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

    Toby benched 🙁

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

      No clean sheet for Saints then

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

      That's good news

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

        For?>

  2. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    .@HullCity Starting XI: McGregor, Dawson, Bruce, McShane, Elmohamady, Robertson, Huddlestone, Livermore, Meyler, Jelavić, N’Doye #HULSUN

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

    No Mane?

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      He starts

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

      Ban this sick troll.

      1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 2 months ago

        Hitler never trolled anyone on FFS tbf

  4. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    .@HullCity Subs: Harper, Figueroa, Davies, Quinn, Ramírez, Hernández, Aluko #HULSUN

  5. JJO
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Playing Lescott
    A)double with Foster
    B)play Panti?

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

      Stucked between greens 🙂

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

    #SaintsFC: Forster; Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Bertrand; Wanyama, Schneiderlin; Djuricic, Mané, Elia; Pellè.

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

      Mane *wipes brow*

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

      How does Pelle keep starting?

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

        who else is there

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

          Long. That's about it

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

            Just play Mane on his own

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

        Long deserves a start

    3. Coaly
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      No Toby

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

      Clyne to Rose it is anyway 😀

    5. Kerz
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Djuricic! 😀

    6. Zasa
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Got Toby in last week for Wisdom , nice

  7. mdm
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Play Hutton or Punch?

  8. Lizard Lips
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    My late sub means Cazorla to Eriksen can't do Austin to Giroud next week tho Sanchez to Eriksen means I can do Austin to Costa next week. Do I ditch Sanchez then? Gulp.

  9. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    #SaintsFC substitutes vs @CPFC: K. Davis (GK), Gardos, Long, S. Davis, Tadić, Ward-Prowse, Alderweireld.

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

      Tobyyyy!

  10. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    tadic fail

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

    PVA locked for villa at home then, great news

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      why?

  12. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    #SaintsFC team vs @CPFC: Forster, Clyne, Fonte (c), Yoshida, Bertrand, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Djuričić, Elia, Mané, Pellè.

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

    Well that was boring

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

      This.

    2. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      Boring teams

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      wait till the matches start

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

      What exactly were you expecting?

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

        Cantona!

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

        The Spanish Inquisition.

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

    Play Defoe or Wolly?

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

    Cameron > Rose for -4pts or play Hutton?

  16. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Play Jones (new) or Wolscheid (EVE)?

    Opinions please!!

  17. Valar(Keith)
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Start Dawson or Bellerin? Thinking of Dawson so i can enjoy tnite 🙂 (Starting Foster too)

  18. Viper
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    With Sunderland playing two up top, I think I'll play Wollscheid over Bruce..

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 2 months ago

      yeah, but one of them is Graham...

  19. bakayoko
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    no PVA hes on the bench

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

    PvA not starting

  21. Rains of Castamere
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Vlaar starting?

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

      nope

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

    No Johnston 😯

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

      *Johnson

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

    4 out 4 playing tonight

    Panti, Berty, Mane and Lescott

  24. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Do I play PVA, Naughton or Haidara?

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

      naughton

      haidara is out

  25. Toonzie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    A) Play Naughton
    B) Baird to Rose for -4

  26. Yome
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    PVA to Rose looks good now that PVA is rotated...

  27. Doctor X
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    My head says stick with Giroud. (He might be rotated/not get 90 mins) since he's got United away on Monday

    The heart says Giroud ➡ Austin for a hit. (Austin's on the back of a goal, home fixtures, pens, no rotation..etc..etc..)

    Feck me. Please tell me what to do.

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

      I did it.

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

      In same situation. Haven't a clue what to do aha!

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

      Did it on Monday.

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

    Underwhelming

  29. Elmore Black
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Good people of FFS,

    Do with think N'Doye to Austin is worth -4pts?

    Yay or nay?

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

      Yay.

  30. Respect My Authoritah
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 2 months ago

    Play Puncheon or Moses?