fantasy premier league – my imaginary wildcard team for GW11

• Minutes per point:  19.6    Team clean sheets:  3    Team defence ranking:  8  fixture ease rank:  13

I stuck with Mignolet as I thought the Liverpool defence was still worth covering especially before a home game to Fulham.  It’s now incredibly 7 games without a clean sheet and not good underlying stats to give you hope for the future.  However there is no point in selling before the Fulham home game but no clean sheet here and then I would lose what little faith I have left in the Liverpool defence

Fulham (H)   Everton (A)   Hull City (A)   Norwich (H)   West Ham (H)   Tottenham (A)

• Minutes per point:  15.0   Team clean sheets:  4    Team defence ranking:  9   fixture ease rank:  16

Whats the point in an imaginary wildcard if you cant take a punt.  Seriously this is only for the brave and I’m not sure if I was using my precious fantasy premier league wildcard that I would include him, but what the heck.  Do you think that Pellegrini is just sending a message to Joe Hart or  does Pantmillon have the spot and need to make a mistake to lose the position.  My gut feel is the former but Pellegrini is a hard man to read.  He’s only £0.6m cheaper than Nastasic but there’s no guarantee that Nastasic will keep his place once Kompany finally shakes of his injury issues.  Only Kompany is certain of that and that certainty in itself is blighted by constant injury issues.

• Minutes per point:  21.4 mins .  Team clean sheets:  3    Team defence ranking:  3  Rotation risk: low   fixture ease ranking: 8  Bonus points to date 6

There is some injury question about his rib which is why he didn’t play in the champions league which needs monitoring.  The clean sheet record is poor for Chelsea considering the cost of the defenders.  The performance at Newcastle was a tipping point for many after they conceded 2 goals and Ivanovic in particular has seen alot of fantasy premier league managers selling.  However on the positive side it was only the first time that Chelsea had conceded more than once and the underlying stats are good.  Also, every game in the next 6 has clean sheet potential.  So personally I wouldn’t give up on them yet.  Cole to me has the consistency of selection and the bonus potential to be the best choice.  However, Terry has started every game and played 90 minutes in every game but withCahill and Luiz as cover and Ivanovic also able to play CB I just can’t help but see some rotation.  But Terry is a good option at only £0.1m more for the more adventurous fantasy premier league managers

•  Minutes per point:  18.  Team clean sheets: 7    Team defence ranking:  1  Rotation risk: medium.   fixture ease ranking: 3rd     Bonus points to date 6

Its only a hold due to Dawsons personal potential gametime issue.  the defence as a whole is definitely a buy.  The best defence in the league marches on with another clean sheet against Everton and completely nullified one of the hottest strikers in Lukaku.  From a defensive perspective 3 of the next 6 fixtures are tricky but 3 are good clean sheet prospects.  Dawson has risk if Rose ever gets back as I think AVB will want the attacking prospects of Rose which means that either Chriches or Dawson will be benched.  I still think it will be Chiriches given Dawsons experience and part in the defensive revival this year but that’s far from certain.  Walker is the safer option although he’s £6.1m

Newcastle (H)   Man City (A)   Man Utd (H)   Fulham (A)   Sunderland (A)   Liverpool (H)

• Minutes per point:  17.8 mins .  Team clean sheets:  6    Team defence ranking:  2  Rotation risk: low   fixture ease ranking: 15   Bonus points to date 4

The Southampton defence continues its remarkable run and only a freak goal from Begovic prevented another clean sheet.  Fonte £5.4m) and Lovren (£5.8) have more attacking and bonus potential with Clyne being the budget option but that comes at a price .

Hull City (H)   Arsenal (A)   Chelsea (A)   Aston Villa (H)   Man City (H)   Newcastle (A)

• Minutes per point: 22.5  Team clean sheets:  5    Team defence ranking: 7     Rotation risk: medium   fixture ease ranking: 5    Bonus points to date 5

Everton are a perfect example of the choices fantasy premier league managers have for defenders depending on their budget and appetite for attacking potential.  Distin is the budget option with secure game time but less attacking and bonus point potential.  Jagielka is the £5.5m option who has attacking potential (which we’ve yet to see) but attracts the bonus points far more regularly.  Baines is the  Rolls Royce option at £7.7m but has free kick and penalty kicks in his armoury  but also has excellent attacking potential for assists.  Personally,  I’d go with the budget option and spend my money in other ways than attacking premiums for defenders.  It maybe that you have a very cheap midfield and have money to burn in which case that’s fine but that would be the only circumstances I would pay for potential as it is unpredictable.

