Spot the Differential

Alonso offers great potential as one-week punt for Gameweek 31 Wildcarders

Tom Freeman has finished inside the top 1k in five of the last 11 Fantasy Premier League seasons. He picks out three differentials for Fantasy Football Scout readers every Gameweek.


Gameweek 30 is almost upon us which gives us an opportunity to have a look at some more differential options.

This time, we’ve selected low-owned picks at Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton, who we think have the potential to make an impact.

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

Marcos Alonso

Tuchel's wing-back system renews interest in old hands Azpilicueta and Alonso
  • FPL ownership: 2.6%
  • Price: £5.7m
  • GW30-34 fixtures: WBA | cry | BHA | whu | FUL

Spanish defender Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) has been given a new lease of life at Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel.

The 30-year-old was banished from Frank Lampard’s squad after a disastrous 45 minutes at West Bromwich Albion back in September, but has since started five league matches under his new manager, and taken full advantage of the opportunity.

When it comes to playing in a back four, Alonso often struggles, but when used correctly as a wing-back he has real quality, something Tuchel has recognised. 

Since Gameweek 21, when Alonso made a return to Chelsea’s starting XI in a 3-4-3 system, he has taken 13 shots. No defender can match that total during that period, despite limited minutes. He has also accumulated 25 penalty area touches (only Luke Shaw (£5.2m) has more) and created 10 chances for his team-mates.

At this stage, we should point out that a move for the defender this week does carry some risk, knowing that Ben Chilwell (£5.8m) is also pushing for a start. However, the fact Alonso was rested during the international break, while his English colleague played 180 minutes against San Marino and Poland, is encouraging. 

Alonso has delivered a string of impressive displays of late, and could be a perfect one-week punt for FPL managers planning a Gameweek 31 Wildcard.

Conor Coady

  • FPL ownership: 4.7%
  • Price: £4.8m
  • GW30-34 fixtures: WHU | ful | SHU | BUR | wba

With two clean sheets and a goal in his last five appearances, plus an appealing set of forthcoming fixtures, Conor Coady (£4.8m) could be a solid under the radar pick for the run-in.

Last season, investing in one of Wolves’ backline was one of the easier decisions FPL managers had to make, given that their record of 13 clean sheets was bettered by only three teams. 

And though they have struggled to replicate that defensive form this term, some of which can be attributed to the 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 experiment, their performances at the back have improved of late.

The England international’s goal threat is on the up too. Having not had a shot in the Premier League before this season, Coady scored his first top-flight goal against Man City in Gameweek 26, and came close to netting twice at Villa Park the following week, hitting the post with a header before forcing a superb save from Emiliano Martínez (£5.4m).

However, the real appeal lies in Wolves’ clean sheet potential, and with home games against West Ham United, Sheffield United and Burnley in the next five, plus away trips to Fulham and West Brom, further shut outs could be on the way.

Priced at just £4.8m, Coady offers the cheapest route into Wolves’ defence and is the most likely to start every match too. He could be a nice set-and-forget option given his schedule.

Stuart Armstrong

  • FPL ownership: 0.4%
  • Price: £5.5m
  • GW30-34 fixtures: BUR | wba | tot | – | LEI

Despite a stop-start season at Southampton, largely due to niggling injuries and a positive COVID-19 test, Stuart Armstrong (£5.5m) has been one of the club’s top performers in recent matches, with two assists in his last three Premier League outings.

The Scottish international was excellent against Bournemouth in the FA Cup, causing all sorts of problems for the Cherries defenders with his direct running. He ended the game with an assist but was unfortunate not to return more, as his pass found Che Adams (£5.8m) to score in the second half, only for VAR to rule it out, before his strike came back off the post for Nathan Redmond (£6.4m) to score Saints’ third.

