Scouting the Doubles – Southampton
Filed under: Scouting The Doubles - Posted by: Paul
A 5-1 home defeat at the hands of Chelsea in last weekend’s FA Cup Third Round fixtures was hardly morale-boosting for Southampton but the result afforded Fantasy managers their first double Gameweek of the New Year. The Saints now travel to Villa Park this Saturday before rolling up to the Bridge the following Wednesday as Nigel Adkins plots revenge for their St Mary’s humiliation:
The Prospects
While their form on the road has hardly impressed, with just a single victory on their travels, Southampton’s recent away displays will perhaps give potential investors cause for optimism. Having tasted defeat in each of their first five outside of St Mary’s, Adkins’ side have lost just one of the subsequent four, with a win and a couple of draws also thrown in. They hit three past QPR at Loftus Road and also scored three times at Stoke in their last away game – a hugely impressive display, given that the Potters had shipped just four in the previous nine at the Britannia.
The trip to Villa clearly holds the most promise. Paul Lambert’s erratic side have shipped 17 goals in their last four matches, with seven goals conceded in their last two home fixtures, though the midweek match with Chelsea could prove problematic – the Blues have been particularly miserly since the arrival of Rafa Benitez, with a single goal against in four matches at the Bridge under the new manager. Bearing in mind that strike was in their previous home match, in a 1-0 defeat at the hands of QPR, Adkins’ side will travel to London with hopes of producing another upset.
Jack Cork ‘s return to action in Gameweek 11 has been significant to an upturn in resilience – the Saints have conceded more than a single goal just once since Cork’s installation in central midfield, though it’s worth noting that they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any away game thus far. Cork has also been deployed at right-back in recent matches, with Nathaniel Clyne troubled by injury. That’s seen Steven Davis drafted into midfield areas but, should Clyne be available for the forthcoming matches, it could see Adkins revert Cork back to the engine room role.
The Likely Lads
Rickie Lambert is the obvious option. Adkins’ first-choice pick in the Saints’ 4-2-3-1 formation, Lambert has started all but two of his side’s league games this term and has featured in the first XI from Gameweek 9 onwards. The 6.2 priced forward has picked up more new owners than any Southampton player heading into the double – almost 70,000 Fantasy managers have clambered aboard the bandwagon for the best value forward in the game so far. Up to sixth in the forward standings in FPL, with 95 points accrued, Lambert has scored in three of his last four away games and with two assists and eight bonus points also accrued, has racked up 34 points over that quartet of fixtures.
With Adam Lallana remaining on the sidelines, Adkins will require strong displays from his attacking midfield regulars. Gaston Ramirez missed the weekend cup defeat due to a dead leg but is expected to recover in time for the Villa game – the Uruguayan brings a touch of real class to the Saints’ offensive forays and has produced a goal, an assist and five bonus points over his last couple of league appearances. Coming in at 5.6, he remains firmly under the radar with an ownership of less than 1% and could be a real differential.
Jason Puncheon has picked up over 50,000 new owners this week, with his cut-price appeal proving irresistible for many. The right winger has scored or assisted in seven of his 17 starts for the Saints this term, with a couple of goals and six assists to his name thus far – five of those have come at home, however, with his last set of attacking returns on the road back in Gameweek 12 at QPR. At 4.9, though, Puncheon is a relatively risk-free option and offers the option of a budget fifth midfielder for our squads beyond the double.
At the back, faith is understandably tempered in light of Southampton’s above-mentioned away defensive record. Fantasy managers will be scouring the back-four for potential but with doubts over their highest scoring defenders, Jose Fonte and Nathaniel Clyne, it’s hard to justify any other options. Danny Fox is the only other Saints defender to score or assist this season but lost his first-team spot to Luke Shaw back in Gameweek 11. Shaw has started the last ten league games and, at just 4.0, is earning interest in the light of doubts surrounding Fonte and Clyne.
