We’re on a bit of a roll recently with last weekend’s matches gave us another high scoring result for the “Differentials”, with Bobby Zamora, Adam Johnson and Jermaine Beckford all getting the ball in the net (well, over the line at least). We’ll be looking to keep that momemtum rolling for as long as possible as we go rummaging in the bargain bin once again….
Antonio Valencia
Perhaps not such an unknown as some of the others to make the Differentials, Valencia is nonetheless owned by a paltry 2.2% of all FPL managers and can be picked up for just 7.8m, making him a decent alternative to Nani, the game’s most popular player with 44% ownership.
While Nani owners will have been aggrieved to see him come on for just 4 minutes against West Ham, Valencia has now played the full 90 in each of the last two games and has surely proven his fitness enough to merit inclusion as a fantasy option. With Ryan Giggs and Ji-sung Park also fit and able to play on the wing, rotation is a concern but Valencia is a big favourite of Alex Ferguson’s and the right flank spot looks his to lose right now.
United play host to Fulham on Saturday, and Valencia is expected to start on the right flank with Nani again shifting across to the left. The ex-Wigan winger offers less of a direct threat on goal than Nani, but his pace and crossing ability will surely see him rack up the assists and possibly Bonus Points to compensate.
Junior Hoilett
Hoilett makes the picks for the third time this season, and I’m going to keep banging that drum till everyone knows just how good the young Canadian is as a Fantasy prospect. The first two times he was picked, he hit nine and eight points respectively so with a home tie against fellow relegation strugglers Birmingham up next, I’m going for the hat-trick; at just 4.0m and an almost guaranteed starter, he has got to be one of the best value players around.
Steve Kean likes to mix up his formation depending on their opponents, mirroring Blackpool’s 4-3-3 and Fulham’s 4-4-2, while opting for a 4-1-4-1 against Arsenal. As a result, Hoilett often sees himself moved out onto the flank, but don’t let that put you off; his energy and pace means he gets into plenty of dangerous positions wherever he plays.
A look over the OPTA stats (where Hoilett is classed as a midfielder) certainly backs up his consistent FPL returns. Over the last three games he has supplied seven key passes (assist attempts), made 14 successful dribbles and scored his two goals from a total of eight attempts on goal. Impressive stuff.
Daniel Sturridge
Another one to have made the “Differentials” previously on the tail end of his 4 match ‘goal a game’ streak, Daniel Sturridge looks too good to ignore this week, as Bolton face off against West Ham at the Reebok. He could have had at least a couple last weekend, were it not for the heroics of Birmingham stopper Ben Foster and Robert Green will likely need to be on his game to keep the Chelsea loanee at bay.
Since arriving in the January transfer window, Sturridge has become an essential part of the Bolton attack, and as former Fantasy favourite Johan Elmander has been moved out to the wing to accommodate him, he looks almost rotation proof. At 5.3m then, he looks a fantastic value pick and the 3.4% of FPL managers that have him in their teams will be hoping for a high scoring game against the Hammers.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
Veterans of these comments boards will remember the hysterical pre-season hype surrounding Ebanks-Blake before he began his first season in the Premier League. He ended up delivery a disappointing anti-climax, the likes of which only Mauro Boselli and Graham Dorrans have come close to matching since. Despite scoring 25 goals in the 2008/9 season and winning the Championship’s player of the season award, his first season in the Premier League was a disaster; unable to hold down a regular place in the side after picking up several niggling injuries, he scored just once all year and was eventually relegated to the bench in favour of Kevin Doyle.
The ex-United youth striker has mostly been used as a bit part player this season, but even so, it has been a huge improvement with seven goals to his name so far. The long term absence of main striker Kevin Doyle means he will almost certainly be Wolves’ first choice striker until the end of the season, and he will be desperate to prove his worth. At 4.9m and with ownership of just 0.7%, Ebanks-Blake looks like a great option as a third striker, as long as you are happy benching him for next week’s missing fixture.
Best of the Rest
Danny Wilson looks set to start again for Liverpool this weekend, and is good value at just 4.2m. He would have been a shoe in for the picks if they had an easier fixture, and is definitely one to keep an eye on. At the other end of the pitch, Dirk Kuyt deserves an honourable mention after scoring 4 goals in his last three games and has a good chance of notching again this weekend with City’s defence still vulnerable. Finally Salomon Kalou is an option we’ve presented several times this week – classed as a midfielder in the Fantasy Premeir League game, he could well start up front for Chelsea against Wigan, a scenario that screams potential for those willing to take a punt.
