Kops Fantasy Football Tips Game-week 21

Kops Fantasy Football Tips Game-week 21

Greetings and welcome to our first Tips article of 2016. We last brought you a dedicated Tips article ahead of GW17 and quite a bit has happened in the intervening game-weeks. Before you get excited FPL is still a minefield and for those of us who continue to struggle, the climb up the rankings remains an arduous task! Since we were last with you the 2nd wildcard of the season has become available and many have activated their wildcard in a bid to resurrect their season. This will hopefully help to spice things up as managers attempt to break the template and this will be aided by the clamour to get the likes of Aguero & Payet into teams, as well as the potential return to form of Chelsea. So whether or not you’re on a wildcard we have below outlined a number of options whom we feel can deliver over the coming weeks.

Goalkeepers

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[/three_fourth]Chelsea’s trials & tribulations over the course of this season have been well documented so we won’t bother rehashing them. We will just point out the fact that they have kept just six clean sheets from their opening 20 games. They have however shown signs of a revival under new manager Guus Hiddink and this has resulted in Thibaut Courtois claiming back to back clean sheets in his last two games. Chelsea didn’t turn into a poor team overnight but for one reason or another they had stopped playing for Jose Mourinho and while they didn’t turn into a poor team overnight conversely they are unlikely to turn into a very good team at the flick of a switch from Guus. Their signs of revival however have suggested that their defensive options are once more worth some consideration and at just £5.2m the Belgian is in fact the cheapest route into the Chelsea rear guard.

Those of you on a wildcard will surely want some Spurs defensive coverage in your squads. They do after all have the best defence in the league although it’s something of a disappointment that this has only translated into seven clean sheets. The favoured choice is undoubtedly Toby Alderweireld as he is the highest scoring defender, although as a result he is now priced at £6.1m. The cheapest route into the Spurs defence is Hugo Lloris and he is the 5th highest scoring keeper. The four keepers ahead of him in the rankings are cheaper than the Frenchman but should Spurs manage to maintain their current form over the remainder of the season I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lloris as the highest scoring keeper come May 15th.

Predicting where the clean sheets are going to come from is becoming more & more of a lottery and therefore it is perhaps wise to invest in two cheap keepers who you can rotate accordingly. Now while we’re not going to start looking into possible rotations we have identified three relatively cheap keepers whom are worth some consideration and they are Bournemouth’s Artur Boruc, Norwich’s Declan Rudd and Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski. Bournemouth have conceded 34 goals to date this season while Boruc has kept just four clean sheets, although three of these have come in their last six games so the Cherries have clearly tightened things up at the back. Not only have they improved at the back but they’ve also got a relatively ‘easy’ run of fixtures coming up so there’s every chance of Boruc building upon his recent form. With Norwich struggling at the back Alex Neil opted to replace Ruddy with Rudd and while the change didn’t have an immediate impact Rudd has recently begun to repay his gaffers decision. He’s kept back to back clean sheets and just like Bournemouth, Norwich have a decent run of fixtures coming up, and at just £3.9m Rudd could prove to be a bargain over the coming weeks. Since the sacking of Gary Monk Swansea have tightened things up at the back and Fabianski has kept three clean sheets in his last four games. Swansea have been quite a disappointment this season but they have shown signs of an improvement since the sacking of Monk and just like both Bournemouth & Norwich they’ve got some decent fixtures on the horizon.

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Defenders

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[/three_fourth]As we’ve alluded to above the Chelsea defence have shown some signs of improvement in their last two games and it is perhaps time to once more consider their defensive options. But which of them? We’ve taken a quick look at the stats for Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, Terry & Zouma from their last two games and on stats alone there is one standout candidate and that is Cesar Azpilicueta. From an attacking point of view none of the four have particularly excelled but we would expect that to change for both Azpi & Ivan as confidence builds throughout the team. It’s Azpi’s defensive stats in the last two games that set him apart from the others and this has resulted in him picking up four bonus points from these two games. His price tag of £5.7m is also quite attractive as he is considerably cheaper than both Ivan & Terry. If you can’t stretch to the £5.7m we would advise you to turn your attentions to Zouma who could provide value for money at £5.4m.

West Ham have been defensively sound for the majority of the season but struggled to keep clean sheets. This however has changed of late thanks to four clean sheets in their last six games. Aaron Cresswell has featured in five of these six games, he sat out the Southampton game due to suspension, and thanks to a goal, the four clean sheets and five bonus points he is averaging 7.4pts per game over those five games. As we know by now he does like to get forward and has created a number of chances of late which would suggest that he’s due an assist or two. The Hammers have a decent fixture list over the coming weeks and this should see Cresswell remain amongst the points.