Cheeky Punt
For those willing to take a risk, Artur Boruc may appeal. The stopper started the previous league game and was also selected for the weekend cup clash against Chelsea, suggesting he may have edged ahead of the likes of Kelvin Davis and Paulo Gazzaniga in the pecking order once again. Coming in at 4.4 in FPL, he’ll likely benefit from save points should clean sheets fail to materialise and, as our recent Wildcard Goalkeepers article suggests, Southampton rotate well with Villa over the next few, allowing us to hold beyond the double – unlike Chelsea’s Ross Turnbull, whose game time is threatened by the impending return of Petr Cech.
About The Author
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“I understand you don't consider Dempsey a striker. He has developed into playing in different positions, but for me he is a pure striker. ”
Andre Villas-Boas reveals his views on Clint Dempsey's best position.
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January 9 at 6:01 pm
ronh says:
Is jesus nailed on?
January 9 at 6:02 pm
Herr Vets - Die Rothosen says:
Still? Over 2000 years of nailed on-ness? I think he might have rotted and fallen off by mow.
January 9 at 6:02 pm
Herr Vets - Die Rothosen says:
*now
January 9 at 6:02 pm
Chris_White says:
Like a boss.
January 9 at 6:02 pm
Dante says:
Not til Easter I reckon.
January 9 at 6:03 pm
Eunuch Jelly says:
Watch out for Trinitation.
January 9 at 6:03 pm
ronh says:
I was talking about Jesús Navas!
You are all going to hell!!
January 9 at 6:01 pm
Acquafresca says:
News on Cech?
January 9 at 6:02 pm
ATHLETICO TIMBO. Top 10,000 any season 2nd Wildcard league 16771-553963 says:
Not yet
January 9 at 6:03 pm
Thesteady-Michu = "Siggy 2.0 " says:
Let me check.
January 9 at 6:03 pm
SMOOTHIE says:
Back next week.
January 9 at 6:09 pm
Wild Rover says:
Why do you keep saying this as if it’s a fact?
January 9 at 6:12 pm
Chris_White says:
He is Bemba Da’s new assistant
January 9 at 6:02 pm
Thesteady-Michu = "Siggy 2.0 " says:
Hi guys! Could REALLY need some help this week…
I have no idea what I should do with my freebie ….. please help (TEAM LINKED)
Appreciate it!
.
January 9 at 6:04 pm
Elwood says:
Nasty out for another chelsea defender?
when do you plan to wild card?
January 9 at 6:08 pm
Thesteady-Michu = "Siggy 2.0 " says:
After GW 23
January 9 at 6:18 pm
Leaf says:
Green to Turnbull maybe if you fancy a bit more dbl
Teams looks ok to me
January 9 at 6:02 pm
pezzerman says:
turnbull…might only play one more game against arsenal…then cech will replace him for southampton game
waste of a transfer…will have to transfer him out afterwards too so not a good transfer if you are forward thinking.
January 9 at 6:03 pm
pezzerman says:
stoke even
January 9 at 7:33 pm
Paz12 says:
Cech is out.
January 9 at 6:03 pm
TorresMagic™ - Join the "2nd Wildcard League - code 2412-1547". Millionaire Club qualifying starts GW22. Other codes in link. says:
Any team news for Chelsea or too early?
January 9 at 6:06 pm
Waldaz says:
Turnbull on bench, de Goey is back.
January 9 at 6:08 pm
Count Of Monte Hristo - "Corner the market, then raise the price. Simple economics" (Heisenberg, 2009) says:
Ed De Goey. A blast from the past. Those teeth!
January 9 at 6:08 pm
ATHLETICO TIMBO. Top 10,000 any season 2nd Wildcard league 16771-553963 says:
Not yet
January 9 at 6:03 pm
Optimus says:
awkward
http://www.youtube.com/watch?f.....J8wTEEnycI
January 9 at 6:08 pm
iCon says:
Is there history between them, other than normal RM/Barca rivalry?
January 9 at 6:12 pm
Count Of Monte Hristo - "Corner the market, then raise the price. Simple economics" (Heisenberg, 2009) says:
Haha ignored. Pep hates all things Madrid and Portugal. Simples.
