This Much We Know – Gameweek 21

Spurs’ rampant form continues to spoil us for choice. Antonio Conte’s call to Nathan Ake sparks Marcos Alonso into action, while Everton’s alignment of form and fixtures may just prove irresistible.

Peter Crouch’s renaissance picks up pace to offer an unexpected option up top, while Junior Stanislas reaps the benefit of Callum Wilson’s bench role. We learned this and more from Gameweek 21…

We could do with four Spurs slots…
A 4-0 win over West Brom saw hat-trick hero Harry Kane hog the headlines and spark a scramble for his FPL services, with over 100,000 managers already pushed to seal his signature ahead of Gameweek 22.

But the weekend Baggies battering once again underlined the multitude of options among Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.

Christian Eriksen’s sixth double-figure haul in the last nine Gameweeks overshadowed last week’s man of the moment Dele Alli, yet the latter still found time to earn an assist, with the pair neck and neck on 121 points – joint-third in the FPL midfielders standings.

Although Pochettino’s side have now fired 14 goals in the last four fixtures, it’s not all about their attack. Spurs also boast the league’s most resilient rearguard, with 14 goals against, with the recent switch to a 3-4-2-1 strengthening the claim of raiding wing-backs Danny Rose and Kyle Walker.

With a trip to out-of-sorts City preceding clashes against Sunderland and Middlesbrough, the north London club seem ripe for investment – the only problem we have is restricting our options to just three picks.

It’s also the only factor that can possibly calm even greater interest in Kane.

Alonso is unmoved by Ake recall…
Antonio Conte’s decision to recall Nathan Ake from a loan stint at Bournemouth sparked fears that Marcos Alonso’s starting role in the Chelsea line-up was at risk.

But Ake failed to even make the bench, while the Spaniard stepped up his form with a brace away to Leicester, dispelling any concerns over pitch time – at least for now.

A stunning 21-point haul at the King Power Stadium took Alonso to the top of the FPL defender standings – all the more impressive given that he wasn’t handed his first start until Gameweek 7.

With a goal, assist or clean sheet in 13 of his 15 appearances in Conte’s first XI, the summer signing from Fiorentina is an efficient point-scoring machine – the only real surprise is that his ownership still hovers below 10%.

There’s still no argument for not having Heaton…
Burnley’s number one turned in yet another defiant display to earn a fourth double-figure haul of the season in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Southampton.

Whether it’s clean sheets, save points or both, Heaton continues to laugh in the face of his 4.9 price tag – a ten-point return against the Saints means he is now the best value player, in terms of points per million, across the game.

Heaton has made more saves (88) than any other asset between the sticks, while a total of 16 bonus points is more than twice the tally of any stopper and also better than all FPL defenders.

Just one point shy of Thibaut Courtois at the top of the keeper standings, the Clarets’ custodian continues to look the fire and forget option for any wildcards going forward.

A benched Wilson is a boosted Stanislas..
With Callum Wilson named amongst the Bournemouth substitutes, his spot-kick taking deputy was an early beneficiary away to Hull City.

Stanislas’ third-minute converted penalty boosted his stock further as a budget option in midfield. Priced at a mere 5.2, he’s produced a goal or assist in each of his last three appearances and, more impressively, has averaged 5.5 points per match this season.

Bearing in mind that Wilson has started just two of the last six rounds of fixtures and has managed 90 minutes on just two occasions from Gameweek 8 onwards, the potential of penalty duties look promising for the 3%-owned Stanislas.

Back-to-back home encounters against Watford and Palace merely strengthen that appeal, allowing us to free up cash to accommodate Kane or Romelu Lukaku alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic up top.

Crouch is a third budget striker we can start…
With three goals and two assists in a trio of starts, you have to wonder why Mark Hughes has taken so long to turn to the weapon that is Peter Crouch.

