In the first of three Numbers Game articles focusing on goal threat, we examine the leading midfielders on show with seven Gameweeks down. We investigate averages in our own ICT Index, before probing further to cast an eye over some key indicators amongst the current crop of top 20 midfielders for goal attempts thus far.
ok lads which set of fixtures do you prefer
a) - SOT, wig, MCI, new, STO, tot
b) sun, WBA, LIV, WHU, SWA, sotOpen Controlsand it's not possible to have 4 home games in a row.. i think
Open Controlsyes my bad, the Liverpool game is away
Open Controls
NOLAN!! A).. 🙂 the newcastle game should be fun too
Open ControlsIt's Nolan and HBA obviously.
I still can't decide. I'd rather have Ramirez thoughOpen ControlsWere you going to keep Ramirez for the forseeable future if he wasn't injured (as in 5-10 games)??
Open Controlsnot tempted with lallana?
Open Controlshe will get plenty of assists, but his goals ratio is not great
Open Controls
B
Open ControlsIt depends which teams/players you are referring too? This is more important than their respective opponents
Open Controls
Play begovich (Man united away) or foster (mci home)?
Open Controls2 FT’s.. Team linked
A) Nolan in for Fellaini (Save 2 for next week)
B) Silva/Mata and Berbatov IN for Tevez and Fellaini
I know Tevez will start but i need money to upgrade Fell.. and since i took the trouble to get RVP in GW 2 i might as well keep him. plus silva will cover tevez and berbs is berbsOpen ControlsThe RVP debate goes on...
My 2 cents is that the Wigan game was an exception...the slight knock too being a reason to not start him. But even that game he got a 20 minute cameo...and being RVP he doesn't need long to score (See Stoke last year)
I find it hard to imagine him being in rested in premier league games, why keep your big summer signing on the bench? And I can't imagine he'd be too happy about it...he also needs games to find his best form.
Wigan at home was a few days before their first CL game too and I think it was seen as the ideal game not to risk him in. I don't think there will be many more of those and with the CL going swimmingly for Man Utd he can easily just be rested for these meaningless games once they're through.
They bought RVP to win them games and score as many goals as possible...otherwise they could have just kept Rooney who is perfectly good at that job too. Fergie won't just mess around with rotating his star striker for kicks this season...especially after they've lost 2 games already...it'd be madness.Open ControlsYeah, SAF has a point to prove this season. He has to win the league and that will rely heavily on both Rooney and RVP.
Open Controls+1
He cannot just play Chicho and Welbeck for easier games for the fun of it...
If there is rotation it will be one of them or Kagawa vying to play alongside RVPOpen Controls
i'm bowing out of this debate 🙂 .. we've been doin it for 5 days and there's no real answer(check fixtures post on previous page). i'm sure a week of 2 internationals will bring other priorities(injuries) to the fore
Open ControlsYeah, but I wish I could have Aguero in my team :'( I love that man. I think we're going to have to keep RVP for awhile because there's no way we can get him back when he goes on a nasty run. I think Silva is the safest for City attack anyways.
Open ControlsAguero just doesn't guarantee the lion's share of Man City goals in the same way RVP might. I'm talking about potential here...Aguero could easily score loads just like RVP but he has way more competition than RVP does for chances to do so right now.
Aguero // Tevez Balo Dzeko
RVP // Chicho (off the boil) Welbeck (lightweight goalscorer)
His only competition is Rooney who has dropped to midfieldOpen Controls
I agree. He wil start most PL games more often than hot. My problem with him now is just that he is not looking a good fantasy prospect yet considering his price. He'll come good I'm sureand provide bountiful of points for those who owns him. But I have a sneaky feeling that he will not be a must-own, as this season will offer other, not less exciting, pathways to reach respectable point haulage
Open ControlsI agree, it's the form that would start worrying me more rather than this debate over starts. He will almost certainly have hot streaks but you'd hope as an owner they will come soon so you don't sell him thinking you're fed up!
The other important thing is that whatever points he returns will most of the time be double so that'd be the biggest worry if you decided to go without him...knowing that whatever he does is a huge threat to your ranking that GW!Open Controls😀 that's true.....several shameful GWs would not be too bad though would it?, it's not the highlights that matter, as long as we still reach the finish line running not crawling......
As a non-RVP owners I can always (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ when the inevitable happens !Open Controls
Yes. keep on reassuring each other 🙂
We dont know whats in SAF head that is one sure thing!
PL is very important so its CL as they have dropped out early last year.
You guys all keep RVP and enjoy 🙂 I cant be bother to stress about things liek to (C) or not, will he start or not...
