[sbu_large_image] Spot the Differential
3 March 2015 2153 comments
James Barnes James Barnes
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In an attempt to capitalise on the double Gameweek for Tottenham and QPR, we look beyond the usual suspects, picking out a reliable Belgian defender and an emerging Scottish talent who, coincidentally, were both selected in The Puntmaster’s Gameweek article earlier today. We also reckon Liverpool’s exciting Spanish wing-back looks a strong shout for points at both ends of the pitch this weekend as Burnley roll up to Anfield.

Jan Vertonghen

With Tottenham facing two favourable match-ups at home to Swansea and away to QPR in their double, seeking out coverage for the north London outfit is imperative. Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen, who’ve combined for eight goals in their last five outings, are the clear frontrunners, but pinpointing a third viable candidate is a trickier proposition.

Neither of Mauricio Pochettino’s first-choice midfield pairing – Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb – have a goal to their name this campaign, while the likes of Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela, Andros Townsend and Mousa Dembele are too subject to rotation for our liking. We turn, then, to the Lilywhites’ defence, with Belgian centre-back Jan Vertonghen emerging as a strong shout.

Unlike the 4.9-priced Danny Rose – who, admittedly, boasts superior form with two goals in seven starts – Jan Vertonghen (5.9) faces less competition for starts in his favoured role, with Eric Dier and Federico Fazio tussling for the second centre-back berth. The former Ajax star has been the one mainstay in Tottenham’s defence, as evidenced by his run of 15 successive league starts, while Ben Davies has shared left-back duties with Rose.

Although Tottenham have struggled to shut out teams of late – with one clean sheet in seven – the scoring form of their opponents this week is far from prolific. The Swans visit White Hart Lane having only registered two goals in their previous three road matches, while the Hoops have drawn a blank in three of their last four clashes at Loftus Road. If he can roll back the years and return to the six-goal form of 2012/13, Vertonghen could prove a canny acquisition over the double and beyond, bearing in mind Spurs also host Leicester and Villa and travel to Burnley in the next five.

Matt Phillips

QPR’s double Gameweek fixtures, at home to North London pair Arsenal and Spurs, at first don’t appear all that conducive to healthy Fantasy returns. However, in spite of their abysmal away record, the R’s have proved to be far more resilient at home – only four teams have bested QPR at Loftus Road. Clearly, top scorer Charlie Austin is the standout performer in Chris Ramsey’s outfit, yet the recent output of resurgent winger Matt Phillips (4.6) shouldn’t be overlooked.

Since the new manager’s installation, Phillips has recorded three assists in three starts. To further illustrate his increasing importance to QPR’s offense, only Eden Hazard (11) created more chances than the 23-year-old Scotland international (10) between Gameweeks 24-26 prior to QPR’s blank Gameweek 27. With no midfielders in Phillips’ price bracket offering consistent attacking returns anyway, his inclusion could be profitable based on appearance points alone if managers are scouting for a budget fifth option. Like Vertonghen, the following fixtures are also in his favour – Phillips also plays Palace, West Brom, Everton and Villa in the next six Gameweeks.

Alberto Moreno

In light of Liverpool’s redoubtable defensive record across the last seven Gameweeks – a period in which they’ve recorded five clean sheets – it would be remiss of us not to consider the Reds’ rearguard. With on out-of-position berth on the left of a 3-4-2-1, full-back Alberto Moreno (5.2) offers an intriguing route into the Merseysiders’ defence. The 22-year-old has notched two goals this term and has been one of the main beneficiaries of the new formation – since Brendan Rodgers switched tactics in Gameweek 16, Moreno sits joint second for shots inside the box (eight) amongst defenders, whilst his 16 key passes has been bettered by just two other backline options.

On paper, Liverpool’s Gameweek 28 home tie with Burnley represents a fine opportunity to record another clean sheet – the Clarets failed to score in the reverse fixture and looked bereft of ideas in their 1-0 loss to Swansea on the weekend. Beyond this Gameweek, a tough trio of fixtures (swa, MUN, ars) might dissuade potential investors, yet recent shut-outs on visits to Southampton, Everton and West Ham showed Rodgers’ side are capable of stifling potent attacks.

