The Catch-Up – Gameweek Six
Filed under: Site Features - Posted by: Andy
The Fantasy Football Scout content has been building to a boil as the weekdays pass and, now, late on Friday night/early on Saturday morning (depending on how you choose to see things), we’ve put out just about all we can give you ahead of the coming weekend. Here follows our “Catch-Up” of all that goodness ahead of Gameweek Six…
Teamsheet Talking Points
The big bombshell undoubtedly came on Friday afternoon, when Dimitar Berbatov was ruled out by Martin Jol for “10 days to two weeks” after sustaining hip and thigh problems in training on Thursday. Drafted in by nearly 200,000 Fantasy managers over the last fortnight, the Bulgarian leaves us with a real quandary up front. If Jol’s prognosis is correct, the next time we can expect to see Berbatov in action is October 20, when Fulham host Villa after the upcoming international break in Gameweek 8.
The Manchester clubs dominate our thoughts as we plan for the coming Gameweek and it was as far back as Tuesday that begun to get Fantasy managers in a tizzy one way or another.
A midweek cup tie at home to Aston Villa was a good chance for Roberto Mancini to give his first team a bit of rest early into a long season – Sergio Aguero, just back from injury, absent entirely from his squad as a testament to this – so the sight of Carlos Tevez in the starting XI for City’s Capital One Cup tie has sent shivers down the spine of many Fantasy Premier League Managers. Then the game went to extra time and Tevez (as well as fellow striker Mario Balotelli) subsequently played a full 120 minutes.
Everyone knows that Carlos Tevez is able to start two games in five days and kit up at Fulham on Saturday but whether his manager gives him the chance to do that is another matter entirely. There has been lots of debate over exactly what Tuesday’s decision means and we’re currently leaning towards the Argentinian failing to start his second league game in a row. If that proves to be the case, then it’s more than a bit of a pickle for the half of the FPL population who currently have him in their squads.
While City have a smorgasbord of attacking options to worry about, their rivals from across the way have exactly a dilemma in reverse. Team captain Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out injured for eight weeks.
A United defence that has looked far from resolute to date, and that doesn’t know who’ll be in goal from one week to the next, will surely feel the pinch in the coming weeks. But as my colleague Granville pointed out there could be a silver lining for those Fantasy managers on a budget. If Alexander Buttner stakes a real claim for the left-back spot at United then we could see a backline from a title contending team with every player costing less than 6.0 in FPL. Whether reduced cost is reflected in the results to come is, however, something only time can tell.
Our newest recruit, Facer, has had his first official article published under the banner of his own name this week. “From the Physio” is our latest regular article where Facer provides a remote assessment of the new injuries that have cropped up in the last week and breaks down exactly what that could mean for player and Fantasy manager alike. We’re certain it’ll fast become on of your new favourite reasons to visit our Fantasy Football compendium.
Our Team News and Injuries & Bans pages have both had the expected thorough updates with all the information from the week on each and every team and player in the league we could glean on your behalf.
Looking Forward
Talking of every team and player in the Premier League, it wouldn’t be build up to another Gameweek without another dose of Frisking The Fixtures and Watchlist Updated articles. Teams and players alike have been ranked as we look at their short to mid-term investment interests. They’re all just commodities.
Given his strong start under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger we felt we had to highlight Santi Cazorla that little bit more and Jonty duly obliged with the words this week. We also welcomed Scout Contributor Stilicho back for his first article of the season with a look at the quiet and unassuming figure of Luis Suarez up at Liverpool…
“In terms of shots on target and chances created over the last two weeks Liverpool are in the Champions League spots, and whilst new acquisition Joe Allen and youth team graduate Raheem Sterling have gelled seamlessly in Rogers’ favoured 4-3-3, the comparatively innocuous exploits of Fabio Borini only serve to cement Suarez’s role as the indispensable spearhead of the Liverpool attack.”
Members Club
The users subscribed to our annual Members program got a triple dose of content this week. Fantasy Managers are currently bending over backwards to get Everton coverage with their form and fixtures colliding into a perfect storm of Fantasy potential. Two key figures of interest, Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini, have been assessed under the microscope of our Opta fuelled stats database in a Versus article for you to run the rule over.
