Spot the Differential – Gameweek 33

Similar to the Scout Picks, our Friday evening regular is affected by the impending double Gameweek. We’ve covered all three outfield positions with our trio of overlooked alternatives, rolling out a Hammer, a Toffee and a Fulham player with a reputation to improve upon.

Andy Carroll

Ineligible for last week’s trip to parent club Liverpool, the on loan forward is fit and available for West Ham’s double Gameweek. Carroll makes his way to Southampton this weekend – no easy task, given the hosts flourishing form under Mauricio Pochettino – but having supplied an assist against the Saints in a 4-1 win back in Gameweek 8, he’s troubled the home side’s backline already this season.

Carroll then plays host to United the following Wednesday and despite the visitors’ superb defensive form, they’ll do well to contain him. Scoring in each of his previous three home games, his contribution has been crucial – Carroll grabbed the winner in a 1-0 win over Swansea before netting a spot-kick in a narrow 3-2 loss at the hands of Tottenham; benefitting from the absence of regular taker Mark Noble. Bagging a brace in a 3-1 triumph over West Brom, Carroll has also registered six bonus points over his last three appearances in front of his own fans – averaging 9.3 points per game.

Coming in at 8.2 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and 8.6 in the Sky Sports game, he’s considerably costlier than any Hammers team mate but heads into the double in arguably his best form of the season and with home games against Wigan, Newcastle and Reading still on his agenda, has the potential to produce beyond the double.

Steven Pienaar

The South African was targeted by many a Fantasy manager heading into the season as a result of his superb displays in the second half of the previous campaign. After scoring or assisting in four of the opening seven Gameweeks, his form fell away, though, as Marouane Fellaini became the must-have Everton midfielder.

Back in the first-team reckoning after serving a two-match suspension, Pienaar had hinted at an upturn in form in Gameweek 28, grabbing a goal, assist and single bonus points in a 3-1 win over Reading before receiving his marching orders in the next league game against City. With five goals, seven assists and 14 bonus points already this term, Pienaar has registered a respectable 113 points, with four sets of double figures reflecting his explosive potential.

Coming in at 6.6 in FPL (6.1 in the Sky Sports game), he’s a more budget-friendly option than Fellaini in the former game and could be just as pivotal for David Moyes’ side over the next few days as they square up to QPR and Arsenal.

Stanislav Manolev

Our final selection is a cut-price out of position gamble. Notoriously labelled “the worst right-back in Europe”, the Bulgarian started on the right of the Fulham midfield for last weekend’s trip to Newcastle due to an injury to Ashkan Dejagah and, with the latter now set to undergo ankle surgery, could be poised to retain his starting role for the Cottagers’ double Gameweek.

Martin Jol’s side travel to Villa tomorrow afternoon before entertaining Chelsea the following Wednesday and have been in decent defensive form, with three clean sheets in the previous six. If they fail to keep out the likes of Christian Benteke and Juan Mata, though, Manolev’s attacking potential could come to the fore – he’s previously notched 17 times in 92 appearances for Litex Lovech in his native country from 2005-09, suggesting that Jol’s decision to hand him the advanced role is not without merit.

While the likes of Sascha Riether is a safer, more expensive option, Manolev – at a mere 4.2 in FPL and 4.1 in the Sky Sports game – may appeal for those looking for real under the radar prospect ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.