Two Gameweeks on from the last ‘Should have done better’ article, we have plenty of data to analyse as we look at those who have managed to post returns following a period of strong underlying stats.
Further down the article I will include a Members exclusive section. This will assess the latest data in a bid to find players that the underlying statistics suggest could offer attacking returns during Gameweek 5.
Since the last article, another August has passed where Harry Kane was unable to find the net. Thank goodness for September, for Harry and his owners, who were finally rewarded for their persistence with his brace against Everton let weekend.
This article is based around my ‘Should have done better’ tables for midfielders and forwards.
The higher on the list a midfielder is, the more chances that they have created for their team mates, and the higher on the list a forward is, the more goal attempts that they have registered – all while failing to be in the points.
Gameweek 3 Review
Filtered by Gameweek range 1 to 2, the underachieving players ahead of Gameweek 3 were as follows;
Forwards
Midfielders
Analysis
There were a total of 18 players who posted promising underlying stats, but failed to get into the points. Of these 15 played some part in Gameweek 3 – with Marko Arnautovic suspended, Dwight Gayle unwell, and Mame Biram Diouf injured. Amongst the remaining playing players, there were five returns; a 1 in 3 success rate.
Interestingly, across both tables, there was a stark contrast between the success of midfielders and forwards; there were four forwards in the points (a 57.14% success rate, from the seven playing forwards), but only one midfielder in the points (a 12.5% success rate, from the eight playing midfielders).
The players on the list, who proved in Gameweek 3 that they can, and have, done better were:
Robbie Brady – His eight points in Gameweek 3 (including all three bonus points, on the road, against a strong Tottenham side) demonstrate that consistency, for Brady, has been key. Seven goal attempts and 10 chances created up to and including Gameweek 3, including games against both Chelsea and Tottenham away, demonstrate Brady’s appeal. He looks to be involved in much of the attacking action for a Burnley side that will hope to build on their comparatively meagre 39 goals last season.
Jay Rodriguez – Two goals in a week for Rodriquez- one in the Carabao Cup, and his first league goal of the season against Stoke – have opened his West Brom account. Second in the ‘Should have done better’ table over the first two weeks, with six goal attempts and three chances created, it did seem as though it was only a matter of time until the Englishman – whose recent career has been blighted by injury – got off the mark for his new club.
Gabriel Jesus – After a Gameweek 1 where Jesus was a bright spark in a relatively flat Manchester City side, and a Gameweek 2 where he was hooked at half time (albeit, through no fault of his own), many thought it would be his Argentinian strike partner who would be given the berth of City’s ‘main man’. Instead, in Gameweek it was Sergio Aguero who was consigned to the bench, allowing Jesus a starting role in which he did not disappoint. A goal, and a total of nine points, meant that those who persevered with the Brazilian were duly rewarded. However, will the uncertainty in the ‘Aguero or Jesus’ debate hinder any strong backing of either forward as a Fantasy asset? Many will probably find it easier to avoid both altogether, at least until more is known as to who is the preferred option up front; if, indeed, there is one.
Tammy Abraham – After a stellar season on loan at Championship side Bristol City, Chelsea forward Abraham has set about trying to prove he can perform on a bigger stage via his current loan deal with Swansea. Observations from his first couple of games thi indicate that there is definitely potential for him to get into double-figures for goals this season. However, as a player, he seems to require slight refinement, and perhaps composure, to be able to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, although his scruffy goal against struggling Crystal Palace would have done his confidence the world of good. It does remain to be seen though, whether his position will be under threat from the signing of Wilfried Bony, or whether they will be utilised together in what could prove to be a formidable front line.
Ayoze Perez – An assist in Newcastle’s dominant performance against West Ham has relieved Perez of his position in the ‘Should have done better’ table. A lot of Perez’s appeal will revolve around whether Newcastle are able to keep up their goal scoring exploits, because unfortunately, they won’t be playing West Ham every week.
Gameweek 4 Review
Filtered by Gameweek range 2 to 3, the underachieving players ahead of Gameweek 4 were as follows;
Midfielders
Forwards
Analysis
There were 20 players in the list for Gameweek 4, with eight posing returns, via am impressive six goals and eight assists.
The players in Gameweek 4 who were able to turn strong underlying stats into tangible returns were:
Kevin de Bruyne – The Belgian’s recent deployment as a more defensively-minded midfielder led to mass sales ahead of a tricky (on paper, at least) fixture against a Liverpool team high on confidence. He defied both form and fixture to deliver a pair of assists in a five goal drubbing, and a demonstration of what inspired more than 1.2 million people to add him to their initial squads. With eight chances created the two games prior, there was definitely the promise for one of these key passes to be converted, and for the much awaited points to come.
Xherdan Shaqiri, Solly March and Tom Cleverley – An assist a piece for this midfield trio, who each registered their first returns of the season. Shaqiri, with seven chances created (second to only de Bruyne) had the most impressive stats of the three from the above table, and also arguably had the toughest opposition in a Manchester United team who were yet to concede. March (4 chances created in Gameweeks 2-3) and Cleverley (3 chances created) posted comparatively modest underlying stats, but both contributed towards their teams victories at the weekend.
Harry Kane – I wonder what it is about August that Harry Kane dislikes? Maybe he just likes to give his competition a head start in the race for the Golden Boot? Maybe he enjoys toying with his Fantasy managers? Either way, we’re glad it’s over. Against Everton he delivered two goals and 13 points – the sort of return expected of the most expensive asset in the game. Those without Kane will now surely need to be investing in a large sofa for the Gameweeks to come, ahead of four mouth-watering fixtures (SWA, whm, hud, BOU) for the Englishman.
Danny Welbeck – From one English striker to another; Danny most definitely justified his place in the Arsenal team ahead of the favourable clash with Bournemouth. His FPL tally of 16 points, via two goals and an assist was a truly impressive haul. But it will be unlikely going forward that he will be able to keep Alexis Sanchez out of the team. However, dependent on Sanchez’s attitude going forward, Danny has given himself the best possible chance to retain his role.
Sergio Aguero – The tug of war between the Argentine, and his fellow South American strike partner Jesus, seems to have flipped momentum every Gameweek prior to last weekend, when the strike partnership blossomed. No returns for the Argentine in the two Gameweeks prior to Liverpool’s visit, Aguero went on to open the scoring, and selflessly set-up Jesus for his second (and City’s third) of the day. Aguero’s assist for Jesus’ second would have had Pep Guardiola purring; his two star strikers playing alongside each other to excellent effect – a budding strike partnership in the making. Knowing Pep, will only mean one thing in GW5; they will both be starting the game on the bench
Tomer Hemed – Brighton’s first goals of the season came in the 3-1 victory over West Bro with the Israeli bagging himself a goal and assist in the rout. Overshadowed by his brace scoring team-mate Pascal Gross on the day, Hemed provides a cut-price option (£4.9m) into the Brighton attack and a possibly candidate for third striker for those opting for 3-5-2.
