Spot the Differential

Updated fixtures boost case for Maguire and Man United defence

The Gameweek 17 deadline is almost upon us which gives us the opportunity to have a look at some differential options.

This time, we’ve selected low-owned picks from Manchester United, Arsenal and Crystal Palace, who we think have the potential to make a big impact.

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

Harry Maguire

  • FPL ownership: 3.6%
  • Price: £5.4m
  • GW17-21 fixtures: AVL | bur | liv + ful | SHU | ars

Manchester United are now unbeaten in nine league games, and following Tuesday’s late win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, have put themselves in the thick of the Premier League title race.

One of the key players for the Red Devils during that run of improved form has been Harry Maguire (£5.4m).

The England international has bounced back following a tough start to the season, and could be a shrewd differential pick for FPL managers on the lookout for a new defender.

Following yesterday’s fixture announcement, United now have a favourable schedule which includes games against Burnley, Fulham and Sheffield United in the next five. In fact, between Gameweeks 17 and 25, they sit top of the ticker from a defensive perspective. Obviously, they need to improve at the back having already conceded 23 goals, but it does feel like progress is being made and a clean sheet in midweek now gives them something to build on.

However, the real appeal lies in Maguire’s goal threat. Since the beginning of the season, the 27-year-old has registered more shots and attempts in the box than any defender in the game, while he ranks third for excepted goals (xG). For context, his 17 shots in the box is only three behind team-mate Bruno Fernandes (£11.2m).

Importantly, Maguire has been ever-present for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season, and with his ability to contribute FPL points at both ends of the pitch, is a tempting New Year investment.

Gabriel Martinelli

  • FPL ownership: 0.8%
  • Price: £4.9m
  • GW17-21 fixtures: wba | CRY | NEW | sou | MUN

Next up is an interesting budget option at Arsenal, Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m), who has recently returned from a six-month spell on the sidelines.

The Brazilian has now started back-to-back league matches, and been central to the Gunners’ upturn in form which has seen them beat Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Admittedly, it took them a while to get going against Albion, but they found their rhythm in the second half, with youngsters Emile Smith Rowe (£4.4m), Bukayo Saka (£5.2m) and Martinelli pulling the strings. The inclusion of the young trio behind a striker has galvanised Mikel Arteta’s side, and with a great run of games against West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United coming up, they could offer real value. 

However, if it comes down to goal threat alone, I’d put Martinelli comfortably ahead right now. His clever movement and knack of being in the right place at the right time will see plenty of goalscoring opportunities come his way, and having netted 10 goals from 26 appearances across all competitions last season, his potential is evident. 

His link-up play with Kieran Tierney (£5.3m) down Arsenal’s left-side has also stood out, which is important considering Arsenal’s next two opponents concede plenty of chances from that side of the pitch.

After a turbulent few weeks, Arsenal will be hopeful of moving up the Premier League table in 2021, and with Martinelli making an instant impact upon returning to the starting XI, they could yet turn their season around.

Eberechi Eze

  • FPL ownership: 0.9%
  • Price: £5.8m
  • GW17-21 fixtures: SHU | ars | mci | WHU | WOL

Eberechi Eze (£5.8m) has impressed for Crystal Palace this season, developing into his side’s main creative outlet.

Since becoming a regular starter in Gameweek 8, he ranks top amongst team-mates for chances created, big chances created and successful take-ons, while only Andros Townsend (£5.7m) has attempted more crosses. 

Key to his appeal is this week’s opponents Sheffield United, who are still without a win all season. The defensive data tells us that they have given up a significant amount of chances from their right flank. In fact, only West Bromwich Albion have conceded more from that zone this season, which is relevant with Eze operating off the left in Roy Hodgson’s 4-4-2. 

It’s also worth noting that the Blades have often looked vulnerable defending set-plays, having allowed 72 attempts on goal from dead-ball situations so far, more than any other side. With Eze being known for his ability from set-pieces and drawing fouls from the opposition, he could be set to profit in Gameweek 17.

Palace currently sit 15th in the Premier League table and despite a dip in form over Christmas, looked more assured in Monday’s draw against Leicester City. A win on Saturday would see them rise above Newcastle United, Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers into 12th spot, at least temporarily, and they won’t get a better chance than against the Blades.

