Spot the Differential

Advanced role boosts Pereira’s differential potential

Double Gameweek 26 is almost upon us which gives us an opportunity to have a look at some more differential options.

This time, we’ve selected low-owned picks at Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa, who we think have the potential to make an impact.

As always, to qualify, the player must have an ownership of 5% or less at the time of writing.

Ricardo Pereira

  • FPL ownership: 0.9%
  • Price: £5.9m
  • GW26-30 fixtures: ARS + bur | bha | SHU | – | MCI

We’ve been big on Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) for a while now, having included him in this column ahead of Gameweek 23.

Now, having impressed last weekend in a more advanced role, we think he’s worth talking about again.

Against Aston Villa, Pereira and his team-mate Timothy Castagne (£5.7m) were both fit enough to start for the first time this season. That saw the Belgian slot into the back four with the Portuguese international pushing ahead on the right-wing in a 4-2-3-1.

It was the first time Pereira has started as a winger under Brendan Rodgers, and he looked comfortable throughout.

Pereira finished the match with 33 final-third touches, more than any other player on the pitch. He also racked up three shots, twice testing Emiliano Martínez (£5.3m), and often moved infield leaving Castagne to supply the width down that side.

The new setup certainly makes sense, as Rodgers can keep Castagne at right-back where he feels he is more effective, while also taking advantage of Pereira’s attacking instincts. 

However, at this stage we should point out that doubts around James Maddison’s (£7.3m) availability may see the 27-year-old revert to a more traditional full-back role this weekend, or even as a wing-back in a back three. That’s something to monitor, but regardless of where he ends up, we think Pereira has the potential to make a real impact in the coming weeks, and with an ownership of just 0.9% could be an effective differential.

Matheus Pereira

  • FPL ownership: 1.6%
  • Price: £5.4m
  • GW26-30 fixtures: BHA + EVE | NEW | cry | – | che

West Bromwich Albion have improved significantly in their last two outings. 

Just a week after they should have beaten Manchester United, they dominated Burney last time out despite playing with 10-men for over an hour. 

Finally, it looks like they are able to compete at this level, and with an appealing immediate schedule which sees them take on Brighton and Hove Albion, Everton, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace in the next three Gameweeks, several differential options have emerged.

That includes playmaker Matheus Pereira (£5.4m).

The 24-year-old has now started back-to-back games after being dropped in Gameweek 23, and though he hasn’t returned, he has been posting some eye-catching numbers. Since being restored to the side, Pereira leads the way amongst team-mates for shots, chances created, crosses and final-third touches. He’s also been taking corners and free-kicks, and crucially, should be on penalties too having twice converted against Wolverhampton Wanderers last month.

The Brazilian can operate in multiple positions up front, but has recently found himself out wide in Sam Allardyce’s 4-3-3 formation. The system is designed to get the best out of new signing Mbaye Diagne (£6.0m), and by having a proper target man now leading the line, set-pieces and crosses from open-play will be more important than ever.

Pereira, who is owned by just 1.6% of FPL managers, adds creativity to Allardyce’s team and has perhaps been a little unfortunate not to return in recent matches. However, with some promising fixtures to come he now has the potential to kick on, and could be a solid differential in the budget midfielder category.

Bertrand Traoré

  • FPL ownership: 0.8%
  • Price: £5.9m
  • GW26-30 fixtures: lee + shu | WOL | new | TOT | FUL

Jack Grealish’s (£7.6m) absence at Aston Villa will be a huge miss, but the performance of Bertrand Traoré (£5.9m) in the second half against Leicester City at least offers hope that he might be the one to step up.

The Burkina Faso international scored straight after the break, and has now been directly involved in eight goals (five goals, three assists) in the Premier League since making his first league start back in November. Interestingly, only Grealish has been involved in more for the club during this period with 10.

If we zone in on Traoré’s performances since the turn of the year, it reveals his growing influence. 

Since Gameweek 17, he ranks second amongst team-mates for shots in the box, big chances, take-ons and crossing. In fact, his expected goal involvement (xGI) total of 2.98 is actually more than Grealish, and only behind forward Ollie Watkins (£6.5m).

Aston Villa now have a Double Gameweek 26 against Leeds United and Sheffield United, who are both among the bottom six sides for goals conceded this season, with 43 and 41 respectively. They then take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Villa Park, before another possible double and importantly a match against Tottenham Hotspur in Blank Gameweek 29.

