Background

Options

Suarez

2 goals in his opening game.  Last year was only eclipsed by RVP and may have even beaten him if he hadn’t been suspended.  Top quality player who shoots alot and creates chances for others.  Last year he had the most shots in the box and created the most chances for others as a striker. Your ideal fantasy premier league striker.  The new formation of 5-3-2 also gives Suarez and Sturrdige equal billing and not one playing behind the other.  suarez probably naturally drifts aound more than sturridge who would naturally stay more centrally but that is a free flowing thing rather than a rigid tactical set up.

Is against the 3 rd worst overall defence in my view of Crystal Palace who only have Sunderland and Fulham behind them.  They’ve conceded 10 goals in 6 games and have had no clean sheets.  Theyve conceded 2 goals in each of their 3 aways games to Stoke, Man Utd and Southampton

Definitely an option

Sturridge

Definitely not the complete striker that Suarez is but there’s n doubting his ability to put the ball into the net but he is £1.4m cheaper.  5 goals and 2 assists in 6 games at an 83% consistency rate.  In fantasy premier league he’s top points scorer for strikers, the top points per game striker (if you ignore Suarez who’s only played 1 game) and leader of the fantasy premier league form table.

The only shadow is whether he is outperforming his underlying stats.  In terms of shots in the box per minute he’s 13th (thats even with people playing minimal time stripped out).  He’s well behind Kenwyne Jones for example. Don’t get me wrong underlying stats are a back up to the real thing but Sturridge in underlying shooting and creating chances stats is absolutely miles behind what he did last year and it does cause a worry about whether that will suddenly crash.  I have absolutely no worries about Suarez on that score though.

Despite all that I’ll reiterate what I said about the Crystal palace defence above.  The 3rd worst overall defence in my view of Crystal Palace who only have Sunderland and Fulham behind them.  They’ve conceded 10 goals in 6 games and have had no clean sheets.  They’ve conceded 2 goals in each of their 3 aways games to Stoke, Man Utd and Southampton

Definitely an option.

RVP

Prior to the season starting this would have been a no brainer.  Now it turns into a kind of test.  If he doesn’t return there will be a flood of fantasy premier league transfers out  over the international break and with him now at 3 goals and no assists plus a very poor 40% consistency rate (and a no show at the derby) this will be a pivotal RVP moment for a lot of people.

However there is some comfort in the underlying shooting stats.  He has had more shots in the box per minute than anyone in fantasy premier league.  So the goals will come in my view.    In fact he’s well up in that department from last year despite the hard games so I reiterate the goals will come.  Added to that is the fact that he also has Rooney playing behind him who is definitely one of the better creative strikers in the league. Something he didn’t have consistently last year.  What is worrying though is the lack of chances he creates and the knock on effect tis will have on assists.  That seems to have come from the fact that in some games Moyes has this ridiculous notion that  Ashley Young can take a better free kick or corner than RVP.  I’m hoping the blindingly obvious will return and that set pieces will return to RVP although Rooneys involvement is the risk here.  RVP still does have pens though.

He is up against the worst defence in the league who have conceded 14 goals in the first 3 games and are vulnerable also to the set piece.

So if he starts and we don’t have some ridiculous (how many times can I get this word into this bit on RVP) disapperring acts that Moyes seems to have created at match time when RVP is suddenly injured at City and Rooney in the champions league then he’s still an option for me

RVP is an option

Rooney

3 goals and 2 assists and a consistency rate of 80%.  Playing behind the striker though does worry me as a captain option if you don’t have pens or set pieces and although he may still be in the mix for set pieces RVP will take pens.  His shooting stats aren’t great at all although he does create chances for others but neither are vastly different than last year and he was a consistent returner last year when playing so this is pretty much a distraction from past facts that with these underlying stats he still can return.

would I give him the armband.  its a bit of a risk given the factors above but the poor opposition and 14 goals conceded in 6 games with 2 midfielders playing at FB then yes I probably would.

Therefore Rooney is  an option

Eto’o

With Torres injured and suspended Eto’o should start which doubts over this bit are  usually a reason to rule out a Chelsea striker as a captain option.  2 games 1 assist so far but given that 1 game was against Fulham isn’t anything to write home about.  There’s no doubt he has been a world class striker its just whether the time in Russia has blunted him.

The Norwich defence has conceded 6 goals in 6 games and has 2 clean sheets.  Underlying defensive stats are mid table so they’re no Palace, Fulham or Sunderland that’s for sure.  Last year they managed a very respectable 8 at home but this year they’ve been far more unpredictable.  Chelsea without Mata have struggled a bit goal scoring wise although he may return this week.

Personally its a bit early at this stage to hand the captain’s armband to Eto’o for me

Soldado

2 goals and an assist and a 50% consistency rate over 6 games is ok, nothing to write home about either.  Has ok underlying shooting stats and chances created stats but nothing special.  Will start and has pens.

West Ham have only conceded 5 goals in 6 games and have a good defence although they are definitely better at home but can turn it on away.

This is too much of a risk for the captains armband for me

Summary:

Yes in order:

1.  Suarez

2.  Sturridge

3.  RVP

4.  Rooney

No:

Eto’o and Soldado are too much of a risk for me

William Hill check

Here’s how William Hill see the anytime goal scorer odds market with all players at £2.00 or better

1.  Suarez £1.50

2.  Sturridge £1.73

3.  RVP £1.73

4.  Eto’o £1.80

5.  Soldado £1.80

6.  Rooney £2.00

7.  Giroud £2.00

So William Hill have more faith than me in Eto’o and Soldado than I have and less faith in Rooney.

The only person I haven’t covered up there is Giroud.  While I have a lot of faith in the striker  who has improved his conversion rate and has had more shots in the box than anyone so far this season, I am wary of the WBA defence at home.  The WBA defence overall has 3 clean sheets in 6 games and has conceded 5 goals only in 6 games.  At home they’ve conceded 3 in 3 games.   So I’ve stayed away from him as an option

I hope that gives you some food for thought

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