Fantasy Football FF247 Team Gameweek 16
[alert style=”1″]Breaking News: Due to a muscle injury to Thibaut Courtois we have transferred in the safe hands of Joe Hart for a 4 point hit on Friday after the article was announced.Further details were promised and here they are…
We were faced with the prospect of no keeper and playing with 10 men. Hardly a disaster and we could have left it be but we are nothing if not thorough so we delved into the detail and decided an extra hit was justified even if it was for minimal gain. The theory was that our keeper situation meant that we would score zero points as it was. If we took a hit we would lose 4 but also gain 2 from the replacement playing a standard 90 minute, uneventful game. The plus side was that if we picked the right one (clean sheet, saves etc) we could gain on the deal. A standard 90 minutes plus clean sheet would see us up by 2 points. Not a lot we know but as we said we are forensic about our fantasy football and hence we decided Hart was the best bet to deliver us this. Add in that we don’t really know the extent of the Courtois injury just yet and how long he will actually be out for, we are happy to have Hart for the upcoming fixtures as they are very kind to City.[/alert]
A few days ago we opened our team article with this statement. “It’s a happy and chipper FF247 camp that brings you this week’s Team review and plans for the future as we had a great GW14.” Yeah ok, that seems like a distant memory now. Like many of you, our team was struck with a litany of bad luck via injuries or dumbassedness from our now suspended players. However not all is doom and gloom, as our two newest squad members (bought in GW13) once again got us some valuable points. Downing and Sanchez have certainly been welcome additions to our team, if for no other reason than the fact that they are healthy and not suspended. The rest of our midfield was disappointing, with Siggy scoring his usual 2 pointer when he plays away from the Liberty Stadium and Cesc picking up his fifth yellow. However any strong frowns have to be reserved for our line of forwards. What a number they did on us and the FPL community in general. Charlie Austin while delivering 6 points only managed to snatch that from what seemed a certain 12. The red card he saw was only compounded by the disappointing display put in by the Brazilian-looking Spanish forward Costa. The nightmare though was not over as our triad up top wanted to close the show with an epic bang. Enter our captain and the EPL’s best player. Exit 6 minutes later our captain and the EPL’s best player. Enough said…well at least until the transfers portion of this article.
Everton, Leighton Baines…what went wrong? Yeah, we used that phrase last week, but why the heck change it when it works so well? That is 4 points from our star defender in the last 4 game-weeks. You over-cooking my grits Leighton, you over-cooking my grits. Courtois had a day off, but he can be forgiven as we are still confident that Thibaut will repay us with many a clean sheet over the coming weeks. Our Swan defender Bartley brought in one point, probably because he didn’t want to show up half our team by scoring two, what a great teammate! We saved our game-week hero for last. Usually bench fodder Alan Hutton came in and saved the day, to the point where it was his points that pushed us over that magical border into the top 1K.
We climbed 419 places and now sit in a global position of 976 – Our careful planning last week has left us in a better position than most teams with two free transfers. Hopefully we will make the correct decisions this GW and continue to see green arrows like we have 9 out of the last 11 weeks.
Transfer(s) for GW16
It is with great sadness that I present our departees this game-week. Two loyal hard working individuals will leave our squad, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero, get the tissues out boys. The case of Cesc was a difficult one because he has been with us from the start. His consistent returns led to some debate about whether benching him was the wiser move. However we felt that since we had saved a transfer last week and Chelsea was playing Hull City, that this was a chance we could not pass up. So yeah, we decided to go a bit sideways on this transfer, but we think the flashy Belgian Hazard, will prove over time and hopefully this week in particular that he is well worth it. A bit more on why Hazard was the transfer choice will be made more obvious in our captaincy section. So Chelsea mid for Chelsea mid, so what did we do with the other transfer? We continued the theme obviously, as we decided to go City forward for City forward.
Ohhh the controversy, all owners are likely to sell Aguero this week, but it is a bit of a risk to then turn around and buy Edin Dzeko. We have our reasons though so hear us out. Let’s start with the fixtures part of the argument, they play Leicester, Palace, West Brom, Burnley and Sunderland in the next five. That right there should almost be enough to end the argument really considering they are all bottom 10 teams and their goals allowed and lack of clean sheets on average is atrocious. Another part of our reasoning is that the Bosnian plays on the second most prolific team only 2 goals behind Chelsea. The fact that we have no other City cover on the team and his price tag also made him appealing. We do however know that he comes with a bit of risk and a ton of lazy. He is just returning to 100% fitness, but how fit do you really need to be to stand in front of goal and push them in? Considering the lack of forwards at City right now and that the only real competition is a guy (Jovetic) who could keep Ben Dinnery busy all day just updating his injury status alone, we feel that Dzeko’s risk vs reward is worth it.
