Fantasy Premier League Tips Gameweek 27

Fantasy Premier League Tips Gameweek 27

Welcome to Fantasy Premier League Tips Gameweek 27. Hello and welcome to your Tips article for Gameweek 27 which is the week before (no not Gameweek 28 well, technically yes BUT), it is the week before we tackle a weekend of *probably* just FOUR FPL fixtures – a week where we *probably* have just eight teams involved. You know how people say you have to experience the bad times before you can truly appreciate the good? Well, this is the bad. The Double GameWeeks (DGW’s) ahead in Weeks 34 & 37 have to be created from something and Gameweek 28 is the by-product, (because of the FA Cup Quarter Finals) of these glorious ‘good’ weeks.

Because I treasure you all, I’m just that kind of person, I felt I would concentrate the crux of this particular Tips article on looking at players who we know will be playing in Week 28 and have what could be termed a ‘normal’ schedule. I don’t want you to be blaming me when you bring in someone who will have their feet up the weekend after you buy them!

As Gameweek 28 stands, the only fixtures remaining are*:

Saturday 11th March 2017

Bournemouth vs West Ham United

Everton vs West Bromwich Albion

Hull City vs Swansea City

Sunday 12th March

Liverpool vs Burnley

*At the time of writing Manchester City vs Stoke City is still scheduled. More on that later.

I have to keep reminding myself that although there is an obsession with Gameweek 28 there is still a week to go before that so I have taken Gameweek 27 in to account as well.

Taking a proper look at the short-to-medium term is always a very good idea in FPL, especially when fixture fluctuations are on the horizon. I have recommended these players based on the next four matches for each.

Now this is not to say any of these tips will actually land, but you can’t sue me. I’ve checked. (Ed. that’s what you think)

Goalkeepers

Tom Heaton (Burnley)

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[/three_fifth]Next four fixtures: Swansea City (A), Liverpool (A), Sunderland (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H)

Price: £5.1mln, Ownership: 19.4%

Heaton is undoubtedly the goalkeeping gem of FPL 2016/17. This is a guy who for me, is the best English goalkeeper the national team has and it’s maybe because of a combination of Joe Hart (what happened to that guy?) and being with an unfashionable Burnley that the Chester goalie isn’t already on more than just two England caps.
Burnley have three away games in succession now thanks to the quirk of an earlier agreement with Liverpool where fixtures were swapped to assist the redevelopment of Anfield but with a performance of the season already at Old Trafford and a tendency to collect save and bonus points with ease, I wouldn’t be put off by picking up Heaton regardless of opposition throughout the interim period.

Eldin Jakupovic (Hull City)

Leicester City (A), Swansea City (H), Everton (A), West Ham United (H)

£4.1mln, 22.8%

The Swiss’ reinstatement in to the team was covered by Kop in last week’s article, suffice to say that I won’t be going over old ground but this guy is a very good goalkeeper – he must be as he’s keeping two Scots goalkeepers out of the side – and this has been quickly picked up by Marco Silva, the new Hull manager. The next four matches for the Tigers offer the chance for Silva’s newly constructed backline to be fine-tuned without exposure to the Premier League’s proper big guns, save for Lukaku in three weeks. For just £4.1mln, Jaku appears to be an absolute no-risk bargain and if you need a downgrade with the intention of saving funds as your prerogative, then look no further, you won’t get cheaper.

Lukas Fabianski (Swansea City)

Burnley (H), Hull City (A), Bournemouth (A), Middlesbrough (H)

£4.8mln, 3.4%

The Pole dropped a bit of a soft one at Stamford Bridge in his last outing and his manager, Paul Clement, spoke of how candid the goalkeeper himself spoke about his mistake but looking beyond that, Fab has played every minute for the club this season and the reason in my view to support the ex-Arsenal man here out of the other goalkeeper choices would be the kinder run of fixtures throughout the next four. On paper the Swans have the chance to close out a couple of clean sheets with normally travelsick Burnley to come before two very kind away fixtures and then a shot-shy Boro visit south Wales. I would highlight also that at 3.4% ownership in comparison to the one-fifth ownership of the previous two tips, then a differential is clearly found here for those on the lookout for a goalkeeping option in that mould. Finally, being joint fourth overall in the list for saves made also points to a level of competency.

