#FPL Gameweek 22 Preview

Written by @CraigHazell

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

DEFENDER: AARON CRESSWELL, WEST HAM

Of my 5 tips last week, only my Dimitri Payet one landed and so I am really feeling the pressure to start strong from the back and like a child whose parents are going through divorce, I just want a clean sheet so no one gets angry.

(Ed. It’s not your fault Craig)

That said, I don’t want to cop out and just go for the top scoring defender. Aaron Cresswell has been going about his business exceptionally well this season, with assists and the odd goal keeping him a top 10 ranked defender. Newcastle away from home has the potential for a goal fest, but West Ham with Payet are a different side away from home and with him on from the start I think it could be a 1 or 2-0 win for the Hammers.

MIDFIELDER: ANDRE AYEW, SWANSEA

Presuming you already have Ozil, Alli and Payet in your squad as I have recommended them more than any other player all season, it makes it tricky to find that fourth or fifth midfielder that could push for s spot in your side, knowing that you’re more than likely to play 4. Had the referee not had an absolute nightmare on Wednesday, I firmly believe Swansea were going to go on and beat Sunderland and once again Andre Ayew looked like the man he was at the beginning of the season, involved in both goals. Ok so the first goal involved him tripping over himself and getting a penalty but so what?!  Make no mistake, Swansea are in a relegation battle and I’m not convinced they will beat Watford, but that’s largely irrelevant. Ayew scored 10 points in a losing side last gameweek and at a lower value of 6.8m you could do well if he does it again.

FORWARD: SHANE LONG, SOUTHAMPTON

With Graziano Pelle not playing (but looking fabulous) Shane Long has been filling in nicely and still under 1% picked in FPL. His downfall is that he’s a player who can have a great game without actually getting on the scoresheet. Well, that and having an ironic surname. However, he is still a very underrated player and as he showed against Arsenal and now Watford, he can and will score given the opportunity. I actually think Saints vs West Brom could provide 4 or 5 goals and here’s hoping he grabs a couple of them.

(Ed. £5 bet placed on a 0-0 draw based on this)

CAPTAIN: HARRY KANE, SPURS

I’ve back him to do well a couple weeks now but like a broken clock surely I have to be right eventually. Harry Kane’s Spurs threw away the already unlikely connections to the phrase ‘title race’ when they lost to Leicester midweek but Sunderland at home is a must/should/will win. People might tell you Sunderland are turning things round and while players like Jermain Defoe still possess quality, I really don’t think they are. He’s the football equivalent of putting expensive alloys on a Vauxhall Nova. I fully expect Spurs to bang in 3 or 4 and hopefully Kane finally delivers.

OUTSIDER:DUSAN TADIC, SOUTHAMPTON

Right on the 5% cusp is one of last season’s assist kings Dusan Tadic at Southampton. With Mesut Ozil well and truly dethroning him, it has been a difficult follow up season for the Saint’s string puller. He still hasn’t hit the dizzy heights that he is capable of yet but has started to tick on nicely and if he gets going you can bet that every other idiot will have him in their team before they regurgitate something they read on Stan Collymore’s twitter.

 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.

Check out The Gaffer Tapes Podcast Here