Luck was not on my side last Gameweek. None of my three picks managed 90 minutes as injury, rotation and tactical changes hampered their point returns. With only three articles left I’m hoping to regain my usual form and finish the season strong. Last Gameweek I was sure that Paddy McNair would keep a clean sheet and that there might have even been attacking points to add into the equation. However, Manchester United were defeated 1-0 by West Brom and the youngster was hauled off after 83 minutes.
My midfield choice, Jordon Ibe only played 23 minutes against QPR. Whilst on the pitch he was fantastic, bounding up and down the wing, and it is a shame he didn’t play for longer. Finally, my striker Nelson Oliviera picked up an ankle injury which resulted in him being substituted before half time. That was unfortunate as it looked like he was just getting into the match with some good sighters on goal. Here are Gameweek 36’s Best Punts with ownership figures correct as of 6th May.
Eliaquim Mangala
Position: Defender
Club: Manchester City
Price: 6.0
Ownership: 0.9%
I’ve gone for fixtures over form for this pick. This Gameweek Manchester City welcome QPR to the Etihad and I see a definite clean sheet for the Citizens. Although Manuel Pellegrini’s side have slipped up against the league’s minnows in the past couple of seasons, I cannot see that happening this weekend. City have been enjoying a steady run of form recently, winning their last three and keeping two clean sheets in the process. It hasn’t been spectacular but it’s been efficient. At the other end of the table, many teams who are battling for survival have hit a purple patch but QPR are not one of those sides. The fight is gone from Chris Ramsey’s side and they look down and out. They have only scored one goal in their last three matches and a City side who have kept two shut-outs in that time should see them off without trouble.
There are only two members of the City defence who look set to start with under 2.5% ownership that I could pick from: Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis. I have gone with the former as he boasts a better attacking threat. Although he is yet to notch this season, Mangala has connected with 10 set pieces compared to Demichelis’s eight, in fewer minutes. Although Demichelis’s conversion rate is better I think that the QPR defence could struggle with Managla’s physical presence. The Frenchman puts himself about in the opposition box, which can earn him yellow cards, but he always is a handful to mark. A QPR defence with confidence at an all-time low as they stare relegation in the face is in for a tough match with Mangala pressuring them from set plays!
Jack Grealish
Position: Midfielder
Club: Aston Villa
Price: 4.3
Ownership: 0.3%
Jack Grealish is a bright young talent who has emerged during Tim Sherwood’s reign at Villa. The youngster boasts extraordinary flair and the ability to fashion chances out of nothing. His work rate is phenomenal and he deserves the plaudits he is getting for it. It is risky picking Grealish, however. Although he has been impressive since cementing a role in the first team he is yet to pick up a goal or an assist for his hard work. Young players can do a lot of work with the ball without much end product and I am worried that that is a phase Grealish is enduring at the moment. However, he averages a goalscoring chance every 51 minutes and he creates one every 43 minutes; so he is getting and creating opportunities. All he needs now is an end product and he has the perfect chance to find that this weekend.
This Gameweek Tim Sherwood’s side face West Ham at Villa Park. Until last weekend’s victory over Burnley the Hammers had suffered a poor run of form, not winning since late March. West Ham have managed back-to-back clean sheets in the last two Gameweeks but I am still confident that Grealish will be able to find his way through the back four as West Ham have only kept two clean sheets on the road this season. Villa are an in-form team and the Hammers will struggle to improve on their poor record. Furthermore, West Ham play with two very attacking full-backs which means that there will be gaps at the back that Grealish can exploit with his boundless energy. This weekend’s clash with West Ham is the perfect chance for Grealish to find that end product!
Robin van Persie
Position: Striker
Club: Manchester United
Price: 12.0
Ownership: 2.0%
It’s hard to believe that the one-time Premier League top scorer could be considered a punt. At a price of 12.0 he is an expensive option but I think he will repay his owners’ faith this Gameweek. Last weekend Van Persie missed a penalty against West Brom but apart from that his performance was impressive. Some of the shots he fired off proved that he still has that predator’s instinct in him. Granted, they didn’t come off but the fact that the Dutchman has the confidence to try them is a good sign. He attempted more shots than any other striker last Gameweek (four more than Harry Kane in second) and I can see him having an equal number of shots this weekend.
Louis van Gaal’s side travel to Crystal Palace this Gameweek. The Eagles have been fantastic since Alan Pardew took over. Their free-flowing attacking football has been a joy to watch, although they concede more goals as a consequence. However, they have suffered a slump in form lately. Palace haven’t scored in three matches, but more importantly for Van Persie’s prospects is that they haven’t kept a clean sheet since early February. Palace are one of, if not the, leakiest side in the league and an ambitious Van Persie looks set to exploit that this week. You can’t lose that predator’s instinct and Van Persie certainly has it.
Last Gameweek’s Top Scoring Punts*
Defender – Jonas Olsson, WBA, 14 pts, 4.6, 0.1%
Midfielder – Jordi Gomez, SWA, 15 pts, 5.1, 0.3%
Forward – 3 players with 5 pts and less than 2.5%
*These are not my selections but the highest scoring players with less than 2.5% ownership in the official Fantasy Premier League game.