Traoré has the ability to create something out of nothing, and given the fixtures, might be the player to get Villa back on track.

1,564 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dasher0303
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Dias or Digne if i have stones?

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Think you want 3 City so stones

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      for this GW - Digne

  2. potsymoore
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    A: DCL & Lookman
    or
    B: Watkins & Barnes

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      A

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      A

  3. Netters2018
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Any news on the Everton dgw 28 yet? Wasnt it something to do with EL draw which has now been made?

    1. Tinkermania
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Following

  4. Wicked Weapon
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Reposting due to lack of responses...

    If my current team is :

    Martinez, Johnstone
    Robbo, Cancelo, Coufal, Stones, Mee
    Gundogan, Bruno, Salah, Saka, Soucek
    Bamford, DCL, Kane

    Which of these moves (if any) make sense ?

    A) Mee > Targett (will give me 7 players in GW29)
    B) Robbo > Digne/Pereira (don't know why Robbo is still in my team)
    C) Saka > Lookman (might do fairly okay in DGW 26?)

  5. arndff_
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    [Bottomed:]

    Who would you start this GW?

    A) Mee (tot, LEI)
    B) Dallas (AVL)

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      A

      1. arndff_
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 21 days ago

        Because of the extra game that BUR will have? Thank you.

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 21 days ago

          Yes. Those 2 games can easily end 0-0

          Would take a risk

        2. Parsnips
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 21 days ago

          I'd go Dallas, such a huge attacking potential and can't see burnley keeping clean sheets

    2. DannyDrinkVodka
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      I've got the same decision and I'm going with Dallas

  6. Camino Aleatorio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Good article- Mateus Pereriea is a busy bee for WBA

    Traore is a dunce, big athlete. He and Iwobi are two guys that would be janitors at a bus stop except they look like they are good players

    1. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      what a strange comment

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      You're just saying what we were all thinking (?!)

  7. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Too early to go for jota?
    Could do Salah and ings to jota and Kane.....

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      It’s a bit early IMO

    2. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Way too early

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Can he play centre back?

      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 21 days ago

        Haha, that'd be ideal!

    4. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Too early - Salah+Watkins to Jota+Aguero leaves 2m change 🙂

  8. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Lowton (tot LEI) > Konsa (lee shu) or Aina (cry TOT) worth -4?

    Both have GW29 ...

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      I wouldn’t do it

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Think so

      Newcastle in 28 may sway it. The 29 game is a likely 2 pointer at best but SHU in 26 and Newcastle in 28 are better than anything Burnley have

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 21 days ago

        Looking at Konsa here. More threat I think than Aina and Liverpool and City in 27/28

  9. GE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Best max mid for 6.7, apart Gundo and Raph for BB? (I have used FH)

    1) Lookman
    2) Traore
    3) Other?

    1. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Maybe Tielemans at 6.4 with Maddison out

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Jorginho at 4.7 - reasonable chance of a penalty over the two matches?

  10. The_FF_King
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Hey all

    Sterling, Ings and Ashley Barnes out for Son, DCL and Kane for a -8?

  11. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Raphinha to Lookman worth -4 on BB?

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Not for me

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      No, BB Raphinha

    3. Boly Would
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Not for me

  12. tom2224
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Cavani + Grealish > Kane + Lookman or DCL + Barnes?

    1. tom2224
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Would be for a -4..

  13. TaiwanHC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    I think I got it!

    Final WC team with 0.0 ITB.

    Areola
    Cancelo - Digne - Pereira
    KDB - Bruno - Mahrez - Barnes - Pereira
    Kane - DCL

    Forster, Brewster, Burn, Mitchell

    Thoughts?

  14. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Lookman or Watkins on WC?

    I will bench Raphinha or Bamford.

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Watkins

    2. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      watk

  15. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Antonio and McCarthy are the ones stopping me BBing at the moment.

    No money in bank so I can upgrade one but not both.

    So annoying. Would be 4 pt hit too.

    1. Sarri-ball
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      McCarthy out not worth a -4 id swap antonio to watkins play bb anyway

  16. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Is Luke Thomas an option?

