Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 15

Welcome to Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 15
We are almost coming to the end of Part 1 of this season. Not to make it sound like a Netflix documentary, but it may as well be as we break for a month as of next week, to all go view an ill thought out vanity project in Qatar. What it means for FPL though is that we have but two more chances to grab some precious points ahead of our enforced break, starting this week.

We shall take stock and reassess our articles over the recess but for now we are running sans a Captains article, courtesy of Mr Haaland. And yes he may have missed last week but assuming that was a precaution he now has Fulham and Brentford at home. You’d be brave not to follow that pattern. As such we are back with our hybrid article of Tips and Capos to suggest you an ‘ideal’ XI for GW15. Or 12 if you count that we managed to get our wires crossed and picked two goalkeepers! Init, Matt and OddDane are at the wheel for this week’s edition so let’s go see what they have to say for themselves…

Goalkeeper(s!)
Ederson – Fulham (H) (Init)
When looking for a bleedingly obvious keeper you tend to look for a top 6 team at home vs an opposition who are low scoring (away from home). The lowest scorers in that respect all seem to be at home this week though… (Forset, Wolves, Villa etc). Fulham are actually pretty adept at scoring away from home with 9 in 6, or an average of 1.5 per game. But that’s where stats run into reality as they haven’t plasyed Man City yet. City themselves have conceded an average of 1 per home game with 6 in 6 but again stats can be an arse as 3 of those were in a madness game vs Man Utd which had 9 goals in total, leaving them with just 3 against in 5 games, and 2 of those were in 1 game, leaving 3 actual clean sheets. They won those 3 games at an aggregate of 14-0.

Fulham will put up more of a fight than Bournemouth, Forest or Saints did but out of all the keepers, in all the world….

Pickford – Leicester (H) (Matt)

I’m going a bit different for goalkeeper this week. If you have eyes, a brain and any inkling of football you will know Man City versus Fulham is the best fixture by far so Ederson should have an easy enough day. This doesn’t mean I would pick him in my XI this week. For me, this fixture means he probably has a points ceiling of 6 points, respectable but I think there are other keepers who have the potential for more. The keeper I would roll on this week is Mr Dino, Jordan Pickford. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, Everton have improved in recent weeks defensively getting two clean sheets in a row, last week’s leading to Pickford getting a double-digit haul of 11 points. A clean sheet, 6 saves and 3 bonus points for Jordan against Fulham with the lads in front of him seemingly remembering how to defend is positive. Secondly, the reason why I feel Pickford has a higher ceiling than Ederson is for the save points. Everton play Leicester who are a much better attacking side than Fulham so one would think they have more shots on goal for Pickford to get behind. This is a double edge sword as the rise in attacking potential does minimise the clean sheet chance, but I still like it. Finally, the reason why I’d go with Pickford is he’s hitting form just in time as Gareth will be watching, the World Cup is not far away now and with Nick Pope being in the best defence in the league, Pickford might be worried he has competition. This challenge might just bring out the best in the Everton No.1!

Defenders (Matt)
Trippier – Saints (A)
My first defender was pretty easy as he is a player I own and have owned since GW6 and I don’t see him leaving any time soon. That man is Kieran Trippier. There isn’t much I have to say here honestly as the stats speak for themselves. Best scoring defender in the game on 77 points. Fifth highest scorer in the game and in the best defence in the league who have kept 6 clean sheets and only conceded 10 goals. He can score, assist and defend. He is everything Trent once was…. Simply put, if you don’t know him… why not?

Cancelo – Fulam (H)
Okay so I didn’t tip Ederson but I’m not completely mad (yet!) and so I want some City cover against Fulham and it has to be Cancelo for me. A player I have owned from GW1, has not left my team and won’t leave my team. Has not missed a single game for City this season, cue Peptation, and played 90 minutes in all but three games. 6 clean sheets, 2 goals, 2 assists and 10 bonus points. Owned by 56% of the game, not having him is probably hurting you more.

Shaw – Villa (A)
I was tempted to do a double defence for the last two spots but not everyone likes double defence so I will avoid. The two players I was considering were Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot. Both priced at 4.7 mln. Both in great form, Dalot getting 25 points in his last four games and Shaw getting 24 points in his last four games. However the player I am siding with and likely will buy myself this weekend is the English left-back. The main reason for this is whilst Dalot is owned by 12.3% of managers, his opposite wingback is only in a measly 1.3% of teams. DIFFERENTIAL ALERT! Shaw appears to have nailed that LB spot so a cheap, nailed on option into a team who have got 3 clean sheets in their last four is a nice option to have.

