After waiting all season to jump in the Rolls Royston, I had the Dutchman all written up as a Differential and the mouse hovering over the ‘confirm transfers’ button only for the inevitable red card to ruin my Everton-related Differential dreams.
Growing up as an Everton fan does prepare you somewhat for footballing disappointments, so despite having to throw that one back in the pond for another week, I managed to pick myself up in time to fish out another three for you to chew over. As we continue our countdown to Gameweek Ten then, it’s time to look over the Scout Selection Committee’s Differential picks for this week…..
James Milner
With such a rich source of midfield talent available, rest and rotation is a big problem to anyone considering investing in Man City, particularly with their Champions League involvement to factor in. Against all the odds, though, it is James Milner who looks the most rotation proof right now. Nothing is guaranteed where Roberto Mancini is involved of course, but Milner is the only attacking midfielder to have started all of the last three league matches, and as Samir Nasri and Adam Johnson both started in the Carling Cup tie on Wednesday, it’s pretty clear where he sits in the pecking order at present.
A look through the FPL statistics for the season throws up a lot of unexpected results; if you work it out on a ‘per minute played’ basis then Milner has a better EA PPI and overall points return than David Silva, and has also picked up more bonus points. Priced at just 7.5 to Silva’s 10.2 and owned by just 2.4%, Milner could prove to be a huge differential over the next few weeks then, and considering City’s goal scoring form, he looks like an excellent source of fantasy points.
Somen Tchoyi
After a poor start to the season, Roy Hodgson’s West Brom side have looked much improved in recent games and after two solid wins on the trot, they will be full of confidence going into their home tie against Liverpool.
Before last week Hodgson looked settled on a Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long front line, but with a knee injury set to keep Long out for 6 weeks, he will almost certainly draft in a ready-made replacement rather than try to change their formation. Somen Tchoyi is the obvious choice to replace him up front having already played there in pre-season, and priced at just 5.1 in the FPL game and classed as a midfielder, Tchoyi looks great value.
In many ways, Tchoyi is the definition of a differential. He’s cheap, has low ownership and as a midfielder playing out of position, he should provide excellent value for money over the short to medium term. Four home ties in next six, including games against the struggling Bolton and Wigan should more than make up for a tricky trip to Arsenal next week, so if you’re looking for a cheap fifth midfielder then Tchoyi looks as good an option as any right now.
Hugo Rodallega
If you take a look at the current league standings then you’d be forgiven for dismissing Wigan as a source of Fantasy points; they sit joint bottom of the league after six defeats on the trot, and have managed just six goals all season. Thankfully there’s more to it than that; the Latics have looked much improved in recent weeks, and will consider themselves very unlucky not to have picked up a result against Bolton or Newcastle.
Home ties against Fulham and Blackburn as well as a trip to Wolves in their next three should give then plenty of chances to pick up goals, and with the return to fitness of Hugo Rodallega they’ve finally got someone who can put the ball in the net.
With 11 attempts on target against Newcastle (that’s more than Man United, Chelsea, Tottenham or Arsenal last week) it seems incredible that they didn’t get more from that game. Although Rodallega didn’t get on the score sheet last week, he looked sharp in front of goal and gave Wigan an edge that they’ve been missing in recent games. Priced at just 6.0 and with an ownership of 1.9%, he could prove to a decent differential over the next few games.
