After casting an eye over the Goalkeepers and Defenders from a Fantasy Football perspective in 2015/16, our end of season awards continue this afternoon with an analysis of the midfielders. Once again, we’ve released a poll in the middle column of the homepage to collect your votes – please remember that each person can cast four votes this time around.
Bear in mind that the vote is from an overall Fantasy perspective – overall points, price, performances and value across the Fantasy games should all come into consideration.
Although our selections are mainly weighted towards the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, we’ve also factored in performance in those games where clean sheet points alone are key to points output.
Before we take a look at this year’s contenders, let’s cast an eye over the fortunes of last season’s midfield trio of choice.
2014/15 Fantasy Football Scout Team of the Season Review
Goalkeeper – Fraser Forster
Defenders – John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Nathaniel Clyne, Ryan Bertrand
Midfielders – Eden Hazard, Alexis Sanchez, David Silva
Forwards – Charlie Austin, Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero
Having served up 14 goals and ten assists for the second successive season, Eden Hazard headed into the current campaign as proven Fantasy royalty. Chelsea’s wide man has failed miserably this time around, producing just four goals and as many assists in 29 appearances (23 starts). Three of those strikes arrived in the Blues’ last trio of fixtures, though, belatedly underlining his potential ahead of Antonio Conte’s appointment as the new man in charge for 2016/17.
David Silva earned a place in last year’s side on the back of 12 goals and as many assists – his most prolific tally in five seasons at City. Again, though, the Spaniard failed to live up to our expectations and, despite sitting on 11 assists, has found the net on a single occasion in an injury-blighted campaign that’s limited him to just 22 starts. Like Hazard, he’ll be hoping for a change in fortunes next term as Pep Guardiola makes his way from Bayern Munich to replace Manuel Pellegrini in the hotseat.
Alexis Sanchez is just three goals shy of last term’s 16-goal haul, yet the Arsenal wide man struggled to emerge from the shadow of Mesut Ozil for much of the season. Although the Chilean has finished the year strongly, with a goal or assist in nine of his previous 11, a total of 14 blanks in his first 19 outings sums up his erratic displays for the first few months of the campaign.
Riyad Mahrez
The leading scorer in this term’s Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, Riyad Mahrez made a clear statement of intent with a 15-point haul at home to Sunderland in the opening match of the season.
By the time Gameweek 6 had come to an end, the Foxes winger had already managed five double-figure hauls and risen in price from 5.5 to 6.3, with his outstanding value for money proving irresistible across the Fantasy games.
With one fixture remaining of Leicester’s tile-winning campaign, Mahrez – despite a run of one goal in the last six – is head and shoulders above any other midfielder. The Algerian’s 17 goals and 11 assists, allied with 38 bonus points, has brought in 238 points under Claudio Ranieri – that’s more than double his haul of 102 points from 2014/15 and greater than last year’s top scoring midfielder, Eden Hazard (233 points).
A total of 11 double-figure returns has helped his price rise to 7.2, with a 62% ownership indicative of the swashbuckling displays that secured him the PFA Player of the Year award.
Such has been his dominance, Mahrez sweeps the board across the Fantasy games and also sits first in the Sky Sports, Telegraph and Fantasy League offerings.
Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen
Little was expected from Dele Alli after his summer move from MK Dons to Tottenham. Indeed, having been utilised as a sub in three of the opening four fixtures, it seemed more likely that the youngster would be gradually introduced to the rigours of the Premier League by Mauricio Pochettino.
From Gameweek 5 onwards, though, Alli nailed down a starting berth at White Hart Lane to offer us a cut-price route into the Spurs first XI. Fielded in “the hole” behind Harry Kane in a 4-2-3-1, he was slow to turn Fantasy managers’ heads, however – a total of two goals and three assists by Gameweek 14 meant that his price had yet to rise above an initial 5.0 valuation.
