Last seasons top 1k telegraph fantasy football overall finisher Stephen Troop reviews October and looks at what November has in store for us and his teams
TELEGRAPH FANTASY FOOTBALL PUNDIT STEPHEN TROOP REVIEWS OCTOBER AND PLANS FOR NOVEMBER
Hi all. This is the third instalment in my monthly series of articles covering Telegraph fantasy football. I will give an overview of my team’s performances to date and reflect on the last few game weeks. I will then look ahead to the next month and outline current plans and players on my watch/transfer list. Please leave feedback in the comments after so I can improve these going forward.
Team Review
As mentioned in my previous article I have 5 season long teams. Their scores/current ranks are as follows alongside with their rank at the end of October
So overall there hasn’t been much progress up the rankings as I’d like but teams are in a reasonable shape/position. It was a very topsy-turvy 3-week period, with last week in particular a poor scoring week and it’s clear that ranks between 1k and 10k are still very close in terms of total points. All teams have used 6 or 7 transfers now. My lowest team will likely now be used towards the back end of the season in an attempt at a manager of the month award in the mini league I’m part of.
October Review – The winners
Sane
Pep’s rotation policy continued to create a lot of twists, turns and agonies for our fantasy teams. At the beginning of the month Sterling looked a more assured starter and had the excellent underlying stats and returns however Sane has stolen the show in October (partially due to Sterling being benched in the last 2). In October, he scored 31 points in 3 games and he has also started the last 5. How long before he is rotated is anybody’s guess but he certainly has form on his side in a squad who score plenty of goals. He is now the 2nd highest scoring midfielder in the game with Sterling in 4th. Both are good options if you don’t mind risking the rotation.
De Bruyne
The game against Stoke was a masterclass and shows how second Key Contributions in the scoring can reward the creative players. 5 KC’s in that game was followed by just 1 in the next two games but for that single haul alone he has to be mentioned. He is now the highest scoring midfielder in the game, although warrants a much higher price tag.
Gross
A key contribution in each of the October games takes it to 5 in of his last games as Gross has slowly but steadily worked his way to a respectable 47 points over the season. Level with Eriksen at half the price. Every goal that Brighton score, he will almost certainly be involved with but his goal threat is minimal and Brighton won’t score many goals especially when the fixtures turn so I can’t help feeling I’ve missed the boat.
Jones
Another 2 out of 3 clean sheets for united in October and Jones just looks incredible value. The one match where they conceded was against Huddersfield when Jones went off injured. When Bailly was injured my swaps mostly went to Otamendi but I plan to bring Jones into my teams. The late Saturday kick-off against Newcastle in 2 GWs looks ideal (if he isn’t injured again by then).
October Review – The losers
Morata
If September was the month of premium strikers, October was anything but. Morata showed us much promise before his injury but has been out of sorts since returning. His underlying attacking stats are good, but has missed some big chances and ultimately has had no goals in October. I have optimism going forward that he can get back in the points.
Ben Davies
When playing is the best value defender in the game in my opinion but he has been left out for 2 of the 3 games in August and amassed just 2 points. Damage was somewhat limited by only have 1 clean sheet but with Rose seemingly back in contention and historically a lot of rotation between the full backs he no longer looks a viable long term pick, despite the good fixtures now coming up.
Lukaku
No goals in his last 3 but 2 KC’s to keep his points total ticking over. Still the second highest point scorer for strikers in the game but has looked short of confidence, and his lack of goals in all competitions has stretched to 5. After Chelsea, his fixtures turn which will hopefully be the catalyst for an upturn. In past seasons, he is known for going missing for the big games but bullying the lower teams so I’ve no intention to transfer him out.
West Ham
3 out of 4 clean sheets in September made us think that West Ham had turned a corner but they were woeful against both Brighton and Palace, although managed to knock Spurs out the cup. They have a lot of good individual players but don’t seem to play as a team and have too many attacking midfielders who don’t track back.
Everton
Everton remain awful and still sit in the relegation zone. They have now sacked Koeman to try and reverse their fortunes. There are rumours about Sam Allardyce and Sean Dyche taking over. This may bring their defensive assets into my thinking but without a goalscorer in their team that Sigurdsson can work with their attacking assets are firmly off my radar.1
November Preview – Ones to watch
Mahrez
1 goal and 3 KC’s in his last 3 games after not getting any attacking returns since the second gameweek. Deployed as a number 10 by Puel at the weekend he could be worth monitoring under the new manager. With City and Spurs in the next 4 we can allow a few weeks to monitor whether this form can continue and whether the £5.1m price will be worth it.
Demarai Gray (£3.2m) also got a rare start on the wing last weekend, a player I have always liked the look of but has never cemented a regular starting role. He could also be worth monitoring if he starts more regularly under the new manager. Puel’s defensive mindedness could bring Maguire and Fuchs into my thinking too should I require a defensive shakeup.
Zaha
2 goals in his last 3 games since coming back from injury and has taken up a lone striker role in Benteke’s absence. Furthermore, following Spurs and the international break, Crystal Palace have a run of favourable fixtures. Underlying stats are good since returning too. 10 shots, 9 in the box. The obvious issues are to how defensive minded Palace will be under Hodgson and how his point potential will be affected once Benteke returns from injury.
Plans for November
With an international break following the next gameweek I will likely sit on my hands until the week after. I have players which have questionability over their starts such as Davies and Sane. Jesus also has been frustrating this month when dropped but when plays brings in the points. I will monitor these and make a decision on whether they are worth it long term. Jones could easily come in for Davies after Spurs play Arsenal in the early Saturday kickoff after the international break. United’s fixtures look good and I feel uncomfortable now not having defensive cover. I will play it by ear with the others.
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