Gameweek 18 – Best Punts

Last Gameweek saw a rare flop from all three of my selected punts. Richard Dunne’s QPR side continued their superb home run with victory of West Brom but conceded two in the process. Dunne came close to scoring in the game with a header that nearly crept under the crossbar but it wasn’t to be as the big centre-back also picked up a yellow card in the clash, resulting in zero points. My midfielder Antonio Valencia turned in an anonymous performance against Aston Villa and only harvested two points. Finally, my forward punt Ayoze Perez was a thorn in Sunderland’s side throughout the game but failed to produce the goods as the red and white stripes stole the three points. Anyway, to this week’s selection! As well as choosing my usual three punts there is a Christmas competition at the end of the article! All ownership figures are correct as of 22nd December.

Andrew Robertson

Club: Hull

Position: Defender

Price: 4.4

Ownership: 0.8%

I can’t look past Robertson this week. He was the only defender on my shortlist after his sterling display against Swansea last week. Steve Bruce needs to stop the rot at Hull. You know that there is a problem when your full-back comes the closest to scoring in the whole 90 minutes! This weekend the Tigers face Sunderland away. This gives them the perfect chance to halt their downfall. I’ll be honest; I don’t see Hull keeping a clean sheet in this fixture. Sunderland will be bouncing after their 1-0 win in the Tyne-Wear derby and their strike force looks hungry. However, this doesn’t affect my selection as the major appeal with Robertson is his attacking potential. He bombs forward on every occasion and gets crosses into the box, as well as firing shots off. The summer signing has been the one positive in Hull’s side since his reinstatement and as a former owner I think it might be time to get him back in.

Robertson has attempted 28 dribbles this season, which puts him in the top ten of defenders in the league. Of these defenders, only Santiago Vergini and Branislav Ivanovic have a higher completion rate. The Hull full-back is also a great creator. Last season he scored three goals and picked up six assists at Dundee United. This term he has put 52 crosses into the box this season and created 12 goalscoring chances for his side, with one assist. He has Nikica Jelavic in the middle, who is one of the biggest aerial threats in the league, and should he pick him out, there is every chance of an assist for the Scotsman. I owned him for his 12-point haul against Crystal Palace in which he kept a clean sheet, assisted and picked up three bonus points. This Gameweek could see similar returns; will you invest in Robertson for a Christmas hamper full of points?

James McArthur

Club: Crystal Palace

Position: Midfielder

Price: 5.3

Ownership: 0.0%

A major differential, McArthur’s ownership is too low to even register on the Fantasy Premier League system. He has flown under many radars the last couple of weeks. The fact that Palace’s 1-1 draw with Stoke was a bore draw and last on Match of the Day meant that many failed to notice his advanced position. I was at the match and the Scotsman played in the hole, threatening all day and scoring a glancing header from a Bolasie cross. Again last week he had the ball in the back of the net after a similar situation only for a blind linesman to decide that it was offside. That decision has played a big part in people not picking up on McArthur’s fine form. This Gameweek Palace have a tough fixture against Southampton. The Saints are marching again after beating a poor Everton, although only one clean sheet in their last six suggests their early solid defensive form has disappeared. Just like Hull, I don’t expect Palace will cruise to victory against Southampton on Boxing Day, or even win at all, but McArthur could be amongst the goals again, especially with the Eagles’ in-form wingers.

Yannick Bolasie has put 102 crosses in this season and McArthur has got on the end of them in the last two games. Despite playing behind the striker, the attacking midfielder often finds himself as the lone striker up front, especially on the break. His work rate is incredible and goes unnoticed by many as he does the dirty work. However, his desire to get in the box means that he is a threat on counter-attacks. Playing against a Southampton side who love to dominate possession, counter-attacking through their pacey wingers may be an attacking outlet that Neil Warnock looks to exploit this week. McArthur is a threat with his feet as well as head, firing off 13 shots from the ground this season. He also has a say over free kicks for the Eagles which throws assist potential into the bag as well. Whilst Father Christmas flies all over the planet McArthur will be preparing to send his Eagles side flying this Boxing Day.

Jamie Vardy

Club: Leicester City

Position: Striker

Price: 4.7

Ownership: 1.3%

The easy way out would have been to choose Radamel Falcao but Jamie Vardy has been on my shortlist for a while and this is finally the week for him. He is a livewire in the Leicester side and all their flair comes through him. He has attempted 46 dribbles this season and created 17 goalscoring chances for his team-mates, assisting twice in the process. Football fans will be well aware that the Foxes are lacking goals but there is no doubt who will bring them eventually, that is Vardy. Leonardo Ulloa has misplaced his scoring boots so, although Leicester fans will hope Santa brings some for him this Christmas, the goalscoring burden is on Vardy for now. His bustling runs cause problems for defenders and his desire to lift his team off the bottom is clear to see. 13 of his 18 attempts have been made from within the box which highlights the fact that Vardy is quite literally a Fox in the box. All the stats are in his favor and up to now it has been a question of judging when his breakthrough will come – I think that is this week.

His best game this season came at home against Man United and this week’s home clash with Tottenham has similar characteristics. I believe that Spurs are at the level now that United were then. Nigel Pearson’s men are under great pressure, just as he is, and desperately need a win before the New Year. Spurs are an ever-improving side and seem to be hitting their top gear just as the fixtures come thick and fast. That said, Pochettino’s men have only kept one clean sheet in their last ten games and are shaky at the back. It won’t be a walk in a winter wonderland, but I think that Vardy’s never-say-die work-rate will fix Leicester’s ghosts of previous Gameweeks past.

Christmas Competition

As a Christmas Special this Gameweek I am launching a punts competition, partly as a thank you for the support you have given these weekly articles throughout the first half of the season and also to spread the Christmas cheer!

The rules are simple. Just like I do, you have to pick a ‘punt’ from each position (one defender, one midfielder, one forward) and all must have below 2.5% ownership. Whoever’s punts score the highest altogether wins a £10 Amazon Voucher. If two people’s picks are the same then whoever comments them first will win the prize. Comment your choices below and good luck to you all!

Thanks for your continued support and have a very Merry Christmas!