So to confirm our transfers we have –
Sold Cesc Fabregas and bought Eden Hazard
Sold Sergio Aguero and bought Edin Dzeko
We should probably mention that Charlie Austin will retain a spot in our team during his one game suspension. Part of it is his cheap price tag, but a bigger part is his home form and the opponents in 2 of his next 3 home games. Charlie is averaging 8.2 points over his last 5 home games, managing 5 goals and 3 assists. We feel that this is enough to earn him reprieve from getting the axe for now. But after his red card trickery this past gameweek the leash is a very short one and we will be expecting immediate returns for our compassion in keeping him.
Our team in full…
We have decided to go with a 3-5-2 formation.
In goal Thibaut Courtois will start as Tim Krul is out, not that we would ever start him over the baby face shot stopper.
Leighton Baines will be expected to finally break out of the funk he has been in as the Austin-less QPR side come in for a visit. We have decided to give Hutton a start as we feel he offers a slightly better chance than any of the Swansea defenders for a clean sheet. The last spot in our back line has been reserved for Toby Alderweireld as there are reports he could make it back on time for his tasty fixture vs Burnley. Plus one of our site team board members has been swearing all season long that Toby is on the verge of scoring a goal, so with that analysis how could we not play him?
All five midfielders get an outing with Austin being suspended. To be fair, four of them would play over Charlie even if he wasn’t. Good fixtures are the theme in our midfield. The biggest stumbling block we had was deciding whether Boyd or Taylor would start. In the end we decided to go with one of our GW14 stars in Boyd. We felt that Spurs despite their general lack of “Cojones” always find a way to get a couple past Swansea. In the 4 games in the EPL they have played, shockingly enough Spurs have won all 4.
Diego Costa and Edin Dzeko will lead our line and will also cause us to refresh our twitter feed every 2 seconds when team sheets are on the verge of being out. They better start!!
Captain
Our captain this week is Eden Hazard
Fixture and home form made Hazard stand out as the best candidate in our eyes. He has scored in his last 4 at Stamford Bridge and all 5 of his goals this season have come at home. His minutes seem secure and the cream on top is that he takes the pens for Chelsea. Our Vice Captain this week is Alexis Sanchez.
The team in text format is –
Hart
Alderweireld, Hutton Baines
Boyd, Sanchez (vc), Hazard (C), Sigurdsson, Downing
Costa, Dzeko
Bench: Krul. Taylor, Bartley, Austin
Just logged on to see Schemichel is injured. Fuck it.
Play no keeper or transfer out Fabianski for Hart for another minus 4 (total minus 8)?
Figure Schemichel was only a 2 pointer at best. Assuming Hart gets min 2 points, its more a 2 point hit (worst case). Sound logic?
Sound logic indeed Dreamers. I used the same logic last season on that week where we had a ton of cancellations and I got pelters for doing a -20. Until I explained it.
Cheers Init,
I’ve now slipped big time in the rankings. Will be about 100 points behind in my mini- league.
What the hell happened Schemichel anyway?
I haven’t actually heard anything about that one, its news to me. But as you say he was for 2 points and that’s if he was lucky.
broken metatarsal is what I read – out for 4-6 weeks
Evening all!
Not been here for a few weeks and the red arrows are a reflection of that! Any advice re the team would be appreciated! Options I’m thinking are, bearing in mind ft has gone!
Get a keeper (Courtois or Guzan/Panti)
Yedinak to Ya ya (4 yellows puts me off a little)
Fab to Haz
Mixture of the above for -8
Any other ideas welcomed!
My damn brother in law has gone 11 points ahead of me now! This cannot happen!
I would be doing Fabregas to Hazard
Cheers Smithy
Smithy, thats my favoured option at this point mate
B-Bash , I’d prob sort the keeper. My logic is by the post above.
Hello Dreamers. I am in a similar dilemma. Biggest problem is that no team can guarantee a clean sheet! I would go for Courtois over Hart for this gw, but who wants 6m sat in their keeper?
B- Bash , made a crazy decision to invest in my defence a few weeks back as didnt feel there was huge value for money in other positions to the same extent. Its been a bit of a disaster, That said a few CS’s (City could conceivably get 4 out of the next 5) really does help the gw’s score.
