Category Archives: Player Selection
Football Trader App: Fantasy Football meets Wall Street
Last month on FantasyYIRMA we announced the new Fantasy Football game from www.footballtraderapp.com. Football Trader is a new Fantasy Stock Market Game based on the English Premier League. The game has been running for 5 weeks and has 500 users from over 20 countries.
The creators of the game @realtime_sports have just launched a new version of the game today, based on user feedback. The new version of the game is made for the web and is also now a Facebook App. We spoke to the Co-Founder, Sohail Godall, to find out more about the new version!
The creator of the game @realtime_sports had this to say about Football Trader:
FantasyYirma: So remind us again for those who don’t know what Football Trader is about.
Sohail: Sure, Football Trader is basically a new type of Fantasy Football game where you Buy & Sell shares in players on a live stock market. Unlike most fantasy football games, this is played in Real-time, meaning the price of players is changing constantly based on users trading on the market and also player performances. Every user starts with £100M budget and the goal of the game is to Grow the Value of your Players, and therefore your Team, as much as you can. You also get Match Dividend Bonus’s awarded right after matches, based on how players performed, which are sort of like how you would get Fantasy Points, but in cash!
FantasyYirma: So tell us a little about the Beta so far…
We made the first version mobile-first. We have had some great success, 500 users from over 20 countries so far in 5 weeks. However, we realised that the performance of the game on mobile was not great, it struggled on some browsers and 3G networks. Also, we were restricted on what changes we could make to the game. For this reason, we have just built a new Facebook web-version of the game which works much faster and cleaner! We still plan to make our mobile app’s for the new season as we see this as a mobile game.
FantasyYirma: Sounds good! And what new features can users expect from your new version of the game?
Well, the main bit is that it’s made for Facebook so it’s a lot more Social! You can invite friends to compete against and also brag about your Team Value. Beyond that though you can now follow other users and players like a Twitter feed, which gets included in your news feed. So you can now watch other users and see how they play the game. You can also comment on players and put your view of why their prices are changing. Lastly, all users start off as a Rookie Trader and need to work their way up as a Pro Trader for bragging rights. This will be the start of making the game much more Social we hope.
The Beta game is now open Live for users to play till the end of the season at http://www.footballtraderapp.com
Fantasy Football GW30 : Nothing but Bonus Points
So… Gameweek 30 was a tough week. Surprisingly tough in that none of the 3 predicted big hitters hit big…
Suarez, RVP and Bale all came up short this week. It’s a strange week for us #FPL managers, with a full program of fixtures we never got the points on the board we were all expecting leaving a very moderate 39 point GW average.
However this can happen – we have been treated in recent weeks to players like Bale and Suarez putting in some extremely strong performances and ultimately no player can maintain that level every minute of every game. (A Suarez Hat-trick would have helped my #FPL team a hell of a lot this week though!)
Wins for Everton, Southampton and Fulham may not have made up your weekend accumulator slip but once again the Premier League reinforces the competitive nature of the competition.
Maximum bonus points this week for Monreal of Arsenal was a sign of things to come. He has settled well at Arsenal and there have been some welcome clean sheets in the league since his arrival. In his 5 games so far he has contributed 1 goal, 2 assist, 3 clean sheets, 5 bonus points and now averages 7pts per game.
Another full back currently improving his position is Fulham’s Sascha Riether with another 2 bonus points this week. Two assists and a goal in his last 3 games have put him on our watchlist, however he has been consistent all season and finds himself in 15th position for point scoring defenders. A push for the top 10 is no without possibility.
Ricky Lambert popped up again with a goal and took all 3 bonus points also. A handsome reward for #FPL managers who retained his services after he drew a blank in both his last two previous outings.
Stoke v WBA finished 0-0. Having only seen the highlights of this game I can honestly say it would be difficult to pick out too many stand out performances. The team allocating the bonus points must have had a same thought so they decided to give SIX players bonus points!
Rooney took the maximum for United and Hazard was impressive for Chelsea as they seek to challenge strongly for the Champions league positions.
Full bonus point allocations are below and as always drop a comment underneath or contact us on twitter @FantasyYIRMA
How did your Team do??
