelen Shawcross Coloccini
Taarabt Kagawa Dyer Downing
Lukaku Graham
Vorm Cole J Hazard Torres
I`m thinking of WC this team, since I have Downing and Taarabt playing very little, Lukaku aswell. Plus I made a stupid mistake by thinking Downing might have found his form this year. Do you think it`s worth of a wildcard with some prices going up or should I sticr around with this team and just gradualy change it every GW?
August 31 at 12:27 pm
Magic Hamster says:
Team for GW3
Jaaskelainen (Cerny)
Rangel Baines Walker (Cuellar Tierney)
Kacaniklic Lennon Piennar Routledge Cazorla
Tevez RVP (Torres)
Am thinking of using my transfer today and going Cazorla -> Kagawa, or was going to save this transfer so that I can have 2 for GW4 and then get rid of Cazorla and Lennon and Bring in Hazard and someone else for no points hit, which option would be better? I’m leaning towards saving transfers for hazard…Cazorla looks like he’s going to do something, maybe, hopefully?