With the frantic festive period now behind us, we can finally take stock and assess the statistics over the last few matches. Having last looked at the data in Gameweek 17, we have three sets of matches to investigate – Arsenal’s midfield, Tottenham’s attack and United and City’s frontmen are all placed under the microscope this time around:
Thinking about some alternative wildcard options, I need to gain some ground and won't be able to do that by getting a template team the week after the players have come into form - had spotted Puncheon's upturn in form before this weekend points came and regret not going on the hunch, so some similar players in the same vein:
Benteke: Back from injury, by all accounts he helped villa massively on his return and opened up chances for Gabby and Weimann, and is capable of exploding.
Hooper: Quietly picking up points, frees up a lot of cash for those looking to bulk up the midfield.
Nolan: When Andy Carroll comes back he'll start to link up well. Surprised me how high his ownership is but suspect it's mostly dead teams so an option for a differential.
Azpi: Chelsea looking more solid at the back, not had many attacking returns recently but has looked lively.
Cardiff: Anyone attacking. New manager, attacking style. Easy to spot the scandi connection and say Cornelius but will be keeping an eye on first couple of games. Hopefully whittingham benefits.
My team will still have the staple spine to the team but to make up ground I think you need a couple of punts to payoff. Thoughts?Open Controls
Soldado anyone?
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Benteke will become an option again at some point. Surely?
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Sorry but I dont think ill be going for very many punts, I had Eriksen for his haul and IF Mata goes to ManU i'd consider him but otherwise i'm sticking with who I know will perform
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Who's more likely to rise Rooney or aguero in the next week
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neither
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Rooney unless we here news that Aguero is back.
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@TotalFPL: Moyes: "He [Rooney] has missed a game with his groin and he may well miss some more coming up.”
Rooney wont play vs swansea?Open Controls
Said before he played against Spurs.
Grade A BaloneyOpen Controls
Szczesny (Marshall)
Kosc Nasty Evans Azpi (Chester)
Hazard Silva Walcott Eriksen (Januzaj)
Suarez Rooney (Adebayor)
Think I've finally got it this time!
No Haz Oscar double up. No Yaya Silva double up. Solid defence & keepers that easily rotates. £0.6m in bank that let's me do Rooney to Aguero easily if necessary!
Eriksen v Cabaye was interesting but Sherwood has played him 90 mins in every game since taking over and we all know what player he COULD be.Open Controls
Very strong side
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You can't go benching the likes of Adebeyor though.
Open ControlsI've looked like 4-6 GWs in advance and I can whilst still playing a very strong team. And I may even take a hit for SAR at that point anyway, who knows.
Open ControlsThanks, appreciate it. I know you know your stuff.
Open ControlsPersonally I wouldn't go so heavy at the back, the lack of clean sheets being kept by the top sides this season could leave you frustrated if it continues. It looks like you have a high TV though so can afford it...
Open ControlsYeah £110.1m at the min think it's £107m selling value.
I could drop someone for award but doesn't look like I and I much with the cash, or should I just bank it for a rainy day/injury?Open ControlsI would be tempted to bring Ozil in for Eriksen with extra cash at some stage. When he's back fit he will outscore Eriksen by a large margin I would think. I am tempted to double up on Wally and Ozil myself.
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Interesting, making me reconsider my Suarez, Aguero, Rooney front line.
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Suarez, Aguero, Luka for me...
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Other then Adebayor I really like this.
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I pointed out Eriksen 2 weeks ago after his performance with the free kick goal (goal aside) and how different he looked under Sherwood. was somewhat laughed off (CptCrunch entertained the idea as I'm sure others did as well). had I gone with him over Sterling (and then not been able to afford Rooney for that hit) I might have gone Ade instead..
would probably be top 50k now as a result..ah how these decisions unfold..
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I'm afraid I probably told you to avoid
Easy with hindsight 🙂Open Controlsalways 😉 live and learn..next season I won't be as hit crazy early on and might be more likely to take a punt..wish I had discovered this site before the season started..not many of my friends play FPL so no one to discuss/bounce ideas off of
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i probably mentioned he was too deep, which he was, and i worry he will be again when townsend is fit
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You think Townsend will be a regular under Sherwood?