As we’ve made note of above Swansea have significantly tightened up at the back and this has seen Ashley Williams hoover up the bonus points. The Swans kept clean sheets in game-weeks 17, 18 & 19 with Williams picking up maximum bonus points in each of the three games, and in terms of bonus points he is now joint top of the defenders list with 14. Most would agree that Swansea are a better team than their current league position represents and that their recent form is a truer reflection of their capabilities. While they have shored up their defence they continue to struggle in front of the opposition goal which means that if they are to pull away from the relegation zone much will depend on the form of Williams and with their upcoming fixtures we see no reason for their defensive form to take a dip. It’s also worth noting that the Swans defence represent a differential with Williams proving the most popular at 6.9%.

For those of you trying to free up the cash for a certain Argentine you might want to consider investing in one of the following budget friendly defenders, Leicester’s Danny Simpson, Bournemouth’s Adam Smith, Swansea’s Angel Rangel and Norwich’s Ryan Bennett. While the goals of Mahrez & Vardy have somewhat dried up of late the defensive side of Leicester’s game has come to the forefront, they’ve conceded just five goals in their last eight games, keeping four clean sheets in the process. Their fixture list remains rather tough over the coming game-weeks but given their recent form Simpson shouldn’t be ignored. With two goals in his last seven games Smith clearly has an eye for goal and with Bournemouth having improved at the back Smith at just £4.1m could prove a shrewd investment. For those of you interested in investing in the Swansea defence but might be reluctant to spend £4.8m on Williams you might want to take a look at Rangel. The Spaniard has come into the team since the departure of Gary Monk and has turned in a number of impressive displays. Finally, who doesn’t love a defender priced at £3.9m who actually plays. Step forward Ryan Bennett. Need we say anymore?!

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Midfielders

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[/three_fourth]While the Dele Ali story may not have the same rags to riches pizazz of Jamie Vardy it is worth remembering that it’s just a little over six months ago that he was playing for MK Dons in League 1, now he is emerging as one of the leading lights in the Premier League and people are suggesting he should start for England at the Euro’s. And to think some goon on the infamous Liverpool transfer committee felt he was overpriced?!! He has scored five goals & picked up five assists over the course of the season but it’s in the last six game-weeks he’s begun to grab our attention with three goals, two assists and five bonus points in that period. It’s hardly a surprise he’s been picking up both goals & assists of late though, after all in a number of recent games he has taken up a more advanced position than even Harry Kane. Besides the fact that Spurs are in great form they’ve also got a great run of fixtures to come which makes Alli superb value at £5.4m. Not only is he great value but given his recent form you can arguably play him as your 4th midfielder which will free up some serious funds for investment elsewhere.

All of the FPL chat surrounding Manchester City is unsurprisingly centred on Sergio Aguero, however it shouldn’t be forgotten that they have four excellent midfield options in De Bruyne, Toure, Silva & Sterling. A quick look at some stats from the last six game-weeks would clearly suggest that Kevin De Bruyne is the one to own as he leads the way in most of the attacking categories. It’s also worth bearing in mind that four of City’s next six games are at home where the Belgian has only failed to yield a return on two occasions this season, while he has hit double figures four times at the Etihad. Just like City he is clearly a home bird. Should you wish to break away from the template team you might want to consider David Silva who currently features in just 5.7% of teams. Unfortunately the Spaniard has been hampered by injury this season and as a result his performances have suffered but as the old saying goes, form is temporary class is permanent. The cheapest option of the four is he of the birthday cake fame, Yaya Toure. The Ivorian is one of those players who has the ability to frustrate those who own him & those who don’t in equal measures. He does however have one attribute that’s like gold dust in FPL and that’s his ability to pull a goal out of thin air or just shin one in from 20 yards! When on form he’s a points machine as we witnessed back in 2013/14 and with three goals, an assist and eight bonus points in his last five games he’s clearly in form. So as you can see any one of De Bruyne, Silva & Toure would make an excellent purchase.

As we’ve said time & time again, the majority of differentials are differentials for a reason…they are either crap or they are just out of form like the aforementioned David Silva. One current differential who fits neither category is West Ham’s Dimitri Payet. Prior to his injury back in GW12 he had been one of the stars of the season with five goals, four assists and 12 bonus points. His performances for West Ham were so impressive many were left wondering why one of the bigger clubs had not picked him up, and West Ham have struggled badly without him. Of course there’s no guarantee that he will pick up from where he left off, but he did show enough off the bench against Liverpool to whet our appetites. The Hammers have a great run of fixtures over the coming weeks and with his price having dropped to £7.7m and his ownership down to 7.9% (mostly ghost teams) we would suggest you get him soon.

Sticking with differentials for a moment and we give you a favourite of Mito, yes it’s none other than Willian. In a season that has until recently gone from bad to worse he has been the one shining light for the reigning champions. I realise this counts for very little but he is the only Chelsea player to have risen in value this season! He is quite rightly tagged as an inconsistent player but of late he has added an element of consistency to his game and this has seen him pick up a goal and four assists in his last four games. So for those of you who think Chelsea may have turned that corner but you’re still disinclined to shell out on the likes of Hazard or Costa you might want to consider Willian. His ownership is only 8.7% while his price is also quite attractive at just £7.1m.

