Moving Target

Can Robert Snodgrass’ set pieces turn him into a viable FPL asset for West Brom?

Robert Snodgrass (£5.7m) became Sam Allardyce’s first signing as West Bromwich Albion manager last week, signing on an 18-month deal.

Will he help transform his new team’s fortunes and become a viable Fantasy Premier League asset in the process?

We’ve run the rule over the former Norwich City and Hull man to find out.

The midfielder had been largely frozen out of the team at West Ham this season, making four substitute appearances in the Premier League for a grand total of four minutes.

Snodgrass, 33, had been an important part of the Hammers’ side before struggling with a back disk injury, which kept him out of the second half of last season.

The former Scotland international is expected to go straight into the team at the Hawthorns, giving the Baggies some much needed Premier League experience.

“I’m absolutely delighted he has chosen to take up the challenge with us. He’ll add Premier League experience and quality to our side.”

Sam Allardyce

There’s currently no sign of Fantasy Premier League managers being tempted to bring Snodgrass in ahead of Double Gameweek 19, but should he be considered?

VETERAN

Allardyce made a name for himself at Bolton for taking experienced players thought to be over the hill and bringing out some of the best football of their careers.

The careers of Jay-Jay Okocha, Fernando Hierro and Gary Speed all experienced and Indian Summer thanks to their time at The Reebok.

And Allardyce is clearly hoping to get the same from Snodgrass, comparing him to Premier League legend Speed.

“He might be getting on but in his mind he still thinks he’s 20. Snodgrass runs all day, he’s got great quality and a huge amount of experience. He never gives up. Hopefully that will rub off on some of these players who will look at him and say, ‘My word’. Lifting the spirits and lifting the standards is very important at a professional football club. It’s even more important at a Premier League club.”

Sam Allardyce

Despite Allardyce’s comments, Snodgrass’ FPL returns have not dropped considerably as he has entered his mid 30s.

Last season he delivered a decent 10 goal contributions, scoring five goals and chipping in with five assists.

Despite playing fewer minutes, that was actually an improvement on the season before, suggesting Snodgrass could still have plenty to offer at Premier League level.

SWEET LEFT FOOT

Big Sam was keen to highlight Snodgrass’ left foot and how it would bring balance to his side, hinting at a role down the left hand side of midfield.

“He’s left-footed. We all look for balance. When you get the right balance in the team with left-footed players, they can really produce for you down that left side. I’ve heard from many, many people that he is exceptional in the dressing room which is a great bonus on top of his abilities.”

Sam Allardyce

West Brom’s two most effective attacking players of last season, Matheus Pereira (£5.6m) and Grady Diangana (£5.1m), who are both left footed, have struggled to replicate the form they showed in the Championship.

(Pereira left, Diangana right)

Allardyce even singled out Pereira for criticism, asking for more from the West Brom playmaker.

“It’s very simple. This is the Premier League and he needs to do it (play) quickly – much quicker than he did in the Championship. Then he will show his very skilful qualities. But if he chooses to do it at his pace in the Premier League, then he will not be successful.”

Sam Allardyce

Reading into these quotes, it is telling Allardyce has only started Pereira once in the Premier League since arriving at the Hawthorns.

And he appears to be equally unimpressed with Diangana, hauling him off at half-time in their 4-0 thrashing by Arsenal.

In the case of Snodgrass, it could be that Big Sam is looking for the midfielder to offer a greater balance in the middle of the park, with most of West Brom’s centre midfielders predominantly being right footers.

He would also add some much needed creativity, where other than Conor Gallagher (£5.5m), they are severely lacking.

But with both Pereira and Diangana struggling this season, it could be that Snodgrass finds himself playing out on the left flank.

SET PIECES

Throughout his career, Snodgrass has offered huge threat from set pieces, particularly from corners, as shown in his best 2016/2017 season.

With Allardyce setting up the Baggies in a defensive formation, they will need to make the most of set pieces if they are to pull off a miraculous survival.

Sam Inkersole, who covered West Ham for Football.London during Snodgrass’ spell, outlined the Scot’s quality delivery and what else he could bring to his new team.

“His qualities were obvious. Set piece delivery was impressive and vastly improved from what the Hammers had previously and simply, his work rate. Too many West Ham players that season (when he arrived) were passengers so it was no surprise they struggled.”

Sam Inkersole

Set pieces have already played a big part of the West Brom attack since Allardyce joined.

A towering header from Semi Ajayi (£4.8m) gave the Baggies an unlikely point against champions Liverpool.

And the big centre half netted again in the FA Cup against Blackpool, before they lost on penalties.

