Spot the Differential

Spot the Differential – Gameweek 16

There’s just a few more hours left until the deadline and, with that in mind, we wheel out another trio of under-the-radar options for your Saturday morning perusal. A couple of our protagonists are kindly-priced frontmen with the form and upcoming fixtures to potentially maintain their eye for goal, whilst the third is a fit-again, premium playmaker who has already made his mark against the European champions earlier in the week:

Gerard Deulofeu

Climbing off the bench in Sunday’s game at the Emirates, the on-loan Everton wide-man kept his cool to slam home a deserved equaliser for the Toffees and deny the hosts victory. After serving up a goal and assist in his first start at home to Stoke in Gameweek 13, Deulofeu has been tentatively used by Roberto Martinez, with sub roles away to United and Arsenal over the subsequent couple of Gameweeks.

As Everton prepare for four home games in the next six, with Fulham, Sunderland, Southampton and Norwich all rolling up to Goodison between now and Gameweek 21, the young Spaniard is expected to be handed increased game time over the festive period as Martinez plots to capitalise on a superb upcoming schedule.

From a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective, Deulofeu’s classification as a forward is a real deterrent but, given that he’s racked up 17 points over the last three league matches, in spite of starting just once, there’s a definite upside to his acquisition. Priced at just 5.4 in FPL (7.0 in the Sky Sports game and 1.5 in the Sun Dream Team), there’s no question that transferring him in would be a real punt but if his manager hands him the platform his talents deserve, it’s one that could pay off handsomely.

David Silva

The City midfielder had an immediate impact upon his return to action last Tuesday. Handed a start against Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich, Silva inspired a stunning fightback as his side sprung a major shock with a 3-2 win in Munich as the visitors registered their most impressive result of the season so far.

Despite his class, Fantasy managers will be understandably cautious over jumping on board the Silva bandwagon again so quickly. Already this term, he’s broken down twice, with hamstring and calf complaints curtailing his game time but, providing he can steer clear of injury, there’s no doubt that the Spaniard looks a real option under Manuel Pellegrini’s guidance. Over seven appearances, he racked up three goals, a trio of assists and three bonus points – crucially for Fantasy managers, he’s served up real consistency, too, drawing blanks on just two occasions.

Given that he’s missed the last five Gameweeks through injury, there’s every chance he won’t last the full 90 minutes against Arsenal later today but Silva has only managed the full game on four of those seven league appearances and still found the time to average six points per game under the Chilean.

With a trip to Fulham next weekend followed by back-to-back Etihad showdowns with Liverpool and Palace, Silva could well be set to hit the ground running for Pellegrini’s free-scoring team and, priced at 9.1 in FPL, he currently sits in just 3% of teams and offers a real alternative to similarly-priced team-mate Yaya Toure (9.6, 38% ownership). Coming in at 8.4 in the Sky Sports game and 5.5 in the Sun Dream Team, Silva has been priced in the premium bracket right across the Fantasy games but his displays so far have more than justified the substantial outlay as City look for goals to fire them to the title.

Gary Hooper

There’s no doubt Norwich’s summer signing from Glasgow Celtic suffered a slow start to his career at Carrow Road. Despite splashing out a significant sum on the forward, Chris Hughton opted to utilise a lone forward system and, with Ricky van Wolfswinkel getting the nod to lead the line instead, Hooper was afforded no more than two brief sub appearances over the first seven Gameweeks of the season.

With the Dutchman forced onto the sidelines through injury, Hooper has finally been able to string together a run of appearances in the Norwich first-team and, as his match-sharpness improves, is finally starting to show the form that made him such a formidable force north of the border.

