Selection

Scouting the Doubles – Gameweek 34 – The Attack

Having checked out what’s on offer from the Double Gameweek 34 defences, we shift our attentions to the business end of the pitch in our quest for goals and assist potential.

After limping out of Man United’s Europa League clash with Anderlecht last night due to a worrying looking knee injury, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to miss the upcoming pair of trips to Burnley and Man City.

The exodus is in full swing amid growing concerns over the Swede’s availability, with the 6.5-priced Marcus Rashford the likeliest to benefit from a central role.

A goal and assist against the Belgians last night maintained the fine form that has seen the youngster score in three of his last four outings across all competitions.

Yet the upcoming couple of hosts have been defensively solid in front of their own fans. Both sit amongst the top six sides for fewest goals conceded at home, with Burnley (14 against in 16) even more resilient than City (15 against in 15).

Two goals and an assist in his last four starts highlights the potential of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who also found the net last night. But four first-team outings in eight, allied with three unused sub appearances, make the 8.8-priced Armenian a risk too far. Without a goal or assist since Gameweek 19, Paul Pogba (8.2) will also remain out of contention for most.

Meanwhile, coming in at 5.6 and 6.3 respectively, Jesse Lingard (five successive starts), and Ander Herrera, with a goal and two assists in two, could be mid-priced punts. Over 45,000 have acquired the Spaniard after he registered a season-high 13 points in the home win over Chelsea.

Floundering six points adrift of safety, Middlesbrough must throw caution to the wind in their vital clashes with Bournemouth and Sunderland.

Certainly, their opponents’ defensive records offer a degree of encouragement – the Cherries have conceded at least two goals in seven of their last eight at home, while Sunderland have a single clean sheet on their travels all season.

The Teesside team may struggle to convince, though – a total of 26 goals scored is less than any other side in the top-flight.

Nonetheless, a change in manager seems to have boosted their prospects in the final third. More than 93,000 have snapped up Alvaro Negredo on the back of his two goals in five since Steve Agnew replaced Aitor Karanka at the helm.

Over that period, only four players have started every match for The Riverside outfit – Stewart Downing being one of them.

Hardly a fashionable pick, the veteran has played from start to finish in every match under Agnew and grabbed the assist for Negredo’s equaliser against the Gunners.

Elsewhere for Boro, Gaston Ramirez returned from injury on Monday night, though with five starts since Gameweek 21, his minutes may need to be managed.

Crystal Palace approach their testing Double Gameweek against Liverpool and Spurs in fine fettle, chalking up four wins and a draw in the last six.

Having seen off the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal over that run, Sam Allardyce’s side have the form to prevail despite a far from favourable pair of upcoming opponents.

Unlike United and Middlesbrough, the Eagles offer us viable in-form options both in midfield and up front.

On the flanks, both Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend have served up two goals and three assists over the previous six.

Number one for transfers in among FPL midfielders in the Gameweek, the Ivorian international has been subject to over 82,000 new owners and now boasts a 15% ownership, thanks to recent double-figure hauls against Chelsea and Arsenal. Townsend remains the differential, though, sitting in just 2% of sides by comparison.

With three goals and an assist in the last four, Christian Benteke has been key in steering Palace towards survival. Over his previous four matches, the Belgian is joint-top with Sergio Aguero for shots inside the box among forwards, firing 16 apiece. Indeed, over the season, Aguero is the only player to have produced more efforts inside the box than Benteke.

The Top Targets

Marcus Rashford – with Ibrahimovic expected to miss out, Rashford has earned over 120,000 new owners in the last 24 hours alone. While there still has to be slight concerns as to whether he’ll have his pitch time managed, given that he played 120 minutes last night, the youngster’s pace and eye for goal will surely be vital in a Gameweek that could see United overtake neighbours City in the race for fourth.

Wilfried Zaha – priced at a very kind 6.0, the Palace winger boasts the underlying numbers to justify his recent output. Over the last four Gameweeks, only Tottenham’s Son Heung-min has fired more shots inside the box from midfield.

Christian Benteke – the in-form forward ahead of Double Gameweek 34. Sitting in just 9% of FPL squads, the Belgian also offers the greatest security of starts among the Double Gameweek forwards – he’s played from start to finish in each of the last 12 league outings.

Alvaro Negredo – since Agnew’s appointment in Gameweek 29, Negredo has gone stride for stride with Benteke. Level with the Belgian for shots (19), efforts in the box (16) and attempts on target (seven), his contribution will be vital if Middlesbrough are somehow scramble to safety.

The Differentials

Andros Townsend –has bettered the more popular Zaha by 42 points to 37 over Palace’s last six outings, producing maximum bonus on three of those occasions. Townsend’s total of 15 chances created during that time is at least seven more than any team-mate, with his supply from out wide becoming increasingly crucial.