With a 6ft 3ins defender who can aggressively attack a ball in the other team’s penalty area, Snodgrass’ quality set piece deliveries may well find their target more often than not.

Should the pair be able to strike up a good understanding, then they could both turn into assets worth having in the second half of the season.

THE PROSPECTS

In a system that will suit his style of play, Robert Snodgrass could well deliver some good FPL returns for his new club.

His assist potential could also be bolstered by a new striker, one Allardyce is actively searching for.

“I am looking for a frontman, hopefully he’ll be coming through the door as quickly as possible. That’ll be from abroad, rather than from this country.”

Sam Allardyce

However, the main issue with bringing him into our teams is his price point.

Still priced up at £5.7m, he finds himself in the same bracket as former teammate Tomas Soucek (£5.3m), who has delivered consistent returns all season, and Raphinha (£5.5m), the dynamic Leeds winger who is starting to deliver goals and assists.

West Brom also face a torrid run of games in the next few weeks.

In their next seven the Baggies will face off against Manchester City, Manchester United, Spurs and Wolves, with returns looking few and far between.

Kinder fixtures against Fulham and Sheffield United in Gameweeks 21 and 22 will give us a realistic idea about what to expect from their attack.

Ultimately, Snodgrass appears to be priced just a bit too highly to be considered for a budget midfielder role.

But those looking for a punt on a differential midfielder, with the Scot currently sitting at 0.1% ownership, could be hugely rewarded when fixtures turn in Gameweek 25.

1,216 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    No chips in 19 too it seems. Liked my FH draft so much too... sigh

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

    A) Salah, Son, Brewster
    B) Salah, Rashford, Brewster
    C) Son, Rashford, Antonio

    All three play, as planning to BB.

    Thanks all!

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

    What should I do with the following players? Willing to sell any, if not all, of them to be honest:

    A) Grealish
    B) Adams
    C) DCL

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

      I’d sell B then C then A

    2. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Villa/Newcastle has been rearranged so they have a tidy run of fixtures after Man City, get rid of Grealish at your peril.

  4. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    So what do I do now, I'm very bad at adjusting to changes once I settled for a plan and plan was to BB but with cancelation of Leeds and Southampton I'm stuck on what to do. Team as follows. Think I'll have to scap my BB plan now.

    Johnstone
    Robertson Cresswell Coufal
    Salah(C) Bruno Soucek Son Raphinha
    Vardy Bamford

    mccarthy dier adams ayling

    A. Dier>Cancelo
    B. Robertson>Cancelo and Son>KDB
    C. Vardy>Werner and son>KDB
    D. Dier>4.2 defender and son>KDB

    1. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Very similar team to mine. I'm considering Raphinha + Vardy > KDB + Antonio, but not sure you can afford it with Robbo.
      Of your options, I'd go A (think keeping Son is a good idea long term) and bench Raph.

      1. drughi
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        cheers could be an option

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

      B, maybe D

      1. drughi
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        cheers

    3. LE CHARO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah, that bench is not worth the BB.
      Since the next opportunity to use it will be in a while, you no longer need a strong bench now, so D would not be a bad move, but the timing is not great because Dier has a good chance of keeping a CS, so I'd go B.

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

    Long post but any help would be much appreciated after dropping from 13 to 8DGW players 🙁

    A. Son >> KDB
    B. Son+Adams >> KDB+Antonio (-4)
    C. Son+DCL >> KDB+Antonio (-4)

    With A or B I could use TC.
    With C I could use TC or BB.

    * = DGW

    Johnstone*
    Robbo*, Dias*, Lowton*, Coufal*
    Salah*, Bruno*, Soucek*, Son, Raphina
    Bamford
    (McCarthy, Adams, Dallas, DCL

    1. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Anything ITB?

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

        2.4m. So can move Son >> KDB in one move. Was my plan to then have 14DGW players

        1. Atimis
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Could do the same - A - just not sure if losing Son is the way to go. Thinking about only Foden for DGW and getting KDB later on.

  6. Kryptonite666
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1349661658675867648?s=20

    So Villa will play City on 21st and NUFC on 23rd? Doesn't sound reasonable.

    1. Kryptonite666
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      sorry 20th. In a different time zone currently.

    2. ppv
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      City is on Wed 20th

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

      20th to 23rd is a three-day gap. That's not abnormal this season

  7. jammie26
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Villa Everton officially postponed

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

    Villa v Everton confirmed POSTPONED! Source Sky Sports.

  9. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Raphinha + Vardy > KDB + Antonio

    Yey or nay?