While three attacking returns is a fairly modest total for Eze so far, he is an exciting player with big potential, and given his opponents defensive vulnerabilities, could be set to add to his tally this weekend.

1,606 Comments Post a Comment
  1. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Have 10 for blank GW18 with two free trannies... let’s go

  2. Pringle
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kilman to Lowton? Preparing for GW19 and also a great fixture this week

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      As long as you know their game v Fulham could be cancelled

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kilman if retains his spot has BHA, plays the blank and then WBA. Would keep.

    3. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Can you afford one fo the whu or Leeds defenders? Don’t relate Burnley’s fixtures

  3. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bruno is inevitable. But Spurs have the better fixture on paper. Tough one captain wise...

    1. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bruno plays today. If he fails, your next 4 days are ruined.

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        That shouldn’t effect your captain choice in the slightest.

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

        Bruno plays today. If he hauls, you can relax and enjoy the rest of the GW

    2. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm going for Bruno, but would easily put it on Son if I had him in my team.

    3. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not for me. Leeds a significantly worse defense than Villa and their open approach should play straight into Spurs' hands. Kane (C) Bruno (VC)

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I understand the logic. I initially captained Son. He’ll have loads of space

  4. Old Bull
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play Dallas or Zouma?

  5. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Maguire is tempting for sure on WC18, excellent fixtures. Shame United's defense is so prone to individual errors.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      WC?

  6. EgyptianKing
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is there any update / news on which City players have covid and who is ok to play?

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Rumours were that it was Ederson, Cancelo and Torres. Ederson is apparently isolating but conflicting reports about Cancelo, with him apparently pictured arriving at the training ground this week.

  7. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A or B?
    A) KWP to Alioski
    B) Grealish to El Ghazi

  8. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What are Charlie Taylor owners doing?

    1. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Swearing

    2. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably selling as I also have r james and balbuena

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        For who then? Im not sure

    3. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Think I’ll be getting rid, lowton/pieters and holding are options. Do we have any update on Burnley Fulham game yet?

    4. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Moving him to Holding

    5. Dirty Harry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Contemplating transferring him out for Stones

    6. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Overthinking

    7. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sold for Holding

      1. CAPA
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Confident that Holding will start?

        1. Make United Great Again
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah

    8. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      holding in

  9. Burger_and_Chips
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who to captain?

    A. Salah
    B. Bruno
    C. Son
    D. Kane

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son

    2. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son

    3. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kane

    4. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son

    5. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son 😉

    6. Peaky Blinders
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kane on pens

    7. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kane

  10. fridge
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Start Raphinha or Soucek?

    1. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Starting Raphina myself

  11. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Grealish to Son(c) this week a good move?

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I think so

    2. Peaky Blinders
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

  12. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What to do with this??

    Mcarthy (steer)
    Dias mitchell taylor (zouma coufal)
    Salah bruno son podence (soucek)
    Watkins kane bamford

    What to do 1 ft. 2.4m in bank

  13. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do this? 2FTs.

    GW17; KDB+Taylor >> Son(C)+Cancelo
    GW18; FH
    GW19; Son+DCL >> KDB+Watkins/Antonio (-4)

    McCarthy
    Robbo, Dias, Coufal
    Salah, KDB, Bruno, Raphinha
    DCL, Bamford, Adams
    (Johnstone, Dallas, Soucek, C.Taylor*)

    1. tokara
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      How much itb? Just replace Taylor and save ft.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I’m FH next week so can’t save an FT. Need to use them or lose them! 0.4itb

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good. Wait for Pep's presser in case there is any news on Cancelo

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, happy there is a presser

  14. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Either Google is broken or I don't know where to look, can somebody please tell me if we are due any pressers today ?

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Scout tweets

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thank you.

        So we will not hear soothing voice of Sean Dyce then, guess I will just move Taylor on.

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hot top

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Tweets sprry

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          😀

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Press conference times

      Parker - 1pm
      Hodgson - 1pm
      Lampard - 1pm
      Guardiola - 1:30pm
      Mourinho - 1:30pm

      #FPL #FFScout #GW17

    4. el polako
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cheers guys !

  15. Peaky Blinders
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I need help with order off my bench have Dier, Dallas and Jones (Liv). Thank you. Wishing everyone a healthy New Year.

