Differentials are by nature a risky investment, but once the December fixtures start coming thick and fast, not even the likes of Robin Van Persie are guaranteed a start. With a solid bench being a crucial factor to succeeding over the Christmas period, the Scout Selection Committee have been debating all week about the best budget options to bolster our Fantasy squads and with so many decent alternatives on offer we even managed to settle on an entirely Wigan-less selection this week……
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Following Paul Robinson’s ‘Watchlist’ article and Yakubu’s selection on the Scout Picks bench, we’re continuing our Blackburn love-in by opting for former Fantasy favourite Morten Gamst Pedersen (or MGP as he’s affectionately known around these parts) as our differential pick of the week.
Blackburn’s fixtures are about as good as you’re going to see all season. Three home games in the next four starting with the visit of Swansea this weekend makes them very difficult to ignore, and although their defence has let them down badly this season, there are still several bargains to be had amongst their attacking players.
Being consistently the highest ranked Blackburn midfielder on our Members ICT Index, and the fact he takes most of their direct free kicks and corners (of which MGP’s unique tactic of playing it to himself resulted in their goal against Wigan), the Norwegian international should prove to be a solid investment over the coming weeks. Who knows, with Scott Dann and Chris Samba back in the side, Blackburn may even win a game or two.
Hatem Ben Arfa
Playing as a withdrawn striker in place of the injured Leon Best, Hatem Ben Arfa has looked very promising since his return from injury and with Newcastle approaching their best run of fixtures of the season so far, the French star could prove to be a bargain. Best has been confirmed as fit for this weekend’s game against Chelsea, but Newcastle will be expected to stick to the formation that served them so well at Old Trafford last week. With Jonas Gutierrez suspended then a shift to the wing is also a possibility but, regardless of where he plays, Ben Arfa looks capable of bringing home the points.
Chelsea at home isn’t the easiest fixture but there has probably never been a better time to face Villas-Boas’ men. While the Londoners are still reeling from their third defeat in four games against Liverpool on Tuesday, Newcastle are riding a wave of confidence summed up quite optimistically by Ben Arfa’s recent claims that they were going to win the league (Paddy Power will give you 300-1 if you fancy that one by the way!). Fixtures ease up considerably after this with Norwich, Swansea, West Brom and Bolton in the next four but with a current ownership of 1.0% and priced at just 5.4, it could be worth jumping on board a week early.
Nicky Shorey
Clean sheets have been notoriously hard to come by this season so when looking for a budget defender, a decent chance of an attacking return is essential. Under Roy Hodgson this season, not only are West Brom looking a lot more solid at the back, but Nicky Shorey has been a constant threat on the break. His recent spell on the bench raises a few concerns about his long term role in the side, but it’s hard to see him being dropped again after his last two performances, and priced at just 4.5 he looks the pick of the West Brom defenders right now.
The stats backs this up; Shorey has been the most creative defender on show over the last two gameweeks, surpassing even Everton’s Leighton Baines when it comes to supplying opportunities and crosses.
