Selection
16 September 2016 1699 comments
James H James H
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One of our three picks last week, Kelechi Iheanacho produced the goods in Man City’s 2-1 win in the Manchester derby, registering a goal and assist, and looks a good bet to plunder further attacking returns against Bournemouth tomorrow.

For our selections this time around, we fancy Wilfried Zaha to build on his promising performance against Middlesbrough, while we also call upon two of last season’s top performers, Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic and Watford’s Troy Deeney.

Marko Arnautovic

Like the rest of his Stoke team-mates, Marko Arnautovic has endured a difficult start to the campaign, having failed to produce any attacking returns so far.

Mark Hughes’ men have faced high-flying Man City, Everton and Tottenham, though, with Sunday’s clash at Palace the beginning of a very kind run of matches (cpl, WBA, SUN, hul, SWA) for the Potters over the next six Gameweeks.

The Austrian has interestingly racked up some pretty impressive underlying statistics, ranking joint-fifth among midfielders for both penalty box touches (22) and shots from inside the box (seven). The problem has been his lack of accuracy in front of goal, with just one of 11 attempts on target.

A lack of production this season has seen his value fall from a starting price of 7.5 in FPL to 7.3, but having scored 11 goals and provided six assists last season, there’s no doubt the Stoke man has the credentials to once again emerge as one of the leading mid-price midfield options.

So coming up against a Palace side that has yet to keep a clean sheet, Arnautovic, who has seen his ownership plummet to 1.4% in FPL, is a player whose proven pedigree means he could be worth rolling the dice on for the coming period should you be looking to make up lost ground.

Wilfried Zaha

Dropped to the bench for the Gameweek 3 clash against Bournemouth amid speculation linking him with a move to Spurs, Wilfried Zaha was restored to Crystal Palace’s starting XI against Middlesbrough last weekend.

The winger immediately vindicated Alan Pardew’s decision with a spectacular performance that registered a goal and assist in the 2-1 win.

Zaha’s underlying statistics hadn’t been overly impressive heading into the Gameweek 4 clash, though, managing two shots from inside the box and only three key passes.

But with Christian Benteke likely to improve on a week-by-week basis as he builds up his match fitness, the 5.4-priced midfielder now looks an attractive budget option given he now has a proven Premier League striker to finish off his good work from out wide.

On the back of a 12-point haul against ‘Boro, Zaha now faces off against a Stoke side that has conceded 10 goals so far, more than any other side, and have also allowed the most shots from inside the box (42).

Currently sitting in just 2.6% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) squads, Zaha, who won the club’s Player of the Year award last term, could provide strong value in the short-term given the plum home fixture against the Potters is followed by a trip to struggling Sunderland.

Troy Deeney

It’s a slightly longer term outlook that has also brought Watford’s Troy Deeney into our thinking.

The Hornets skipper bagged his first goal of the season against West Ham last weekend, and following Sunday’s tough match-up at home to Man United, the 6.9-rated forward faces a very soft looking schedule (bur, BOU, mid, swa, HUL).

One of the major plus points regarding Deeney’s prospects is that fact he is Watford’s penalty taker. He converted six of his seven spot-kicks last term, and with more penalties being awarded this season, it’s increasingly becoming a crucial factor in deciding which attacking players to target.

Deeney has only totalled three shots from inside the box so far this season, though, which is a slight concern. But Walter Mazzarri’s side have had a tricky start to the season, taking on three of last season’s top seven and Chelsea, so those numbers should increase against weaker opposition.

Currently owned by just 3.2% of FPL bosses, Deeney should attract more investment over the coming weeks, particularly for those looking for a cheaper third forward in order to carry at least two heavy hitters in midfield, alongside the likes of Sergio Aguero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in attack.

1,699 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    A lot of my players due in my WC tonight look like they're due to rise - the won't rise before I put them in at half 7 will they?

    Baines is one.

    1. FPL Notebook (John)
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Correct. You have until 2am to get them in

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Nope - price rises usually happen in the early hours of the morning

  2. Bubz
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    FFS Firmino.

    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Are u making a TF? Looks legit

    2. Ziro
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      The tweet doesn't say he is out, just that he had a minor thing. Could still start..

      1. Bubz
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 24 days ago

        No smoke without fire. I reckon he'll start on the bench

      2. PvA
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 24 days ago

        Clutching at straws imo

      3. RoysCallerAnne
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 24 days ago

        He wasn't in training pics apparently

  3. PM
    • 17 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    QUICK POLL:

    1. Kane, Bolasie

    2. Bony, KDB

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      1

  4. Fishy-o
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    McCauley > Williams?

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Yes

    2. Rhodes your boat
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Yes

  5. Lizard Lips
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Who to captain?
    (a) Ihanacheo
    (b) KDB
    (c) Ibra
    (d) Lukaku

  6. Licky
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Isn't Firmino's wife/girlfriend pregnant? Possible explanation?

    1. John t penguin
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      What that she hit him?

    2. PvA
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      He travelled with the squad... dunno why he wouldn't just play if he is there

      Maybe a mental thing

      1. Licky
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 24 days ago

        Possibly. Maybe its urgent and he's actually on his way back to Liverpool?