Dreamers, I’ve made some very poor decisions over the last few weeks so I feel your pain. Bottom line is that City have kept 6 clean sheets out of 15 and Chelsea have kept 5 so you may be right, but neither stats are great xonsidering their league status! I do think that City may be finding their feet defensively though. Its one to keep an eye on!
Evening B-Bash, good to see you back, where have you been hiding?!
Hello Initt
Ive been away on a course which frazzled my already tired brain! :what:
Done now!
Good man. Don’t worry, that’s just age 😉
Anyway, nevermind the small talk, I need you to cast your eye on my team mate!
And you are going to have to enlighten me on the gk transfer for -4 if the new gk only scores 2?
Please remember though ive had beer after squash, so you may have to draw a picture!
Fabs to Hazard and maybe cap Hazard. Costa can explode but dude has just been annoyingly quiet the past 2 or 3 games. On that note, I do really like Fabs once he returns (Haz seems to be a homegame player, Fabs more consistent, at the end of the season it probably doesn’t matter all that much). Sighs. A hard one.
Raz, Hazard seems to go mad at home! 9 11 10 11 are last 4. Away is 2 3 2 2
I mean what the feck is that all about!
I expect him to do well this gw!
Yeah, he is my captain. If you have him, cap him. Anyway, off for bed. Been a long day and it’s late. Oyasumi Nasai.
Who should I play out Barkley, Chadli and Taylor? And does anyone think Luis could get more playing time with Chelsea in the next few weeks?
Which Taylor? How many do you need to play? Definitely play Barkley.
Sorry, Neil (Swansea)…just one. Like is there more chance of Taylor keeping a clean sheet against Spurs than Chadli or Barkley doing anything?
Never trust anyone to get cleansheets to be honest. Spurs one week are great and the other weak total wack. Can’t say. Barkley playing QPR though, has potential.
I dont believe Chadli has been getting big gametime.
Could be some goals in the Swansea game (by both teams) so I would go Barkley myself.
Okay, thanks guys. Barkleys record this year hasn’t been great though, not sure why I even got him in
Hmmm. Hoping tomorrow people will go crazy with transfers. Else my 0.2m price rise expectations were aimed way too high. Hihi.
Id say transfers will be high Raz
I need them to be. I’m on wildcard and all these players risen 0.1m, need them to rise another. Want Clichy, Sakho, Downing, Bony, Hazard, Sanchez, Toure to go up. :dance:
Clichy won’t be in my wildcard team. I might let go of Downing, Bony, Sanchez, depending. Wenger earlier this week said that Sanchez will be rested more for the next couple of games, his fitness level is in the red. Ramsey might be an interesting point. Would also mean I can buff my defense with elite City/Chelsea coverage (Ramsey is 8.7m and I can sell Sanchez for 11.1m I think). We’ll see.
Just 2 Game-weeks left to Qualify for the Banterbury Champions League so bg games this GW Banterbury Leagues in Association with FF247 : Game-week 16 Fixtures/Tables http://t.co/3Bn0oIhICu
Yo bench. How you doing?
hello Razzer , how did the nose/ ear op go ?
Look at his new picture. Not great I’d say
Haha ears need pinning back IMO
Oi, I wish. Have to get back for more tests first in January. >.<
Been dizzy for a month and half now, which is a f-ing joke. Can't drive, sometimes I'm even a danger on the bike. LMAO. I don't see the depth the way I should. Sighs. Anyway. Those tests will be for that.
The nose thing is secondary. I lived with that shit for almost 2 years, though it is getting more extreme. Really don't want to do it, I've heard horror stories from the same nose op from various people before I even knew I would get it. HAHAHA! HELLISH PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And at the end of it all I won't even get a baby.
Fella hate to break it to you, but you don’t make babies from your nose lol, the saying is wot doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and I really miss you from league’s your have have a go to get in next year, miss your banter, all the best mate
Hmmm bench. You know the reason I’m out has got nothing to do with you or the league? It’s me and H2H. I can’t sit still and have to watch multiple FPL screens while watching the game, looking what my opponent does. And I’m hella annoyed when I have a super score and I still lose a direct match. :p
Hmmm. This is a hard one. I’ll have to think about it. Maybe there is a midway. We’ll see. Same to you, wish you all the best. We’re both still here though. 😉
Yes mate I know where your coming from! See I enjoy a match up every week and sometimes transfer / capacity made come down to who I playing, even a hit, if I think my side is stronger, I never really look at my overall score, tho after kicking my mates ass at h2h, I set up the banterbury league’s as you know 2012 to pit my wits against fellow fpl addicts,, next season will be are 4th
The Banterbury Champions League, that Start’s in the New Year http://t.co/XZEkW2BTl3
The Banterbury Champions League Anthem – TV Theme Intro 201…: http://t.co/LWVBwiR0Ic
hey bench – never had a chance to see that site before! It’s amazing!!
