Can Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil continue to assist your fantasy team?

Dec 4

#FPL Gameweek 15 Preview

You can also listen to Craig, Tom and Ash on their Fantasy Football Podcast – The Gaffer Tapes

DEFENDER: Skrtel, Liverpool

I came in for some stick last week for picking Glen Johnson, but in my defence he has a lovely smile. Oh and various journalists speculated on an England recall!! So I must’ve been onto something. I find, when looking at defenders in particular, you need look no further than the next 3 fixtures. With midfielder and strikers, losing or drawing is no real disaster for FPL, as Everton and Bournemouth proved with a blinder last week. Liverpool’s Newcastle (A), West Brom (H) and Watford (A) represents some of the best potential 3 match form and although they’ve let in goals during their wins, there’s potential for 2 clean sheets from 3 there. With that in mind, Martin Skrtel feels like a decent shout for an old favourite to return to. He’s that comfortable ex that you hook up with from time to time but are very aware might have a box filled with your hair and chewing gum you thought you threw away. Sakho is currently out injured and Klopp really has to rely on Skrtel who has scored a 5 and an 8 in the last two gameweeks.

MIDFIELDER: Sadio Mane, Southampton

Now his form might be harder to read than a drunken text message but Sadio Mane is undoubtedly talented. I honestly think he is the most frustrating FPL performer and yet I just can’t stop picking him. He will score and assist one week and then vanish the week after with nothing but a booking. He is still under 10% picked and I think he, Tadic and co will run riot over Villa after a humiliating defeat to Liverpool midweek. Anything short of a goal and an assist and I’m dropping him. I swear. Ok. Maybe just one more chance. He’s not always like this, I promise. I CAN CHANGE HIM!

FORWARD: Sturridge, Liverpool

Sergio Aguero reappeared fleetingly last week as we all counted out shekels to see if we could afford him. I dropped KDB, just so I could afford him this week and lo and behold he goes and turns yellow. He really should see someone about that. If you’re looking to get a jump on your league rivals and fancy a punt then you could go all out and get Daniel Sturridge. He played 20 minutes last week, and then destroyed Southampton in the League Cup. He is under 2% picked and on his day would bag a hat trick against Newcastle. The question is whether Klopp will start him or Benteke but it’s risk worth considering.

CAPTAIN: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal

This will be quick. Ozil. Mesut Ozil. You’ve probably heard of him.

OUTSIDER: Deulofeu, Everton

I’m actually astonished he’s still so underpicked by Deulofeu at Everton has been impressing for weeks and scoring some decent points in Barkley and Lukaku’s large shadow. Yes, he brings the inconsistency of most attacking midfielders but your idiot mates who only watch MOTD can’t pronounce his name let alone know who he is. He might be kept slightly quiet by the attacking wide threat of Palace but is well worth having in the squad for the coming weeks.

by @CraigHazell

Craig Hazell is a television professional, writer and Heart of Midlothian fan who makes up one third of the popular FPL podcast The Gaffer Tapes. As a student, Craig won the BBC Sports Broadcaster and Comedy Broadcaster of the year, before going onto to be a regular on the London open mic comedy circuit. He now writes about anything from TV & Movies, to food and of course football, providing he can shoehorn a 90s pop culture reference into just about anything.