Hall of Fame Analysis – Part Two

After examining the strategies deployed by those in the top ten of our latest Hall of Fame refresh, the second part of our analysis looks deeper into their player selection and their “template” squad.

For those unfamiliar with the Hall of Fame, this is a ranking system applied to everyone who takes part in our Fantasy Premier League mini-leagues – both the free and members league. Managers’ performances are then traced to give a Hall of Fame rating.

The Live version is updated after each Gameweek and can be viewed by Members via this link.

The career version, which shows the standings at the end of each season, is free to view here or via the HoF tab in the main menu. For more information about how those at the top of the career HoF are doing, we urge you to read TopMarx’s latest community article.

If you would like to know more about the Hall of Fame we have included a quick guide in this article. Alternatively, you can view this movie to listen to Mark and Rate My Team’s Chris Atkinson talk you through it.

Let’s now take a look at the current top ten live HoF managers’ players and the template that emerges from this “elite” group.

Goalkeepers

Given that our analysis of the top ten’s strategies showed an eagerness to exploit double Gameweeks, it seems likely that their future moves will be governed by these changes in the fixture schedule. This certainly looks the case for their next goalkeeper transfers.

Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford (4.1) and Tom Heaton (5.1) are the most popular picks, sitting in seven and six sides respectively. This pair are also the most popular combination, with four elite managers opting for both.

Cost is a key factor in their selection, with the Burnley man starting at just 4.5 and the Black Cats young keeper available for 4.0 for early adopters.

The ability to make saves is also part of the appeal – Heaton’s haul of 111 is top amongst stoppers, while Pickford has accrued an impressive 87 from his 19 starts – his average of 19.8 minutes per stop is quicker than any regular.

Heaton’s outstanding value for money is further highlighted by the fact that he has produced 21 bonus points – at least three times all but one other keeper.

FPL’s second most popular keeper Hull’s Eldin Jakupovic (4.1), West Brom’s Ben Foster (4.7) and Stoke’s Lee Grant (4.4) are all in two sides and are the only other custodians trusted by our top ten.

But with Crystal Palace’s Wayne Hennessey (4.3), Middlesbrough’s Victor Valdes (4.6) and Manchester United’s David De Gea (5.4) all enjoying two fixtures in Gameweek 34, it seems certain that should a Wildcard be deployed soon, then one of this trio will find suitors.

Of these, the Red Devils keeper looks an outside bet only, given this elite group’s desire to find value between the sticks.

Another option the top ten are likely to consider is Southampton’s Fraser Forster (5.0), who, along with United and Arsenal, is set to enjoy 11 fixtures over the final nine Gameweeks.

Defenders

Change is also likely across their backlines, which look ill-prepared for the impending double Gameweeks – not one of this elite group owns a defender from Arsenal or Southampton.

Possible Saints targets could include Ryan Bertrand (5.4), who has accrued four assists in his last five starts, while Laurent Koscielny (6.2) looks another potential recruit among the Arsenal ranks, given that he has earned bonus points on eight occasions.

Only two currently own Manchester United’s raiding right back Antonio Valencia (5.8) ahead of his double Gameweek 34. The smart money will be on the Ecuadorian sitting in most of this group’s teams by then after delivering attacking or clean sheet returns in all but one of his last eight starts.

Among ‘Boro assets, Calum Chambers and George Friend (both 4.3), who are both injured, sit in just one team each. It seems possibe that they will remain, in the hope they are fit for their double Gameweek 34, which looks favourable for the Teessiders when they visit Bournemouth and host Sunderland.

But which of their current crop of defenders will they jettison?

Sadly, Everton’s Seamus Coleman (6.1), who sits in seven teams, is set to make way after suffering a leg break on international duty for Ireland on Friday.

Following this development, the four managers with Leighton Baines (5.7) may well retain him as Everton defensive cover. The same can be said for the two managers that have Ashley Williams (5.2).

West Brom defenders certainly also look surplus to requirements, given a poor upcoming schedule that includes a trip to Manchester United and a visit from Liverpool in their next four.

All of this group own a Baggies rearguard representative. However, with six goals so far, the five that currently hold Gareth McAuley (5.2) may choose to retain The same is unlikely to be said for the four Chris Brunt (5.1) owners and one manager that has Allan Nyom (4.4) on board. Neither of the latter pair has handed their owners returns since a clean sheet against Stoke in Gameweek 24.

Among the fourth and fifth defender options, Watford’s Jose Holebas (4.6) is the most popular, with three inclusions. Two have Hull City assets, in the form of Andrew Robertson (4.4) and Harry Maguire (4.4) with one endorsement each, and Swansea City’s backline is represented twice, with Alfie Mawson (4.6) and Jordi Amat (3.9) backed by one manager apiece.

Mawson’s goal threat, having scored four already, allied with trips to West Ham and Watford and home clashes with Middlesbrough and Stoke in the next five, may ensure he stays put for now.

