Spot the Differential

Spot the Differential – Gameweek 19

We turn our attentions to North London and plunder a couple of overlooked alternatives ahead of the weekend deadline. Our third option will be expecting a start up top for City as Manuel Pellegrini’s side look for a tenth-straight win in front of their own supporters:

Edin Dzeko

As the festive fixtures arrive thick and fast, Manuel Pellegrini’s lack of forwards could prove beneficial to the big Bosnian’s short-term prospects. With Sergio Aguero sidelined and Stevan Jovetic doubtful once again, the City boss has been all too reliant on Alvaro Negredo to produce the goods up top and keep his side in the title race.

Having shifted to a 4-2-3-1 for the Boxing Day visit of Liverpool, Pellegrini now has the option of retaining the formation or returning to his preferred 4-4-2 as City prepare for the visit of Crystal Palace tomorrow afternoon. Certainly, the Eagles game looks the ideal opportunity to unleash Dzeko, either as the lone forward or alongside Negredo, with Pellegrini intent on maintaining the attacking verve which has seen his side average more than four goals per home game thus far.

Coming in at 6.7 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Dzeko (who sets you back 8.5 in the Sky Sports game and 4.0 in the Sun Dream Team), also has a trip to Swansea on his agenda before the winter wildcard kicks in and could be worth a punt for those Fantasy managers frustrated by the recent displays of Olivier Giroud and Romelu Lukaku in their three-man frontlines.

Christian Eriksen

A peripheral figure in the league under Andre Villas-Boas, Eriksen has been earmarked as key to Tim Sherwood’s new-look attacking approach. After arriving from Ajax at the end of the summer transfer window, Eriksen was afforded 90 minutes just once by Villas-Boas as the former Tottenham boss chopped and changed personnel with a frustrating regularity.

Since the Portuguese’s departure, Eriksen’s Fantasy prospects have taken a shot in the arm. Installed as a central midfield playmaker in Sherwood’s 4-4-2, he’s played every minute of the new manager’s two matches in charge and, with set-piece duties also part of his repertoire, fired a superb free-kick in Thursday’s draw against West Brom to serve a reminder of the talents that produced 17 goals and 36 assists in his final two seasons in the Dutch top-flight.

Priced at just 7.1 in FPL (7.0 in the Sky Sports game and 4.0 in the Sun Dream Team), he has home games against Stoke and Palace in the next three to arrive on our radars in perfect time for the winter wildcard.

Lukas Podolski

In his only start of the season, the German international bagged a brace in Arsenal’s 3-1 win at Fulham back in Gameweek 2. Before August was out, however, Podolski was stuck in the Emirates treatment room after sustaining a hamstring injury on Champions League duties – a bitter blow for a player who had racked up 11 goals and 10 assists in just 1,986 minutes across his debut season.

Finally recovered, Podolski needed just 26 minutes at West Ham on Boxing Day to demonstrate his capabilities. A devastating substitute appearance produced a goal and assist as the Gunners turned around a one-goal deficit to send Big Sam’s side into the drop zone and propel themselves back to the summit.

As Olivier Giroud toils up top, with two goals from open play in 14 starts, Podolski’s explosive display at Upton Park has made a real claim for consideration as the Gunners lone striker for the weekend trip to Newcastle. Arsene Wenger could also shift Santi Cazorla to the centre and allow the German the left flank berth if he chooses to finally rest Mesut Ozil but, either way, Podolski’s eye for goal could be just as vital as Theo Walcott’s to his side’s title aspirations.

With home games against Cardiff, Fulham and Palace and a trip to Villa in the five games following the Newcastle clash, the schedule is certainly in favour of the fit-again striker, who would set you back just 8.1 in FPL, 8.7 in the Sky Sports game and 4.0 in the Sun Dream Team.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

2,025 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Rooney, Silva or Suarez for the armband?

    Open Controls
    1. Takedog1
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I'm looking to get Rooney in and if I did he would get the armband.

      Open Controls
    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Silva

      Open Controls
  2. Takedog1
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Krul
    Distin Coleman ridgewell
    Wally silva hazard Ramsay
    Suarez negredo lukaku

    Bench : rav m, shaw , fonte , boruc

    I want Ramsay out and I badly want Rooney in. Any thoughts on which striker is best to get rid of? I'm leaving towards negredo because I don't think he will play but do I just risk it and take lukaku away? I would have to take a minus 4 if I took lukaku away and just my 2ft if it was negredo!

    Pls help guys thanks

    Open Controls
  3. Blue Lion
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Physio room says Sturridge will be back in a week. So that means i
    have to think of somebody else other than Sterling for my Ramsey
    replacement

    Open Controls
    1. Kostja
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      they have jan 14

      Open Controls
  4. Doar1986
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Am I good to go

    Schezney

    Williams. Chester. Dawson

    Silva. Wally. (Vc) Barkley. Januzai

    Rooney (c). Suarez. Negredo

    Open Controls
  5. Tinmen
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    has anyone opted for Eriksen or should i get Junuzai?

    Open Controls
  6. Doar1986
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    I went for Januzai, should start with Valencia out

    Open Controls
  7. Tinmen
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    this is it. Should i take a -4 hit to swap Ward Prowse for Januzai folks?

    Open Controls
    1. Tinmen
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I mean put in Januzai

      Open Controls
  8. lugalooch
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    who should i put as my captain

    negredo, rooney,suarez, yaya or silva

    was thinking negredo as capt, rooney as vice in case negredo doesnt start

    thanks for your help guys.

    Open Controls
  9. Gigging Order
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    SILVA (C)

    Who is with me?

    Open Controls
    1. Hyperion
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Accidentally I am. Meant to switch to Rooney but forgot.

      Open Controls
  10. lugalooch
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    whos got the best chance of picking up the most points

    shelvey ,mutch or ravel

    thanks

    Open Controls
    1. Kane Toads
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I would think Mutch.

      Open Controls
      1. Kane Toads
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Mutch based on *rate my team*

        Open Controls
  11. Gigging Order
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Rooney has 1 goal in his last 500 minutes of Premier League football

    Open Controls
    1. Gigging Order
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      *Apologies, 400

      Open Controls
  12. Del Griffith
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    1 minute... Here we go lock and load

    Open Controls
    1. Kane Toads
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Go Negredo!!

      Open Controls
  13. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    I wanna see some serious diving from utd's wingers today

    Open Controls
  14. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Sorry, but West Ham v West Brom is just, well, Meh.

    No offence to the supporters of these teams of course

    Open Controls
  15. Hyperion
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    I meant to change my armband from Silva to Rooney but fell asleep and didn't do it - did I make a right balls up or will things be OK? Someone reassure me. 🙂

    Open Controls
  16. ktk_interista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Rest Ozil when he plays Newcastle away? A team who has beaten Utd,Tottenham,Chelsea and drew with Liverpool? Give up first place before the end of the year? Nah I don't think so. If Ozil isn't playing, he is injured or sick. He can always rest him for Cardiff at home.And the cup is not that important anyway, he doesn't need to field his best team vs Tottenham.

    Open Controls
  17. Santi sensei
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Loving my Eriksen punt 😀

    Open Controls