The Watchlist – Lukas Podolski
Filed under: The Watchlist - Posted by: Jonty
Arsenal’s double Gameweek 23 is set to increase interest in Lukas Podolski as Fantasy managers look to take advantage of the London side’s visit to Chelsea and a home game with West Ham. Priced at 8.2 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, Podolski looks a ready-made replacement for Demba Ba, who was snapped up by 228,600 managers ahead of the Blues’ double Gameweek 22. Many of the former Newcastle striker’s owners are already nervous about his long-term value under Chelsea’s rotation-obsessed manager Rafa Benitez, with the suggestion that Fernando Torres will start tonight’s encounter with Southampton. Podolski is a straight swap option in the same price bracket.
Amongst Arsenal’s forwards, Podolski certainly looks the safest option; having cemented a role on the left of an attacking three, he has started all but two of the side’s Premier League matches this season. With 89 points in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game he is Arsenal’s highest ranked forward – only out-of-position midfielder Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla have produced more points. With six goals scored and six assists this season, Podolski has both threat and creativity in his locker and has attracted 11 FPL bonus points, a tally bettered only by Cazorla and equalled by Walcott. In the Sky Sports game, where he is priced at £8.5m, Podolski also represents good value, having notched 88 points.
While Podolski, who has four double-digit points hauls to his name, is primed for investment ahead of the double gameweek he is not too shabby a purchase for the long term as well. Looking ahead, Arsenal have a kind run of fixtures over the next six game weeks (LIV, STO, sun, AVL, tot, EVE) including four home games and a North London derby with Tottenham, which are often high scoring ties. With Mikel Arteta sidelined due to a calf injury, Podolski looks set to be next in line for spot-kicks, according to his manager – furthering his appeal as a mid-price option.
Those investing in his services can also be assured of a strong pedigree, having scored 44 times in his 106 appearances for the German national side. This includes three goals in the 2006 World Cup and a further three at Euro 2008. Prior to joining Arsenal, on a four year deal this summer, he had just recorded his best top flight club haul for FC Cologne, where he scored 18 times and assisted seven goals in 29 Bundesliga appearances.
There is a slight caveat, though. During tight games Podolski is often sacrificed early on for a more defensive minded player. In Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Southampton in Gameweek 21 he left the pitch on the 57 minute mark and in the following week against Manchester City at home, he departed before the hour once again; while his starting role is not in doubt, there’s every chance Podolski won’t last the full 90 minutes in either match.
Fantasy managers need to assess whether, over two appearances, he’ll be given opportunity to return scores that will surpass the alternatives up front. While Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla remain firm favourites for the armband, Podolski appears to offer the next best route for those looking to treble up on attacking assets in Wenger’s lineup or avoid using up two midfield slots, with such riches available in that position elsewhere. The injury to Arteta, bringing spot-kicks into the equation, may just seal the deal for some.
About The Author
“The Fantasy Football Scout community helped find his lost dog. He repays them with articles.”
Jonty @newsandfeatures
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January 16 at 3:30 pm
Cartman23 says:
Remy has signed with QPR…officially. I’m wondering how much he’ll cost…maybe 7,5?
January 16 at 3:41 pm
Impressive Tackle says:
January 16 at 3:30 pm
BonZ says:
Wll Sergio v Fulham:
Sergio Aguero : I’m back to training with the team and I felt great… It’s good to be back on the pitch!
January 16 at 3:37 pm
Timmy Cahill Rules says:
he will start IMO
January 16 at 3:40 pm
Yellowish says:
u have aguero??
January 16 at 3:41 pm
Timmy Cahill Rules says:
will get him back once hes fit
January 16 at 3:42 pm
Impressive Tackle says:
Isn’t that what he’s saying?
January 16 at 3:31 pm
mazascar...mata hazard oscar...the wholly trinity says:
for DGW 23
January 16 at 3:42 pm
Impressive Tackle says:
I disagree.
January 16 at 3:31 pm
Furnando says:
A, B, C, or D this GW?