After settling into his new surrounds, though, Alli ran riot from December onwards and racked up eight goals and nine assists in his final 21 outings to prove invaluable to Pochettino and Fantasy managers alike.
Alli sits fourth in both FPL and Sky and takes joint-third in the Fantasy league game.
A score of 162 points in his second season at White Hart Lane saw Christian Eriksen (8.5) shifted into the premium price bracket this time around.
Despite surpassing last season’s tally, courtesy of six goals and 16 assists, the Dane’s price tag, relative to Alli’s, proved too prohibitive and ensured Eriksen never rose to more than 8.7 this term – with Harry Kane banging in the goals up top, many felt a triple-on on the Tottenham trio was overload.
Having overtaken Alli in third spot amongst FPL midfielders, Eriksen’s underlying stats suggest he’s worthy of his lofty position. The former Ajax man sits top for shots on target, third for total attempts and second for key passes in the centre of the park.
In other games, Eriksen takes joint-third with Alli in Fantasy League and currently sits on fourth in the Telegraph ahead of Tottenham’s trip to St James’ on Sunday.
Dimitri Payet
The marquee signing of new manager Slaven Bilic, West Ham’s playmaker arrived on the back of seven goals and 17 assists in his final season at Marseille. Having led the way for key passes across Europe’s top five leagues in 2014/15, Payet’s acquisition was emblematic of the Hammers’ determination to introduce a more expansive style of play after parting company with Sam Allardyce last summer.
Trips to Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City in the first six Gameweeks curbed our initial enthusiasm but Bilic’s side rose to the occasion and, with Payet pulling the strings, earned victories on all three occasions. The consistent Frenchman delivered points in eight of his first 11 outings before being forced off with an ankle injury in Gameweek 12.
Without Payet on board, though, Bilic’s side struggled for a cutting edge and scored just five times in seven league outings before his return from injury.
A far less explosive option than Mahrez, Payet has managed six double-figure hauls by comparison, with his consistency proving key instead – with one match remaining, he’s scored or assisted in 17 of 30 league outings so far. Indeed, an average of 5.7 points per appearance – joint-second amongst midfielders – hints at his potential should he steer clear of injury next term.
Despite missing seven matches, Payet’s all-round potential across the Fantasy games currently earns him fourth amongst FPL midfielders, fifth in Sky, third in Fantasy League and second in the Telegraph.
Ross Barkley
Despite producing more than double his total from 2014/15, Ross Barkley has ended the season as a peripheral figure in our thinking.
It was a season of two halves for the Everton playmaker. Quick out the blocks with seven goals and eight assists in the first 19 Gameweeks, he looked excellent value for an initial 6.5 starting priced, but has since managed two goals and a single assist, blanking in 15 of his last 17 appearances. Barkley remains the only regular midfield pick under Roberto Martinez, though a lack of consistency still hangs heavy over his prospects next time around.
Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane
Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane have made a late claim for consideration as a result of Southampton’s impressive end to the season.
Tadic’s haul of eight goals and 13 assists (third highest amongst midfielders) highlights his capabilities, yet an insecurity of pitch time has extinguished his appeal – indeed, the Serbian has started just 26 of the Saints’ first 37 matches.
Nonetheless, having averaged 4.7 points per appearance and started each of the last five – with two goals and five assists in the previous three – his form hints at what could be to follow if Ronald Koeman finally entrusts him with a regular role in 2016/17. Indeed, the underlying data bodes well for the Southampton playmaker. When on the pitch, Tadic has been involved in 50% of his side’s goals – that’s joint-top amongst midfielders along with Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic.
Starting the season as the pricier of the two at 8.0 to Tadic’s 7.0, Mane followed up a trio of opening blanks with three goals and five assists in the subsequent seven. Falling-outs with Koeman amidst rumours surrounding interest from Man United seemed to affect his form as Mane went on to produce just three assists in his subsequent 19 appearances to tumble off our radars.
