[sbu_large_image] Spot the Differential
17 January 2015 2348 comments
Paul Paul
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This weekโ€™s trio of overlooked alternatives offers an option for all three outfield positions. Liverpoolโ€™s raiding wing-back, the Magpiesโ€™ summer signing from Montpellier and Evertonโ€™s barnstorming Belgian all look in promising form ahead of some kind weekend fixtures.

Romelu Lukaku

Just as Tony Pulis prepares for his first away match in the West Brom hotseat, the former Baggies favourite is starting to find his form. As mentioned in this weekโ€™s Say What article, Lukaku has cited a more direct style of play as proving beneficial to his fortunes and with Roberto Martinez also claiming his big-money signing is finally fully fit, it was perhaps no surprise that Lukaku was amongst the goals in the midweek cup clash with West Ham.

Certainly, itโ€™s about time the big Belgian rediscovered his eye for goal. Lukakuโ€™s failure to score in each of the last seven Gameweeks has been a key factor in Evertonโ€™s recent struggles and with Martinezโ€™ men sitting just three points ahead of the drop zone, Mondayโ€™s meeting with the Baggies looks vital to their prospects of building momentum in the second half of the season.

Now down to 8.8 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Lukaku also has showdowns with Palace and Leicester in the next five to add to his surprisingly low tally of just six goals so far. Encouragingly, Lukakuโ€™s average of 29.1 minutes per shot is almost on a par with last yearโ€™s 27 โ€“ the issue has been a drop in conversion rate from 14.9% down to 10.2%. If he can start finding the net with a little more regularity, though, it could be worth reconsidering a player who has scored 15 and 17 times in the previous couple of campaigns.

Remy Cabella

A peripheral figure under previous manager Alan Pardew, the Frenchman was handed his fist 90-minute appearance since Gameweek 5 in Newcastleโ€™s 2-0 loss at Chelsea last weekend.

Praised by caretaker boss John Carver for his Stamford Bridge display, Cabella carried the Magpiesโ€™ main goal threat by firing three attempts on goal against the Blues and looks poised to earn another opportunity to impress as Southampton roll up to St Jamesโ€™ Park.

With the Saints set to be without Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama in the centre of the park, their ability to earn another shut-out looks in question and Cabella โ€“ who racked up 14 goals and seven assists for Montpellier last season โ€“ could be set to benefit. Available for 7.1 in FPL, Cabella offers a route into a side that has won five and drawn one of their last seven on Tyneside and looks a viable option for those seeking a real punt prior to wielding their winter wildcards.

Alberto Moreno

Liverpoolโ€™s recent change of formation looks to have boosted their summer signingโ€™s Fantasy fortunes. Handed the left wing-back berth in each of the last three Gameweeks, the 5.0-priced Spaniard has grabbed a goal and clean sheet to collect 15 points for the ever-improving Reds.

Up next is a trip to Villa Park and with the home side scoring just once in their previous six fixtures, Brendan Rodgersโ€™ side will fancy their chances of earning back-to-back shut-outs for the first time this term.

Morenoโ€™s attacking stats over the last three also bode well ahead of this afternoonโ€™s encounter. Only two defenders have produced more than his five key passes, whilst the Spaniard leads the way for attempts on goal (five) – crucially, all of those efforts have arrived inside the area and underline his improved close-range threat as the Merseysiders look to heap more misery on under-fire Paul Lambert.

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2,348 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Owd Big 'Ed
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Who is a good defender to swap Zabaleta for?

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Ivanovic or Terry

    2. Baby Cuties
      11 years, 9 months ago

      im opting for moreno myself. already WCed?

      1. Owd Big 'Ed
        11 years, 9 months ago

        No. Would be short term.

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Koscienly. With Kosc in the team (90 mins) Arsenal keep a clean sheet 51% of the time and without him they keep a clean sheet 14% of the time since August 2013.

    4. Super PVA - Small Spuds
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Moreno looks pretty good from what I have just read above, and a differential from who everyone else will tell you

  2. davies
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts?

    Aguero, Kane, Ings.

    Ings > Giroud GW25.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Top 3 in Watchlist.

      1. Timtastic03
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Flip back a couple pages will ya? ๐Ÿ™‚

    2. Timtastic03
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Looks good to me. Not a big fan of Ings but fine for the short term

  3. Dr Kenneth Noisewater
    11 years, 9 months ago

    All bar one of my back line are playing away this week, do people agree with the following?

    -----------------------DDG (qpr)
    Wisdom (eve) - Clyne (new) - Terry (swa)

    Bench: Hamer (STK) - PvA (tot) - Chambers (mci)

  4. Jafooli
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Snow Dogs 5:

    1. Manchester area - snowing heavily
    2. Wales - few inches
    3. London - none
    4. Bristol - light smattering
    5. Newcastle - none
    6. Birmingham area - none
    7. Leicester area - no update
    8. Burnley - some snow

    Talksport weather report said snow expected in Scotland, Wales, North West and South East (?) of UK

    Looks like we'll be okay for today, unless some blizzard comes in

    1. โญ Bemba_Da โญ
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Tomorrow could be problems in manchester?