Erik Pieters (4.7) is another that could make way, but has proved a reliable source of points for his three owners recently, with a trio of clean sheets in his last five starts.

Marcos Alonso (6.8), who sits in nine teams, is the most popular defender. Given a price hike from a low of 5.9, his removal may be a risk too far for this group.

Also, Chelsea are likely to enjoy a double Gameweek later in the season, so taking him out now could prove costly should they want to bring him back at that point.

Midfielders

The HoF top ten are just as comfortable fielding a 3-4-3 formation as they are with a 3-5-2 set-up. Their midfield selections reflects that flexibility, with all but three of this group giving themselves five strong options in the centre of the park.

Of the trio that favour a four-man midfield, two sides have opted for West Brom’s Darren Fletcher (4.5) as a makeweight, while another has the Scotsman’s injured team-mate Matt Phillips (5.5).

The rest have in the main invested in Spurs and Liverpool assets, supplemented with Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.8) and Josh King (5.8).

The Swansea set-piece specialist is backed by all but one of this group and the Bournemouth midfielder, who is being fielded as a forward, is in seven sides.

Another popular player is Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (9.7), chosen by nine of the group. The winger is clearly seen as the best route to points from the Reds’ favourable fixture run, that continues to the end of the season and includes home ties against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Middlesbrough.

Two of those backing the Senegal international have also doubled up with Philippe Coutinho (8.2), although it remains to be seen whether the Brazilian, who has scored just once since returning from injury in Gameweek 21, will survive long-term.

Christian Eriksen (8.7)’s creativity and assured delivery is this group of managers’ Spurs weapon of choice.

The Dane, who has assisted 13 times, is found in seven squads, with his team-mate, Dele Alli (8.9), in just three. It remains to be seen whether the England midfielder’s penalty duties in the absence of Harry Kane will persuade more to double up or shift allegiance.

Of Alli’s three owners, two have already paired him with Eriksen, showing that this elite group are happy to invest heavily in players in the same position from an attack-minded side.

A favourable fixture run that includes trips to Burnley, Crystal Palace, and Swansea, as well as home ties with Watford and Bournemouth in their next five, add to the possibility of further Spurs investment. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are set to play ten fixtures over the final nine rounds of fixtures

Other midfielders to feature include Everton’s Ross Barkley (7.1), who is owned by two managers and Pedro (7.2) of Chelsea, who sits in just one side.

Although their midfields are looking powerful for the next few Gameweeks, sacrifices seem on the cards in Gameweek 31 when Alexis Sanchez (11.6) begins a strong run of fixtures that sees him play 11 times in the final nine Gameweeks.

Only four of our ten currently own the Arsenal man but, given our first analysis’ revelation that he has been their most popular captaincy option, it seems likely that more will follow once the tricky home clash with Manchester City in Gameweek 30 is out of the way.

Forwards

Romelu Lukaku (10.5) is owned by all of our top ten, with the Everton marksman receiving the armband frequently over the last month to contribute to some impressive recent Gameweek scores.

With his red-hot form ahead of home clashes Leicester and Burnley in the next four, the Belgian looks untouchable.

But with back-to-back trips to Liverpool and Manchester United as the Toffees’ next two fixtures, it is possible some of this group may look to temporarily remove him.

Diego Costa (10.7) has emerged as the most popular premium striker to join Lukaku, with the Spaniard now in five sides. With Crystal Palace visiting Stamford Bridge next weekend the Blues talisman looks set to be a popular Gameweek 30 captaincy pick among this group – providing, of course, he shrugs off a minor ankle problem.

Four own Sergio Aguero, but with trips to Arsenal and Chelsea coming up, they may consider exit plans. His 12.7 price tag could come in particularly handy for those looking to draft in Sanchez.

Among likely replacements are Costa or Jamie Vardy (9.8), who has scored three goals and two assists in three prior to consecutive home clashes with Stoke and Sunderland.

West Ham’s Andy Carroll (6.3) and Swansea’s Fernando Llorente (6.5), who are both in three teams, are the most popular third striker options. But as the pair were drafted in with the reduced Gameweek 28 fixtures in mind, they already seem dispensable.

Given the strength of this group’s midfield, those with one of these strikers may consider benching them while they await news of the fitness of Southampton’s Manolo Gabbiadini, who is struggling with a groin injury. The former Napoli man’s four league goals since joining in January will make him an obvious third striker target, particularly with 11 matches still to play in the final nine Gameweeks.

Two sides look to have deliberately chosen a 3-5-2 route with their forward selection, with one sticking with the injured Victor Anichebe (4.3) while the other has Burnley’s cut-price forward Ashley Barnes (4.5).

The Live Hall of Fame Top Ten Template

Pickford Heaton

Alonso Coleman Baines McAuley Brunt

Mane Sigurdsson King Eriksen Sanchez

Costa Lukaku Carroll