  1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    I am surprised Demi does not have P. Jones in the starting line up. I guess because they kept a clean sheet, it's not clear that he will immediately replace Smalling or Evans?

    I wonder if I should start P. Jones or Wollschied?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Jones

      1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Why?

    2. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Wollscheid imo

    3. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      I am so glad I got rid of P. Jones last week

      Much happier with Berty

      1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Do you think Jones will start? Should I play him ahead of Wollschied?

    4. drughi
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      jones is dead to me, probably a cs tomorrow to piss me off

  2. bmic
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    My crazy punt of Green on goal... hope he at least defends a penalty 😀

    1. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      No brainer

    2. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      If they give away a penalty he will defend it, whether or not he saves it is an all together different matter

  3. Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Silva is the only player i fear not owning this DGW.

    If he avoid a monster haul, I should be looking at a good gameweek.

    Good luck everyone!

    1. Tmel
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Agreed, very much fear not having him

      1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        +999

    2. adammc
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Same here ...

  4. Bapilot747
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Ryan mason cheap punt?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      No

    2. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      c instead of p

      1. Somalion
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Ryan Mason cheac punt?

        1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 2 months ago

          😆

        2. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 2 months ago

          😛

    3. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldn't

    4. Ser Football 42
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Besides Eriksen I don't thinks Spurs mid is worth it

    5. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Yes he is cheap and he is a punt.

  5. Clam. ☘️
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Puncheon or Clyne benched?

    1. Costa in Wengerland
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Punch

      1. Clam. ☘️
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers!

    2. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Clyne

      1. Clam. ☘️
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Why?

  6. Randy_Marsh
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Surely Kun better captain choice, Spurs will be dejected after the loss

    1. drughi
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      go for it

      1. Epic Fail
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        This.

    2. Ser Football 42
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Or they become encouraged

    3. andy85wsm
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Do it

    4. adammc
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Don't think so

    5. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Dejected - probably, but also cream crackered.

  7. pppppppp88
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    G2G?

    Lloris
    Terry / Kosc / Fonte
    Haz / Ozil / Eriksen / Coutinho
    Kane / Aguero / Kane

    Pant / Lescott / Jones / Ameobi

    1. thechipchump
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Lescott > Kosielney & Terry for me

      1. pppppppp88
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Lescott Terry and Kosc ?

        1. adammc
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 2 months ago

          ^^ & who your captain

          1. adammc
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 2 months ago

            Since you have two kanes

  8. Bapilot747
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Mason or Dembele?

    1. adammc
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Dembele but wouldn't go with either

  9. dannybronco
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Hi Chaps,

    Who to bench - Puncheon or Clyne?

    Cheers

    1. thechipchump
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      never clyne

    2. fishnil
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Clyne is the new Baines...

  10. tornadoamr
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    repost
    who to bench ozil or haz?

    1. Ser Football 42
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Neither

      1. Ser Football 42
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Who else do you have that it's between those two?

      2. tornadoamr
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        must bench one of them

        1. tornadoamr
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 2 months ago

          silva eriksen raheem
          austin kane kun

  11. Tmel
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Silva or Eriksen a better option to bring in for ADM?

    1. FPLEL
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      I went with Eriksen.

    2. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      If for free, I'd say Eriksen

    3. LOCO ABREU
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      eriksen

    4. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Yes, even for a hit

  12. Fergiesarmy
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Lads please help pick 3 to start from belllerin zouma Hutton wolly and moreno

    1. thechipchump
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      moreno zouma and hutton truuust

    2. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Bell Zouma Wolly

  13. FPLEL
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Ivan, Clyne, PVA (Bellerin, Hutton)

    Would you change this?

  14. mutatedllama
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Pick one to bench:

    A) Ivanovic (whu)
    B) Dawson (avl)
    C) Clyne (CPL)
    D) Bellerin (qpr)

    Currently have Ivanovic on the bench but it feels so wrong...

