Digest

The Digest – Gameweek 14

Alexis Sanchez breaks the rules, a five-star Spurs get drowned out and Sergio Aguero prepares to split the Fantasy Football community. We say goodbye to possibly the most extraordinary Gameweek of the season so far.

The Player

The policy is that no single player can claim this spot in consecutive articles but, such is the impact of Alexis Sanchez’ 23-point haul, there could be no denying the Chilean.

Arriving in the same Gameweek as Sergio Aguero’s dramatic capitulation, Sanchez has perhaps signalled a shift that will influence our entire seasons.

More on that in a moment.

For now, let’s revel in the brilliance of Sanchez, who seems to defy the modern theories of football and produce devastating performances when firmly stalking in “the red zone”.

He’s a player who, physically, appears to operate on a different plane.

He boasts an endurance and robust strength that can carry through match after match, bouncing off challenges and recovering from tweaks and niggles that perhaps would derail lesser talents.

On his current trajectory, it’s difficult to see Sanchez stalling.

Olivier Giroud remains a factor, but Arsene Wenger would be taking a risk turning to his “Plan B” option at this point. It might yet arrive over the busy festive schedule but, as of now, Sanchez looks to be a force of nature that can only punish us further should we attempt to resist.

Park the debate surrounding Eden Hazard – he remains a key figure ahead of Chelsea’s ridiculously obliging fixtures.

We need to find a way to accommodate both – a seemingly impossible task last month, now made all the more obtainable by Aguero’s misdemeanours.

The Team

In any other Gameweek, the performances and output of both Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane would have snatched the headlines.

Added to this, Son Heung-min sneaked back into form with a spectacular goal, backed by an assist.

With Mauricio Pochettino also claiming a sixth clean sheet in the demolition of Swansea City, it’s clear that we are dealing with a team that can provide solutions for our squads across all positions.

Harry Kane’s form is undeniable. Firing five goals in four outings since his return from injury, he has provided an all-too-convenient solution in the light of Aguero’s combustion. It’s no surprise to see his ownership and price ascending at pace.

But Eriksen and Son may just go unnoticed as a result.

Up until Gameweek 13, the Dane had been a frustrating figure who had failed to deliver on his impressive underlying numbers. But three goals and an assist in his past two Gameweek appearances have seen him bubble up.

Son could also enjoy a renaissance.

The South Korean has only this week stated that his recent form has been blighted by injury, a factor that may explain his decline in output leading to him slipping back under the radar.

Reduced to just 7.2 ahead of last weekend, Son has since enjoyed an increase in ownership and, while rotation could be a concern, he may yet present a profitable complimentary asset to Kane as our striker.

At the back, both Danny Rose and Kyle Walker remain mainstays.

Both could see rests in Gameweek 16, which could see us switch sights to a fit-again Toby Alderweireld.

Now down to 6.3, the Belgian is a class act, a likely ever-present and a menacing goal threat at set-pieces.

Alderweireld has big scores to come and, should he prove his fitness tonight or at Old Trafford on Sunday, he surely has to be a new target heading into the White Hart Lane meetings with Hull City and Burnley.

The Talking Point

We surely have to rethink our stance on Sergio Aguero.

Just as Diego Costa is a different beast, so it seems we are left to contend with a new version of Aguero – one that still threatens goals but also comes packaged with a streak that can render him sidelined.

While we were perhaps willing to walk a tightrope for a 9.5 Costa, once again, we have to re-assess Aguero in the light of his price tag.

If Sanchez, Kane, Costa and Hazard can deliver over the festive period while the Argentine sits in the stands, it’s difficult to imagine many rushing back to re-install the City striker.

Typically, the fixture list smiles kindly on Pep Guardiola’s men on Aguero’s return from contention.

Clearly, the temptation will be great and, with winter Wildcards in play, we are likely to see a huge split in the Fantasy Premier League community.

Aguero was designed to be a fire and forget option. A one-stop signing and captaincy candidate, only to be replaced when the hamstrings gave way.