A) Ba -> Pod
B) Ba -> Suarez
C) Ba -> Aguero
D) Luiz -> Zab (Got Gibbs)
January 16 at 3:32 pm
AGUEROOOOO!!!!! says:
D
January 16 at 3:33 pm
mazascar...mata hazard oscar...the wholly trinity says:
A. DGW= points. players somehow rise to the occcasion during a DGW Remember gerrard last year?
January 16 at 3:36 pm
Furnando says:
Pod it is – cheers!
January 16 at 3:32 pm
Marouannie! Get your guns!!! says:
Tesco have suggested customers use cheese to hide the flavour of the horsemeat in their burgers.
Preferably mascarpone.
January 16 at 3:34 pm
The second coming of Moussa Dembele //Berbasaur// says:
That won’t do it, you’ll need something stronger like Ranch dressing
January 16 at 3:34 pm
Giggs Boson says:
http://instantostrich.com/
January 16 at 3:34 pm
heco87 says:
Lol.. first time I’ve seen that classic joke used in a topical way.
January 16 at 3:43 pm
Impressive Tackle says:
+1 great improv from Marouannie.
January 16 at 3:34 pm
Wessex Warrior says:
Probably better to add a bit more horse meat to hide the flavour of Tesco cheese
January 16 at 3:39 pm
fuml_akimbo says:
Cheese smothered horsemeat burgers was part of my stable diet as a kid.
…I’m having a mare, I’ll get me colt.
January 16 at 3:59 pm
Hector says:
I prefer my Lidl pony
January 16 at 3:35 pm
AGUEROOOOO!!!!! says:
whos through next round in the cup??
January 16 at 3:36 pm
heco87 says:
Don’t like to count my chickens or anything but it looks pretty likely. Team ID 5540.
January 16 at 3:36 pm
Ginkapo-Rule No.1: wwkd? says:
yup
January 16 at 3:36 pm
Wessex Warrior says:
lots of Ghost ships probably
January 16 at 3:41 pm
G-G-Granville says:
My opponent is 3 points ahead
Me: Ba(c), Mata, Luiz, Puncheon
Him: Ba, Mata
You may not think it, but there is still a possibility I can clutch defeat out of that match.
January 16 at 3:42 pm
Yellowish says:
u need ba to score!!
January 16 at 3:43 pm
Acquafresca says:
you should be fine granny.
January 16 at 3:50 pm
Back on the horse says:
you’re through
January 16 at 4:02 pm
Sidharth says:
Ba-1pt Mata-whatever amt does not matter,Luiz-no show 0pts and Puncheon-1pt
January 16 at 3:42 pm
Caine & Co. says:
Depends on mata tpnight ●
January 16 at 3:44 pm
Acquafresca says:
up 40pts
January 16 at 3:44 pm
1mills says:
I’m losing by a point.
I have Mata (C) and Luiz tonight.
He has Azil, Mata, Ba(c)
If Ba starts I am out probably.
January 16 at 4:07 pm
Captain Robert Hatch says:
I got a real good chance, if Ivan scores 3 I’m donezo.
January 16 at 3:35 pm
athtrasna says:
What bets are we doing tonight?
January 16 at 3:37 pm
Thesteady-Michu = "Siggy 2.0 " says:
Swansea to win at 7/1 should be worth some pounds.
January 16 at 3:38 pm
athleticbilbobaggins says:
January 16 at 3:40 pm
Giggs Boson says:
Swansea will be tired from cup football.
January 16 at 3:37 pm
Paz12 says:
I feel I need to get back to winning ways after a 7/8 BTTS and then twenty quid lost in extra time last night. Suggestions?
January 16 at 3:37 pm
athtrasna says:
I have Chelsea -1 Arsenal and united to win.
January 16 at 3:42 pm
Paz12 says:
Arsenal ALWAYS let you down.
January 16 at 3:38 pm
King Nil Miss ✩ says:
over 2,5 in Arsenal and Manchester!
January 16 at 3:40 pm
FatmanAndRobin says:
Lambert to score anytime 4/1
January 16 at 3:35 pm
Ginkapo-Rule No.1: wwkd? says:
I am not sure why anyone is moaning, the Tesco economy burgers are dodgy, you just have to look at them to know that.