At the bottom end of the market there are few players if any currently catching our attention so instead we’ll turn our attentions to a couple of teams with some decent upcoming fixtures both of whom provide decent budget options and they are Norwich’s Wes Hoolahan and Bournemouth’s Junior Stanislas. Granted Hoolahan is unlikely to start every game but he’s available for £4.8m and has weighed in with two goals and six assists to date. Stanislas went through something of a purple patch between game-weeks 13 & 16, and while he has failed to register any returns in the subsequent four games he is available for £4.2m which makes him an ideal candidate for your 5th midfield spot if playing 3-4-3. A word of warning regarding Stanislas, new signing Juan Iturbe is now available and he is likely to go straight into the starting XI, and there is a chance that Stanislas will be the one to make way.

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Forwards

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[/three_fourth]When it comes to the forwards there really is only one man we can start with this week and that is Sergio Aguero. At the time of writing he might only be the 8th most popular transfer this week but with a price tag of £13.1m many managers are left scratching their heads as they work out how best to fit him into their side, many have activated their WC as a result. Any lingering doubts surrounding his fitness were banished earlier in the week when Manuel Pellegrini insisted that the Argentine is fit enough to play three games in a week. So he’s fit, but what about his form? It’s not great and there are undoubtedly other forwards in much better form. However against Watford last weekend he had done nothing for 85 minutes before popping up with a wonderful header to win the game and against Everton on Wednesday night, a game in which City struggled, he set up Navas for the equaliser with a sublime piece of skill. So while he’s not on form he has shown enough to suggest that his devastating form is not very far away. As we’ve mentioned above City’s home form is superb and with four home games in their next six dare you go without the Argentine?

So that’s Aguero out of the way, to whom do we turn next? Given his form over the course of the season and in particular the past seven game-weeks it’s got to be Odion Ighalo. Watford have scored 25 goals this season and thanks to his 14 goals & five assists Ighalo has been directly involved in 76% of their goals, which is pretty impressive. At £6.4m he can no longer be considered a budget striker but given his form over a considerable period of time he’s probably the best value for money forward at this moment in time. The Hornets have a mixed bag of fixtures over the coming weeks but as we’ve seen over the course of the season they’re not afraid to take on the big boys and Ighalo has shown that the opposition is of no concern to him either.

Let’s now assume that you’re currently on a wildcard and that you’ve already chosen Aguero & Ighalo, who do you choose as your 3rd forward? The obvious choices are Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane. Now at the time of writing Lukaku has been yellow flagged thanks to an ankle injury he sustained against City on Wednesday night. He’s likely to miss Everton’s FA Cup tie at the weekend, however he could return against City on Tuesday night. Granted the Toffees have a couple of tough fixtures coming up but scoring goals hasn’t been a problem for them and in particular Lukaku this season. Basically if he’s fit I wouldn’t hesitate in picking him. Kane hasn’t been quite as devastating as Lukaku this season and he certainly hasn’t reached the heights of last season. He has however managed to find the back of the net on 11 occasions and you wouldn’t bet against him breaking the 20 goal barrier. With Spurs in the midst of a great run of fixtures it is difficult to ignore Kane.

The not so obvious choices are Diego Costa and Anthony Martial. Costa has of course only scored six times this season but three of those have come in his last three games and since Guus has arrived the Brazilian has actually looked like he wanted to be on the pitch. Now Costa is unlikely to ever rack up consistently big scores, he’s more of a plodder. But if he can rediscover his form from the early part of last season in particular he’ll keep the points ticking over. Should you be languishing down the rankings Costa is the type of player you need to be considering, he has a very low ownership (6.3%) and he has shown signs of improvement. Martial’s United career got off to a great start but then LvG got his claws into him and his form has nosedived. This has seen both his price and ownership levels also nosedive! United’s form of late has been poor but last weekend’s win over Swansea might just have been enough to reignite their season. They’ve got a number of fixtures coming up which will allow them the opportunity to build on the Swansea result and with Martial having notched a goal and an assist in that game his confidence is likely to be quite high.

Finally, for those of you interested in a budget 3rd forward we have a trio of names for you to cast your eye over, Stoke’s Bojan Krkic, Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe and Norwich’s Cameron Jerome. While we’re not buying into all this Stokealona nonsense we must admit that Stoke have been playing quite well of late. Bojan has at times during this period looked like they player we all hoped he would become and has claimed two goals & two assists in his last four games. At £5.2m he’s cheap enough to bench on a regular basis but given his recent form he could also be played on a regular basis. As Jermain Defoe showed against Villa he still knows where the goal is, and he now has six for the season. Should you plan on benching your 3rd forward most weeks well then Jerome is the man for you. He costs just £4.5m and has featured in every games this season. Every now & again he even scores a goal!

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Thanks for reading Kops Fantasy Football Tips Game-week 21. This article was written by Kop Warrior

Follow @KenLyons79

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