Here’s the telegraph fantasy football version of the 2nd part in a series of articles on the players I rate in telegraph fantasy football. I’ve done strikers and now (see link at bottom of page) I’m on to midfielders (or at least part 1 of midfielders).
If you read my article on strategy “23 rules of play ” see link at bottom of article, you know that I believe that the underlying shooting stats are the key to a players success in telegraph fantasy football whether they be midfield or a striker. I wont go in to detail but it is primarily due to the lack of correlation between underlying data and assists making assist based players more unpredictable in terms of returns than shooting based players. Now I’m going to do a piece on each game format and heres the telegraph fantasy football version. The articles will be tweaked for each format so only read the format you intend to play to avoid repetition. I’m not covering in detail the new players to the premier league such as Hazard, Kagawa and Oscar as there are no stats to analyse and in some cases separate articles written (Links at the bottom of article) This series will be about players in telegraph fantasy football last season. Its also important to remember that the new season will bring new stats which will dictate our thinking. This is more about your starting and early round lineups.
My analysis of the best midfielders in fantasy premier league is based on the following stats:
1. Shooting stats
2. % shots are on target
3. Percentage shots are in the box
4. Touches in the box
So here’s my telegraph antasy football ranking:
Van der Vaart (£4.4m) 33 telegraph fantasy football appearances 11 goals and 7 assists
A ridiculous price at £4.4m compared to Silva at 6 Bale at 5.5 and Mata at 5.8m Current injury and injury record in a format like telegraph fantasy football where transfers are scare is the only drawback. That aside the best performer by far in fantasy premier league in terms of regularity of shooting and accuracy. Doesn’t shoot in or get in to the box as regularly as some but makes up for it with regular and deadly accurate shooting. Surprisingly he also outshines the significant majority in chances created for others. Has been talked up by AVB and should have a guaranteed place. I see Sigurdsson playing further back as has been mooted in pre-season and VDV being unaffected. Spurs have the 4th best fixtures and in my mind VDV is a must have. Has an injury at the moment with no return date on physio room but Im banking on him being back. As stated earlier this points to the only negative on VDV which is his patchy injury record.
Ashley Young (£4.7m) 25 appearances 6 goals and 7 assists
People who go on to this site regularly will be surprised given my admiration for Nani but you cant argue with stats. Young should have scored more with those underlying stats. Consistent on shots, accuracy and getting in to the box. Also decent on creating chances. However telegraph fantasy football is not the site for rotation prone players and this is the issue with Young. Young, Nani and Valencia only fit in to 2 flank positions. United are ranked 10th in ease of opening 6 fixtures. A hard trip to Everton to start but then its Fulham H Southampton A and Wigan H. Did go to Euro 2012 but so did Nani. Rotation should be kinder in early season before other distractions. Good value at£4.7m and still in my reckoning.
Clint Dempsey (£4.3m) 37 appearances 17 goals and 3 assists.
A must have a this price. A machine and the top scoring midfielder last year. Also you know Fulham will put their best team out in the FA Cup. Shoots more than virtually everyone and gets in to the box a very high percentage of the time. Not the best on accuracy but the regularity of shots in the box makes up for it. Also at Fulham never rotated which is important with no subs in Telegraph fantasy football. Questions over which club he will play for at the start of the season means he has to be monitored. Fulham are ranked 11th in ease of the first 6 fixtures fixtures. Then its Man Utd A West Ham A and WBA home. A must have.
Bale (£5.5m) 36 appearances 9 goals and 10 assists
expensive compared to the 3 above. High amount of shots per game although accuracy not as high as most in the elite group of telegraph fantasy football. Got in the box alot but not the highest % of shots were from there. Underlying stats didn’t appeared to be effected by VDV being in the side. AVB will only make Spurs more attacking than Redknapp and as for VDV I don’t see Sigurdsson affecting production. Spurs are 4th ranked in the ease of opening 6 games. Difficult one first up away to Newcastle, then home to WBA and Norwich. Good stats on creating chances but perhaps 10 assists flattered him. Not rotation prone so good for telegraph fantasy football.
Walcott (£4.3m) 35 appearances 8 goals and 8 assists
again good value but shame about the start. Far behind the above in the shooting regularity stats but unrivvaled on accuracy in telegraph fantasy football and getting in to and shooting in the box. Assists definitely flattered him but when you’ve got RVP as the recipient of chances created that’s probably not unexpected. Arsenal are ranked 17th in ease of fixtures in the first 6 games. After a home game to Sunderland theyre away to stoke then Liverpool. Wait to fixtures improve. Has cemented his place now although still has Gervinho as a potential rival although mainly a different flank. good value but wait for improved fixtures. may also benefit from Wenger needing to win the FA Cup after many trophy-less years.
Sigurdsson (£4.0m) 18 appearances 7 goals and 3 assists
Again very good value but need to see his role and game time security. The best stats of everyone in telegraph fantasy football shooting regulalrly made up for ordinary stats in everything else. Hint of overperformance in my mind and will need monitoring this season. Early pre-season suggests he will play further back than when at Swansea. Showed the ability to create chance regularly though. Tottennham have 4th best start but Bale and VDV are the better options especially given VDV’s price.
Silva (£6m) 36 appearances 6 goals 15 assists
Shooting regularity stats are better than Walcott and Osman but not great on accuracy which is surprising given the strong percentage that were in the box and the regularity hat he got in it. Only Mata was better at creating chances though although Silva got more assists. too expensive and too rotatable after being flogged to death for too long for telegraph fantasy football. Give a wide berth.
Osman (£3.9m) 30 appearances 5 goals 1 assist
I’m a fan but seems a little expensive at this price compared to the above. Cahill going may give him even more room to go forward. Everton will also take the FA Cup seriously. At the limit of shot regularity but good accuracy and percentage in the box. Playing for Everton however, doesnt get in to it as much as the sides above him here. Not chance creating stats though. Everton have the 7th best opening 6 games. Many will prefer Pienaar at £3.6m if he eventually gets to Everton. I’m sticking with Osman because of goal potential but this price is a little too steamy.
On the 3 main new guys
Hazard (£4.3m)
Good value and should be a regular. see my article below for analysis
Kagawa (£4.1m)
relatively good value but questions at the moment on game time but has made a promising start to pre-season. see article below
Oscar (£3.6m)
see article below but at 19 and having done the Olympics probably until a week before the season starts he will be eased in. One to monitor at the moment.
That’s part 1 of Midfielders. Another to follow. The next lot are less straightforward.
Here’s the links to other articles as mentioned. Copy and paste in to browser if they dont work
FANTASY PREMIER LEAGUE – ANALYSING THE OPENING 6 ROUNDS OF FIXTURES
FANTASY FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYER PREVIEW – EDEN HAZARD
FANTASY PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYER ANALYSIS – MAN UTD’S SHINJI KAGAWA
