Spot the Differential

Pogba’s new role makes him a useful FPL differential for Triple Gameweek

Triple Gameweek 35 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 West Ham United, Aston Villa and Manchester United who we think have the potential to make an impact.

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

Paul Pogba

  • FPL ownership: 2.2%
  • Price: £7.6m
  • GW35-38 fixtures: avl + LEI + LIV | – | FUL | wol

Paul Pogba (£7.6m) has been one of Manchester United’s top performers in recent weeks, producing some of his best football since returning to Old Trafford from Juventus in 2016.

The French midfielder struggled with several minor injuries and a bout of COVID-19 earlier in the season. However, since regaining full fitness, he has become a vital asset to Ole Gunnar Solskjær, which has coincided with a new, hybrid role on the left of United’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

The more advanced position means he is generally further up the pitch when United reach the final third, where he has the vision and ability to quickly switch play. And that’s led to a big improvement from Pogba, who has scored two goals and registered four assists in his last ten matches across all competitions. He also ranks joint-second amongst team-mates for shots in the box, and third for chances created over the last six Gameweeks.

The Red Devils are now unbeaten in 13 Premier League matches, and after the latest fixture amendments were announced earlier this week, now visit Aston Villa before back-to-back home matches against Leicester City and Liverpool in Triple Gameweek 35.

While it’s hard to pinpoint exactly which, if any, of United’s assets will be handed three starts, Pogba’s versatility enhances his chances, and now in a really good moment, could be an effective differential for the remainder of the season.

Michail Antonio

  • FPL ownership: 5.0%
  • Price: £6.4m
  • GW35-38 fixtures: EVE | bha | wba | SOU

Gameweek 34 saw the return of Michail Antonio (£6.4m) to West Ham United’s attack.

The 31-year-old was back in the starting XI after recovering from the hamstring injury which forced him off against Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, and it didn’t take him long to impress.

His quickfire double, finishing off crosses from Vladimir Coufal (£4.7m) and Saïd Benrahma (£5.9m), turned the game in the Hammers favour, and he was perhaps unfortunate not to return more, as he ended the game with six goal attempts, two big chances and 12 penalty box touches. 

In fact, Antonio’s expected goal involvement (xGI) total of 1.43 was not bettered by any other Fantasy Premier League (FPL) player in Gameweek 34, and as pointed out by Neale in his Scout Notes, it is merely a continuation of a season-wide trend as no forward with substantial game-time to their name has a better rate of xGI per 90 minutes.

Manuel Lanzini’s (£6.4m) performance also caught the eye, with the Argentine excelling in a deeper role in Declan Rice’s (£4.7m) absence, and as a result of their win, West Ham now sit fifth, just three points behind Chelsea with four games to play. 

With a crucial run of games coming up against Everton, Brighton and Hove Albion, West Bromwich Albion and Southampton, Antonio can finish the season strongly, and could be one of the very best FPL differentials for the run-in.

Anwar El Ghazi

  • FPL ownership: 1.2%
  • Price: £5.2m
  • GW35-38 fixtures: MUN + EVE | cry | tot | CHE

Anwar El Ghazi (£5.2m) has not always been a guaranteed starter at Aston Villa this season, but has now scored in back-to-back matches and made a real impact.

The Dutchman’s Gameweek 34 strike at Everton took his tally to eight in the Premier League, making him the Villans’ top scorer behind Ollie Watkins (£6.5m), and there is no doubt that at his best, he has the ability to be a real game-changer.

Interestingly, captain Jack Grealish (£7.5m) recently labelled El Ghazi as Villa’s best finisher at the club, and it was easy to see why at Goodison Park, as he bent the winner past an excellent Jordan Pickford (£4.8m) late on. He also hit the woodwork and enjoyed plenty of success running at Carlo Ancelotti’s backline, which is encouraging.

The winger’s shoot-on-sight policy is evident in the numbers, too. Amongst all midfielders per 90 who have played a reasonable number of minutes, he ranks second for goal attempts, fifth for big chances and third for expected goals (xG), only behind Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) and Gareth Bale (£9.1m).

At this stage, we should point out that longer term, this move carries more risk, as it’s likely we’ll see El Ghazi drop out of the starting XI upon Grealish’s return. However, if the England international continues to be ruled out, and you fancy a short-term differential punt, this could be a good one.

2,781 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Any other good week to BB? Need too many hits to BB this week

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not likely, next is a blank, and then left with 37, or 38 which could have alot of rotation.

