Scouting the Doubles – The Defence

In the first of two articles, we focus on the double Gameweek 33 teams to assess the merits of acquiring their chief protagonists.

Crystal Palace and Everton collide in midweek at Selhurst Park but, before that, have weekend meetings with Norwich City and Watford respectively.

Starting at the back, we will scan their squads and offer a verdict on the strongest path for investment, whilst giving a nod to some riskier options for those willing to roll the dice on double Gameweek transfer targets.

Firstly, it’s important to be realistic from the outset – our expectations for defensive acquisitions for this opening double Gameweek are low, and largely dependent on the prospect of attacking returns.

While both the Gameweek 33 candidates follow up with a Gameweek 34 double, the form of both Everton and Palace offers little assurance of clean sheet points.

Everton have gone five without a shut-out, losing four of those matches and shipping eight goals. The Palace prospects appear even dimmer: they have conceded in each of their last 12 league outings.

Despite this, both teams, and Palace in particular, offer targets who are capable of chipping in with priceless goals. Indeed, the Eagles boast the most prolific defender in the Premier League.

While Scott Dann will set us back a hefty price of 5.7, his prowess in the box, coupled with Alan Pardew’s penchant for scripting effective set-plays, makes him worthy of serious consideration.

Dann also represents a secure acquisition. He has missed just a single league match all season and with Pardew’s men scrapping for points, it’s fair to assume that he offers the best chance of lining up in all four matches that make up Gameweek 33 and 34 for Palace. Furthermore, Dann netted Palace’s goal against the Toffees in a 1-1 draw at Goodison earlier in the season.

Should Dann’s price tag be a stretch too far, Damian Delaney (4.3) is on standby to attempt to fill the void. Brought into focus by last weekend’s goal at West Ham, the centre-back can also be a factor at set-plays and actually boasts a stronger CBI (Clearances, Blocks and Interceptions) per match average than Dann. However, arguably Delaney could be subject to rotation in the fourth fixture at Old Trafford, four days before the Palace FA Cup semi-final with Watford.

Like Delaney, Joel Ward (4.3) is kinder on the budget and has two goals to his name, while Papa Souare can be acquired for just 4.2. Both are options, although with Martin Kelly in reserve, rotation is more of a threat in the full-back area.

There’s no obvious candidate to rival Dann in the Everton camp.

With three goals to his name, Ramiro Funes Mori (5.5) has demonstrated a similar effectiveness at set-plays but was dropped to the bench to make way for the restored John Stones (5.4) at Manchester United on Sunday.

With little security on offer from that pair, it’s left to Phil Jagielka (5.1) to provide us with a stable, if somewhat unexciting option in the Toffees backline. Jagielka looks assured of starts, although with Stones and Mori as options and Everton bereft of motivation in the league, he could even be rested for one of the four double Gameweek encounters.

Seamus Coleman (5.8) could be the key differential on show. Like Everton, the Irishman has suffered a hugely frustrating campaign but has still mustered a goal and three assists in 24 starts. With Leighton Baines seemingly locked in rotation with Bryan Oviedo on the left, risking returns from Coleman’s right-flank raids looks a valid route if you’re hunting unexpected attacking points.

The dearth of assured Everton options in defence certainly promotes keeper Joel Robles (4.3) in our thinking.

The Spaniard, like Palace’s Wayne Hennessey (4.2) resides firmly in the budget bracket and, as a result, appears to offer the optimum route for Toffees cover at the back.

The Watford trip, coupled with a home tie against Southampton in Gameweek 34, look to provide a semblance of clean sheet potential. We can also hope for save points, although surprisingly, Robles has gathered just three in his seven league starts thus far: he averages a save every 47 minutes to Hennessey’s 37 minutes.

When you consider the Gameweek 34 fixtures, Robles’ clean sheet prospects look the stronger of the two and, with Dann and Delaney’s set-piece promise leaning us towards the Palace back four, we’re currently favouring the Everton stopper.

The Top Target

Scott Dann – the most secure option in the Palace rearguard, Dann is a fire and forget option laced with the promise of attacking returns. If you have the funds, his presence at set-plays gives him a goal threat that betters many of the Eagles midfield and attack.

The Differential

Seamus Coleman – an attacking full-back who can promise goals and assists, his key stats, including penalty area touches, are all enhanced from last season’s displays. However, like Everton, his form over the last four Gameweeks has been dismal. A pricey gamble.