Barclays fantasy premier league – “ones to watch” GKs/Defs GW9 – Buy Hold Sell

Fantasy Premier League, Player Rankings

Here’s the “ones to watch” for GKs and defenders on the Barclays fantasy premier league format for GW9.  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.

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 although as I talk about different players in the commentary Ive ranked the team’s prospects  as much as the player

Just to recap on GK and Def =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 which has continued.  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) HOLD

  • Minutes per point:  16.7    Team clean sheets:  3    Team defence ranking:  6  fixture ease rank:  2

5 games in a row with no clean sheet.  Goal keeping options are difficult though as its hard to find value compared to their teams other defensive options.  Mignolet is still a hold for me though while Liverpool continue to have good fixtures.

West Brom (H)
Arsenal (A)
Fulham (H)
Everton (A)
Hull City (A)
Norwich (H)

De Gea (£5.9m) HOLD

  • Minutes per point:  27.7  Team clean sheets:  2    Team defence ranking:  12  fixture ease rank:  14

Still only 2 clean sheets albeit on the back of tricky fixtures.  Still offers a secure gametime  option against a very rotated and injury prone defence.  Not performed so far but home to Stoke and away to Fulham next is not the time to sell

 

Stoke City (H)
Fulham (A)
Arsenal (H)
Cardiff City (A)
Tottenham (A)
Everton (H)

Boruc (£4.7m) BUY

  • Minutes per point:  16.0   Team clean sheets:  5    Team defence ranking:  3  fixture ease rank:  4

The Saints defence has performed so well that Boruc is now the top point scoring GK  in fantasy premier league and really can be considered as a home and away option rather than just a home rotation.  With Arsenal and Chelsea away coming up though I would add another option for tricky games.  McGregor offers that option pretty well

Fulham (H)
Stoke City (A)
Hull City (H)
Arsenal (A)
Chelsea (A)
Aston Villa (H)

McGregor (£4.5) BUY (now injured back 4 Dec)

  • Minutes per point:  18.0   Team clean sheets:  3    Team defence ranking:  10  fixture ease rank:  13

A home rotation only and that works well with Sunderland and Crystal Palace at home next and then Stoke H after Liverpool H.  Bruce has predictably fashioned a strong defensive team

Next 6 fixtures:

Tottenham (A)
Sunderland (H)
Southampton (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Liverpool (H)
Arsenal (A)

Defenders

I’ll also comment on other defenders within their teams to give you more options

1.  Clyne (£4.5m)HOLD

  • Minutes per point:  16.4 mins .  Team clean sheets:  5    Team defence ranking:  3  Rotation risk: low   fixture ease ranking: 4   Bonus points to date 4

Hopefully 5 clean sheets will convince everyone by now that the Southampton defence is a must have  and its just a matter whether you go for the cheap version of Clyne who will probably give less attacking returns and bonus points or you spend the extra million or so on Lovren and Fonte who will get more attacking returns and bonus points.  I’ve gone for Clyne due to budgetary restrictions

Next 6 fixtures:

Fulham (H)
Stoke City (A)
Hull City (H)
Arsenal (A)
Chelsea (A)
Aston Villa (H

2.  Ivanovic (£6.5m) HOLD

  • Minutes per point:  21.8 mins .  Team clean sheets:  3    Team defence ranking:  2  Rotation risk: medium   fixture ease ranking: 7   Bonus points to date 2

Its all about security of gametime in the Chelsea defence.  Ivanovic with Cole injured seems the most secure to me with Azpilicueta not favoured. Mourinho has said that Luiz and Terry are his first choice but I find it difficult to believe that such a positionally undisciplined error prone player as Luiz really is. Terry also, despite starting every game in fantasy premier league so far, has to have some rotation with the Champions League in full swing.  However Terry is the goal (although Ivanovic has a good history of scoring) and bonus magnet so go for Terry if you think you can handle the gametime rotation risk.  I’ve put him as hold although I think they are a Buy after the City game.  Only 3 clean sheets but the overall stats are excellent and more will come

Next 6 fixtures:

Man City (H)
Newcastle (A)
West Brom (H)
West Ham (A)
Southampton (H)
Sunderland (A)

3.  Dawson (£5.2m) HOLD

  •   Minutes per point:  21.7   Team clean sheets: 4    Team defence ranking:  1  Rotation risk: medium.   fixture ease ranking: 16th     Bonus points to date 2

Spurs were back to their clean sheet ways against Villa although the underlying stats could have been better.  Hopefully the clean sheet will keep Dawson in play although there is still a gametime test when Roses returns which could be this week.  Chiriches played his first game and either he or Dawson will be moved if Rose returns as i’m sure vertonghen will hold his place. I’m still banking on Dawson staying as captain as the person involved in the clean sheets to date.  If Chiriches plays and not Dawson in the Europa league this week that will help the case for Dawson staying for GW9.  Coverage of the Spurs defence is essential in my mind as the best defence in the league fixtures or not.  Go for Walker if you have the cash and are spooked over Dawsons gametime security with the Chiriches shadow
Next 6 fixtures:

Hull City (H)
Everton (A)
Newcastle (H)
Man City (A)
Man Utd (H)
Fulham (A)

4.  Kompany (£6.3m) HOLD (injured expected return GW9)

  • Minutes per point:  31.6 mins .  Team clean sheets:  3    Team defence ranking:  5   Rotation risk: low  fixture ease ranking: 17     Bonus points to date 0

Apparently back for GW9 but even if its GW10 he  only misses the Chelsea game.  If he can stay fit he’s the most  secure gametime wise as everyone else can be rotated as Zabaleta’s owners found out.  Nastasic at £5.5m would be my alternative acquisition although everyone has rotation potential and Demichels will soon be fit to cause him problems.  With Kompany they are one of the best defences in the league.  Definitely worth buying for the Norwich home game though.

