Here’s Rob Reid’s (the FPL Vet’s) monthly reflections article on fantasy premier league in February. Rob finished with a rank of 4,701 last season 2015/16 and 7,810 the season before.
ROB REIDS REFLECTIONS ON FEBRUARY IN FANTASY PREMIER LEAGUE 2016-17
Here’s the sixth in my series on monthly articles reflecting on the previous months fantasy football action. Anyone who’s read a few of my previous articles know that I’m quite into reflecting back on what’s gone to try and look at where I can improve my team going forwards and I’ve found these monthly reviews quite useful. There’s a small degree of statistical analysis in it, but it’s more a series of light-hearted observations based on watching games and looking at how players are performing that then guide my ongoing strategy. I also make some fun informal awards to the Player of the Month, One to Watch for next month and a Donkey Award! I hope you find it useful and any comments are of course greatly welcomed.
We’ve reached an important part of the FPL season. If last month was moving month, then this month is about surviving the blank gameweeks and preparing for any incoming doubles. Using transfers wisely is a key strategy at this stage, it’s folly chasing a bandwagon only to see said player have a blank fxiture the following gameweek. Keep a close eye on the fixture list and also on the media – clubs will often post where they are planning on moving fixtures to before the Premier League give official confirmation (City vs Stoke as a possible GW27 fixture for example.) Early transfers are also a risk during these weeks, taking your medicine on Team Value may ultimately prove more sustainable in the long run.
CON TE PARTIRO
9 months after leading The Foxes to glory, the Leicester owners decided it was time to say goodbye to Claudio Ranieri. It’s a decision that has sparked much controversy but what will it mean for Leicester’s FPL prospects? If Monday night versus Liverpool was anything to go by, the backlash could be a welcome return to form, although they do blank in GW28. Liverpool on the other hand continue to stutter and tempt FPL managers with false promises, especially with a confirmed GW28 fixture on the horizon. It may be arrivederci Claudio, but if Liverpool don’t buck up their ideas will it soon be auf wiedersehn Jurgen?
£10m+ FORWARDS SERVE WARNING
Lukaku’s 4 goals in GW24 certainly warned us that he is a must for GW28 squads. The other big names all have blanks to contend with but are they worthy of consideration? Zlatan and Costa continue to be consistent returners and Kane’s explosiveness can make him a potentially lucrative captain pick. And what about Aguero? He’s not had huge returns in the league and until Jesus’ injury he was but a bit player, but he was fantastic against Monaco in the UCL and looks a great captain (even triple captain) pick for City’s double GW27. Ignore him at your peril – ‘Always Captain Aguero’ is an old FPL addage after all. Check out FFG’s detailed stats info here if you want more information on the Big Hitters.
CHRIS BEARS THE BRUNT OF MCAULEY GOAL-GATE
This has been a hot FPL topic of late! Gareth McAuley certainly seemed to be favoured by the EPL dubious goals team, though to be fair when you see the slow-motion replay he does get the final touch and divert the course of the ball. I totally agreed with the decision (confession – I own Gareth McAuley!) This of course meant that Chris Brunt lost the assist to Jonny Evans and to rub salt into the wounds, Brunt was then denied another assist in GW26 after it was deemed that the course of the ball had been significantly altered by 2 defenders. Brunt owners – I feel your pain, I’m sure things will even out eventually. Keep the faith (at least until after GW28 anyway!)
BAG A CHEAP KEEPER
There are some great cheap keeper options available at the moment. The stand-out for GW28 is Hull’s Jakupovic. He’s only £4.1m, has 2 clean sheets in his last 4 games and only faces Everton out of the top half of the table in his next 5 fixtures. Similarly if you’ve got £4.4m Jack Grant, hold onto him for Stoke’s double GW27. He may have a blank in GW28 and face Chelsea in GW29, but after that Liverpool are the only top half team he faces until GW37. These 2 players are a great way to open up funds for the rest of your team.
DOUBLE GAMEWEEKS ON THE HORIZON
GW27 is of course a double for Man City and Stoke, but changing tact a little for this article, I’m going to look forward at the other potential doubles. GW34 and GW37 look the most likely bigger slots with there possibly being another mini-double in GW32 or 33. GW33 therefore could be a nice option for the second wildcard or you could hold off until GW36, but be wary of teams rotating in GW37 who may have nothing to play for. In terms of players featuring, Sanchez and Ibrahimovic both have 2 doubles so could be good early considerations for Triple Captain options (if you don’t go for Aguero in GW27 of course!)
KEEP WATCH ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE
This certainly rings true in relation to the doubles. Teams in the relegation scrap will be fighting for their EPL lives and will offer a decent guarantee of gametime security and possible returns later in the season. Some however may have already dropped off the cliff be GW37 so keep your fingers crossed that there’s plenty to play for at the bottom going into the last few weeks, thus opening up more reliable options gametime-wise.
PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Some worthy honourable mentions this month – my favourite FPL player Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane in particular. The winner this month however is Gyfli Sigurdsson. He’s returned in his last 5 games, 3 of whom have been against Top 6 teams co-inciding with Swansea’s improved form. He’s got a fixture in GW28 and the Swans have some tidy fixtures afterwards as well. He should be high on every FPL managers radar.
ONE TO WATCH
Manolo Gabbiadini is my pick for this month after hitting the ground running following his transfer to Southampton from Napoli. His Serie A stats with Napoli and Sampdoria were only ok at best, but you simply can’t ignore his goal-scoring form since his arrival. He’s one for GW30 onwards, with a blank in GW28 and a tough GW29 fixture away to Spurs, but bear in mind he will have 2 double Gameweeks after that – could be a nice future 3rd striker at £6.7m.
DONKEY AWARD
I usually give this to a an individual, but this month I’m going to buck the trend and give it to a whole team – Liverpool. They have been the ultimate FPL nightmare of late – promising us so much with that brilliant win against Spurs only to let us down with another false dawn. Whether it’s losing at home to Swansea, stuttering away to Hull or frustrating us away to Leicester, I am sure there are many of us who wish they would just grace us with a bit of consistency – good or bad!
ROB REIDS TEAM
Here it is post GW26 and before any GW27 transfers
So that’s it from me for this month, I’ll be back again at the start of April with the next in my series. I’m off now to contemplate my GW27 transfers – best of luck this week everybody and for the challenging gameweeks we have coming up. Comments as ever greatly appreciated and welcomed!
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