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Explosive Fifth Midfielders

19 November 2014 30 comments
Christina. Christina.
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With the congested festive fixture schedule in mind, fifth midfielders could prove to be more important than ever as established stars are given a rest. Here I’ve looked  at some forgotten midfield heroes who are all cheaper than when the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game launched in August 2014 but have the potential to unleash explosive returns when called upon.

With an ownership of less than 4%, all of my top quartet of budget midfielders could also prove to be useful differentials. All prices and ownership were accurate as of November 19.

Robbie Brady

Team: Hull

Cost: 4.6m

Ownership:0.2%

Festive Fixtures: SWANS/sun/LEIC/EVE

Brady has just returned from a long injury lay-off and scored twice for the Republic of Ireland against USA last night. Last season his game time was severely curtailed by injury but in the few minutes he got he still managed to rack up three goals. It has taken him a while to re-establish himself in manager Steve Bruce’s thoughts but now looks to be a regular starter. He has started the last three matches in an attacking wing back role.

He could be a very tempting option, especially as he is still looks to be Hull’s first-choice penalty taker. In addition, striker Nikica Jelavic should have recovered from injury in time for the Christmas schedule to offer more threat to Hull’s attack and Brady’s assist potential.

Leroy Fer

Team: QPR

Cost: 5.5m

Ownership:0.1%

Festive Fixtures: WBA/ars/CPL/SWA

Fer has made 11 appreances for the Dutch National side and scored in the 2014 World Cup versus Chile after coming off the bench. Already with QPR this season he has bettered the two assists he recorded for former club Norwich last season. As a good header of the ball and a big threat at set pieces, he could be set to profit during QPR’s favourable fixture schedule which continues into January when QPR travel to Burnley.

Seb Larsson

Team: Sunderland

Cost: 5.4m

Ownership:3.7% 

Festive Fixtures: new/HUL/avl/mci

This season Larsson looks nailed on to a starting XI berth and has a goal, assist and three bonus points in his last two games.Over the season he has two goals and two assists and has a proven track record as a reliable cheap fifth midfielder. Since 2007 he has 25 career Premier League goals and has notched up 30 assists, breaching the FPL 100-point mark in four of the last six seasons.

This Christmas sees some hugely favourable fixtures for Larsson, with only Manchester City looking like ruining Sunderland’s Christmas. However, it is worth pointing out that in the last three Premier League meetings at the Etihad, Sunderland achieved two draws and scored a total of five goals.

Charles N’Zogbia

Team: Aston Villa

Cost: 5.3m

Ownership: 0.2%

Favourable Fixtures: MUN/swa/SUN/CPL

Charles N’Zogbia is the joker in the pack but has a strong Premier League pedigree to suggest a punt on his talents may not be in vain. Aston Villa have failed to score in seven of their 11 games so far this season, but with Christain Benteke back and N’Zogbia on set pieces there is hope of stronger attacking returns. Memories of his fantastic 2010/11 Fantasy Premier League season still guarantee him a place in many Fantasy managers’ hearts – that term he scored nine goals, racked up seven assists and brought in a whopping 33 bonus to finish on 167 points.

CONCLUSION

With possible rotation over the festive season it might be wise investing in a more explosive fifth midfielder with good fixtures that could either be rotated or surprise you with a welcome auto-sub from the bench. Any one of the above could be good alternatives to the likes of George Boyd and anyone still owning Leicester’s Marc Albrighton.

Christina. Deadzone troll. 15 years playing 3 x 5k; 3 x 10k; 3 x 15k; 1 x 30k; 1 x 40k; 1 x 60k; 1 x 100k Follow them on Twitter

30 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 26 days ago

    Boom - actually quite tempted by Larsson after reading this.

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    1. Kalix
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 26 days ago

      I feel like it's not worth spending the extra million on a player you're just gonna bench 90% of the time.

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  2. Arvin-ation
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 26 days ago

    Where's Walters?

    Nice article...Cheers 🙂

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    1. King Nil Miss ✩
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 26 days ago

      Fixtures are terrible.