Like Tadic, an end of season renaissance – that’s harvested seven strikes in as many matches – has catapulted him up the rankings on 147 points; that’s ten more than last term’s haul. Nonetheless, given that he sits second only to Alexis Sanchez for shots inside the box (65), Mane’s tally of just ten goals (allied with eight assists) is indicative of the inconstancy that continues to make him such a frustrating Fantasy pick.
Georginio Wijnaldum
The summer signing from Feyenoord currently sits on nine goals and six assists ahead of Newcastle’s home clash with Spurs.
Although Wijnaldum leads all midfielders for goals scored in front of his own fans (nine), an ability to deliver points on his travels diminished the Dutchman’s Fantasy appeal. His total of three assists outside of St James’ Park is indicative of the dire away form that sees the Magpies teetering on the brink of relegation.
Mesut Ozil
After serving up just 103 points in an injury-hit 2014/15, the current campaign finally saw Mesut Ozil emerge as a viable Fantasy option for our five-man midfields.
The Arsenal playmaker started the season behind team-mate Alexis Sanchez in our thinking but, after managing just two assists in the first six matches, sparked into life with a run that saw him produce a goal or assist in 12 of his 13 appearances over Gameweek 7-19. Ozil’s price soared as we clambered aboard the bandwagon, with an initial cost of 8.5 peaking at 10.0.
Frustratingly, the German was unable to maintain those exceptionally high standards over the second half of the season. Indeed, from Gameweek 20 onwards, Ozil’s drop in form – which produced points in only four of his 15 appearances – was a major factor in the Gunners’ failed title bid.
Despite his disappointing final few months, Ozil is second only to Mahrez for both total score (194 points) and points per appearance (5.7) in the centre of the park and has created more chances (141) than any player in the top-flight. The German is also second in Sky and Fantasy League.
Alexis Sanchez
Having served up 16 goals and eight assists in his debut season at the Emirates, Alexis Sanchez kicked off the 2015/16 campaign as the second most expensive midfielder in the FPL game.
The Chilean did little to justify his lofty 11.0 price tag, though, and managed just one assist in the first six before finally exploding into life with successive scores of 20, 16 and 10 points between Gameweeks 7-9. Inconsistency remained an issue, though, and a single assist in his following ten, allied with an eight-match hamstring injury absence, saw Sanchez tumble off our radar as team-mate Ozil racked up the points.
Encouragingly from a Fantasy perspective, Sanchez’ recent renaissance has harvested consistently strong scores at a time when Ozil has fallen by the wayside. The former Barcelona man has served up seven goals and three assists in the last ten, with a move onto the right flank helping him earn points in eight of those occasions ahead of a home clash with Villa.
Delving into the data, Sanchez sits second overall for total attempts (102), yet despite leading the way for shots inside the box (with 70) he scored on just 13 occasions. If he can improve that 12.7% goal conversion rate, then, the underlying stats certainly bode well for next term.
Andre Ayew and Gylfi Sigurdsson
Garry Monk’s first deal of the summer was something of a coup after Swansea beat West Ham to the signature of Andre Ayew. Arriving on the back of nine goals and three assists for Marseille in 2014/15, the Ghana international bagged a ten-point haul on his debut as the Swans grabbed a 2-2 draw at Chelsea on the opening day of the season.
Versatile enough to play out wide or lead the line, Ayew served up six goals and two assists over the first 13 Gameweeks before embarking on a patchy run of form that saw him score in just two of his next 18 league outings. After falling from a season-high price of 7.3 to 6.6, he’s finished on a high, though, delivering back-to-back double-figure scores against Liverpool and West Ham. As a result, he sits in eighth in the midfield standing with a score of 161 points.
Expectations were high for Gylfi Sigurdsson after he produced seven goals and ten assists upon his return to the Liberty in 2014/15.
Whilst team-mate Ayew hit the ground running after moving from Ligue 1, Sigurdsson struggled to make any sort of impact in the final third and managed just two goals and an assist in the first 19 Gameweeks.