Though Armstrong was used in a deeper midfield role at Everton in Gameweek 26, the Scot usually features in a more advanced position, where he can drift infield in Ralph Hasenhüttl’s 4-4-2 / 4-2-2-2 setup, allowing Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.7m) to provide the width on the right. That’s important with Burnley up next, given that only Fulham and Crystal Palace have conceded more chances down that side since the turn of the year.

Southampton may sit seven points above the drop zone, but with just one win in their last 12 Premier League matches, will be looking nervously over their shoulder. They now have a massive double-header against Burnley and West Bromwich Albion, and will need to get points on the board in these games, knowing that they have a tough run to follow.

At his best, Armstrong is a real asset to Southampton, and could be a nice budget pick for these crucial back-to-back games.

693 Comments Post a Comment
  1. A-L
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Ok fine I'll do it then - Alonso in

  2. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Chances of the following players starting? Thinking of BB

    Forster
    Auba
    Mount
    Cancelo
    Toby

    Have 1 FT to replace any one.

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Toby to Alonso

  3. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    ALONSO FREE KICK AND CLEANIE TIME!!

    1. RVP 20
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      are you okay

  4. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    34 min: Pereira goal
    Chelsea win 3-1 with no assists from Alonso

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

      Please

    2. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      With you hiding behind the sofa the whole game..

      1. pjomara
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        I'm saying that as an Alonso owner!

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

    Bench one:

    Watkins (FUL)
    DCL (CRY)
    Lingard (WOL)
    Raphinha (SHU)

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

      Lingard

    2. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Watkins.

    3. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Watkins

  6. merin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    GTG?

    Martinez
    Dias Digne Dallas
    Bruno Bale Lingard Gundogan Raphinha(v)
    Kane(c) Bamford

    (Areola Watkins Targett Dunk)

    1 FT, 5.2 ITB, No chips left

    Or maybe Dunk -> Azpi?

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Get Azpi.
      Bench Dias.

      1. merin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Just did it now 😉

        1. aleksios
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          Help below?

  7. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Azpil the safer bet

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      the boring* pick

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        yip ... but ...

  8. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Great article - Alonso looks such a good 1 week punt this week.

    Think Coady will be a great pick on GW31 Wildcard.

  9. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Should I BB this team:
    Martinez
    Stones,Dias,Targett,Dallas
    Bale,Bruno,Raphinha,Gundogan
    Bamford,Kane

    Button, Lingard,DCL,Alonso

    Can also take -4 to do Button to Mendy,

    A) use BB
    B) hold it

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      I wouldnt.

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

      yes BB

  10. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Wish I still had my WC so I could get Alonso in for this GW, don't like that FOMO feeling 🙂

    Think I prefer Saiss over Coady though and not a fan of Armstrong myself.

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      I don't have WC and think i will go for the fun pick Alonso over azpi.. But i'm having an awful season anyways.

  11. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    1FT - 8m ITB - Only TC remaining

    Martinez
    Digne Targett Cresswell
    Bruno Lingard Gundo Raph
    Kane DCL Bamford

    Fabri - Stones ESR White

    Stones or Targett to start? Could also move White to Azpi with the FT and bench Targett/Stones

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

    which MID in for up to 9.0?

    The others are: Bruno - Son - Gundo (Lookman)

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Jota

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Lingard or Jota

  13. aleksios
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Would you use wc for these moves?

    Johnstone,Targett,Dunk,Bale,KDB
    To
    Mendy,Azpi,Alonso,Son,Bruno.

  14. Jonesfromthere
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    With St Max possibly back it’s very unlikely Bale starts

  15. barton fc
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Best option?
    A) white > alonso
    B) bale > kdb

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      A.

  16. lewis274
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    best sterling replacement lads??

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      KDB.

    2. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      KDB

    3. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Kevin.

  17. lewis274
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    best sterling replacement???

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Dollar

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        *Jota
        Son
        Lingard

  18. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Coady has played every minute of the 2 previous seasons and has missed just one game this season.
    His total returns from nearly 3 seasons are 1 goal, 0 assists.

