Spot the Differential

Old FPL favourites Mendy and Alonso are back on the differential radar

It’s fair to say that the last round in Fantasy Premier League was far from being a classic, with a paltry average score of 37.

That’s not surprising, especially when considering that 12 of the top 13 FPL point-scorers in Gameweek 9 had modest ownership levels of 5% or less.

In fact, the highest-scoring player with an ownership of 20% or more was Lucas Digne (£6.0m), who ironically was sold en masse in previous weeks.

Defying the so-called template, those plucky differentials have continued to break the mould once again. Can they continue to perform? Here are three low-owned players that are worth a think for Gameweek 10.

Marcos Alonso

  • Price: £6.2m
  • Ownership: 3.7%
  • GW10 fixture: Burnley (a)

For many Fantasy managers, a defender that has scored 15 Premier League goals and registered 15 assists over the past three seasons would be an automatic must-have.

However, in the case of Marcos Alonso, he seemed to have lost his way at the latter stages of Maurizio Sarri’s reign. It wasn’t until Gameweek 5 of this season that he once again appeared in the reckoning for Chelsea, hence his single-digit ownership and price fall. He seems to have now come full circle, when he scored during a clean-sheet win again Newcastle United last Saturday, which served as a reminder of his attacking capabilities

Among all defenders in Gameweek 9, Alonso had the most touches in the opponents’ half (69) and the joint-second most passes received in the final third (27).

Of course, we need to factor in that Chelsea’s last league opponents are hardly known for their defensive fortitude and in some ways, it may be unfair to look at those stats in isolation.

However, under Frank Lampard’s attacking style of play, it seems that there may be more opportunities for Alonso to venture forward, which brings the best out in him from a Fantasy perspective. Chelsea have scored a staggering 12 goals in their last three away games and it wouldn’t be a complete shock if Alonso picks up another attacking Fantasy return this weekend.

Youri Tielemans

  • Price: £6.4m
  • Ownership: 4.7%
  • GW10 fixture: Southampton (a)

Since the second half of last season, Leicester have been undergoing somewhat of a footballing renaissance. It’s clear to see that Brendan Rodgers has recalibrated them as a radically new unit that can once again compete against the very best.

Youri Tielemans is one of the flair players that has changed their course of direction, as seen with him registering eight Fantasy returns between February and May of this year. Such consistency was expected of him almost immediately this season but in some ways, he has been overshadowed by James Maddison (£7.2m). In addition, four of Leicester’s first eight games included teams that finished in the top five, which may have hampered their attacking flow despite still being able to pick up some positive results.

Tielemans has yet to register back-to-back Fantasy returns this season, which is a minor concern. But the possibility of him delivering more has increased with Leicester’s generous upcoming fixture run.

The fact that he has started every league game since August shows the regard that Rodgers has of him. Leicester’s next match is up against Southampton, who have the worst home record in the Premier League during this campaign. This can act as a good platform for the Foxes to continue their momentum and for Tielemans to add to his Fantasy points tally.

Benjamin Mendy

  • Price: £5.9m
  • Ownership: 0.6%
  • GW10 fixture: Aston Villa (h)

On paper, it seems surreal to think that there is a World Cup-winning left-back for the reigning champions of England with an ownership of less than 1%. But on closer inspection, it’s easy to see why.

Benjamin Mendy is an enigma. He’s managed to win two league titles at a canter since joining Manchester City and yet has only featured in 18 league games to date. Injury has hampered his time on the pitch but when he does play, his value is clear to see: he averaged 5.9 points per game last season from ten matches.

It was good to see Mendy play a full match last weekend and with a clean bill of health, this could be the beginning of many starts to come. His Premier League assists-to-game ratio (39%) can’t be ignored, but of course, this is skewed due to his limited number of appearances since 2017.

During his absence, Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.4m) has proven to be a capable replacement and Mendy could be at the risk of ‘Pep Roulette’ during important Champions’ League games and the festive fixture run. For now, at least, he has become viable again and we should make the most of him while he remains a differential.

1,545 Comments Post a Comment
  1. RashFraud
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on Stones? Worth a -4 from Zinchenko?

    1. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No way

    2. Totti
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      no

    3. RashFraud
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Anyone else worth a -4? Don’t have any defenders off the bench

      1. FPL_Hazards
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Ota
        Alonso
        Mendy

  2. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Zinchenko surgery confirmed?

