Fantasy Eliteserien – Gameweek 10 Preview

After a few frustrating weeks for us Fantasy Eliteserien managers, some of us finally got decent scores in Gameweeks 8 and 9.

But at this busy stage of the season there is no time to bask in the glory of strong returns, as this weekend we go again and prepare for Gameweek 10, the third set of fixtures within a week.

FFSCOUT league standings

On top we find Cunning Stunts from England with 462 points and tjing tjang tjing from India with 454 points. The best Norwegian team is Fiasco da Game with 453 points.

In the H2H league Dutch Warriors has taken the lead with eight victories out of nine.

Stock check

Rising

Andreas Lie (4.9) – Impressive start to the season. Aalesund are not the tightest team in Eliteserien, but their stopper has been racking up save points and also got a penalty save. He has 11 bonus points so far this season, seven of them in matches he didn’t keep a clean sheet and his tally of 39 saves so far this season is more than any other custodian.

Gili Rolantsson (6.8) – You can’t play this game and not own this man. He plays as a winger in a front three for the most in-form team in Eliteserien right now. Three goals and as many assists so far, as well as four clean sheets show how potent a player he is. He missed out on shut out points against Sandefjord after being subbed off after 56 minutes, but owners can’t complain with his stunning form. 

Abdoulaye Seck (4.4) – Sandefjord hit the ground hard against Brann and lost 5-0. Prior to the Brann game Seck had scored 40 points in three games, including twoclean sheets, goals and assists. This guy is such a beast and really stands out for Sandefjord as a threat at corners and a potential bonus point magnet. His price has gone from 4.0 to 4.4 now, so you could also consider Olsen Solberg at 4.4. He’s on set pieces and plays as a wing back.

Robert Lundström (5.4) – A goal and assist in the last two is a strong return for this attacking full back. Vålerenga finally seems to have found some defensive form, so I personally think this is a man to bring in soon. He has Sarpsborg away and Rosenborg at home in the next two though, so it might be better to wait another two Gameweeks.

Thomas Grøgaard (6.0) – Three clean sheets in a row, as well as two assists across that trio of games puts him firmly on the radar. He shares corner duties with Ruud and has two home games in the next three, with Molde and Brann.

Espen Ruud (6.4) – I wasn’t sure on his inclusion but it is hard to not mention him after two goals and a clean sheet. His team has now kept three shut outs in a row. But be wary of his four yellow cards though. He has already sat out Gameweek 8 through suspension and is now just one yellow card away from another spell on the naughty step.

Tony Brochmann (6.6) – He is the top points scorer in the game and on current form that is not an accolade he looks like he will give up.  Five goals and an assist from this right attacking midfielder slot shows his work and together with Njie, Kassi and Omoijuanfo he offers lots of goal threat.

Fredrik Haugen (9.3) – He is the beating heart of the Brann attack, with two goals and an assist in his last four. With more key passes than any other player he also takes pretty  much all set pieces. He plays as the most attacking of Brann’s three central midfielders and is definitely one to consider for your team.

Riku Riski (7.2) –Riski by name, but not by nature as he is the most reliable and nailed on attacker for Odd. A goal and two assists in his last four show his has strong form despite his side’s struggles for goals this season. He has also had a start as a striker.

Aron Sigurdarson (6.3) – A popular pick before the season started, Sigurdarson failed to deliver in the first five Gameweeks despite good underlying stats. With a goal, two assists and five bonus in his last four those figures are now starting to add up. He is averaging three shots and 2.7 key passes a game, with only Haugen bettering him regarding the latter.

Ghayas Zahid (10.3) – Vålerenga seems to have found form and Zahid is the main man when Vålerenga attack. Two goals and as many assists in the last five give him strong form to warrant investment. It is also worth noting that he took a penalty three Gameweeks ago, although but I’m pretty sure Moa will be their main penalty taker when he’s back. 

Gilbert Koomson (7.4) – After an underwhelming start to the season, Koomson scored a hattrick against Viking and delivered an assist against Molde. Last year’s king of assists has now scored four goals this season. Could a change of name be on the cards? With Sogndal finding some form, we should be considering buying him back.

Jakob Orlov (7.4) – Buying a striker from Brann is risky business, but he’s starting to find some form with two goals and as many assists in his last two. This brings his season tally to four goals and three assists.  Brann are definitely in form, but he’s in danger of being rotated with Børven. Brann’s manager has openly stated he’ll rotate his two strikers depending on the opposition, but with Orlov’s form he’s surely hard to drop right now.