    2. Juande
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Even with single gameweek players on the bench it looks like the best time to do it now tbh. Spurs assets, Lingard etc could nab some differential points.

    3. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Has to be this week even with SGW players

    4. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I'm actually contemplating a -8 to -12 this week to make my BB worthwhile. Next week isn't an option, and 37 and 38 will include random rotation.

      I'm thinking if i bring in someone with a DGW35 and SGW36, I'm just bringing forward the hit to give myself a greater chance of a pay off. Will ditch Dallas, Raph and McCarthy to make my bench Emi, Kane, Lingard and Lowton.

  2. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is this a crazy fh team? Chasing at 100k, and about 30 points behind in ml.

    Guaita
    TAA - Maguire - Digne
    Salah - Bruno f - Greenwood - Auba
    Nacho - DCL - Vardy

    1. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      V good

      1. Crunchie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        One of the best i have seen very jealous 🙂

        1. Tango74
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Its either Digne or Castagne

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No all the essential are there.

    3. dwain100
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Great team. Choice of Watkins over Vardy and double Leicester attack is interesting

  3. Tango74
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Early team news from Sam Martin

    Kasper, Ricardo, Soyuncu, Fofana, Evans, Castagne, Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison, Vardy, Iheanacho.

    One change.

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Hoping a cheeky Thomas appearance

  4. Gerhardinho
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Please help!!!
    Rudiger vs Wood?

    1. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Tough, Rudiger just

  5. Crunchie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Play one of

    Fofana
    Holding
    Rudiger

    Cheers

    1. Straobalno
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Fofana out of this

      1. Crunchie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Thanks 🙂

  6. Juande
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    If you had to go with one Spurs asset this week amongst all the TGW fever, who would it be?

    1. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kane

    2. Fuddled FC
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Fofana

      1. Fuddled FC
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        whoops reply fail for Crunchie

        1. Crunchie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Thanks 🙂

      2. Juande
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Curve ball move, I like it.

    3. Straobalno
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kane all day

    4. Juande
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kane seems the sensible choice. Now the only question is "am I capable of being sensible when it comes to FPL?"

  7. Tomek1950
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I use FH.
    I'm thinkin about:
    Henderson - Castagne, Maguire, TAA - Maddison, Bruno (c), Jota, Salah - DCL, Nachos, Watkins.

    Any ideas? Pls 🙂

    1. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Greenwood or Zaha > Maddison otherwise G2G

    2. Straobalno
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Maybe wan bisaka before maguire.

    3. niaz1982
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Henderson not fit

  8. Straobalno
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Have BB and TC. Is it better to use TC on Bruno now or BB? If i use BB now i would TC salah against CRY

    1. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      BB this week

  9. It's his Job.
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Chasing down 60 Points.. Who to captain here?
    Leader has Bruno Taa Shaw as do I. Any advice greatly accepted.

    My team

    Guaita
    TAA Coleman Shaw
    Zaha Salah Bruno Greenwood
    DCL Kane Iheanacho

    Forster Mitchell Dallas Lingard

    1. Straobalno
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Greenwood for diferental
      Salah if you are not sure

      1. It's his Job.
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        You think realisticly any United assets play all 3 games?
        i feel Salah right up the for C this week.

    2. Rabb05
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Almost certain leader will captain bruno in which case you have to go salah. I'm in a similar position

  10. RyanMK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Cavani or Greenwood?

    1. Straobalno
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      They have to many games and Cavani is old

  11. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone else have the same transfer history/plan?

    GW34 - Bruno > Son
    GW35 - Son > Bruno
    GW36 - Bruno > Son

    1. Steiger
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Me!!!! lol

  12. Fuddled FC
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Will Coleman play both? Is it too risky to go

    Coleman & DCL ?

    or should I just go with Digne & Watkins

    1. Straobalno
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Go D&W

      1. Crunchie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Probably have to swallow Watkins and Digne, Coleman is risky

  13. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is Coleman nailed for Everton?

    1. Fuddled FC
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Just asked that? I think possibly Keane could come in for him but Everton fans will know

  14. SINGH
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    FH team done

    Guaita
    Castagne Digne TAA
    Salah Bruno Greenwood Zaha
    Nacho Watkins DCL

    All OK?

    1. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      looks good

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

      Nice!

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Have quite the same.

      Just debating Guaita - would Alisson or Pickford be better?

      And Castagne versus Digne.

      Have also gambled on Vardy over Watkins

  15. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Happy Friday all,

    Do we think Mendy will play both games or worth swapping out for Foster

    Also worth taking out Jota for a hit to a Man Utd midfielder?