    Do you really think he's an attacking threat?
    Yes he occasionally comes close, but the proof is in the pudding.

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Agree.

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      🙂

      Think you may be onto something there. I was confidently tipping Adarabioyo over Andersen last week simply because he had around 4 times as many chances in the season. Turned out Andersen was the pick as he didn't always miss the target.

      3 big chances missed by Coady this season could just argue he's not much cop in front of goal.

    3. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      He won’t score many, but at least he goes up for corners now, which he didn’t do in previous seasons.

  19. F_Ivanovic
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    How's this team looking?

    Martinez McCarthey
    Rudiger Digne Cancelo Shaw Konsa
    Gundogan Raphina Salah Auba Son
    Bamford DCL Watkins

    No Bruno after I sold for Auba. Want him back, but I also need Kane for 32 and also want to sell the likes of Watkins/Konsa and Leeds assets due to bad fixtures. If I get Bruno back it would effectively cost a hit down the road.

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      No Kane or Bruno could hurt your ranking.

  20. sirmorbach
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Good to go, lads? Any hit/change needed?

    Martínez
    Dias, Azpilicueta, Dallas
    Salah, Bruno, Gündogan, Raphinha
    Kane (c), Antonio, Watkins

    Forster, Stones, Cresswell, Soucek

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Looking good. Im going Raph captain.

      1. sirmorbach
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Cheers, mate!

    2. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Would play Cress and bench Dias .

      1. sirmorbach
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Hmmm. Benching City always seems wrong to me, though Cress actually is the highest-scoring defender with a better fixture..

  21. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Alonso (c) who is with me?

  22. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Current squad for this gw. Any need for changes?? 1ft and 3.6m itb. Who should be on the bench here? Thanks

    Pope 4m
    Stones Target Coufal Dallas Lawton
    Bruno Salah Mahrez Gundogan Mount
    Bamford Antonio DCL

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      G2g.
      Bench Gundo,Coufal,Lowton.

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

    Start bale.or.watkins

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Watkins

  24. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Leeds SHU score predictions?

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

      3 1

    2. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      3-1

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

      5-0

      Just undecided on who gets the hattie. Oddly on the three occasions Leeds have scored 4 or more this season Bamford has only ever got one.

    4. Denis Tueart on the wing
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      3-1

    5. House Frey Wedding Planner
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      2-0

  25. thegame983
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Play one of
    1. Bale
    2. Watkins
    3. Dias

  26. lewis274
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    start dias or rudiger???

    1. thegame983
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Rud

  27. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Suggestions for this team folks? 1ft, 6.9m itb. WC, BB available.

    Martinez
    Digne stones Dallas
    Bruno son gundo raphina lingard
    Kane bamford Antonio

    Forster gundo coufal Dunk

  28. aleksios
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Dunk to Azpi.
    Bench Stones.

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Reply fail to Disturbed.

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Thanks bud. Not Shaw?

        1. aleksios
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 12 months ago

          Trust more CHE.

  29. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Team for now is:
    Martinez,
    Shaw, Azpi, Alonso, Dallas
    Bruno, Mount, KDB
    Kane, Richarlison, Bamford,
    Subs: 4.0GK, Cresswell, Gundogan, Foden
    1 FT, 0 itb.

    Which to do?
    A: Keep as is. Roll transfer.
    B: Transfer: Gundogan/Foden -> Raphinha and bench KDB for Raphinha
    C: Transfer: Gundogan/Foden -> Raphinha and bench Shaw for Raphinha
    D: Transfer: Gundogan/Foden -> Raphinha and bench Richarlison for Raphinha

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Roll.

  30. Denis Tueart on the wing
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 12 months ago

    Is Bale to Son worth a hit?

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Think Yes .

      1. Denis Tueart on the wing
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        mmm me too, especially for DGW

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 12 months ago

      Is Son fit ?

      1. Denis Tueart on the wing
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 12 months ago

        Been spotted in full training apparently