Mos (8.7) – This man has been one of very few steady scorers this year. Six successful strikes in nine means he’s only blanked three times this season. He’s not very explosive and Aalesund aren’t the best team in Eliteserien, but he’s probably the most clinical finisher in the league and a nailed on penalty taker. 

Falling

Julian Ryerson (4.7) – After starting the season as a CAM, he was moved to CDM before the Gameweek 4 clash with Rosenborg and has stayed there since. The position change has lessened his chances of attacking returns and Viking’s poor form means he’s not likely to keep a clean sheet. He’s one of few players standing out at Viking this year, but currently he’s no good for Fantasy points.

Sigurd Rosted (5.7) – After scoring twice in Gameweek 1 and keeping a clean sheet  in Gameweek 3, he’s scored five points in his last six, with a red card and no clean sheets blotting his copy book. As with Kristiansen, it’s surely time to look at replacements.

Ruben Gabrielsen (6.1) – Molde are in poor form and their defenders do not offer any value right now. He has no clean sheets in the last four and left the pitch injured after 30 minutes against Sogndal.

Simen Wangberg (5.3) – Another early season bandwagon, who scored two in the first three matches, that has gone off the boil. He still looks threat at set pieces, but won’t score every week and Tromsø doesn’t keep many clean sheets. He is not even worth 4.3, let alone his current price.

Samuel Adegbenro (7.5) – After two goals and as many assists in his last pair of games, he became a strong bandwagon. But with just five points over his next three and with his team Viking sitting at the bottom of the table he looks like a player to swerve. Adegbenro is still the man who makes thing happen at Viking, but at the moment there is better value elsewhere.

Anders Trondsen (7.6) – Four assists and a goal in the opening three games made him one of the most owned players in the game. Since then he has blanked six matches in a row, while the other Sarpsborg midfielders and attackers have shared points. He still might pick up a few assists and goals, but he’s not a stand out option in a team where all the attacking players seems to get a fair share of the points.

Nicklas Bendtner (12.3) – It will come as no surprise to those following his dismal career in England to discover that the former Arsenal striker has failed to live up to the pre-season hype. After scoring two goals in the first two Gameweeks, he’s scored just once in the last seven. His 12.3 price tag isn’t in his favour and looks laughable given his dire form. 

Ibrahim Shauibu (5.1) – Three goals and two assists in the first three game weeks was the good news. Six matches without returns is the bad news. Subbed after just 54 minutes in his last match he also started on the bench in Gameweek 7.

Marco Tagbajumi (7.4) – After looking like a quality striker in the first few matches, he’s failed to deliver since. Six blanks in a row and a benching last Gameweek make him toxic in Fantasy terms.  Stay away until he and Strømsgodset find some form.

Bargain bin

Sean McDermott (4.1) – The only nailed keeper priced below 4.4. Kristiansund are a fairly defending team. They are certainly able to keep a clean sheet at home, although they probably are the worst team in Eliteserien.

Per-Magnus Steiring (3.9) – Sogndal have been struggling with injuries so far this season, which means Steiring is now a nailed on 3.9 defender. Two clean sheets and seven points in his last three suggests he has found some form, with Steiring picking up three bonus points in his last four..

Jeppe Moe (4.2) – He is still a bargain for Stabæk, despite not getting good returns lately. Strong underlying numbers suggest attacking returns are likely and Stabæk are capable of keeping clean sheets, especially at home.

Moussa Njie (5.3) – Just one assist this campaign doesn’t tell the full story, with his strong underlying statistics suggesting returns are imminent. His price has now dropped to 5.3. Bargain.

Andre Sødlund (4.5) – Seems to have nailed down a place in the Sandefjord line up and started behind Kastrati together with Morer Vicente last match. Two goals and one assist so far this season is a solid return for his price.

Pau Morer Vicente (5.0) – He has started a few games up front, although he’s listed as a midfielder, albeit an  attacking one.

Jonas Lindberg (5.6) – A goal and five assists so far is impressive for this penny pinching pick. He was benched last Gameweek, but came in and put in the corner ,which lead to Sarpsborg’s goal. I expect him to return to the starting lineup, but his game time is certainly a concern.

Differentials for Gameweek 10

Aaron Sigurdarson (6.3) – Few players take more shots than him and he also puts in an impressive number of key passes every game. A home game against struggling Strømsgodset coming up could mean a green arrow for his 3.8% ownership.

