Here’s another repost from our partner for Telegraph Fantasy Football the Telegraph newspaper
Telegraph Fantasy Football tips 16/17: Midweek scout report
Finding the players that have hit a purple patch of form is critical to Telegraph Fantasy Football success and even though the EFL Cup doesn’t score you TFF points, it’s worth keeping an eye on to see which players are performing and which players don’t look like they’ll be returning you points anytime soon.
Watchlist
Ross Barkley (£4.6m)
Everton’s number 8 is the ultimate fantasy footballer. He produced 10 goals and 17 key contributions in 2015/16 and the early indications are that he’ll deliver once again.
He scored just five minutes into the season opener against Spurs, curling in a free-kick past Hugo Lloris on the way to seven TFF points.
A week later he was at it again, chipping in with a key contribution for Kevin Mirallas’ equaliser against West Brom.
Last night, Barkley struck his second free-kick of the season as Everton eased to a 4-0 win over Yeovil in the EFL Cup.
Another huge plus for bringing in Barkley can be found in Everton’s next five fixtures:
Stoke (H)
Sunderland (A)
Middlesbrough (H)
Bournemouth (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
As you can see, three winnable home matches against Stoke, Boro and Palace sandwiched between two trips to the sides that currently sit 19th and 20th in the table respectively. Is now the time to transfer in Ross Barkley?
Robert Snodgrass (£3.6m)
Robert Snodgrass has had a great start to the season. His winner on the opening day upset the champions Leicester and he then produced two key contributions in Hull’s 2-0 win at Swansea.
The Scotland international was back on the scoresheet in the Tigers’ 3-1 win at Exeter last night and although his team mate Adama Diomande (£3.0m) produced a brace, Snodgrass is preferred for his set-piece responsibility.
Corners and free-kicks are a prime opportunity for key contributions and Hull’s side has plenty of aerial threat in the box. At just £3.6m Snodgrass will also free up budget that can be used across the rest of the pitch, especially when you consider most midfielders in the price range play more defensive roles for their clubs.
Scott Dann (£3.2m)
The Crystal Palace defender chalked up 142 TFF points in 2015/16, weighing in with five goals and 11 full clean sheets. He was back on the scoresheet against Blackpool last night and the Eagles’ acquisition of Christian Benteke could mean the club is on the up.
You could argue that Palace have the easiest run of fixtures out of any side in the league – Bournemouth (H), Middlesbrough (A), Stoke (H), Sunderland (A), Everton (A) and West Ham (H). Each of those matches provide a real opportunity for clean sheets and let’s not forget Dann is a menace from set pieces. He could be a steal at just £3.2m.
Time to let go?
Troy Deeney (£5.1m)
Watford’s captain has had a slow start to the season and is yet to get off the mark. At £5.1m he’s a similar price to Christian Benteke, who is preferred, and the Hornets’ next three fixtures are Arsenal, West Ham and Manchester United.
It’s also been a tough start to life at Vicarage Road for Walter Mazzarri. A draw at Southampton and then a defeat to Chelsea has been compounded by an even more disappointing loss at home to Gillingham in last night’s EFL Cup tie.
Matt Phillips (£3.2m)
West Brom’s summer signing from QPR was tipped to hit the ground running but has found life back in the Premier League slightly harder to adjust to. No goals or key contributions in two easier opening fixtures has meant just four TFF points, and the Baggies’ form has looked questionable following a 2-1 defeat to Everton and even more surprising loss to Northampton in the EFL Cup.
Although there’s still a relatively easy run of fixtures to come for Tony Pulis’ side, £3.2m seems like it could be better used elsewhere with Robert Snodgrass (£3.6m), Etienne Capoue (£3.3m) and Gaston Ramirez (£3.3m) enjoying better starts to their campaigns.
New signings to look out for
There have been seven new signings added to the player list since Week 1 got underway on Saturday, August 13:
DEF – Da Silva, F – Boro (£2.9m)
DEF – Janmaat, D – Watford (£3.0m)
MID – Gooch, L – Sunderland (£2.7m)
MID – Defour, S – Burnley (£3.3m)
MID – Pienaar, S – Sunderland (£3.2m)
MID – Pereyra, R – Watford (£3.2m)
MID – O’Neill, A – Burnley (£2.6m)
STR – Asoro, J – Sunderland (£3.2m)
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