fantasy football info – 10 things I’ll be looking out for in GW35

1.  Rooney

Apparently fit to face his old team.  Regular readers will know how unreliable I believe the information is coming out of Old Trafford so it will be interesting to see first hand whether he starts and how fit he is, plus how many minutes he gets.  He’s an essential figure for GW36 and DGW37

The performance from United couldn’t have been any worse and was the straw that broke the camels back in Moyes’ demise.  Rooney had one good chance to score but apart from that suffered from the lack of creativity in the side.  Still given the fixtures and the penalty duties he’s hard to ignore with DGW37 coming up.  

2.  Mata

After an indifferent start suddenly we see 31 points in 2 gameweeks as a number 10.  Again for GW36 home to Norwich and DGW37 that form makes him look essential.  I’ll be keen to see if he keeps his no 10 position and what his set piece contribution is like

Up until GW32 and GW33 there was every reason to doubt Mata but 31 points in 2 gameweeks put him back on the radar for DGW37.  Yesterday as Everton sat narrow and deep and relied on counter attack, Mata never looked like breaking them down despite the amount of possession.  He barely had a shot or created a chance.  It was a timely reminder of the 3 mere  assists in 9 games that he had prior to the GW32 and 33 fixtures.  He did share the set pieces with Rooney which was a plus but it wasn’t the vote of confidence needed in the decision for DGW37.  However if you want to accenuate the positive the opposition will be far worse than Everton and if he plays in his number 10 role, which he largely wasn’t, in the early games it enhances his potential returns

 

3.  The Man Utd defence

It would be nice if we had some clue as to how the defence will line up for GW36 and DGW37. The value is in Evans and Smalling so they will be particularly of interest.  I hope the only certainty isn’t De Gea but even that selection would make me nervous.  Hopefully GW35 away to Everton will be the first choice defence

With Evra and Rafael injured with no return date the Utd defence lined up with Smalling, Jones, Evans and Buttner.  Given the unreliability of the United defence then value to me is the order of the day.  Smalling £4.6, Evans £4.7 and Buttner £4.5m are the cheapie options.  The injuries make it difficult to assess who is the first choice and with Vidic possible to go in for 1 game it becomes a difficult to assess where to put the cash.  I may do a seperate article but I’m watching and waiting for the moment.  Prior to Moyes’ sacking if I had to choose now I would probably pick Smalling as he seemed most relied on by the manager and able to play more than the CB position.  Moyes leaving complicates the situation further.  Ideally you want to get in now for the Norwich home game in GW36 but it will be a selection lottery exacerbated by the injuries

4.  Silva

His fitness firstly(he isn’t supposed to play according to reports).  After that its the same unresolved story. Whether he continues to play behind the striker or returns to the flank with 2 strikers playing

Now irrelevant with Silva out for 2 weeks and set to miss DGW37.

5.  The City midfield and strikers

Only relevant really if Silva is fit.  Otherwise its still an unresolved puzzle about 2 strikers or 1 and the effect on Silvas position and Nasris gametime if he starts to share it with Navas or Milner now Navas seems injured.  Also if you haven’t already committed to Aguero then his gametime and form will be of additional interest.  He’s yet to get past 60 minutes in the 2 comeback games.

Aguero started the game and this time got past 60 minutes.  64 to be exact.  Although in that time he scored and assisted.  With a mass of injuries to key players and no game to Sunday I would be surprised if he doesn’t start in the tricky game at Palace.  There’s still the possibility for him to be benched at home to Villa in the 2nd part of DGW37.  For me his quality means he’s a must have.  Pellegrini played 2 strikers with Silva left and Nasri right. With Silva out 2 weeks all risk regarding Nasri’s gametime should have disappeared.

6.  Cheapie Villa midfielders

Westwood and El Ahamadi are the 2 main cheapies to look out for in the Villa midfield.  If you play 2 cheapie midfielders and are looking for 1 to fill in for 2 games in DGW37 then one of these could be your 4 pointer for that gameweek.  Westwoods set piece involvement will be of particular interest.

There are 3 cheapie Villa midfielders Delph £4.4m, Westwood £4.9m and Elhamadi £4.1m.  They line up as a 3 in the midfield.  Albrighton also returned to the team for £4.5m.  In terms of the attacking stats, El Ahmadi was easily the best.  Albrighton had the most set piece involvement although Westwood had some involvement.  Returns to date are much of a muchness, pretty poor.  My sense is to go with El Ahamdi if you need cash to invest.  Then hope for more than 4 points

7.  Cheapie WBA midfielders

Same point.  If you have 2 cheapie midfielders  then WBA have a few options for their DGW37.  Set piece involvement of Brunt is one option or the current form of Amalfitano.  Add to that the outside chance of Dorrans.  We’ll be looking for how they lineup, form and stats

WBA started with Sessegnon supporting Vydra and a midfield of Mulumbu, Dorrans, Amalfitano and Brunt.  Mulumbu is a CDM and far too deep.  Dorrans took the corners and Brunt the free kicks.  Amalfitano had a couple of opportunities.  As did  Dorrans who scored.  Dorrans goal was on the break though and not a pointer to an advanced position.  As I’ve said elsewhere the returns of the 3 are fairly similar.  I would probably go for the cheapest in Amalfitano if you’re looking to raise cash.  

8.  Nathan Baker

You maybe looking to raise cash through the sale of perhaps an Everton defender as they have tricky fixtures. The Villa defender Baker at £3.9m gives you money raising possibilities with a DGW37 thrown in.  We’ll check on his gametime and form

Started and got a clean sheet.  A good sign for those looking to invest in a DGW37 defender  to raise cash

9.  Salah

The £5.5m cheapie seems too good to miss in the Chelsea midfield.  He’s ineligible for the Champions league so has to have an excellent chance of starting given the Hazard injury position.    We’ll check on his gametime and form

Started but was a little disappointing, not really having much in the way of shots or creating chances.  Did get forward and into the box regularly though and at £5.5m with good fixtures to go is definitely worth another chance

10.  Ramsey

Has looked promising since coming back.  With some good fixtures we’ll be looking at his gametime, form and stats in the game at Hull

In his first start it was like he had never been away.  2 assists and a goal.  He continues to show an uncanny ability to find space in structured attacks when Arsenal in possession and his energy makes him lethal on the counter.  With excellent fixtures coming up he’s a great buy.