We could not have foreseen the events so far this season or the fact that Aguero would influence our campaigns not with his points, but by serving us uncertainty and dilemmas at regular intervals.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

887 Comments Post a Comment
  1. tm370
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Would appreciate some advice:

    A) bring in alonso for holebas and play Anichebe and alonso?
    B) bring in Sig for Allen and play sig and holebas? (bench Anichebe)
    C) bring in Alonso and Sig for Allen and Kosc (-4) and bench Anichebe.

    Rest of my starting eleven will be pickford,
    Kosc, lovren,------
    Hazard, Eriksen, sanchez, firminio, ----
    Kane, Austin

    Anichebe on bench/starting.

    1. tm370
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Obviously the non-Sig route gives me a lot more money left over, with which I'd probably bring in a Spurs defender in the following week, and a Southampton/Fer in for Allen the week after.

    2. Schwarzer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Tough. A

      1. tm370
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers buddy.

        Anyone else?

    3. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I might go with B. But all are decent options.

  2. Schwarzer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    What would you do for a FT? Alonso likely to rise in price today.

    A) Kosc (STO) > Alonso (WBA)
    B) Allen (ars) > Can (WHM)
    C) Save

    Not the worst fixture for Kosc but Arsenal can't keep a clean sheet, Chelsea have a decent fixture and I want Alonso long term anyway.
    Cheers.

    1. tm370
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I like B as Allen has lost his place atm in a different set up, whereas Can will return occasional points by virtue of playing in a good attacking Liverpool side.

    2. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      B if allen is your 4th mid. Otherwise A looks good

    3. Hurricane Gilbert
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      A

    4. Schwarzer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks lads.

      Would you do both for a hit? Or play Marney (BOU)?

  3. Tsumo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Long term (6-10GWs) if money was no option, which two premium defenders would you choose:
    1. 1xChelsea, 1xArsenal
    2. 1xChelsea, 1xManUtd
    3. 1xChelsea, 1xSpurs
    4. 2xChelsea

    1. dhamphiir
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      3

    2. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      3

    3. Schwarzer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      3. But I'd be wary of fullback rotation with Spurs.

    4. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      Start with 4 and then assess which other team is looking defensively solid and change one of the Chelsea defenders after their good run of fixtures.

    5. Az
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      definitely not 2 or 1 (for now)

      probably 3.

    6. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 3 months ago

      I have 3. Would love to add another Chelsea

  4. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Cech (Jaku)
    Amat Alonso Cedric (Pieters Love)
    Hazard Sanchez (VC) Firmino Snodgrass (De Roon)
    Costa (C) Anichebe Kane

    Good to go for this gameweek? 1.7 itb

    need to do 2 transfers for gw16, Probably Love + Snodgrass > Alder + Phillips??

  5. Vela's chip
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Pickford
    Brunt, Ake, Jones (Amat, Pieters)
    Alexis, Hazard, Ozil, Sigurdsson (Fraser)
    Kane, Costa, Anichebe

    0.3 itb

    Thoughts?

  6. George James
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Have I got this starting line up right?

    Cech
    Francis Lovren Williams
    Hazard Firminio Sanchez capoue
    Kane Austin Costa

    Pickford Amat Vertonghen Allen

  7. daviyb
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    I suppose it can be taken as a lifelong lesson; sometimes you don't want to be too right! I have had Sanchez and Hazard (as well as Mane & Walcott) in the mid, obviously with the condition of being Aguero-free. I was more than content for Kun to get the odd brace to keep my league opponents completely on the hook. I have been, and remain so, quite confident that both Hazard & Sanchez outscore Kun this season. This bloody 4 game suspension though has served to alert the world and it's aunt to the benefits of no Kun; the odd niggle or one game suspension would have been a lot more feasible in keeping the other lads in my league firmly entrenched with Kun.

  8. Lecky Legs FC
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone got Premier League as a like of Facebook just watched thier #GoalOfTheDay# video and it was Matt Ritchie's worldy against Sunderland last season can't wait to have him in my FPL squad next year for when Newcastle get promoted back up

  9. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Last question and then will lock the team
    Answer these.
    A) Defoe or costa as captain?
    B) Allen out for siggy (-8)

  10. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 3 months ago

    Last question and then will lock the team
    Answer these.
    A) Defoe or costa as captain?
    B) Allen out for siggy (-8)

    Stop me from over thinking!!!