Ironically, an injury to Jon Walters, allied with Wilfried Bony and Mame Biram Diouf’s departures to the Africa Cup of Nations, has somewhat forced Hughes’ hand but, with his size 15s in the door, the Stoke striker has grabbed his opportunity.

Over the last three Gameweeks, only Kane has managed more efforts in the opposition box than Crouch, whose tally of nine is on a par with Zlatan Ibrahimovic ahead of their showdown at the bet365 this weekend.

At just 4.8, Crouch’s recent output has shown that he’s far more than just a cheap enabler perched awkwardly on our benches. You only have to ask his manager.

Sanchez wants to be front and centre…
The withdrawal of Olivier Giroud in Saturday’s thrashing of Swansea City allowed the Chilean to highlight just why he’s Fantasy gold through the middle for Arsenal.

There’s no denying that Giroud has more than merited his chance to lead the line, netting in four successive matches since nailing down a regular role in Arsene Wenger’s XI.

Yet his installation to the starting line-up has somewhat derailed Sanchez’ momentum – indeed, his 11-point return at the Liberty was a first double-figure haul since Gameweek 14 away to West Ham.

With concerns still surrounding the ankle complaint that saw Giroud withdrawn, Sanchez owners will be braced for the prospect of three plum fixtures in four as Wenger’s men prepare to welcome Burnley, Watford and Hull City to the Emirates.

The honeymoon hasn’t even started for Big Sam…
Having amassed just one point in his four matches in charge, it’s fair to say that Sam Allardyce has yet to make an impact on Crystal Palace’s fortunes.

Wilfried Zaha’s decision to leg it to the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast has hardly helped, yet the new man in charge has done little to get the best from Christian Benteke. The Belgian has now gone six matches without returns and, more worryingly, failed to register a single attempt in the weekend rout at West Ham.

Big Sam’s fondness of clean sheets has yet to materialise either, and on the back of three straight losses, he’ll need to add more than just Jeffrey Schlupp to his options if that record of having never tasted top-flight relegation is to stay intact.

Everton’s flourish is well timed…
In retrospect, that gritty 2-1 win over Arsenal back in Gameweek 16 was a sign of things to come.

Ronald Koeman’s side had struggled up to that point, but Sunday’s thrashing of Manchester City continued the form that has brought four victories and a draw in the last six rounds of fixtures.

Everton have served up three clean sheets and 11 goals in the last previous four Gameweeks, building momentum perfectly ahead of a run that pits them against Palace, Stoke City, Bournemouth, Middlesbrough and Sunderland in the upcoming five.

Romelu Lukaku and Leighton Baines – back on spot-kick duties – are undoubtedly the top attractions, yet Koeman’s decision to take a leaf out of Pochettino’s book and roll out a 3-4-2-1 could also see us dip into his midfield for investment.

Ross Barkley has bagged one goal and four assists in six now – he’d previously managed two goals and one assist in the first 15 Gameweeks. With Kevin Mirallas putting City to the sword with a goal and assist (his third set of returns in four), Goodison looks a popular place to shop for FPL managers over the foreseeable future.

Pep’s failings threaten to close the case on Aguero…
Never mind the tiki-taka, Pep Guardiola’s installation at the Etihad was meant to elevate Sergio Aguero onto the next level of “essential” as a Fantasy football prospect.

Instead, the Spaniard’s arrival in Manchester is turning into fool’s gold as far as Sergio is concerned.

Two suspensions, both for violent conduct, have seen the Argentine sit in the stands for six of the first 21 Gameweeks. Even when on the pitch, he’s cut a forlorn and frustrated figure, with Sunday’s failure at Goodison taking his tally to one goal in four league outings.

Even at a time where Diego Costa’s owners scout for premium-priced alternatives, it’s Kane, Lukaku and Ibrahimovic we’re turning to as the men most likely, with the 12.8-priced Aguero – almost unthinkably – looking increasingly surplus to requirement as Pep desperately seeks solutions to his side’s ailing form.