Barring the unthinkable, Kevin Davies will be sitting on 54 points in the Fantasy Premier League this evening. His brace of goals and the smart assist for Martin Petrov’s late fourth in the win over Spurs will surely earn him the maximum Bonus Points. That would move the Bolton striker onto 14 Bonus Points overall – more than any other Forward in the game.
The underdogs and the unfashionable were always in with a chance of shining this weekend. With some of the FPL’s top individuals – Rafael Van der Vaart, Nani and Florent Malouda all possibly missing out, the opportunity was always there for the unsung heroes to step forward and save the Gameweek. Ji-Sung Park stepped out of Nani’s shadow and duly obliged over at Old Trafford, but in Fantasy terms, they don’t come more unsung than Kevin Davies.
As usual the Bolton striker was heavily involved throughout today’s game. His Bonus Point popularity may well be a mystery to some, but for those familiar with his influence and contribution to the cause, it’s no surprise. Our Members need only cast an eye over the Opta stat tables, paying particular attention to “Touches”, “Passes Made”, “Key Passes” and “Successful Passes in the Oppositions Half”, to get a view on how Davies compares to the rest of the league. He is without doubt one of the most influential strikers around. In the FPL, that will always make up for his lack of goals – particularly in a Bolton side bereft of stars.
Having earned 18 Bonus Points last season, with 12 the season before that, Davies is on his way to having his best ever season in that area. As for goals, spot-kick duties can only help the cause, as demonstrated today. With 4 goals to his name so far, and a couple of assists to back them up, there’s every reason to expect Davies to notch his best ever FPL points tally.
While Fabio Capello has taken notice, Fantasy Managers have chosen to pass. Priced at 6.3 and with Johan Elmander a cheaper and more fashionable option, Davies seems unlikely to pick up huge interest, even after today’s 16 point haul. Two away fixtures at Everton and Wolves may also put off investors. Bolton have not yet failed to score on their travels however, and once through that pair of away games, Bolton enjoy three home fixtures in four, with Newcastle, Blackpool and Blackburn all visiting the Reebok. Davies has every chance of getting himself on our Christmas wishlists.
Along with Elmander, Davies is this evening amongst the top six strikers in the FPL. Only the Drogba/Anelka fair better as a pairing. Few could have predicted such success for the Bolton attack at the start of the season – a fitting scenario on a day for the underdog.
