Last week’s selection of differentials were the most successful so far – three goals and an assist spread over our picks of Emmanuel Adebayor, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Gervinho. We go into this week’s selection brimming with confidence then, perhaps to the point where we’re willing to up the stakes with the proposed punts. What else could explain the inclusion of Nicklas Bendtner?
Nicklas Bendtner
Sunderland looked a hugely improved side when they demolished Stoke 4-0 last week, and although he didn’t get on the scoresheet himself, Bendtner showed enough to suggest he will play a key role at Sunderland this season. Probably the most successful season in his career was at Birmingham under Steve Bruce, playing as a target man for Seb Larsson’s crosses, and so it is no coincidence that he has fitted into Sunderland’s system so quickly, picking up two assists in his last two games.
He has never been a prolific goal scorer, but his ability to hold the ball up and bring others into the game gives Sunderland something that they have struggled with of late, and the big Dane should pick up consistent points from assists and bonus on top of an expected 10-15 goals over the season. At just 5.4m and an ownership of 1.0%, he looks a great budget pick to fill that 3rd striker spot and with Norwich and West Brom up next, there will never be a better time to get on board.
Victor Moses
Moses is a player who picked up a good deal of attention in the summer after showing up superbly in Wigan’s pre-season. Benefiting from Charles N’Zogbia’s departure to Villa, Moses has been given extra responsibility by Roberto Martinez and has been played in an advanced attacking role, as part of a front three in a Latics 4-3-3.
While Moses naturally takes up a position to the right of Franco Di Santo, he has been heavily involved in Wigan’s attacking play so far, firing in shots on goal without reward. If the phrase “overdue a goal” carries any weight whatsoever, it can certainly be used to describe Victor Moses this season.
With Hugo Rodallega sidelined for the foreseeable, Moses will have to raise his game and perhaps deliver an end product. The key for Fantasy managers is that he represents a midfield option, priced at just 5.0 – an obvious bargain if he can begin living up to his promise. Incredibly, despite the pre-season hype, Moses claims just 3.4% ownership in the FPL – that’s less than Di Santo who can be found in 5.1% of squads. While the Argentine centre-forward has found the net three times via deflections, Moses has yet to enjoy such fortune, but it’s not for the want of trying and we’ve just got an inkling he’s on the verge of coming good.
Bradley Johnson
We all expected Wes Hoolahan to cement a Norwich starting role and begin to attract Fantasy interest with his impish creativity and goal threat from midfield. While the Irishman has blinked on our radars, a general lack of security in Paul Lambert’s midfield has created a reluctance to invest. Against the odds, it’s been new signing Bradley Johnson who has actually emerged as the budget target in the Canaries midfield. He has played out 90 minutes in four of the five games so far and, more significantly, has so far provided the greater threat in terms of attempts on goal. Johnson has also wrestled control of set-pieces, including direct free-kicks.
Having notched in the 2-1 away win at Bolton last time out, Johnson will surely maintain a starting role for the clash with Sunderland. We’re backing goals in this game and, at 4.5 with just 1.3% ownership in the FPL, Johnson is a new and viable alternative to help free up cash elsewhere in your squad.