Darren Randolph (West Ham United)

Chelsea (H), Bournemouth (A), Leicester City (H), Hull City (A)

£4.4mln, 1.7%

If you’re looking for cheaper and better in the differential stakes then the Republic of Ireland international could prove useful (if you can see beyond that imposing first fixture of this run). He has played each of the last 15 and seems to be the favoured glove man at the London Stadium these days meaning Adrian sits and watches from the bench (with binoculars I suppose). Moving back to Randolph and with this Chelsea fixture, yeah I understand that he wouldn’t be flavour of the month for that one, but after that there are favourable trips to Bournemouth and Hull who have hardly a settled serviceable striker between them so for just £4.4mln of your money, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a couple of clean sheets follow across the next month.

Defenders

Seamus Coleman (Everton)

Tottenham Hotspur (A), West Bromwich Albion (H), Hull City (H), Liverpool (A)

£5.9mln, 15.8%

Yet another appearance on the list for the Irishman for whom I could say “see last week’s notes” as there has been no change. In fact, that’s not true because of course there has because he has added another clean sheet and ANOTHER assist to his very impressive stats for the year (four goals, four assists and fifteen bonus points). The guy is a machine and his goal-scoring and assisting isn’t done for the season. The fact he appears to shine as a winger in Ronald Koeman’s system when using three at the back (please keep it up Ronald) speaks for the type of player he is – as suited to attacking as defending. Get him in, it isn’t too late.

Andy Robertson (Hull City)

Leicester City (A), Swansea City (H), Everton (A), West Ham United (H)

£4.3mln, 1.8%

Harry Maguire was tipped last week and I would fully endorse either he or Andy Robertson in truth. Robertson currently would be the tip for me personally for a couple of reasons but mostly because of the injury doubt – which in fairness could be fully put to bed by the manager in his weekend press conference – of Maguire. So if you are looking for peace of mind and a player £0.1mln cheaper, then the ex-Celtic youth is fair value at £4.3mln. He himself isn’t too shabby in finding the net having done so nine times in his professional career at club level (including four for Hull) and once at international level against England.

Federico Fernandez (Swansea City)

Burnley (H), Hull City (A), Bournemouth (A), Middlesbrough (H)

£4.2mln, 1.4%

The Albiceleste has just agreed a new contract at Swansea and at 28 years old, you might say that Swansea will enjoy him at his best years. In fantasy terms, he isn’t maybe a headline-grabber as he has only scored once for Swansea but it will be hard to find a more reliable nailed-on pick at £4.2mln in his position. If you need a playing alternative to Jordi Amat (who most managers still seem to own!) then stretching that extra £0.1mln should ensure decent playing coverage of Swansea across the next four handy fixtures they have. I will now go right ahead and blow all of this out of the water though by agreeing with Kop from last week who pointed out that his defensive partner, who Fernandez himself spoke very well of last week, Alfie Mawson, carries a bigger goal threat so it depends what you have to spend really.

Gareth McAuley (West Bromwich Albion)

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[/three_fifth]Crystal Palace (H), Everton (A), Arsenal (H), Manchester United (A)

£5.2mln, 31.5%

What’s not to love about a guy who scores when he doesn’t? Gareth McAuley is at cult status in FPL terms. Once he is retired he will be one player we will all, Inittowinit especially, look back on through teary-eyed nostalgia and raise a glass to and remember those good times when he earned and robbed points in equal measure.

FPL will always be: Ronaldo, Gerrard, Lampard, McAuley.

The Baggies have a bit of a rough-ride fixture-wise in truth across the next four but they at least play throughout this period. You’ll find them fighting and matching most teams most of the time and as Paul Merson quite rightly pointed out this week, “take away the Top 7 and West Brom are top” (Honestly? This man is paid for this).

Chris Brunt (West Bromwich Albion)

Crystal Palace (H), Everton (A), Arsenal (H), Manchester United (A)

£5.1mln, 4.4%

Chris Brunt must look at Gareth McAuley the same way as you would to that guy who comes in to collect the kudos from management for the works presentation you spent four days preparing.