*Ryan
Everton 2 – 0 Man City
Bonus
Mucha
Osman (3)
Fellaini (2)
Aston Villa 3 – 2 QPR
Bonus
Agbonlahor (2)
Weimann (3)
Bonus
Jenas
Southampton 3 – 1 Liverpool
Bonus
Schneiderlin (2)
Lambert (3)
Bonus
Coutinho
Stoke City 0 – 0 West Brom
Bonus
Begovic (2)
Shawcross (2)
Etherington (2)
Bonus
Foster (2)
Ridgewell (3)
Odemwingie (2)
Swansea 0 – 2 Arsenal
Bonus
Jenkinson (2)
Monreal (3)
Gervinho
Man Utd 1 – 0 Reading
Bonus
Ferdinand (2)
Giggs
Rooney (3)
Sunderland 1 – 1 Norwich
Bonus
Johnson
Gardner (3)
Bonus
Hoolahan (2)
Tottenham 0 – 1 Fulham
Bonus
Riether (2)
Ruiz
Berbatov (3)
Chelsea 2 – 0 West Ham
Bonus
Azpilicueta (2)
Ramires
Hazard (3)
Wigan 2 – 1 Newcastle
Bonus
Maloney
Beausejour (2)
Bonus
Santon (3)
Gameweek 30 preview: The case for the defence – Volume III
https://twitter.com/FantasyYirma/status/312534937406431233
For the third time this season we’re ignoring those Fantasy Premier League attention-seekers and instead looking at those who often miss out on the headlines.
Yes, never mind your midfielders and forwards, the case for the defence has been opened again and this time ahead of a Gameweek which offers ample chance for a few clean sheets.
The best of those opportunities probably comes at Old Trafford, where Manchester United welcome a managerless Reading side in a contest that the hosts will not just expect to win – but expect to win well.
Brazilian defender Rafael da Silva (£6.2m) has excelled in the United defence this season, and with 16.9% ownership he finds himself as the most selected player from the champions-elect after Robin van Persie.
Sir Alex Ferguson surprised many by leaving Rafael out of the 4-0 win over Norwich two weeks ago – his first non-appearance of the year in the league – but the right-back was back in the team for the FA Cup tie against Chelsea last weekend, and he’s almost certain to start here in a match in which United are of course likely to be on the front foot.
Following earlier struggles for clean sheets United have now kept four in successive league matches, and with Rafael contributing three goals and five assists this season – including that stunning strike at QPR recently – then the Brazilian could be a key player in their run-in towards an almost certain league title.
Elsewhere, Tottenham will be bidding to rediscover their excellent form which they displayed prior to last weekend’s thrilling 3-2 defeat at Liverpool.
They have a good chance to find it at home to a Fulham side who have won just two away games this season, and with defender Michael Dawson (£4.6m) having now recovered from previous injuries to start and crucially finish the last 10 league games at the heart of the Spurs defence, the centre-back could be a valuable and cheap addition to your squad as Andre Villas-Boas’ side close in on a Champions League place.
Another Sunday fixture sees Chelsea host West Ham at Stamford Bridge, and although the make-up of Rafael Benitez’s defence does have a habit of changing regularly, David Luiz (£6.5m) has started the last three league games – registering his first assist of the season in the 1-0 win over West Brom last time out, a match in which he also picked up a bonus point.
Manchester City go to Everton in the opening match of the weekend, and with defender Pablo Zabaleta (£6.2m) a firm Fantasy favourite after starting the last 16 league matches there is sure to be plenty of interest in him. Leighton Baines (£7.6m) will of course provide a threat going in the other direction.
For cheaper options, the Sunderland v Norwich match offers the possibility of a stalemate with visiting defender Javier Garrido (£4.7m) bidding to follow up from last weekend’s clean sheet against Southampton with another blank against his opposition’s name. Teammate Michael Turner (£4.2m) also picked up two bonus points in that 0-0 draw.
This weekend Southampton face the tough prospect of facing a Liverpool side who have won their last three in the league, and whilst it was Daniel Agger (£6.4m) who scored the winner when the Reds beat the Saints 1-0 at Anfield in December it is the form of teammate Jose Enrique (£6.0m) which can’t be ignored here.
The left-back registered an impressive sixth assist of the season which he provided the first goal for Luis Suarez in the Tottenham win, and with two goals to his name as well he is certainly one to watch ahead of a match which Brendan Rodgers will expect his Reds to win.
If they can win it with a clean sheet then that is sure to please many.
*We’ve focused on defenders again for this Gameweek, but if you have any selection issues, dilemmas or problems then feel free to tweet us at @FantasyYirma. Goalkeepers, midfielders and forwards are allowed!
Guest Post: Finding End of Season Value and Differentials
Many thanks to Jonathan from @SportinglyBet for supplying this guest post.
Finding End of Season Value and Differentials
With just nine games remaining, fantasy managers up and down the country will be looking to put their below par points return from Gameweek 29 to bed and make a final end of season push.
On paper Arsenal have the best run of fixtures including a double gameweek against Norwich and Everton in Gameweek 33.
Midfielders Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla can both be expected to be drafted in by an influx of managers, especially before Gameweek 33, but it is England international Walcott (£9.0m) who offers the best value given his more advanced role for Arsenal this season.
