fantasy premier league – FFGeek picks for GW26

Fantasy Premier League

Here’s my picks for fantasy premier league GW26.  Remember its just a team for this gameweek.  No other fixtures are taken into account.    The point of the GW26 picks post is just to help you with any last minute transfer decisions.  If you think that someone has a good chance of points in GW26 over someone else than maybe that will swing the argument.  The teams not meant to be affordable either by the way.  Its the best for GW26 despite cost

fantasy premier league – FFGeek picks for GW26

2 things to remember tonight.  The Fulham v Liverpool game is in doubt due to the tube strike.  A decision will be made by 3pm today (Tuesday).  Additionally with the deadline for transfers 19.30 UK time today there’s a chance to see the team sheets in the following 4 games:

Cardiff City v Aston Villa
Hull City v Southampton
West Ham v Norwich
West Brom v Chelsea

This is particularly the case for Chelsea where they play City on Sunday in the FA Cup and then Galatasary in the Champions league on Wednesday.  Especially if you’re thinking of Hazard as captain.

Here’s the full team:

ffgpicksgw26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marshall

It’s been 5 games since the last home clean sheet but Marshall at least is a good source of save points if nothing else.  A terrible performance at Swansea but this may give them more defensive resolve for this vital relegation clash.  Although its also been 5 games since Villa blanked away from home they have only scored more than 1 goal on more than one occasions in those fixtures.

Adrian

3 consecutive clean sheets and 4 clean sheets in the last 5 including 3 bonus points in the stunning 0-0 at Chelsea. The new found defensive confidence couple with Reid coming back into the team (although yet to start) means West Ham are a defensive team to be taken seriously again.  In the last 4 games away Norwich have blanked twice and only scored 1 in each of the other 2 games.  Their performances going forward in both the last 2 games were massive improvements on previous games but still you fancy West Ham to successfully shut up shop.

Ivanovic

The defensive man of the moment with 2 clean sheets plus a goal and an assist to add to Chelsea’s 3 consecutive clean sheets and 7 clean sheets in the last 9 fixtures.  They play a WBA side who haven’t scored more than 1 goal in their last 5 home games.

Coleman

The previous attacking defensive darling before Ivanovic’s heroics.  No attacking returns for 4 games from Coleman and only 1 clean sheet in the last 5 home games.  However Crystal Palace even with new signings are a good team away from home to put things right.  Palace haven’t scored in their last 3 away games (admittedly tough opposition ) and have never scored more than 1 goal away all season.

Kolarov

Should be his turn to start after being benched against Norwich.  Shouldn’t be tracked too heavily by Adam Johnson who’s primarily attacking focused.  City maybe a liability away from home but on their own ground they are one of the strongest sides.  Sunderland amazingly have scored 7 goals away in their last 2 games but that masks some pretty poor away scoring before that.

Fonte

Hull have improved offensively since the purchase of but it’s still only 3 goals in their last 6 games.  Southampton after their excellent defensive start have slacked off a little and its now 3 clean sheets in the last 16.  However Fonte has excellent attacking skills and provides that hedge if there’s no clean sheet.

Skrtel

Speaking of excellent in the air.  I think Dan Burn will give less chances for Skrtel but I would have said that about Mertesacker .  I’m not one to recommend the Liverpool defence but this is about the opposition who seem particularly clueless going forward (although they have scored in most home games) and Skrtels ability offensively at set pieces.

Nolan

Before the last 2 games its been 6 returns in 19 games.  Yet suddenly he’s come to life with 2 in his last 2 games.  Not many people get more shots in the box  but that doesn’t always mean goals as weve seen from Paulino and Sessegnon. Unfortunately the unpredictable nature of Nolan makes it difficult to predict if it will continue.  However if you’re going to take the plunge, home to Norwich is a good time to do so. Norwich have had mixed fortunes away from home.  They’ve conceded in the last 3 but have had some success defensively against the lesser sides such as WBA and Stoke.  However in my GW23 rating the defences article I rated them the 4th worst defensive side so there aren’t many better sides to take a transfer in from

Hazard

A must have at the moment even before his hat trick.  That followed 3 games with no return which says it all about Hazard.  Brilliant player always looks dangerous but inconsistent returner.  Does have good basic underlying shooting and creating chances stats though.  1 clean sheet at home in the last 7 though says alot.  Pepe Mell is also a far more attacking coach than Clarke although they did show reasonable defensive organisation against Liverpool.  Check the team sheet as it is possible he could be rested

Mirallas

Played as a right winger rather than the forward that everyone was hoping for against Spurs but looks dangerous everytime he gets the ball and was unlucky against Spurs not to return.  3 goals in his last 5 is a good run of form for him as he has been inconsistent.  Apart from the 3-3 derby game he generally scores against the lesser sides rather than the top half of the table teams.  Palace are a much better defensive outfit under Pulis and have had some great away defensive performances including the 1-0 loss at City.  However theyve still conceded 2 in games against Arsenal Spurs and Chelsea all under Pulis which suggests that Everton should score.  Mirallas is definitely looking the most likely while Lukaku is out.

Silva

2 assists in his last 5 despite City scoring 11 goals in those games.  However I’m arguing he has been unlucky and his form has been very good without returning.  Sunderland have been excellent away from home defensively recently with 3 clean sheets in the last 5.  However with Wes Brown suspended were likely to see Roberge in at CB who’s no where near as defensively strong (although less likely to get sent off!).  Add that to a City side that will be desperate to get things back on track after 2 consecutive blanks and you’ve got a recipe for strong returns.

Gerrard

Assuming the game goes ahead Liverpool are likely to dominate this game.  While Dan Burns height and heading ability may negate to some extent Gerrards set piece ability the chance for a penalty and the number of set pieces are likely to see Mr Consistent return again.  If you ignore the first 5 games he’s returned in 13/16 games.  Thats an incredible 81% return rate.

Fulham are the worst defensive side in the league bar none.  Here’s there last 4 home results with 12 goals conceded

MCI(H) 2-4
WHU(H) 2-1
SUN(H) 1-4
SOU(H) 0-3

Dzeko

With him starting from the bench last week and Aguero still injured Dzeko is my pick to start at home to Sunderland.  He’s started 5 of the last 7 and in those 7 scored 4 goals and 2 assists.  He also has exceptionally good shots in the box stats.  It’s just conversion that’s a problem.  As I said for Silva, Sunderland have been excellent away from home defensively recently with 3 clean sheets in the last 5.  However with Wes Brown suspended were likely to see Roberge in at CB who’s no where near as defensively strong (although less likely to get sent off!).  Add that to a City side that will be desperate to get things back on track after 2 consecutive blanks and you’ve got a recipe for strong returns.

Suarez

Despite only an assist in the 5-1 mauling of Arsenal and only an assist in each of his last 2 its still 7 consecutive games with returns. His underlying stats have dropped off in recent games but he’s still an absolute must have and at Fulham he could do anything.  As I said for Gerrard

Fulham are the worst defensive side in the league bar none. Here’s there last 4 home results with 12 goals conceded

MCI(H) 2-4
WHU(H) 2-1
SUN(H) 1-4
SOU(H) 0-3

 Adebayor

6 goals and 3 assists in 9 games since coming into the team is a pretty good record.  Not on the back of any underlying stats though which makes me a little nervous.  Newcastle have Coloccini Tiote and Debuchy injured and are looking defensively vulnerable at the moment.  The loss of Cabaye and Remy seems to have effected the confidence of the team defensively and offensively.  In their last 3 home games they’ve been scoreless and conceded 6 goals.  Admittedly 2 of these were against Arsenal and Man City (where they were particularly unlucky)

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