But when you play midfield (and sometimes, as last week, in a very well advanced position in the absence of Matt Phillips), can pop them in the goal at the speed of light, take corners, free kicks and still collect the defensive rewards (without really defending) then who really is having the last laugh?

To compare the two; McAuley has six goals to Brunt’s three, Brunt three assists to McAuley’s one, bonus points land in favour of McAuley (12 to 10) and their points per minute ratio is almost identical.

The big difference is in the ownership where Brunt is owned by way less so if you bring that to consideration along with potential direct set-piece duty and a far further advanced playing position, the Brunt seems to make sense. But then again if you score when you want, like Gareth does, is it better to be flashy or hard-working? Don’t ask me, I’m neither.

Midfielders

Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth)

Manchester United (A), West Ham United (H), Swansea City (H), Southampton (A)

£4.8mln, 1.8%

You may have noticed so far a distinct lack of any of any Bournemouth players in this article and that is to be reasoned fair given that they are dropping like a stone down the league with just one solitary victory in their last ten matches. Ryan Fraser flies the flag for the Cherries in this article because he is the only one I can lend any favour to and even then, that is only in the budget midfield category. The winger could be used as a makeweight for a bigger move to happen or more simply to tidy up a fifth midfielder slot and to give you a playing option in Gameweek 28. Whatever your reason, the little Aberdonian is certainly catching a few admiring glances in his maiden Premier League season, with a couple of goals, six assists and eight bonus points.

Robbie Brady (Burnley)

Swansea City (A), Liverpool (A), Sunderland (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H)

£5.5mln, 0.3%

For Robbie Brady (Burnley), read Robbie Brady (Norwich City) or Robbie Brady (Hull City): you know what you’re getting with this guy and that’s why I wasn’t surprised in the least when the very savvy Sean Dyche picked up the Dubliner in the transfer window. The guy to me is a Premier League player and when stood over a dead ball, I would challenge you to name much better on their left foot (see his goal against Chelsea in January). A goal and two bonus points followed by an assist and two bonus points herald a brilliant beginning to his Clarets career. I’m backing him to continue and with Burney playing throughout the interim period, there could be cause to get ahead of the game by investing early. The fixtures don’t look ideal but those free-kicks at edge of the box do.

Kamil Grosicki (Hull City)

Leicester City (A), Swansea City (H), Everton (A), West Ham United (H)

£5.5mln, 0.2%

The former Rennes midfielder, once almost a Burnley player, was a name which always caught my eye when I watched the French football highlights each week. He was getting about a goal every six in France but it was his general play and no lack of courage in trying to score which impressed me. Now he has finally arrived in the Premier League with Hull, it was in this past week’s match, ironically against Burnley, where I noted he assisted but in the recap it was clear that from both open play and on free-kicks (has he exclusively taken these over from Snodgrass I wonder), he was very unfortunate not to score himself. He now has fair opportunity given the fixtures which lie in wait, to finally get his goal.

Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City)

Burnley (H), Hull City (A), Bournemouth (A), Middlesbrough (H)

£7.6mln, 13.7%

I don’t think this one takes a great deal of explaining given what we know about the Icelandic playmaker. He is such a talented player that it actually amazes me he is as low down as Swansea then again, maybe it’s the ‘big fish in small pond’ scenario suits him. That’s as maybe but what is clear is the run of games ahead and the potential for assists points which he specialises in. He is eight goals and nine assists for the season so far and on three separate occasions he has both scored and assisted in games notching double figures in the process. He is as much a captain alternative in his next four matches as a transfer target so that says it all really.

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)

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[/three_fifth]Arsenal (H), Burnley (H), Manchester City (A), Everton (H)

£8.2mln, 17.4%

It would be amiss of me not to mention Liverpool at some point given as they play each week without threat of postponement due to other commitments. They were supposed to be fresh having had sixteen days and some warm weather training to gear them up for the run-in starting at Leicester on Monday. Least said the better. With regards their best choices for Tips, you can immediately rule out their Goalkeepers, Defenders (two of which are midfielders anyway *shakes head*) and Forwards due to a combination of gametime issues and lack of consistent points returns.

