Fantasy Football FF247 Team Gameweek 14
Following our first 4 point hit of the season we finished GW13 with 45 points and while it was six points above the average it was yet another average week, although happily it provided us with the all important green arrows. Our score was largely underpinned by our captain Sergio Aguero and recent signing Charlie Austin. Aguero provided us with 14 points and in fairness this could have been more had Mike Jones gone to Specsavers on his way to St. Mary’s. However we can’t be too disappointed with his return, particularly with other popular captain choices such as Diego Costa, Angel Di Maria and Alexis Sanchez failing to deliver any returns. It was the aforementioned Austin who was our star man at the weekend as he returned a goal, an assist and two bonus points giving us a 10 point return. At the back our latest signing Thibaut Courtois picked up seven and we expect a steady stream of solid returns from him over the coming weeks. Unfortunately our three defenders managed a combined total of four miserable points. Gylfi Sigurdsson was our star man in midfield as he picked up his 8th assist of the season to contribute seven points to our total. An early injury to Angel Di Maria meant he picked up a solitary point and this could turn out to be his last contribution to our team for some time! Our remaining midfielders, Cesc Fabregas & Dusan Tadic as well as Diego Costa failed to make a meaningful contribution to our total. As a result we picked up 387 places to put us back inside the top 2k and we now sit in 1,982 place.
Transfer(s) for GW14
To a certain extent our hand has been forced in the transfer market this week as a result of Angel Di Maria picking up a hamstring injury early in the game against Hull. We say our hand was forced but we actually had plans to remove the Argentinean in the coming weeks, although it would have been nice to have him amongst our ranks as United are sure to knock a few past Stoke this week. Unfortunately we did not have enough money in reserve to do a direct swap between Di Maria and any of our preferred targets, so for the 2nd week in a row we have taken a 4 point hit.
As we mentioned last week we had plans to sell Dusan Tadic so it should come as no surprise to learn that we have released the Serb in order to free up funds. The decision to let him go was quite an easy one as he has failed to pick up a goal or an assist since GW8, although he will be fondly remembered for his 23 point haul in GW8.
So that’s who we have sold, but who have we replaced them with? As we have already mentioned, it was always our intention to sell Di Maria in the coming weeks and the plan was to replace him with Alexis Sanchez and we have decided to stick with that plan. The Chilean international has failed to register a goal or an assist in either of his last two games but following Wednesday night’s visit of Southampton they have a number of tempting fixtures between now and January. We briefly toyed with the idea of bringing in Yaya Toure, who has shown signs of recapturing the form that made him a ‘must have’ last season, but we decided to stick with Sanchez who has had a number of explosive game-weeks this season making him a potential captain in future game-weeks.
Our second signing is not quite as sexy, it’s West Ham’s Stewart Downing. It was a close run thing between Downing and Crystal Palace’s Mile Jedinak, although someone who shall remain nameless wanted to sign Yannick Bolasie! Jedinak has been in decent form of late but relies on set pieces for the majority of his returns while Downing has a greater effect on a game from open play and it was generally felt that the West Ham man has more to offer over the coming game-weeks.
So to confirm our transfers we have –
Sold Angel Di Maria and bought Alexis Sanchez
Sold Dusan Tadic and bought Stewart Downing
Before we move on we should probably mention Diego Costa whom we have clearly decided to hold onto despite the fact that he is suspended for the Spurs game on Wednesday night. There has been much talk of late regarding his failure to pick up bonus points and the fact that since GW4 he has failed to score more than once in any given game-week. However as long as the goals keep coming we’re happy to hold onto him and Chelsea have some great fixtures over the coming weeks.
Our team in full…
Captain
Our captain this week is Sergio Aguero
This was quite an easy decision, in fact there was no one else even discussed! We’re well aware that Sunderland will park the bus as they did to great effect against Chelsea on Saturday and that their games with City have been quite tight affairs in recent seasons but Aguero is in such great form and City as a team are showing signs that they might be about to move up the gears. Our Vice Captain this week is Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The team pretty much picks itself this week, in a 3-5-2 formation.
In goal Thibaut Courtois will start as Tim Krul is likely to miss out once again, although Courtois would undoubtedly have started had Krul been fit anyway.
In defence we again double up with Kyle Bartley and Neil Taylor and hope for better luck! Leighton Baines we hope goes radio rental at home to Hull.
All five midfielders get an outing with Costa being suspended. So time for George Boyd to step up to the plate at home to Newcastle, while new signings Stewart Downing and Alexis Sanchez get an immediate chance to impress us. We expect great things from our “assist kings” Siggy and Cesc Fabregas.
Charlie Austin and Sergio Aguero lead the line and are in great form.
The team in text format is –
Courtois
Bartley, Taylor, Baines
Boyd, Sanchez, Fabregas, Sigurdsson (vc), Downing
Austin, Aguero (c)
Bench: Krul. Hutton, Alderweireld, Costa
Am I good to go? How is my captain choice?
Looks great fish! Same captain and VC as I have at the moment. Although I am seriously considering putting the armband on a defender for the first time! Think Baines will score at least 6 pts.
Wisdom may have a decent fixture. Worth a shout over Boyd/any other players or not?
Any suggestions for Captain? Should i keep Rooney itself? Don’t have a good keeper option. Forster and McGregor playing Arsenal and Everton respectively, who would you suggest?
‘To sum up the injury news ahead of Hull City’s visit on Wednesday: “Steven Naismith has an “outside chance”
He definitely has to go especially if I’m keeping Costa.
Afternoon gentleman, reasonably happy with my squad but advice on some little tweaks would be much appreciated.
Courtois – Myhill
Baird – Chambers – Banes – Manquillo – Yun
Hazard – Montero – McCarthy – Sissoko – Siggy
Costa – Aguero – Rooney
Already ditched ADM for Haz now do i go –
Sissoko to Downing for -4 hit or
Sissoko & Manquillo to Brunt and Clichy for -8 hit? Either way Sissoko is going i think.
I like it Lisbon but your midfield is a little weak. I wouldn’t advise an 8pt hit though. I’d lose Sissoko for Downing perhaps, as a longterm move, and then focus on Manquillo next week. He has a decent fixture this time out at least.
Yeah i’m leaning towards the Downing move as Sissoko has Chelsea & Arsenal next and i already scalped 10 points from him last week. Downing it is, cheers.
Morning all. After previous plans were scuppered, have been having a ponder. What do you think of Yaya and Clichy in for ADM and Wilson, and then either Austin/Berahino in for Pelle? Current team is below. Not bothered about 4pt hit- have only made 11 transfers all season.
is three City too much? Aguero, Yaya, Clichy
Pippin,
I don’t think so. I think that is quite acceptable given they are chasing down Chelsea – all three should be playing each week.
Thanks Gallant- I’ll roll the dice then! I think the Yaya/Clichy are almost differentials at the moment too…
Rooney news anyone ?.
Not yet, wait for PC