Open Controlswhat i've read and heard (podcasts, not pretending to be one of these ITKs) sherwood is the biggest reason townsend still play for tottenham
Open ControlsInteresting. Could be an dark horse in the wildcard puzzle if so. Not that I have fond memories of the last time I owned him...
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If Eriksen gets dropped for Andros "Row Z" Townsend I will lose any respect I had for Sherwood
Open Controlsdon't think dropped, just moved back to the centre like before the man utd game
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I was right there with you two weeks ago and I got him in, everytime someone asked a question involving Eriksen I told them to get him in but it's not too late he's still pretty much a differential
Open ControlsHe is excellent value at 7.1M but there are a few alternatives like Lallana, Cabaye & Mirallas but I would say Ericksen just edges it on current form, although Lallana not far behind and has some nice fixtures coming up.
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ANyone else likely to rise tonight other than Coleman, Lallana, Huddlestone, Hazard and Sterling?
Open ControlsI have been checking all day and my instinct tells me no one will rise again tonight other than these players but I know you can get a late flurry closer to deadline.
Just wanted to make sure I did not miss any price rises before I went to bed.Open Controlsnothing crazy will happen today I think..this weekend will be different with FA Cup matches
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I really don't feel the need to WC unless there's some big signings. Love the look of my team and for once I have no one flagged.
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Berbatov is posting transfer rumours about himself:
https://www.facebook.com/berbatov.bg
'Tis the seasonOpen Controls
Boring stats for folk into boring stats. Top ten only from each position, got lazy. Suarez skews the FW stat as he's 45pts ahead of any other. Based on today's prices.
GK average price 5.53 av ppg 3.975
Def average price 6.15 av ppg 4.125
Mid average price 8.6 av ppg 4.725
FW average price 9.37 av ppg 5.1Open Controls
I can't make my mind up between Rodriguez (WBA/sun) or Adebayor (CPL/swa). Only for the next 2 fixtures though.
Anybody with compelling arguments or thoughts?Open Controls
Is Kompany -----> Worth doing to free up funds for strengthening my midfield?
Open ControlsAny watching the cricket?
Depressing maybe but it's so important not to Lose 5-0 to this rabbleOpen Controls
4.2m for Pogrebnyak last season, could really do with someone like that now
Open ControlsNailed on for the rest of the season?
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Colback for 4.2m is a midfielder who has only missed 2 matches so far if you just want someone to sit on your bench. Or Jedinak (the Palace captain) for 4.3m. Forwards are more expensive and less nailed on unless you spend rather more on them, but Berahino is probably the best of the ultra-cheap ones.
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Thoughts on this potential WC team?
Gazzaniga Szczesny
Zabaleta Chiriches Coleman Clyne Chester
Hazard Oscar Silva Walcott Eriksen
Rodriguez Welbeck SuárezOpen Controls
Like haz and Oscar pairing. Could be great
Open ControlsBut firing, no?
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need a stronger front end - any room for Luka or Ade? Welbeck may be a risk when RVP is back. Not sure about Haz + Oscar.
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Early draft on WC team.
Marshall (Mannone)
Mert, Coleman, Ward, (Chester, Baker)
Silva, Walcott, Haz, Lallana, (Colback)
Aguero, Luka, Suarez (have Negredo until Augero fit)
Any thoughts troops?
Lallana or Cabaye?
Augero or Rooney?
I plan to WC when Aguero is good to go.Open Controls
Wow arsenals fixtures really do stiffen up soon. They will probably drop out the top 4 with them.
Open ControlsOut of their next 8 games they play:
Fulham
Southampton
Palace
Villa
Sunderland
Stoke
Liverpool (A)
Utd (H)
Only really two difficult fixtures there, although as has been shown points can be dropped at unlikely places. So I would say the opposite as I actually think they have the easiest fixtures out of the top teams.Open Controls
2? I only see one potential stumbling block for them there - the trip to Anfield.
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Credit where credit's due - I thought you'd have traded your United shirt in for a City one by now. Still expect you to do so before the season's out.
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current midfield:
walcott, cabaye, hazard, lallana, ravel
is it worth ditching one of cabaye or lallana for ericksen?Open ControlsElmohamady or Huddlestone (Mutch will be better when fit)
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Explored 3-5-2 and came up with this team:
Marshall/Mannone
Zabaleta Coleman Koscielney (Ward & Vlaar)
Hazard Walcott Silva Gerrard Ramsey
Suarez Rooney (4.3)
If I were to persue a 3-5-2, I cannot see the point in having a playing 3rd striker?
