Gameweek 15: #FPL Preview – Written by @NiallHawthorne

As we hurtle towards GW15 we’re immediately reminded that FPL rounds in December are going to come thick and fast, similar to the indictments about to hit Donald Trump over the next few weeks. They’ll be coming fast, and he’ll still be thick.

Onto the all-important midweek tips!

ED: Ok folks there are 7 gameweeks coming up over the next 4 weeks –

Keep an eye on the gameweek start days – GW15 starts Tuesday 4th December with the deadline being at 6:45pm (UK). You have been warned.

Defender: Toby Alderweireld, Tottenham Hotspur

While Spurs capitulated in a classical Spurs fashion against Arsenal, it should be noted that they did so without their Belgian rock (if you cut into him, you’ll see stripes of red, yellow and black and he’ll rot your teeth if you suck on him long enough. Ahem.)

In this game week they face Southampton at Wembley and an anaemic attack that has only flourished against the worst teams in the Premier League so far, and Manchester United.

One thing you have to say about the reign of Pochettino thus far is that he doesn’t suffer fools gladly, so the next couple of days could be uncomfortable for a certain Juan Foyth. He’ll probably start alongside Toby on Wednesday night, but Toby won’t appreciate being made a mug, so I’m calling a clean sheet for Spurs this week.

Ed: Mark Hughes was sacked today as Southampton boss. First-team assistant coach Kelvin Davis will take charge of the team for the game against Tottenham on Wednesday who surely can’t be any worse than Sparky this season.

Midfield: Felipe Anderson, West Ham United

Four goals in the last four weeks, six bonus points in the last four weeks, and a home game against Cardiff City.

Add to that a forward path that has more green on it than a walk through the best part of Ireland (Cork, for those that aren’t from this neck of the woods), and this is a solid £7.0m investment for the next five or six game weeks.

Seriously, if our world really was ‘The Matrix’, even the fecking computer bot dude would be saying “Mr. Anderson”, and not as a threat for once, it would actually be a tip.

Forward: Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur

When you’re considering whether a player is worth your faith, and whether he can deliver a bang for your limited buck, then consider this…

Against Arsenal, Spurs got humped, Harry Kane had limited touches in open play, Spurs are unlikely to play as badly again, and Harry Kane still scored a goal.

Then you consider that Spurs are heading into a run of fixtures that even the Dalai Lama would consider as ‘kind’. With 8 goals and 2 assists from 14 games, he now faces a run of fixtures no harder than Manchester United at home (a gimme, in fairness) between now and February 23^rd. FEBRUARY 23^RD! Do you know what will happen between now and February 23^rd? Brexit will be made or broken, Trump will be President or wearing an orange jump suit, and Manchester City will be between 20 and 40 points clear at the top of the table! In short, the future will be a maelstrom, apart from Spurs’ fixtures, so lump on Harry for the next few months and reap the rewards.

Ed: I googled it for myself

Captain: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

While Mo endured a frustrating afternoon against Everton on Sunday, he was facing *grits teeth* quite a difficult opponent determined to cause his side problems rather than endure them, as so many of Liverpool’s opponents have done this season.

However, on Wednesday night he travels to Turf Moor to take on a Burnley side that have conceded 29 goals in 14 games this season, just over 2 goals per game. On closer inspection you find that Burnley have conceded 17 goals in the last 6 games, just under 3 per game.

There’s no sign that Sean ‘Gravel-Gargling’ Dyche has sorted out the defensive woes of Burnley this season. Add to that the overwhelming feeling that the Liverpool front line have still under-delivered thus far this season, and with the now legendary Divock Origi breathing down their necks (he’s as short as 5000/1 to be top scorer this season), I expect Salah and friends to rip Burnley a new one and spill some claret of a different sort.

Outsider: David Brooks, Bournemouth

The last few times I’ve seen Bournemouth perform young Brooks has caught my eye, and I’ve proclaimed to all those who could hear me (nobody because I live alone in a bedsit) “I like the cut of his jib!”

Now in this modern society that may sound like a sexual compliment, but it’s really (probably) not. It appears to refer to a triangular staysail set forward of the mast, or the projecting arm of a crane…so in short, it refers to something long and hard….I fear I’ve said too much.

In any case, young Brooks has a reasonably impressive three goals and an assist this season and faces a home game against Huddersfield Town. The fact that he caused the increasingly impressive Arsenal so many problems leads me to believe that he could well be a great differential for GW15.

Draft: Andre Filipe Tavares Gomes, Everton

Straight up, he was the man of the match in the Merseyside Derby, and arguable a player that Liverpool need more than any other right now. He’s silky smooth, looks good and makes me feel funny…but apart from that he’s good at the football and if available as a draft pick then he should be straight into your squad.

Written by Niall Hawthorne.

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Niall Hawthorne has a strange view on most things.

Check out his blog for proof rantsofarebel.wordpress.com.