Spot the Differential – Gameweek 37

After Oscar done us proud as last week’s headline act, our new trio have a lot to live up to. A couple of our overlooked alternatives are looking to recapture the form of the season gone by, while our third protagonist is hoping to stake a case as a result of his injured skipper’s absence. For the second last time this season, here’s our three differentials:

Hatem Ben Arfa

The Frenchman was a stand-out performer on the right of Newcastle’s 4-3-3 in the second half of the previous campaign. Ben Arfa’s trickery and eye for goal in the final few months of 2011/12 saw him pencilled onto many a Watchlist over last summer but in a season hampered with hamstring issues, his failure to produce mirrors the Magpies’ dire year.

After a handful of sub appearances, he returned to the Newcastle first XI last week, slotting in behind Papiss Cisse as a result of Moussa Sissoko’s knee injury. A failure to find the net was somewhat offset by a couple of bonus points, with Ben Arfa suggesting enough over his 64 minutes to earn our attentions prior to tomorrow’s deadline.

With Sissoko out for the season, Ben Arfa looks set to continue in a central role as Alan Pardew’s side roll up to QPR on Sunday afternoon and with injuries beginning to ease throughout the side, the Magpies will be confident of picking up the points before next week’s home clash with Liverpool. Priced at 7.3 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and just 6.2 in the Sky Sports game, his contribution could well be the difference between top-flight survival and a drop into the Championship.

Emmanuel Adebayor

It just hasn’t quite happened for the Togo international at Tottenham this term. Last time round, a season-long loan spell under Harry Redknapp saw Adebayor rack up 17 goals, 12 assists and 31 bonus points in an outstanding spell at White Hart Lane but since making the move to north London a permanent one, he’s looked a shadow of his former self.

Over the last few matches, however, he’s started to hint at the form that made him an irresistible Fantasy force in the 2011/12 campaign. Back in the first XI for Wednesday’s trip to Chelsea, he delivered a goal and assist for the second time in his past three starts and as the season comes to a close, he offers a belated option for out three man forward lines.

While Gareth Bale remains the obvious route into Andre Villas-Boas’ side, the enigmatic Adebayor may just have done enough in recent matches to sway new investors his way. There’s no doubt his talents are often far outweighed by his inconsistency but if Adebayor is in the mood, he still remains a force to be reckoned with. Coming in at 9.0 in FPL and 8.6 in the Sky Sports game, an ownership of around the 1% mark highlights his differential appeal as the north London outfit square up to Stoke and Sunderland in their final two fixtures of the season.

Jonjo Shelvey

With Steven Gerrard sidelined due to shoulder surgery, Brendan Rodgers confirmed earlier today he intends to hand Shelvey a role in the Liverpool first XI over the last couple of fixtures.

While there’s a chance he may slot in alongside Lucas in front of the back-four if Rodgers retain his standard 4-3-3, we reckon a move into the more advanced role behind Daniel Sturridge looks the likeliest scenario. With a trip to a Fulham side that have just conceded four at home to Reading followed by a home clash against QPR, Liverpool have the kindest schedule of any side over the last two Gameweeks. At a mere 5.1 in FPL and 4.5 in the Sky Sports game, Shelvey offers a real cut-price, off the radar option and could appeal to those looking to free up budget to bring Robin Van Persie back in for United’s last two under Sir Alex Ferguson.