Coutinho is the pick of the midfielders for me. With Firmino too inconsistent and the removal of both Lallana and Mane at 66 minutes on Monday, I think Coutinho is the safest bet. In that Leicester match, he scored his first goal in six after his injury lay-off but before that he had five goals and six assists. Like with all the Liverpool midfielders, you pick one horse and stick to him, inevitably for a team which relies so much on its midfield talents, the fantasy points will be shared around so you’ll go nuts trying to chase ‘last week’s’ points all the time. I think I would prefer to have the obvious main creative playmaker, who happens also to be one of the cleverest footballers in the league, so Cout’ gets my vote.

Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion)

Crystal Palace (H), Everton (A), Arsenal (H), Manchester United (A)

£6.0mln, 1.8%

It may have gone under the radar a little (well I didn’t really notice until I researched) that Chadli has positive points returns in four of his last five matches (1 goal and three assists) despite not completing 90 minutes in any of them. That’s good going!

A proven Premier League player, an internationalist, in form and just £6.0 and with a low ownership rate, there are certainly several boxes ticked here. With Phillips also out of form and/or injured, this could be a nice little sideways move for some of you.

Robert Snodgrass (West Ham United)

Chelsea (H), Bournemouth (A), Leicester City (H), Hull City (A)

£5.8mln, 12.0%

Snodgrass is my personal choice for West Ham coverage if you choose to go down that route. I would guess he has been in many squads for some weeks, either from his Hull days or more lately by some people in preparation for Gameweek 28. The corner kick taker and direct free-kick specialist is sub-£6.0mln and would logically be the most probable assister to any Andy Carroll/Michael Antonio/Winston Reid headers from set plays. Whilst on the Hammers, a mention at this juncture to:

Andre Ayew (West Ham United)

Chelsea (H), Bournemouth (A), Leicester City (H), Hull City (A)

£7.1mln, 1.0%

On his return to domestic duty following the Africa Cup of Nations, Andre Ayew only needed 25 minutes against Watford to manage a goal and to carry off 2 bonus points. Now what is interesting is when and where he comes back in to the team as he has been used as a striker many times in the past, particularly in his spell with Swansea so if Bilic sees him as a real alternative, or partner, to Andy Carroll, then there may be some very real interest in the Ghanaian particularly if he is out of position (OOP) i.e. collecting points as a midfielder in fantasy terms (more points for goals and keeping clean sheets) but actually playing in the striker’s position. We might need to see a bit more of him first but definitely one to keep an eye on in the next few games.

Strikers

Foreword: I struggled somewhat to select the strikers based on my criteria for the article – that of none who blank in Gameweek 28. I’m happy with my first two selections but I cast the net far and wide for the next couple!

Romelu Lukaku (Everton)

Tottenham Hotspur (A), West Bromwich Albion (H), Hull City (H), Liverpool (A)

£10.0mln, 35.9%

No explanation needed here. The record-breaking Belgian is in tremendous form and is under tutelage of a manager who knows how to use him to his, the player’s and Everton’s obvious benefit. Big ownership but can you afford to not have him for much longer?

Fernando Llorente (Swansea City)

Burnley (H), Hull City (A), Bournemouth (A), Middlesbrough (H)

£6.2mln, 5.5%

I like this guy. As touched on, Swansea probably have a short term schedule they couldn’t have hand-selected better and the partnership with Sigurdsson and Llorente seems to be formulating well. Goals at Liverpool and now also Chelsea means the Spain international striker is going to hold no fear in fronting four of the Premier League’s bottom half dwellers. I expect a few transfers to be spent on him this week.

Andy Carroll (West Ham United)

Chelsea (H), Bournemouth (A), Leicester City (H), Hull City (A)

£6.2mln, 3.4%

Andy and I have never seen eye to eye – he’s huge! Figuratively as well though – I just can’t ever get the guy at the right time. And whilst I won’t now be partnering up with him, I accept that if fit, three of the next four matches he has, do appeal on paper so therefore he is one of the few experienced options at this price in all fairness. Check in on Friday for the latest news on his recent injury.

