Dare to be different. With the January wildcards helping to creating template squads, there’s an opportunity to reach out for an unfashionable pick and give yourself an edge…
Taye Taiwo
An assist in the 2-2 draw at Villa on Wednesday provided an early indication of the potential offered by QPR’s new Nigerian left-back. Packed with explosive pace and power, Taiwo has a point to prove and a left-foot that can deal damage from range – either from open pay or from a dead-ball.
The Villa Park display demonstrated that Mark Hughes will allow his new signing to express his attacking tendencies and it might not be long before we start seeing attempts on goal, as the raids from defence become more ambitious. Even without attacking returns, it’s surely only a matter of time before Hughes get to work to add some steel to the QPR craft and we start to see clean sheets.
A Loftus Road meeting with Wolves offers an immediate platform for Taiwo to impress and with fixtures looking strong for the month ahead, Fantasy managers will do well to consider him as an option with a 4.5 price tag on offer.
Frazier Campbell
It’s been a fairytale. A sublime finish to preserve Sunderland’s FA Cup campaign, followed by a superb volley to set the Black Cats on their way to a convincing 3-0 win over Norwich on Wednesday. With a smart assist for Stephane Sessegnon’s goal against the Canaries also part of the package, Frazier Campbell announced himself to Fantasy managers as a viable alternative to the hugely popular Sessegnon/James McClean option in midfield.
Priced at 5.9, Campbell is perhaps not as cheap as anticipated but his displays on returning from a long-term knee injury has shown he’s more than capable of delivering returns to justify that outlay.
There are concerns – not least the doubt that Campbell can play his part in the trip to Stoke this weekend – his third appearance in six days. Martin O’Neill is reportedly considering the impact, consulting his medical staff on Campbell’s recovery rate. Should he play, he’ll carry the threat to a Stoke defence that has, uncharacteristically conceded four goals in their last couple of home matches.
Campbell is the definition of a differential right now but with Sessegnon’s popularity growing, and McClean providing the budget option, it may well take more time and more goals before we see his ownership flourish. Early adopters could profit, then, although Sunderland’s fixtures list, with four away trips in the next six, appears to make Campbell a short-term punt while the form and confidence is in bloom.
Mark Davies
We’ve been monitoring Mark Davies for several weeks now, as the latest budget midfielder to be handed the support role in a 4-5-1 – he’s been on the radar along with David Edwards at Wolves and David Dunn at Blackburn. Unlike that pairing however, Davies has produced some eye-catching form and some Fantasy returns of note, with two goals and seven bonus in his last seven league games.
Bolton’s form is also a factor – Owen Coyle’s side battled to a 0-0 draw with Arsenal in midweek, following two consecutive wins against Liverpool in the league and Swansea in the FA Cup. They’ll arrive at Carrow Road this weekend in confident mood and Davies will pit his tricky skills and creativity against a defence that’s kept just a single clean sheet all season, fresh from a spanking at the Stadium of Light. Bolton could well roll out another positive result, with Davies once again a key figure. At just 4.8 and with Wigan at the Reebok next, he could well be worth a look for the next two Gameweeks.
