With tonight’s Goodison encounter bringing the curtain down on September’s programme, we’re presented with another opportunity to build a Sun Dream Team linuep that can nab us a share of a £10,000 prize pot.
Each month the Sun award the top scoring team with a £5,000 top prize, offering extra incentive to select an eleven man squad to compete. The Dream Team Premium-In-Play package allows us to build and enter two teams for just £5.
When selecting a monthly team, you can focus on those players with the most favourable fixtures and, crucially, the most opportunities to score points when it comes to their number of appearances.
With October’s game starting at 7.45pm tomorrow night, we examine the strategies for the month ahead, whilst picking out the prime candidates for our lineups.
The Fixtures
While the international break limits us to three Premier League fixtures, with cup football on both the domestic and European fronts included in the scoring, we still have plenty to consider.
The Capital One Cup fourth round takes place in the week of October 28 which means, for once, it’s worth paying attention to fixtures and results here.
In addition, with two Matchdays in both the Champions League and Europa League, there are a batch of teams who have several additional fixtures on top of their league programme.
Man United, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham – six fixtures (three PL, two CL/EL, one C1C)
Swansea – five fixtures (three PL, two CL/EL)
Sunderland, Southampton, Fulham, Stoke, Norwich, West Ham, Hull, Newcastle – four fixtures (three PL, one C1C)
The rest – three PL
It’s clear from the numbers above that those teams involved in European ties should again be the focus of our monthly game recruitment.
However, the Capital One Cup is an interesting factor. We should consider that those teams involved in Europe will surely rotate heavily for the domestic cups, while the others taking place in the fourth round will perhaps take matters more seriously and field stronger lineups. With that in mind, we should certainly keep Swansea in our thoughts – Michael Laudrup’s side are the only side with European duties no longer in the Capital One Cup, suggesting rest and rotation could be less of an issue; as we’ll see, their fixture list demands our attention. Indeed, even those teams limited to just four fixtures in the month should have their schedules assessed before we write them off.
The Player Picks
Given the current form, both Arsenal and Tottenham look to be the leading sources for October recruits. The fixtures are certainly kind to Spurs: they face home league matches with West Ham and Hull City, in addition to a trip to Aston Villa. With Hull also visiting in the Capital One Cup and away trips in the Europa League to Russian outfit, Anzhi and Moldovans, Sheriff, Andre Villas-Boas’ side look well placed to build on their superb start to the campaign.
Defensively, Tottenham have been a revelation, earning eight clean sheets in ten matches in all competitions. That has seen three of their rearguard find a place in the top four Dream Team rankings: Michael Dawson (£3.5m) leads the way on 45 points, although with Romanian Vlad Chiriches (£3.0m) poised to threaten his start, both Jan Vertonghen (£5.5m) and Kyle Walker (£4.0m) look stronger options, with budget pick Danny Rose (£2.5m) continuing to provide great value once he’s fit – he’s missed the last three outings with an ankle injury.
In attacking areas, the choices are less obvious. Christian Eriksen looks to have established himself playing off the lone striker and looks value at £4 million, although arguably Paulinho’s (£3.5m) raids from midfield look more profitable given that assists are not a factor in Dream Team.
While Roberto Soldado (£4.5m) has, up until now, seemed a sure-fire option up top, his place is coming under threat from a resurgent Jermain Defoe (£3.5m). The former West Ham man has returned impressive hauls in both the Capital One Cup and Europa League, totaling 48 points. That tally actually puts him well above Soldado in the Dream Team rankings with the Spaniard back on 30 points having notched four goals to Defoe’s six.
Given that Defoe is yet to start a league match, it highlights the importance of considering the cup tournaments. Certainly we’d expect Defoe to continue to feature in the Capital One Cup and Europa League if he remains benched in the league.
Arsenal’s assets are currently dominated by the incredible form of Aaron Ramsey (£2.5m). The Welshman has soared to the top of the overall Dream Team rankings having amassed 89 points, with eight goals in nine appearances. For the second month running, he looks hard to ignore with Mesut Ozil (£5.5m) and Olivier Giroud (£4.0m) the other obvious candidates for our attention.
In defence, three clean sheets in nine matches hardly promotes investment with Tottenham clearly the stronger prospect. While the Gunners have both their European ties at the Emirates, they are stern tests with Napoli and Borussia Dortmund the visitors. Their Capital One Cup tie is also likely to be a tough encounter, with Chelsea their opponents at the end of the month. An Arsenal defender seems unlikely to pay dividends, then, although Kieran Gibbs at £3.5 million, could be worth a punt, although there is a clear rotation threat from Nacho Monreal (£4.0m).
