Here’s the first part of the follow up to my questions. All the follow up answers are in italics. I’ll further update it after the Sunderland game tomorrow
DGW34
The Everton attacking midfield
I’m almost bored writing about it but unfortunately it can’t be ignored. You would hope home to Arsenal in a big game for 4th place that he will play his preffered attacking 3. Barkley being touch and go for fitness potentially distorts that though. To be honest, with a stated rotation policy by Martinez it will take a brave FPL manager to have someone in the Everton midfield except maybe Barkey who’s so cheap the risk diminishes.
Nothing new learnt today. In fact it was probably more confusing. Martinez started in a 4-3-3 with Lukaku to the right of Naismith and Mirallas on the left. This may have been to isolate Lukaku against the left side of the defence in Vermaelen and Monreal which was undoubtedly the weaker part. If it was then it succeeded as Lukaku scored and assisted. Barkley wasn’t fit to start so Osman started along side the 2 CDMs in McCarthy and Barry. Osman went off injured early in the game but apparently will be fit next weekend. The only certain thing in the attacking midfield is that its quite likely no one will play over 160 minutes in the 2 games. Lukaku still remains the best bet for Everton attackig coverage. By the way it looks like he will go up in price tonight.
The Palace defence
With Benteke injured the home first part of the DGW34 at home to Villa becomes an attractive part of the DGW even if away to Everton isn’t. Delaney is the dearest at £4.4m but has the best bonus potential. Ward has been the gametime secure player at £4.3m who has played in midfield. However I’ll be focusing on the selection of Mariappa at £3.9m whos played the last 3 at RB and Scott Dann at £4.0m who’s played the last 7. Pulis may rotate for the 2nd game as he is a bit of a tinkerer but it’s the first game thats important so it maybe a risk worth taking if you need the value.
Mariappa indeed started RB. Ward LB. Delaney and Dann CBs. All as per last week. Interestingly Mariappa was the only one to get a bonus. I think it reinforces Dann as the £4.0m cheapie and Ward as the gametime secure at £4.4m (price went up over night) and Delaney as the bonus magnet (usually)
The Sunderland midfield (To be updated)
If Adam Johnson starts away to Spurs you have to be hopeful of starts in the DGWs. He can be explosive or he can rival HBA for laziness and defensive non tracking. To my mind he’s worth a DGW punt. The other 2 I’ll be looking out for are at the budget end. Ki at £4.3m who started 17 consecutive games before being a sub in the 2 games before last week when he started. Colback is the other at £4.2m. He hasn’t started any of the last 4 so looks a long shot even if he does start.
YYT and Silva
With or without pens YYTs ownership of 46% makes him risky not to own particularly for a DGW so watching him is a bit irrelevant. However if Aguero isn’t fit then he comes into contention as a captain option. Again it will be hard to pick anyone else but worth checking on his position and free kick involvement anyway. Silva is just about whether he plays behind the striker
Silva continued behind the striker and Pellegrini only played Dzeko up front. Jovetic eventually came on and did something between the Silva and striker role. Silva again was fantastic popping up in space continually. If Aguero is fit for DGW34 it looks like we won’t have certainty as to whether Pellegrini plays with 2 strikers or Silva behind Aguero. YYT played jn his normal box to box role and wasn’t pushed up later on.
The City midfield differential
This is really Nasri and Navas. With Aguero not fit they have both played with Silva moving inside. When Aguero comes back, will Pellegrini play 2 strikers or keep Silva as the player behind a lone striker. That we wont know probably this week. Worth checking on whether both start though. They are cheaper than Silva but both potentially have gametime issues.
Navas has started the last 2 but was sub in the 3 before that. Nasri has started the last 5 and place would only be at risk if Pellegrini reverts to 2 strikers. You would also say even in that situation he is the favourite to start over Navas and Milner in any case.
Worth checking on the line up today though.
Navas and Nasri both started and both played 90 minutes. Both were excellent Nasri scoring and Navas assisting. It all comes down to whether Pellegrini plays 2 strikers or 1. Playing 2 would push Silva left and mean Nasri and Navas would fight out the other flank position. I personally think Nasri will get it although he will probably be subbed and may even be rotated. Personally I would push the boat out for Silva with Nasri a 2nd choice. No sign of Milner by the way
DGW37
Mata
Rooney will be a must for DGW37 if he’s fit. Given the fixtures (home to Sunderland and Hull) a midfielder could certainly be justified depending on Uniteds form. Is Mata that person? I’ll be checking today to see if he retains his role behind the striker and his form as a possible option for DGW37.
Again played behind the striker. This time Hernandez. Apart from the free kick it was the right place and the right time for getting into the box for Mata. Something that has been really missing to date with his United tenure. What I said last weekabout him and Kagawa interchanging positions making United less predictable also occured again. Kagawa was excellent. It sounds ridiculous but the only issue is this game was away, DGW37 games are both at home. We only get one more game at home for a double check and thats the game at Norwich in GW36. Whoever you want for the DGW37 for United you should get for DGW36.
Who will play striker for United?
If Rooneys injury is long term and he isn’t fit for DGW37 then someone will be playing striker for those juicy home games. Rooney should be fit by then given that they are saying he is a doubt for the Bayern game. However, for all you can rely on Uniteds information anything could be happening? So checking out who plays striker and how they play could give a cheap additional striking option. Welbeck has certainly shown scoring patches when given the striking role.
8 changes meant that Hernandez played up front. I doubt that he will be playing if Rooneys injury continued even though he was excellent. It’s likely to be Welbeck. This game with all the changes due to the Bayern game midweek meant it’s still an open question. Next stage is to see if Rooney does indeed play against Bayern. If he does the question is irrelevant.
Who plays up front for Villa
Home to Hull and away to City aren’t exactly the most exciting DGW fixtures but the home game does give goal potential. Its hard to imagine the DGW37 strike force not being Aguero, Rooney and Suarez but it never hurts to be prepared. I’ll be looking out for who plays striker for Villa and how they perform.
Grant Holt did indeed play and also scored. His all round game was ok. However this was against the worst defence in the league so hard to read too much into it. Can’t see him figuring in your DGW37 line up but I guess if you wanted a cheapie striker for DGW37 to invest in your midfield he could be an option. Albeit one with a very difficult 2nd fixture away to City and in a club sinking alarmingly.
Does cheapie Baker return to the defence?
There’s certainly clean sheet potential home to Hull for Villa so Baker could be a £3.9m potential defensive cheapie make weight even if he could end up with zero points for the Man City game. He was injured last week but fit this. I’ll be checking if he goes straight back into the team
Baker did indeed return. A potential cheapie filler for £3.9m but again with a difficult 2nd game which could easily end up with no points. GW38 is also away to Spurs so would have to be on the bench for that
Is anyone from WBA worth considering?
Away to Sunderland and Arsenal again aren’t excatly magical fixtures but I’ll be taking a look to see if anyone warrants inclusion. Amalfitano at £4.2m is a cheapie option. Sessegnon is the advanced midfielder who can score but makes Giroud look like Sturridge when it comes to conversion
Amalfitano has been back in the team for 2 consecutive games and has scored in both. At £4.2m he’s a bargain for DGW37 if he can hold his place. Dorrans is another cheapie at £4.4m that has started the last 4 and has some set piece involvement. He has a knock though so needs to be monitored. Both players as DGW37 cheapie options are worth monitoring. Sessegnon at £6.4m is the centrally advanced midfielder. He’s started the last 4 and has scored 1 goal in those. His returns are hopeless this year though and this was another quiet game. It would take some serious form to consider him.
Hope this gave you some useful information for the fantasy premier league double game weeks
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