How do you find the time?!?! And all the links to everyones teams?! INCREDIBLE.
Here I am complaining about homework taking up my freetime…
Wildcard headache starting to be tuned on. >.<
Kind of funny I will probably have Hazard, Yaya and Sanchez in my team. WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >.<
Hi Raz, how’s it shaping up? Have you posted it this evening? I’ve not been around until just.
Naaah, haven’t been posting my team since Monday or so, I think.
It will probably end up looking something like this. If I just downgrade 1 of Sanchez/Yaya I could buff up defense. Though, just Kompany might be enough. Pants could do really well and maybe just as well as 1.6m higher valued Courtois. Uncertain if it’s worth to sacrifice one of the better midfield players for that, just yet.
Aaah yes, if I get Pants O’shea won’t be in the team.
Teks been telling me all sorts of weird stories about Clichy, Zabs and even Hart maybe not starting. If Kompany is fit I’ll probably get him. Last year he bagged 4 goals with his f-ing head. This season, nothing. >.< Same with Terry by the way.
Looking sexy Raz. The team. Amazing what no very expensive Aguero can do isn’t it?! Kompany and Hart will be starters. Zab and Clichy will get the odd rest. Clichy more so.
Aha, if I can get just 1 from Chelsea/City I will go with City at the moment (though both have great fixtures). And if I get one I want a defender which can score goals, so Kompany would be the best choice.
I can easily downgrade Yaya/Hazard/Sanchez and get an Chelsea defender next week. Wonder if I should do so now. Sanchez has been rested but his fitness levels are in the red (Le Professeur says). And Ramsey seems to be on fire.
I’m looking to replace Hazard by the way. Why? I like Fabs just as much and he’s way cheaper. 😉
Hazard is interesting this weekend since his last 10 goals all came from home games. Dude hasn’t even scored once in an away match this season. He overachieves at home and underachieves in away matches. Don’t like that inconsistency for such an expensive player. So if I can, I will do Haz to Fabs, maybe Yaya to Silva (once he’s fit agan), maybe keep Sanchez since Ramsey won’t play as advanced as when he’s in the team? Don’t know. Certain players do better when others are not in the team. Yaya is FPL gold when Kun is out, Ramsey seems to shine when Sanchez doesn’t play.
Team looking very strong Raz. Im with Initt that Kompany will start this weekend.
Have you considered 2 keepers from same club? Its burnt me twice this season already and its a pi**er! Just a thought?
And that Raz, sums up the conversation I’ve been having with myself since Monday. And I’m no nearer to an answer!
Prices dictate that I can t have –
Haz, Yaya AND Bony/Dzeko.
Can have those plus Carroll
or I can go Haz, SILVA and Bony/Dzeko
May do the Silva one if there’s some indication he will start. Which would you rather have?
I’ll recap for clarity –
A. Haz, Yaya, Carroll (or Sakho)
B. Haz, Silva, Bony / Dzeko
Hey B-Bash.
First 4 games I had DDG (Gilks second goalie), from GW5 or 6 to GW14 I had Forster, last week I had Fabianski (worked out great :p). So I’ve always just had 1 goalie. If I’m fearing the risk of Pants not playing I could go with Hamer since I just read that Schmeichel will be out till mid January. This time around I just have to plan for 4 gw’s, which is kind of nice. 😉
A. if you go with Sakho. Silva is just too much of a risk at the moment. Want him badly. Yaya is on penalty’s, Hazard is on penalty’s and Sakho is on penalty’s (Noble out this GW). Also, Yaya excels FPL wise when Kun doesn’t play. That’s what the stats say anyway.
Raz, youve chosen gk’s well and I’ve always been have 1 gk and cheap fodder on the bench! I have seen people profit though from the Krul injury. I went from Krul to Fabianski! Oh how I laughed!
Oh, Initt, option A for me!!!!
Haha, yeah. THe last week was a curse for the big players. Three red cards, loads of suspensions and injuries. Past Saturday I had a super team which would easily have lead me to the new year (no wildcard needed), I even had 7 players going up. Later that night only 2 players were still going up and the rest was depressing. Haha. I had a total of 8 doubtful players (Fabianski, Chambers, Austin, Fabregas, Kun and my bench says Gilks, Moore and ALbrighton). Would’ve had to take a 12 point or 16 point hit, which would be crazy. Just to field 11.