    1. FPLEL
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      I;ve gone with Bellerin.

    2. LOCO ABREU
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      b

    3. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      I've gone with Dawson

    4. Teahupo'o
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Dawson

  15. Just A Wooden Spoon
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    3 draws tonight, 38/1.....having me a slice of that 😀

    1. Whazza
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      I like it

    2. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Toast it 😎

    3. Kevin Twine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Lovely stuff

    4. Guidinho
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Was fancying this before but having seen the odds a nice 20 going straight down on that

    5. Guidinho
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Did you back it? I put 15 down but on Ladbrokes so could not cash out....pissed

      1. Just A Wooden Spoon
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Laid a £50 down and cashed out for £609 just before the Southampton goal, luckily. 😀

        Unlucky with the lack of cash our option, really thought it was going end all square all round.

        1. Guidinho
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 2 months ago

          Great work, ill just have to take solace in the money i've been winning on fantasy this season with mates!

  16. Teahupo'o
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Afternoon gents.

    Foster
    Ivanovic Kompany Clyne
    Hazard Silva Eriksen Cazorla
    Austin Aguero Kane

    (Myhill, Bellerin Boyd PvA)

    A) PvA to Vert -4 and bench CLyne
    B) Kompany to Vert -4
    C) Caz to Sterling -4
    D) Good to go
    ?

  17. Dots321
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Just realized I kept Mannone on my wildcard instead of Panti last week. I now cant afford him back

    1. andy85wsm
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Oops.

  18. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Newcastle or Hull most likely to score today?

    1. Andy1
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely hull

      Newcastle don't play til tomorrow

    2. Whazza
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Hull since Newcastle aren't playing

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Haha, cheers!

    3. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Hull because they're playing tonight.

    4. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Hull as Newcastle don't play today

    5. Kevin Twine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Hull.

    6. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      *this GW

  19. bdwhite91
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Foster in goal

    McAuley, Downing, Puncheon or PVA?

  20. tbhogal
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Quick Poll - Austin for Giroud - Y/N?

    1. Wirtzle Gummidge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      N

    2. Andy1
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Yes
      I think Giroud will be benched tomorrow

    3. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      I did it for a hit.

    4. Whazza
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      y

    5. La Roja
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Yes only if for FT

    6. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

    7. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      P.S. I suck at this game so I wouldn't take my advice.

    8. LOCO ABREU
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      n

    9. kalmoffit
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      No

  21. Bapilot747
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Paulinho this week?

    1. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      You're missing Bentaleb

  22. mm0507
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    in the end i did cazorla, fonte -> eriksen, rose and stay with aguero, giroud, kane in the attack.

    hope it will be fine

  23. bangers and M*A*S*H
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Bench Clyne or Terry?

    Got Ivan playing anyway.

  24. andy85wsm
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    So for those of us that made our transfers and captain choices days ago how are we spending the evening during all the chaos?

    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      wondering if I should take a hit to sell Sanchez

  25. Whazza
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Clyne -> Rose for free done

  26. No Luck
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    These Spot the Differential and Best Punt articles are starting to converge. I always thought one should be overlooked (but sensible) punts while the other should be completely left field. I feel like Puntmaster maybe is playing it too safe after a bad run of form and should have picked players like Rob Green or Chadli or Wickham.

  27. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Who to put first on bench?
    PVA or Hutton

    1. Gooner97
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      PVA

    2. Paganoi
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      I'm debating this as well. Think I'm starting Hutton and PvA on the bench.

  28. Jay_
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Boyd ahead of Naughton as my 2nd/3rd subs ?

      1. The EJJ
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        The big questions

    • thechipchump
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Panti
      Clyne, Jones, Rose
      Hazard, Cazorla, Sanchez, Mane, Erikson
      Kane, Aguero

      Subs: Jelavic, Monreal, Bardsley

      GTG?

    • Baa
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Pick one please

      A) Cazorla Eriksen Vert
      B) Sanchez Eriksen Haidara +4