    1. Straobalno
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yes Mendy should play both. Dont take jota he will play both

  16. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    What transfers should I make? (no chips left) (2 transfers)
    I don't know what to do because I want dgw players but I want a full 11 next week

    Mendy
    Taa Holding Fofana
    Salah Jota Esm Bruno Son
    Vardy Nacho

    Bench: Forester Vydra Coady Dallas

    1. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Vydra/Son to Zaha DCL?

      1. LLoris
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        You think taking out Son is a good idea?

        1. Crunchie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          You can replace them with Bale or Son the following week (so you could go greenwood too), Can you get Kane back in for a -4? You have defensive cover next week and 2FT for the rest of the season. Everton and palace are good until GW38 though

          1. LLoris
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Thats the problem I dont know how Id get SOn or Kane back in my team

    2. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Get players that play in both then. Villa, Everton, Palace, Liverpool, Saints. Few options.

      1. LLoris
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Any specific ones you like. I was going to do COady to Digne

  17. ResultatFar
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Cancelo -> Shaw for a -4? Already on a -8 with a bench boost

  18. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    On FH

    A) Henderson and Castagne
    or
    B) Schmeichel and Wan Bissaka

    1. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A

    2. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A

    3. dwain100
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A

  19. RyanMK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Play Lingard or ESR?

  20. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is it worth playing Forster on BB this week?

    1. Sho-kun
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I do

  21. G00LI0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    How likely are Palace to bang in a few goals over these games?

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

      Low chance of high scoring games, I would expect 0-3 goals, likely to be 1-2

      1. G00LI0
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I guess the next question is how likely are Zaha and benteke to be involved

    2. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Weighing up the benefit of lingard, Raph and bam to Zaha, ward prowse and benteke for a - 8.

      1. Crunchie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Just get Zaha if you can

        1. G00LI0
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Need to take a min - 4 to do that. I will be doing it assuming Zaha is fit.

          Problem is, if I only take 2 transfers, i will be getting one double and one single gw player.

          If I take an extra transfer, I can have 3 double gw players

          1. G00LI0
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Chasing 50pts in ML

  22. arkom
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    A) Bertrand Traoré

    or?

    B) El Ghazi

  23. hustler7
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Who would you start out of Konsa and Lingard?

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Konsa

    2. Sho-kun
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      lingyy

  24. jia you
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Play Son or Konsa?

    1. hustler7
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I'd go Son

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        yeah was going Konsa but a benched Son haul would annoy me

  25. The Legend Squad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mendy Guaita
    Shaw Rudiger Fofana Coleman Coady
    Fernandes Greenwood Salah Lingard JWP
    Vardy Nacho DCL

    Bench Boost Activated. 31 matches this GW. Let’s go!

  26. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Bottomed..

    A/B/C don't seem to do the trick..

    A) Vardy, Jota, Castagne -> DCL, Bruno, Mitchell (-8)
    B) Vardy, ESM, Castagne -> Vydra, Bruno, Mitchell (-8)
    C) Vardy, Jota -> DCL, Rashford (-4)

    What should I do than?

    Martinez*, Guita*
    Konsa*, TAA*, Dallas, Castagne*, Veltman
    Salah*, Greenwood**, Jota*, Lingard, ESM*
    Kane, Vardy*, Nacho*

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

      Kane to Dom, Jota to Bruno

      next week Vardy to kane

    2. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Siggy would look great in there.

  27. It's his Job.
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Coleman or Keane
    Not enough funds for Digne

    1. MadeinIreland
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Keane hasn’t been playing and I don’t fancy them for clean sheets in their two matches anyway so he’s first or second on my bench

      1. It's his Job.
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Who woukd you bring in at 5.0? On W/C

  28. Studs Up
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Hi
    Play Vardy or move to DCL?
    Have Nacho + Madders
    Tks

    1. Sho-kun
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      make the move

      1. Studs Up
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Cool

  29. Sho-kun
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    BB, 2 FT, 0.1 itb

    Mendy
    Shaw/TAA/Rüdiger
    Son/Lingz/Jota/Bruno
    DCL/Kane/INacho
    Forster/Saka/Coufal/Coleman

    Can't get Salah in so I see only this move:
    Saka --> El Ghazi

    1. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kane>Watkins Son>Salah

  30. JamRec
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mount and Kane > Fernandez and Wood

    (-8 hit)

    Thoughts?

    1. It's his Job.
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not for me