Another busy Friday draws to a close with our regular article focussing on a trio of overlooked alternatives ahead of tomorrow’s deadline. We’ve opted for a couple of summer signings who are finally starting to find their feet, with our third pick a previous Fantasy favourite who has only recently come in from the cold.
Shinji Kagawa
Hopes were high last summer when United prised the playmaker away from Dortmund, with many Fantasy managers eyeing up the Japanese star for their five-man midfields. Kagawa’s exploits in “the hole” were pivotal to Jurgen Klopp’s side achieving the league and cup double in Germany last term and a central role behind Wayne Rooney was expected this season as United looked to steal the title back from City. Then Robin Van Persie arrived and the whole dynamic changed.
Kagawa eased himself into the season at Old Trafford. Starting six of the first seven Gameweeks, he notched two goals and an assist before a knee injury struck, sidelining him until Gameweek 20 – four starts in the following five harvested just a single assist and suggested Kagawa hadn’t quite acclimatised to the frantic surrounds of the Premier League. Ferguson took him out the firing line for the next three before handing him a start in the previous league match as Norwich rolled up to Old Trafford.
While Van Persie disappointed with an assist in the 4-0 win and Rooney chipped in with a goal and two assists, it was Kagawa’s day. A dazzling hat-trick finally announced his arrival to England’s top-flight and registered an incredible 21 point haul against the Canaries and with Nani hamstrung and both Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young woefully off form right now, the stage seems set for Kagawa once more tomorrow as Reading make their way to Old Trafford.
With his side 12 points clear with 10 games remaining, Ferguson has spoken of his determination to close in on the title by going on the offensive and while Rooney and Van Persie, in particular, earn the Fantasy interest, Kagawa looks an enticing option this weekend. Coming in at just 7.9 in FPL and 7.6 in the Sky Sports game, he could steal the show once again as the league leaders look to put the managerless Royals to the sword.
Oscar
While he’s flourished on the European stage this season, the young Brazilian has failed to make any real impact on the domestic front. Six Champions League games for Chelsea produced five goals and an assist, with some stunning strikes underlining his undoubted quality, but when it comes to the Premier League it’s fair to say that Oscar has been hugely disappointing from a Fantasy perspective.
As Juan Mata and Eden Hazard run back-fours ragged, producing 17 goals and 24 FPL assists between them, Oscar has found the net just once, with six assists also thrown in. It’s not as if he’s suffered from a lack of game time – 17 starts and eight sub appearances highlight the level of regularity with which he graces the Chelsea first-team; even under Rafa Benitez he has rarely suffered from rotation, with seven starts in the last nine almost as good as it gets under the Spaniard.
Denied time and again by Ben Foster in the West Brom goal in his previous league match, Oscar is starting to hint at an upturn in Fantasy potential and has been desperately unlucky not to get amongst the points in his last few appearances for the Blues. With a home game against West Ham up next, the youngster is afforded another chance to finally turn his hugely promising Opta statistics into Fantasy points this weekend. Priced at just 7.8 in FPL (5.8 in the Sky Sports game) he offers an intriguing mid-price alternative to the likes of Mata, Hazard and Frank Lampard amongst Benitez’s midfield as the hosts return to domestic duties after Thursday’s Europa League win over Steaua Bucharest.
Stewart Downing
Subject of a Members article earlier today, the Liverpool winger has already earned over 12,000 new owners in the FPL game this week after a series of impressive displays on the right flank.
The acquisition of Daniel Sturridge and a resultant change of formation from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 seems to have afforded Brendan Rodgers’ side a new lease of life and, after a disappointing season and a half on Merseyside, Downing has finally started to produce. An assist in the Gameweek 26 win over Swansea was followed by goals against Wigan and Tottenham and with bonus points collected in those last two, Downing has picked up 24 points over his previous trio of fixtures.
While a trip to Southampton looks promising tomorrow, the Reds also travel to Villa and Reading in the next four and entertain West Ham at Anfield in Gameweek 32. Having started each of the last 14 under Rodgers, Downing is proving a key figure in their push for a top six finish and priced at just 5.8 in FPL and 5.0 in the Sky Sports game, is starting to suggest he is a viable option to the likes of Steven Gerrard and new boy Philippe Coutinho in the Reds midfield.
