Fantasy Football Fixture Analysis Gameweek 11
Welcome to Fantasy Football Fixture Analysis Gameweek 11. Let me begin by giving you an apology to start the article. I’m sorry I’m not as funny, witty and engaging this week as I’d like to be. I haven’t smiled all that much, and I forget what the sound of my own laugh is at this point. I run through the motions of a typical daily existence I suppose. I eat, I bathe, go to work…rinse and repeat.
But the joy isn’t there for me right now, and I think that shows in my writing. And come to think of it, I’m not even angry either. It’s not as if I’d suddenly explode into rage with the slightest provocation. There is just an empty feeling. A void.
How else do you expect an Everton fan to feel at this point? I honestly couldn’t be more emo right now if I tried. But like Paul Harvey, I have to give you the rest of the story. Everton have taken me low before, but there is another cause for my total collapse of personality this week.
I’ve given up nicotine. No smoke, no dip, no lozenges, no gum. Nothing. They tell me I’ll live longer this way. Live longer? So I can see Everton rip my heart out for a few more years? That’s a great prize.
Anyway, here’s your Top 3 teams to choose from this week. If you’ll excuse me, I need to go walk around in circles until my skin stops crawling. I don’t know, it’s a thing that happens when a person doesn’t get their regular ‘dosage’ throughout the day. Maybe some DayQuil will help me out? That’s always a good time.
The Fixture Tracker…
Gameweek Tracker GW11-19
Top 3 Best Bets
#1) Manchester City – ARS (H), LEI (A), HUD (A)
I’m going to be honest with you, I’m tired of writing about this team every week. And you’re probably tired of reading about this team every week. So let’s make a deal: let’s just agree that City are the best team in the league, and let’s also agree that I don’t need to build a case anymore to support that claim. Because it’s tiresome, folks. I know they have a superior offence and a top-tier defence. And I suspect that you know this as well. And since I know that you know that I know… I say we just move on already and consider City’s abilities to be ‘common knowledge’. The only thing we don’t know about this team is how Pep is going to rotate them from game to game – and I’ll leave that conjecture to the Tips writer.
Maybe if Arsenal, Leicester and Huddersfield all teamed up and played against City at the same time…there would be something here to write about. As is though, I just can’t think of another original thing to say about City being the best in the business. They just simply are the best.
#2) Tottenham – CRY (H), ARS (A), WBA (H)
Losing Harry Kane was probably a nail in the coffin for Spurs’ clash away to United this past weekend. But you have to give them credit, they gave a good account of themselves as a whole. Let’s not forget, United have the best defence in the game, so it wasn’t really shocking that Spurs couldn’t get one in against De Gea – nobody gets one in against De Gea this year. So to see that Tottenham only lost 0-1, whilst on the road and without their best player, is actually pretty encouraging.
Looking ahead to Spurs’ upcoming game, you have to say that even if they don’t rush Kane back this week, they’ll probably not need him. Palace have allowed a league-high 21 goals so far this year, so the likes of Son, Alli and Eriksen shouldn’t have too much trouble netting a few of their own. Kane ‘should’ be back in time to play Arsenal if early reports are to be believed. If Kane is healthy, I think most would give the nod to Spurs as favourites in that spot. Arsenal have done a fine job beating up on the likes of Swansea, Everton, Brighton, West Brom… etc. But against the clubs with slightly higher profile (Liverpool & Chelsea), Arsenal have failed to score at all. And finally, I don’t think anybody is overly concerned with Spurs playing West Brom at home – and it just goes to show, West Brom continue to hold the prize for top-flight clubs that are always just an afterthought.
#3) Watford – EVE (A), WHU (H), NEW (A)
I know that I recommended Watford last round, and they laid a bit of an egg this past weekend. But I’m doubling down and saying that this schedule of theirs is still just too good to pass up. The fact that Watford stumbled at home against Stoke makes my case for them a bit harder to prove, but if you look at the scope of their work this season, and then compare that to the teams they’ll be playing, I think that you have to give another serious look Watford’s way.
As much as it pains me, let’s start with Everton. Did anybody see that line-up Everton had under the interim ‘manager’ this past weekend? With the exception of Rooney, all of the summer’s new talent was either on the bench or off the team sheet. Sigurdsson was left on the bench, y’all. You see, in this crazy new world that Everton are living in, they no longer try to build a strategy based on the best talent available – no, they prefer to rigidly adhere to a broken system with lesser players. If Watford can’t capitalise on that, I don’t know what to tell you.
And then, after Everton, Watford get to play West Ham. Did you all see West Ham this weekend? Joe Hart simply cannot accept that his team was about to get three points for their efforts. To see Hart give up that goal so late in extra time… it was poetic. Watford should do well in that game, we just need Hart to stay healthy enough to make it to the pitch to concede lots of goals on that day. Really, the only worry in this schedule is newly-promoted Newcastle. And honestly, they’re not as bad as people would hope they’d be. But I’d still give Watford a 50/50 shot at coming out of there with full points.
Teams to Avoid
Everton – NA, NA, NA
I’m putting them here without any regard to who they’re playing. I can’t believe the way my team is playing right now. Everton really are the great tragedy of the league this year. They make my heart hurt. Ugh.
