Andy Carroll and Alex Iwobi look to have cemented their starting roles for West Ham and Arsenal ahead of their upcoming doubles. Liverpool and City’s team sheets remain a risk whilst both are still in Europe, whilst Leicester and Spurs punish those who parted company ahead of Gameweek 34.
Carroll could be the Hammers differential….
Handed a first start since Gameweek 21, the West Ham frontman looks to have leapt to the front of the queue for the lone striker role ahead of double Gameweek 34. Slaven Bilic may have a numerous options available up top but Carroll’s hat-trick, and subsequent 16-point haul at home to Arsenal, puts him in the driving seat ahead of clashes with Leicester and Watford. Whilst most of Fantasy managers’ focus has been on the Hammers’ midfield, the big Geordie has emphatically staked a claim for our consideration.
Iwobi looks undroppable….
After netting in back-to-back clashes against Everton and Watford, the Arsenal wide man continued his fine form with a pair of assists at Upton Park. Tellingly, Iwobi was afforded the full 90 minutes by Arsene Wenger on Saturday, somewhat allaying fears over his pitch time ahead of the double Gameweek. In this sort of form, it’d be something of a surprise if Wenger chooses to bench the 4.6-priced winger for the upcoming home clashes against Palace and West Brom as the Gunners look to cement a top-four finish again.
Leicester and Tottenham have the form to punish the sellers….
Many who opted to wildcard this week ahead of bench-boosting in Gameweek 34 were made to regret that decision over the weekend. Whilst the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley, Aaron Lennon and Yannick Bolasie drew blanks in the first of their two fixtures, highly-owned options such as Jamie Vardy (50% ownership, 13 points), Toby Alderweireld (42% ownership, 15 points) and Dele Alli (30% ownership, seven points) punished those who chose to drop them for double Gameweek players instead. With Leicester set for three home matches in four and Spurs up against Stoke and West Brom next, big displays from Riyad Mahrez (66% ownership) and Harry Kane (44%) could have us ruing that decision further.
We need City and Liverpool to crash out of Europe….
With one eye on the midweek home clashes against PSG and Dortmund, Manuel Pellegrini and Jurgen Klopp made a statement of intent by naming five and seven changes respectively last weekend. Despite the absence of David Silva, Pellegrini decided not to hand the in-form Kevin de Bruyne a third straight start and utilised the Belgian as a second-half sub instead, whilst Philippe Coutinho warmed the Reds’ bench from start to finish against Stoke. Should either side progress to the last four in their respective competitions, there’s a real concern that both managers’ team sheets could continue to disappoint us over the run-in.
Milner could be an under the radar option….
Whilst owners of Coutinho and Roberto Firmino (who was subbed off just after the hour-mark) were left frustrated at the weekend, James Milner produced the goods yet again for Klopp’s side. A pair of assists against Stoke took his tally to three goals, five assists and five bonus points in his last eight league outings for the Merseysiders. The former City man, who sets you back just 6.5 and is owned by only 3% of FPL managers, may well be one to consider, particularly if Liverpool are knocked out by Dortmund on Thursday evening.
Townsend offers Rafa a crumb of hope….
It’s a goal and assist in the last two Gameweeks now for the Newcastle wide man after he fired a late consolation in the 3-1 loss to Southampton. Given that the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Georginio Wijnaldum failed to produce a single attempt on goal at St Mary’s, Townsend is shaping up to be the go-to man for those looking to invest in the Magpies’ attack ahead of back-to-back home encounters against Swansea and Man City.
European dream keeps Saints ticking over….
A 3-1 triumph over Newcastle made it three wins in four for the Saints as they ramp up their pursuit of a European spot for next season. Ronald Koeman’s side may not have a double Gameweek to follow but their weekend showing served a reminder that investing in teams with everything still to play for can prove a canny tactic. Sitting just three points behind fifth-placed United and with Everton and Palace’s dodgy defences up next, the likes of Graziano Pelle clearly has the form to outperform many a double Gameweek option, having racked up three double-figure hauls in four.
Gylfi may be difficult to ditch….
It’s nine goals in 14 league appearances now for the Swansea playmaker after he ended Guus Hiddink’s unbeaten run as Chelsea boss with a 1-0 win at the Liberty. Whilst the victory took Swansea onto the magical 40-point mark, and has surely done enough to seal their safety, Sigurdsson’s relentless form is making him difficult to ditch in spite of the lack of a double. Having picked up points in six straight league matches, those owners intent on wildcarding this week may well have second thoughts as he makes his way to Newcastle.
Rashford’s pitch time looks in question ….
Pinpointed by many Fantasy managers as a decent enabler ahead of United’s pair of home matches against Villa and Palace, the youngster was replaced by Ashley Young at the break in yesterday’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham. Rashford may have started the last six for Louis van Gaal’s side but with Wayne Rooney set to return for the reserves tonight, there has to be concerns over his security of minutes going forward. Given that their defat at the Lane means that United are just one point ahead of West Ham in fifth, there’d be no real surprise if the under-fire Dutchman turned to experience to get his side over the finishing line.
