Selection
24 March 2010 0 comments
Mark Mark
Share:

Stoke City may never shake the label of an uncompromising, muscular outfit that’s reliant on set-piece routines that creative open-play. To be fair, while they’ve shown some refinement, there remains plenty of evidence to suggest that this remains the case. And yet among Tony Pulis’ six-foot plus lineup, the impish figure of Matt Etherington has enjoyed the prominence that will likely see him end the season with Stoke’s player of the year awards.

Blessed with potential during his days at Peterborough, Spurs and West Ham, you can be forgiven for thinking that Stoke City aren’t a natural fit for his close control, dribbling skills and the ability to deliver a pass and cross. It hasn’t turned out that way.

In fantasy terms Etherington has been a major surprise this season. The winger has delivered four goals and eight assists making him by far Stoke’s most effective performer. Those statistics see him comfortably in the top ten when it comes to providing goals, with an identical record to the highly-rated and comparatively overpriced Ashley Young…

Indeed at just 5.4 in the Fantasy Premier League game, few can compare to Etherington in value terms. He leads the midfield value rankings from Wolves’ Matt Jarvis when it comes to delivering points per million, easily surpassing Hull’s Stephen Hunt and Wigan’s Charles N’Zogbia; players who have both enjoyed their place in the sun when it comes to fantasy selection this season.

Now could be the time for Etherington though. Owned by just over 7% of FPL managers, that figure is set to increase in the coming weeks. Stoke City have a run of fixtures (whm HUL wlv/ful BOL) including a double fixture in gameweek 34, that seems likely to provide Etherington with the platform to boost his season tallies further and even push his unlikely campaign for a place in England’s World Cup squad.

While Etherington’s opponents stiffen badly with trips to Chelsea, Everton and United ending Stoke’s season, investment in the gameweek 32-35 window looks to have merit with perhaps Wolves’ Matt Jarvis considered as a late replacement for his final three games (BLA por SUN).

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

543 Comments Login to Post a Comment

No comments have been submitted for this post yet.