Moving along to our final double-up team, we arrive with mid-tablers Stoke City. Not quite as repellent as Bolton but equally not as sexy as Man City, the Potters will have likely received plenty of fantasy funds leading up to this evening’s deadline. Can we rely on Tony Pulis and his boys to deliver? Let’s take a closer look…
The Opponents
Stoke begin the gameweek with an unpredictable encounter away to hit-and-miss merchants Wigan Athletic. They then go on to host Mancini’s money bags Manchester City next week. As Mark highlighted, the later fixture is made all the more interesting by the fact that City meet Stoke in the FA Cup in between the two Premier League games. Rotation and injuries are a risk then and much will depend on the FA Cup lineups at the weekend.
On paper you would think that the trip to Wigan would be the best bet for Stoke players to profit but a more in depth look at the stats indicate that this might not actually be the case. The Potters haven’t won an away game since they beat Tottenham 1-0 back in October, indeed this game has been their only away win of the season. Chuck in the fact they have only scored four away goals and conceded thirteen, and it would seem the odds don’t favour Tony Pulis’s side this evening.
However, before we get all pessimistic, Wigan’s home form isn’t exactly imperious. The Latics haven’t won since November and have only recorded three home wins. Stoke are also in a confident mood following the convincing win over Blackburn last weekend.
The second fixture against Man City appears to be one to miss upon first glance, yet Man City’s away form is hardly anything to write home about. Mancini’s side have managed only one away win, against struggling Wolves, since they beat Portsmouth in August. That doesn’t smack of a team challenging for a Champions League spot. City are good for goals though, with seven in the last five away games. Again this one looks a tight affair but perversely it could well be the one that provides the best returns for Stoke’s attacking players.
The Current Form
An unbeaten run of four games will put a smile on Tony Pulis’s face after a run of three defeats. Draws against Sunderland and Liverpool, sandwiched in between wins against Blackburn and Fulham, have pushed Stoke into eleventh place in the league. This period has also seen seven goals scored and only three conceded in the games against Liverpool and Fulham.
It would appear that Stoke have started to resemble the hard to beat team we saw last term after an indifferent first half of the season. A top half finish will surely be the aim from here on in, but with only 8 points between them and West Ham in 18th, they cannot rest on their laurels.
The Rotation Risk
With three matches in a week, this will be a factor. The safest bets appear to be in defence with Shawcross, Huth and Higgingbotham looking certain starters. In midfield it gets slightly tougher with Etherington the only real certain starter. Up front it gets even worse with all the strikers running risk of rotation. There’s a suggestion that Pulis will consider the likes of Whelan, Tuncay and Beattie for the trip to Wigan after starting with Sidibe and Fuller against Blackburn. Fuller will apparently be considered despite his run-in with the law on Sunday morning.
Despite the fact that I’m pessimistic over a Stoke clean sheet this games week, defenders are actually where I’d look to invest if I was looking at their squad. Stoke’s attacking returns are generally pretty poor and highly dependent on set pieces and with the unpredictability of the Pulis team selections, Id be steering well clear of any attacking players other than Matthew Etherington (see below) and looking at defenders who can score goals.
The Potential Targets
Thomas Sorensen
Hardly a differential but if you’re one of the few who don’t already own the Stoke keeper, he looks a cheap alternative to Shay Given as a keeper doubling up this week. Obviously the signing of Asmir Begovic has put the Dane’s place under threat, but I fully expect Sorensen to play both games. With the potential of a lot of save points and a penchant for saving penalties, investment in Sorensen could see decent returns.
Predicted return: 9 Saves
Ryan Shawcross
Another defensive option from the Potters and one that looks like a dead cert to start both games. He may resemble a giant baby but he can strike fear in opposing defences as the main target for long throws from Delap et al. He carries plenty of potential for assists from flick on’s or even goals then. If stoke do register a goal or two, then set-plays, with Shawcross involved, are almost certain to play some part. He’s also been picking up Fantasy Premier League bonus points of late, with five in his last two games. This could continue regardless of the arrival of a clean sheet over the two fixtures.
Predicted return: 2 Bonus
Matthew Etherington
Fourteen points against Blackburn is surely a one off for the left winger but he appears to be an almost certain starter and, with this in mind, he might well be the best bet for attacking points. If Stoke don’t score from a set piece then it’s likely that Etherington will be involved. His dead-ball deliveries and consistent supply of crosses from the left has become as much a feature of Stoke’s play as Delap’s bombs from the touchlines.
Predicted return: 1 assist
Tuncay
On the face of it an out of position midfielder playing off the striker might prove to be worth a gamble. Poor returns overall this season make us less certain, as does the doubt surrounding the Stoke frontline. Pulis could well bring Tuncay into his starting lineup have benched him against Rovers as the Stoke boss readies some rotation. If the Turk can impress, he may hold down that starting berth for the second fixture against City. He might, just might, nick a goal in that game which looks likely to be a more open affair than the trip to Wigan.
Predicted return: 1 goal