Opinion
3 April 2018 1326 comments
James H James H
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Our coverage of Gameweek 32 concludes now as we assess the latest player, team and talking point to draw our attention from the previous round of matches.

Marko Arnautovic steps up his form just as the fixtures turn against West Ham United. Spurs sweep aside Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to announce their intentions ahead of a very favourable run-in. Meanwhile, a quick return for Harry Kane seems set to change the plans of many Fantasy managers as we look to exploit the Double Gameweeks.

The Player

After a run of three straight blanks, just 21,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers acquired Marko Arnautovic for Gameweek 32.

With many focused on bringing in Double Gameweek 34 assets, the West Ham United midfielder boasted a mere 4% ownership as he served up two goals and 16 FPL points in the 3-0 home win over Southampton.

That brace at the London Stadium continued the Austrian’s remarkable transformation since a change of position under manager David Moyes.

Moved up front at home to Chelsea in Gameweek 16, he fired the winner in a 1-0 victory.

Since then, Arnautovic is second only to Mohamed Salah in midfield for both goals (nine to 17) and shots on target (21 to 29).

He also places among the top five midfielders for total attempts (40), efforts in the box (30) and big chances (11) over that timeframe.

Indeed, with nine goals, four assists and ten bonus points accrued from Gameweek 16 onwards, he’s averaged 7.4 points per match as a centre-forward.

But one look at West Ham’s fixture list suggests that Arnautovic will keep that differential tag over the run-in.

Clashes against Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City in three of the next four leave just a home encounter with former club Stoke in Gameweek 34 as the most promising match on his short-term agenda.

With an expected Double Gameweek 37 likely to comprise of matches against Leicester and Man United, Moyes’ men don’t have it easy, though a visit from Everton in the final round of fixtures offers a silver lining.

That schedule indicates that the Hammers will still have everything to play for as the season unfolds, ensuring that Arnautovic remains firing on all cylinders as one of the most explosive out-of-position options around.

The Team

Spurs picked the perfect time to finally end their 28-year wait for a win at Stamford Bridge, all but extinguishing Chelsea’s hopes of claiming a top-four finish in the process.

Now eight points ahead of the fifth-placed Blues, Mauricio Pochettino’s men are braced for an outstanding run-in that pits them against just two top-half opponents from this point onwards.

While the big news pre-match was all about the return of Harry Kane, it was notable that the north London outfit’s big-hitters all delivered in his absence – indeed, they were already 3-1 up by the time he emerged from the bench on 74 minutes.

With Kane now expected to be recalled to the staring XI away to Stoke, the concerns over Son Heung-min’s rivalry with Erik Lamela for pitch-time may persuade many to now limit their targets in midfield.

Handily, Dele Alli’s brace and Christian Eriksen’s stunning equaliser showcased their points potential as we start firming up our plans for the remainder of the season.

As one of just six sides expected to offer two Double Gameweeks, the Spurs attack looks conducive to Fantasy investment.

In defence, though, Pochettino’s tendency to rotate at full-back means that centre-half Jan Vertonghen is the only secure pick into a rearguard that’s the third most resilient for both clean sheets (14) and goals against, with 26.

While 11 starts in 12 on the left underline Ben Davies’ potential, his omission from the squad as recently as the Gameweek 30 trip to Bournemouth shows that the Welshman’s acquisition doesn’t come without a degree of risk.

That’s likely to ensure that most of us will focus mainly on the Spurs attack as Pochettino’s men look to maintain the form that’s seen them lose just once in 19 matches across all competitions since the turn of the year.

The Talking Point

Kane’s speedy recovery and late cameo has already impacted on the FPL market.

Sold by over 1.1m over the previous two rounds of fixtures, the Spurs frontman is the top transfer target for Gameweek 33 ahead of a trip to a Stoke side that he’s fired eight goals past in the last four league meetings.

Roberto Firmino has been the major fall guy. Devoid of a Double Gameweek and with just a goal and assist in four, the Liverpool forward has earned more than 52,000 sales already.

Over 30,000 have parted company with Romelu Lukaku for Man United’s trip to the Etihad – overlooking the Belgian’s four goals and two assists in six and a Double Gameweek 34 against West Brom and Bournemouth.

Meanwhile, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s brace against the Potters took his tally to 6.5 points per match since arriving at Arsenal. Given that Arsene Wenger’s side, along with United and Spurs, are also expected to offer us a Double Gameweek 37, his case for inclusion has built nicely following Sunday’s 13-point haul.

While those still with Wildcards to wield can shuffle their packs accordingly, those without both a Wildcard and Kane now face a major decision.

Surprisingly, the Spurs man has managed just one double-digit haul from Gameweek 22 onwards.

Yet with an anticipated Double Gameweek 37 against West Brom and Newcastle, Kane will be a heavy favourite for the captaincy and Triple Captain chip at that point.

While overlooking him altogether looks a very risky tactic in light of Spurs’ fixtures and form, the decision when to bring in Kane may ultimately prove a decisive one in our quest for a final surge up the rankings.

