Gameweek 35 Preview: Fantasy Premier League #FPL Written by Niall Hawthorne @NiallHawthorne When you load up your FPL team ahead of GW35, please don’t make the mistake of thinking that the page isn’t loading properly and not displaying the ‘next match’ graphic under most of your squad. As many, many women pointed out to me […]
Category Archives: GW previews
Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin & The 5 #FPL Players You MUST Pick For GW36
DEFENDER: Hector Bellerin – £4.7m (Home v Swansea)
With a Double Gameweek on the horizon and an extremely strong end of the season which looks set to set them up for the FA Cup final at the end of the month, Arsenal are flying heading into their Monday night fixture with Swansea.
Flying is also a good description for their quicksilver full-back Hector Bellerin, who has broken through into the first team this season and looks set to nail down his place in the side as the campaign draws to a close.
MIDFIELDER: Tom Cleverley – £5.2m (Home v West Ham)
It isn’t just Christian Benteke who has been inspired by the arrival of Tim Sherwood at Aston Villa, with midfielder Tom Cleverley scoring in his last two matches and bouncing into this weekend’s home clash with Aston Villa in the finest of form.
It is another game that Villa can win as they edge closer to survival, and in Cleverley – who has been unfairly criticised in the past – they have a player who’ll be doing his utmost to make that happen.
FORWARD: Leonardo Ulloa – £5.0m (Home v Southampton)
Leicester’s Argentinean forward Leonardo Ulloa is back in fashion after scoring three times during his side’s terrific recent run, and he can keep that form up as he takes on a Southampton side whose season is stalling a little and who have developed a worrying habit of losing games on the road recently.
West Brom, Everton, Stoke and Sunderland have all beaten the Saints on their own grounds in the past few weeks, and the Foxes and Ulloa will be confident of following suit.
THE OUTSIDER: Mesut Ozil – £8.9m (Home v Swansea)
Only 3.7% of Fantasy bosses own Arsenal’s talented German Mesut Ozil, making him comfortably eligible for our outsider status at a time when he has found some terrific form.
Admittedly that form doesn’t always translate into fantasy points, but with Chelsea having already won the league and perhaps dropping off in performance a little, Ozil could make a good alternative for the likes of Cesc Fabregas – especially with the Gunners’ Double Gameweek approaching next time around.
THE CAPTAIN: Sergio Aguero – £12.7m (Home v QPR)
He once scored a pretty famous end of season goal against QPR at the Etihad Stadium, but with Manchester City having missed out on the title the only damage that Sergio Aguero can do on Sunday is relegate QPR.
He’ll probably do that, too, with his late season burst of form featuring five goals in four matches as he prepares for a summer linking up with Lionel Messi at the Copa America.
REVEALED: The #FPL Team You Should Pick For ‘Wildcard Week 34’, Featuring Arsenal, Chelsea & Liverpool Stars
So we’re doing something a little different this week.
Instead of the usual array of five players to pick for the upcoming Gameweek, we’ll instead be honouring the fact that it’s Wildcard Week by giving you our recommendation for the rest of the season, on one of the final weeks you can use your wildcard for 2014/15.
Ready? Let’s go:
GOALKEEPERS: David Ospina, Boaz Myhill
We know that we don’t often like discussing goalkeepers here, but the rise of Arsenal’s David Ospina since replacing Wojciech Szczesny in the Gunners goal in January makes him difficult to ignore.
With Arsenal facing two matches in Gameweek 37 then he can be a man to trust stand between your sticks, with West Brom’s Boaz Myhill a cheap substitute and also guaranteed to play for his side.
DEFENDERS: Nacho Monreal, Jeffrey Schlupp, Branislav Ivanovic, Alberto Moreno, Aaron Cresswell
Four of our five featured defenders face Double Gameweeks between now and the end of the season, with Leicester’s Jeffrey Schlupp, Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and Liverpool’s Alberto Moreno all in action twice over the coming week.
Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal has done well to displace Kieran Gibbs from the Gunners’ left-back spot this season, whilst Aaron Cresswell could be a beneficiary of West Ham’s somewhat kind run-in to the end of the season, and has been hugely impressive in his first Premier League campaign.
MIDFIELDERS: Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho, Andy King, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard
Double Gameweeks are again a key element of our midfield quintet, which is dominated by Liverpool and Chelsea players.
Your captaincy choices for this week should centre here, too, and perhaps a gamble on the Reds’ creator in chief Philippe Coutinho could pay off given that Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard face a tough game at Arsenal.
Jordan Henderson could also be a good left-field choice for the captain’s armband, whilst Leicester’s Andy King completes our five given that he’s scored twice in his last three games.
FORWARDS: Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero, Olivier Giroud
There are some players that you simply can’t ignore, however, and Harry Kane’s form this season means that he’s one of them.
