Spot the Differential

Bale offering differential potential between now and end of FPL season

Gameweek 34 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 Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United and Newcastle United 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.

Gareth Bale

  • FPL ownership: 3.1%
  • Price: £9.1m
  • GW34-38 fixtures: SHU | lee | WOL | AVL | lei

After a benching in José Mourinho’s last four games in charge, Gareth Bale (£9.1m) returned to Tottenham Hotspur’s starting XI against Southampton in Gameweek 32, their first match under interim head coach Ryan Mason.

The Welshman responded by grabbing the equaliser, and in the second half, emerged as Spurs’ main attacking threat and creator in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

In just his seventh Premier League start of the campaign, the 31-year-old was named man of the match, and despite a slightly chaotic performance from Mason’s side, they did improve as the game went on, especially after the hour mark when they became more proactive in their approach. If that theme continues, and they look to dominate the ball and play on the front foot in the coming weeks, it bodes well for owners of their attacking assets.

When given a run of games this season, Bale has thrived. He was in exceptional form as he came off the bench against West Ham United in Gameweek 25, and was then handed starts against Burnley, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Arsenal. During that time, he scored four goals, provided two assists and 40 FPL points, highlighting his ability to hit big hauls.

Although he was benched for last weekend’s EFL Cup final loss to Manchester City, I fancy him to start against Sheffield United on Sunday, in a game when the onus will be on the Lilywhites to take the initiative and attack. In addition to that match, Spurs then take on Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa, before finishing the season with a trip to Leicester City.

Bale is perhaps no longer the player he was at the peak of his powers, but is still a real threat in the final-third, and with a manager who now believes in him, is an intriguing differential for the remainder of the season.

Diego Llorente

  • FPL ownership: 0.2%
  • Price: £4.4m
  • GW34-38 fixtures: bha | TOT | bur | sou | WBA

Diego Llorente (£4.4m) struggled with injuries throughout the first few months of his Leeds United career, but has now played every minute of the last nine games and shown real quality.

His role at the heart of the Whites’ defence has helped tighten them up, with just four goals conceded in their last six matches, despite a testing schedule which has included games against Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.

The Spanish defender’s aggressive style, along with his passing range and ability to bring the ball out from the back makes him an exciting watch, and lends itself to bonus points, too. As pointed out by Neale in his superb Big Numbers article, Llorente has registered 140 baseline bonus points (BBPS) since his return from injury in the second half of Double Gameweek 25, more than any other defender. 

And while Pascal Struijk (£4.0m) is currently the cheapest route into Marcelo Bielsa’s backline, his spot in the starting XI is perhaps a little less secure, with Liam Cooper (£4.3m) due to return from suspension after Gameweek 34, and Robin Koch (£4.3m) pushing for a recall too.

Leeds now face a Brighton and Hove Albion side who have struggled in attack in recent matches, scoring only once in their last four outings. Encouragingly, for those considering investing, their meeting with the Seagulls marks a favourable run too, with games against Burnley, Southampton and West Bromwich Albion to follow.

Llorente is an integral part of an improving Leeds defence, and while Stuart Dallas (£5.3m) remains the headline pick, the former Real Sociedad man is worth a look if funds are tight.

Allan Saint-Maximin

  • FPL ownership: 2.7%
  • Price: £5.1m
  • GW34-38 fixtures: ARS | lei | MCI | SHU | ful

Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.1m) has shown his value in recent weeks, playing an important role in Newcastle United’s revival.

The Magpies’ are now unbeaten in their last four matches, which has coincided with the return of the Frenchman and a change in formation.

Now deployed in a 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 shape, the new system has shown plenty of attacking intent. In fact, since Gameweek 30, they rank joint-second for goals, first for expected goals (xG) and fourth for shots in the box. Granted, it’s a small sample size from which to draw conclusions from, but it is encouraging.

During that run, Saint-Maximin has provided two assists, scored one himself, and has been one of Newcastle’s best players. 

At Anfield last week, Liverpool couldn’t handle him, as he consistently exploited their high line with passes in behind. And while he didn’t manage to involve himself in any goals, it was a hugely impressive performance, and bodes well for future weeks.

Next up for Steve Bruce’s side is a Gameweek 34 encounter with Arsenal, and with the game sandwiched between the Gunners’ Europa League semi-finals, they won’t get a better chance to win. After that things get trickier, but they do finish the season with games against relegated Sheffield United and Fulham. 

Saint-Maximin has stepped up just at the right time for Newcastle, and at just £5.1m, could be a useful budget asset for the run-in.

Pro Pundits 7
470 Comments Post a Comment
  1. winchester
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Good day lads! have 2ft and 1,5m itb. No chips left. Would need some advice here. Cant get kane back with 1 move (am off -0,1m).. Preferably would want the dgw players as well. Currently defending position as well. Cheers lads!

    mendy
    taa rudiger coady
    son bruno lingard salah jota
    vardy nacho

    (forster lowton davis mitchell)

    a) vardy+jota -> kane+harrison/raphinha/foden
    b) davis+bruno -> kane+4.9m midfielder
    c) something else?