After that, though, a change of approach brought about by the departure of Garry Monk transformed the Icelandic international, who found the net in nine of the subsequent 14 league fixtures to help secure the Welsh side’s safety.
Ruled out of the final two fixtures, Sigurdsson has since been overtaken by Ayew and sits just three points behind his team-mate, with a score of 158 points his highest so far in FPL.
Roberto Firmino
A total of 23 goals and 21 assists in his final two seasons at Hoffenheim persuaded Brendan Rodgers to shell out £30m for the Brazilian’s services last summer.
Firmino took his time to settle, though, and failed to produce any points in the first eight Gameweeks before Jurgen Klopp was appointed as Liverpool manager.
Under the German’s guidance, Firmino racked up ten goal and eight assists in 24 league outings as the Merseysiders started to adapt to their new manager’s pressing tactics. Indeed, his output of 5.9 points per game with Klopp at the helm – superior to a season average of 5.1 – bodes very well for his prospects next time out.
Willian and Cesc Fabregas
Priced at 7.0 at the start of 2015/16, Willian was the most budget-friendly of Jose Mourinho’s midfield regulars after producing just two goals and four assists in Chelsea’s title-winning campaign.
One of the few bright sparks in a season to forget for the deposed champions, the Brazilian is the top-scoring player in the Blues’ squad after delivering five goals and ten assists across 33 appearances so far. Despite offer the best value at Stamford Bridge, though, Willian never rose any higher than 7.3, with his most consistent period of form – two goals and seven assists between Gameweek 17-27 –coinciding with an upturn in output following the appointment of Guus Hiddink.
Cesc Fabregas, meanwhile, failed to live up to incredible 19 assists in his first season at the Bridge. Although the Spaniard’s four goals and seven assists ensured he played little part in our FPL plans, an ability to hoover up the bonus points for passing, in particular, in the Sky Sports game currently earns him third spot in the centre of the park behind Mahrez and Ozil. Put into perspective, Fabregas has earned 66 points in bonus points alone in Sky – that’s the equivalent of just over 13 goals.
Marko Arnautovic
With a single goal and seven assists to his name in 2014/15, Marko Arnautovic had remained a peripheral figure on the Fantasy scene heading into the new season.
The Austrian set the tone for what was to follow by netting in his first appearance of the campaign in a battling 2-2 draw at Spurs in the Potters’ second league fixture and followed that up with another goal and two assists by Gameweek 8.
Strikes against Chelsea, United and City over a quartet of home appearances during November and December highlighted Arnautovic’s ability to rise to the occasion, particularly in front of his own fans – indeed, eight of his 11 goals arrive at the Britannia.
With six assists and 18 bonus points also accrued, the former Inter man is just five points off doubling his tally (84 points to this year’s 163) from 2014/15 and sits fifth in the midfield standings.
Kevin de Bruyne
Snapped up by Man City for a massive £54m deal from German side Wolfsburg, Kevin de Bruyne was priced at 10.0 on the back of ten goals and 20 assists in the 2014/15 Bundesliga campaign.
The Belgian arrived with a point to prove after failing to make an impact at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho and settled seamlessly into life at the Etihad, with four goals and six assists in his first ten league outings.
A loss of form and eight-match ankle injury absence over the winter saw De Bruyne’s Fantasy stock tumble before he return to action with some sparkling displays on both the European and domestic stages. City’s progress in the Champions League also hurt his prospects – with Manuel Pellegrini prioritising Europe, De Bruyne started just two of City five league fixtures prior to Sunday’s home draw with Arsenal.
Although a current tally of 127 points is only enough for joint-seventeenth, De Bruyne’s average of 5.4 points per game is bettered by just four other players in the centre of the park. With David Silva still blighted by ankle and hamstring complaints, the Belgian looks well-placed to emerge as the main midfielder under incoming manager Pep Guardiola.