Juest remember he doesnt play for Arsenal anymore and he wont be scoring anything close to last season + he is 13.4mOpen ControlsI don't have RVP and may not get him at all in the near future for the reason I have mentioned. But I can accept his potential and suffer it, and looking forward to suffer it, when he does good.
Open ControlsI love the argument of 'he doesn't play for Arsenal anymore'
Yeah...he now plays for MAN UTD...not a bad team are they? Seem to remember both teams scored quite highly last year...and I seem to remember Man Utd strikers being top scorers quite a lot in the last 20 years!Open ControlsIts not about ManU not being good team or anything, they are top team of course.
RVP was the main man in Arsenal with spot kicks, and lots of FKs & CKs duties.
Wont be the same anymore. ManU might become ManC of last year with lots of rotation and I just wouldn't want to bother with 13.4m and worry.
I have drafted Aguero in tho at 11m and subject to rotation haha 🙂Open Controls
This is a great point. You can often spot the difference between someone discussing something objectively and someone trying to reassure themselves/encourage others to follow suit.
Open Controls
*Drive-by argument*
Oh Reginald...? I Disagree!!! 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R6_Chr2vroOpen ControlsLet's just put the rotation question to one side for a moment. Let's say he plays most games and is rested for the odd game where he has a slight knock or before a huge cup game.
Is he still worth 13.5m?
For that he has to be dominating set-pieces and have a huge threat from open play. Last season he did and was worth £12m+. This year it's not so clear-cut how he will perform for United. Will he be as involved/essential? If you think he can match last year's goals and assists for United, keep him and captain him every week. If you're not sure or sceptical, consider other options.Open ControlsI think it's a great debate and good for the game that it's not cut-and-dried. I only own him because of one reason - fear. I know that as soon as he hits a brace, with a relegation team up next at OT, then if I didn't have him I would rip my team apart to get him in. I reckon the best strategy might prove to be to hold off until a great run of fixtures (GW11 a candidate) and then get him in. I think those that blindly keep in in the whole season, and also those that refuse to have him at all, will be far worse off than those who bring him in at the right time. But for that you need a bit of luck to get the timing right - because those like me who are fearful find it very hard to get rid.
Open Controls
Are we all in agreement that Silva's rotation threat is pretty low?
Open ControlsI'd veer towards this view now I think....
Open ControlsLow compared to others in the team perhaps yes.
Open ControlsSoo..
For Tevez/Aguero there's Silva
For Torres there's Mata/Hazard
For Defoe there's Bale
For Ba there's no one(Hba not as good an option)
For Berbatov there's noone
For Lambert there's Ramirez/Lallana
For RVP there's noone
For Jelavic there's Pienaar
Hmm.. that's my forward line decided right there (Hint : Rvp Ba Berbs)Open ControlsFor RVP there's Kagawa (under-rate him at your Peril) 😀
Open Controlsmaybe later in the season.. i'm talkin about @ the moment.. i'm supportin your keep rvp theory here 🙂
Open ControlsI'm being serious by the way...that smiley makes me look sarcastic...I wish I knew more smileys than the smiley-smiley one...it makes me look too happy all the time!!
Open ControlsI'd rearrange it to
For Bale there's Defoe
😉
Oh there's another smiley I could useOpen ControlsPost these 👿 randomly to show you have a normal balanced personality 😛
Open Controlsi dont know how to do them, explain pleasse!!
Open Controls- Open Controls
LOL, that will likely be my WC front line 😀
Open Controls"coverage" pffft
Open Controls
thanks all.. Silva in this week mostly
Open ControlsOh For Ba there is Cisse...
There is ALWAYS Cisse...BEWAREOpen Controls
Silva wagon.. Chu Chu!! he has been lookin fantastic lately
Open Controls
Just 6 posts on this page over half an hour and sooooo many replies!! i love the deadzone
Open Controls*7 😉
Open Controls
I think I''m gonna roll with Silva and Cazorla after this gameweek. Which 2/3 big midfielders are you all going with?
Open ControlsYeah, I'm thinking the same. I need to pick 2 out of Silva/Cazorla/Bale on my WC. Obviously this is more about which one of Silva/Bale will accompany Cazorla as he's certainly staying. I'm leaning towards Silva atm.
Open ControlsI've got cazorla, mata and bale and not in a rush to lose any of them
Open ControlsSilva, Bale and Cazorla
Open ControlsSilva Bale and Cazorla. Thinking of upgrading Michu to Silva next week as I already have the other 2.
Open Controls
Alright lads. I'm in a spot of bother this week, what should I do with this lot:
Jaas (Davies)
Rafael - Gibbs - Demel (McAuley - Cueller)
Santi(vc) - Hazard - Barfa - Pienaar - Nolan
Ba - RVP(c) (DiSanto)
Any news on Gibbs/Demel? I'm fairly confident in Gibbs but I doubt Demel will be fit. So, should I give Cueller a chance or take a long shot at McAuley facing Man City?