January 16 at 3:37 pm
Berbilly Gilmore says:
I read that as doggy.
January 16 at 4:00 pm
Hector says:
low in fat, high in shergar
January 16 at 3:36 pm
Yellowish says:
Is it worth transferring OUT Ba for Aguero? long term…. he has FUL QPR
January 16 at 3:37 pm
athleticbilbobaggins says:
Yep. If Aguero is fit.
January 16 at 3:39 pm
Yellowish says:
oh, would you do it for -4points hit?
January 16 at 3:40 pm
iain_90 says:
this is my plan.
January 16 at 3:57 pm
athleticbilbobaggins says:
Huh. Maybe. Not sure.
January 16 at 3:40 pm
AGUEROOOOO!!!!! says:
i dont know to get rid of ba or not myself, im certain he will start vs the gunners at home then has reading so hard to pull him out just yet
January 16 at 3:37 pm
athleticbilbobaggins says:
Grav test.
January 16 at 3:40 pm
Acquafresca says:
So i guess Omar won the battle of the gravs?
January 16 at 3:53 pm
athleticbilbobaggins says:
January 16 at 3:57 pm
Something Clever says:
Can’t belive you binned Omar. Some shameless shit.
January 16 at 3:39 pm
Ricky smokes lets go says:
just read the article. so with arteta injured and podolski off the pitch , walcott should be the penalty taker. even more reason to [c] him when west ham go to the emirates in a dgw
January 16 at 3:40 pm
Chu Young Ping Pong says:
Cazorla will take em.
January 16 at 3:54 pm
athleticbilbobaggins says:
This.
January 16 at 3:41 pm
Acquafresca says:
agreed.
January 16 at 3:47 pm
Bedok says:
Would Walcott take them? What about Cazorla?
January 16 at 3:39 pm
FatmanAndRobin says:
Suarez or Aguero…? With Sturridge now at Liverpool will that take alot of the pts away from Suarez if he plays wide left or right…. I have 0.5 spare to upgrade Suarez to Aguero if its worth it??
January 16 at 3:41 pm
Zat Knight Rises says:
Wait a week to assess. Then do it
January 16 at 3:42 pm
Djerbil says:
Just can’t wait for the Line-ups exactly 3 hours later
January 16 at 3:44 pm
Impressive Tackle says:
You can and you will
January 16 at 3:45 pm
AGUEROOOOO!!!!! says:
most anticipated line ups, GW24 will be interested as they are evening games deadline should be open until 19.30 i think
January 16 at 3:43 pm
SillyBilly says:
Elmo is back at Sunderland!
January 16 at 3:44 pm
Brutus619 says:
Wait so has Nani just been injured? Is that the reason for him not getting gametime? I thought it was because Fergie just became annoyed with his performances.
January 16 at 3:46 pm
Blue Teets says:
SAF isn’t so temperamental. If someone annoys him for rea- they’re gone. If Nani is fit he’ll play.
January 16 at 3:47 pm
Brutus619 says:
So…he was injured right? There were lots of reports they were going to look to sell Nani tbf.
January 16 at 3:48 pm
Kostja says:
Well he was barely playing even when fit and Young was out at that time
January 16 at 3:44 pm
Paz12 says:
Thoughts on a BTTS / Goals Galore coupon for Arsenal v Swansea, United v West Ham and Chelsea v Southampton?
January 16 at 3:46 pm
heco87 says:
Won’t be doing it myself… if the matches were all reversed, i.e. home/away I’d be interested. (That bet would have come in in 3rd round fa cup when they were all reversed).
January 16 at 3:45 pm
~SpartakMac says:
Pep Guardiola has signed to take over at Bayern, starting in the summer. Contract until 2016. (Bild)
January 16 at 3:46 pm
Brutus619 says:
Source? Or is Bild the name of the source lol?
January 16 at 3:47 pm
heco87 says:
Aye Bild is the source. German, reliable.
