Here’s the “ones to watch” for GKs and defenders on the Barclays fantasy premier league format for GW7. This will give the best GKs and defensive players at a variety of price ranges. I’ll also be categorising players as BUY HOLD or SELL from last weeks article.
This week I’ve added the team defence ranking from my article earlier in the week and in addition to that I’ve also grouped some of the players with other players in their team to illustrate a shift in focus within their team but without it meaning a sell for the other player the example is Coleman and Distin
Here’s the supporting stats:
1. Minutes per point. This shows how long it takes for a player to earn a fantasy premier league point. The lower the better obviously
2. Clean sheets to date for the team he’s playing in
3. The fixture ease ranking. This is the ranking of all teams to see who has the easiest fixtures over the next 6 games. 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.
4. For defenders I’ve added in rotation risk. High medium or low
5. For defenders, I’ve also put the bonus points to date in so we ca see how they’re faring with the new bonus system
6. I’ve also ranked the defenders
Just to recap on GK strategy. Skip over if you’ve read this before
There are 2 schools of thought here. The first is to go with an elite keeper and either a cheap playing reserve or even gamble on a cheaper non playing reserve. The second is to rotate home and away with the 2 cheapest playing keepers.
This year the gap between the 2 has lessened with their being value in GKs at the elite level. Additionally, the increased rotation of the elite club defenders means a GK is a way of getting coverage without the juicy easy home games seeing mass defensive rotation. Rotation of GKs in fantasy premier league games doesn’t happen that regularly and it’s mainly focused on the domestic cups.
As far as defenders are concerned, generally in fantasy premier league, I start of with 3-4-3 but try and have a balanced squad in terms of spend. This year the new bonus system is suggesting in the data so far that if your team gets a clean sheet, then virtually every time that occurs, 2 of the 4 defenders in that team will get some sort of bonus award. GW2 saw a significant skewing towards CBs getting bonus awards. I’ve never been a fan of paying premiums for attacking players and this shy’s away from it. I generally believe in going for the cheapest defender but balanced with gametime security. Now I’ll be looking towards CBs if the price differential isn’t significant.
GKs
Mignolet (£5.8m) BUY
- Minutes per point: 13.8 Team clean sheets: 3 Team defence ranking: 5 fixture ease rank: 4
3 clean sheets but none in the last 3 give some concern but still good fixtures and a solid defensive ranking
Next 6 fixtures:
Crystal Palace (H)
Newcastle (A)
West Brom (H)
Arsenal (A)
Fulham (H)
Everton (A)
De Gea (£6.0m) BUY
- Minutes per point: 27.0 Team clean sheets: 2 Team defence ranking: 8 fixture ease rank: 2
Defence was a disaster against WBA but still should be back to solid with Vidic and Evra back and Fellaini as a CDM
Next 6 fixtures:
Sunderland (A)
Southampton (H)
Stoke City (H)
Fulham (A)
Arsenal (H)
Cardiff City (A)
Boruc (£4.6m) BUY
- Minutes per point: 16.9 Team clean sheets: 4 Team defence ranking: 4 fixture ease rank: 5
4 clean sheets and only 2 goals conceded. Good fixtures and the Saints defence is performing so well he could almost be a very cheap home and away option.
Next 6 fixtures:
Swansea (H)
Man Utd (A)
Fulham (H)
Stoke City (A)
Hull City (H)
Arsenal (A)
McGregor (£4.5) BUY
- Minutes per point: 18 Team clean sheets: 2 Team defence ranking: 15 fixture ease rank: 9
2 clean sheets and a solid home record with Villa Sunderland and Palace at home next. Has partial rotation with Boruc
Next 6 fixtures:
Aston Villa (H)
Everton (A)
Tottenham (A)
Sunderland (H)
Southampton (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Defenders
1. Clyne (£4.4m)BUY
- Minutes per point: 14.3 mins . Team clean sheets: 4 Team defence ranking: 4 Rotation risk: medium fixture ease ranking: 2 Bonus points to date 4
Another game another clean sheet for the Southampton defence. 4 clean sheets and only 2 goals conceded. Clyne is the best value and seems to be liked by the bonus point system although this was the first clean sheet that he wasn’t rewarded. If you want to trade up go for Lovren who’s the bonus point darling at £5.0m with 7 bonus points already although he surprisingly also missed out. Fixtures also look strong
Next 6 fixtures:
Swansea (H)
Man Utd (A)
Fulham (H)
Stoke City (A)
Hull City (H)
Arsenal (A)
2. Dawson (£5.1m) BUY
- Minutes per point: 19.3 . Team clean sheets: 4 Team defence ranking: 1 Rotation risk: medium. fixture ease ranking: 10th Bonus points to date 2
Spurs are showing fine defensive form at the moment although Chelsea scored at the weekend they still have good defensive prospects. Fixtures get about to get trickier but given the value and the defensive solidity still worth buying. Good fixture this week as well.
