As one of four sides to contest this double game week, Stoke City may not be the form pick on paper – tough games with Everton and Fulham complete their campaign on the back of a brutal 7-0 battering by Chelsea. Yet Aston Villa bounced back after conceding seven at Stamford Bridge and, as a side known for their grit and resilience, don’t put it past the Potters to do the same…
The Opponents
Everton are the last visitors to the Britannia this season, and they’ve maintained their good form since high profile wins against Manchester United and Chelsea. You have to go back ten games to find their last defeat (at White Hart Lane), and the Toffees have won two and drawn three of their last five away games. European football looks remote, but it’s still possible for the Merseysiders if they win their last two games.
Stoke then travel to Fulham, which is closer to Stamford Bridge than they’d probably like. While Fulham don’t have the ammunition to score seven, they’ve only conceded twelve goals at home in the league, a joint-record they share with Birmingham, Manchester United and Spurs. However, the Cottagers have only won once in their last seven games (at home to Wigan), and a potential Europa League final may see further changes in personnel from Roy Hodgson.
The Current Form
Well, if you take into account Stoke’s 7-0 thrashing by Chelsea, then form is a concern; yet it could well pay to keep an open mind. Looking at their most recent games collectively, the result at Chelsea was an aberration. Including the trip to Stamford Bridge, the Potters have taken seven points from the last fifteen, their only other loss being at home to Bolton when throwing away a one goal lead in the final ten minutes. Tony Pulis will demand a response after their West London humbling and, with a fixture at Old Trafford on the last game of the season that the home side must win, Pulis will be keen to capitalise on these comparatively easier matches.
The Rotation Risk
Pulis likes to rotate his forward line – Dave Kitson was the victim last week and Tuncay, Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe don’t regularly play 90 minutes at a time. But defensively – where our potential targets lie – things are much more solid. The injury to Abdoulaye Faye means Ryan Shawcross should start against Everton, and the elbow injury sustained by Thomas Sorensen – a blow that affects over a whopping 40% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) gaffers – means Asmir Begovic will deputise until the end of the season.
The Potential Targets
Asmir Begovic
If you need a new keeper, Begovic is guaranteed football and, at £4 million, he should make a few saves in his double game week. He’s already kept two clean-sheets for Portsmouth this season (at home to Burnley and Liverpool) and his price isn’t bad value.
Predicted Return:1 clean-sheet, 6+ saves
Ryan Shawcross
Despite an injury-hit and controversial last few months after that tackle, Shawcross has been a fantasy football staple for many this season, racking up 21 FPL bonus points, two goals and three assists. Everton in particular will probe the Stoke defence, but this could help with the award of bonus points if Shawcross performs. Fulham are a handful at home but not as incisive and, with their minds maybe on other things and a potentially absent Bobby Zamora, a clean-sheet is not unrealistic.
Predicted Return:1 clean-sheet, 1 bonus point
Robert Huth
At £4.6 million, the former Chelsea and Middlesbrough player is £0.6 cheaper than Shawcross, and still has some goal-threat as his three goals this season prove. Shawcross is the pick, but if you’re short on sheckels than Huth is a very respectable alternative.
Predicted Return:1 clean-sheet
Matthew Etherington
At £5.7 million, the midfielder has already been drafted in by over 6300 FPL managers for this game week and his price tag is likely to rise. After Sorensen, Etherington has amassed the most FPL points for a Stoke player and with four goals and nine assists, he’s been involved in 13 of Stoke’s 33 goals scored so far this season. Add to that Etherington’s 13 bonus points, and the upshot is that if Stoke score, he’s likely to be involved.
Predicted Return:1 clean-sheet, 1 assist
Ricardo Fuller
Stoke strikers are generally hard to rely on – Tony Pulis’s selection is one thing, but only 9 goals in 17 away games is another. However, Stoke pose much more threat at the Britannia and, if Etherington does get his assist, then Ricardo Fuller could well be on the end of it – he’s only scored three goals this season but two of those have been in his last four matches. With Sidibe an injury doubt, Fuller’s physical presence makes him unique from other strikers at Pulis’s disposal and, on that basis, he’s more likely than not to start the match against Everton.
Predicted Return:1 goal