Having picked up 14 clean sheets in the previous campaign, Stoke’s defensive options were very much on Fantasy managers radars as pre-season squads were tentatively selected. With so much uncertainty over the goalkeeper situation, however, thoughts turned to the back four and it was Ryan Shawcross who was at the forefront of most people’s plans, given that the centre-half had also bagged 21 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Bonus Points in 2009/10.
With Tony Pulis’ side reliant on set-play delivery and well-practiced routines, Stoke’s muscular back four were always going to generate supplementary points to compliment defensive returns. However, not only did Robert Huth overshadow his centre-back partner for Bonus Points, the German exceeded all expectations by coming to prominence as Stoke’s major goal threat from set-pieces and even played his part from direct free-kicks. Ryan Shawcross was a forgotten man with Huth quickly installing himself as the prime target for Fantasy managers.
Defensively, Stoke had a slow start to the season and with just one clean sheet in the first 12 gameweeks, were looking poor value for money. Robert Huth, however, had already weighed in with a couple of goals by that point, a hint of what was to come. In a season where clean sheets were down, on average, from the previous few campaigns, attack-minded defenders proved vital and Huth ended up with six league goals (scoring four at home and two away) – the joint-top goal haul for defenders.
The Statistics
Huth started the season priced at 5.0 and even dropped to 4.9 but a run of one goal and two clean sheets between gameweek 12-14 saw his stock rise accordingly. While Shawcross offered little returns, Huth continued to impress and a huge swing in ownership saw Huth finish the season in 19% of FPL teams, compared to Shawcross’ 8%.
Stoke’s clean sheets dropped considerably, picking up just the 8 this time round, with five at home and three on the road but Huth’s goals helped him to 138 pts, just pipping ex-Chelsea team mate John Terry as the sixth best defender in the entire game.
Gameweek 26 was the highlight of the season for Huth’s owners. The towering defender capitalised on Sunderland’s inability to cope with Stoke’s set-piece threat to earn two goals and an assist. Three Bonus Points duly followed as Huth returned an incredible 19 points.
The Prospects
If this season is anything to go by, defenders with attacking potential will remain very popular targets. Huth’s goal scoring antics will surely see a price hike for the German, and he will be expected to come in around the 5.5 mark when the new player list is published – a similar pricing to Fulham’s Brede Hangeland’s this season.
Whether Huth can replicate his goalscoring antics is another matter; prior to this season he’d only scored five league goals in his entire career. Much will depend on how Pulis shapes his side over the summer – a radical change of style looks unlikely which should mean that set-plays will continue to play a major part in Stoke’s prosperity – a factor that can only aid Huth’s Fantasy potential.