Crystal Palace (A)  Liverpool (H)  Stoke City (H)  Man Utd (A)  Arsenal (A)  Fulham (H)

• Goals and assists:  3 goals 2 assists.  Time per point scored:   16.8  mins .  Rotation risk: medium.   fixture ease ranking: 8th.  Consistency 3/10   33%  Last 5 return consistency:  2/5

If I was using my wildcard I would probably flip Hazard out after the home gameto WBA maybe even to Walcott if he was fit.  Needs looking at the “missed training” incident which could lead to a flip to say oscar just for the 1 game.  Has been one of the players that Mourinho has not rotated so not too many gametime issues.  He was left out of the Schalke game after missing training and the fallout from this needs with Mourinho needs to be monitored.  A  frustratingly inconsistent player who has loads of talent but seems to leave his returns for the easier home games.  Doesn’t have too bad underlying stats but they’re certainly nothing to write home about.    Still as for Oscar I wouldn’t sell before a home game to WBA who have had issues away to the top 4 challenging teams as we saw at Liverpool

West Brom (H)   West Ham (A)   Southampton (H)   Sunderland (A)   Stoke City (A)   Crystal Palace (H)

• Goals and assists:  6 goals 4 assists.  Time per point scored:    11.2 mins .  Rotation risk: medium.   fixture ease ranking: 17th.  Consistency 7/10   70%  Last 5 return consistency:  4/5

Every time I write this I still can’t believe it.  He’s scored twice as many goals as he’s ever done in a fantasy premier league season in 10 games.  Thats not even mentioning the 4 assists.  Seems to have played further forward centrally as well in the last couple of games which can’t do any harm.  Not great underlying stats but you just have to follow the form especially as holding him hardly burns a hole in your pocket at £7.1m.  can’t see him losing his place when Flamini and Walcott return on current form

Next 6 fixtures:  Man Utd (A)   Southampton (H)   Cardiff City (A)   Hull City (H)   Everton (H)   Man City (A)

• Goals and assists:  2 goals 2 assists.  Time per point scored:  16.1  mins .  Rotation risk: low   fixture ease ranking: 15th.  Consistency 4/10   40%          last 5 return consistency rate:  3/5

Was a bit of a filler at the end and suited with the home game to Hull.  I would be surprised if he stayed in long term.  I always want to believe that Lallana will produce consistent results given his advanced position and ability to score and create chances for team mates.  Although I guess 40% for the price isn’t too bad but again no return in the last 2 including the juicy home game to Fulham and no underlying stats to think its suddenly going to come right.  Playing Hull at home wont be a walkover as Man City and Spurs found but they’re not the fixture to sell at either

Hull City (H)   Arsenal (A)   Chelsea (A)   Aston Villa (H)   Man City (H)   Newcastle (A)

• Goals and assists: 5 goals and 5 assists:     Time per point scored:  12.00  mins .  Rotation risk: low.   fixture ease ranking: 11th.  Consistency 7/9   78%  Last 5 return rate:  4/5

My gut feel would always be to go with RVP but there was no way the squad was fitting together with him in it.  Better value than RVP and just keeps returning despite playing behind RVP and not having the greatest underlying stats. 3 goals and 3 assists in 9 games and returned from 7/9 which is pretty good stuff. Uniteds fixtures are ok with an 11 fixture ease ranking.

Arsenal (H)   Cardiff City (A)   Tottenham (A)   Everton (H)   Newcastle (H)   Aston Villa (A)

• Goals and assists:  8 goals 7 assists.  Time per point scored: 8.2  mins .  Rotation risk: medium.   fixture ease ranking: 16th.  Consistency     7/9  78%   Last 5 return  rate:  5/5

Ive chosen him as my city coverage and not to double up with Silva.  Home to Norwich was the best time to transfer in Aguero  although away to Sunderland is still a pretty good fixture. 8 goals and 7 assists in 9 games plus arguably the best underlying stats with Luis Suarez make him a fairly essential purchase at the moment even as City’s fixtures get trikier. Rotation is an inherent risk and will cause fantasy premier league managers alot of anxiety waiting for team sheets. However, like Silva  he is looking a fairly essential player for Pellegrini who will at least allow him to give the domestic cups a wide berth to concentrate on the Premier League and the Champions League.  scored twice in the champions league as well.   A definite BUY

Sunderland (A)  Tottenham (H)  Swansea (H)  West Brom (A)  Southampton (A)  Arsenal (H)

Its a scary thought not having Suarez in your team for the GW11  home game against Fulham.    Southampton looked like they could have scored any amount against them a couple of weeks ago and made Rickie Lambert looked like he will terrorise defences at the World Cup.   Its 6 goals and 2 assists in 5 games and returns in 4/5.    Now is the time to buy Suarez if you’re ever going to do it.  BUY

Fulham (H)   Everton (A)   Hull City (A)   Norwich (H)   West Ham (H)   Tottenham (A)