The Bandwagons

Giroud

Everything’s gone right for last years French striker who was criticised for his inability to finish off chances last year.  Its 3 goals in 3 games and he’s also managed fantastic underlying stats,  having the most shots in the box out of any striker.  To make it even better Arsenal have the 3 rd best fixture ease ranking and Giroud has one of the most creative midfielders in  world football joining in Mezut Ozil.  To me he’s a definite BUY. The only conundrum is if you own Walcott  whether you should own 2 Arsenal assets or should swap Walcott for Giroud. Depending on  the rest of the squad and how you cover various teams I would possibly swap Walcott for Giroud at the moment (I’m not a fan of 2 attacking players from one team outside of DGWs).  This is a big statement as I’m a massive Walcott fan as a more consistent performer.  Giroud has been a streaky scorer against poorer opposition whereas Walcott is a consistent returner.  However the case for Giroud is very compelling at the moment.  He’s even creating chances for team mates at the moment something he hasn’t previously done

In Summary its a BUY for me.

Ozil

Before we go on here’s some background on Ozil. He’s  one of the worlds premier creative attacking midfielders.  Last season in 23 starts plus 9 as sub he scored 9 goals and 16 assists in La Liga.  That’s a return every 81 minutes which is nothing short of phenomenal.  The previous season he was even more assist based getting 4 goals and 30 starts and 5 as sub.  In my mind he will be a huge success for Arsenal.  It is likely he will play directly behind the striker  in Wengers 4-2-3-1.  However the doubt with Ozil just at the moment is whether the benefit will be felt by other fantasy premier league Arsenal players especially Giroud and Walcott.   Ozil will create chances and get assists there’s no doubt about that.  However the current fantasy premier league bonus system doesn’t favour the assister.  Get an assist in fantasy premier league and you’re likely to have less than 50% of getting of getting a bonus.

Personally I would still go for Giroud or Walcott but I think Ozil will have a fantastic positive effect on Arsenal’s attacking stats.  Arsenal have the 3rd next best fixtures of all the teams over the next 6 games

Its a MONITOR for me

Sturridge (injury doubt)

All of the following is tempered by the fact that he has an injury doubt so unless you’re using your wildcard don’t buy him until that’s clear.  3 goals in 3 game.  However his underlying stats haven’t been quite as compelling as Girouds and he hasn’t been creating chances for team mates like Giroud has been.  However the fixtures for  Liverpool are even better as they have the best next 6 fixtures of any fantasy premier league team.  The only cloud is the return of Suarez for gameweek 6.  There’s a story running that  Suarez will move to the flank and Sturridge will stay as the central most forward striker.  That’s not confirmed by any quotes and while I can understand the history it just seems crazy to marginalise such a quality player like Suraez.  However, last season the interchanging of positions and Suarez’s fantastic all round game meant neither of them had a diminished output

For that reason he’s still a BUY for me but check out the injury position before GW$

YYT

2 goals from 2 fantastic free kicks.  Much as I’m a fan of the guy this is not a basis for buying a fantasy premier league midfielder.  These free kicks will not continue and what you are left with is a player who last week was practically a CB he was so deep.  So far this year he’s barely got in to the box let alone had many shots within it.  He will continue to be a screening midfielder with Fernandino and although they do take turns to get forward its no where near enough to justify a purchase.  Silva or Negredo are the best City purchases.

Its an IGNORE for me

The Sinking Ships 

Dzeko

Woeful against Hull, where he barely had a shot,  his lack of penetration was exacerbated by Negredo’s excellent performance and goal.  I really can’t see him starting next week as Aguero will be the partner to Negredo as he suits being slightly withdrawn.

It’s a definite SELL to me

Lambert

A fairly quiet game against WBA which ended with a pen, a game against Sunderland where he did everything except score and then a game where he just vanished away to Norwich.  However, overall the shooting stats and creating chances are good and he does have the advantage of pens and  free kicks.  The only thing that has changed which could account for the Norwich disaster has been the purchase of Osvaldo.  The reduction of touches and passes received in the final third and pen box touches in the Norwich game, despite an abundance of possession, was quite shocking.  His average position was so far back as well.  I can’t explain the performance but it does require monitoring.

However unless you’re doing a WC, I certainly wouldn’t sell him before a home game to West Ham.  It’s no gimme fixture but West Ham can be vulnerable enough defensively away from home to make it dangerous to sell. GW5 away to Liverpool could be the time to sell if there’s another vanishing act.   Saints fixtures over the next 6 games are the 10th easiest of all fantasy premier league teams so nothing to make it worth holding.

Coutinho

3 games no returns and no underlying stats.  With their being a Sturridge injury doubt it potentially makes his target Aspasas the main striker which is hardly a reason to hold.  Not great from the fantasy premier league midfielder who last year was one of the most consistent returners.  Things may improve with the purchase of Moses allowing Coutinho to move from the left to centrally if Rodgers goes to 4-2-3-1.  The return of Suarez in GW6 though will have to see some adjustments and I’m not sure how it will pan out.  Liverpool having the best fixtures over the next 6 games demand some coverage and Sturridge is  the best option at the moment.

It’s a SELL for me especially  if you can swap to Sturridge.  Make sure however you check Sturridges injury status

Silva (injury doubt)

Sold on the back of being subbed just after 60 minutes in GW3 and presumably the injury doubt hat surrounds him after he was sent home instead of playing. This all seems a bit premature for someone who has returned in 2/3 games and where there has been no statement over the length of the injury.  Here’s the quote  I reported in my news article yesterday.

Slight muscle injury”  and “as a precaution he will be sent home to avoid any complication to the injury”

While its supposed to be a hamstring injury which is never a good sign it is described as precautionary so for that reason I wouldn’t sell until things are clear.

The however is 2 things. Firstly after the Stoke game City are about to go on a run of difficult fixtures and secondly Negredo are Aguero are showing chinks that  they will emerge as the strike pair.  Negredo if he starts the starts the next game at £9.3m is good value compared to £9.4m for Silva given the bonus emphasis on goal scorers.  At the moment I would like to see Negredo start against Stoke in GW4 for some comfort given Pellegrini’s unpredictability and his loyalty so far to Dzeko.  I do think City coverage in your fantasy premier league team  is desirable even with tougher fixtures coming up as I think they will score alot of goals given Pellegrini’s attacking attitude irrespective of the opposition.  This is especially the case as until Kompany is back they look like they will concede

So until injury clarification and we see how  the strikers line up.  Its a HOLD for me

That’s it.   Remember that there is another round of International WCQs and friendlies so unless you’re using your wildcard hold off transfers to make sure your fantasy premier league target doesn’t get injured.  This is just a time that you have to take a view over value

News article from yesterday which talks about Silva and Sturridge injury doubts

http://www.fantasyfootballgeek.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-news-catch-monday-9-september-2013/

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