Maybe it’s the blue blood, but I don’t recall ever having a strong first half to the season and I was well outside the top 100k in the FPL game at this point last year. I always manage it turn it round somehow; a lot of it is blind luck of course but as more and more casual players begin to lose interest and take up more sensible hobbies like going to the gym or talking to their girlfriends, it always seems that bit easier in the second half of the season.

With the tactic of jumping on bandwagons to build team value becoming less and less relevant, it’s time to focus on picking the players we like regardless of whether everyone else is buying them – call me a romantic but I believe it’s the “Differentials” of this world that keep this game interesting……

Steven Gerrard

It seems bizarre that we can be talking about Steven Gerrard in this article but with an ownership of just 1.9% and a marked absence from the numerous wildcard teams being thrown around, Liverpool’s DJ-hating midfielder is almost the definition of a “Differential” right now; very low ownership, a reasonable price and the potential to unleash a huge score on his unsuspecting opposition.

It was only three years ago that Steven Gerrard amassed 216 points in the FPL game; his 16 goals and 10 assists made him an essential pick and the massive number of transfers in during the season saw his price soar to an eye watering 12.5. A lack of form and fitness and a succession of injuries has seen Gerrard fall out of favour amongst the Fantasy masses in recent times, but now that he’s started to shows signs of his old form, his current price of just 10.5 looks like strong value.

After picking up a goal against Newcastle the day before New Years Eve, Gerrard continued his return to fitness by starting his first full game and scoring the only goal in the 1-0 victory over Man City on Wednesday. With Luis Suarez absent for another four league games, Gerrard will be expected to help out in attack wherever possible and we’re backing him to make a big impact over the coming weeks, starting against Stoke.

Darren Bent

Another strange choice for the “Differentials” considering his past form, but Darren Bent’s injuries problems this season has seen his ownership drop to a season low of just 4.0% and a price of 9.6. With an appealing fixture against an injury ravaged Everton side up next, we’re expecting the Villa striker to pick up where he left off last season, when he slotted past Tim Howard twice at Goodison.

Everton’s injury problems have become so bad in recent weeks that when Sylvain Distin limped off at White Hart Lane, he was replaced by Shane Duffy, a player that until Thursday morning wasn’t even listed on the FPL site. The Youngster actually did ok but with Phil Jagielka definitely out and Distin a major doubt, Alex Mcleish will surely abandon his defensive tactics at home and go on the attack against such a weakened Everton side. Barring a last minute injury, Darren Bent will be leading the line and represents Villa’s best chance of attacking points in what is historically a high scoring game between the two teams, so could be a nice option if funds can stretch that far.

Hatem Ben Arfa

The departure of Demba Ba to the African Cup of Nations is expected to provide a timely boost to Newcastle’s unsettled Frenchman, whose extraordinary solo goal against Blackburn threw him right back into the limelight last weekend.

Ben Arfa hasn’t started a league game since the last time he made the differentials in Gameweek 14, but now that he is seemingly fully fit once again, we’re confident that this time round, he can start to put a run of games together. Where he will be deployed is open to debate; his preferred position would probably be tucked in behind the striker but a place out wide is probably the most likely considering how well he played against Blackburn. Regardless of where Pardew chooses to play him, if he’s on the pitch then he’ll be involved and the potential is there for a bumper score if Newcastle can put together another big performance.

It’s always a lottery which way a side can go when a new manager takes over, but QPR boss Mark Hughes will have his work cut out and Newcastle look too strong right now. We’re backing a home win here then, and with an ownership of just 1.4% in the FPL game and a bargain price of just 5.4, Ben Arfa could be a key player and major differential for those who take the punt.