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Gameweek 17 – Best Punts

Another two out of my three punts were successful last weekend. However, to my disappointment, Steven Fletcher didn’t start Sunderland’s match against West Ham, only coming on for 29 minutes. I foolishly brought in Fletcher for Aguero last week and to add to my frustration I seemed to kick-start a Fletcher craze on the site; even Mark picked him for his Scout Picks! However, I am keeping the Scotsman in my team as Sunderland need a leader up front and I am convinced that Gus Poyet cannot leave him out! My other two picks brought in a clean sheet and an assist. Jonny Evans kept a toothless Liverpool out, thanks to some David De Gea heroics and Stephane Sessegnon assisted Craig Gardner’s goal in the derby. Here are this week’s punts with ownership figures correct as of the 16th December.

Richard Dunne

Club: QPR

Position: Defender

Price: 4.3

Ownership: 0.2%

I can’t believe that I am writing this but Richard Dunne impressed me against Everton. Although he may have been a little careless and immobile in defence he did provide a threat from set pieces thanks to his upper body strength. Harry Redknapp may choose to drop him in favour of Rio Ferdinand as defenders are there to defend but should Dunne keep his place I reckon his aerial prowess could be a problem for West Brom. He came close a couple of times against Everton, even striking a half volley from the edge of the box. The Baggies kept a clean sheet last Gameweek against Aston Villa which makes it two on the trot now. If QPR do find West Brom tough to break down it will mean that they will have to make the most of their free-kicks and corners, increasing Dunne’s appeal.

West Brom’s defensive solidity is all well and good but what they lack is a threat going forward. Saido Berahino’s goal supply has dried up and Victor Anichebe is an unconvincing replacement. QPR’s defence is far from the best in the league but it is not usually a complete shambles. I think that their back four will sufficiently have their wits about them to manage a shut-out against a West Brom side who lack a real goal threat.

Antonio Valencia

Club: Manchester United

Position: Midfielder

Price: 5.8

Ownership: 0.8%

Valencia seemed to be back to his best against Liverpool as he thrived off the freedom that Louis van Gaal has given him; bombing up and down the wing and flicking the ball around opponents. His flair brought him an assist and a bonus point alongside a clean sheet point, making a haul of seven points. Man United are enjoying their best run of form since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson and team morale is high. The higher the morale, the more adventurous the side are and that benefits Valencia. When he has his tail up he is virtually unstoppable thanks to his demon pace. This week United face Aston Villa who have only kept two clean sheets in their last 12 games. United’s strike force is very powerful at the moment with an in-form Robin van Persie leading the line and Villa are going to struggle to contain them. Antonio Valencia will be running at Aly Cissokho who has looked a little uncomfortable of late and will find it very hard to contain Valencia.

The United winger has much more potential for assists than goals. He tends to stick to his wide role and prefers to use his pace to go round defenders rather than cutting inside. Around nine out of ten of his passes in the final third have been accurate and that is an incredible percentage. Not only does it increase his chance of assists but bonus points as well. Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney are both playing well at the moment and if Valencia finds them with his crossing, which he is more than likely to do given his accuracy, then there will be goals. I can see United storming their fixture this weekend with goals aplenty.

Ayoze Pérez

Club: Newcastle

Price: 4.8

Ownership: 2.0%

As tempted as I was to go for Steven Fletcher again this week I avoided the Scotsman and gone for Newcastle’s big-game player Ayoze Pérez. The Tyne-Wear derby is one of the most important games of the year up north and Pérez shines in high-pressure situations. Three of his four goals this season have come against sides who finished in the top seven last season. He has a knack of being in the right place at the right time and that is a trait that means the Spaniard will always have chances. Sunderland’s defence is one of the weakest in the league and a lack of organisation often results in gaps between the back four. This is what I think Pérez will exploit this Gameweek.

Pérez is a fox in the box; 14 of his 17 shots have come from inside the penalty area. He may be handed a role on the wing this weekend with Cisse up front but Pérez will come inside to sniff out opportunities to stick the ball in the back of the net. He also creates chances for his side – he has mustered nine so far this season – so can earn those vital assist points too. Too add to his appeal even more he has a say over free-kicks and in a high-tempo derby game there could be plenty of those. Pérez saves his performances for the highest pressure games and this weekend’s clash with Sunderland is one of those!

thepuntmaster Twitter - @thepuntmaster Freelance journo and FPL addict. Everton fan.

