Gameweek 12 – Best Punts

After another long, drawn out international break for us Fantasy Football fans, here are Gameweek 12’s best punts. A couple of weeks ago I went for a trio of Kieran Trippier, Jesus Navas and Enner Valecnia as my choices. The latter two, who I most expected to bring home the bacon, let me down but their lack of points was more than made up for by Trippier’s haul of 12. As predicted, Sean Dyche got into his side and the Clarets picked up their fourth clean sheet of the season against Hull, with Ashley Barnes managing to connect with one of Trippier’s countless crosses. Here are my selections for Gameweek 12 with ownership figures correct as of 19th November.

Anthony Reveillere

Position: Defender

Club: Sunderland

Price: 4.5

Ownership: 0.0%

A couple weeks ago if you had told me that I would be choosing a Sunderland defender as my punt of the week I would have called you crazy! Their defence was an absolute shambles against Southampton and Arsenal, which led me to choose attacking players facing them for my punts. However, there is a new recruit amongst the back four – Anthony Reveillere. The French full-back has played for teams such as Rennes and Lyon so has plenty experience under his belt. Reveillere made his debut against Crystal Palace a few weeks ago and ever since his introduction the Black Cats’ performances have turned around. This Gameweek they travel to Leicester who haven’t scored in four matches. Everything was well and good when Leonardo Ulloa was firing but since his hot patch ended Leicester have lacked a real threat up front – and, indeed, creativity to go with it. I still do not trust the Sunderland centre-backs but I cannot see Leicester threatening them. Poyet’s men have a chance to keep their first clean sheet since Gameweek 6 as long as their defenders manage to avoid putting the ball in their own net!

Since making his debut Reveillere has won seven of his eleven attempted tackles, which is a respectable ratio. He has proven that he can create chances and have attempts at goal as well; both of which increase his Fantasy stock. He is also an aerial threat, attacking set pieces in his first two games, and connecting with one. Sebastian Larsson is a great free-kick taker so there is potential for goals here. Reveillere is a new player on the block and he seems to be the real deal – this Gameweek serves up the perfect chance for him to fly onto our radars!

Marouane Fellaini

Position: Midfielder

Club: Manchester United

Price: 6.3

Ownership: 0.4%

I was really torn between two players for this Gameweek’s midfield punt. I was very impressed by Jefferson Montero against Arsenal during the last round of fixtures and I fancy him to get them better of Gael Clichy who looks incredibly confused since his re-introduction into the Man City side. However, due to Arsenal’s lack of a centre-back I couldn’t say no to Fellaini. Louis van Gaal’s side travel to the Emirates this weekend to face an Arsenal side who are not the defensive force many consider them to be, as highlighted by my recent community article. They have kept a mere three clean sheets so far this season and I do not see that getting any better. Lauren Koscielny is struggling for fitness which means that, should he not play, Nacho Monreal will have to fill in. Given Fellaini’s physical prowess I can see him getting the better of the young Spaniard. Even if the more experienced Per Mertesacker marks him, the German centre-back lacks pace and Fellaini should be able to lose him easily.

Since Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal placed his faith in Fellaini the big Beligan has grown in confidence and his performance level has risen with that. He has had ten attempts this season, four with his head, which have come from set pieces. This is his obvious threat but, as we saw against West Brom, he is very capable of hitting a rocket from the edge of the box. He has been involved in 25% of United’s goals with an assist and a goal since Gameweek 8. He is winning Manchester United fans over and I think he will win you over this Gameweek.

Frazier Campbell

Position: Forward

Club: Crystal Palace

Price: 5.2

Ownership: 1.7%

At the start of the season many of the FFS community were tipping Frazier Campbell to be a good budget striker, but with the performances of Steven Naismith, Saido Berahino and, more recently, Diafra Sakho, he has flown under many radars. He has, however, scored three times and assisted once. Campbell has had 16 attempts this season, half of them on target and thirteen in the box, which highlights the fact that the chances are good ones. He has met with four set pieces so far this season so isn’t just a threat from open play. Furthermore the Englishman has the potential to deliver assists – he managed four for Cardiff last season and has created five goalscoring chances for his team-mates so far this term. Campbell is an all-round threat and will cause Liverpool problems.

The Liverpool defence seems to be even shakier than last season, having only managed two clean sheets so far this term. Their two centre-backs lead the chart for most errors leading to chances, with four for Dejan Lovren and three for Martin Skrtel. To add to this, Alberto Moreno is top of the list for errors leading to goals as he has gifted his opposition a goal twice this season. Crystal Palace have tricky wingers in Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha, who should beat their men easily and put the balls in for Campbell. Palace’s forward is well on the way to beating the six goals he managed for Cardiff last season and he could well take a step closer to that this week.