Spot the Differential

Spot the Differential – Gameweek 18

Another packed Friday comes to an end as we brace ourselves for the frantic festive schedule. Once more, we roll out a trio of overlooked alternatives for your consideration ahead of Saturday morning’s deadline…

Ashley Young

It’s something of an understatement to say Ashley Young didn’t have the best of starts to the current campaign. A single assist in eight appearances over the first 14 Gameweeks was indicative of his disappointing displays for United, as the former Villa man failed to give any indication he was worthy of our attentions.

Indeed, from a Fantasy perspective, United’s midfield has been hugely frustrating. The league leaders may have scored 10 more goals than any other side yet their top scoring Fantasy Premier League (FPL) midfielder is Michael Carrick, with 40 points – three more United defenders have exceeded that score, despite the Red Devils managing a mere three clean sheets. It’s been all about Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney for Sir Alex Ferguson’s table-toppers so far but Young has crept onto our radars after registering an assist in each of his last three Gameweeks and offers an alternative route into Ferguson’s flourishing attack.

The Red Devils roll up to Swansea, having scored three or more goals in five of their last six on the road and priced at 8.2 in FPL and 8.3 in the Sky Sports game, with an ownership of less than 2% in both games, Young could be one to consider for those Fantasy managers still deliberating over a replacement for the suspended Marouane Fellaini.

Edin Dzeko

The City forward may not be too enamoured with his “supersub” tag but, unfortunately for Dzeko, it’s one that his displays have merited. Four of the Bosnian’s six goals this season have come after he climbed off the bench, compared to two strikes in five starts – a crucial factor in his selection for this Gameweek’s article.

Earlier today, Roberto Mancini spoke of his intentions to rotate his team across the festive period as the champions brace themselves for four fixtures in 10 days. With Mario Balotelli ruled out through illness and perhaps uncertain to feature on Boxing Day, the City boss is likely to be careful with the game time of Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Dzeko against Reading tomorrow – the chances are that even if the latter doesn’t start the game, he should see some action.

Bearing in mind the Royals have shipped 13 goals in their last four, the potential for Fantasy points is enticing for the hosts. Dzeko needed only five minutes’ game time to score against Fulham in Gameweek 6, just 12 minutes to bag a brace against West Brom in Gameweek 8 and 18 minutes to notch at home to Spurs in Gameweek 11 – even if Mancini starts with the Argentine pair, then, Dzeko could still prosper if let loose for half an hour or so. Coming in at just 7.3 in FPL and 8.3 in the Sky Sports game, Dzeko’s mid-price FPL valuation and ability to produce from the bench means it would be far less of a blow if Mancini chooses to omit him from the City starting XI.

Victor Moses

Another winger who has failed to produce this term, although the arrival of Rafa Benitez seems to have boosted Moses’ chances. The former Wigan man was rarely afforded an opportunity under Roberto Di Matteo but has started the last two league games at the expense of Oscar in the attacking midfield three behind Fernando Torres.

Handed another chance to impress in the midweek Capital One Cup trip to Leeds, he duly delivered with a goal and assist to vindicate his new manager’s faith. As the fixtures pick up pace, Moses perhaps has the advantage of being a little fresher than many of his team mates – with just four league starts all season, fatigue certainly won’t be an issue. With the Blues looking to continue their recent goalscoring form as Villa pay visit on Sunday, Moses – at just 6.2 in FPL and 6.9 in the Sky Sports game, and with an ownership of around 2% in both games, is a definite gamble but one that could pay off if Benitez keeps faith in his abilities over the festive period.

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2,672 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Put these 4 in order for this week to play

    a) Shorey
    b) Hughes
    c) Cuellar
    d) Nelsen

    Does dcab sound ok?

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    1. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      DCBA

      Shorey could/should get some hefty minus pts this week.

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      1. Jafalad
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        C also could be considered ahead of D as these rely battles tend to be low scoring affairs.

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      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        with an assist.

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        1. Jafalad
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          ...if RDG get out of their own half.

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    2. chocolove
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      dabc

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      1. Something Clever
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        d,c,b,a

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        1. Something Clever
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          I'm the king of the reply fails today

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          1. chocolove
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 3 months ago

            welldone 😛

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          2. OPTA FPL
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 3 months ago

            are you drunk?

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  2. CarelessGenius©
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Defoe in, Berb out for a a hit???
    Yeah or Nay?