Luc Kassi (6.0) – In the shadow of Tony Brochmann and Ohi Omoijuanfo, Luc Kassi has scored a goal and assisted two more so far this season. His underlying statistics looks great and it might be his time to get a haul against Viking at home. Only 3.6% ownership.

Edwin Gyasi (7.3) – One of the main attacking players in Aalesund. After scoring six goals and registering five assists last year, he didn’t start this season too well despite picking up two assists. He’s been looking more dangerous lately and scored a late goal against Viking to give his team all three points. With a favourable home fixture against Sandefjord coming up more points could be imminent for his 3.5% ownership.

Best fixtures

Rosenborg – Home games against Lillestrøm, Strømsgodset and Sandefjord, as well as away games against Vålerenga and Haugesund could give big returns for those with three Rosenborg players.

Stabæk – Home games against Viking, Lillestrøm and Kristiansund could mean a triple up is viable for one of the most in-form teams so far this season. Mixed away fixtures include a trip to high-flying Brann but also a struggling Molde team.

Kristiansund – If they’re going to stay up this season they surely have to pick up a few points in the next five games. They face Haugesund, Sogndal and Aalesund at home, as well as Viking and Stabæk away.

Worst fixtures

Lillestrøm – Away games against in form Rosenborg, Stabæk and Sarpsborg could mean trouble for a Lillestrøm team that’s already struggling. There are kinder home fixtures on the horizon against Tromsø and Viking though.

Vålerenga – Two tough fixtures coming up in a row with Sarpsborg 08 away and Rosenborg at home. Also a tough away fixture against Tromsø, before two kinder home games against Strømsgodset and Haugesund.

Haugesund – Three away fixtures in their next five, as well as tough home fixtures against Sarpsborg and Rosenborg. They face Kristiansund, Aalesund and Vålerenga away.

In-form teams

Odd – Four straight wins have taken them to second place. With three clean sheets in a row, it might be time to consider their defensive assets again as well as Riku Riski in attack.

Brann – Three victories in the last five is impressive and they only dropped points against Rosenborg and Viking in injury time. Rolantsson and Haugen seems like the best picks, with Leciejewski, Braaten, Orlov or another defender all looking like decent options.

Vålerenga – After a horrible start, they have now won three of their last five. Back to back clean sheets puts an attacking fullback like Lundstrøm back into our thinking, as well as their main attacking asset Zahid.

Stabæk – Two victories, as well as impressive draws against Rosenborg at home and against Vålerenga away (they could easily have won both). A 0-3 loss against Haugesund at home a few gameweeks ago is a slight concern, but they offer a lot of value for their price.

Aalesund – After a horrible start to the season, they have now won three of their last five as well as a draw against Rosenborg away. Mos has been scoring steadily and Lie has been racking up points from his GK position, while Gyasi could be a good differential for those looking for a punt.

Out-of-form teams

Rosenborg – By far the best team in Eliteserien, which is reflect by the prices of their assets in this game. You would expect better than two victories, two draws and a loss in the previous five fixtures. A loss against Tromsø at home and a draw against Aalesund at home, as well as a draw against Stabæk away. They got a late winner against Brann, as well as managing to hold on to their lead against Sarpsborg with 10 men. They have not been impressing at all lately.

Molde – One of the hotly tipped teams in Eliteserien had two draws and three losses in the last five, including home losses to Aalesund and Sogndal. They have let in 10 goals in the last four to make them easy prey for attackers. 

Strømsgodset – This is another team that has failed to live up to expectations. Their fortunes do not look like changing any time soon either.

Viking – They look very lost at the moment and relegation is a possibility for this big beast of Norwegian football.  They are struggling economically, as well as on the pitch. After encouraging performances against Rosenborg, Odd and Brann, they have now lost three in a row against Sandefjord, Sogndal and Aalesund.

Lillestrøm – This is another heavyweight team that’s really struggling, with four points from their last five, and only seven points in total so far this season. They can’t find the net and with one clean sheet are porous at the back. It’s a lethal combination. Stay away from their assets for now.

Key links

Fixture difficulty.  

WhoScored – Results, table, detailed player and team stats.

Twitter account for a Norwegian Eliteserien Fantasy show. Normally offers some insight (although it’s in Norwegian)

Official source for lineups, normally 1h15m before kick off.

Interesting blog where clean sheet and goal scoring odds are posted before every Gameweek.