Spot the Differential – Gameweek 15

As we head towards the Gameweek 15 deadline, our thoughts turn to another handful of overlooked options for your morning perusal. We look to QPR’s in-form midfielder and a couple of London-based forwards who’ll both be desperate to take advantage of home fixtures later this afternoon.

Leroy Fer

While Charlie Austin hogs the headlines for QPR, the Dutchman has been quietly ticking over in midfield. An ever-present under Harry Redknapp, Fer picked up a trio of assists in the first 10 Gameweeks before finally opening his account in the R’s previous home match as the hosts overcame Leicester 3-2 in Gameweek 13.

In recent weeks, the 5.5-priced midfielder seems to have upped his attacking intent as Redknapp’s side look for goals to fire them out of trouble. Over the last four Gameweeks, Fer has registered eight attempts on goal and created eight chances for his team-mates – with five shots inside the box over that period, he’s starting to suggest more returns could follow.

Having scored at least twice in each of their last five at Loftus Road, it’s clear that if Redknapp’s side are to survive, they need to take advantage of home comforts – all the more so given that they’ve lost all seven road trips so far. Fortunately for the Londoners, they now have four matches in front of their own fans over the next six (BUR, WBA, CPL, SWA) to aid their survival bid and if Fer can maintain his current form, he could prove a canny budget option, with less than 1% ownership.

Roberto Soldado

Dropped to the bench as Mauricio Pochettino opted for a 4-2-3-1 at the Bridge on Wednesday, the Spaniard looks in line for a recall at home to Crystal Palace later this afternoon. The Spurs boss seems set to go on the attack against the Eagles and, having grabbed his first goal of the campaign in the previous match in front of his own fans, Soldado’s confidence will be on the up.

In spite of their midweek setback, the north London side have been in decent form and are seeking a third win in four this weekend. Neil Warnock’s side have been anything but resilient this season and roll up to the Lane on the back of a run which has seen them collect a single clean sheet in the last 10 Gameweeks. Available for just 7.6 in FPL, Soldado fired more shots inside the box than any Spurs player in their previous home encounter and with matches against Swansea, Burnley and Leicester to follow, may well offer a valid short-term alternative to Harry Kane in Pochettino’s starting XI over the festive fixtures.

Andy Carroll

A home clash against Swansea offers the Hammers target man the chance to atone for his dismissal in the corresponding fixture last season. Carroll tormented the Welsh club that day and his aerial menace served up a pair of assists, with sidekick Kevin Nolan notching both strikes in a 2-0 win before the big Geordie saw red for lashing out at Chico Flores.

Sam Allardyce will be more than aware of Carroll’s previous against the Swans and he may well retain his services in the starting XI as the Hammers look for a third successive league win. Granted, the Hammers boss is set to have Diafra Sakho available but his comments in yesterday’s press conference suggested he may well ease the Senegal striker back into action – given his side’s recent form, there’s no great rush for his return.

As Allardyce’s options increase in the final third, it’s certainly likely that Carroll will succumb to rest and rotation over the packed festive schedule. For this afternoon, though, he still looks in pole position to wreak havoc on a Swansea backline devoid of two of their first-choice back-four and, at a price of 6.9, could appeal to those on the lookout for a weekend flutter.