Cheers boys.Open ControlsI usually play the fixtures religiously but sometimes form, value and lack of alternatives wins out. Mata in for hazard gives me...
Mignolet
Baines Rafael Demel
Santi (c) Bale Mata Pienaar Michu
Berbatov Fletcher
Foster Lukaku Taylor Cuellar
Eyeing up michu & lukaku -> morrison & tevez next week which would leave me with 0.1 in the bank. Hoping morrison doesn't double rise this weekOpen ControlsWhy not Silva for a few weeks, then Mata? Oh, I see you want Tevez, are you sure?
Open ControlsYeah I thought about that too pratik. Personally I think if game time were equal tevez would handily outscore silva. Guess I'm a bit less worried than most seem to be about his game time.
Silva option is still open though as i can get him for michu by shaving 0.3 from somewhere, maybe mig -> begoOpen ControlsMig->Bego is an excellent transfer!!! People don't use their transfers to change the goalkeeper but that is a really good transfer.
I am confused about Silva and Tevez myself. So can't help you out there.Open ControlsCheers mate. I thought stoke would concede a lot this season but they've been very tight. It's certainly a transfer I'd like to do at some stage anyway.
Silva v tevez is tricky, leaving both options open but leaning towards tevezOpen Controls
Why not Tevez?
Open Controls
Transfers finally slowin down to the point where fellaini, tevez and unfortunately berbs/silva should be safe from fallin till late next week
Open ControlsReadings next 6 fixtures
liv, FUL, qpr, NOR, EVE, wig
I really struggle to trust the ticker when Reading supposedly has the 2nd best fixtures. I would expect them to lose most of those games. At very best they are even with the likes of NOR, qpr & wig.Open ControlsI don't think I will have a single Reading player this entire season after the feck-up with Federici.
Open ControlsBut isn't it purely fixture based, not based on which team has the fixtures?
Open ControlsYeah, there should be a multiplier based on how good the team is, as well as how tough the opponent is.
Open Controls
This is exactly it. Just because they have better fixtures than another team, it doesn't mean their goal forecast is higher or their goals conceded forecast is lower.
Open Controls
For all those considering Stoke assets, take this argument into account
Open Controlswatch big Jon Walters go bonkers the next few weeks
Open Controls
Begovic | Foster
Rafael | Baines | Demel | Hughes | Cuellar
Michu | Yaya | HBA | Sterling | Fellaini
RvP | Tevez | Podolski
I have two FT and thinking about doing Fellaini and Tevez -> Cazorla and Berbatov. Soudns good? Or is it someone else you would rather get rid off, or somebody else you would rather get in?
All help appreciated!Open Controlsmorning chumps.
is there still time left to ruin the DZ banter?Open ControlsThe article makes an interesting case for Nolan. Michu out in GW9, not sure whether it's worth doing Michu > Nolan when his fixtures are equally as bad.
Open Controlshe's an out and out goalscorer
Open Controlsi'm the only one on here who likes his next 5.. 3 home games and wigan(dire) and his and carrol's ex newcastle. what's not to like
Open ControlsWell considering I'm looking at him from GW9 (when he plays Wigan away), he then has the following fixtures:
MCI new STO tot mun CHE
However you look at it, they're bad fixtures. That's not to say he won't score I suppose.Open Controls
Theres something about him that just puts me off. He's gonna have to keep this form up for a while longer to convince me to buy
Open ControlsBefore the prices even came out I was set on either Noble or Nolan. Turns out I went for Noble as my cheap 5th mid and ended up with neither in my GW4 WC.
Still think Nolan will do well this year, he has an excellent track record of scoring goals in this league.Open Controls
THIS STATEMENT IS A LIE
Open ControlsSo it's true that it's a lie?
Open Controls"One of us always tells the truth and one of us always lies..."
"Oh what a lie!"
I'm paraphrasing for effect... 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dgmgub8mHwOpen Controls
http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/590197/event-history/7/
Plz help guys,Should i do 1)Hazard to Cazorla or
2) Yaya and RVP to Cazorla and Rooney/Aguero
2 free transfers and 0m in bankOpen ControlsI noticed someone mentioning an invisible kit a week or so ago, anyone know what the deal is with that?
Open Controls- Open Controls
Would make watching football a bit more appealing for the ladies!
Open Controls
Can you suggest a transfer for this week?
Foster
Jenkinson Baines Rafa
Hazard Michu HBA Pienaar
RVP Lambert Tevez
Subs Bego Rangel Guthrie Stevens
Many thanksOpen ControlsIt's a good side. Nothing urgent. Maybe downgrade Hazard or lambert to Berbatov.