We will have a Burning Question, surveying the views of some leading and experienced FPL managers on the Kane issue, later this week.

  1. Epic Fail
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    I'm guessing we're all tuning into JuveFanTV tonight.

    1. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Nah

      They will all be singing Ronaldo's praises

    2. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      How do you say “blood” and “fam” in Italian?

      1. Sim Simma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        sangue fam

      2. EmreCan Hustle
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        Blud

    3. Pochecinno
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      "Even Tottenham beat them, fam. Tottenham!"

      (In Italian)

      1. Sim Simma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        Did they now ?? 🙂

        1. Pochecinno
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 23 days ago

          Ask the Italian Troopz. I'm just quoting him 😉

  2. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Marcelo 0-3

  3. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Overhead kicks are nowhere near as hard as people make them out to be, the hardest bit is making sure you don’t break your neck on landing, both require a fair bit of luck

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Especially hard not to break your neck when you've got a head as big as Ronaldo does.

        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 23 days ago

          Why are neither of them of him though?

          1. Epic Fail
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 23 days ago

            Niall Quinn and David Beckham

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      That came sweetly off his boot.

      No off-the-shin nonsense like Rooney against City.

    3. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Shooting on target is apparently hard for a lot of professional footballers, including Salah, let alone scoring whilst upside-down, looking in the wrong direction.

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        Upside down and looking in the wrong direction? No luck at all needed there then

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 23 days ago

          The thing is with things that have a lot of luck involved is that you need a lot of skill to reduce the amount of luck involved.

          Imagine watching a first-time footballer trying to do that! They'd be able to score a penalty before they could do an overhead kick. They'd be able to do a lot of impressive stuff before they pulled the overhead off!

          1. Deulofail
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 23 days ago

            I have to admit, your point is flying completely over my head, though. Why is it easy if it's lucky? There's no skill involved? Only the boldness of character to try it? And success rate is completely random?

          2. Epic Fail
            • 15 Years
            8 years, 23 days ago

            Being able to connect requires skill but I'd say where the ball ends up requires quite a bit of luck. I bet pretty much none of the overhead kicks we see go in actually hit the area of the goal the player was aiming for. Other than obviously just trying to hit it towards the goal.

            1. Deulofail
              • 10 Years
              8 years, 23 days ago

              I believe that, as with all thing, the more you practice, the better you are, the better you are. I understand what you're saying, and the main reason I agree to some extent is that I assume footballers don't spend much time practising overhead kicks, which means there are no real experts, and each overhead kick is a true improvisation. But that doesn't mean the chances of them getting it on target or near where they intended is random. Some players will naturally be better than others, given 1000 overhead kick attempts.

              1. Epic Fail
                • 15 Years
                8 years, 23 days ago

                Aye, true. It's a case of Ronaldo making his own luck by using his own skill to connect in the first place. Some players wouldn't even be able to connect. So because he connected so sweetly the amount of luck he needs to hit the goal is reduced. Whereas for someone who mishits it with their shin they need far more luck because that connection could end up anywhere.

                Reading that back I don't even understand what I'm saying myself, so good luck to you if you somehow get what I'm trying to say. 😀

                1. Deulofail
                  • 10 Years
                  8 years, 23 days ago

                  Haha it seems to me that both you and WR are saying that overhead kicks are really hard and so therefore very easy 😛 😆

    4. COLLIN QUANER
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      I always forget you're a retired professional, Wild Rover.

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        You are not alone 😉

  4. Monkey Hanger
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Got rid of King Harold in GW25. OR has gone from 300k to 50k since.

    Probably more to do with me not having Kane to tempt me away from captaining Salah.

    But goes to show he is not necessary. Which is a bit of a surprise to myself.

  5. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Ronaldo on 19pts including BAPS ... Should have captained him

    1. Darklord_bg
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Always captain Ronaldo

  6. Chokkie
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Thoughts on this WC? All chips intact

    DDG, Ryan
    Alonso, Bavies/Vert, Tark, Lowton, Chilwell
    Salah, Mahrez, Willian, Lingard, Kenedy
    Kane, Lukaku, Barnes

    Cheers!

    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      What's the plan? BB GW34?

      1. Chokkie
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        Yep.

        BB 34, FH 35, TC 37

    1. The Mandalorian
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Cue crouch’s robot dance

    2. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      You follow Peter Crouch 😯

  7. KLOPPTOMANIA
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Stick?

    DDG (Ryan)
    Alonso Mustafi Morgan (Tark Lawton)
    Mahrez Salah Willian Groß (Gudmundson)
    Lukaku Vardy Auber

    1. puhd
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Definitely

      1. KLOPPTOMANIA
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        Thanks

  8. rnrd
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    How do you rate Mustafi's nailness?
    I'm quite concerned about EL fixtures being quite close to PL games

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      B+

    2. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      😆

      I love this question

    3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      66.4%

    4. Ghost Gooner
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      66% (will miss 1 in 3 games) as Kos is the main concern and Holding/Chambers are terrible together

  9. Zladan
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    I don’t know I’ve seen many better goals in real time. The importance, the opposition, the technique.