Dunk – Wolves (A)
For the final spot in the side and to avoid the defensive double, I felt Brighton are a great option. Many feared for the Seagulls when the wizard left but last weekend they showed the magic was in them all along as they hammered Graham Potter’s Chelsea 4-1. They probably would have kept a clean sheet but for a great cross and header by Gallagher and Havertz. Brighton come up against Wolves who struggle in front of goals this season, only scoring 6 goals. Their new signing Diego Costa has more red cards than goals for them. Lewis Dunk is the standout option. Nailed on, attacking potential, defensively strong and with Veltman carrying a yellow flag, I’d favour Dunk in this side.

Midfielders (OddDane)
Foden – Fulham (H)
Righto’ onwards to the middle of the field and the first pick for the week is Phil Foden (MCI, £8.5). Yes, yes, we know. He might get benched. Again. So why is it we embark on another masochistic endeavor you might ask?

You know damn well why. It’s Fulham. Now I believe we said last week that Fulham couldn’t defend a clean sheet to save their lives and… well, okay, they could – against Everton. Against City they may as well not try. There will be goals, and they might as well be from Phil, actually one of them should be if you ask me. Phil has 6G+4A in 789 mins of play (7 of 12 games with 70+ mins I believe) and Fulham still has the fourth most conceded goals (22GA) and c. 1.7 goals conceded per game.

Secondly, even if he does come on a substitute, it is still Fulham – he may easily still score points for you as a substitute play (but you know, maybe don’t cap’n him unless you’re dead certain he’ll start). Finally, do look for any indication on whether he may or may not start, i.e. don’t take an early decision here if you can avoid it.

Rashford – Villa (A)
Okay, moving on to our second pick which is Rashford (MUN £6.6). Now here’s a midfielder playing very advanced, and he looks to have a fair bit of confidence based on his recent form. Rashford makes solid runs and often finds himself in very dangerous positions, most recently scoring the winning goal vs. West Ham. Marcus got off to a slow start, not for lack of opportunities though, but has still managed 4G+2A and is averaging a goal involvement of 0.54/90mins of play so far. This week they are playing away against Aston Villa who just lost 4-nil to the Toon and who may yet be adjusting to their new manager’s style of play.

Trossard – Wolves (A)
Next up is Trollard, sorry, that’s Trossard (BHA £6.9) I believe. Always waiting around the corner for you to transfer him out and then – BOOM! He strikes. Sometimes three times on the woodwork, but often (when you don’t have him) he scores! Well, he’s been firing against Chelsea and City recently so we know he can score against anyone. In fact, he has 7G+2A to his name so far which isn’t too shabby! This week he is facing Wolves away who has struggled with their form and defensively hasn’t been particularly solid. They’ve kept only one CS over the last five games whilst conceding 10G (or 2G/game) in the same span of games. Surely Trossard will just keep shooting until one eventually goes in, right?

Almiron – Saints (A)
Finally – and I see on the transfer in stats that you’ve already traded him in – it’s time for budget champion Almirón (NEW £5.6) to show up again. The Toon just put four away against Villa and are generating a LOT of chances for themselves, and in the case of Almirón, even goals out of nowhere! This lad has joined the bangers only club when it comes to scoring outside the box, that’s some impressive shootin’. This week they are facing the Saints and they haven’t exactly been excelling defensively. Almirón on the other hand has scored 7G+1A so far (6G+1A in his last six games). His underlying goal involvement is 0.41/90mins of play which does indicate potential regression, but if he keeps on with his recent form that won’t be anytime soon!

Forwards
Callum Wilson – Saints (a)
There must be a World Cup place to play for or something as Callum seems to want to stay fit and produce the goods, for the time being. He now has 3 in 3 with 2 assists to boot so form is very much on his side. As it is with Newcastle in general. The Saints have conceded an average of 1.5 per game at home, and conveniently The Toon have scored an average of 1.5 per game away. 1.5 all then?!

Haaland – Fulham (H)
Assuming he is now fit and rested we are unashamedly going back to the well on this one. And what a well it is! No further explanation required.

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Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 15. This article was written by Inittowinit, Matt X & OddDane.

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