January 16 at 3:47 pm
Brutus619 says:
Cheers, just found the article.
January 16 at 3:49 pm
get_in says:
Is Bild not a bit of a rag?
January 16 at 3:52 pm
Portsmouth Bubblejet says:
Bild is a mixture of reliable information and purely speculative gibberish.
In the case of Guardiola, they’re well-informed. Contract until 2016, starting in the summer, with Jupp Heynckes to coach Bayern continuing until then. The comments about wanting to work in England were just a smokescreen on Guardiola’s part.
January 16 at 3:52 pm
thetinkerman says:
Bild = The Sun
January 16 at 3:58 pm
heco87 says:
The sports news I’ve seen from them has always been pretty spot on… maybe it’s just a few isolated examples.
January 16 at 3:48 pm
Tommy J says:
Yep German paper
January 16 at 3:49 pm
pompeyfan says:
good move
January 16 at 3:52 pm
Mtka™ says:
More like excellent.
January 16 at 3:45 pm
BOSH says:
Has anyone got the rotation spreadsheet?
January 16 at 3:49 pm
BOSH says:
?
January 16 at 3:50 pm
get_in says:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhFqkaFEe92idHp4TDVyRVU5UE5rbGlPN3dSQW9GYUE#gid=44
January 16 at 3:52 pm
BOSH says:
Cheers mate, much appreciated:)
January 16 at 3:46 pm
kstadz says:
Hello lads, current team is
Bego, Bunn
Luiz, Demel, Clyne, Davies, Cuellar
Walcott, Caz, Michu, Mata, Punch
RVP, Suarez, Berba
For the double gw would you prefer Luiz—>Gibbs or Berba—>Pod?
Cheers
January 16 at 3:48 pm
unoaime says:
I’m probably doing both.
January 16 at 3:48 pm
unoaime says:
So Podolski guaranteed to start both matches then?
Berbatov > Him for a 4 point hit then?
January 16 at 4:07 pm
fuml_akimbo says:
He’ll start, but will most likely be brought off after 65mins or so.
January 16 at 3:48 pm
Somebody's gonna get Litt Up! says:
Enjoy the game tonight folks, i don’t think many will go ahead if the weather forecast is accurate.
January 16 at 3:50 pm
Acquafresca says:
Trollolol
January 16 at 3:51 pm
Scroobius Mac says:
Is it supposed to hit the rest of the country then? No chance a match would be going ahead if Norwich were playing tonight.
January 16 at 3:53 pm
Somebody's gonna get Litt Up! says:
Read The West and midlands should expect 10-15 cms of snow on Friday morning, the snow will move east later in the day.
January 16 at 3:48 pm
Paz12 says:
Demba Ba will be on the cover of todays matchday programme. Starting?
January 16 at 3:50 pm
unoaime says:
Ledley King used to be on loads of program front pages when he wasn’t fit to start.
January 16 at 3:51 pm
kimoo says:
if Ba start 2day sure he will not start v.s arsenal ??
January 16 at 3:52 pm
Scroobius Mac says:
Pep to Bayern confirmed.
January 16 at 3:54 pm
Somebody's gonna get Litt Up! says:
Romans face. Glorious.
January 16 at 3:53 pm
Portsmouth Bubblejet says:
Guardiola move to Bayern in the summer now confirmed by the Bayern Munich official Twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/FCBayern/status/291572547470909440
January 16 at 3:56 pm
Portsmouth Bubblejet says:
And now confirmed by Bayern Munich’s club website:
http://www.fcbayern.telekom.de...../39379.php
January 16 at 3:53 pm
BonZ says:
Pep will be manager of Bayern next year
January 16 at 3:54 pm
Nopli-Unleashthedrog says:
So Rafa stays at Chelsea
January 16 at 3:59 pm
Conrad. - Michu @ Santi's Sleigh! says:
nah, Jose’s goin back
January 16 at 4:00 pm
boc610 says:
what a waste is all i can say…again taking over a team where there isnt that much work needed to make them a great team, as with Barca. They dominate theyre league and have made two CL finals in last 3 years.