While the spotlight shines on Everton this September the team of the month in August was most definitely Swansea and the beneficiary of nearly all that love was bargain summer signing Michu. We checked in on him with a Monitor article to see exactly how he was doing, after a couple of weeks without returns for the Spaniard.
Rickie Lambert may have the guts and the goals, Adam Lallana may have guile and the captain’s armband while Gaston Ramirez has the price-tag and an abundance flair but the latest in Chris Glover’s Moneyball series takes a peek at the other man currently laying claim to a spot in Southampton’s front four. That would be the rock bottom priced option of 4.4 FPL man Jason Puncheon.
Talking Tactics
In the Technical Area this week Paul set aside just a fraction of his brainpower to look at Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea 2.0 and the integration of the new signings Eden Hazard and Oscar together with Juan Mata and Fernando Torres for the first time. The average position of the Blues front four against Stoke was a particularly intriguing quirk to be found. The 40+% of Eden Hazard owners might not need be so worried, either…
“The Belgian was our Captain Poll favourite for Gameweek 5 but lasted just 62 minutes before making way for Victor Moses… A look at his average positions in the first five Gameweeks, however, show that he was actually further forward when on the ball last weekend than in any match so far.”
Our weekly preview over on the Fantasy Premier League site, meanwhile, continues to power ahead at full steam with all the goodies you come to expect from “The Scout” every Thursday. We’ve got our usual five strong band of “Ones to watch” as well as a look at the numbers behind the game and some of the recent tactics on display.
Weekly Regulars
The Scout Selection Committee have painstakingly predicted a whole new team of players to shine this weekend and the end result was the cherry on top of the week known to you and me as The Scout Picks. How many of the squad have you got in your team this Gameweek?
If you are a Fantasy Manager with a penchant for a player more out of left-field maybe you’ve even got a man or two from our Spot The Differential trio.
And, finally, far as your Fantasy captaincy goes -poll to be found in the middle toolbar on the home page- it looks like we have a photo finish on our hands this week. Both Robin Van Persie (home to Spurs) and Leighton Baines (home to Southampton) are duking it out for top spot just a whisker away from each in those polled to date. The dominant Marouane Fellaini (also home to Southampton) and efficient Steven Fletcher (home to Wigan) look set to be the canny alternatives this time round judging by their numbers.
About The Author
“I eat stickers all the time dude.”
Andy @ffscout_andy
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C :cool: think it might be cavani to the bridge instead! on a similar note, check out my link Tommy :) » -
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September 29 at 8:27 am
Captain Shirokov says:
NEW POST
September 29 at 8:28 am
Nitin Nagaraja says:
Brilliant bit of research from AppleBonkers and Kkkklose this morning.
Micah Richards’ FPL team – http://fantasy.premierleague.c.....5/history/
http://www.mcfc.co.uk/citytv/F.....episode-44 (4m 4s)
September 29 at 8:38 am
Kostja says:
September 29 at 8:38 am
Got The Runs says:
aaaaand he still has Tevez, hmm, im hoping he knows that he will start today
September 29 at 8:46 am
CarelessGenius says:
Played his wc already I see……amateur.
September 29 at 9:16 am
Team Hayemaker says:
Pot calling the kettle black
September 29 at 8:28 am
Goonther says:
Fletcher (C) at the moment over Baines and RVP. Thoughts?
September 29 at 8:34 am
snowman says:
i have it the same, no doubt it will change in next 3 hours though
September 29 at 8:29 am
Fernando Torres says:
Foster
Gibbs Baines(vc) McCauley
Hazard Michu Pienaar HBA
RVP Tevez Fletcher (C)
Subs: Rangel, Guthrie, Gorkss.
Correct?
September 29 at 8:34 am
wheato says:
Guthrie first sub?
September 29 at 8:29 am
inaam123 says:
advice for my WC team and what to do with spare 1.1m
mannone (begovic)
baines davies cuellar (hughes, demel)
fellaini cazorla michu ramirez (sterling)
rvp aguero (C) ba
……….
September 29 at 8:30 am
snowORgrass? says:
fletcher or crouch?