Open ControlsStrong starting xi. Good time to get rid of deadwood and boot Guthrie/Stevens.
Open ControlsI was thinking Hazard to Carzola and maybe even captain him?
Open ControlsAh, yes you can do that. Didn't spot the lack of Santi. Sorry.
Open Controls
Morning Guys,
Fletcher or Berbatov until Christmas?Open ControlsBerbs, but consider swapping for Fletch for GW13-15, if price isn't an issue... and if you have spare transfers
Open Controls
i'm thinkin of actually keepin both rvp and tevez and just swappin fellaini for nolan. would love to downgrade either to berbs and upgrade fellaini to silva/mata.. but cant bring myself to do it.
Open ControlsBoth RVP and Tevez are good picks IMO, especially for this GW.
Open Controlsi may get nolan this week and then shift one of rvp and tevez and nolan next week.. got 2 free transfers
Open Controls
will keep him 5 weeks and then swap for lallana/mclean for their 3 home games in 4
Open ControlsMy plan is to do RVP > Berba this week, I have 2 FTs and no pressing issues.
Can always do Tevez & Michu > RVP & Silva next week.
Alternative way to get Berba is would be Lambert > Berba but I'm £0.2m short. Any ideas?
Bego Juusi
Saylor Cuellar Baines Gorkss HANGELAND (->Hughes? Is he nailed on?)
Bale Cazorla Pie Sterling MICHU (->? not so sure about Nolan's fixtures but it'd work)
Tevez RVP LAMBERT (->Berbs?)Open Controlsman..still with the RVP or tevez > berba dilemma? just solve the fellani trouble already.. dont jump ship too early would be my advice..
Open Controls
Best 4mil defenders for the next few GWs?
McCartney? Nailed on now that O'Brien is injured.Open ControlsI am also looking at McCartney. How long is O'Brien out for realistically? With Vaz Tez out, is there a chance of McCartney playing in the midfield? Doosra was talking about it.
Open Controls
How is ?
Bego/Foster
Wilson/Saylor/Cueller/Baines/Hughes
Hazard/Bale/Santi/Sterling/Silva
Lambert/Berbs/Jelavic
To do this I would to Pienaar to Hazard, Michu to Silva (Had 8 Million in the bank) Also it would entail me playing my wildcard (made a couple of changes to my defense too)Open ControlsBa for lambert and pienaar for hazard. Else perfect
Open Controlsdisagree, Keep BA but defo try to get either rvp or kun eventually, your forward line is too much of a risk
Open ControlsBa seems a good point, how would Hazard to Nolan and then in 2 weeks Nolan to Morrison sound?
Open Controlsyou buyin nolan for 2 weeks ? 😉 honestly think he's good for the next 5.. then get rid
Open Controls
That midfield! 🙂
Lambert –> Ba if you can.Open Controls
I'll just leave this here...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19920753Open ControlsHe looks like your grav 🙂
Open ControlsSo does Gareth Bale
Open Controls
Hahaha! Let joy be unconfined ... ! 😀
Open ControlsHas he finally seen the light?
Open Controls- Open Controls
Edgar is left-footed??? 😯 😀
Open Controls
Now ... all you have to do ... is win a match! 😉
Open ControlsNice!
Seen this? http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/502/ginkswasere.jpg/Open Controls
Anyone know if Berbatov will be available for Gameweek 8? He's an option one certainly cant look over. He's at 75% fitness apparently.
Open ControlsHey folks
I have 1 FT and £3.5 in the bank.
Am thinking Fletcher and Fellaini out, for Jelavic/Berbatov and Nolan?
Worth -4?
Foster, Begovic
Baines, Davies, Demel, Cuellar, Gorkks
Fellaini, Cazorla, Michu, Bale, Guthrie
Ba, RVP, Fletcher
Thank you!!Open ControlsHi guys. Wild Card team V1.0. RMT?
Foster | Begovic
Wilson | Demel | Rafael | Riise | Cuellar
Mata | Silva | Cazorla | Pienaar | Sterling
RVP | Berba | Lambert
0.0 Left in bank. Still thinking if i should keep RVP or downgrade RVP is somebody else and strength team. Thoughts?Open ControlsS.Taylor bandwagon anyone?
sun WBA liv WHM SWA sot stk WIG ful MCY QPR
Apart from MCY those are beautiful home games.. and could surely sneak a CS or 2 from those away games.. Not to forget he's a gr8 goal threatOpen ControlsThis week, Ba - next week, Saylor. 🙂
Open Controlsactually 3 shots in 6 games does'nt seem that good.. he is a genuine goal threat though
Open Controls

