If we only had LVG at the helm of our fantasy team, where would we be? It was just one of those weeks, it was just one of those weeks. In hindsight we made one mistake with our 3 transfers, but to be perfectly honest no one could have predicted that Dzeko was going to be asked to move his calf, it was understood that he didn’t need warm-ups to stand still in front of goal. Despite the mistake by Pelligrini, not us, sometimes FPL is about preventing big damage. A game-week can quickly turn into what the experts call ‘damage limitation’ and we call it a “Well…it could have been worse” week. So we did not get where we wanted in the overall, but because of our astute purchase of Eden Hazard and our then election of him as captain our week was saved.
The purchase of Hazard brought us in an Agueroesque 28 points after his score was doubled. Downing and Sanchez once again continued their scintillating form by scoring us a cool 9 points each. In the three weeks that we have had them they have delivered 22 (Downing) and 23 (Sanchez) points. Obviously the talent scout in charge of our midfield positions knows what he is doing. Now if he could have just got our supposedly great value Siggy going. Is this not becoming a bit old? He is great value has been the argument for a while, yet his 3.69 points per game over the last 13 are starting to cause division within the camp. Boyd scored his customary two points and to be honest that is his role, so you can say he delivered, sort of. So with the purchase of Dzeko and the suspension of Austin you can imagine how our forward line looked. Only Diego Costa was left to man the FF247 front line and he delivered two fold. A goal and a yellow, which has now occurred 5 times this year oddly enough. No wonder he never gets any bonus.
Our defence was led by our new man in goal Joe Hart. After careful calculation over a couple of beers we decided to do the unimaginable. We took a hit for a keeper and we were able to save face when our purchase was able to deliver a clean sheet. Because we had no playing keeper unless we made this purchase we actually gained a whole point out of this, as his 5 points paid for the hit. It’s a good thing we had such a long debate over it. Moving on, Alan Hutton really, really let us down! I know what you are thinking REALLY?! Ok, ok maybe we weren’t expecting that much, but after watching him score well over the last few weeks you sort of start to get use to it. Alderweireld delivered 2 points and this was a bit disappointing and not the fake type of disappointing either. We all knew that Southampton had it tough for a while, but a cheeky clean sheet vs Burnley would have been well received. We saved the best for last, Baines the one and only. Luckily he scored five points, unluckily that is his total over the last 5 game-weeks. There comes a time when one must stop complaining about Leighton and think what would LVG do? Guessing he probably put in a cheap untalented defender and buy another attacking midfielder type with the extra cash.
We scored 64 (-4) points for the week. We dropped 358 places and now sit in a global position of 1334. So once again we will be shooting to climb back into the top 1K and this week we won’t be so heavily reliant on the useless Dzeko.
Transfer(s) for GW17
We have done something that may surprise many of you. We have taken another four point hit and made two transfers. Dzeko obviously had to go and we looked at a number of options, including Giroud and Kane. but our conversation kept coming back to Wilfried Bony. Bang in form, consistently producing the goods and away to a struggling Hull side. However we already have three Swans so we either ignored Bony or replaced one of our Swansea players. As mentioned above Siggy hasn’t really been producing the goods and with Bony going to ACON soon our belief is that Swansea may struggle as a whole without him, so our decision to release Siggy is easier to take. We have replaced the Icelandic midfielder with Christian Eriksen of Spurs. The Dane is bang in form, has a couple of lovely fixtures coming up including Burnley at home this week and we’re expecting great things from him and also Bony.
So to confirm our transfers we have –
Sold Gylfi Sigurdsson and Edin Dzeko and bought Christian Eriksen and Wilfried Bony
Our team in full…
We have decided to go with a 3-4-3 formation and it pretty much picks itself given the fixtures and the injuries and suspensions.
Captain
Our captain this week is Charlie Austin
Austin was a unanimous choice this week for the committee. Nicely rested after being suspended last week, QPR at home are a strong side and will launch an all out attack. With Austin being responsible for almost 50% of Rangers’ goals, it seemed the logical choice.
Our Vice Captain this week is Alexis Sanchez
The team in text format is –
Hart
Alderweireld, Taylor, Baines
Sanchez (vc), Hazard, Eriksen, Downing
Austin (c), Costa, Bony
Bench: Krul. Boyd, Bartley, Hutton
Thanks for reading Fantasy Football FF247 Team Gameweek 17.
GW17 Podcast
Does ESPN have a tendency to be spot on with predictions? If so, I’l have a nightmare gameweek. >.<
http://www.espnfc.com/barclays-premier-league/story/2133647/premier-league-team-news
anyone know how Pelli is gonna play it with no fit striker?
Who do you think will get the false 9 position, Silva, Milner or Nasri?
probably silva
WTF, didn’t I just post something. FFS. ANyway. Is ESPN usually spot on with predictions? They have these predictions. If they are spot on I’m doomed!
http://www.espnfc.com/barclays-premier-league/story/2133647/premier-league-team-news
test
WTF. Ok, third attempt. Are ESPN spot on with their predictions? If yes, I’m doomed:
http://www.espnfc.com/barclays-premier-league/story/2133647/premier-league-team-news
Raz – they predicted that Liverpool will win 3-2 this weekend – I’ll say no more.
WTF. Ok, third attempt. Are ESPN spot on with their predictions? If yes, I’m doomed:
Seems I can’t post the website or smt. >.<
what prediction Raz?
Haha, sorry Raz, saw your post and so I checked. Software pinged all those as spam. Restored now. They know you so well 😉
Any changes I should make to my WC team?
Hi Veer, shaping up nicely mate. I looked at Walters myself but Stoke have a bit of a shocking Christmas schedule. That would be my only change / reservation. I’ve said it to a few people and I’d do it myself if I didn’t have other priorities – take a punt on Lampard. As its a WC you should easily be able to ride the odd game he misses.
innit, getting Lampard would give me big selection dilemmas! Also I have 0.0 in the bank so how should I fund it? (extra 0.2 required)
I know I realised both as I posted it but you’ll need as strong a squad as possible for the next few weeks anyway as someone will miss out at some point.
Bearing in mind the Jan WC isn’t that far away and also Utd’s fixtures are you likely to use Pant at all? If not then there’s your funds.
I’d change Clark to Hutton (more nailed on) and be aware that Yun will be out soon (gw 20/21) to the Asian cup. You could also downgrade Walters to Boyd/Ameobi and use those funds to upgrade elsewhere maybe in defence.
I’d be worried Azpil and Clichy will both be rested in the same game week. I have both in my team, but if I had a wildcard I would probably try to swap one of those for a central defender who won’t be rotated.
Hey gang, after much deliberation all week think I’m decided to go Dzeko and Mirallas > Kane and Sanchez for a -4, with the armband possibly going to Kane. Good to go with these moves? Or just go Dzeko > almost anybody and bench Mirallas and play Joey Barton!!??
1ft, 1.7 itb
Guzan, Krul
Terry, Baines, Bartley, Clyne, Duff
Haz, Mirallas, Siggy, Downing, Barton
Costa, Bony, Dzeko