Jesse Lingard – with Juan Mata sidelined for the season, Lingard is another United asset whose minutes are on the up. A goal and two assists over the season clearly highlights the risk, yet his threat in the final third is on the up – only Ibrahimovic and Rashford have managed more attempts in their respective last four.

Stewart Downing – priced at just 4.9, the Middlesbrough winger has created at least twice the number of goal scoring chances than any team-mate since Steve Agnew was appointed to the hot seat.

Gaston Ramirez – coming in at 5.2, the Uruguayan could also benefit if he can remain injury-free for those two favourable fixtures. Ramirez has created more scoring chances than any team-mate this season and is second only to Negredo for shots on goal.

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1,365 Comments Post a Comment
  1. n-doggg
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Bench

    A. De Roon (bou, SUN)
    B. Eriksen (cry)

    I have Alli and Kane

    1. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      A

    2. Max City
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. as33
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      ive got De roon on my bench asvel, but thinking to use AOA chip 🙂

  2. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    "Zlatan's injury immediately appeared to be serious, and bad news has arrived for the Swedish striker: according to news leaked by members of his entourage, Ibrahimovic has torn his ACL and PCL. If official confirmation arrives, he would risk an eight to nine month stop."

    1. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Career ending perhaps

    2. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Was it E , Turtle , Drama or Ari that leaked the news ?

    3. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      It was fun while it lasted Zlat

    4. Sess!
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Could scupper his move to LA too, at least in the summer.

    5. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Wow, PCL, too. That is a rare one. At his age, this is very big deal.

      1. Oven Glover
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Rare injury (PCL)

        1. Oven Glover
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          As you just mentioned...

  3. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Alvaro fever has hit!

    1. Tiote on Peyote
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Yeh.

  4. john25
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Hey guys, Blind or Bailly the better pick (more nailed on) over DGW34 and GW35?

    Cheers

    1. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Bai

      1. john25
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Even when he played 120 min in Europa game and might need a rest?

        1. n-doggg
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          Any Utd defender is a gamble. I'd steer clear and get Gibson

          1. john25
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            I want Gibson too, however I need this def to play in GW35 as well, and Utd are playing Swansea at home in 35.

    2. Enzo the Baker
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Bailly more nailed on, perhaps, Blind for more upside (bps, set pieces). Another factor is that Blind is more versatile and can cover for Shaw if needed, which improves his chance of playing.

  5. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    A) Sterling to Firmino for free.

    Or

    B) Kun to Negredo and Sterling to Hazard for a hit

    WC and Big Booty still in tact.

    1. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Save FT

    2. Woy
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Whats your plan with WC and booster ?

    3. Max City
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      A

  6. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Hey guys, only two defenders starting this week and a crocked Andy Carroll. Have a goof fifth mid so could bench Carroll but can I live without a DGW striker? Which are my best moves. 1 FT and 0.3 ITB

    A - Caroll & Brunt > Negredo & PvA for -4 hit
    B - Carroll & Brunt > Benteke & Holgate
    C - Brunt > PvA for no hit
    D - Other?

    Heaton
    Valencia - Mawson
    Sanchez - Zaha - Eriksen - Alli - King
    Kane - Lukaku

    Pickford - Carroll - Brunt - McAuley - Amat

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      B looks good

    2. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      A. But to Gibson

  7. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Take a -8 to do

    Origi > Benteke
    Ibra > Lukaku

    Will keep Lukaku til end of season

    1. chaboi1998
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Imo yeah

  8. Teror
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Wildcard team, pick two:

    A. Coutinho

    B. Sane

    C. King

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      A B

    2. Pep says
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Firmino and King

  9. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Which combination scores more points??

    A Eriksen ( cpl,ARS)+ Gibson (MCI)+ 4 Pts

    B Benteke (Liv,TOT,BUR) + Brunt (LEI)

    Please note fixtures

    Thanks in advance

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Probably B

  10. And nothing else Mata'…
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Pick one for the next 2GW>

    A) Benteke
    B) Aguero
    C) Townsend
    D) PVA

  11. Lecky Legs FC
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    If you could do Siggy & Rojo ➡️ Mkhitaryan & Friend for a -4 hit would you?

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Mkhi won't start both. Get Pogba and Gibson instead.

      1. barracuda
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Hello buddy, how confident are you about Blind? Like your assessments.