  2. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play Pope (WHU) or Messlier (Brighton)?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Mess

    2. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Meslier

  3. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Guys 2ft 0.0itb

    Mendy
    Shaw taa rudi
    Salah bruno son lingz jota
    Kane nacho

    Forster vydra veltman coady

    A) coady to Coleman free and start Coleman ahead of Shaw? I guess pools will go for this. Can see goals.

    Need suggestions guys.

  4. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hold on to 2 FT’s or

    A) Jota to Moura
    B) jota to Saka
    C) other

    Martinez
    Holding, Reguilon, TAA
    Bruno, Gund, Salah, Lingard
    Kane, Wood, Nacho

    Forster, Jota*, Targett, Coady,

    2 FT 0.4 ITB

    TIA

    1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I would transfer coady out here. May be for a eve defender.

      1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Coady to Dallas will be good.

        1. kysersosa
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Will take a look. Not a bad option though.

    2. popey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      if you can't afford Dallas in 1 then Holding to Llorente also works

  5. Bennyboy1907
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who to bench: (pick 2 please)
    A) TAA
    B) Shaw
    C) Holding
    D) Rudiger (have Mendy)
    E) Jota
    F) Coufal

    Currently benching Jota and Coufal

    1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I would start coufal ahead of holding. Can see Newcastle scoring.

    2. fpl_tp95
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'd bench holding and coufal personally

    3. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      CF

  6. NATSTER
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Between Leno (new) and Martinez (eve).

    Who to start?

    1. Bennyboy1907
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Leno

      1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Martinez

    2. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'd play the one with the better save and bonus numbers

      1. fpl_tp95
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Martinez

      2. NATSTER
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thank you.

  7. Daghe Munegu
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Really don't know if I need Kane ? It would be for a hit. 1ft 0.2 itb

    Mendy
    TAA Shaw Rudiger
    Salah Son Bruno Greenwood
    Vardy Nacho Vydra

    Button Fofana Jota Holding

  8. Zlatan F.C
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    2FT and 0.1m in the bank. Should i do

    A) Coady to Godfrey
    B) Fernandes and Coady to Castagne and Greenwood/Madderson

    Mendy
    TAA Rudiger Coufal Coady
    Salah Bruno Son Lingard
    Kane Nacho

    Forster Jota Vydra Holding

  9. CBS
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Jota to Lingard? Yes or no

    I Have Salah as Liverpool cover.

    1. x.jim.x
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I would - Jota might not even start.

      1. Fpl orynx
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Jota will start

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wait for the presser. There is a rumor that Lingard is injured.

  10. FPL_BUCCANEER
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    With a FH still in my pocket, should I transfer Bruno to Bale?

    Martinez
    Dallas TAA Coady
    Salah Jota Son Bruno Lingard
    Kane Nacho

    Fabri Veltman Konsa Brewster

    1. Quan MisTaka
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bruno getting a pen against Liverpool, can feel it

      1. FPL_BUCCANEER
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        That does scare me..

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

    Morning all, another Gameweek!

    Any advice here would be greatly appreciated. For first time this season I am stumped with how to use FT.

    2 FT 2.5M ITB

    Mendy
    Rudiger TAA Castagne
    Salah Lingard Maddison Son
    Ineanacho Kane Wood

    Forster Shaw Jota Holding

    Really don't want to burn an FT but struggling to see a move. Ideally want to hold 2.1 M ITB to maybe do Son > Bruno next week so effectively have 0.4 to play with.

    Any thoughts? My only thought is Jota > Siggy or Holding > Alioski / Llorente

  12. M2.0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I really want to do Raphina > Pereira however it would leave me with a massive benching headache.. any thoughts?

    -----------------Mendy---------------------

    ---TAA - Christiansen - Dallas--------

    -JLingz - Salah - Bruno - Greenwood-

    ---------DCL - Nacho - Kane -----------

    Fabri - Shaw - White - Raphina

  13. Fantasydreamer
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play digne or Watkins? (Playing each other)

    1. Quan MisTaka
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Play the attacker imo

  14. Quan MisTaka
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Would you bench Rudiger and play Shaw? He looked so good last night

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Doubt Rudiger starts to be honest

      1. Quan MisTaka
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah ive heard this opinion. If he doesnt start cant see him coming on so no harm in starting him over Shaw i think

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Very true

    2. Fpl orynx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I wouldn’t take anything from the United game. Roma’s main keeper was injured in the first half and subbed as well as one of Roma’s key midfielders. Roma are not of the same caliber as Liverpool

      1. Quan MisTaka
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah fair enough, youre not wrong. But still the most creative fullback in the league atm. Liverpool not the best defensively. Praying rudiger doesnt start as me and rival both have him but shaw my first sub and targett his

  15. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Tricky selection and benching dilemmas this week... good to go?