Next 6 fixtures:

Chelsea (A)
Norwich (H)
Sunderland (A)
Tottenham (H)
Swansea (H)
West Brom (A)

5.  K Toure(£5.0m) BUY

  • Minutes per point: 28.1  Team clean sheets:  3    Team defence ranking:  6    Rotation risk: medium   fixture ease ranking: 2    Bonus points to date 2

Has pretty much been an ever present when available although could be different if Rodgers went to a back 4 which is the game time risk.  No clean sheets in the last 3 and they haven’t looked convincing at all in their underlying stats.  So this is a fixture and history punt on last years defence.  Plus Toure is pretty good value for a top 4 challenging defender.  Johnson at £5.7m is also good value and more secure plus has excellent attacking prospects if you’re willing to pay the extra cash

West Brom (H)
Arsenal (A)
Fulham (H)
Everton (A)
Hull City (A)
Norwich (H)

6.  W Reid (£5.0) BUY

  • Minutes per point: 18.5  Team clean sheets:  4    Team defence ranking:  4    Rotation risk: low   fixture ease ranking: 1    Bonus points to date 4

The attacking premium player for West Ham but big Sam has been tinkering so he’s also the only one with game time security.  If you want to gamble with that then Rat is your best choice at £4.5m

A good defence against the lower teams especially at home and with a good run of fixtures coming now looks a good time to buy.

Next 6 fixtures

Swansea (A)
Aston Villa (H)
Norwich (A)
Chelsea (H)
Fulham (H)
Crystal Palace (A)

7.  Chico (£5.0m) BUY

  • Minutes per point: 28.8  Team clean sheets:  3    Team defence ranking:  15    Rotation risk: medium   fixture ease ranking: 3    Bonus points to date 2

Davies out 3-4 weeks. Williams is supposedly back next gameweek and would be my preferred choice as he will probably pick up more bonus points and less yellow cards than Chico.  Rangel is the best attacking option but he’s more expensive and wont get the same level of bonus points.  I don’t rate the SWansea defence that strongly at 15th so its a real fixture punt which is why Williams is a gamble if he’s not fit as its not going to be a long term hold.  If you want to go cheap then Taylor will take Davies place and at £4.4m is a cheap short term option with the fixtures coming up.

Next 6 fixtures

West Ham (H)
Cardiff City (A)
Stoke City (H)
Fulham (A)
Man City (A)
Newcastle (H)

8.  Wilson (£4.5m)  HOLD

  • Minutes per point:  25.4 mins .  Team clean sheets:  3    Team defence ranking:  8  Rotation risk: high   fixture ease ranking: 8    Bonus points to date 4

11 minutes in the last game and subbed after 58 minutes before that isn’t an ideal position for your defender.  Hold to see whether he plays against United before selling as he is good value.  If you’re buying Pieters at £5.0m has good gametime security or Huth at £5.5m but Huth seems a little expensive for a Stoke defender these days for me.

Next 6 fixtures:

Man Utd (A)
Southampton (H)
Swansea (A)
Sunderland (H)
Everton (A)
Cardiff City (H)

9.  Mertesacker  (£5.5m)HOLD

  •  Minutes per point:  23.3.  Team clean sheets:  1    Team defence ranking:  11 Rotation risk: low.   fixture ease ranking: 11th     Bonus points to date 4

Another game another clean sheet opportunity thrown away.  Away to Palace is not the  time to sell though.  A=fter that may be different though.

Next 6 fixtures:

Crystal Palace (A)
Liverpool (H)
Man Utd (A)
Southampton (H)
Cardiff City (A)
Hull City (H)

Distin (£5.0m) SELL

  • Minutes per point:  25.7 mins .  Team clean sheets:  3    Team defence ranking:  9  Rotation risk: medium.   fixture ease ranking: 18    Bonus points to date 5

Another underwhelming defensive performance from Everton and when its home to Hull  with Sagbo and Aluko up front then you know you’ve got problems.  Enough in the next 6 fixtures to think there’s 2 clean sheets maximum.  If you own Coleman you may find it difficult to sell given the price rise you’ve had but at least he has attacking potential so makes it easier to hold.  Personally no clean sheets in the last 4 and 8 goals conceded plus not very encouraging underlying stats means Distin at least is a sell

Next 6 fixtures:

Aston Villa (A)
Tottenham (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Liverpool (H)
Stoke City (H)
Man Utd (A)

Budget

B Turner (£4.0m)HOLD  Baker (£3.9m) HOLD Faye (£3.9m)HOLD C Davies (£4.5m) Hull 

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.   Faye is a short term but while Hull’s Chester is injured until GW10. C Davies is the more expensive home rotation option.

 

That’s it.  On to midfielders next

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