We roll out the third instalment in our series of End of Season articles this afternoon. Having previously analysed the Goalkeepers and Defenders late last week, we turn our attentions to the midfield.
The new poll is on the home page (middle column), with four midfielders available for your selection. Once again, please bear in mind that the vote is from an overall Fantasy perspective – overall points, price, performances and value should all come into consideration here.
Yaya Toure
Prior to this season, the Ivorian had never notched more than six times in a Premier League campaign. Under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini, however, Toure has been afforded license to bomb forward and plunder the goals for the champions – with an unerring eye for a set-piece strike and a fair share of converted spot-kicks, his total of 20 goals(and nine assists) proved decisive as the Etihad side clinched the crown for the second time in three seasons. Having started this season at 8.5, Toure ended at 10.6, with an ownership of 42% making him the second most popular player in the FPL game -next time, a price hike into the premium bracket is inevitable.
Eden Hazard
Having delivered 190 points in his first year at the Bridge, the Belgian was handed a 9.5 price tag this time around. With Juan Mata starting at 10.5 for the Blues, Hazard quickly became the Chelsea midfielder of choice amongst Fantasy managers and whilst the Spaniard’s struggles under Jose Mourinho eventually led to his departure, the former Lille flier flourished on the flank. The club’s leading goalscorer with 14 strikes – five more than 2012/13 – Hazard finished the campaign disappointingly and failed to produce any returns from Gameweek 32 onwards, though still managed to finish fourth overall on 202 points.
Aaron Ramsey
Like Toure, the Arsenal midfielder had a meagre scoring history in the top-flight heading into 2013/14. Ramsey’s starting price of 5.5 reflected a goal record that had seen him score just seven times in the previous four seasons but in a real breakthrough year, he finally stepped up in class for Arsene Wenger’s side. The Welshman had delivered eight goals and six assists in the first 18 Gameweeks before a thigh injury sidelined him for four months but Ramsey was back in the points, serving up a two and three assists in his final four appearances of the league campaign. An average of 6.3 ppg is second only to Toure amongst midfielders and hints at what could be next year if he can keep clear of the treatment room.
Christian Eriksen
The Dane arrived on these shores having dazzled at Ajax in the Dutch top division but struggled to make any impact under Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham. By the time the Portuguese manager parted company with the club, Eriksen had managed a single assist in the opening 16 Gameweeks but, afforded license to wreak havoc on the left by Tim Sherwood, has since delivered seven goals and eight assists in the subsequent 22 fixtures – an average of 6.4ppg post-AVB, with double figures hauls in three of his last four home matches. Priced at 8.0 at the start of the season, Eriksen may come in around the same mark for 2014/15 and will surely be on many a Watchlist this summer.
Steven Gerrard
The Liverpool skipper started the season slowly, failing to produce a goal or assist in the first five fixtures. Luis Suarez’ return from suspension proved the turning point for Gerrard as the midfielder embarked on a run which saw him score or assists in all but one of the next ten league games. In spite of his new, deep-lying role for the Reds, Gerrard continued to benefit from spot-kick duties as opposition backlines were unable to cope with Suarez and Daniel Sturridge up front and by the end of the season, had more than justified his initial value of 9.0, serving up 13 goals and 15 assists – a total of 205 points was his best since 2008/09 and placed Gerrard third overall in the FPL standings.
Raheem Sterling
Beginning with a 5.5 price tag in FPL, the youngster struggled to make an impact. Sterling managed just one assist and a single start in the opening 12 Gameweeks before he began to establish himself as a regular on Brendan Rodgers’ teamsheet. His confidence thrived due to a consistency of starts and, either on the flank in a 4-3-3 or at the tip of a midfield diamond, his contribution was key to the Merseysiders title tilt, with nine goals and six assists in the final 26 Gameweeks underling his excellent value as a route into Rodgers’ free-scoring side.