    Martinez
    Rudiger Castagne Shaw TAA
    Son Bruno Greenwood Lingard
    Kane(c) Nacho
    (Areola Bamford Jota White)

    1. Quan MisTaka
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'd start bamford

      Bench either

      Shaw
      Rudiger
      Greenwood

    2. x.jim.x
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'd start Bamford over Greenwood.

  16. fpl_tp95
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy

    Castagne, TAA Shaw

    Bruno, Lingard, Son, Jota, Salah

    Kele, Kane (C)

    Forster, Holding, Veltman, Davies

    Have I got the bench right here?

  17. x.jim.x
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    This bench is really not sitting right with me - am I being mental?

    Sanchez
    Rudiger - Reguilon - Shaw
    Salah - Fernandes - Lingard - Son
    Bamford - Kane (c) - Iheanacho
    (Martinez - Jota - TAA - Saiss)

    1. Fpl orynx
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Play that bench and your asking for trouble. Martinez could do well against Everton who have been poor at home. But Brighton could keep a clean sheet. I would play TAA over Bamford to be honest. Brighton are good defensively and Leeds are not exactly hugely attacking at the moment.

  18. tbhogal
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start Jota or Vydra guys??

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Vydra

  19. winchester
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Would need some advice here. have 2ft and 1,5m itb. No chips left. Cant get kane back with 1 move (am off -0,1m).. Preferably would want the dgw players as well. Currently defending position as well. Cheers lads!

    mendy
    taa rudiger coady
    son bruno lingard salah jota
    vardy nacho

    (forster lowton davis mitchell)

    a) vardy+jota -> kane+harrison/raphinha/foden
    b) davis+bruno -> kane+4.9m midfielder
    c) something else?

  20. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Should I roll here?
    .1 ITB

    Martinez
    Trent Dias Azpi Rudiger
    Bruno Salah Lingard Siggy
    Kelechi Kane

    Areola Bamford Burn Raphinha

  21. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Siggy or Rodriguez for next GWs?

    Any Everton fans around or people with in-depth insights?

  22. Sulley
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start Shaw or Trent? Others are Rudiger and Castagne

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Doubt Rudiger starts but TAA then Shaw is my order

  23. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best move?

    A) Wildcard
    B) Free Hit
    C) Jota -> Lingard
    D) Gundo -> Pereira
    E) Jota & Vardy -> Periera & Kane(c) [-4]

    Martinez
    Trent, Cancelo, Coufal
    Salah, Son, Jota, Gundo
    Vardy, Bamford, Watkins

    Pope, Shaw, Targett, Raphina
    Bank 0.1m, 1FT, WC & FH left

    1. user.n
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Save FT for doubles

      1. Jinswick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Will likely WC or FH next week, so saving would waste a FT

  24. user.n
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Guys, Cavani to Bamford and Stones to Evans -4?
    Thanks.

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No way Bamford is useless esp without Raphinha get Calvert Lewin

      1. user.n
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thank you

  25. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Need to fix my bench for potentian bb in gw 35, have 2ft and 0.7m itb, would like to roll 2ft until blank gw 36.

    Mendy, (Forster)
    Rudiger, Shaw, Coady, (Holding, Philips)
    Salah, Son, Bruno, Saka, (Jota)
    Dcl, Ihenacho, Kane

    Gw34 Coady to Holgate (0.1m short for Coleman)
    Gw35 Forster to Pickford/Guaita
    Gw36 2ft

    Good plan or something else?

  26. Tambling5
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hi all. Should I start
    a) Mount or
    B) Bamford?

    Thx

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Mount although he might not start

  27. popey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    1) Bench 2;
    A) Alonso (Ful)
    B) Rudi (Ful)
    C) TAA (mun)
    D) Greenwood (LIV)
    E) Jota (mun)
    Currently on TAA (1st) & Jota (Have Mo)

    2) Roll FT or fix Leno - no fixture 36 so a transfer probably due either way

  28. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play:

    A) Pope (WHU)
    B) Martinez (eve)

    1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

  29. Big Ronnie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lose Bruno or Vardy to get Kane back in?
    Was thinking Bruno and Vydra to Kane and £5.4m mid (was hoping Raphinha would be back, although would've benched this week anyway) but now have doubts after last night's performance.

    Mendy
    TAA, Rudiger, Fofana
    Salah, Bruno, Son, Jota, Lingard
    Vardy, Nacho

    Forster, Shaw, Holding, Vydra

    1. HD7
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Actually I decided to lose Salah. Bruno and Vardy have a double

  30. Zlatan F.C
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    is Coady to Godfrey a good move for the next few weeks?