      1. Jafooli
        11 years, 9 months ago

        We will see if it comes I. Big today/tonight, but Ethiad/Manchester council should have plenty of time to sort out infrastructure.

    2. Desperately Seeking Guzan
      11 years, 9 months ago

      It's clear in Birmingham. No hint of snow.

      1. Jafooli
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers DSG

    3. Jafooli
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Bemba Da will be compiling the snow reports for future GWs.

      That's all from me for now.

    4. Ginkapo FPL
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Light snow in Milton Keynes. Nothing to worry about.

    5. Limbo
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Clear in Derby. Come on you Rams!

  5. Pedram
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Play Silva or Austin?

    1. Stimps
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Austin

  6. Corrine M
    11 years, 9 months ago

    For WC:

    A. PVA

    B. Hutton

    1. Kuqi Monster
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Depends on other defenders that you plan to rotate with.

      1. Corrine M
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Bertrand, Gardos, Terry, Wasilewski

    2. Kevin Twine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Pva

    3. Slaps
      11 years, 9 months ago

      PVA

    4. Corrine M
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Thank you

  7. nosejob
    11 years, 9 months ago

    What price rises were there last night?

      1. nosejob
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Amazing - thanks!

  8. Kevin Twine
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Who do you think will score more points in the next 2 GW's?

    A) Downing (HUL, liv)

    B) Chadli (SUN, wba)

    1. Corrine M
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Bravo

      1. Kevin Twine
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        11 years, 9 months ago

        ?

        1. Corrine M
          11 years, 9 months ago

          B. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie

          1. Kevin Twine
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            11 years, 9 months ago

            Lol, ok.

    2. Kuqi Monster
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Chadders

  9. Clump
    11 years, 9 months ago

    All 5 of my defenders have risen the week before my WC is to be played. Not smug at all ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Corrine M
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Good, no one likes a smug barsteward

      1. Clump
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Quite right, here to help.

  10. Nomar
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Sold Rooney for Kun last night.

    Hope I didn't do it a week too soon. Stuck armband on him too.

    QPR are playing for Redknapp's future today. Lose and he's gone. Word is he's lost a lot of the dressing room already with his negative away tactics.

    If they want to get rid of him today's the day they'll lie down and let Utd run wild.

    I hope I didn't get rid of Pig a week too early!

    1. boogle
      11 years, 9 months ago

      I just brought him in a captained haha

      1. boogle
        11 years, 9 months ago

        and

      2. Nomar
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Who?

        Kun or Pig?

        1. boogle
          11 years, 9 months ago

          Pig

    2. HellasLEAF
      11 years, 9 months ago

      is this true?

      making me think definitely Di Maria (on WC)

      and Ings over Austin now.

      would appreciate comments..

      1. Nomar
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Yep.

        Pretty much everything is set up for Sherwood.
        Les Ferdinand wants change at QPR and sees Redknapp as obstacle to change.

        Players unhappy with what they see as lack of plan or direction in away games. Hoddle considered to be working around Redknapp instead of with him. Players know whats going on and so does Harry hence his comments yesterday about a mole.

        If the players want HR gone they know this ud the ideal game to finish him off.

        1. QPR expects... glory!
          11 years, 9 months ago

          Agreed. At the presser he was ranting about their being a mole in the dressing room. I think he knows his time is up.

          Frankly, I wish he'd retired at the end of last season. As far as I'm concerned once you start contemplating retirement you already have one foot out the door. Hopefully, he'll be putting the other one out after it today!

    3. Super PVA - Small Spuds
      11 years, 9 months ago

      I'm thinking of captaining Austin

      1. HellasLEAF
        11 years, 9 months ago

        captaining Austin?

  11. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    11 years, 9 months ago

    I had a dream last night that Costa scored a hat trick. I've been wrong before...

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Well he already has one hat trick versus Swansea this season so why not another

  12. jfxm
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Who should I bench out of this front seven? It's currently Chadli because of double Spurs.

    Downing Hazard Sanchez Chadli Di Maria

    Aguero Kane Ings

    1. boogle
      11 years, 9 months ago

      That's 8 m8 - Aguero

      1. jfxm
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Haha woops. And you can't be serious about Kun?

        1. boogle
          11 years, 9 months ago

          Meh I don't have him yet and not concerned - just a hunch though ๐Ÿ˜‰

    2. Chrissy Waddle - 2025/26
      11 years, 9 months ago

      You're always gonna have this issue...

      Get Boyd, upgrade your defence. Sorted.

  13. You've got red on you.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Repost. Good to go?

    De Gea

    Bertrand - Terry - Wisdom

    Hazard - Silva - Sanchez - Chadli

    Rooney - Costa - Kane (c)

    subs - Boyd, Clichy, Hutton

    1. scarlet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Possibly play button ahead of wisdom but otherwise good to go.