Adam Lallana
The Southampton captain kicked off the campaign priced at just 6.0, having delivered three goals and five assists in his first year in the top-flight. Lallana was slow out the blocks and failed to produce points in any of the first four but then developed a consistency which earned his owners a goal or assist in 13 of the next 22 Gameweeks. His season has tailed off dramatically in the last few months, with returns in only two of the final 12 fixtures, but that doesn’t deter from a superb campaign that saw Lallana serve up 178 points – fourth amongst midfielders and almost double last year’s 93 points. Nailed-on for the Saints, he started all but one of his side’s matches, though it remains to be seen if he’ll still be at St Mary’s when the following campaign gets underway.
Jordan Mutch
By the time Gameweek 6 came around, the Cardiff midfielder had managed a total of six minutes on the pitch, courtesy of four very brief sub appearances. Two goals in the next three matches helped Mutch edge his way into the Bluebirds first XI and despite the likes of Peter Whittingham and Craig Noon offering alternatives, it was the former Birmingham man who ultimately proved to be the most reliable. With seven strikes, six assists and 13 bonus points, Mutch returned 123 points – top amongst midfielders with a starting priced under 5.0 and also top for value.
Ross Barkley
The Everton youngster quickly announced himself on the opening day of the season, with a goal and maximum bonus points against Norwich. Priced at just 4.5, Barkley’s bandwagon was up and running after it became apparent he would be a first-team regular under Robert Martinez and by Gameweek 9, he’d risen to a season high of 5.7. With over 20% ownership, he proved an invaluable cheap midfielder for much of the campaign and ended with a respectable 112 points – second only to Mutch amongst the initial sub-5.0 category.
Samir Nasri
Over the final few months of the season, the Frenchman really stepped up in class for City. Nasri’s consistency was key to his side’s run-in, with a goal or assist in eight of the final 11 Gameweeks proving pivotal for Manuel Pellegrini’s troops – a total of seven goals, 11 assists and 14 bonus points helped him to 155 points in the FPL game, his highest scoring haul since arriving on these shores. If he can maintain his form going into the next season, there’s every chance that Nasri could be the better value option, with both Toure and David Silva likely to be markedly higher when the Player Price Lists are revealed.
Kevin Mirallas
We’d high expectations of the Everton wide man after Roberto Martinez took the helm last summer. The Belgian, who started the season at 7.5, was slow to pick up the points and had scored just three times by the turn of the year but picked up over the final few months – Mirallas ultimately ended the campaign with nine strikes and seven assists (a total of 144 points) before injury prematurely brought his campaign to a close. Martinez’ rotation policy over the final few matches hinted at what is likely to come next season, though, suggesting many may overlook Mirallas next time around.
Jason Puncheon
Starting the season at Southampton (and priced at 5.5), the winger arrived at Palace back in August but was far from Fantasy radars after delivering a single assist in the opening 12 Gameweeks. Having dropped down to 4.9, Puncheon’s season was kick-started by the arrival of Tony Pulis at Selhurst Park and he quickly established himself as a pivotal figure in the Eagles’ remarkable ascent to safety. Fantasy managers were quick to adopt Puncheon as a cut-price midfield option and were rewarded with seven goals and a trio of assists as the wide man served up 131 points, with three consecutive double-figure hauls over April the highlight of his Fantasy season.
David Silva
Firmly overshadowed by Toure in the City midfield this time around, the Spaniard’s propensity for picking up injuries has seen him miss 11 of the champions’ fixtures. Nonetheless, when fully fit, Silva was a consistent source of returns and produced points in 15 of his 27 appearances, whilst an average of 5.6 ppg was fifth amongst midfielders. Seven goals, 12 assists and 20 bonus points helped the playmaker to 151 points – sixth in the midfield bracket – though with Nasri also emerging as a real contender, Silva’s inability to remain injury-free may persuade many to steer clear next time.
Steve Sidwell
Second only to Jordan Mutch for value amongst midfielders, the Fulham man produced his most prolific Premier League campaign to date. In spite of his side’s relegation, Sidwell scored seven times – equalling his tally for the previous three seasons – and with a couple of assists and 14 bonus points also delivered, finished with a respectable 126 points, or two less than Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla. Opening the campaign at 5.0, Sidwell was a secure starter for the Cottagers and played all 38 of their fixtures, though never rose more than 0.2 in price all season.
