Today it was announced that we will be getting a fantasy premier league double game week for Chelsea and Villa in game week 1. This is after the game that was cancelled for GW3 due to Chelsea playing Bayern in the Super Cup clashed with the GW3 fixture. The Chelsea v Aston Villa fixture was moved to August 21 and will become part of GW1
Its certainly an interesting move and Ive knocked out another 15 minute team to see what that could look like. Again it was 15 minutes so please dont come giving me stick for it. There will be multiple thought through changes
Firstly here’s a couple of facts to consider in making your decision.
1. Chelseas double game week games are home to Hull and home to Villa. You couldn’t ask for better double game week fixtures. However, their next 4 fixtures are far trickier:
Man Utd A, Blank GW3, Everton A, Fulham H, Spurs A
They are difficult and in my fixture ease schedule (where I rank the ease of each teams fixtures) I ranked them 17th and getting no better. So overloading on players may come back to bite you later
2. Mourinho has made some statements about possibly resting the Spanish contingent, who are playing away in Ecudaor on the Wednesday 14th, for the Hull game. That means you have to think twice about Mata, Azpilicueta and Torres
3. The uncertainty of Mourinhos team. This may come clearer in pre-season but its difficult at this stage to predict the line up and who will play both games. The defence has multiple options everywhere apart from LB and the attacking midfield options also have multple permutations. There are also 3 forwards potentially in to 1 spot. However a big signing such as Rooney could change everything in terms of that forward position
As for Aston Villa their double game week couldnt be any worse, away to Arsenal and Away to Chelsea. Again their next fixtures also arent great:
Liverpool H, Blank GW3, Newcastle H, Norwich A, Man City H
Their defence is one of the worst in the league with a poor 5 clean sheets last year only 1 of which was away. The midfield has no natural scorer as Lambert has played 3 forwards in a 4-3-3 so the rest of the midfield are pretty much defensive players. Weiman could potentially be a cheap option as forward but the only real player you want to have is Benteke at £9.0m. Thats quite an eye watering price though considering the fixtures and when you have a number of top teams with good fixtures and Bale and RVP is he worth it for 1 extra game?
So here’s my 15 minute team with a few brief comments. Nrmally I believe in loading up on double game week players but the above factors have limited me to 2 Chelsea players and no Villa players. The arrival of a quality Chelsea striker though could make me change my mind and even keep RVP out of the team to fund it.
- Mignolet – Liverpool
- £5.5
- With Reina gone suddenly Mignolet looks great value. Last year Liverpool had 16 clean sheets 2nd only to Man City and at £5.5m looks really good value. Liverpool also have good fixtures to start
- Davis – Souhampton
- £4.0
- Cole – Chelsea
- £6.5
- The only nailed on Chelsea defender in my mind. Everyone else has gametime risk but Bertrand just isnt ready and will be a FA cup and Capital One player. Could easily get 2 clean sheets in DGW1
- Collins – West Ham
- £4.5
- Good value here compared to the rest of the West ham defence and should hold his place. 6 home clean sheets last year was a reasonable return and with a defensively minded coach its a good call. Rotates home and away with Southampton
- Clyne – Southampton
- £4.5
- I’m very confident over the Saints defence this year. Made substantial improvements last year under the new manager. I think they will be a surprise defensive pacakage and Clyne also offers good assist prospects
- Turner – Norwich
- £4.5
- 8 home clean sheets and a good goal record. Has a bit if an inury doubt and with the manager buying some attacking quality that may reduce Norwich’s defensive emphasis but this still is good value
- .
- Bale – Spurs
- £12.0
- Bale not cheap but has the ability to rip teams apart and score heavily. A great captain option for the right games and already owned by 47% of fantasy premier league managers so to not have him risks some pretty heavy captain knocks
- Hazard – Chelsea
- £9.5
- Probaly the most nailed on attacking starter given the playing risk with Mata and the difficulty of predicting selection else where. Would be the natural captain
- Silva – Man City
- £9.0
- With Aguero at £11.0m and no clear feel for who, if anyone, he plays as his partner in 4-2-3-1 (if he chooses this) then Silva is a good option. Didn’t get the returns his underlying stats deserved last year and a more attacking approach and fantastic opening fixtures make him a good bet to return to his old form
- Garvan – Crystal palace
- £5.0
- I mentioned Garvan as the best midfield option for Crystal Palace. The best prospect for the CAM role and could be the penalty option as he took one in Murrays injury absence in the friendly at Dagenham
- Brady- Hull
- £5.0
- I couldnt decide between Koren and Brady and I went for the 4 goal and 13 assist man of last year although it was a close call. Hull and Crystal palce rotate home and away well
- Van Persie – Man Utd
- £14.0
- Consistent return of points and a great captain option every week is the draw for RVP
- Bent – Aston Villa – rumoured for Newcastle
- £6.5
- This is on the basis that he moves to Newcastle which is currently a strong rumour although Cisse seems to have resolved the Wonga row which is a blow. This is a proven premier league goal scorer and £6.5m is great value. 2 seasons agao he scored 17 goals and 24 the year before that. Newcastle after a difficult opening fixture have a series of good fixtures
- Anelka – WBA
- £5.5
- Another blast from the past. A proven goal scorer but needs to not be rotated in the ridiculous way Lukaku was last year. Corneluis of Cardiff is another option here
- Thats it hope you found it thought provoking
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