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      1. Arvin-ation
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 26 days ago

        True....does the bad run extend through christmas?

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        1. King Nil Miss ✩
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 26 days ago

          Extend till mid January.

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          1. Arvin-ation
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 26 days ago

            Cheers.

            Crap...well there goes my Walters plan 🙁

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  3. King Nil Miss ✩
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 26 days ago

    Thanks Xtina, this one was all I expected to be. 😉

    Brady might tempt me and those Sunderland fixtures also but Seb is always hot and cold...

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  4. Arvin-ation
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 26 days ago

    Might give Larsson a quick run in my team...Fer could be a nice differential too.

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  5. John t penguin
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 26 days ago

    A potato trying to distract everyone at xmas.
    No doubt a cunning plot between him and the turkey.

    Could you do this for defenders also, it is my biggest headache trying to find cheap explosive ones

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    1. King Nil Miss ✩
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 26 days ago

      He did one on CS´s from last season, forgot to mention the defenders though the bugger.

      http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2014/11/14/fantasy-ghosts-of-christmas-past-present-and-future/

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    2. King Nil Miss ✩
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 26 days ago

      I think that is an article on demand atm.

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      1. Arvin-ation
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 26 days ago

        Might give that a go if I have the time...

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        1. King Nil Miss ✩
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 26 days ago

          Do it AA, I´m looking forward to it 😉

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  6. thetinkerman
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 26 days ago

    I quite like Brady as a cheeky swap for Boyd but the rest are too pricey for my liking

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  7. Dušan Citizen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 26 days ago

    Brady nailed on?

    I would add Ameobi on that list also.

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    1. Christina.
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 26 days ago

      I believe he is competing with Robertson?

      Ameobi doesn't have much of a track record though.

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      1. J0E
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 26 days ago

        Yep he's playing wingback at Hull and competing with Robertson. Both are actually doing really well in the role so Bruce faces tough choices. Brady though appears to have the nod. If Brady gets injured again then I'll definitely get Robertson...those clean sheet points and extra points for goals give him the edge.

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        1. Christina.
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 26 days ago

          Yeah, Roberton is very tempting if he can get games. Hull have a nice block of fixtures GW 15-20 and then again GW 23-29.

          I can see myself getting some sort of defence cover from them after the Jan WC. They rotate perfectly h/a with Burnley.

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  8. BeachBadger
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 26 days ago

    CHeers Christina. I doubt I'll move on from Boyd but it may be worth noting a few of these alright

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    1. Christina.
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 26 days ago

      Cool, you never know someone like Larsson or even old blue eyed boy Johnson(although more expensive at 6.1m) might come into the equation with Sunderland's run of fixtures.

      Sunderland have excellent block of fixtures GW 23-33

      BURN/swa/QPR/WBA/manu/hull/VILLA/wham/NEWC/CPAL

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      1. BeachBadger
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 26 days ago

        Wow. I hadnt noticed that. That is a decent run. GW 23 is the end of Jan though. Maybe get Panty on the WC 😉

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        1. Christina.
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 26 days ago

          ...and GW 23 is also the last week to play the Jan WC.

          😉

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          1. Christina.
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 26 days ago

            ...that's what she said.

            😳

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  9. Differential Equation 42
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 26 days ago

    Nice work! I'm thinking Brady (Will never take a Sunderland Player ever #NUFC)

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  10. Moin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 26 days ago

    Nice work Christina!

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  11. FAITHNOMORENO
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 25 days ago

    actually posted this a few hours ago,didn't know about this useful article.thought of this front 8 including 2 cheapos:

    Sanchez / Fabregas / Sigurdsson / Brady / Boyd

    Aguero / Costa / Pelle

    worth sacrificing AdM -> Brady to have Pelle now when villa's defence is broken?

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  12. DelboyFPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 25 days ago

    Chris Brunt is another option

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  13. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 25 days ago

    Brady sounds like a great replacement for Marney, once I've swapped Fab > Oscar

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    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 25 days ago

      Will he start over Robertson again though?

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