Admittedly, investment in Gerard Houllier’s defence feels more than a little uncomfortable. Villa teeter just 2 points above the relegation zone, having faltered all season, despite a wealth of talent throughout the squad.
Given that talent, relegation is a threat but something that still seems an unlikely outcome. With a healthy run of games on the horizon (NEW whm STK wba WIG), Villa’s players should be considered decent Fantasy Premier League prospects entering the end of season slog – despite what the formbook tells us.
Kyle Walker is one player who particularly stands out from the Villa Park crowd, thanks to his 4.0 price tag in the Fantasy Premier League game and his relentless attacking raids down the right-flank.
Since completing his loan switch from Tottenham during the January transfer window, Walker has put in a shift of notable appearances which have seen him score twice; make no mistake, Walker is an attacking full-back of some quality and in a season where clean sheets have been notoriously hard to pin down, that could yet be a priceless commodity.
At this point it should be noted that Villa have not kept a clean sheet in 8 Premier League games but, given Walker’s attacking potential and the club’s supposedly easy run of games, one would still expect the full-back to deliver. Our members need only turn to their OPTA statistics to view the role that Walker has played since his arrival and how he stacks up against other full-backs in the league, particulary when it comes to successful dribbles and key passes.
Such statistics have seen Walker earn FPL bonus points – he’s fetched 3 in his 6 Premier League appearances for Villa. As a rule, full-backs struggle to attract such attention.
With a limited ownership of 1.4%, Walker has the differential factor in his favour but it’s that price tag that really helps to convince. At a time when Fantasy Managers are looking to secure big price assets in midfield and attack, Walker appears to offer the potential for points at the back for a pittance.