29 Comments Post a Comment
  1. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    I think you could be on for another 2/3. Can see a QPR clean sheet and Valencia is proving a reliable and still under the radar performer FPL wise...he is really taking to the wing back role well. I fear a benching for Perez after playing midweek, but if he plays he could do well.

  2. Albert Cole
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    Kane or Bony?

    1. King Henrik
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 3 months ago

      Bony

  3. King Henrik
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    All three are really good shouts imo.
    Valencia looks the best option out them all but off was gonna go for a United midfielder .. I still think Mata is a diffrential.

  4. DonTheSpecialOne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    Valencia isn't a bad shout at all.. Good luck man

  5. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    Hmmm. Not enthused, this week. 🙂

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 3 months ago

      Tbf you probably said the same thing when Glen delivered

  6. Moin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    My Picks:

    P.Jones

    Cazorla

    Balotelli

    1. thepuntmaster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 3 months ago

      doubt balotelli will do well 😉

  7. guardian.c
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    Good to go?

    Foster (Guzan)
    Baines | Azpili | Clichy (Yun, Hutton)
    Sanchez | Hazard | Downing | Siggy (Boyd)
    Costa | Austin | Rooney

    Thoughts on Yun vs Azpili/Hazard/Costa

    1. guardian.c
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 3 months ago

      no punts there really...!

    2. Pocket change
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 3 months ago

      I have pretty much the same team as you except I have bony up front instead of Rooney. Who are you going to captain/vice this week?

      1. guardian.c
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 3 months ago

        Rooney! Austin vice..
        Thinking about taking a hit next week to fit Sterling in, nice fixtures coming.

  8. Saint Steve-O (@EliteFPL)
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    Hooray... I actually own one of your punts (Perez)

    Always good choices every week & normally 2 out of the 3 come through 🙂

  9. TriggerHappy
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    Gents what's the update on Cortois? Is he playing this week?

    1. thepuntmaster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 3 months ago

      not sure but would love to know

  10. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    I'm hoping Caulker out performs Dunne . I love Richie but he is the record holder for red cards and ogs . That blow to the head might jog his memory and he will remember how to score goals again .

  11. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    Richard 'OG' Dunne

  12. BooYaKasha
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    I have a selection nightmare, who do you bench out of these 8

    Downing, Ericksen, Yaya, Sanchez, Hazard
    Costa, Austin, Ayoze

    Help would be greatly appreciated!

    1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 3 months ago

      Costa, away to Stoke.

  13. Mane
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    Should I go Welbeck to Carrol? Draft league I'm way behind.

  14. fusen
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 3 months ago

    "Sunderland’s defence is one of the weakest in the league"

    Goals conceded - 24. 8 of those came in one absolutely flukey game that isn't going to happen again this season.

    So you're talking more like a 16-18 goals conceded as a more realistic view.

    Hardly the worst in the league

    1. fusen
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 3 months ago

      Also, since November the goals conceded have been -

      Crystal Palace 1
      Everton 1
      Leicester 0
      Chelsea 0
      Man City 4
      Liverpool 0
      West Ham 0

      "Worst in the league" 😛

      What I will give you is that it's a derby so you can never truely predict it but we've battered Newcastle in the last 4 years with the last two games both being 3-0 wins, so a cleansheet isn't totally out of the question

      1. fusen
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 3 months ago

        Sorry, that was supposed to be 'West Ham 1'

      2. MMN
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 3 months ago

        Leicester have conceded 0 goals since November?

        1. MMN
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 3 months ago

          Oh nvm ignore that lool

    2. thepuntmaster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 3 months ago

      They have improved recently but I stand by what I wrote. It can be an utter shambles back there, even if they aren't conceding they make errors week in week out.

      1. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 3 months ago

        In that case, they must surely have the best goalkeeper in the league!

      2. fusen
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 3 months ago

        Hello 🙂