    1. LC1
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldn't want to get rid of Vardy.

  10. mikeycee93
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I've went from having a DGW BB of the following

    McCarthy, Areloa

    Cancelo, Coufal, Chillwell, Ayling, KT

    Salah, Bruno, KDB, Grealish, Raphina,

    Watkins Antonio Bamford

    To now losing out on McCarthy, Aying, Grealish, Raphina, Watkins and Bamford only playing once 🙁

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

    Hello folks. Team looks Ok for gw19?

    Martinez
    Coufal Dias Dallas Taylor*
    KDB Bruno Salah Son
    Bamford Antonio

    Johnstone Adams Bednarek Bissouma

  12. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    With villa confirmed to still have a DGW19 city and Newcastle, is it a case of don't buy and don't sell villa players until we know more on the squad? Only Trezeguet has been confirmed positive with COVID

    1. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Villa game postponed

      1. Baby Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Been rearranged for next weekend which means GW19 I believe still

      2. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Keep up.

      3. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Villa Everton is postponed. Villa Newcastle is being rearranged to 23rd Jan so will most likely still have a DGW19

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          FPL website is updated. Villa Newcastle game in GW19. Villa Everton game has been removed from 19

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

      Not confirmed that it's gw19

      1. Volley127
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        It is. Check FPL

      2. ppv
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Confirmed in 19 FPL site

  13. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thinking about Stephens to Foden for free and going without BB - would have team below. Thoughts?

    Martinez
    Justin/Cancelo/Robo/Coufal
    Soucek/Bruno/Son/Salah/Foden
    Vardy

    Martin/Bamford/Dallas/Adams

  14. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Villa Newcastle in gw 19 or 20??

    1. Kryptonite666
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      19 IMO. The deadline for 20th is 26th Jan. Deadlines don't change.

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I can't see the deadline for GW20 been put forward from 26th to 23rd. More likely to be added to 19 and extend GW

    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's 19, on the FPL app / site

      1. mikeycee93
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Its this coming GW

  15. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son/Grealish to KDB/Gundo now looking a solid move (-4)?

    Johnstone McCarthy
    Cresswell Coufal Dier Dallas Pieters
    Son Grealish Salah Bruno Soucek
    Kane Bamford D-Reid

    1. jammie26
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Why sell grealish with a double gameweek in 19?

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

    Already done DCL > Antonion for the DGW...

    Would you do Martinez > Ederson for a -4 for the DGW too? Would leave me with this team to BB this week. (all being well with no more postponements)

    Ederson
    Dier - Stones - Holding
    Bruno - Salah - KDB - Soucek
    Bamford - Kane - Antonio

    Bench: Meslier - Dallas - Coufal - Anguissa

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

    Villa New will definitely be in 19. FPL ain't bringing the deadline 3 days forward

    1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Already updated, it's in 19

  18. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    yay villa dgw

  19. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is this squad strong enough to use the BB?

    1FT 3.5m itb
    Martinez
    Chilwell,Dias,TAA,Coufal
    Salah,Fernandes, Soucek,Grealish
    Kane,Watkins

    Johnstone,Bamford,Raphinia,Dallas.

    Willing to take a -4/-8 to get one or two more City guys.

    1. LC1
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah for sure.

  20. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    VILLA NEWCASTLE OFFICIALLY ADDED

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yeh that’s great but is it still worth the risk?
      Your Villa still players might be the ones to miss out if their infected.

  21. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Villa v Newcastle confirmed in DGW19 on FPL app / website

  22. merin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you BB, TC or do nothing this week?

    Martinez Steer
    Chilwell Cancelo Coufal Dallas KWP
    Salah KDB Bruno Son Soucek
    Adams Bamford Watkins

    0 FT, 0.2 ITB

  23. Kryptonite666
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wilson worth keeping ? against ARS and AVL

    1. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      yessssss

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He looks essential next GW

      1. Kryptonite666
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        lol, that's strong. you are being sarcastic of course.

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          🙂
          But I would keep him yep
          Could have scored this GW

  24. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    EVERTON BGW 19

  25. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any chance we know which Villa players are self isolating before the DGW19 deadline?

  26. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Surely New Villa slots into GW19 then being on the Saturday

    1. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Already confirmed

    2. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      already added

  27. as33
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Should i take FH? have only 1ft
    Martinez
    Cancelo, Holding, Dier, Mitchell, Kilman
    Sterling, Son, Bruno, Grealish
    Kane, Bamford, Laca
    Need to get Salah in and 0itb 🙂

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      i would

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

    Wilson DGW 😆

  29. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wilson is an option now

  30. aleksaa2
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Aston Villa’s home match against Everton FC, scheduled to be played on Sunday 17 January at 12pm GMT, has been postponed by the Premier League Board