Having hit the 100-point mark, the Fantasy Football Scout lineup was in the Mondogoal money last weekend – thanks in no small part to the efforts of Arsenal pair Calum Chambers and Alexis Sanchez. We share our thoughts on the key targets ahead of a new set of Premier League fixtures, helping you to beat us to the contest prize money – we’re nice like that.
Mondogoal is a daily and weekly Fantasy Football game which made its debut this season. In addition to the Premier League, the game covers all the major top-flight leagues – Serie A, La Liga, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Major League Soccer (MLS). You can play games for each one, or even global contests that span across all the leagues. Mondogoal also supports contests for Champions League and Europa League in midweek.
With a guaranteed £1,000 pot available for in the £5 entry weekend contest this week, plus a £100 prize for those who want to play for free, there’s no time like the present to give Mondogoal a roll.
Furthermore, Mondogoal are offering a special promo this week which may well pique the interest of West Ham fans. This weekend, they are setting up a league with a £1 entry fee which will see the winner earn a once in a lifetime VIP experience, where they get to visit the Hammers’ training ground for a private meet and greet, and also appear in a video advert for Mondogoal with the West Ham Players.
If you want to get into the nitty gritty of the game, we’ve laid on a comprehensive strategy guide, offering tips to help you get started. Read on for the lowdown on our thinking for the coming weekend….
Saturday’s Picks
We tipped Oscar as your differential pick in the Chelsea lineup last week and he came good – his 17.5 points certainly helped the FFS squad get in the money. The Brazilian remains rooted at 10.9 million going into the meeting with Liverpool and again looks to offer value over the likes of Diego Costa (14.5m) and Eden Hazard (12.3m). Ramires, at just 6.1 million, is another worth monitoring – he didn’t figure against QPR but could come into the frame for the Anfield visit.
As for Liverpool, they’re so out of sorts, it’s difficult to justify any investment. Raheem Sterling was rested in midweek and remains the main attacking threat but his 11.3 price tag is off-putting, given the Reds’ current form.
Hull’s visit to Burnley appears to offer little, although, if you’re tipping goals in this one then Danny Ings (4.5m) for the home side and Hatem Ben Arfa (6.3m) for the visitors, certainly present something different at a decent price.
United’s Old Trafford meeting with Crystal Palace looks more profitable, with Angel di Maria’s 12.46 points-per-game (ppg) looking particularly tempting. However, with the Argentine setting you back £15.1, it might be time to consider Adnan Januzaj; the winger has started the last three outings for Louis van Gaal and could be outstanding value at just 6.7 million. Likewise, at the back, Paddy McNair is set to start in an injury-ravaged rearguard – he’s available for a meagre 6.4 million.
Southampton remain Mondogoal stalwarts and, yet again, it seems remiss to look beyond their attacking protagonists for the visit of struggling Leicester. Dusan Tadic, still at just 8.4 million, looks tempting, while Graziano Pelle (8.9m) will be heavily backed to rediscover his scoring touch against the Foxes defence.
Stewart Downing (10.6m) has to go down as the most improved Premier League player on show this season and needs to be on our shopping lists for the visit of Aston Villa. Paul Lambert’s side are sliding down the table off the back of six straight defeats, while West Ham are scoring goals for fun. It all adds up to Downing and fit-again striker Diafra Sakho (8.0m and 9.86ppg) filling their boots. Despite keeping just a single clean sheet this term, the Hammers back four also have to be considered, given that Villa have scored a single goal in six outings – Aaron Cresswell is the pick here with his 5.03ppg available at 5.6 million.
City’s trip to Loftus Road will be made more challenging due to their midweek Champions League disappointment. Sergio Aguero is the top ranked player in Mondogoal with 14.48 points per game and cant’ be ignored, even at 11.8 million. The R’s have their own in-form marksman in the form of Charlie Austin – priced at just 6.4 million, he’s looking to follow up a weekend strike at Chelsea with another against their title rivals.
Sunday’s Picks
A quartet of matches provides a decent pool of talent for our Sunday Mondogoal contests. Tottenham’s White Hart Lane clash with Stoke has us turn to the allure of budget striker option, Harry Kane. Having struck his first league goal at Villa, it’s tempting to back the 21-year-old for a start against the Potters, although his 9.1 million price tag makes his selection far from straightforward. Nacer Chadli, with 9.96 ppg is still available for 9.0 million and offers a viable alternative. Meanwhile, the Spurs defence can be backed via the reasonably priced Kyle Naughton (6.6m) and skipper Younes Kaboul (7.1m).
Everton’s trip to Sunderland looks a tricky proposition following Sunderland’s fine 3-1 win over Palace on Monday. Steven Fletcher’s potential up front for the Black Cats looks a better option than backing the Toffees Leighton Baines (12.6m and 9.27ppg) for further returns. Fletcher is available for a miserly 5.8 million and looks one of the key weekend bargains with 8.24 ppg.
Newcastle are another revitalised outfit and their trip to the Hawthorns is another hard-to-call encounter as a result. Moussa Sissoko’s (6.9m) form looks tempting – he’s been pushed up behind a lone striker in recent matches and has returned a goal and assist his last two. Similarly, Rolando Aarons is the wildcard option – available for just 5.8 million – his pace and trickery could undo the Baggies rearguard if he gets a run-out. Saido Berahino (9.1m) is again the standout option for Alan Irvine’s men but I also like Chris Brunt as a midfield differential – he’s recorded assists in four of his last six and can be acquired for just 6.4 million.
Arsenal and Swansea draw Sunday and the Gameweek to a conclusion at the Liberty Stadium and, again, Alexis Sanchez looks to be the star performer on offer. With 11.98 points per game, only Aguero can surpass the Chilean’s output this season and, even at 12.9 million, he’s difficult to ignore. If you’re hunting for a bargain here, then Swansea’s Jefferson Montero could be worth a punt. He’s started the last two outings, has the pace to trouble the Gunners’ full-backs and is yours for just 5.0 million.