The Tottenham forward faces a tough fixture at Southampton this weekend, and might find himself in the unusual position of being left on the bench by many Fantasy bosses, particularly if they’ve also got Sergio Aguero and Olivier Giroud to call upon.
Aguero has found his form again after struggling for a few weeks, whilst Giroud is now Arsenal’s main man after a terrific run of form, and the Frenchman has seen his ownership level rocket as a result.
Crystal Palace’s Glenn Murray & The 5 #FPL Players You Must Pick For GW33
DEFENDER: Jeffrey Schlupp – £4.5m (Home v Swansea)
In this reduced Gameweek we’re missing Arsenal, Aston Villa, Hull, Liverpool, QPR and Sunderland, and so it’s impossible not to look ahead and plan for the weeks to come.
The only two teams to play three times in the next two Gameweeks are Chelsea and Leicester, and whilst it’s easy to be drawn to the players from the champions-elect, the fact that Leicester’s first two fixtures are against Swansea and Burnley will give them hope of picking up some valuable points.
Jeffrey Schlupp – registered as a defender but also an attacking threat – will be vital in that quest for a third win in a row, and he can pick up some points at the same time.
MIDFIELDER: Yannick Bolasie – £5.5m (Home v West Brom)
His hat-trick at Sunderland last weekend brought in a staggering 24 points for Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolasie, and although recommending him feels a bit ‘after the horse has bolted’ there’s plenty of reasons to suggest he’ll impress at home to West Brom on Saturday.
Bolasie registered three assists in the three matches before going to Sunderland, and more could be on the way against the struggling Baggies.
FORWARD: Glenn Murray – £5.2m (Home v West Brom)
Six goals and four assists is a pretty decent haul for any forward in his first season in the Premier League, but the fact that all of those have come in his last six appearances makes Crystal Palace’s Glenn Murray one to watch.
Palace face home games against West Brom and Hull next up, and Murray’s scoring streak could go on.
THE OUTSIDER: David Nugent – £4.9m (Home v Swansea)
He’s played the full 90 minutes in Leicester’s last three matches, and David Nugent has responded with two goals and an assist as his side battle against relegation.
The ‘Fox in the Box’ will be crucial as he side face three games over the next two Gameweeks, and a goal or two could go a long way to helping them off the foot of the table.
THE CAPTAIN: Sergio Aguero – £12.4m (Home v West Ham)
With Chelsea facing an in-form Manchester United and some of the other usual suspects not in action, the captaincy pick for this week looks to be a simple one given Sergio Aguero’s return to scoring form in Manchester City’s loss at Old Trafford.
He’ll be backed to stay on the goal trail as his side host West Ham in a match they really have to win if their Champions League hopes are to stay on track.
Chelsea’s Loic Remy & The 5 #FPL Players You MUST Pick For GW32
DEFENDER: Phil Jagielka – £5.6m (Away v Swansea)
The winning goal, a clean sheet and the full three bonus points against Southampton last time out ensured a pretty healthy haul for Everton’s main man at the back Phil Jagielka, who will be confident of impressing again as he goes to Swansea.
The Blues have been less than impressive this season but following three successive league wins there are just a couple of signs that things are beginning turn for them as they enter the home straight, and Jagielka has been a key part of that.
MIDFIELDER: Jordan Henderson – £6.6m (Home v Newcastle)
Four goals in his last six league games make Jordan Henderson a pretty hot property right now, both in the Fantasy game and in the real one if his contract negotiations are anything to go by.
Liverpool’s leader in waiting really appears to be stepping up to the void soon to be filled by Steven Gerrard, and at home to Newcastle side who once again appear to be playing out the season without much fanfare he is sure to have a few more chances in front of goal.
FORWARD: Loic Remy – £7.1m (Away v QPR)
It’s a gamble, but with injury issues once again hovering over Diego Costa and crucial goals which earned four points in Chelsea’s last two matches, it almost seems written in the stars for Loic Remy to score as he returns to his old club QPR.
The Frenchman has become a key player for Jose Mourinho as the Blues close in on the title, and he’s sure to be an interesting differential choice for more than a few managers this weekend.
THE OUTSIDER: Aaron Lennon – £6.2m (Away v Swansea)
When making your selections this weekend it’s important to have an eye on next weekend’s shortened fixture list, with four teams definitely not in action (Liverpool and Hull will join them if the Reds have beaten Blackburn in the cup after the time of writing).
A look at those Gameweek 33 fixtures sees Everton at home to Burnley, a game that will give Aaron Lennon a chance to improve upon the goal and assist he takes into Saturday’s clash with Swansea, another which offers cause for optimism for the improving visitors.
THE CAPTAIN: Eden Hazard – £11.1m (Away v QPR)
We go back to Chelsea for our captaincy pick, with those who stuck with Eden Hazard last weekend rewarded with a goal and an assist in the Blues’ win over Stoke.
