As the game-week kicked off there was an air of nervousness about it. For weeks our captain choices whether they performed or not had always seemed very straightforward. Don’t get me wrong, this was an easy choice for us this week, but nevertheless it did feel weird to feel so sure about captaining a QPR player. So the GW gets going and right out of the gate Yaya and Silva owners are rewarded plus any managers with City defensive cover. Not owning any City cover in the attacking positions could prove to be a major problem that might have to be addressed sooner rather than later, but our fears of a terrible week where quickly extinguished when Mr. Home form himself Charlie Austin delivered better than the milkman at a lonely housewife’s home.
Joe Hart started off the week with a handy clean sheet for us and he has proved to be a solid pick up as he has accrued 11 points in the two weeks we owned him. That also makes 4 clean sheets in 5 for City and with their run of fixtures coming up, we certainly hope he is in line for some more nice returns. Alderweireld finally picked up a clean sheet as the Saints finally were able to come through for those that held onto a Saints defender with their first since week 11. Taylor (Swansea) added to the clean sheet party and will also enjoy a good run of fixtures where he might be able to continue earning his keep on our squad. *Long Pause*….. *Clears throat*….. And this is where we get to our least favourite part of the team review on a weekly basis. BAINES you are killing us! Don’t know what is more shocking, his returns over the last 6 weeks or the fact that he is still on our team.
As we proceed to our midfield we see former Liverpool great Stewart Downing once again returning the goods. He has been as spectacular for us, as Baines has been absolute crap. Averaging 8 points a game for us since he joined the FF247 outfit. He certainly has been one of the signings of the season so far for us, specially when you consider the cheap price he was bought at. The Dirty one, Sanchez wasn’t his usual kinky self. In one of his flattest games of the season he only returned 2 points and for the first time since joining us, failed to register a goal or an assist. Our inspired signing of Eriksen brought in 2 points or -2 points for those of you that realize that we brought him in for a hit. Hey, but who is counting right? Eden Hazard managed to grab an assist and when coupled with a bonus point and a clean sheet point he delivered a smooth seven points, but also manage to walk off limping at the end of the game…wonderful!
Bony also starts with a B. For those of you keeping up, who also starts with a B? Baines! Talk about having trouble replacing Aguero, we went from our star Argie to Dzeko who managed to get injured in that fiasco from last game-week. We thought we had the perfect solution though with the ever consistent Bony and he does not even start. What can we say? I guess this is part of the roller coaster ride that is FPL. Hopefully though, Wilfried can pay back his misstep over the coming weeks and repay our fickle trust in him. Austin you beauty! If Austin scored 3 goals over 5 games we probably find that very acceptable, but to score a hat trick when he was our captain, well that is legendary stuff. If we ever open that Hall of Fame for the top FF247 managers that we have been inexplicably putting off, we might just name it Charlie’s room. With 69 points at home he is tied with Eden Hazard for tops in FPL and he certainly has earned a few beers on us. Diego Costa once again disappointed and will be sharing the dog house with Baines. One goal total in the 4 games vs Sunderland, Newcastle, Hull and Stoke speaks to the kind of form he is in and to the stubbornness of the FF247 site team management.
We scored 76 (-4) points for the week. We moved up 336 places and now sit in a global position of 998. So once again we have climbed back into the top 1K and hopefully this time we can establish a permanent place inside this hallowed FPL ground.
Transfer(s) for GW18
So to confirm our transfers we have –
Sold Eden Hazard for David Silva
With the doubts surrounding his fitness and our lack of Man City coverage we have decided to bring in Silva given both last weeks form and the three fixtures ahead for him.
Our team in full…
Captain
Our captain this week is Alexis Sanchez
Assuming he’s not rested then QPR at home is too good to ignore for the leading fantasy points scorer.
Our Vice Captain this week is Diego Costa.
The team in text format is –
Hart
Alderweireld Taylor Baines
Sanchez(c) Silva Eriksen Downing
Austin Costa(v) Bony
Bench: Krul. Boyd, Bartley, Hutton
Hi Gents,
Hope you guys had a great Christmas! I need some advice here.
I have 1 FT and 0.5 ITB
I’m thinking of two things,
1) Change Bartley for Taylor and take no hits
2) Change Hazard to Fab and with the 6.1m available, go for Mangala and take a -4 hit
Any thoughts of better suggestions? Many thanks in advance
Neo
Double city defence could be gold in the next three matches but I think Mangala is still settling and I’m not convinced by him yet. Don’t like the move for -4 either.
I prefer the first move to be honest.
I like the Mangala option….. Great fixtures too
Morning All…
Physioroom now says Hazard will be available…
Oh well :noshake: a bit too late for me, I guess..
Even if Hazard is fit can you trust Jose? He is just as likely to rest him as a precaution
Matt – I sold him yesterday…
Done thing for me, unfortunately…
Now, I can only hope it won’t come back to haunt me…
I still have him…. Sold Siggy and Costa for Silva and Giroud before the Chelsea game! However I do not feel confident about him starting. Derby game away at West Ham could be a tricky game to start a player who is not 100%…. I may be relying on super sub George Boyd!
May just leave it this week I have a bench so I’ll have 2 ft for game week 19…then maybe I can work out who’s being rotated..Thanks guys.!!!
Daddio – it’s probable that 2 from Mikel, Oscar and Hazard will play. If it’s one if Oscar or Hazard that makes way for different reasons, then you could be light. What have you itb?
Daddio – I think it comes down to if you think Hazard will play or not. The safer approach would be to bring in Silva for him
Magic….very true but think I’ll hold out cheers
Morning guys.
Thinking either
1) baines and Carroll out for Giroud and mid price defender.
2) hold
If 1) wil captain Giroud. If 2) will stick with yaya.
Your thoughts please?
Do you have Sanchez as Arsenal cover? Even if you don’t, my personal take is to hold the transfer to give Baines another week (seriously can he fail us even further!!!!) and YYT’s fixtures are too good to ignore.
Thanks Neo. Don’t have Sanchez. Evertons home record v Stoke is good but his poor scores have been killing us haven’t they.
Morning Dreamers…
Tough one…
But – I would hold.
Morning HL. Good Christmas? Thanks for the thoughts mate.
Dreamers – actually, u got me thinking now, mate
!
Seriously debating (with myself) on whether to bring in Giroud for a hit and Cpt him …
Hmmm ….
p.s. Christmas was nice, yes…spent it with my family off course…quality time ; ) …
Hope you had a nice one, yourself.
HL – both the wife and I had the vomiting bug Christmas Eve. Kids had it earlier in week. Yesterday was a write off.
Oh God
!
So sorry to hear that, Dreamers – hope all of you will get better soon, mate !!
p.s. did the -4 and Cpt Giroud, mate ! The hell with it 😉
24 hour thing. Ok again. Who did you take out?
Dreamers – Hazard out ADM in + Rooney out Giroud in…
Will have both ARS & UTD cover this way…
I have Yaya & Silva, too…so should be fine…
Defense is a mess, though…
With Azpi being the only one who can bring a CS…
At least I now have the money to go Tekkers next GW 😉 …
All set?
Fab
!
EBC
Go for it!
If Bony scores well I’m sure you will rocket up the rankings.
EBC – not sure Bony is caotain material but then again all u really need is something, assist or goal, for it to be a decent pick.
Thanks all.