The Player Picks for our weekly Fantasy Football game, PlayON, are rolled out this Tuesday lunchtime. As always, we’re on the lookout for potential bargains in our assessment of the Gameweek’s PlayON Price List:
If you’re new to PlayON, it is weekly Fantasy Football so you can dip in and out of playing throughout the season. PlayON have a £1,000 guaranteed pot on offer today so if you haven’t tried it yet, today is a good time to have a go. Once your starting XI is built (you can keep changing your team right up to two hours before the first kick-off – 17.45 this evening), you can compete for cash. Entering a multiplayer game for a set stake, you’ll have a chance of winning your share of the pot should you finish high enough in the rankings.
Similarly, you can challenge other players to one-on-one games, selecting the amount at stake. The likes of Robbie Fowler, Les Ferdinand and OptaJoe are all playing the game and are there to be challenged for free or for £1. The Fantasy Football Scout team is also available to be challenged and has a 54% win rate up to this point.
For a more in depth introduction to PlayON, take a look at this season’s introduction article.
Goalkeeper – Julian Speroni
The Crystal Palace stopper welcomes Hull to Selhurst Park as Tony Pulis’ side go in search of a fourth clean sheet in six in front of their own fans. At 9.0m, Speroni will be confident of registering another shut-out this evening, with the goal-shy Tigers drawing blanks in each of their last three matches. Further down the price brackets, Swansea’s Gerhard Tremmel (7.5m) continues to deputise for the stricken Michel Vorm and offers a cut-price option against a visiting Fulham side with just three goals in their last six road trips. Asmir Begovic returned to action for Stoke at the weekend. Priced at just 7.6m, he rolls up to the Stadium of Light to face a Sunderland team that have failed to score in two of their last three home games.
Defender – Marcos Alonso
Sunderland’s on-loan left-back looks a bargain in the PlayON Price List this week. Coming in at a mere 6.7m, Alonso welcomes Stoke to the Stadium of Light and, with the visitors scoring just once in their last five road trips, Gus Poyet’s in-form side are strongly fancied to pick up the points and keep their visitors at bay. Aston Villa full-back Ryan Bertrand is similarly priced. Immediately installed to the starting line-up against Liverpool last time around, he sets you back just 6.6m ahead of a home debut against Midlands neighbours West Brom, with his raids down the flank and delivery from out wide offering the potential of attacking points. If you’re prepared to splash the cash, though, Branislav Ivanovic (9.5m) offers the cheapest route into a Chelsea backline that has conceded just two goals in the last six Gameweeks.
Midfielder –Juan Mata
Manchester United’s record signing is set for a debut at home to Cardiff later this evening after moving to Old Trafford from Chelsea over the weekend (while still listed as a Chelsea player as PlayON updates the squad list at the start of each gameweek, he will score points for Man Utd should he play this evening). Having played just two of the Blues’ last six league matches, Mata will set you back a mere 7.2m this week – allowing Fantasy managers to acquire a premium player at a budget price tag. Arsenal’s fit-again Aaron Ramsey is back in the squad and arrives on our radar for this evening’s trip to Southampton. Available for a mere 7.8m ahead of the St Mary’s encounter, the Welshman’s eye for goal and all-round game is favourably looked upon by the PlayON Scoring Matrix . Elsewhere, Swansea’s Pablo Hernandez returned from injury to feature against Birmingham in the FA Cup last weekend and, at 8.2m, could be crucial as the Swans look to get the better of fellow-strugglers Fulham.
Forward – Robin van Persie
Back in full training after recovering from a groin injury, the Dutchman looks poised for his first appearance since Gameweek 15 this evening. Similar to Mata, van Persie’s lack of game time has seen his price plummet and, while there’s perhaps some doubt over his starting berth against the Bluebirds, a price of 7.7m may well prove to be an absolute bargain. Sergio Aguero also remains kindly priced as City travels to Tottenham tomorrow. Having recovered from a calf complaint, the Argentine’s 28-minute cameo appearance off the bench saw him rack up a goal and assist against Cardiff last time around and, with a hat-trick in Saturday’s FA Cup win over Watford, looks back to his lethal best for the White Hart Lane showdown – a price of 10.5m should be no deterrent. Wilfried Bony’s weekend double again Birmingham took the Swansea forward’s recent tally to six goals in five games in all competitions – he’s available for 11.9m ahead of a home clash with Fulham.
£1,000 Guaranteed Pot This Week
PlayON has a £1,000 Guaranteed Pot on offer this week – you can enter by clicking on the ticket in the multiplayer page. Plus, once the number of entries reaches 100, the pot will continue to rise above £1,000 so be sure to mention it to your friends and work colleagues to increase the pot size.
The Fantasy Football Scout Game
We’ve also got a £2 multiplayer game, dedicated to our community, which is now open and the prize pot is building.
Challenge Your Mates
You can also set up your own multiplayer games with your mates to play for bragging rights only or for cash. Create your own game at www.playon.co.uk.
Finally, a reminder that we have published a strategy guide, offering some tips for getting the most from your PlayON lineup, right here.
You have to be over 18 to enter cash games at PlayON. If you do wager some cash, please remember to gamble responsibly. PlayON is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
