I’ve provided the following stats to support the player choices and to guide you in your decisions.  I’ve now moved this to this year:

1.  Goals and assists this year.

2.  Time per point scored this year.  This is how many minutes it takes for a Barclays fantasy premier league point to be scored over the course of this season. The lower the better obviously.

3.  Rotation risk.  High, medium or low.  High is the greatest risk of rotation.

4.  Fixture ease ranking:  The link is at the bottom of the article but essentially I’ve ranked all the teams by the ease of the first 6 fixtures.  The team with the best ranking ie 1 will have the easiest next fixtures of any of the fantasy premier league teams over the next 6 games.

5.  Consistency:  The % of times that the player got a goal or assist  as a % of games played

6.  I’ve also ranked them in their categories as who I think is currently the best choice

7.  Last 5 return consistency rate:   Its now time to take into account recent form so I look at the amount of times a player has returned in the last 5 games played

Midfielders

1.  Silva (£9.4m) BUY (injury doubt)

• Goals and assists:  3 goals 3 assists.  Time per point scored:  13.7  mins .  Rotation risk: medium.   fixture ease ranking: 16th.  Consistency 5/7   71%  Last 5 return consistency: 3/5

2 goals and 2 assists in the 4 games since coming back from injury.  Great underlying stats and Aguero on fire to finish off any chances he  creates.  What more could you want?  Has a slight injury doubt for the weekend, described by City as a “small problem” so we’ll keep an eye out for that.

Next 6 fixtures:  Sunderland (A)  Tottenham (H)  Swansea (H)  West Brom (A)  Southampton (A)  Arsenal (H)

2.  Ramsey (£7.1m) BUY

• Goals and assists:  6 goals 4 assists.  Time per point scored:    11.2 mins .  Rotation risk: medium.   fixture ease ranking: 17th.  Consistency 7/10   70%  Last 5 return consistency:  4/5

Every time I write this I still can’t believe it.  He’s scored twice as many goals as he’s ever done in a fantasy premier league season in 10 games.  Thats not even mentioning the 4 assists.  Seems to have played further forward centrally as well in the last couple of games which can’t do any harm.  Not great underlying stats but you just have to follow the form especially as holding him hardly burns a hole in your pocket at £7.1m.  can’t see him losing his place when Flamini and Walcott return on current form

Next 6 fixtures:  Man Utd (A)   Southampton (H)   Cardiff City (A)   Hull City (H)   Everton (H)   Man City (A)

3.  Ozil (£10.7) BUY

• Goals and assists:  2 goals 5 assists.  Time per point scored:  12.6  mins .  Rotation risk: low.   fixture ease ranking: 17th.  Consistency 4/6    66%        Last 5 return consistency:  2/5

World class player who is an assist based creative player rather than an all round midfielder who gets in to the box and scores regularly.  Still providing consistent returns but without much underlying stat comfort.  Will be interesting to see how things go with the fixtures getting harder.  Seems far more comfortable on his own ground with only 1 assist in his 4 away games.  If you’re thinking of buying maybe best to wait until next week after the United game

Next 6 fixtures:  Man Utd (A)   Southampton (H)   Cardiff City (A)   Hull City (H)   Everton (H)   Man City (A)

4.  Hazard (£9.1m) HOLD

• Goals and assists:  3 goals 2 assists.  Time per point scored:   16.8  mins .  Rotation risk: medium.   fixture ease ranking: 8th.  Consistency 3/10   33%  Last 5 return consistency:  2/5

has been one of the players that Mourinho has not rotatedso not too many gametime issues.  He was left out of the Schalke game after missing training and the fallout from this needs with Mourinho needs to be monitored.  A  frustratingly inconsistent player who has loads of talent but seems to leave his returns for the easier home games.  Doesn’t have too bad underlying stats but they’re certainly nothing to write home about.    Still as for Oscar I wouldn’t sell before a home game to WBA who ave had issues away to the top 4 challenging teams as we saw at Liverpool

West Brom (H)   West Ham (A)   Southampton (H)   Sunderland (A)   Stoke City (A)   Crystal Palace (H)

5.  Oscar (£9.0m)  HOLD

• Goals and assists:  4 goals 0 assists  Time per point scored:  15.3 mins .  Rotation risk: medium.   fixture ease ranking: 8th.  Consistency: 4/9   44%  Last 5 return consistency:  2/5

Also another player that Mourinho has given regular gametime to.  Not returned in the last 2 games and has no underlying stats in which to say he will start again.  Its more of  a case of his position as number 10 and his ability to get into the box which will dictate returns.  Has no history to fall back on either as last year only scored 4 goals although that was out on the right not as a number 10.  Still with the consistency falling and  with no underlying stats to fall back on  its hard to be confident that the goals will return.  Still before a WBA game is not the time to sell I would be just a little wary of purchasing.

