fantasy premier league analysis – 10 things we learnt from GW33

fantasy premier league analysis – 10 things we learnt from GW33  

 1.  Maybe there are Crystal Palace attacking midfielders after all.

Maybe they aren’t just there for hitting it long to Jerome and Chamakh after all.  A 16 point haul from Jason Puncheon who’s now started 3 consecutive games.  He is an appealing shoot on sight attacking midfielder.  His overall returns aren’t great but at £4.9m he has potential.  Home to Villa in the first part of the DGW34 now has some appeal for Puncheon filling the cheapie mid role.  The 2nd part away to Everton isn’t so appealing

Ledley playing behind the striker also ended up with a goal and an assist. It was however his first return in 7 games.  He is vulnerable to Chamakh returning to that position though.

2.  The Hull defence is still alive

The Hull defence recorded their 2nd consecutive home clean sheet after 5 home games without one.  Unfortunately only Arsenal and Everton at home next.  This may give them confidence though for 2 good away games against Fulham and Aston Villa

3.  Michu still has some way to go yet

1 shot in his 65 minutes away to Hull.  Thats 3 games started and 1 assist to show for it.  GW34 will be interesting though as he does have the hapless Newcastle in GW35

4.  Newcastle join the hopeless defence brigade.

4 goals against a United reserve team (apart from Mata) really says it all.  Thats 11 conceded in their last 3 games.

Here’s their opponents to the end of the season:

Stoke City (A)
Swansea (H)
Arsenal (A)
Cardiff City (H)
Liverpool (A)

Unfortunately no DGW teams

5.  Kagawa and Hernandez stake their claim

It was interesting how Mata specifically mentioned he likes playing with Kagawa.  Kagawa was excellent even if he only came away with an assist.  At £7.1m he could be an interesting differential.  However 2 big caveats.  He will need to be selected in their next game away to Everton in GW35 for us to have any belief he has a chance for 2 games in DGW37.  Remember he looked good against Newcastle and their 11 goals conceded in 3 games.  His returns this year have been dire.

If Rooney’s injury is worse than were being told and you really can’t take anything at face value from United then Hernandez staked his claim for the striking role with a goal and an assist.  Same caveats apply as for Kagawa though.

6.  More champions league progress could mean more Hazard resting

Apart from Liverpool the fixtures for Chelsea couldn’t be any better for Chelsea if Mourinho hand picked them himself.  Hazard on the bench because of the Tuesday PSG match and the form of Willian and Salah shows that he can be rested for the lower placed teams and Chelsea still win easily.  Fantasy premier league managers who own him (and aren’t Chelsea fans) will be desperate for PSG to win the return leg to avoid the anxious wait for the team sheet to see if Mourinho rests him or not in future games.  What do you do though?  Sell him and then watch him roll in 20 points at home to Norwich when Mourinho decides he can start bringing his  39% ownership with him?  A major issue looms if Chelsea overturn this tie

7.  Willian and Salah shine

This Willian character is going to be an absolute star.  He was brilliant against Stoke and although his gametime and the form of Schurrle and Salah make him a very risky acquisition he could be a huge player next season.  His returns this season though have been very ordinary to say the least.  Also this was his first return in 9 games.  However he just oozes class and well worth watching for next season.

Salah was also brilliant with a goal and an assist.  It’s hard to believe he’s only £5.5m.  In 164 minutes of gametime he’s scored 2 goals and an assist.  Again gametime is the issue.

The reverse of what I said about Hazard above applies to these guys though.  If Chelsea do go through against PSG then Hazard and even Oscar maybe rested regularly freeing up 2 midfield spots.  £5.5m or even £7.5m isn’t much of a value risk for a Chelsea midfielder with these excellent fixtures.

Here they are by the way

Swansea (A)
Sunderland (H)
Liverpool (A)
Norwich (H)
Cardiff City (A)

8 Lukaku looks a must have for DGW34

A goal and an assist at home to Arsenal.  Strange wide right position but that may have been to isolate Monreal and the left side of the Arsenal defence which was it’s weakest point.  I’d remind you of the fixtures of Sunderland away and Palace home but Lukaku scores against all comers and in some ways prefers the counter attack that the better teams generate.  Its 4 goals and 2 assists in the 6 games since coming back from injury by the way.

He has failed in the captain spotlight some times and hasn’t recored that many double digit fanatsy premier league point hauls but he is one of the more consistent forwards with a 60% return rate.

9.  Mr Consistency refuses to go away

By this I mean Stevie G.  2 pens and 15 fantasy premier league points.  He has scored or assisted now in 18/29 games.  Thats 62%.  Only YYT is more consistent.  However if you strip out Gerrards first 5 games which were all blanks then his consistency % is 75%.  Thats getting into Suarez and Sturridge country.  Oh and he also took one of the corners.  Liverpool generate penalties at an alarming rate with the pace of Sturridge and Sterling plus the trickery of Suarez.  I had the  choice of whether to ditch Kolarov or Gerrard for GW33.  I’m glad I chose Kolarov to ditch.

10.  Sturridge could be on the sacrifice list

It’s hard to imagine selling anyone who has returned a goal or assist in 18 of his 23 games (78%).  However,  if Aguero’s fit and with Lukaku looking the only safe attacking Everton DGW34 option then he may well be.  2 blanks games when  6 goals were scored will test those looking to get both Aguero and Lukaku in.  Add in the fact that you may want Rooney and Aguero in for DGW37 and the forward planning looks tricky.  If you hadn’t worked it out I’m assuming Suarez stays no matter what.

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