Every three points matter for Mourinho’s men at the moment, and at a time when Costa and Cesc Fabregas seem to be stuttering, it is to the Belgian that the Portuguese is rightly turning to for inspiration.
QPR’s Charlie Austin and The 5 #FPL Players You MUST Pick For GW31
DEFENDER: Yun Suk-Young – £3.9m (Away v West Brom, Away v Aston Villa)
It’s a double Gameweek for QPR and Aston Villa, and whilst those two don’t possess too many desirable defenders it might just be worth taking a punt on one of the cheapest players in the game.
QPR left-back Yun Suk-Young has played the full 90 minutes in each of the Rs’ last six games, and whilst none of those have ended in a clean sheet he’ll have two chances to register one of those as he goes to The Hawthorns and Villa Park.
MIDFIELDER: Scott Sinclair – £5.2m (Away v Manchester United, Home v QPR)
The first of Aston Villa’s two matches is one that they are surely going to lose, with the trip to Old Trafford to face a rejuvenated Manchester United hardly one to relish at the moment.
But if Scott Sinclair can pick up a couple of points there then he’ll spring into action in the second game at home to QPR, and look to keep up some decent Villa form which has seen him score once in the league and twice in the FA Cup during his loan spell.
FORWARD: Olivier Giroud – £8.5m (Home v Liverpool)
With six goals in his last five Premier League games and this fine strike for France against Denmark during the international break, it really is impossible to ignore the form of Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud right now.
Liverpool arrive at the Emirates Stadium missing some key players and with morale dropping a little, and with the Gunners in the form they’re in then a victory and a strike or two from their current golden boy could be on the cards.
THE OUTSIDER: Matt Phillips – £4.6m (Away v West Brom, Away v Aston Villa)
After becoming somewhat lost under Harry Redknapp, the arrival of Chris Ramsey at QPR has been terrific for the winger Matt Phillips, for whom his one goal and four assists this season have all come in the last seven games.
The goal was of course this remarkable strike at Crystal Palace, and so a gamble on the former Blackpool man could come up trumps as QPR double up.
THE CAPTAIN: Charlie Austin – £6.4m (Away v West Brom, Away v Aston Villa)
We’re aware that this is a little QPR heavy now, and that isn’t anything you’ve wanted to be at any point this season, but surely if Rangers are to have any chance of staying up then they need to take something from their next two matches, and for that they need Charlie Austin to be in form.
The England hopeful will be the man trusted by many to deliver over his next 180 minutes of football, with the future of both his club and plenty of fantasy teams determined by just what happens in them.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku & The 5 #FPL Players You MUST Pick This Week
Gameweek 30
DEFENDER: Toby Alderweireld – £4.7m (Home v Burnley)
Having returned to the Southampton defence for the first time in seven league games in the draw at Chelsea, Belgian international Toby Alderweireld will be targeting an injury-free run to the end of his first campaign in English football.
When fit he’s been a crucial element of the Saints’ back-line, and he’ll be confident of a clean sheet in a must-win match at home to struggling Burnley.
MIDFIELDER: Christian Eriksen – £8.4m (Home v Leicester)
They might have been royally put in their place by Manchester United, but Tottenham are about to embark on a kind run of games which are likely to determine whether or not a top four finish is really attainable.
The Dane Christian Eriksen will be crucial in that quest for points, and if he can get his team ticking at home to Leicester then there could be a few points heading your way too.
FORWARD: Romelu Lukaku – £8.8m (Away v QPR)
Barring any upsets in Europe, Romelu Lukaku is likely to approach Everton’s trip to Queens Park Rangers on Sunday in good heart.
He scored and assisted in the win over Newcastle, has good form in the Europa league and will be up against a QPR defence which seems to be holding weekly tributes to very worst defensive setups we’ve ever seen in the Premier League. What isn’t there to be confident about?!
THE OUTSIDER: Christian Benteke – £7.4m (Home v Swansea)
All of a sudden Aston Villa seem upwardly mobile, and key to all of that is the forward Christian Benteke.
Lacking fitness and seemingly lacking belief for much of the campaign, the big Belgian has now scored three times in his last two games, and will be eyeing up the weekend meeting with Swansea City as a chance for more.
THE CAPTAIN: Harry Kane – £6.3m (Home v Leicester)
Chelsea look tired and Manchester City can’t exactly be trusted even at home to West Brom, so Harry Kane could well ride to the rescue for many as the Spurs striker attempts to continue his remarkable season at home to Leicester.
The forward has scored six times in his last seven home appearances in the Premier League during this season’s ascent to stardom, and he can improve that record by hunting down the Foxes.