January 9 at 6:04 pm
m4me says:
Hi All,
It’s going ok, but looks like I joined your site too late – currently on 1108 points, but have poor team value (98.5M if I sell all players) – think this is probably because I’ve always made my transfers on Saturday morning (rookie mistake).
Anyway, planning to use my wildcard to try to capitalise on the double-gameweek, as well as providing a foundation for the rest of the season.
This is what I have come up with:
szczesny, turnball
gibbs, luiz, bassong, zabaleta, demel
mata, walcott, taarabt, michu, fellaini
suarez, lambert, ruiz
I already had some stock in walcott and suarez, so total team value is 99.2M.
Thoughts?
January 9 at 6:09 pm
Hot Sauce says:
Sorry, whats the rookie mistake about transfers on saturday morning? better to transfer on sunday?
January 9 at 6:13 pm
m4me says:
I guess I should be buying them after all games have been played the following week, rather than spending a week deliberating and swooping on the in-form players after everyone has driven their value up.
January 9 at 6:10 pm
iCon says:
Looks reasonable considering your team value; could try to downgrade defence to upgrade Taarabt or do Suarez to RVP
January 9 at 6:21 pm
m4me says:
thanks, have tried to make room for van persie but would mean I have to save 3.9M on defence made up of:
luiz 6.6
zabaleta 5.9
gibbs 5.6
bassong 5.2
demel 4
I can get 2.5M for luiz –> martin r, but still need to shave another 1.4M out.
The taarabt upgrade route might not be a bad shout though.
January 9 at 6:28 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
Bassong to Wilson (Stoke, not fit yet, due back in 2 weeks), Gibbs to Sagna?
January 9 at 6:36 pm
m4me says:
szczesny, turnball
gibbs, luiz, bassong, zabaleta, demel
mata, walcott, taarabt, michu, fellaini
suarez, lambert, ruiz
VS
szczesny, turnball
sagna, martin r, wilson, zabaleta, demel
mata, walcott, taarabt, michu, fellaini
van persie, lambert, ruiz
?
January 9 at 6:04 pm
Mr Draper says:
Iv got 2 FT’s for the first time and i dont know what i should do!!!
Jussi Bego
Cuellar Bassong Cameron Clyne Mcartney
Mata Michu Silva Walcott Maloney
RVP Suarez Long
I was thinking of doing cameron to azpi and then azpi to gibbs next week but thats about it atm.
I am planning on using my WC after the DGW.
January 9 at 7:34 pm
Mile Plankton says:
Long->Ruiz maybe
Cuellar and Mcartney are injured
January 9 at 6:04 pm
burdinho says:
defoe looks a better option now Adebayor is going to the ACON no?
January 9 at 7:35 pm
Mile Plankton says:
well. . .
January 9 at 6:04 pm
ronh says:
I wanna know what love is
January 9 at 6:05 pm
Bemba Da says:
you won’t find it here
January 9 at 6:06 pm
TorresMagic™ - Join the "2nd Wildcard League - code 2412-1547". Millionaire Club qualifying starts GW22. Other codes in link. says:
Use that right hand again….
January 9 at 6:07 pm
Rate My Username (RMU) says:
Anything but spending your whole life on a fantasy soccer game really
January 9 at 6:09 pm
Optimus says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loWXMtjUZWM
January 9 at 6:20 pm
Santiagounreal says:
I want you to show me…
January 9 at 6:26 pm
Ginkapo-Rule No.1: wwkd? says:
I wanna feel what love is
January 9 at 6:04 pm
hales says:
Any thoughts on this?
Turnbull
Gibbs, Zab, Evra
Michu, Mata (vc), Walcott, Taarabt
Ba (c), Dzeko, RVP
Bench: Brunt, Chico, Shorey, Federici
Options Dzeko>Lambert, Brunt>Puncheon (bench Taarabt)
Have 1FT
Thx in advance
January 9 at 6:04 pm
Bemba Da says:
sky sports saying Ba expected to start on bench as Benitez is using Ba to get Torres fired up and get him into a competitive mood.
January 9 at 6:06 pm
ronh says:
I am sure Ba will be delighted to here that!!