  7. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Ppl on wildcard, last minute switch to Mane?

    1. James H
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Can't afford him!

  8. toerag
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    im doing it!!

    'Nacho (c)

    ...(steps away from keyboard and goes for a beer)...

    hatty and 2 assists!!!!

    1. Aladdin Sané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      I'm with you...hope you're right!

    2. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      My Sterling (c) with the other 2 + 3 assists?

  9. Ibralicious
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Start:

    A)Kingsley

    1. Ibralicious
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Or B) Kelly **

  10. John t penguin
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Phew almost did an early go firmino transfer
    It's a sign to keep transfer

  11. Kaneyonero
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Ok Firmino to Nolito?

    1. Ibralicious
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Go for it

    2. Gaffa914
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      I have and given the armband to nolito

  12. Judas
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Thoughts? I am probably wildcarding next week so will be dropping Costa for Aguero anyway!

    A: Iheanacho (C) No Hit
    B: Costa ---> Lukaku (C) For a hit

    1. Aladdin Sané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      A

    2. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      A

    3. Norman Conquest
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      i went b and hope it pays off

  13. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Luiz...the Ultimate differential, can't wait to see him have a go at some free-kicks in around the goal

  14. Stockport Hatter
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Last minute jitters here guys....

    Who to start, Capoue or Barkley???

    1. Fischy
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Bakley, i play both 😉

      1. Stockport Hatter
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 24 days ago

        Cn'r drop Haz San or Ant plus Luk Cos or Tekkers

  15. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    One less thing to worry about this GW with Firmino being out.

  16. Rhodes your boat
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Right guys only just got chance to sort this
    Help?!
    Foster Pickford
    Baines Valencia stones Evans Amat
    Barkley lamela haz Sanchez Capoue
    Ibra Costa grabban

    1) bring in firmino for Barkley or
    2) save ft and do Costa >Aguero
    Sanchez> firmino
    And maybe Barkley >Antonio in gw6

  17. Camp No No
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Hey, any other injury news than Firmino? Have hardly given a thought to PL or FPL all week.

    1. PvA
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      No
      Shaw expected to start

      1. Camp No No
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 24 days ago

        Okay.... that seems uninteresting. How about Nolito?

    2. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Giroud and Silva.

      1. the axolotl
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 24 days ago

        giroud only a doubt no?

      2. Camp No No
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 24 days ago

        Giroud injured? Silva I had heard is, yeah. Noltio appealing then?

  18. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Ready? (C)aku is coming!

    Heaton
    Baines McAuley Shaw
    Hazard Sterling Antonio Ozil
    Lukaku(C) Zlatan(VC) Benteke

    Pickford Capoue Collins Amat

    1. Jonty Rhodes
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      very good and very close to my team. Do you think mine is good to go?

      Foster (Heaton)
      Baines, Valencia, Mc Auley, Collins (Amat)
      Ozil, Hazard, Antonio, Capoue (Januzaj)
      Lukaku, Ibrahimovic (c) (Diaomande)

      4.9m in bank. no FT.

      1. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 24 days ago

        Ready it is!

        1. Jonty Rhodes
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 24 days ago

          Thanks buddy - always good to get a nod from someone. good luck!

  19. FPL Maldini
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Firminho out for....

    A) Townsend and Antonio

    B) Mane and Fer

  20. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    How likely Aguero goes down tonight?

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Not looking likely at the mo

    2. I Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Highly unlikely.

  21. Gaffa914
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Hahaha just transferred nolito in for firmino. Should I go the whole way and captain nolito over kelechi and ibra?

    1. Camp No No
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Not bad idea. Except, how sure are you that Nolito even starts?

  22. I AM GROOT!!!
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    captain help please??
    1. Ibra
    2. Lukaku
    3. Kevin De Bryune
    4. Hazard
    5. Mahrez

    Currently with Lukaku!! 🙁

    1. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Lukaku

  23. TitusShambles
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    DDG or Foster for this GW?

  24. That Fantasy Guy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Who to captian?..
    A. Lukaku
    B. Ibrahimovic

    Thanks

    1. Cantonas Demons
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      I have gone Ibra due to 50% ownership over Lukaku

  25. #23
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Will Barkley play?

  26. Bubz
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Tempted by Firmino to Alli or Sterling

    1. OLEgend
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Keep Firmino for long term

    2. Gaffa914
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Nolito if you can afford?

  27. OLEgend
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Predictions for Westbrom vs Westham match?

  28. CunkOnFPL
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Play Capoue or Long?

    1. OLEgend
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Long might not start this week

      1. CunkOnFPL
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 24 days ago

        So Capoue?

  29. Jonty Rhodes
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Good to go? Please advise.

    Foster (Heaton)
    Baines, Valencia, Mc Auley, Collins (Amat)
    Ozil, Hazard, Antonio, Capoue (Januzaj)
    Lukaku, Ibrahimovic (c) (Diaomande)

    4.9m in bank. no FT.

  30. willl
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 24 days ago

    Should I bench Firmino for Capoue or hope he comes on and does something?

    1. PvA
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 24 days ago

      Yes