Our usual Saturday morning scour for some overlooked options brings Palace’s and United’s wide men to the fore. We also call upon the services of Sunderland’s top scorer as Big Sam looks to get one over his former side West Ham at Upton Park this lunchtime.
Yannick Bolasie
Having been sidelined since December with a calf injury, Yannick Bolasie (6.0) made his return to the field in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph over Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, emerging in the second half for an 18-minute cameo. Prior to being ruled out, Bolasie bagged three goals and an assist in his last six league appearances, whereas in his nine-Gameweek absence, the Eagles have floundered on the attacking front – recording a pitiable four goals – so Alan Pardew will be desperate to reinstate the mercurial winger ahead of a trip to West Bromwich Albion.
Comparing the league’s full roster of midfielders in terms of their last four matches, Bolasie ranks third for attempts (15), joint-second for shots inside the box (nine) and joint-top for shots on target (nine), underlining his potential to flourish as a mid-priced differential. Bolasie was criticised for his poor finishing last term but has sharpened up that facet of his game this season, almost doubling his shot-conversion rate (5.8% to 10.3%).
In the wake of their morale-boosting win at White Hart Lane, Palace will fancy their chances of breaching a Baggies back line that’s mustered just three clean sheets in their previous 16 outings. Furthermore, Bolasie will certainly source encouragement from the revelation that West Brom have conceded the joint-second-most big chances (25) in home matches.
Memphis Depay
Memphis Depay (7.8) offered a snapshot of his manifest talents during Manchester United’s 5-1 win over FC Midtjylland, netting a driven strike and bamboozling the opposing full-backs with his explosive injections of pace and balletic footwork. In light of Wayne Rooney’s absence and Anthony Martial’s switch to the lone-striker berth, Depay would’ve expected to line up against Arsenal on Sunday. Now that Martial looks likely to sit out that head-to-head with a hamstring complaint, the Red Devils’ Dutch starlet could be their prime offensive threat at Old Trafford.
Despite clocking just 1109 minutes so far this campaign, Depay has chalked up just three fewer attempts (39 to 43) and one attempt shot on target (14 to 15) than Man United’s top shooter, Juan Mata. Clearly, the former PSV Eindhoven recruit has suffered from the second-worst shot-conversion rate (5.1%) among his midfield team-mates, yet his two goals in as many European starts over the past week suggests the tide is turning and will surely boost his confidence.
Although the Gunners have kept it tight at the back of late (two goals conceded in four), they’ve been far from impenetrable on their travels this season, shipping three goals to Liverpool and four to Southampton since Gameweek 18. As for United, their drive to win at all costs in pursuit of a Champions League berth could engender a more swashbuckling approach that’s conducive to attacking returns.
Jermain Defoe
Following a trio of eye-catching performances that culminated in a 2-1 win over Manchester United, Sunderland have courted our attention on the attacking front. As the Black Cats top scorer with 10 goals, Jermain Defoe (5.1) serves as an enticing pick-up in a Gameweek where highly owned forwards like Romelu Lukaku (35% ownership) and Sergio Aguero (29%) are facing blanks. Moreover, Wahbi Khazri – who notched eight key passes in first two starts – is shaping up to be the perfect foil to Sunderland’s poacher.
Defoe doesn’t chart high among his counterparts for attempts (44) this season, but he’s profited from clinical finishing: no forward that’s tallied over 1000 minutes of pitch time boasts a superior shot-conversion rate (22.4%). Prior to a road encounter against West Ham United, it’s also worth noting that seven of the diminutive frontman’s 10 goals have arrived in away fixtures.
Like Defoe, the Wearsiders as a whole have travelled well, ranking eighth for goals (17) and second for shot-conversion rate (13.5%). Indeed, Sam Allardyce’s squad netted seven time in their previous trio of away match-ups, which bodes well for a trip to the Boleyn Ground. Looking beyond that tussle, Sunderland play host to Palace’s generous defence, so there’s definitely scope for Defoe to embark on another purple patch.