January 9 at 6:08 pm
Bemba Da says:
I am sure his 70k a week and £4m pay off from newcastle comforts him at night
More money, less work. Only in football.
January 9 at 6:06 pm
Nutts89 says:
GJ to Luiz,Hazard to Mata and Berba to Lambert for an 8 point hit? Dependant on tonight’s lineup.
January 9 at 6:12 pm
ATHLETICO TIMBO. Top 10,000 any season 2nd Wildcard league 16771-553963 says:
No. Hazard to mata for a hit? Really?
January 9 at 6:13 pm
ATHLETICO TIMBO. Top 10,000 any season 2nd Wildcard league 16771-553963 says:
Just do gj to Luiz if you can.
January 9 at 6:13 pm
Count Of Monte Hristo - "Corner the market, then raise the price. Simple economics" (Heisenberg, 2009) says:
Unless he counts that as his FT
January 9 at 6:14 pm
Limpar says:
Hazard to Mata for a hit is like some bizarre form of fantasy tourettes
January 9 at 6:08 pm
AK- The Citeh Manager says:
For the next 4 GWs.
A) Fellaini + Suarez
B) Mata + Dzeko
January 9 at 6:09 pm
m4me says:
B.
January 9 at 6:09 pm
Aatish says:
Mata and Dzeko.
January 9 at 6:10 pm
Hot Sauce says:
b
January 9 at 6:11 pm
Hutton dressed as Lahm AKA Yaya Banana says:
B for sure
January 9 at 6:14 pm
Fabio Duarte says:
B
January 9 at 6:15 pm
Rate My Username (RMU) says:
A
January 9 at 6:09 pm
Fabio Duarte says:
If Fellaini were to leave Everton would you keep him?
January 9 at 6:09 pm
SMOOTHIE says:
Depends where he will go and if he starts.
January 9 at 6:11 pm
Fabio Duarte says:
Chelsea are rumoured to be interested.
January 9 at 6:10 pm
Aatish says:
Nope. I’ll get Bale in midfield and Jelavic(maybe) up front.
January 9 at 6:10 pm
TorresMagic™ - Join the "2nd Wildcard League - code 2412-1547". Millionaire Club qualifying starts GW22. Other codes in link. says:
Depends where he goes………………………..
January 9 at 6:12 pm
Thesteady-Michu = "Siggy 2.0 " says:
Surely I would keep him if he went to Real Madrid…
January 9 at 6:13 pm
Fabio Duarte says:
obviously this only applies if he joins a premier league team
January 9 at 6:20 pm
Sidharth says:
Nope. This will probably mean he wont be playing behind the striker. No use keeping him then.
January 9 at 6:09 pm
bring on Real Madrid ! says:
fellaini michu walcott mata punch
rvp berba tevez
want 2 m from these to upgrade for ivanovic in def
what to do ?
January 9 at 6:10 pm
SMOOTHIE says:
Tevez > Lambert
January 9 at 6:09 pm
Hutton dressed as Lahm AKA Yaya Banana says:
I’d love it, LOVE IT, if Cech was back tonight!
January 9 at 6:10 pm
Kostja says:
Id love it if he werent so there would be more clueless Turnbull owners
January 9 at 6:21 pm
Sidharth says:
^This
January 9 at 6:11 pm
Bemba Da says:
nah let him make a suprise return v stoke
January 9 at 6:12 pm
Hutton dressed as Lahm AKA Yaya Banana says:
Yeah true I suppose.
January 9 at 6:11 pm
Optimus says:
id rather he was back for saints game
January 9 at 6:12 pm
Wild Rover says:
Loads of yellows and a couple of reds in recent meetings between Chelsea and Swans. A couple of Chelsea reds tonight wouldn’t go amiss… here’s hoping.
January 9 at 6:13 pm
Kostja says:
+1 probably will be as boring as ever
January 9 at 6:13 pm
Herr Vets - Die Rothosen says:
Mata & Luiz reds would work well for me
January 9 at 6:13 pm
Keep calm, we've got Fergie time says:
Is there a person who leaves the posts on this site, you would like to have his password for fantasy team? Would you be mean and do some ‘nice’ transfers for him or would be a fair play to him?