  16. Fantasydreamer
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Help please 🙂

    Is the below bench worth boosting in GW19 (arsenal have New) or hold for after my wildcard in to DGW26?

    Johnstone (-4), holding, saka, dallas

  17. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    C.Taylor to

    A) lowton/pieters
    B) holding

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. Peaky Blinders
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I done B nice games, but no dgw.

    3. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      looking at taylor to holding myself, no blank, also no dgw, but some decent fixtures, w brom, palace , new , sou

  18. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My team for gmk 18

    Martinez
    Mitchell
    KDB Son Bruno Grealish

    I can Save FT and for a hit get Rashford and double City defence (so 3 more) and lose Salah and bring him back in 19
    A) do this
    B) FH

  19. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need a replacement for Taylor worth up to 5.6 preferably someone who plays in GW18 as currently only 5 or 6 starters. Any suggestions?

    McCarthy
    Robertson Dier Cancelo
    Salah Son(C) Bruno Raphina
    DCL Adams Bamford
    Johnstone Taylor* Soucek Coufal

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Stones or Maguire.

      1. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Dont trust Man U defence. Stone possible if nailed?

  20. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Captain 1
    A. Bruno
    B. Mo
    C. Son

    1. Party time
        3 years, 2 months ago

        B imo

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bruno or Son for (c)?

      1. Sausage™️
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I have the same conundrum..

        1. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Son tempting

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

        Son vs that madcap Leeds team

        1. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yes possible goal fest

    3. How I met your Mata
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Would this move warrant a -8 for the double?? (playing BB)

      Kane DCL Targett Steer Reidweild > Adams Watkins Stones Mesiler Rashford

      Will just do the DCL and steer transfer this week

    4. Steve Stiffler
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Benching headache this week.

      Current defence is: Chilwell, Dallas, Creswell Dier Lowton

      Bench is: Adams, Soucek, Wilson

      Do I need to swap any or is it OK the way it is? thanks so much

      1. Boss Hogg
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I’d bench Dallas and Cresswell.

    5. JelliedSpark968
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Is it worth swapping Bruno for Son this week, then swapping back to Bruno for the DGW in GW19? Free hitting in GW18 and I kind of need a Spurs player, Kane seems unattainable unless I take hits

    6. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      (Pope Stones ElGhazi Bruno Son Kane Watkins)

    7. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Need to FH18, but can field this BB team for gw19 with 2 hits.

      Martinez, MCcarthy

      Dallas, robbo, coufal, chilwell, dias

      Bruno, salah, kdb, soucek, raphinha

      Adams, bamford, watkins or antonio(still deciding)

      Fairly happy with that for BB tbh!

    8. Lignja
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Plan is to FH gw18, TC gw19, Have 2ft 0.2m itb, would like to use them so i free up some money to get Bruno instead of Kane in gw 19 (-4)

      Mccarthy
      Chilwell, Coufal, Taylor
      Salah, Kdb, Son, Grealish
      Kane, Dcl, Bamford

      Mitchell, Phikips, Jones (i know it is rly bad bench)

      A. Taylor, Dcl to Lowton, Antonio
      B. Taylor, Dcl to 5.7m def, Antonio

    9. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Taylor injury leaves me with this choice:

      a. Play Coufal
      b. Play Dallas
      c. Taylor to Stones (-4)
      d. Taylor to Maguire (-4)

      ???

      1. Dirty Harry
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        As much as I hate taking a -4 for a defender, I'm considering bringing in Stones for a hit. Sets up for BGW18 and will be already there for DGW19.

        Plus my season has been trash so yolo

    10. LewanGOALski
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Which strategy suits better for the DGW19 here for me?
      I need to decide by deadline as it determines what transfer I do today.

      A) BB of this team:

      Martinez - Fabianski
      Robbo - Zouma - Lindelof - Coufal - Dallas
      Salah - Son - Bruno - Raphinha - Soucek
      Vardy - Adams - Bamford

      B) TC on Salah / KDB in this team:

      Martinez
      Zouma - Coufal - Dallas
      Salah - KDB - Bruno - Grealish
      Vardy - Adams - Bamford

      1. Alisson WondHaaland
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Imo just get the bench boost out of the way. There will be multiple opportunities to use TC down the line

    11. Alisson WondHaaland
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      For GW 19:
      A) Balbuena + Raphina
      B) Alioski + Harrison

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        A