    1. tankle
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      yes, posted picture from hospital bed today

      1. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks.

    2. FPL_Hazards
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      yeah recovery time unknown but bound to be 2-3 weeks min?

  3. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Afternoon all, GTG here?

    Pope
    TAA Pereira Boly
    Mané (vc) KDB Mount CHO
    Aguero(c) Wilson Abraham

    McGovern Lundstram Rico Dendocker 1FT 0.2 ITB

    1. andres
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I wish I had this team!

    2. FPL_Hazards
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      looking good except benching the best asset in the game

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Haha, its him Pereira or Boly. Have a feeling Boly will do well at Newcastle.

  4. rowdog24
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Start 3 out of this 5

    A) Tomori (bur)
    B) Diop (SHU)
    C) Dawson (BOU)
    D) Rico (wat)
    E) Soyuncu (sou)

    Have Roberto in goal

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Bcd

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Or AcD

  5. tankle
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Got 2 fts and 0.4 itb, any advise?

    Pope
    TAA • Otamendi* • Tomori
    KDB • Mount • Salah • Yarmolenko*
    Kun(C) • Tammy • Pukki*
    (McG. Lunds. Cantwell*. Soy.)

    Thinking either
    A) Pukki > Jimenez
    B) Ota > Mendy
    C) Ota. Yarmo > Rico. Dilva

    1. Squeakybum99
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pukki to Jimenez

  6. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Wish I had a crystal ball to let us know who peps starting line up is lol arghhhhh!

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Just set a reliable VC if you want to captain Sterling. Usually when he is benched he stays benched.

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Think you knew exactly who i was captaining too!

        Not sure if I should VC - Auba, Salah, Vardy or Tammy

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Auba from those

  7. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Transfer suggestions with 2.8ITB and 1FT?
    Been thinking about Cantwell to Maddison, can do Wilson to Vardy further on

    Pope
    TAA/Ota/Tomori/Soy
    Mane/KDB/Mount
    Auba/Abraham/Wilson

    Button/Cantwell/Lund/Hayden

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Think you can save. Captain?

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        KDB

  8. Fuddled FC
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which option?

    a) Heaton > Patricio
    b) Ota > Pereira

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Prefer Pope to Pat

      1. Fuddled FC
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Why? Pat has more points already with better fixtures coming up

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Prefer Pope save potential the way Wolves set up. Boly if you want Wolves cover.

          1. Fuddled FC
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Fair enough. I have Lowton through as well which swings it for me

            1. Miguel Sanchez
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              In that case go Pat

  9. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Crazy to bench Mount and play Rico, yeah?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yes but Mount might be benched this GW. Can see Pulisic starting.

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lol, I said the same thing the other day with Lund.

    3. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      absolutely nuts imo

    4. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      yeah

  10. gergin
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    With 2 FT and 0.9 ITB and 3 problem assets i need a little help:

    A) Matip -> Mendy;

    B) McGinn -> Yarmolenko;

    C) Both A+B

    D) Kane + McGinn + Matip -> Mendy + Martial + any striker up to 9.5 (Vardy, Rashford, Jimenez or whoever) for -4.

    Currently sitting on C, but all really close. Team doesn`t have enough Man City and Man Utd cover and really I do not think about other defenders or midfielders.
    Thanks in advance!

  11. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    25 mins till Pep confirms that Aguero and Mendy will start, and Sterling will be rested

  12. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What moves would you make? 2FT 1.2m-ish ITB

    Mahrez Son
    Firmino Pukki

    Don't have KDB or Sterling

    1. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      One of the mids to KDB

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        prob mahrez

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Son -> Dilva/Martial to fund it?

          1. internal error
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            I wouldnt get on Martial just yet. Utd were terrible last night. Last weekend could be a one off. I live David Silva for the next 2

            1. goriuanx
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Quality stuff ta

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mahrez to KDB

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Need to downgrade another to fund it

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Pukki to Ings?

          1. goriuanx
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            An option, was thinking of ditching Heung blank Son though

    3. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Get in kdb..mahrez and son to kdb and d silva probably and then you can downgrade dsilva to someone like Martial maddy in coming weeks.

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks, my thinking

  13. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Bottomed, thanks Miguel for the reply!

    I'll go again, start which 3?