@Mark_Jones86
Crystal Palace’s Jason Puncheon & The 5 #FPL Players You MUST Pick For GW29
Gameweek 29
DEFENDER: Laurent Koscielny – £6.0m (Home v West Ham)
Arsenal continue to have their frequent uncertainties at the back, but one of the consistencies is usually Laurent Koscielny.
The Frenchman has really upped his game in the past couple of seasons to become a real fans’ favourite at the Emirates, where all of his three league goals have come this season ahead of the visit of West Ham.
MIDFIELDER: Jason Puncheon – £5.6m (Home v QPR)
He’s played every minute of Crystal Palace’s last 11 Premier League games, and winger Jason Puncheon will again be crucial as the Eagles welcome QPR in Saturday’s early London derby.
After recently becoming the first ever Palace player to register three assists in the same game in the recent win over West Ham, Puncheon will be looked to to provide the creativity for Alam Pardew’s team, and he could well provide it.
FORWARD: Jermain Defoe – £5.7m (Home v Aston Villa)
The next four fixtures look crucial to Sunderland’s hopes of staying up, and so the investment they made in Jermain Defoe could well stand or fall just by what happens in them.
The English forward will be charged with scoring the goals to get his side out of trouble, and although Tim Sherwood’s Aston Villa will have been buoyed by their FA Cup heroics, they are still in deep trouble in the league.
THE OUTSIDER: Andrej Kramaric – £5.5m (Home v Hull)
Time is running out for club record signing Andrej Kramaric to inspire Leicester to beat the drop, and this weekend’s fixture at home to Hull would be a pretty good time to really get going.
The Croatian has just one league goal to his name but a winner here would be priceless, and ahead of a decent run of fixtures he could be worth gambling on.
THE CAPTAIN: Diego Costa – £10.9m (Home v Southampton)
Depending on other results this weekend, the trip to Chelsea might prove to be the final nail in the coffin for Southampton’s top four hopes, and when there are nails in coffins to be hit then you can expect Deiego Costa to be around.
The frequent sinner will be fired up to face the Saints, and he can pick up yet more valuable points in a season which has been full of them.
@Mark_Jones86
Tottenham’s Harry Kane & The 5 #FPL Players You Must Pick For GW28
Mar 2
Gameweek 28 DEFENDER: Danny Rose – £4.8m (Home v Swansea, Away v QPR) It’s a Double Gameweek for Spurs following their Capital One Cup Final disappointment, and so whilst that means that you can probably guess at a couple of names which will leap off the page a little further down from these words, defender […]
Swansea’s Ki Sung-Yeung and The 5 #FPL Players You MUST Pick For GW27
Gameweek 27
DEFENDER: Craig Dawson – £4.4m (Home v Southampton)
West Brom defender Andre Wisdom was a popular early season Fantasy pick for many, but the on-loan Liverpool defender has been overlooked for the last three league games by Tony Pulis.
The Baggies have kept two clean sheets in their last two, and a key component to that has been the returning Craig Dawson, who costs exactly the same amount as Wisdom and would look to be a wise replacement for him ahead of a meeting with a Southampton side which have suddenly forgotten how to score goals.
MIDFIELDER: Ki Sung-Yeung – £5.0m (Away v Burnley)
Two goals in three games make Ki Sung-Yeung Swansea’s in-form midfielder, and the South Korean will again be looked to as the Swans head to Burnley off the back of their excellent win over Manchester United.
Ki is very good at arriving into the box late to get on the end of a move or cross, and in a match the Swans will expect to do well in he’ll be a crucial element.
FORWARD: Dame N’Doye – £5.5m (Away v Stoke)
We all know about the high-profile absences this week, and so it might just pay to trust in a new name.
Hull’s new arrival Dame N’Doye has scored in his last two games and will be the man Steve Bruce is trusting to get his side out of relegation trouble, and so ahead of an not entirely too taxing set of fixtures for the Tigers, go with the Senegalese forward for a bit of a curveball.
THE OUTSIDER: Cheikhou Kouyate – £4.9m (Home v Crystal Palace)
An impressive figure throughout his first season in English football, West Ham’s Cheikhou Kouyate suddenly seems to have added goals to his game judging by his two efforts in the past three games.
With no Andy Carroll around the midfielder seems to be charged with getting into the box and getting on the end of crosses, and you’d have thought that he’ll have plenty of chances to do that against Crystal Palace.
THE CAPTAIN: Alexis Sanchez – £11.3m (Home v Everton)
Following the debacle at home to Monaco in the Champions League, Arsenal will be determined to bounce back at the Emirates on Sunday as they welcome an Everton side who might just prove to be their perfect opponents.
With plenty of key Fantasy players either not turning out or locked in big matches, Alexis Sanchez is likely to be the popular pick for the armband despite some less than stellar form in recent weeks, and he’ll really need to deliver for the Gunners.
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