Fantasy Premier League – Player List Analysis – Mid-Price Midfielders

We roll out the sixth in our series of articles focusing on the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Player Price List this afternoon. After casting an eye over the Goalkeepers, Budget Defenders, Mid-Price Defenders, Premium Defenders and Budget Midfielders, we assess the numerous options in the mid-price midfield bracket for the campaign ahead:

We start at the Emirates, where Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta sets you back just 5.5 for the season ahead. The Spaniard has netted 15 times in the last three seasons and still looks set to retain spot-kicks for the Gunners – with Arsene Wenger rumoured to be in the market for a central midfielder, it remains to be seen whether Arteta can hold onto his role in the starting XI. Similarly, at 6.5 apiece, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain look far from certain to offer us a security of game time as the north London club scour the market for more big-name buys; both may have to rely on appearances from the bench.

Aston Villa’s Leandro Bacuna remains classified as a midfielder, despite featuring at right-back in many of his 35 appearances in 2013/14. Occasionally utilised as a wing-back by Paul Lambert, Bacuna’s set-piece ability helped him find the net five times – second only to Christian Benteke last term – though at 5.5, he sets you back the same as Joe Cole. The former Chelsea man fell out of favour at West Ham but is determined to nail down the role in “the hole” at his new club – he may come into consideration if Lambert looks for more experience in his bid to beat the drop.

Although Lambert’s side rotate home/away with West Brom over the season, it’s fair to say that neither side has justified our Fantasy interest. Given that Villa have six tough fixtures in the first eight Gameweeks, early investment could struggle to pay off, whilst Alan Irvine’s lack of top-level experience casts doubts over the Baggies prospects for the season ahead. Inconsistent performers such as Stephane Sessegnon and Chris Brunt (6.0 and 5.5), are set to remain off our radars until the Baggies can prove themselves as worthy of our attentions.

Andre Schurrle comes in at 7.5 after starting only 15 times in his debut campaign at Chelsea. The German played just 1,328 minutes of league action under Jose Mourinho but still managed to score eight times and supply a couple of assists – the potential is clearly there, then, though few will be willing to take a punt unless his security of start firms up. It’s the same situation with Mohamed Salah. Even cheaper at just 6.0, the young Egyptian faces a real challenge to nail down a starting role out wide, with Schurrle, Oscar, Willian and Eden Hazard presenting tough competition.

Coming in at just 6.0, Palace winger Jason Puncheon seems decent value after his excellent end to the previous campaign. Thriving under the guidance of Tony Pulis, his raids down the right and penchant for a long-range effort served up seven goals and three assists, with 18 bonus points also accrued. Team-mates Yannick Bolasie and Joe Ledley are only slightly cheaper at 5.5 apiece and the former is certainly an enticing alternative given his scintillating form in the final few months of the last campaign. Even so, Bolasie will be hard pushed to surpass Puncheon’s output. Although Palace have three strong opening home matches (WHM, BUR, LEI) in the opening six, trips to Arsenal, Newcastle and Everton somewhat dampen their prospects of points returns on the road.

Palace rotate with West Ham over the season but with just 33 and 40 goals between them in 2013/14, doubling up on their attacks doesn’t look viable, unless they improve drastically. Kevin Nolan’s (6.5) starting role looks under pressure following the arrival of Mauro Zarate and Enner Valencia as Big Sam looks to restructure his attack – at just 5.5, Mark Noble could be a safer option if he can keep spot-kicks; three goals and six assists last term saw him finish just six points behind his skipper last time around.

Available for 7.5, Everton’s Kevin Mirallas remains in the mid-price bracket despite producing 144 points in the season gone by – eighth best amongst midfielders. Having managed just 96 points in his first year in the top-flight, the Belgian stepped up as a Fantasy force in 2013/14 – a share of dead-ball duties helped him grab nine goals, seven assists and 14 bonus points, though Roberto Martinez’ end-of-season rotation policy proved somewhat frustrating for Mirallas owners. With European football also to consider this time, the Toffees boss has shown he is keen to utilise the strength and depth of his squad, particularly in the final third, to deal with busy schedules. There’s no doubt that Mirallas and, to a lesser extent, Ross Barkley (7.0), have the potential to excel but, with plenty of options for the attacking midfield three slot, Martinez’ teamsheets could frustrate. With Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman priced at 7.0 apiece and far less likely to be alternated, the full-backs seem to offer a more consistent option for those willing to splash the cash in defence.

Hull new boys Robert Snodgrass and Tom Ince look the standout options amongst Steve Bruce’s midfield. Priced at 6.0 and 5.5 respectively, the duo have a decent start to the new season, facing QPR, Stoke, Villa, Hull and Palace in the first seven Gameweeks. Whilst Ince is somewhat unproven at this level, Snodgrass has notched six times in each of the last couple of campaigns with Norwich and is likely to be gifted dead-ball duties. The Tigers rotate home/away with Burnley, who have a couple of budget options in their ranks – Scott Arfield and Michael Kightly – available for 5.0.

Danny Drinkwater and Anthony Knockaert are the costliest options in Leicester’s midfield. Both players are available for 5.5 after impressing in the Championship – Drinkwater served up seven goals and five assists, while Knockaert chipped in with five goals and seven assists. With new boy Marc Albrighton at just 4.5, though, there may be better value elsewhere amongst Nigel Pearson’s side. Certainly, with Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal and United in their first five, many may steer clear to start with.

Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson remains an option at just 6.0. With Raheem Sterling joining Steven Gerrard in the premium bracket, Henderson is the only mid-price option amongst Brendan Rodgers’ side – with four goals and seven assists to his name in 2013/14, he’s a solid, if somewhat unspectacular option. One of the first names on his manager’s teamsheet; Henderson missed just three matches last term – all as a result of suspension.

In the blue half of Manchester, Jesus Navas (7.5) faces a real task to oust David Silva and Samir Nasri from the flanks. The Spaniard started just four of the final 13 Gameweeks of 2013/14 and despite four goals and seven assists, looks a punt too far, given that Nasri offers a far more secure option at 8.5.

Over at Old Trafford, however, it’s a different story, with all bar Juan Mata priced at 7.5 or under. An injury to Michael Carrick perhaps strengthens the idea that Ander Herrera (7.5) will be fielded in a deeper position under Louis van Gaal, though if the Spaniard reprises his role in “the hole” for Athletic Bilbao, he could be excellent value from the off, given that the Red Devils have a very favourable first eight fixtures. Elsewhere in the United engine room, it’s very much a case of “wait and see” as Van Gaal weighs up his first-team squad over pre-season. Adnan Januzaj and Shinji Kagawa are just 6.5, whilst Antonio Valencia is 6.0 – if United roll out a 3-4-1-2 formation, the latter looks likely to battle Rafael for the role on the right.

Alan Pardew and Fantasy managers alike will be hoping Siem de Jong proves himself an able replacement for Yohan Cabaye. Certainly, the signs are good – available for 7.0, the former Ajax skipper has scored 10+ goals in four of his last five seasons and is versatile enough to be shifted up front. Earmarked for the role in “the hole”, though, De Jong has five decent fixtures in the opening seven Gameweeks (avl, CPL, HUL, swa, LEI) to quickly earn a place on our radars. Re-classified as a midfielder this season, Yoan Gouffran grabbed six goals and five assists from a role on the left and offers a more budget-friendly alternative, at 6.5, whilst new boy Remy Cabella looks poised for a deeper role than De Jong and, available for 7.5, may struggle to rival his value.

Fantasy hopes are high for Southampton’s new playmaker Dusan Tadic. An early target for many 15-man squads, the Serbian produced 16 goals and 14 assists for FC Twente last term and has been a consistent performer in the Dutch top-flight, managing 10 or more assists in each of the past four seasons. His delivery from set-pieces and corners heightens his undoubted appeal ahead of a very kind run for Ronald Koeman’s side. Available for 7.5, Tadic faces only two of last season’s top eight in the first 12 Gameweeks, affording us optimism that early investment could prove a canny move.

There’s no doubt that the Tottenham midfield is a congested one. New boss, Mauricio Pochettino, will need time to whittle down his options after taking the helm earlier this summer and, whilst Christian Eriksen will be the main point of our Fantasy attentions, there are a number of options in the mid-price range that could benefit from the South American’s arrival – Paulinho (7.0), Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend (both 6.5), Nacer Chadli (6.0) and Moussa Dembele (5.5) all vie for contention ahead of clashes with West Ham, QPR, Sunderland and West Brom in the first five Gameweeks.

Like Southampton, Stoke also have a favourable opening schedule, which could tempt investors. Mark Hughes’ side lost just three times in the final 15 fixtures of 2013/14 and will approach the new campaign high in confidence, given that their first six home matches (AVL, LEI, NEW, SWA, WHM, BUR) are supplemented with trips to Hull, QPR and Sunderland. At 6.5 apiece, Marko Arnautovic and Peter Odemwingie finished the previous campaign in decent form. The Austrian finally settled after a frustrating first few months and produced three goals and five assists in the last nine Gameweeks, whilst Odemwingie (now classified as a midfielder after being move to the right wing by Hughes) notched four times and chipped in with a pair of assists over the same period. New signing Steve Sidwell comes in at just 5.5 after scoring seven times for Fulham – if he can nail down a role in the attacking midfield three, he could provide us with a real under the radar option.

Garry Monk’s Swansea offer a home/away rotation with Stoke, though few will admittedly be willing to alternate a mid-price midfield pairing. Jonjo Shelvey looks the best option here from the current crop – setting you back 5.5, he produced five goals and seven assists last season and may well appeal to those looking to invest in the Welsh club ahead of four decent home fixtures (BUR, WBA, SOT, NEW) and a trip to Sunderland in the first seven Gameweeks. With reports suggesting Gylfi Sigurdsson (6.0) is set to return to his former club, though, the Icelandic international could be back in the Fantasy frame – he averaged 5.7 points per game for the Swans back in 2011/12 and should be handed the support role behind a lone striker.

Sunderland’s Adam Johnson ended last season as eleventh top scoring midfielder on 134 points – almost 60 more than any midfield team-mate. The wide man comes in at a reasonable 6.5 after grabbing eight goals and six assists for Gus Poyet’s side, though his inconsistency remains a concern: despite his side’s turnaround in form, Johnson failed to prosper and scored just once in the final 14 matches. Nonetheless, the Black Cats have five kind fixtures – West Brom, QPR, Burnley, Swansea and Stoke – in the opening seven which could bring Johnson back into contention.