Stoke arr hard to beat at home
September 29 at 8:30 am
sarnaB-erba says:
Play Mcauley(avl) or Demel(qpr) ?
September 29 at 8:30 am
Melania1981 says:
Hey guys, new member. Trying to beat my boyfriend this gameweek. Any advice? Captain?
Jaaskelainen, (Federici)
Baines, Ivanovic, Jenkinson, (Clyne, Fabio)
El Ahmadi, Fellaini, Yaya, Pienaar, Michu
Van Persie, Tevez (Berbatov)
September 29 at 8:33 am
aree036 says:
persie cap. get berb our for fletcher if you have a free transfer
September 29 at 9:55 am
Elfozzie says:
A firm birch branch works well I’ve heard.
September 29 at 8:31 am
floydy_floyd says:
Iv been planning tevez to aguero all week. Money not really an issue. Should I do it?
September 29 at 8:32 am
inaam123 says:
of course!!!!
September 29 at 8:32 am
aree036 says:
im about to do the same
September 29 at 8:33 am
aree036 says:
was considering saurez but i think long term aguero is the way to go
September 29 at 8:32 am
macka1972 says:
tevez to suarez worth a 4pt hit????
September 29 at 8:32 am
mo says:
Starting davies over demel and gorkks the right move?
September 29 at 8:39 am
Van The Man(Formerly Yash) says:
Right.
September 29 at 8:32 am
craka2011 says:
anyone else think Nikica Jelavic is worth a punt as captain
September 29 at 8:33 am
mo says:
Nope
September 29 at 8:36 am
Kostja says:
I have gone for him but I dont have Persie
September 29 at 8:41 am
Hyperion says:
Captain is a difficult one considering he’s not guaranteed 90 mins.
September 29 at 8:36 am
Dr. BerbaRog says:
Looking at the budget slot over the next 10-15wks…
Guthrie or Puncheon?
Im really not convinced by Sterling as a budget pick
September 29 at 8:41 am
Kostja says:
Sterling or Puncheon for me. If you get no other Liv players than id go for Sterling still. but nothing wrong with going Punch
September 29 at 8:39 am
Dr. BerbaRog says:
Begovic (Jussi)
Baines STaylor Cuellar (Demel Willaims)
Haz Caz Fellani BArfa (Kac)
RVP Tevez Lambert
Start Kac over Tevez?
September 29 at 8:39 am
Back on the horse says:
so was all set to do Tev to Jelly, but if Tev is probable to play then maybe my FT is better spent elsewhere. what do you think?
Federici Mignolet
Lescott Ivanovic Rafael Demel Cuellar
Kagawa Hazard Michu Noble Marveaux
RVP Tevez Lambert
0.6m
September 29 at 8:41 am
Dr. BerbaRog says:
maybe just save it… i think the tevez situation is one to monitor for the time being… gettting him back in will be expensive if you need to do so.
in wk7 you will want to do something like Kags –> Caz and i think Marveaux is a weak option as he doesnt play
other than that its a solid team
September 29 at 8:44 am
Dr. BerbaRog says:
you might want some everton coverage however, so ivan/lescott –> Baines might be the way forward for this week and the forseeable future
September 29 at 8:54 am
Back on the horse says:
Baines might be the best option actually. I can do Ivan to Baines
September 29 at 9:15 am
aree036 says:
Ivan baines now or in two weeks
September 29 at 9:54 am
Elfozzie says:
I reckon Jelly could be inspired addition this week, I’ve a sneaky suspicion he’ll hit a hat-trick as he returns to starting spot. I’m already trebled up on the Toffees or else I’d have brought him in.
September 29 at 8:40 am
Dr. BerbaRog says:
RVP, Baines or Fellaini as captain?
RVP is the differential (most in mini league cant afford)
Baines is a solid pick
Fellaini is the player i think we score highest
September 29 at 8:39 am
Kostja says:
I think you just answered your own guestion there
September 29 at 8:42 am
CarelessGenius says:
Am going Fellaini just cos it feels right…..spent last 5 GWs chasing bandwagons so it’s time to make a punt!!