January 9 at 6:14 pm
Herr Vets - Die Rothosen says:
NEVER, EVER screw with someone else’s team… lowest of the low.
January 9 at 6:17 pm
Keep calm, we've got Fergie time says:
Last season, my friend from Mini league used my comp to check his team and didn’t log out. Of course, I didn’t touch his team but I leaved some nice messages on our forum from his account
January 9 at 6:17 pm
ATHLETICO TIMBO. Top 10,000 any season 2nd Wildcard league 16771-553963 says:
6/10 see me.
January 9 at 6:13 pm
ronh says:
If a Chelsea player was to get a red card, would that rule him out of this weekends game…
Te he he
January 9 at 6:15 pm
Herr Vets - Die Rothosen says:
“Te he he”?
January 9 at 6:13 pm
SMOOTHIE says:
Chelsea – Swansea prediction? 2-1.
January 9 at 6:16 pm
Aatish says:
3-1
January 9 at 6:18 pm
ronh says:
25 – 37
January 9 at 6:14 pm
Jonny says:
Arsenal have a pretty congested schedule coming up, and therefore Sagna is at risk of being rested for one of the games in the double…. discuss.
January 9 at 6:15 pm
Feed the Yak and he will score says:
not much to discuss really.. it’s true though
January 9 at 6:17 pm
Bemba Da says:
they all are
Gibbs – Santos is back, played in u 21 today, scored and impressed according to wenger
Verm/Mert – Kos needs minutes
Sagna – Jenkinson
Midfielders – Diaby, Rosicky, Coquelin all needs minutes
January 9 at 6:36 pm
Dial Square says:
Santos is useless.
January 9 at 6:14 pm
Rail Madrid 1-0 Busalona says:
Who is the best 5.0 or less midfielder?
I have noble at the moment on the wildcard
January 9 at 6:15 pm
Optimus says:
puncheon
January 9 at 6:15 pm
SMOOTHIE says:
Punch
January 9 at 6:16 pm
Feed the Yak and he will score says:
Punchy
January 9 at 6:16 pm
Aatish says:
Puncheon.
January 9 at 6:16 pm
RoysCallerAnne says:
There is a new post..
January 9 at 6:17 pm
Aatish says:
http://www.fantasyfootballscou.....meweek-22/
January 9 at 6:17 pm
Herr Vets - Die Rothosen says:
LAST again!!!!!!
January 9 at 6:21 pm
Leaf says:
How do you do that ?
January 9 at 6:22 pm
Herr Vets - Die Rothosen says:
I didn’t…. or did I?
January 9 at 6:19 pm
Home Run Baker says:
A: Louise + Zabaleta
B: Ivan + Nasty
January 9 at 6:20 pm
ctrim says:
Easy A
January 9 at 6:22 pm
Herr Vets - Die Rothosen says:
Come on… there is a new post
January 9 at 6:46 pm
Elwood says:
Has anyone used their FTs to get in Chelsea players before tonights game?
January 10 at 7:53 am
admiral general aladeen says:
Begovic CHE (H)
Azpilicueta STK (A), SOU Bassong NEW (H) Cuellar WHU (H)
Michu EVE (A) Puncheon AVL (A), CHE Bale QPR (A)
Van Persie LIV (H) Suarez MUN (A) Ba STK (A), SOU
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance
January 10 at 4:26 pm
Captain Berbarossa - arrrrrrr!!! says:
I was one of the people who got in Ba before he changed to a Chelsea player and had 4 Chelsea DGWers. I had Turnbull, Azpil, Mata and Ba, along with Puncheon. I decided that there’s too much uncertainty with Azpil and Turnbull so got in Luiz instead, and in turn lost my chance to field 4 Chelsea for the DGW. I brought in Lambert instead, leaving me still with 5 DGWers of Luiz, Mata, Ba, Puncheon and Lambert. Will probably kick myself if Turnbull and Azpil start both games. Feels like I chickened out a bit but was it the sensible thing to do?