Next 6 fixtures:  West Brom (H)   West Ham (A)   Southampton (H)   Sunderland (A)   Stoke City (A)   Crystal Palace (H)

6.  Lallana (£6.6m) HOLD

• Goals and assists:  2 goals 2 assists.  Time per point scored:  16.1  mins .  Rotation risk: low   fixture ease ranking: 15th.  Consistency 4/10   40%          last 5 return consistency rate:  3/5

I always want to believe that Lallana will produce consistent results given his advanced position and ability to score and create chances for team mates.  Although I guess 40% for the price isn’t too bad but again no return in the last 2 including the juicy home game to Fulham and no underlying stats to think its suddenly going to come right.  Playing Hull at home wont be a walkover as Man City and Spurs found but they’re not the fixture to sell at either

Hull City (H)   Arsenal (A)   Chelsea (A)   Aston Villa (H)   Man City (H)   Newcastle (A)

7.  Mirallas (£7.2m) HOLD

• Goals and assists:  1 goals 3 assists.  Time per point scored:  19.6  mins .  Rotation risk: low.   fixture ease ranking: 5th.  Consistency 3/10   30%       Last 5 return consistency rate:  2/5

Similar to Lallana in that has good positioning and some underlying stats but just doesn’t return consistently.  Without the underlying stats is hard to be confident that it will improve.  It’s now a fixture punt with Palace next making it difficult to sell this gameweek andFulham over the horizon for the patient fantasy premier league managers but some potentially (I say potentially as the Unted and liverpool defences are out of form at the moment) tricky fixtures in between these 2 gems

Crystal Palace (A)  Liverpool (H)  Stoke City (H)  Man Utd (A)  Arsenal (A)  Fulham (H)

8.  Cabaye (£6.2m) HOLD

• Goals and assists:  2 goals 2 assists.  Time per point scored:  19.4  mins .  Rotation risk: low  fixture ease ranking: 19th.  Consistency 4/8   50%          Last 5 consistency return rate:  3/5

It is possible to have a midfielder at the right price who dominates set pieces.  Cabaye has returned reasonably consistently at a reasonable price against varied opposition and looks like a reasonable punt despite the tricky fixtures.  I would plan to buy him after the Spurs away game though and for the home game to Norwich

Tottenham (A)   Norwich (H)   West Brom (H)  Swansea (A)   Man Utd (A)   Southampton (H)

Michu (£8.8m) SELL (injured expected return  GW12)

• Goals and assists:  2 goal 1 assist.  Time per point scored:  22.4 mins .  Rotation risk: low.   fixture ease ranking: 4th.  Consistency 3/10    30%                 Last 5 consistency return rate:  0/5

5 games with no returns and the underlying stats have dropped off a cliff.  Also injured and although its possible he could be back for the juicy home tie against Fulham in GW12 its also possible he could be out until GW14 according to the latest statements.  It looks like a sell to me

Next 6 fixtures:  Stoke City (H)   Fulham (A)   Man City (A)   Newcastle (H)   Hull City (H)   Norwich (A)

Nani (£7.2m) SELL

• Goals and assists:  0 goals 0 assists.  Time per point scored:  35.4  mins .  Rotation risk: high   fixture ease ranking: 11th.  Consistency 0/5   0%          Last 5 consistency return rate 0/5

After his horrific performance against Stoke he was unsurprisingly benched and played no part in the Fulham game.  Valencia and Januzaj played well so I wouldn’t hold my breath for a return

Next 6 fixtures:   Arsenal (H)   Cardiff City (A)   Tottenham (A)   Everton (H)   Newcastle (H)   Aston Villa (A)

Budget midfielders

1.  Amalfitano  (£5.2m) BUY (injury doubt) – Played RB at the weekend when Jones injured but I believe Reid (who was not on the subs bench) will will play RB with amalfitano to return to the flank.   2 goals and 2 assists in 6 games is a healthy return

2.  R Morrison (£4.7m) BUY – started the last 7 games which have resulted in 2 goals and an assist and now looks a good cheapie option

3.  Januzaj (£5.1m) BUY –   returned to the team for the Fulham game with an assist and its now 2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games started and 2 as sub.  Risky gametime wise with the other flank options but wort the potential rewards

4.  Kasami (£4.5m) BUY – Played the last 7 which is  some feat under Martin Jol with 1 goals to add to his opening day goal.  A good bench warming option but I’m not sure I would have him as  a rotation player

5.  Barkley (£5.6m) HOLD –    On the subs bench and has probably peaked and no returns in 4.  Now looking relatively expensive compared to other budget options.   I would probably hold and review  after the Palace game as this could have just been a message from Martinez as he did contribute when on against Spurs

6.  Whittingham (£5.1m) HOLD –   Set pieces were diluted by Bellamy’s involvement at the weekend but presumably still as pens.   A hold only with a 1 goal and 2 assists in first 10 games and Cardiff have reasonable fixtures.

7.  JWP (£4.2m) PUNT – Played the last 2 , 1 of which had Davis on the bench so is hopeful of holding his place.  Lovren and Fonte are great targets for his free kicks.  There is gametime risk though so not for the faint heated

Brady (£5.2m) SELL –    On the subs bench again so looks a sell

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