The United and City teamsheets have seen plenty of rotation now that the Champions League fixtures have kicked in. The “untouchables” in their ranks, most likely to figure in all six October fixtures, come at a price. David De Gea (£5.5m) in goal looks to be the most secure route to United clean sheets, with David Moyes now actively rotating his back four. The Premier League fixture lists hands them home encounters with Southampton and Stoke, in addition to the visit of Sunderland – all matches that could offer shut-outs. The Capital One Cup tie with Norwich at Old Trafford, also looks a profitable one, defensively. Given the recent showing against West Brom, however, the United back four looks unpredictable, both in terms of lineup and their ability to keep out opponents.
Investment in attacking areas would seem more logical, although even here, United are far from at their fluid best. Wayne Rooney (£7.0m) has emerged as their form player with five goals and 57 points in his last five Dream Team outings in September. While Moyes seems intent on preserving Robin van Persie (£8.0m) following a recent groin problem, Rooney seems set to be given maximum pitch time and would seem set to figure in at least five of United’s six fixtures in the coming month.
City’s October fixture list is far from kind. Four of their six matches come away from home, with Bayern Munich and Everton providing stiff opposition for their Etihad clashes. Again then, Dream Team managers should approach the defence with caution with Saturday’s defeat at Villa revealing further frailties.
Injuries have robbed them off both David Silva (£5.5m) and Sergio Aguero (£7.0m) recently and that pairing, whilst offering obvious appeal, may well be a gamble given those recent fitness issues. Yaya Toure’s (£6.0m) form offers some compensation to cover their absence – he struck four goals and totaled 43 points in September to place him second to Ramsey in the midfield rankings. Integral to City’s midfield, Toure would seem remain on course to figure in the majority of October’s matches.
The Chelsea teamsheet is another that’s been hard to predict this season with mainstays such as John Terry (£5.0m) and Frank Lampard (£5.0m) given regular rests which have hampered their Dream Team potential. Like City, they have four of their October fixtures on the road, suggesting that their defence is best avoided with focus switched to attacking assets. Having said that, there appears to be slim pickings on offer as the Blues struggle to find consistency and form.
Juan Mata (£7.0m) is in somewhat resurgent form, although he still represents a gamble given the likely rotation with Oscar (£4.5m) for the number 10 role. Eden Hazard (£6.5m) remains the most reliable pick in Jose Mourinho’s midfield, although his form is a real concern: the Belgian has so far gathered just 8 Dream Team points in what has been a bitterly underwhelming campaign. The aforementioned Oscar is Chelsea top scoring attacking player with 24 points and, at just £4.5 million, would seem the most likely target should you consider gambling on strong Chelsea returns.
Swansea would seem a strong source of points from back to front. Ashley Williams’ (£3.5m) hamstring injury kept him out of the home defeat to Arsenal but, if he can be relied upon to return for next weekend, will face four of his five matches next month at the Liberty, including both Europa League ties. If you’re not sure on risking Williams, then defensive partner Chico (£2.5m) would seem the next most assured route, with Michel Vorm (£3.0m) in goal also looking hugely tempting.
Further forward, Michu (£4.5m) screams out for consideration having notched in three of his last four matches. The Spaniard has suddenly leapt in the Dream Team striker rankings and, with 57 points, is second only to Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge (£5.0m) following the weekend results.
Sturridge, like team-mate Luis Suarez (£7.5m), will have just three fixtures in October and, with that in mind, would appear a gamble. However, given the form of the pair on their return to action at Sunderland on Sunday, there’s every chance that they will fetch big profits in league matches with Crystal Palace, Newcastle and West Brom. Both are capable of explosive form, with Suarez already notching twice on his return at the Stadium of Light. Certainly there’s an argument for taking a risk on one of the pair if you’re opting for three up front.
Elsewhere, the October fixture list fails to suggest any obvious candidates amongst those teams facing four fixtures. Southampton take the best form into the month however, and it certainly looks worth backing a rearguard which has conceded just two goals in five with Dejan Lovren (£2.0m) and Jose Fonte (£1.0m) looking prime targets. If you’re stuck for a keeper, Artur Boruc also offers outstanding value at just £1.5 million.
You can enter teams for The Sun Dream Team monthly prize via the Premium-In-Play package which gets you two teams for just £5.
To score maximum points from October’s fixtures, enter your teams by 7:45pm Tuesday October 1.
The Sun Dream Team Scout League
A reminder that we also have our own Fantasy Football Scout League with a £1,000 top prize on offer to the winner.
Simply use the following PIN and password to enter your teams into the running:
League Name: Fantasy Football Scout
Password: ReWOZhn1T1
PIN: 8061654
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