January 16 at 3:55 pm
wakey says:
Just a thing about United…RVP has been a great capt pick this season so far…the best…but…RVP has only scored more than one goal in two games despite having played most of every game…Rooney has bettered that whilst only playing what seems like half a season…As for assists it’s only 9-7 in favour of RVP….I’m not convinced RVP is the best FPL capts choice if Rooney get’s a decent run…Just my thoughts..
January 16 at 3:59 pm
Brian (Not the messiah) says:
wakey wakey… he may not get you the top score for the week, but he will almost never let you down…
January 16 at 4:01 pm
wakey says:
yeah..true..he’s a great pick but ithink Rooney has more braces in him…and that’s a biggie for capt choices..
January 16 at 4:00 pm
AGUEROOOOO!!!!! says:
it means he is due bucket fulls soon, rooney is good but at time willl be played out of positon
January 16 at 4:03 pm
wakey says:
got to admit i was amazed he’d only scored more than one on two occasions..
January 16 at 3:55 pm
robinreliant says:
Aguero back in training and feeling great according to his twitter. He’ll be part of my team come WC deadline
January 16 at 3:57 pm
wakey says:
is that with a view to playing this weekend or slower than that ?
January 16 at 4:03 pm
robinreliant says:
He’ll play some part this weekend. I won’t be bringing him in until after the transfer deadline when I wildcard. Looking at a RVP, aguero, sturridge front line
January 16 at 4:10 pm
wakey says:
I like the line up touted a couple of times on here…Rooney Aguero Sturridge…Sounds geat for anybody playing catch up…might work, might not..
January 16 at 3:55 pm
G-G-Granville says:
WC will be something like
Beg Bunn
Gibbs Zaba Demel Davies ???
Fell Michu Walcott ??? ???
RVP Sturridge ???
Fill in the blanks-
Defs from: Rafael, Evra, Sagna, Merts, Tompkins
Mids from: Puncheon, Cazorla, Mata, Bale, JCole, Nolan
Forwards: Ba, Lukaku, Dzeko, Aguero, Tevez
January 16 at 3:57 pm
Somebody's gonna get Litt Up! says:
Aguero, Mata, Puncheon then whatever defender you can afford.
January 16 at 4:00 pm
G-G-Granville says:
Arsenal and West Ham players are for overloading on the double. I know it wont work but I’m always tempted.
January 16 at 3:59 pm
Brutus619 says:
I’m bending the rules here:
Wilson
Mata, Bale/Morrison or Pablo Hernandez, Puncheon
Lukaku/Aguero
January 16 at 4:01 pm
Brutus619 says:
Or maybe:
Rafael,
Mata, Bale
Lukaku/Ruiz/Remy/Graham
January 16 at 4:02 pm
Brutus619 says:
Oh I didn’t realise you’re using the WC right now.
January 16 at 4:02 pm
G-G-Granville says:
If I got Remy, I’d get properly beat up for it on here.
January 16 at 4:02 pm
heco87 says:
How much £ to play with for the last 3 spots?
January 16 at 4:02 pm
heco87 says:
4*
January 16 at 4:03 pm
G-G-Granville says:
32m
January 16 at 4:12 pm
heco87 says:
I think if you have Fellaini & Michu you’re going to need a cheapy in there so I’ll take Puncheon. I’m very much in the Cazorla camp but I’d leave enough to shift him for Mata / Bale after.
Thereafter it depends on the team news re: Aguero… if he’s fit, I’d get him.
For me, it was Fellaini OR Michu so it’s a bit of a different dynamic leaving me a mid:
Fellaini, Cazorla, Walcott, Mata, Noble this week.
January 16 at 4:05 pm
The Dago says:
Aguero will be the key route into making up ground on Mark, I dont believe he has Bale either. So then Puncheon and whatever you can afford at the back.
January 16 at 3:57 pm
Brian (Not the messiah) says:
So I’m thinking Bale-> Walcott for the DGW and then play my WC after. sound good?
January 16 at 4:01 pm
Brian (Not the messiah) says:
reposting…