The quest to replace misfiring striker Romelu Lukaku topped the bill amongst our hot topic posters this week. Our community writers, meanwhile, reflected on January’s best buys and looked ahead to the impending blanks and yet-to-be-scheduled double Gameweeks. Our Members tables reveal more striking options, particularly for those looking at heading ability as a key attribute. As usual, we also find time to catch up on those who are leaping salmon-like up our community’s leagues.
The Community Articles
Bowstring the Carp kicked off this week’s community articles with an assessment of January’s surprise high scoring players as well as a look ahead to February’s key picks to consider. Looking even further ahead Perchinho has been getting his abacus out to work out the various permutations of double Gameweeks and blanks that the domestic cup programme is set to present to Fantasy managers. Following this week’s vote, The Sarjeant has been named community writer of the month for January. A £20 Amazon voucher is on the way to him. Don’t forget, if you’ve got some analysis, scout reports or features brewing, be sure to visit our community section to submit your article.
The Hottest Topics
Lukaku’s injury against Newcastle in midweek was the final straw for many of his owners. After four Gameweeks with no attacking returns, it is little wonder that by Thursday morning almost 100,000 Fantasy managers had shown him the door. As our hot topic on the Everton striker showed there are plenty more owners willing to give him his P45 and pondering who to replace him. Jamie Vardy, Wayne Rooney, Diego Costa and even Swansea new recruit Alberto Polaschi are amongst those in the frame. Mr Alex poses another solution to misfiring strikers by focusing on a beefier midfield instead. Could this Gameweek see the return to a 3-5-2 formation? Lukaku’s team mate Ross Barkley certainly put forward a good case for inclusion in a midfield five, even though he misses Gameweek 27 due to a postponed fixture against Liverpool. His midweek brace of penalties ensured his owners took the bragging points in our Rough with the Smooth round up of Gameweek 24. Already this week Lukaku has dropped in value in FPL, while prime replacement target Vardy has risen. But, asks In Like Flynn, are price changes too slow and too small? He wonders whether the game could be made more interesting, with less template teams, if there was greater variation in player value. While many are considering Aguero or Harry Kane, two other popular transfers this week, for the captaincy, Brigadier Gerrard puts forward an impassioned case for Fantasy managers to place the armband on Roberto Firmino. The Liverpool “false nine” was also amongst those players mentioned in our discussion on Gameweek 25’s best differentials.
The Members Tables
For those wanting aerial goal scoring prowess as a key requirement of a striker I’ve compiled this table of the season’s goal attempt kings so far this season. If you’re a member and are yet to get to grips with the custom statistics tables, you can view this movie for an explanation of how they work. Also, remember to tag them so that people can find the tables with ease.
The Community Tournaments
Chucky 77 continues to lead the Top 10K Any Season mini-league, while Mial Akata lead’s the January to May League. Both are organised by Red Lightning.
Meanwhile, Congratulations to Chris Rigden who ended Gameweek 24 moving to the top of the FFScout league and into 10th place in the overall rankings In the community’s monthly league in Ultimate Fantasy Premier League King Nidge has taken an early lead with a score of 103 in Gameweek 24. Following Gameweek 24 there was no change amongst the top seven in the FFScout moderators and contributors league, which Andy continues to lead. Dmhomag emerged victorious from the 121 entrants in Jarvish’s FA Cup Yes/No Competition after getting all 10 questions right. He wins FFScout membership for next season. In our ESPN league jbish01 remains in the lead in the season rankings, while ianp1970 is at the summit of the Segment 2 chart. If you are running a community tournament and would like the latest scores included in future Community Round Ups please email me a brief summary of the current leaders and a link to your league, spread sheet or head to head competition, at jonty@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk.