  14. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    11 years, 9 months ago

    A Green and Captain Kane
    Or
    B pantilmon and Captain Hazard???

    1. Kevin Twine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 9 months ago

      A, still.

  15. Judas
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Ings or Berahino on my WC?

    1. Chrissy Waddle - 2025/26
      11 years, 9 months ago

      If it was me, I'd go Berahino.

  16. Chris_White
    11 years, 9 months ago

    A) Bertrand/PVA

    B) Koscielny/Wasilewski

    Already have Clyne...

    1. Kevin Twine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. Gooner Kebab
      11 years, 9 months ago

      a

  17. scarlet
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    11 years, 9 months ago

    a) play Siggy
    b) play Giroud
    c) bring in Ings for Giroud?

    1. Slaps
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Giroud's fixtures look good, I'd save the FT and play Siggy

    2. Camp No No
      11 years, 9 months ago

      b

    3. Kuqi Monster
      11 years, 9 months ago

      B

  18. nosejob
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone captaining Hazard?

    1. preseasonblues
      11 years, 9 months ago

      o/

    2. Kevin Twine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah, quite a few are.

  19. Gideons Rolling Another One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Play Krul or Hamer this GW? Leaning towards Krul.

    1. asif316uk
      11 years, 9 months ago

      I have the same decision to make, currrently on Hamer as i have bertrand :-/

      1. Gideons Rolling Another One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        11 years, 9 months ago

        I have a feeling it will be a low scoring game. We're as Leicester and Stoke will be a high scoring game.

  20. HellasLEAF
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Cannot decide between Kane and Aguero.

    The thought of owning Kun, would be my most expensive player and captaining Kane only for Kun to go off or something, can't settle on one..

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Imagine the opposite.

  21. asif316uk
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Newcastle v Southampton

    Score prediction?

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 9 months ago

      1-1 draw

    2. Nomar
      11 years, 9 months ago

      0-1

  22. Denis Tueart on the wing
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Which is more probable?

    a) Zab Benched for Sagna

    b) Clichy Benched for Kolarov

    c) Both a & b

    d) neither a & b

  23. Timtastic03
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Champ still around?

  24. Chrissy Waddle - 2025/26
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Last time Kane played sunderland this season....

    Played 12 minutes, scored an own goal = total points -1

    Just sayin'.... ๐Ÿ˜‰

  25. Gooner Kebab
    11 years, 9 months ago

    If you have Kun for that kind of money, he should be your captain.

    1. nosejob
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Disagree. He'd be a differential as it is.

  26. Ginkapo FPL
    11 years, 9 months ago

    TM I work on a highway improvement site. And contrary to popular belief we actually do work at weekends.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Says the guy on FFS during work ๐Ÿ™‚

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        11 years, 9 months ago

        I supervise on behalf of the client. I said "we work" and not "I work". They are all out their in the excavators, and I'm in the office drinking a cup of tea.

        ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜‰ Seems fair to me

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          11 years, 9 months ago

          I know, was just playing.

          1. Ginkapo FPL
            11 years, 9 months ago

            ๐Ÿ˜€ Yeah well we get a bad rep.

            I had a guy complain that we dont work 24/7 and he never sees us work. Well of course not considering that we shut down during peak times to allow traffic to flow unhindered..... He still wasnt happy.

    2. Home Run Baker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 9 months ago

      * including tea breaks ๐Ÿ˜‰

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        11 years, 9 months ago

        True true, they treat their breaks like golddust.

  27. simosalminen
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Bench one out of:

    A) Austin (MUN)
    B) Silva (ARS)
    C) Fabregas (swa)
    D) Sanchez (mci)

  28. Mak_Gold
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Would you take a 4 point hit for Zabaleta to Bertrand?

    1. Stimps
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Wait until after this GW

  29. Takamba
    11 years, 9 months ago

    I do wonder if Aguero might take a game or two to get back into his rhythm. With Arsenal and Chelsea away next, is everyone being a bit premature?

    I remember when he came back from injury last year after a long lay-off. Never recaptured the form he showed before.

    Thoughts? Ramblings of a scared non-owner?

    1. Ruth_NZ
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Everyone is being premature, It's irrational when you consider his fitness and the fixtures. "I want it to happen therefore I believe it will happen".

      Can't guarantee that bringing him in won't work though. But it's not for me. Aguero comes in on WC in GW 24 if he has proved fitness. I'll live with any price rises, that's the downside. If something goes wrong with his comeback I'll avoid wasting my wildcard by going early. That's the upside.

      Personally I don't expect more than one, possibly two goals from him in the next 2 gameweeks. I think my current squad will score better without him.

  30. Owd Big 'Ed
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Zabaleta to Baines / Moreno
    Or Costa to Aguero?

    Decisions! I'd want Costa back on my wildcard tbh.