What are your thoughts? (Totally theoretical, I have no intention to do this - assume all players are fit and this is in fact a week in the future....)Open ControlsI agree with Bubz - got to be Aguero - thats what Im working towwards at the mo - perhaps WCing now and leaving funds Aguero. I like 2 x Gunners mids.
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How does this potential WC team look guys:
Marshall
Kos Evans Baines
Silva Walcott Hazard Eriksen
Hooper Suarez Roo
Mannone - Whitt - Turner - ChesterOpen ControlsGreat but I would have cash spare to swap Rooney to Aguero when fit
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New crowd...so...for a WC
Speroni Mannone
Coleman Azpi Evans Kos Chester/ward
Eriksen/Lallana Cabaye Wally Hazard Silva
Ade Aguero Suarez
Bench Aguero for the next game..and keeps two FT's going into the back end of Jan...Open ControlsProbably going to use my wildcard as late as possible but how does this look?
Boruc - Davis
Coleman - Koscielny - Brown - Ward - Chester
Gerrard - Oscar - Silva - Walcott - Lallana
Aguero - Suarez - DeulofeuOpen ControlsGot a month to assess if it's worth it. Not much options for forwards below 6.0
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Deulofeu shouldn't be in there. You want a nailed on striker that keeps the points boards ticking over. A goal for a striker almost guarantees BPS. It's worth 8 on the BPS system, unlike goals for defenders or mids, valued at less.
The rest looks decent. I would downgrade a midfielder, preferably Lallana, and spread the cash. Oscar > Hazard and upgrade Deulofeu.Open ControlsI think I'm out priced on Hazard, I might get J Rod and downgrade Lallana
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With this draft yes, not 100% sure yet
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Ravel & Giroud (dont ask) OUT for Ade & Eriksen for -4?
Good moves? Ravel and Giroud and both dropping tonight and would hate lo lose value to spend on the WC soon.
I was also considering JRod and Oscar/Eriksen
Cheers folksOpen ControlsMorrison has yellow flag so I think he is protected [please feel free to correct me if this is not the case]
If he is protected and you can field a good starting XI without making double sub then I would not take the hit unless you really want to catch Eriksen's imminent price rise.Open Controls
Would it be reasonable to Evans->Kosc for few weeks, good fixtures and price rise. ALTHOUGH I already have Merte, but Utd defence is just soo fragile. Im also thinking Yaya->Silva after yaya's price rise but then it would be hit.
What you think?Open Controlsyaya is just such a solid player having in your team
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Ki ➡
A) Lallana
B) Eriksen
OR
Negredo ➡
A) Adebayor
B) Jrod
Looking for players I can make both pts and money on before WC (Gw23)Open Controls
Aren't we all!
I'm about to do Cab -> Lallana so I'd say him
Eriksen can come in when he's proved it a bit moreOpen Controls
That's the fella.
Just done the same.Open Controls
I would go with the MF change, I think Negredo still can give us some points before we drop him.
Both Lallana and Eriksen look good options for the next couple of weeks, i am personally looking at Eriksen as my rivals have Lallana, but it is a close callOpen Controls
Urgh. Just had a final check on the comp tool before doing Cabaye -> Lallana....and Cabaye KILLS him over the last 4-6 weeks. Damn it.
Are Lallana's better fixtures enough to still get him? He def plays higher up the pitch
City been conceding a lot away as we'll & Kebab on penns!? Will collocini and debuchy absence make a difference to where Cab plays?Open Controlssame dilemma here. but i'm thinking of doing cabaye >> ericksen. I'll have to take a hit to do the move so is ericksen really worth it?
in your case, lallana's fixtures wins. lallana over cabayeOpen ControlsCollo & Debuchy out and Lalla plays higher up.
Add the fixtures - and Lalla's my ticket.
Frankly just looking for a couple of weeks before WC.
Also - penalties being switched around at NEW - I don't think Cab took the last one….someone can confirm I'm sure…? Cab might get to take the next one….he might not…
How many penalties have Citeh given away this season ?
I must declare an interest though 😉Open Controls
Chiriches or Dawson when Vertonghen returns?
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10 years, 5 months agogetting in Ade and Eriksen..just a matter of when/which GW..