Next 6 fixtures:
West Ham (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Hull City (H)
Everton (A)
Newcastle (H)
Man City (A)
3. Cole (£6.5m) BUY
- Minutes per point: 17.9 mins . Team clean sheets: 3 Team defence ranking: 2 Rotation risk: medium fixture ease ranking: 8 Bonus points to date 5
Terry with a goal and an assist definitely looks the goal threat for Chelsea but with Champions league games approaching and 4 potential CBs if you count Ivanovic then rotation has to be more of a threat for Terry than Cole. Cole also has continued to attract bonus points. for these reasons I’m still looking at him as the best Chelsea defender
Next 6 fixtures:
Norwich (A)
Cardiff City (H)
Man City (H)
Newcastle (A)
West Brom (H)
West Ham (A)
4. Coleman (£5.6m)HOLD Distin (£5.0m) HOLD
- Minutes per point: 15.9/ 20.8 mins . Team clean sheets: 3 Team defence ranking: 3 Rotation risk: low/medium. fixture ease ranking: 13 Bonus points to date 4/5
The Everton defence has conceded 4 goals in the last 2 games but despite giving away a few clear cut chances has still held up in underlying stats and I expect them to get back to their clean sheet ways. Coleman continues to be the attacking threat while Distin has more bonus point attraction. Fixtures are a bit mixed and wouldn’t buy this gameweek though when visiting Man City.
Next 6 fixtures:
Man City (A)
Hull City (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Tottenham (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Liverpool (H)
5. Kompany (£6.3m) BUY
- Minutes per point: 27.9 mins . Team clean sheets: 3 Team defence ranking: 6 Rotation risk: low fixture ease ranking: 19 Bonus points to date 0
I wouldn’t read to much into the Villa result. it was more a case of every chance they had Villa scored and every mistake City made Villa scored. I expect the defence to be solid , especially at home, with Kompany returning.
Next 6 fixtures:
Everton (H)
West Ham (A)
Chelsea (A)
Norwich (H)
Sunderland (A)
Tottenham (H)
6 Koscielny(£5.4m) HOLD Mertesacker HOLD
- Minutes per point: 42.7 mins/19.6. Team clean sheets: 1/1 Team defence ranking: 11 Rotation risk: Low/low. fixture ease ranking: 11th Bonus points to date 0/4
The Arsenal defence hasn’t really performed to date as they seem to be playing with even more adventure than last year. Underlying stats have deteriorated as well. In my mind still worth pursuing for the next 3 games until they play Liverpool at home
Next 6 fixtures:
West Brom (A)
Norwich (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Liverpool (H)
Man Utd (A)
Southampton (H)
7. Davies (£5.0m) BUY
- Minutes per point: 15.9. Team clean sheets: 2 Team defence ranking: 12 Rotation risk: medium fixture ease ranking: 1 Bonus points to date 7
The Swansea defence isn’t the strongest and is conceding goals on its own ground especially although to be fair that has been against the top teams. They have been stronger away from home with 2 clean sheets and only 1 goal conceded. This is very much a fixture and attacking punt with Swansea having a good run of fixtures as well as Davies having already scored 2 goals
Next 6 fixtures;
Southampton (A)
Sunderland (H)
West Ham (H)
Cardiff City (A)
Stoke City (H)
Fulham (A)
8. Wilson (£4.5m) BUY
- Minutes per point: 24.5 mins . Team clean sheets: 2 Team defence ranking: 10 Rotation risk: medium fixture ease ranking: 3 Bonus points to date 4
Disappointing in not obtaining a clean sheet but it wasn’t a function of a poor defensive performance which was generally solid. Another home rotation option where the home fixtures offer a good chance of a clean sheet.
Fulham (A)
West Brom (H)
Man Utd (A)
Southampton (H)
Swansea (A)
Sunderland (H)
9. Collins (£4.6m) HOLD
- Minutes per point: 18 mins . Team clean sheets: 3 Team defence ranking: 7 Rotation risk: medium. fixture ease ranking: 20 Bonus points to date 1
Not sure why he was on the bench at the weekend but would hold on to see if repeated this week before selling as he is a good home rotation defensive option.
Next 6 fixtures:
Tottenham (A)
Man City (H)
Swansea (A)
Aston Villa (H)
Norwich (A)
Chelsea (H)
Wisdom (£4.4m) SELL
- Minutes per point: 81 mins . Team clean sheets: 3 Team defence ranking: 5 Rotation risk: high fixture ease ranking: 4 Bonus points to date 0
The new 5-3-2 formation sees Henderson as a RWB. A gamble that didn’t pay off unfortunately and time to sell
Budget
B Turner (£4.0m)HOLD Baker (£3.9m) HOLD Faye (£3.9m)BUY
If you’re looking for fillers the above are the best bets. The rise of importance of defence does question whether you should invest more money which is where I am at the moment. Turner look good holds at this price. Baker is good value and has come back into the squad as Lambert plays 3 at the back with wing backs. Faye is a short term but while Hull’s Chester is injured for 6-8 weeks
You maybe wondering why I haven’t got any Utd or Liverpool defenders in the above. At the moment if you want cover De Gea and Mignolet are the best options given rotation and price of the alternatives.
That’s it. On to midfielders next
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