Andre Gray (Burnley)

Swansea City (A), Liverpool (A), Sunderland (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H)

£6.1mln, 4.5%

My big pre-season tip and every time I see him now I feel sad due to what happened to keep him out of the game earlier in the season. Not the actual incident, moreso that he just never properly got going after it. Still I’m very happy to see him back starting and we should never forget that he is a very astute penalty taker and this sometimes counts for a lot, particularly at around this £6mln ‘third striker’ mark. Gray has already scored against Liverpool and Sunderland (hat-trick) this season.

Manchester City vs Stoke City – Gameweek 28 or 27?

(As previously and succinctly described by Guy Sanchez over at Fixtures (but I did mine first, honest), but there’s no harm in a little reminder)

I mentioned earlier that this game currently resides in Gameweek 28 but this is dependent on Manchester City being involved in the FA Cup Quarter Finals. This will be determined this (Wednesday) evening as they face Championship play-off contenders Huddersfield Town in a fifth round replay. Now, should City win this replay they will face Middlesbrough in the next round and will mean their league fixture versus Stoke will have to be rearranged. It has already been confirmed that the rearrangement of this match will be on the preceeding Wednesday and therefore will mean that in Gameweek 27 both Manchester City and Stoke City will play twice. If this isn’t the case and Huddersfield should progress, Manchester City v Stoke City will remain in Gameweek 28 leaving each club with a ‘normal’ schedule for the foreseeable period.

If a DGW 27 occurs then it would be a natural reaction to want to buy some players involved in this.

Manchester City: Sunderland (A), Stoke City (H)

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[/three_fifth]If you still have Aguero (like me … LOL’s) then you will most probably be diving at the Triple Captain Chip for him. The chip seems made for this. Someone tell Pep please. If you DON’T have Aguero (LOL’s) then I can see a few accommodating moves to get him in and no one could blame you. He looked lethal against Monaco and should be rested nicely for these games (regardless whether over one week or two).

Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling should make up your Citizens triumvirate. Plenty of us are at the stage of the season where we are either falling behind or treading treacle, so a couple of point hits to attack to these tidy looking City fixtures might appeal. Attacking the doubles is maybe the only true chance for ground to be made up so why not?

Stoke City: Middlesbrough (H), Manchester City (A)

Judging by their most recent performance, a 4-0 tonking at Tottenham, it is questionable whether it is wise to invest any transfers, far less any -4 ones, in the Potters at all. I actually don’t believe it is – I would expect Manchester City to put beat them comfortably so therefore you are then hoping for points at home to a miserly ‘Boro – it’s hardly lip-licking stuff is it? If you still hold Joe Allen, Peter Crouch or a defender (term used loosely), then play them and hope for the best. The advice, from me at least, is to use any transfers on Sky Blues only.

The Harry Kane Conundrum
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[/three_fifth]First of all, if you had Kane for the Stoke match on Sunday then that is what FPL is all about. Soak it up and congratulations. He plays Everton at home in Gameweek 27 which is no problem at all. He blanks in Week 28 when Spurs are knocked out of the FA Cup by the mighty Millwall (I have had a soft spot since for the Lions since my youth) before resuming with a handsome set of fixtures including a DGW at some point.

So now that we all clearly realise we should own Kane for the rest of the season, the big question is when should we go for him. Get him in now, play him against Everton and then bench him for his blank or sit tight, pray he doesn’t unleash beast mode against the Toffees and play Gameweek 28 as best you can with who is available and then introduce Mr Kane?

I won’t be buying him this week and will hold my nerve but as long as he is fit, he will be my first transfer target for Gameweek 29. Looking at it sensibly (not that you have to), surely it is the right thing to do that if finances allow you to sit, do so.

My final thought also relates to the young wizard Harry.

If Sadio Mane is Man-ee and Leroy Sane is San-ee, then why the hell is Harry not Kan-ee?

You bloody English ruined the language! (Ed.ssshhhh now)

Love to you all brothers, English or otherwise.

Good luck in Gameweek 27 and 28 however long or short each may be.

GP

Thanks for reading Fantasy Premier League Tips Gameweek 27. This article was written by The Gallant Pioneer

Follow @MitchellC_FF247

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