September 29 at 8:43 am
Dr. BerbaRog says:
Sp*rs are shit though
can see utd winning 4-1
September 29 at 8:40 am
inaam123 says:
advice for my WC team and what to do with spare 1.1m
mannone (begovic)
baines davies cuellar (hughes, demel)
fellaini cazorla michu ramirez (sterling)
rvp aguero (C) ba
.
September 29 at 8:42 am
Hyperion says:
A) Berba -> Fletch (C)/Jelly (C)/Lukaku/Lambert
B) Kagawa -> Pienaar, Cuellar -> Baines (C), -4
C) Torres -> Fletch/Lukaku/Lambert, McCartney -> Baines (C), -4
September 29 at 8:49 am
flipperallstars says:
Tevez to Suarez done, got a gut feeling about him scoring instead of hitting the woodwork. First Liverpool player I have had for over a year
September 29 at 8:50 am
wheato says:
Begovic
Baines / Cueller / S. Taylor
Hazard / Pienaar / Morrison / HBA
Tevez / RVP / Fletcher
Subs: Jussi / Guthrie / Demel / Gorrks
Not too concerned about Tevez (for this week at least).
Trying to end up with 2 FTs for after the International break, but considering Morrison to Hoillet as a bit of a punt – he’s got 0.9% ownership and looks like some decent fixtures.
September 29 at 8:56 am
Dr. BerbaRog says:
So far this season I have not has a player from
AVL
LIV
NOR
QPR
RDG
WBA
WIG
in my squad at any stage.
Going forward I dont think I will either.
September 29 at 9:01 am
TonyVilliers says:
Damn Damn Damn! Brought in Anchibe, he’s now ill, Tevez is unlikely to play and my only other player is RVP up front.
Do I spend 4 points to swap Tevez for Ba or similar? ARGHHHH
September 29 at 9:16 am
wedgec says:
I’ve used my wildcard this week, can anyone rate my team and let me know if I’m mental with my capt choice :S
Begovic (Jussi)
A Cole, Huth, Clark (Hangeland, Demel)
Kaca, Ben Arfa, Pienaar, Santi (Noble)
Aguero, Crouch (c), RVP
I’m looking at sneaking some points with Crouch as playing catch up, but not sure if I should just get rid of him for Lukaku?
September 29 at 9:18 am
aree036 says:
not mental but pretty daring.
Cole/huth/hange -> baines…. fixtures make it a no brainer.
i’d personally be tempted to go kaca -> sterling
nice team
September 29 at 9:20 am
aree036 says:
not mental but pretty daring.
Cole/huth/hange to baines…. fixtures make it a no brainer.
i’d personally be tempted to go kaca to sterling
nice team
September 29 at 9:31 am
wedgec says:
I’ve swapped Kaca for Sterling now.
I wanted Baines but it’d mean taking Cole and Huth out and replacing them for Baines and a 4.8 def, but no-one took my fancy. I reckon there’s a def clean sheet for Huth today, then potential for another 3 in the next 5 after man u and liverpool.
September 29 at 10:16 am
maltasi says:
I’m torn between Crouch, Zamora and Lukaku as a short-term Berbs replacement. Think all 3 could have good gameweeks.
September 29 at 9:24 am
puzzydee says:
Morning folks.
Reckon it’s worth a 4 pt hit for berb–> fletch
Or do you reckon Nolan will do the business this arvo.
All help greatly welcomed.
September 29 at 9:41 am
Ian74 says:
Thoughts on Jelavic for captain?
September 29 at 9:58 am
Elfozzie says:
A brave but smart differential. If Everton play at all like they did at Swansea there’s got to be goals there for him.
September 29 at 10:01 am
Disco Pat says:
Ian74,
If i had him, i’d captain him. but already have pienaar and Fellani so that’s enough everton coverage, and I’ve got RVP, Fletcher and Lukaku up front.
September 29 at 10:05 am
Ian74 says:
Thanks guys. I have RVP also but have a good feelng re Jelavic and Everton today. Might have to flip a coin!
September 29 at 10:22 am
F1989R says:
Guthrie against his former club at home, or Michu away at stoke?
September 29 at 11:04 am
evildeane says:
My head is wrecked and I’m struggling with my first 11.
Guthrie > Tevez
Demel > Rangel..
Any Thoughts?