Here’s my take on the fantasy premier league bandwagons and sinking ships ie the 3 most transferred in and out players so far in the gameweek

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.

Sturridge

Again another 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

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 cant 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.  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.

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