Games

Sky Sports Focus – Gameweek 20

With the festive double Gameweek behind us it’s time to assess the usual info. We cast an eye over the Man of the Match (MoTM) awards and the bonus point beneficiaries and, as always, look ahead to the forthcoming fixtures, offering our preferred captain setup, with one eye on Gameweek 21.

Gameweek 19 Man of the Match Awards

Listed below is a match-by-match breakdown of the players who won the plaudits from the Sky Sports reporters last time out, earning five additional points for the Man-of-the-Match award.

FixtureMoTM
Liverpool vs CardiffLuis Suarez
Crystal Palace vs NewcastleYohan Cabaye
Fulham vs Man CityDavid Silva
Man United vs West HamWayne Rooney
Stoke vs Aston VillaPeter Crouch
Sunderland vs NorwichMichael Turner
West Brom vs HullDanny Graham
Southampton vs TottenhamEmmanuel Adebayor
Swansea vs EvertonRoss Barkley
Arsenal vs ChelseaJohn Terry
Hull vs Man UnitedWayne Rooney
Aston Villa vs Crystal PalaceBrad Guzan
Cardiff vs SouthamptonAdam Lallana
Chelsea vs SwanseaEden Hazard
Everton vs SunderlandVito Mannone
Newcastle vs StokeHatem Ben Arfa
Norwich vs FulhamScott Parker
Tottenham vs West BromJonas Olson
West Ham vs ArsenalTheo Walcott
Man City vs LiverpoolFernandinho

Over the double Gameweek, two goalkeepers, three defenders, nine midfielders and six forwards shared the awards. Lots of high ownership players stood out over this period with Wayne Rooney getting a special mention as the only player to gain MoTM in both his games. Rooney now joins Curtis Davies on six MoTM awards overall.

Gameweek 19 Bonus Points

Five goalkeepers managed five saves or more – Brad Guzan, Adrian, Maarten Stekelenburg, Gerhard Tremmel and Vito Mannone were the top shot stoppers. Mannone managed a stunning 15 saves over both games netting him saves bonus twice – at just 4.2 million he looks a good budget option if he can keep his place under Gus Poyet.

In defence, a total of 11 players gathered bonus, seven for tackles and five for passes completed – over the two games, Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho managed to pick up passing bonus twice after racking up an impressive 148 completed passes in total. Crystal Palace full-back Joel Ward is still the top defender for bonus points overall with an additional 18 points.

In midfield, 26 players earned bonus points – 14 for tackling and 16 for passes. Deep-lying playmakers Yaya Toure, Lucas and Mikel Arteta all delivered passing bonus twice whilst Arteta also managed to gain tackling once, bringing him a total of six extra points. Aaron Ramsey still sits on top of the pile overall with 28 additional bonus points earned.

A few forwards also found themselves amongst the bonus points this week – both Johan Elmander and Jay Rodriguez were defending from the front as they earned tackling bonus with a total of six tackles each. Wayne Rooney was the only forward to gather passing bonus after sitting deeper than usual in the game against Aston Villa and racking up 69 passes.

A reminder that Fantasy Football Scout Members can access all the data regarding bonus points using player stats and clicking the Sky Sports tab.

Gameweek 20 Proposed Captain Strategy

Looking ahead to the captaincy choices for Gameweek 20 there is an opportunity for three captains, using only a single armband change due to a full schedule of fixtures on New Year’s Day.

Our Strategy:
Yaya Toure (Crystal Palace at Home) → Luis Suarez (Chelsea Away) → Luis Suarez (Hull at Home)

For Saturday December 28, targeting a Man City asset looks profitable as they square up to Crystal Palace at home – with rotation expected to play a part here, the Ivorian’s guaranteed starts could be key. The other outstanding option is to play safe somewhat and opt for Man United front man Wayne Rooney who is also less likely to find himself ‘rested’ away to Norwich.

For Sunday December 29, we opt for a captain change to Liverpool’s Luis Suarez – although he plays away to Chelsea in a tough match at the Bridge, he then plays again on January 1 at home to Hull, where points look a certainty.

The Fantasy Football Scout League

Our own Fantasy Football Scout League is on top of the Private League rankings. With a £1,000 prize to the winner, you’d be mad not to get involved. To join, visit Sky Sports Fantasy Football and key in League Name: FFScout, League Code: 8000112.