Arsenal – MCI (A), TOT (H), BUR (A)
Above I gave a nod to the fact that Arsenal haven’t really been tested so far this year, with the exception of playing against Chelsea and Liverpool (and they were held scoreless in the both those games). Well, they’ll be tested now. City and Spurs in back to back affairs won’t be an easy ask, and I’ve not seen enough from Arsenal to think that they’re really up to the task at the moment.
Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Fixture Analysis Gameweek 11. This article was written by Guy
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***NEW ARTICLE***
GW11 is live!
Possibly the most depressing FPL intro you’ll ever read
Many thanks for this Guy, chin up eh?! I’m sure your FPL team is doing ok, yeah? 😉
Fantastic article
I have just updated WEEKLY KEY STATS TABLE. 😉
Nice one, cheers wazza.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B78pDZtVppsQOEVwbWNqTjhEMXc/view
Well, the fantasy team is doing much better than it was previously. But the whole I’ve dug myself is just massive at this point. I’m really playing for the Cup at this point. I think it’s my year.
Depressing, Gordon Bennett Guy, ave a fag ffs. Wait till next season when Everton are in the championship, your doomed. :p
Just what he needs that Elle. A Liverpudlian putting the boot in!
Love to say I can’t see us getting relegated but right now I actually can. Be a story for the ages that – spent £150m and went down.
Big Sam threw his hat in earlier. I’d actually be happy to see that happen right now.
If Everton do end up in the chamionship…who knows what vices I’ll dig up.
New rough averages for GW10
Thanks Guy, wasn’t sure if I was reading a slightly alternative scene from Trainspotting or Fixtures but it all came together in the end!!
How you liking the Big Sam rumours then? He and Big Unsworth and Big Dunc should make a Big team if that happens!
We just have Big problems all around. And I don’t know what the deal is – this whole thing is so simple. At least it is when playing FM.
Don’t worry Guy, there’s still a chance to turn that Europa League table upside down! Would quite like Richarlison given their fixtures as you’ve shown but my 3 playing midfielders are in the number 1 and 2 spots so no place for him.
What do you guys think about Davies/Trippier vs Alderweireld/Vertonghen? Will lay out all the stats for anybody who cares.
– Vertonghen and Alderweireld have both played all 900 minutes, while Davies and and Trippier have managed just over 600 each.
– However, Davies (51) and Trippier (48) have both scored more points than Vert (40) and Alderweireld (38), despite the latter two having more clean sheets than the others. This due to their attacking returns – Davies with 2 goals, 3 assists, and 6 bonus and Trippier with 4 assists and 6 bonus.
– Davies leads the way with 19 attempted assists, followed by Trippier with 14, and the others with <5. Davies also leads in shots with 10(4 OT) and though Vert/Alderweireld outscore Trippier considerably here, they only have 2 OT from 15 between them.
– This all leads to the PPM stats – Davies with 7.3, Trippier with 6, Vert with 4 and Alderweireld with 3.8.
My initial instinct was to bring in Alderweireld (good stats last year and guaranteed to start most games) but surely the stats lean towards one of Davies/Trippier and if they don't play, you get 2/3 points coming off your bench, which would only increase their 'effective' current points by around 5 points. Yes it will be furstrating when they don't play, especially against easy teams, but their current returns suggest they'll more than make up for this when they're on the pitch. (Also saves at least 0.2m)
Thoughts? And if you agree, Davies or Trippier? Trippier seems more likely to start for me as his competition is worse, but Davies is involved in everything and really should hold his position against Rose with current form.
Excellent analysis that Mr Bean. Got Davies myself and so I’ll just be sticking with him. Not really sure which one I’d get if I was to pick from scratch.
I dropped Davies 2 weeks ago after he got rested against Bournemouth so I have free pick from all of them. May see who starts tomorrow evening. Then hopefully the other will play Palace and West Brom. Who knows…
I’m inclined to agree- great analysis Bean, it’s helpful to see everything laid out in one go. If we all have good bench cover, a premium player who misses the odd game (maybe 1 in 4?) can be managed. Just part of the risk I think, and a defender who scores goals or gets assists is worth the risk for me.
Speaking of– currently have Kolasinac and Alonso. Fixtures and form respectively are concerning me, and I might offload one for Otamendi as having no coverage of the leaders’ defence seems an oversight.
PS. Keep trucking Guy!
*agree with Init, that is, keep Davies (reading that back, realised I made no sense at all…)
Mr B
Thank you for that piece. Very well constructed.
Although I couldn’t have told you the exact numbers which you so brilliantly provided, I would have guessed that despite fewer minutes, the full backs would have more fantasy value as they are encouraged to participate in the attack. Even moreso now probably that Pochettino appears to be using three CBS (the two you mentioned plus Sanchez or Dier) meaning the full backs are to all intents and purposes midfielders. I’ve had Davies for so long that I’m sticking with him too. The trouble for me, and lots of others, comes with CL games and the availability of Serge Aurier and the returning Danny Rose.
Data is skewed with Davies’ Huds and Everton game..Had him since beginning. Don’t want my 5.8m def getting benched. City players are enugh for that trauma
Good job there BTW. Trippier is a decent option if nailed though
My team for next week. Laca becomes Kane.. Suggestions please.
Looks good to me Constantine – your defence could go either way this week but go with it. Is Elliot a better option than Pope I wonder?
Cheers Cookie. Made a mistake by not playing Pope a home game. Might switch Elliot for a home game as well..You all set?
Not even looking until after Champions League to be honest. Don’t think there is much that needs doing, but you never know