Back and raring to go after the FA Cup break, we check in with our Sky Sports Fantasy Football game once again. As always, assess the Man of the Match (MoTM) awards and bonus point beneficiaries before taking a look at the Scout team and our future plans.
Gameweek 23 Man of the Match Awards
These were the players that caught the eye of the Sky Sports reporters from last weekend’s fixtures achieving the Man of the Match award (worth an additional five points).
| Fixture | MoTM |
| Aston Villa vs Liverpool | Jordan Henderson |
| Burnley vs Crystal Palace | Dwight Gayle |
| Leicester vs Stoke | Bojan Krkic |
| QPR vs Man United | Marcos Rojo |
| Swansea vs Chelsea | Oscar |
| Tottenham vs Sunderland | Costel Pantilimon |
| Newcastle vs Southampton | Eljero Elia |
| West Ham vs Hull | Stewart Downing |
| Man City vs Arsenal | Santi Cazorla |
| Everton vs West Brom | Claudio Yacob |
Six midfielders claimed the awards last week, with two forwards, a defender and a keeper making up the ten. Stewart Downing, with 12% ownership, was the most popular player to make an impact as his season continues to go from strength to strength but with some tough fixtures on the horizon for West Ham, it remains to be seen if he can maintain his form.
Oscar and Santi Cazorla’s recent form has been nothing short of sensational – with 4% and 2.5% ownership respectively they offer massive opportunity for climbing the leader board if they continue to deliver. Eljero Elia, at just 4.7m, offers another intriguing option – if the little Dutchman can hold on to his starting position he could prosper over the Saints’ kind run of fixtures.
Gameweek 23 Bonus Points
Three goalkeepers achieved bonus points from collecting five or more saves – Lukasz Fabianski, Costel Pantilimon and Robert Green were the men in question. Green is still the top of the bonus point rankings on 20 overall.
In defence, 12 players grabbed bonus, eight for tackles and four for passes completed. Man United new boy Marcos Rojo came closest to earning both, missing out by just twelve completed passes. Four players are joint top for defenders, all with14 additional points.
In midfield there were 25 beneficiaries in total: 11 for tackling and 16 for passes. Centre-midfielders Tom Carroll and Benjamin Stambouli were the players to earn both to grab themselves an extra four points. Nemanja Matic is now the game’s overall highest bonus point earner, with 34 points credited.
Wayne Rooney chipped in with passing bonus this week as a welcome plus for his owners. Unsurprising, considering his deep-lying role in recent weeks.
Fantasy Football Scout members can access all information regarding bonus points using player stats and clicking the Sky Sports tab.
My Team
Fabianski
Bertrand Hutton Van Aanholt
Hazard Downing Fabregas Di Maria©
Aguero Giroud Berahino
ITB: 0m
Transfers remaining: 15/40
Last week’s points: 51
Overall points: 1318
Rank: 297
Notes
Another week of captain failures with my three skippers – Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero and Saido Berahino – earning me a total of 14 points. More frustrating (although welcome) is that Stewart Downing was my highest scorer with 12 points and was my originally penciled in captain for Sunday before I brought in Aguero. Although my punt on Berahino somewhat failed (and worryingly he ended up playing left wing), he was drafted in for Gylfi Sigurdsson, who is now suspended for three matches following his challenge in the FA Cup.
As for my team’s set-up going forward, my concerns over a lack of Alexis Sanchez has been allayed a little, with the hamstrung Chilean unlikely to be risked at home to Villa, according to Arsene Wenger. Hopefully Olivier Giroud, Angel di Maria and Berahino can be my differentials in the coming weeks and propel me back into the top 100.
Captain plan
I’ll probably go with Angel di Maria as captain for United’s home clash with Leicester on Saturday. Although the Red Devils’ form is shaky, this fixture is clearly the standout option from the match day.
For Sunday, my armband will go to Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman came through for me in the away win at Man City and has been involved in over a third of all Arsenal goals when on the pitch this season.
Ending the week with an Arsenal player as your skipper leaves you set up for the approaching double Gameweek, where the Gunners face up to Tottenham at White Hart Lane on match day one.
The Fantasy Football Scout League
Once again, we’re running our own Fantasy Football Scout League this season and we’re currently topping 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: 8009000.
The Fantasy Football Club
This Friday The Fantasy Football Club show, where you can catch the rerun of Fenners and Merse at 18:30 SkySports One HD where they will be discussing the upcoming week’s Fantasy Football, quizzing former England man Gerry Francis and asking him for his #One2Eleven.