Coming in at 6.1 in FPL (7.4 in the Sky Sports game and 2.0 in the Sun Dream Team), Hooper looks a key player for the Canaries and has now scored in three of his last five league matches, also earning seven FPL bonus points for his endeavours. Van Wolfswinkel returned to training this week but the Dutchman may have to bide his time as Hooper’s eye for goal is poised to take advantage of a kind run of matches which hands him a home game with Swansea this weekend before going head-to-head against all of the bottom three (sun, FUL, cpl) over the subsequent four.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

1,881 Comments Post a Comment
  1.  ⓖⓐⓩⓩⓐ™
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Good to go or any recommended changes?
    1Ft 1.3m inb

    ...................Gazzaniga......................
    Coleman. Terry. Chester. Zabaleta
    ...........Silva. Hazard. Ramsey.........
    ........Suarez. Aguero. Rooney(c)......

    Subs. Davis....Brady. Kasami. Baker

    Open Controls
    1. Manamongst
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I downgraded terry to Azi...but keeping him is a better long term move...just think he´s been hot trash of late.

      Open Controls
  2. RD
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    is morrison a doubt???

    Open Controls
    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      according to bbc yes.... on here no

      Open Controls
  3. new post
  4. Kick Some Goals
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Good to go?

    Myhill
    Jags / A.Williams / Rat
    Haz / Cout / Ramsey / RavMo
    Suarez (vc) / Kun (C) / Lukaku

    (Guzan / Red / Walker / Mert)

    Open Controls
    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      yeap

      Open Controls
  5. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    How many minutes did Hazard get in CL midweek?

    Open Controls
    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      full 90 but expect him to start

      Open Controls
  6. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    City v Pool on December 26th is the only 'big' game that day.

    Are the Boxing Day fixtures deliberately fixed to minimize the Super Sunday-type games between bigger clubs cos they know they'll have full houses that day no matter who plays who and too many distractions on telly for Sky/ESPN/BT to make great advertising revenue ?

    Open Controls
    1. Manamongst
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Excellent logic to you post.

      Thinking like a Network Exec...sad but true.

      Cheers!

      Open Controls
  7. Manamongst
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    So when I picked this guy up in GW13 against Stoke this question was premature; but I will ask this again....

    Am I crazy if I captain Deulofeu over the 6 other options below:

    Mignolet

    Azpilicueta, G. Johnson, S. Coleman

    Schürrle, Ramsey, Hazard, Özil

    Deulofeu, Agüero, Suárez

    From this point on, I can´t really understand picking up Lukaku, as he will be getting scraps. Deulofeu is a better differential, because so many people (most marinading with non-performers like Tekkers) are hesitant to punt with their front three.

    Open Controls
  8. # Young Gun SEAMUS #
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Can anyone tell me

    who to start

    BARKLEY OR SHELVEY

    Open Controls
    1. Sheep Flavour
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Barkely

      Open Controls
    2. Andrew86
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      barkley

      Open Controls
    3. Manamongst
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Barkley...especially if La Masia Gerard starts.

      Open Controls
  9. HabitualLineSteppers
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    I really feel that this game-week will really shake things up

    More uncertainties = more fun and opportunity to advance up the leagues

    In many ways I will be quite relieved at 11.31am -

    Now then ...... back to the 'who to captain' merry-go-round

    Open Controls
  10. The Reptile
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Is Debuchy injured?

    Open Controls
    1. HabitualLineSteppers
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      No.

      Open Controls
  11. Sheep Flavour
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Terry not fit to start reports coming out of London media?

    Open Controls
    1. Scottys Army
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      link

      Open Controls
  12. SenjorBob
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Team currently picked for this weekend:

    Szczesny
    Shaw, Terry, Coleman
    Morrison, Barkley, Yaya, Lallana
    Suarez (vc), Aguero, Lukaku (c)

    Bench: Boruc, Ramsey, Dawson, Vlaar

    2.1 in the bank and 1 FT

    Good to go or should I look to invest somewhere?

    -Upgrade lallana to oscar
    -swap out szczney for migs?

    Open Controls
  13. Tinmen
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Kagawa in last minute. That's how i roll 😉

    Open Controls
    1. markoril
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Same gamble not even on teamsheet or bench! Dam Welbeck scoring

      Open Controls
  14. Squires FC
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Oscar captain!!! Squeaky bum time....

    Open Controls