With new writers on board, we can now start moving on some plans for new regular content. Most of that will materialise next season but here’s one we can roll your way immediately in order to warm-up our new boys over the final weeks of this term.
Along with “The Watchlist”, these “On The Radar” regulars are you player based articles bringing you our view on players worthy of consideration. The difference here is that “Radar” articles focus on short-term hits – one off shots in the arm for your Fantasy lineup, courtesy of players who are perhaps unfashionable but worth mulling over for the current gameweek or two. The “Watchlist” meanwhile, will continue to deliver recommendations for a longer period – the next five matches and beyond.
Right. Is that all clear? Let’s get moving with our first subject – Bolton’s Gary Cahill. It doesn’t get much more unfashionable than that…
There’s no denying that fact that Bolton’s defenders have been a major disappointment as a source of budget Fantasy returns this season. However, Gary Cahill has managed to keep his head above water thanks to no less than five league goals. The last of those strikes was against Arsenal way back in January, but then the second half of his season has been severely disrupted by a blood clot in his arm which saw him miss most of February and March.
Despite getting back in the side at the end of March, Owen Coyle’s outfit have continued to struggle defensively and have failed to keep a clean sheet in the four games since his return. Why bother looking to Cahill then? Well before his comeback against United at home, Bolton had kept four consecutive clean sheets in front of their own fans. The Trotters have two home encounters remaining and this weekend it’s Portsmouth in town – a side severely depleted by injury and distracted by an FA Cup final. Avram Grant’s side have failed to score in six of their last eight away league games and have conceded 12 goals in their last five trips.
That all adds up to strong potential of a home clean sheet, with Cahill certain to pose a major threat from set-plays. Subject to recent transfer speculation, Cahill has managed 28 goal attempts in 26 starts this season – that’s more than the much-fancied Chung-Yong Lee (24 in 31 starts) and an improvement on last season’s stats of 17 attempts from 33 starts. A surprising stat given that it’s presumed that Bolton are less dependent on set-plays under the stewardship of Owen Coyle.
Available for a reduced price of 4.7 in the Fantasy Premier League game, Gary Cahill is perhaps on one-shot prospect given that Bolton travel to Spurs following the Portsmouth clash. Although the final home game against Birmingham – currently struggling for motivation and form, could provide further value for your investment.