Here’s the “ones to watch” for defenders on the Barclays fantasy premier league format. This will give the best defensive players at a variety of price ranges.
Generally infantasy premier league, I start off in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 formation starting with 3 defensive players. I think you should go for at least 1 elite defensive player and then the remaining 4 could either be home and away cheap rotations or another elite player and rotate the other 3. I think 3 elite players, unless they are great value, arent worth the sacrifices that you will have to make to the rest of your fantasy premier league team. Generally, I dont believe in paying premiums for attacking potential, its just too unpredicatable season to season.
I’ve provided the following stats to support the player choices and to guide you in your decisions:
1. Clean sheets last year for the club rather than the player in order to assess the teams defensive strength at least last year.
2. Time per point scored last year. This is how many minutes it takes for a Barclays fantasy premier league point to be scored over the course of last 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.
Elite team defenders
Clichy (£6.0m)
- City clean sheets last year 18. Time per point scored last year: 21 mins . Rotation risk: Medium. fixture ease ranking: 2nd
Its hard to see Kolarov ousting Clichy and although the defence has struggled in pre-season the easy start should settle them down and at least lessen the risk of spending so much cash.
Cole (£6.5m)
- Chelsea clean sheets last year 14. Time per point scored last year: 23 mins . Rotation risk: Low. fixture ease ranking: 17
A Chelsea defender for DGW1 is essential as there is a good chance of 2 clean sheets. Cole is the ony player with low rotation risk as Bertrand will be limited to the domestic cups in my view.
Koscielny(£5.5m)
- Arsenal clean sheets last year 14. Time per point scored last year: 19 mins . Rotation risk: Medium. fixture ease ranking: 3
I’ve changed my allegiance from Sagna because although I believe Vermaelen is more of a threat to Koscielny than Jenkinson is to Sagna Koscielny has a better attacking record for the same price. I still think Sagna has great potential and it wasn’t easy and I would support either.
Dawson (£5.0m)
- Spurs clean sheets last year 9. Time per point scored last year: 28 mins . Rotation risk: Medium. fixture ease ranking: 4
Spurs didnt get the clean sheets that their good defensive underlying stats deserved and at £5.0m this is still good value for a club pushing for the top 4. With Gallas moving and Caulker gone the rotation risk is far lower.
K Toure (£5.0m)
- Liverpool clean sheets last year 16. Time per point scored last year: n/a . Rotation risk: Medium. fixture ease ranking: 6
Great value for a Liverpool player. Skrtel is totally out of favour and his rotation risk is more about other purcahses if they happen before the window.
Coleman (£5.0m)
- Everton clean sheets last year 11. Time per point scored last year: n/a as fpl mid . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 7
Martinez may dilute the strong defence that Moyes had but should improve Coleman’s attacking prospects. £2.5m cheaper than Baines but an excellent attacking force, but without pens and freekicks.
Budget defenders
Collins (£4.5m)
- West Ham clean sheets last year 11. Time per point scored last year: 28 mins . Rotation risk: medium. fixture ease ranking: 1
Has an injury doubt, 75% chance of playing. Should get the nod over Tomkins if last year and pre-season are anyting to go by. Only Stoke last year had more clean sheets from outside the elite teams.
M Turner (£4.5m)
- Norwich clean sheets last year 10. Time per point scored last year: 26 mins . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 5
Norwich had 8 home clean sheets last year and Turner 3 goals so they’re a good home and away rotation option.
Clyne (£4.5m)
- Southampton clean sheets last year 7. Time per point scored last year: 34 mins . Rotation risk: low. fixture ease ranking: 11
Injury doubt 50% chance of playing. Only 3 clean sheets at home but Pocchetino really improved the defence when he joined. I’m backing them for a big improvement
Chester (£4.0m) Ward (£4.0m) and B Turner £4.0m)
At this price level you’re just looking to get someone who will play. It’s no surprise that these 3 players from Hull, Crystal Palace and Cardiff are the 3 relegation favourites. At the moment you can only get from Willima Hill 7/1 for all 3 of these teams collectively being relegated.
Out of the 3 Ward is probably the safest but Palace the worst defence. Chester is probably the next at risk but I believe that Bruce will sucessully play negatively as he did at Wigan. Turner has the most difficult task competing with the club captain Hudson but Turner has been favoured in pre-season. He does have the best defensive team though especially with Caulker joining
By the way I’ve not included….
Anyone from Man Utd. Who knows who will play consistently apart from Evra who’s £6.5m. I’m swerving it for the moment to see if anyone of value can emerge.
Nastasic/Lescott. Nastasic out for 4-6 weeks and then I expect him to return so I wouldnt select either.
John (Cardiff). Taylor will return after suspension
Alacaraz. Great value at £4.5m but injured and will need to see if he can unsurp Distin
Thats it, hope you got some food for thought.
Here’s the link to my GW1 fixture ease schedule:
http://www.fantasyfootballgeek.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-fixture-ease-schedule-gw1/