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    1. Pinoche
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      When was the last time Stoke conceded more than 1 goal?

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      1. Something Clever
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks Choco!

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        1. chocolove
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          OMG 😯

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        2. OPTA FPL
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          😆 .........

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    2. chocolove
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      no
      tight score at WHL imo

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  3. Acquafresca
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    All set?

    Bego
    Sagna, Gallas, Demel
    Bale, Silva, Michu, Sess
    RVP(C), Suarez, Fletcher

    SUBS: Sterling, Cuellar, Hughes

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    1. chocolove
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      looks good 🙂

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      1. Wakka Wakka
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Nice team, though maybe fletcher can be improved but maybe not for a hit.

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        1. Acquafresca
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          Thanks, next week transfer is Fletcher > Berba/Benteke for the Christmas period.

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    2. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Thinking Sterlo ahead of Sess now. If Sterlo doesn't start, Sess comes in as 1st sub.

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      1. Acquafresca
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        I dunno, gut feeling says Sess.

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

        Sterling will come on for a cameo?

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    3. Something Clever
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Noice. No City though eh? Ballsy.

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      1. Something Clever
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Yet another fail. Fck this, i'm going back to bed. Laters.

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

        Ermm Silva?

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        1. Something Clever
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          See above. *face palm*

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  4. chocolove
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    can you RMT please
    my gw18 team

    bego
    ivanovic ridgewell clyne
    silva michu taarabt puncheon
    RVP aguero(C) suarez(VC)

    ruddy HRK clark nelsen
    ta

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    1. Van The Man
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Good team all around.
      7/10

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    2. Danny x-factor
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Good to go. Althought I might want to give VC to RVP just incase Aguero didnt start.

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    3. chocolove
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      thanks a lot mates

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  5. Van The Man
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    REPOST:
    Team for the weekend:
    Mignolet
    Enrique Sagna Nastasic
    Michu Sterling AJ Silva
    Rooney Suarez(c) Aguero(vc)
    SUBS: Begovic Jarvis Nelsen Davies

    Bench in order? or should I play Jarvis for AJ?
    Thank you.

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    1. chocolove
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      swap jarvis and AJ for me 😀
      not keen on aguero(C)?

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      1. Van The Man
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        No.. Dzeko might start and that doesn't increase Kun's chances like it would if Tevez plays. Thats what i believe in at least

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  6. Wakka Wakka
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    On the Tevez - RVP captain debate. If we knew Tevez would start he would probably be the favored choice. if he does not start he probably wont come on atall, as Man City should win comfortably. Thus it looks to me (C) Tevez and (VC) RVP who becomes captain if Tevez does not start.

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    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      good thought but If they win comfortably, Maicini will sub off Aguero and bring Tevez on. They need to sharegame to time to keep all of them fresh. No point of keeping Aguero play full 90 mins if they're leading 3-4 goals

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      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        share gametime

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

        That could well happend, but must be others who also need the game time and if winning that might be a chance to give them time. It is a bit of a lottery but i think on balance i am going to take the riskier option and go with tevez with rvp as back up

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        1. OPTA FPL
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          Hmm but they have many injured players atm. Even they must use Sinclair

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  7. Danny x-factor
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Berba ➡ Torres and keep Fellaini. Big YES?

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    1. chocolove
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      yes.

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

      only problem you are going to lose alot of value keeping fellani and also have alot of money each week not playing. i would switch him out. WC coming soon so easy to get him back at a lower price

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      1. Danny x-factor
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        I'm not really fancy of team value. My only problem to transfer Fellaini to someone that can outscore Berbatov/Sess for this week.

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    3. Acquafresca
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      No. Berba nice fixtures and is Class. Torres is Torres and Fellaini is dropping in price.

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      1. Danny x-factor
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        So Fellaini ➡ Mata? Im afraid of Rafa rotation. What a waste for a 9.5 midfielder warming the bench.

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        1. Acquafresca
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          Fellaini > Silva/ Bale/ Mata/ Santi/ Walcott

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          1. Danny x-factor
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 3 months ago

            Look like Mata is the one since I already have Silva and Spurs cover. Arsenal is blank coming gw.

            Thanks Aqua.

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  8. Pinoche
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Berba is about to break his drought. I'd stick.

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    1. Pinoche
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Reply Fail.

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    2. Danny x-factor
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      For me is it?

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      1. Pinoche
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Yes, mate.

