We end our review of Gameweek 24 tonight as we check back on the player, the team and the latest talking point to demand our attention.
A secure starting role has boosted Sergio Aguero’s form and helped shake up the template teams in Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
Stoke City got off to a winning start under Paul Lambert ahead of a batch of fixtures that could prove pivotal in their relegation fight.
Meanwhile, many are now looking to shed their Tottenham Hotspur assets as Mauricio Pochettino’s charges prepare to face three of their top five rivals in the next three rounds of fixtures.
The Player
In retrospect, Gabriel Jesus’ recent stint on the sidelines may have done FPL managers a favour.
Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy has mainly rendered both the Brazilian and Sergio Aguero as redundant options for our three-man frontlines due to the never-ending uncertainty over Manchester City teamsheets.
But with Jesus consigned to a spell the sidelines, fears have now eased over Aguero’s security of pitch-time and brought him back into contention as a Fantasy force.
This was underlined by his devastating three-goal haul at home to Newcastle that helped shake up many a mini-league, after Aguero went into Gameweek 24 as part of 10.3% of squads.
Since Jesus limped out of action at Crystal Palace on New Year’s Eve, the Argentine has started five of City’s last six in all competitions – the only exception being a sub role at home to Bristol City in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Over those fixtures, he has now scored eight times and is rekindling the prolific form that made him Fantasy royalty. Indeed, Aguero is level with Harry Kane for shots (17) in the last four Gameweeks and has fired more efforts in the box (15) than any player.
Although City remain hopeful that Jesus could be back for their first leg fixture against FC Basel in the Champions League next month, this still hands Aguero three very favourable league fixtures (WBA bur LEI).
As a result, FPL managers are wasting no time to acquire his services, with Aguero the number one transfer target ahead of next Tuesday night’s deadline.
At a point of the season where many are keen to move away from the template and opt for something different, his return to top form could barely be better timed.
The Team
After a wretched run of form that produced just four points from their previous eight league fixtures, Stoke City got off to an impressive winning start under Paul Lambert.
A 2-0 victory over Huddersfield Town boosted hopes that the Potters could follow in the footsteps of Leicester, Everton, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Swansea and become the latest club to profit from a mid-season change of manager.
Arguably, Lambert’s most impressive feat was delivering a clean sheet in his first match in charge – something that the bet365 side had last achieved in late October, back in Gameweek 10 away to Watford.
Encouragingly for Stoke, the Hornets are next up on their agenda in a run of six very strong matches (WAT bou BHA lei sot EVE) in the upcoming seven Gameweeks that appear vital to their chances of scrambling free of the relegation trapdoor.
As we’ve seen so often towards the business end of the campaign, relegation battlers, fighting for survival can so often prove a profitable source of Fantasy points.
Considering that they face Man City, Arsenal, Spurs, Burnley and Liverpool over Gameweek 30-36, this upcoming window could be the best time to consider taking a punt on the Potters.
Between the posts, Jack Butland has supplied 11 save points in his last seven starts alone. An average of 24.8 minutes per stop is placed fourth for keepers, though bearing in mind that the two directly above him – Karl Darlow and Wayne Hennessey – have question marks over their pitch-time, he’s potentially only ranking behind Lukasz Fabianski (23.2) among regulars.
Yet Butland’s price of 5.0 may well be too lofty for most, leaving us with new boy Moritz Bauer (4.5) as a cheaper alternative.
Since being handed his debut in Gameweek 23, the raiding right-back is second only to Xherdan Shaqiri among team-mates for key passes (three to five) and level with the playmaker for successful crosses, on three apiece.
Priced at 6.0 and 5.4 respectively, Shaqiri and Eric Choupo-Moting now have the platform to convince as budget midfield options.
Handed the flank roles in a 4-3-3, both supplied an assist in the Huddersfield encounter and boast the underlying numbers to back up their claims.
The Swiss international is second only to Kevin De Bruyne (12 to 13) for big chances created over the season, while Choupo-Moting sits fourth top midfielder for shots inside the box (37).
The Talking Point
After loading up on Spurs for their pair of Gameweek 22 matches, the upcoming three rounds of fixtures suggest that now is the time to consider bailing.
Home encounters against Man United and Arsenal, with a trip to Liverpool sandwiched in between, has played a major part in this week’s FPL transfer market – Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min find themselves among the top three midfielders sold, while Kane has suffered heavy losses in the rush to acquire Aguero.
Having stuttered to a 1-1 draw at Southampton, Spurs have made the decision relatively easy in many managers’ minds.
Certainly, the case for parting company with Eriksen and Dele Alli looks the most convincing.
From Gameweek 9 onwards, they have scored three goals apiece – combined, that’s still less than Son’s total of eight efforts.
In terms of explosive potential, too, they lag behind the South Korean.
Alli’s 15-point haul in Gameweek 20 is his only double-figure return of the season, while Eriksen has two – the last one being in Gameweek 8.
Son, on the other hand, has served up four sets of double-digits from Gameweek 10 onwards – that’s the same number as Kane.
Yet Toby Alderweireld’s potential weekend return to FA Cup action could pose problems for his pitch-time.
Although Son has started each of the last 10 Gameweeks, Spurs could revert to 3-4-2-1 with the Belgian back on board and place question marks over both his minutes and role in the XI.
The decision to offload Kane is the hardest one to call.
While those with room for two big-hitters up top can accommodate Kane and Aguero, managers with a mid-price option alongside the Spurs man face a tough dilemma.
As witnessed last week, with the fixtures favouring Aguero, backing him over Kane for the short-term at least could prove devastating.
Yet while Kane’s record against United – one goal in six league starts – also adds weight to the argument for ditching, he’s been fairly consistent against both Liverpool (four goals in six)
and Arsenal (six goals in six) in the league so far.
When considering our trades, it’s also worth looking beyond the next three, particularly for those with at least two Spurs attackers in their ranks.
From Gameweek 28 onwards, Pochettino’s men are ranked first in our season ticker in terms of attacking potential.
Spurs face just two of the current top seven in their final 11 league fixtures – away to Chelsea in Gameweek 32 and at home to Man City in Gameweek 34 – in a run that’s bound to bring them back into our plans.
Trading Kane out now, would likely reserve a second transfer to bring him back once Jesus is fit to compete with Aguero. That’s clearly a viable strategy, although with injuries already biting ahead of Gameweek 25 – notably Marco Arnautovic and Willian – every transfer seems precious right now.
We will bring you a Burning Question on this very issue later this week.