    A) Diop (SHU)
    B) Lascelles (WOL)
    C) Digne (bha)
    D) Soyuncu (sou)
    E) Tomori (bur)

    1. Fuddled FC
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      C,D,A

    2. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      ACE

  14. andres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pieters to Mendy for a hit or just start Soy?

  15. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Robertson + Jorginho > Rico + KDB?

    I'd then have Sterling, Silva + KDB in midfield. Too much?

    1. Marmalade Forest
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I wouldn’t be binning Robertson

  16. Surfeit of Lampteys
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I think, sadly, as an Alonso owner, it probably will be a shock if he picks anything up this weekend. Other than a sore behind from sitting on the bench. Hope I'm wrong but think Emerson will likely start.

  17. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which team would you prefer

    A: 433 with Rico 1st sub so good chance I play 5atb if taa/Sterling don’t play

    Pope — Heaton
    Taa Digne MAGUIRE Tomori — Rico
    Sterling Kdb Mount — Cantwell DOCKER
    Pukki AUBA Tammy

    B: 343 with Tomori 1st sub. Is this squad too balanced ie too many bench points
    Pope — Heaton
    Taa Digne LUNDY — Tomori Rico
    Sterling Kdb DILVA Mount — Cantwell
    Pukki RASHFORD Tammy

  18. ‘Tis the Season
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    :B: :P: :S:

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Fail

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        :P:

        1. ‘Tis the Season
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          LEGEND. Thanks mate 😉

        2. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          +o(

  19. Wheyyyy
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Was planning on holding my transfer after WC last week but now feel I need to jump on City as I only have KDB. Feel I made an error in bringing in Tierney as he started midweek and Kola was benched.

    A - Tierney to Mendy
    B - Maddison to David Silva
    C - Save

    Ryan-Button
    Doherty-TAA-Tierney-Soy-Lund
    Mane-Mad-KDB-Mount-Cant
    Jimmy-Tammy-Wilson

    I realise I have a lot tied up in defence but I want to keep it there so I can upgrade to Robbo in a few weeks.

  20. GRIBB FC
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Has anybody on here seen any info on B Silva’s FA charge/ban? I thought that he was supposed to have responded to it at the beginning of this week, but I haven’t seen anything new in the press for a couple of weeks now. I don’t whether to go with Vardy over Jim/Ings or save the cash for a midfield upgrade to mahrez in the event of a 4 game+ ban. Clocks ticking

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Neither the FA or MNC are talking publicly.

    2. FPL_Hazards
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      yeah I've seen nothing and was expecting news at start of week. City just do what they want.

      1. GRIBB FC
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        It’s been a long time now, making me think that they’re letting it blow over and it’s going to be fairly lenient. I think I’ll go Vardy if there’s still no news today.

  21. Better Call Raul
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captain poll is rather tight

    1. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Hard to get it right this year.

      1. Better Call Raul
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Does imply that Raherm would have run away with it were it not for his 90 minutes midweek

        1. JoeSoap
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah, I have Sterling & tempted to swap for KDB mainly because of his 90 minutes and KDBs home form.

  22. Mariusz123
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ryan Roberston Lundsram Chambers Sterling KDB Mane Cantwel Abraham Wilson Mount

  23. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A. Keep Sterling and captain (have Dilva)
    B. Sterling>KDB and captain (will allow me to upgrade Pukki to Vardy)

  24. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    whens the next price rises?

    looks like Mount, Pereira, D Silva & Jimenez are all very close too rises!

  25. Dirty Harry
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Salah > Sterling for free?

    Front 8:

    Salah KDB Mount (Guendouzi Cantwell)
    Kun Vardy Tammy

  26. eamonhegg
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Best Route to get Mendy in this team? 1FT and 0.1ITB!

    Pope (McGovern)
    Pereira / TAA / Creswell (Lundstram / Rico)
    Mane / KDB (C) / Maddison / Mount (Saka)
    Wilson / Auba / Tammy

  27. Says
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    who to play? Lundstam WHU (A) or Digne BHA (A) ?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Digne surely otherwise pointless owning him imo

  28. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Vardy C ?
    Yaaaaaaay
    Nope KDB

    1. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'm on Vardy captain

  29. Efan Ekoku Pops
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is the following worth a hit?

    Salah + Cantwell > KDB + Dilva

    Cheers

  30. KINGS
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Already have Tammy and Mount.

    Shall I go for CHO, D.James or Yarmalenko?

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Choo choo!