January wildcard fantasy premier league team – draft 3 and major changes

Here’s my 3rd (!) attempt at the January wildcard fantasy premier league team for GW22.  Some major changes as you will see

I’ve talked about the changes against the incoming players below

 

Szczesny

MCI (H)

 

Harte

WBA (H)

Wisdom out.  The positive comments about Enriques recovery and the fact that 3 of the next 4 games are away to Utd, City and Arsenal made noises about an early recovery for Enrique were too much for me to contemplate a short term acquisition so wisdom is out Harte in.  Personally I thought Shorey would walk back in to the team but alot of what I have read today suggests that there is some justification in thinking that Harte will hold his place.  I’ve gone for 2 expensive defenders and 3 of the cheapest I can find, one of which is Harte, to fill in the rest in the hope that at least 1 plays who has a reasonable fixture.  At this price though none is guaranteed but I still have 1 wildcard to do

 

Zabaleta

ARS (A)

 

Luiz

STK (A), SOU (H)

Azpilcueta out, Luiz in.  £6.7m is nose bleed territory for me for a defender but the fact that Terry is in the squad even if he wont play according to Benitez against Stoke gives alot of credence to Terry playing against Southampton. That being the case means you really have to have doubts about whether Azpilicueta and Cahill will play both games.  I think without Mikel who is at ACON and Lamps unlikely to play 2 games that Luiz will play both.  Who knows with Benitez?  cole is the other slightly cheaper option.  he still has Bertrand rotation option as well though. 

   

Mata

STK (A), SOU (H)

 

Walcott

MCI (H)

 

Puncheon

AVL (A), CHE (A)

  

Michu

EVE (A)

 

Fellaini

SWA (H)

Maloney out Fellaini in – Where did I get the cash for him you ask?  You’ll see coming up.  Maloney was just a filler while I was waiting for other things to develop.  Everton have good fixtures starting with Swansea at home who have just played mid week.  Fellaini is refreshed and stepped again in to his role alongside Jelavic, albeit with no underlying stats despite getting an assist.  Only other option considered was Nolan who has a double game week next and good fixtures but I’ve stuck with Fellaini who has the best shooting stats overall for midfelders 

   

Ba

STK (A), SOU (H)

Suarez out – Ba in.  There was alot of mulling going in to this one.  One good thing was that my selling and buy back price on Suarez was only £0.1m apart.  Dont get me wrong I have total faith in Suarez who has the best shooting and chances created stats  for a striker and I may get up tomorrow morning and reverse this!  However if there ever was a time to take a gamble this was it with Suarez next 4 games Man Utd A, Norwich H, Arsenal A and Man City A.    These are tough fixtures against the 2nd 3rd and 7th best home defences and the opportunity to gamble on Ba for the double game week was too hard to resist.  The slight fly in the ointment is obviously Norwich at home where he could inflict havoc given his early season hat trick.

Ba’s fixtures are as follows Arsenal H, Reading A and Newcastle A much more attractive fixtures – assuming he plays!

I may regret this, I may even reverse it tomorrow but it seems like a gamble worth taking given Suarezs fixtures and the fact that I don’t lose much selling and buying him back later 

  

Van Persie

LIV (H)

 

Bunn

NEW (H)

Turnbull out – Bunn in.  Cech travelling and subject to a late fitness test gave me no hope that Turnbull would play both games.  Bunn is the best cheap back up keeper even if he is only temporary until Ruddy returns in February 

 

Wilson

CHE (H)

Cameron out Wilson in.  A Stoke defender in a couple of weeks for £4.0m.  Its a dream come true. Gambled and bought him now in the hope that he will be back on time and take his place as before at LB instead of converted RB Wilko.

 

Pogrebnyak

WBA (H)

Jones out.  Nothing against Jones,  Pogrebnyak is just a cheap reserve who rotates with Puncheon home and away.    Seems to have kept his place and is ridiculously cheap 

 

Demel

SUN (A)