    1. Fit_to_drop
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Id like to know too.

  17. built_this_city
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Big Ainsley Maitland Niles will be the top scoring player this week.

    Goal, CS + 3boners in game 1 (15)
    CS in game 2 (6)

    = 21 points

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Very tempted by mee to him

    2. Boly Would
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      If he does all that in game 1 they should erect a statue.

    3. Better off with a pin and a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Can't see 2 CS for WBA. That's the score Tarkowski is going to get while breaking the hearts of every Kane TC.

      1. built_this_city
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 21 days ago

        haha

  18. King of Kings.
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    A - Grealish > Barnes

    Reduces possible BGW29 players to 9 (minus Grealish i will have 6 + 3 x FTs)

    B - Shaw > Reguilon

    Keep Grealish on the bench and increases possible BGW29 players up to 11. Would be benching Shaw anyway.

  19. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    thoughts on Salah to KDB?

    Could be beautiful, could hurt like stepping on lego.

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Fancy Kevin to start twice?

      1. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 21 days ago

        not sure, possibly.

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      You've said it

  20. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Pep: "De Bruyne is fully fit. He was fully fit against Monchengladbach as well.
    I will not say anything different. He is a key player for us. In the last part of the season, he will be so important."

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      KDB TC !

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      There is fit and there is match fit. I'm not convinced that KdB is match fit.

  21. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Best Fulham defensive option?

    Is Aina nailed?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Aina

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 21 days ago

        This

  22. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Would you hit out Shaw to get Kane?

    A) Dallas and Kane (TC)
    B) Shaw and Bamford - Bruno (Tc)

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      No i don't think I would

  23. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Do I start Jorginho (MUN, liv) - on pens and favoured by Tuchel
    or
    Bamford (AVL)?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Tricky. Bamford probably

  24. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Best move? Going Ings >> Kane with FT.

    A. Tarko >> Digne (-4)
    B. Soucek >> Barnes (-4)
    C. Both (-8) (bench Bamford)
    D. Use WC

    Pope
    Dias, Cancelo, Tarko
    Son, Bruno, Gündo, Raphina
    Kane, DCL, Bamford
    (McCarthy, Dallas, Coufal, Soucek)

    1. Coaly
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      A. B is also good though and would bench Rafinha if you did B

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 21 days ago

        Yeah B also means benching Raph or Bamford. A is probably the wisest with a chance of DGW28 for Everton too

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      B with Bam benched

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      I like A. You're gonna get rid of Tark soon anyway. Can make the hit back up immediately.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 21 days ago

        Yeah that’s my thinking too. I also would really like Barnes haha. Tough call

    4. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      B

    5. Better off with a pin and a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      A/B really close. Bamford too good to bench IMO. B for me as I don't see Soucek getting anything from 1 game against City. Burnley could grind a 0-0 out of one game.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 21 days ago

        B means benching Bamford or Raphina also! Soucek is benched either way

  25. Taribo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Bench boost this? Starting 11 are DGWers.

    McCarthy (eve) - Burn (wba) - Raphinha (AVL) - Struijk (AVL)

    1. Fit_to_drop
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Not strong enough for me.

  26. Nighty
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Does this -12 seem worth it?

    BB this week, no FH but will WC in 30 so these would be purely for the next 4 GW's.

    McCarthy to Areola (2 extra games)
    Alioski to Aina (Alioski lost his place?)
    James to Konsa (1, possibly 2 extra games)
    Antonio to Watkins (1, possibly 2 extra game)

    Thanks!

  27. CAP
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    BB and a -4 for another DGWer or TC Kane?

    Martinez
    Shaw, Lowton, Dias, Rudiger
    Barnes, Salah, Gundo, Bruno
    (K)ane, DCL

    Sanchez, Bamford, Raph, Dallas

  28. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Any of these worth a -4 after I get Kane in for Jesus? I have 0.1 spare!

    Antonio>Watkins
    Soucek>Lookman
    Alioski>Aina

    I'm thinking Aina might pay off as Alioski has lost his place so will need dealing with for GW29 anyway?

  29. balint84
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Start Mings, Azpi or Neto?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 21 days ago

      Azpi

  30. M_Rega96
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 21 days ago

    Think I’m going to take a -4 to get out Lowton (already have Pope)

    Is it worth it? And to Cancelo or Pereira?