    He did Buffon dirty.

    1. Dannyb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Best one I've seen real time is Rooney bicycle against City, without a shadow of a doubt.

      1. Epic Fail
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        That one hit his shin didn't it?

        1. how now brown cow
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 23 days ago

          Yes. Ronaldo better.

          Very different type of goal but got to love zlatan's v England too.

          1. Rainer
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 23 days ago

            Coates vs QPR etc the list goes on 😉

      2. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        Rooney's doesn't have anything on what just happened!

      3. el polako
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        If only Rooney had half of the Ronaldo's work ethic...

    2. JUST ONE LOMBARDO...
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      It was a stunning goal but not the best. Zidane volley on his “weak foot” in the champions league final for starters..

  10. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Similar scoreline tomorrow should alleviate rotation worries.

    1. Pochecinno
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      I don't think any team can afford to rest on it's laurels regardless of the score.

    2. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Can't see Roma scoring 3 away from home

  11. Lone Wolf FPL
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    If you could pick just one premium option below on your WC who would it be?

    a) Lloris + Christensen
    b) Mustafi + Christensen
    c) Robertson + Christensen
    d) Alonso + Dummett

    1. Dannyb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      A

    2. Numb
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Will Christensen still be playing next match?

      1. Lone Wolf FPL
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        who knows?
        but looks like first choice imo

    3. puhd
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      B

  12. Jigger & Pony
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Is Bale playing?

    1. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      No

      1. Jigger & Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        Not even made a sub appearence?

    2. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Who?

      1. Jigger & Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        Ex-Spurs LB

  13. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Unbelievable.

    The greatest players always produce great moments.

    He will go down in history.

    Fair play to Mark for getting Arnautovic.

    1. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      BF

  14. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Poor player.

  15. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Real look unrecognizable from when spurs beat them at Wembley.

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Juve look unrecognizable from when Spurs lost them at Wembley.

      😉

      1. how now brown cow
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        🙁

        Think benatia and especially pjanic have been sorely missed

    2. Ghost Gooner
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Pointless peaking early in the CL. RM play the best CL campaigns

    3. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Champions are made in the knockouts 😉

      1. how now brown cow
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        I wouldn't know!

      2. Ghost Gooner
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        Can't fluke a CL win anymore, you meet at least 2 big teams en route to lifting the trophy

  16. Ghost Gooner
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Juve 3 down and playing like the away team 😆

  17. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Imagine Ronaldo running at Dejan Lovren in a Champions League SF...

  18. BbBb
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Scoutcast on tonight? Their Youtube says scheduled for tomorrow?

    1. Les Bleus
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Literally a few posts above.

      1. BbBb
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        aha, cheers - the one scheduled for tomorrow has been removed now

        1. Les Bleus
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 23 days ago

          🙂

    2. EmreCan Hustle
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Look up a few posts.

    3. Numb
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Must have been rescheduled. It says not available

  19. EmreCan Hustle
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Juventus need to re-sign Vidal, Pogba and Bonucci.

    1. el polako
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      And Nedved.

  20. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Ronaldo has missed some sitters since that goal.

    Hopeless.

  21. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    He's human 🙂

    LOLonaldo

  22. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Ronaldo is a fraud.

  23. Lone Wolf FPL
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Scoutcast isnt workin?

  24. Ghost Gooner
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Cuadrado 😆

  25. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Right footed Salah misses a sitter!

  26. andy85wsm
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Few tech issues. Scoutcast is running a little late.

    1. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      oh. thought its just me 🙂

    2. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Yep, new link imminent.

      Scratch the old one.

    3. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Need to get to the off license before it starts?

    4. Fantasy Gold
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Has FPL Virgin rushed the set again?

    1. Jigger & Pony
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Started?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        soon

  27. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    Right.... Who modded the Scoutcast tonight?

    1. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Scoutcast episode 256 - multi team tactics?

      1. Syd.
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        It will be limited to friends and family only

  28. Feloh
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 23 days ago

    messi or Ronaldo and reason for your answer, keep them short??

    messi for me, more all round and more prolific in terms of goals per game ratio.

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Messi. It's not even a debate.

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        Clearly it is..

    2. Fantasy Gold
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Messi.

      Better player, less of a nob

    3. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Messi

      Better player

    4. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Messi - Better looking and probably have a larger peen.

    5. Kanga roo
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Messi no question.

    6. EmreCan Hustle
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Ronaldo.

      Messi makes it look more simple, but I believe Ronaldo built himself into a goal scoring machine. Messi is more gifted.

    7. Je suis le chat
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      We'll know more conclusively in 5 years time after 2 more world cups and careers winding down (racing to 1000 career goals). Equal for me at present.

    8. el polako
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Ronaldo - had to work harder to get where he is. Won a major trophy with his country.

    9. Whazza
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      Messi - next question

    10. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 23 days ago

      messi but only for less smugness

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 23 days ago

        This...I like my GOATs with a hint of modesty