It seems after the Copa America that Sergio Aguero won’t be starting in GW1 as he didn’t after last years world cup. However I think everyone knows after his 4 goal demolition of Spurs last year what a dangerous player he is not to own. Especially as he’s such a captain favourite, Much as I like watching games from behind the sofa I intend having a plan to get him in and certainly in time for his home game to Watford in gameweek 4
fantasy premier league team selection tips – some thoughts on the Aguero dilemma
There are very few players like Sergio Aguero. He is a consistent returner with the potential for big scores, takes pens and also is a big captain favourite. He’s someone I would have in my team irrespective of ownership factors. With high ownership his ranking destroying potential is unparalled and with low ownership his differential potential for moving up the rankings is huge. With there being 2 wildcards I was planning on using the first one after gameweek 4 opened to get 2 weeks of value increases during the international break where the gameweek spans 2 weeks. However gameweek 4 opens with Man City v Watford where if he’s starting he will potentially be a very dangerous player not to own and a possible captain favourite. Too much for me personally to deal with. I hate nothing more than having a gameweek where I’m worried about what one player may do and the effect that will have on my ranking. I hate watching those games. So here’s some options to deal with the situation. Firstly here’s my draft team at the moment to give it some context
Lets also look at Man Citys first 6 fixtures:
West Brom (A)
Chelsea (H)
Everton (A)
Watford (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
West Ham (H)
Option 1 Assume there’s no problem
You could take the view that after 2 seasons where he’s played in a World Cup final and a Copa America final that this injury prone player’s lack of rest and a proper pre-season will fimally catch up with him. In addition he may still have low ownership so how much will he hurt your ranking and even if he does how important is ownership and ranking so early in the season as well. He’s also £13m so not having him will give you loads of other options in your team. It’s also only 1 dangerous game prior to the natural point to wildcard after gameweek 4 opens as Man City at home and Everton away are tricky fixtures that maybe you can take a view on not having Aguero for. Personally I’m not taking any chances. Aguero is someone I will have in the side no matter what.
Option 2 – use your wildcard prior to GW4 opening
Use your wildcard prior to GW4 opening. This is an easy way of dealing with it and would solve your problem. It does mean you miss out on the value growth in the 2 weeks after GW4 opens and the chance to replace players injured during the international break. How clear it will be that Aguero will start at the beginning of the gameweek may also be an unknown. The last thing you want to do is use the wildcard and findout he doesn’t start. Also leaving using it until say the Friday before GW4 opens when you’re more sure of him playing seems like a waste.
option 3 – Have Rooney or Costa plus some money in the bank
Rooney is £10.5m and Costa £11.0m. Keep the difference in the bank plus say £0.5m for insurance against unfavourable price movments and job done with limited risk and no or 4/8 point hits taken or wildcard used. It does mean you would carry a £5.0m player for 3 gameweeks rather than an £8.0m player. Say Callum Wilson instead of Benteke? It does give you ultimate flexibility to bring him in at anytime
Option 4 – Save a transfer and get him in with 2 maybe 3 transfers.
So don’t use a transfer in gameweek 2 so you have 2 transfers up your sleeve. Then use your 2 transfers to get him in before the Watford game. Take out Rooney/ Costa and then an expensive midfielder. Who to take out? Rooney is away to Swansea so thats not too bad a fixture for him to miss. I could also take out Walcott who is away to Newcastle to make up the extra funds. Chelsea are home to Palace so I wouldn’t take out Hazard or Costa if I could avoid it. I also wouldn’t want to take out Silva for such a good fixture. I could even potentially take out Siggy depending on price movments. Whatever I do would leave me 1 less expensive midfielder and around £6.0m. Midfielder Matt Ritchie of Bournemouth home to Leicester is one option. If you intend to use your wildcard once GW4 opens then you can correct your team immediately. This strategy also allows you to get him in for GW3 if he is starting by then and you want to take that option
My thoughts at the moment are option 4. Be interested to hear from anyone else in the comments column
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