      2. barracuda
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Or would you rather pick Gibson? Rival has DDG and Valencia

    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Chambers instead of Friend and I would

    3. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Just move rojo

  12. chaboi1998
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Please help already on -4

    A) Ibra to Kane (-4)
    B) Carroll to Negredo (-4)
    C) Both
    D) Hold

    Already got 3 DGW

    Thanks in advance

    1. umerlfc
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      B

  13. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Who'll be on pens for United now?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Rooney 😛

      1. umerlfc
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Oh dear

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Ander

    3. Enzo the Baker
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      As a hopeful owner... Daley Blind 🙂

  14. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Is captaining Negredo a bit too far?

    1. Live Lad
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      No .

    2. Football Weekender
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      I'm doing it and genuinely fear I may have gone mad.

  15. Live Lad
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Bench Coutinho or King?

  16. Godot - Fashanu Zealand
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Siggy -> Zaha a good move?

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Keep Gylfi.

  17. Hurricane Gilbert
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Lukaku to Negredo of save transfer?

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Keep Lukaku.

    2. Sess!
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      One joke to far...

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        too** 😆

  18. Teror
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    A. Jaku + King (5th mid)

    B. Grant + Fletcher (5th mid)

  19. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    I've had a load of rotten luck this season in FPL, but I very nearly transferred in BOTH Ibra and Valdes last weekend after a few drinks. Dodged a bullet there...!!

    1. Sess!
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Where were you drinking, Iraq?

      1. Sess!
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Granted I was probably out by a few years on that joke

      2. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        West Belfast... 😉

        1. Big_Andy_GAWA
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          As was I... 😉 😉

  20. liiusions
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    What front 3 are people looking at for their GW36 WC? Kane, Gabbi and Jesus looks the best for me

  21. BananaNose Maldonado
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    For those saying Blind got his bonus while playing LB, if the average position maps are to be believed, it looks like he played CB in GWs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 10. In those five matches, United allowed three goals, and Blind got five bonus points (grabbing bonus points in every match they didn't concede).

    1. Enzo the Baker
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      This is great news, hopefully he starts both

    2. BananaNose Maldonado
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      I'm waffling between him and Gibson. I already have Bailly, but playing on the better defensive side overall and having a better matchup in GW35 (I'm planning on wildcarding GW36) is edging me towards Blind.

      1. Enzo the Baker
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        I would take the risk on Blind, the upside is high, and overall outlook is good for next 3 games before Wildcard. I think the general consensus on Boro is that we're expecting them to go out and try to score goals to survive, that will dent Gibson's chance of a CS, and even eat into his bps if they keep a CS.

        1. BananaNose Maldonado
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          I agree. I posted something earlier along the same lines about how people are somehow expecting Boro to be more attacking and free-flowing (thus, bringing in the likes of Negredo...and captaining him), but also to keep clean sheets just because they are facing Bournemouth and Sunderland. If it were that easy, they would have just done it all year. Let me see: score more goals and get shut outs? Sure. Why not? 🙂

  22. sergioaguero67
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    A Middlesbrough defender who has the most chances of playing both the games apart from Gibson?

    Please help.

    1. Football Weekender
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Tricky one but looks like Friend given Fabio's injury. Chambers fit now so should come straight back in too.

  23. joersherman
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Ibra & Clayton > Hazard & Gabbie? -4

    Need to prep for DGWs coming up as no WC left. Thoughts? Cheers!

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      keep clayton

  24. InSaneMan-e
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    I've heard about Zlatan, but does anyone have any updates on the Rojo injury?

  25. A-S-H
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Firmino or alli for next 3 Gw's?

    Have Kane and Liv have the slightly better fixtures.

  26. balint84
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    chance Bailly plays twice?

    1. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      High

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Has to be the most nailed defender to do so...

  27. F4L
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Likelyhood of Chambers starting both games?

    1. Football Weekender
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      There was a great post from a Boro fan on here recently where he seemed pretty certain Chambers would come straight back in. Take a look at the Hot Topics, the post is there and worth a read.

  28. SuperMario
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Pickford
    Ward - Valencia - Davies
    Lanzini - Siggy - Alli - Zaha
    Aguero - Kane - Lukaku

    Foster - Pieters - Fletcher - Amat

    2.1 banked and 1 FT..

    1. SuperMario
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      A. Foster --> DDG
      B. Amat --> Gibson
      C. Both (-4)
      D. Lanzini --> Townsend
      E. Aguero --> Rashford/ Negredo

      Any thoughts gents would love some feedback? Thanks

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        I am doing A) for a hit...

      2. InSaneMan-e
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        D not bad
        Would be nice to get in Firmino, but i'd also want to keep siggy for 1 more week

      3. A-S-H
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        C

  29. F4L
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Ibra ➡ Benteke or Gabbiadini?

  30. TSILIKAFENEIAKOS
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Have Valencia and Alonso. Play Robertson or do Brunt -> Gibson for a hit and play Gibson ? Brunt is also falling in price