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    3. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      + billions.

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    4. Danny x-factor
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Let say he make another 2 pointer this week. So keep him another 2 gameweeks?

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      1. Pinoche
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Yep, I need to sort out my midfield first.

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    5. chocolove
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      lets hope for another blank, and ride berbawagon next GW
      a 7.0M berba is tastier 😛

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      1. Pinoche
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Also, with so many people benching him I think this might be the gw 🙂

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        1. Danny x-factor
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          Ok. I already loose 0.4 on him. Let hope for him to deliver something by this week.

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      2. The Finnisher
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        Youd want a player with 7 (?) blanks in a row?

        People underestimate Southamptoms defence and overestimate Fulhams attack.

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    6. CarelessGenius©
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Break his what?
      His stride?

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      1. Something Clever
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 3 months ago

        I'll break his fkn legs if he returns another 2 points, never mind his stride.

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        1. Desertbug
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 3 months ago

          He'd still run just as fast. The Languid Bulgarian is not troubled by such trivialities as broken legs. He is pondering the world's unsolvable dilemmas while waiting for the next scoring opportunity.

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    7. The Finnisher
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      0 shots and 1 chance created in 90 minutes vs QPR!

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  9. Pinoche
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Jafa?

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    1. Something Clever
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 3 months ago

      Cake?

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  10. winterwolf88
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Walcott/Silva/Michu/Dempsey/(Fellaini)
    RVP/Suarez/Rooney

    A) Fellaini > Hazard
    B) Fellaini > Taarabt
    C) Fellaini > Yaya

    I want Mata but he is in my rival's team and I can't afford him.
    Bale is not in my rival's team but I can't afford him either.
    Any thoughts? and who to captain?!

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  11. Techy
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Thinking on taking a -4pt hit for either...

    McCartney --> Zabaleta/Nastasic
    or
    Holt --> Tevez/Ba

    I'm already planning to take Berba next gameweek in place of Holt, so I'm leaning more towards taking a defender this gameweek and just playing with 2 strikers (which I don't usually do).

    I know Nastasic seems less likely to be rotated, but I think Zaba could get a good return if he starts. Plus I've been reading some reports that Maicon wasn't fully fit near the start of last week.

    My Team -

    Begovic
    Shawcross - Enrique - Cameron
    Silva - Morrison - Cazorla - Michu
    RVP - Defoe - Holt (inj)

    Ruddy - McCartney (Inj) - Baird - Kacaniklic

    Any thoughts?

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  12. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    My FPL Cup opponent has Luke Moore up top

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  13. kingozil-The Germans once a…
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    which 3 to play out of : enrique, demel, cameron, garrido, baker

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  14. joker7
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone think L'pool will be up for it today - Suarerz to score a double and keep a clean sheet. Am going for L'pool 3-0.

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  15. patrickhatrick
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Is this the best team you've seen this week?
    Bego
    Shorey Enrique sagna
    Santi bale silva young
    Ba berb tevez (c)

    You know it makes sense!!!

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  16. IL Fantasista
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Hi there fantasy experts

    Any tinkering needed or good to go? Thoughts appreciated.

    Bego
    Sagna, Enrique, Nelsen
    Mata, Silva (c), Michu, Puncheon
    RVP (v), Suarez, Ba

    Bunn; Sess, Shorey, McCartney

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  17. Cantona90
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Morning guys. Hope you're all looking forward to a festive weekend of football whilst I'm stuck in work!

    Hoping to get a cheeky RMT and for you to cast your eyes over a couple of possible transfers.

    Begovic
    Cuellar Baines Nastasic
    Michu Bale Snodgrass Sterling
    Rooney(c) RVP Berbatov

    McCarthy Cameron Shorey Fellaini

    1FT 0.3m in the bank.

    Can just about afford Baines>Johnson and Fellaini>Walcott for -4.

    Quite limited on my options. Want rid of Snodgrass tbh.

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  18. TheKingThierry
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Just saw the Arsenal game is on Sky !

    Happy days 🙂

    Cmaan THEO

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  19. ezdmanx
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 3 months ago

    Need to bench one. Who?

    Sterling - FUL (H)
    Cazorla - WIG (A)
    Puncheon - SUN (H)
    Silva - RDG (H)
    Young - SWA (A)

    Rooney - SWA (A)
    Tevez - RDG (H)
    Berbatov - LIV (A)

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