The Fantasy Football Club

This Friday The Fantasy Football Club show, where you can catch Fenners and Merse at 18:30 Sky Sports One HD where they will be discussing the previous week’s Fantasy Football events and quizzing Craig Bellamy for his #One2Eleven.

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1,539 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Hi I'm Jose
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Guys do you reckon Nasri will play?

    I'm about to make differential to put him (C)

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    1. Kreedas
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      I think he's due a rest

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    2. achchu91
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      yes

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  2. BONZ
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Suarez v Ivanovic will prove a tasty battle - their first clash since that controversial "nip" and with Brendan yet to lose two games on the bounce as LFC manager he will get Suarez fired up for this clash.

    Sundays game will be another fantastic game, but Jose cant park the bus at home and the official surely cannot be as incompetent as they were for the City game.

    So do we go with Suarez as skipper and draft in Sterling for Ramsey as fixtures are looking good after Cheslsea.....Hull (H) / Stoke (A) / Villa (H) with 5 from 8 at home!

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    1. Kreedas
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Very tempted as Suarez was awesome again!

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    2. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Tasty - a well chosen word!

      But why can't he park the bus, as he did in Chelsea's away games against United and Arsenal? He won't want to take the risk of losing the match to a Suarez goal in a quick Liverpool counter-attack, so I would expect him to try and keep it tight. He will be aiming for a 1-0 win, not a high-scoring thriller, unless Chelsea fall behind.

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  3. Kreedas
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    So what does your Saturday acca look like

    Heres mine:

    West Ham
    Swansea
    Hull
    Man City
    Man U
    Draw

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  4. flum
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Should be a fairly easy win for Chelsea. Liverpool are due a slump soon.

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    1. Kreedas
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      No.

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  5. The Enlightener
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Repost for the heck of it. (Don't usually repost):

    I was just researching soccer/football history and fun facts. Came across a bit of info that claims that more than 80% of the world's soccer balls are produced in Pakistan.

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    1. Kreedas
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      And Twiglet's taste like marmite because they are made with yeast extract

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    2. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/13/soccer.world.cup.pakistan/

      "In a typical year Pakistan produces almost half of the world's hand-stitched gems. In a World Cup year like this one, as demand explodes, that portion edges up to almost 70 per cent."

      Has the number increased since 2010 when that was written?

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  6. chrisjdgrady
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Alright guys what's my transfer???

    Speroni Davis
    Coleman Mert Williamson Chester Clyne
    Wally Silva Hazard Sterling Barkley
    Roo Luka Suarez

    Thinking Speroni or Davis to Manonne? Very tempted to drop Lukaku but maybe give him another week or two. No transfer maybe? Who to bench also...

    Cheers!

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  7. kennethrhcp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    help needed... head wrecked!

    A: ramsey >>> nasri
    B: ramsey >>> navas
    C: ramsey & dawson >>> silva & 4.2def (-4)

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  8. No Pirlo No Party
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Is the following crazy with the WC so soon?

    Ozil - Ramsey - McAuley ---> Silva - Walcott - Bardsley (-8)

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    1. JedJez
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      yep

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  9. JedJez
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Do people see Ramsay dropping .6?

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  10. Cubillas
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    To all you experts out there, please review my team below and let me know your suggestion(s) to improve it . . .

    Mignolet, (Steer),
    Ivanovic, Kompany, Coleman, (Turner, Ward),
    Walcott, Silva, Lallana, Hernandez, (Jedinak),
    Suarez, Rooney, Lukaku

    0.6 in the bank

    Thank you!

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

    The article mentions swapping from Yaya to Suarez between Dec 28 and Dec 29 for captaincy.

    Is that even possible? I thought it was a single GW?

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    1. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      It's probably possible in the Sky game.

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  12. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Play Burner or Chester?

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  13. The Enlightener
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Thought I would repost this from earlier today. It's a poem I wrote about a player I just picked up. (Just be careful if you want to critique it. I might bite your head off, like I did earlier today to someone else.)

    Oh, Podolski, they just don't understand.
    How deadly you are, how in command.

    You get near the box, and the keeper's knees begin to shake.
    And then you unleash thunderbolts, with which many goals you make.

    You are also capable of multiple assists.
    A talent which I hope persists.

    I picked you up yesterday, and while some may laugh and stare,
    I think I'll be laughing last when together, we lay them bare.

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  14. The Enlightener
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Without looking, can you name the capital of Canada? (refrain if you are Canadian, as that makes it too easy.....maybe).

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    1. The Enlightener
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Anyone? Anyone?

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