Centre half Per Mertesacker remains the cheapest way to get into Arsenal’s backline, with the Gunners keeping clean sheets in three of their last four games in the Premier League.
By Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom
Oliver Giroud (£7.6m) is a somewhat divisive mid-price option in attack, but after scoring nine goals in his debut season the France international could still flip opinion between now and the end of the season. Selected by just 2.6% of fantasy managers, the France international could prove a significant differential given Arsenal’s remaining fixtures in the Premier League.
Brendan Rodgers’ LIVERPOOL side also end the season well with a favourable run of fixtures, fuelling hope that the Merseyside club could make the Champions League.
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has again been the Reds leading light this season, with over 40% of fantasy managers currently boasting the Premier League top scorer in their ranks.
Fabio Borini’s injury and Raheem Sterling’s fatigue could see January signing Daniel Sturridge (£7.5m) feature more heavily for Liverpool this season. Sturridge has scored five goals in the league since making the move from Chelsea and the English striker has often been played in the more advanced role alongside Suarez.
Phillipe Coutinho has also impressed since his January move, but the Brazilian midfielder will be subject to a gradual introduction of Premier League football by Brendan Rodgers. Stewart Downing offers a more in-form selection, with two goals, one assist and three bonus points in the last three gameweeks and despite a budget price of £5.7m, only 1.3% of managers have the England international in their squad.
![By Dean Jones (Flickr: Coutinho Goal) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://fantasyyirma.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/coutinho_v_swansea.jpg?w=604)
By Dean Jones (Flickr: Coutinho Goal) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
Three goals in four starts has been the return of the former Marseille striker and a price tag of just £5.9m will see Remy quickly become the third choice striker for many fantasy sides.
Harry Redknapp’s team remains full of fantasy worth, epitomised none more so than on loan midfielder Andros Townsend at £4.4m who produced a man of the match performance with a goal, two assists and three bonus points against Sunderland last time out.
Christopher Samba is another to add to the watchlist, after scoring over 100 points in three successive seasons for Blackburn during 2008-2011. Samba is still short of the pace of the Premier League, but the Congo international has always carried a substantial threat from corners and set-pieces..
Elsewhere suitors of NORWICH could come back into fashion, with Javier Garrido, Russell Martin and Sebastian Bassong high on the agenda given the Canaries run of nine clean sheets already this season.
NEWCASTLE’s Moussa Sissoko and Yohan Cabaye look encouraging in the centre of the Magpies midfield, with fixtures against Wigan, Fulham Sunderland and West Brom on the horizon.
Over the next few gameweeks managers will be eagerly reshaping their squads and the quest to find differentials with favourable fixture runs look never-ending, as we approach the final part of the season.
By Jonathan Day
About the Author:
Fantasy Football: GW29 Match Review
Many thanks as always to @shots_on_target for his review, check out his site at www.shotsontarget.co.uk a fantastic #FPL resource!
4XSQEEEE5GND
A much needed and deserved win for Lambert’s Villa which unfortunately resulted in McDermott leaving Reading. I’m not sure what more he could’ve done for the team really but they have been pretty poor all season long and should probably consider themselves fairly content to not be relegated already. Villa’s fight will go on. Despite this victory it wasn’t an emphatic performance and they have another huge scrap ontheir hands with the visit of QPR this weekend. In Benteke they have a real player and he’s sure to be on the end of a few chances come Saturday.
QPR have won back to back victories and in Loic Remy that have a player to score them the goals that win games, with two more of Redknapp’s January signings chipping in with cracking goals, Townsend and Jenas. The goal-scorers may grab the headlines but it’s an improved defence and returned presence of Park in midfield that may give this team the foundations to survive. Sunderland’s chief goalscorer achieved double digits for the the season to give him 10 in 24 appearances. Exactly what you’d expect of Steven Fletcher.
Check out the Shots On Target review of GW29’s Top Ranked Players and over the Last Six Fixtures
Fantasy Premier League GW29 Nothing but Bonus Points!!
A limited weekend of Fantasy Premier League action saw just six matches played but there was enough drama in them to fill 10.
At St James’ Park on Sunday, Papiss Cisse’s last minute winner completed Newcastle’s stunning turnaround against Stoke, a strike which both earned his team three points and the Senegalese forward three FPL bonus points of his own.
Elsewhere, the game of the weekend at Anfield saw Luis Suarez pick up his by now customary three bonus points – the eighth time this season his taken the maximum amount as he took his tally to 30 extras for the campaign – as Liverpool came from 2-1 to beat Tottenham 3-2 in a terrific game at Anfield. Spurs’ double goalscorer Jan Vertonghen picked up two BPs, whilst Reds goalscorer Stewart Downing grabbed one.
Saturday’s goalless draw between Norwich and Southampton at Carrow Road saw three bonus points picked up by Saints midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin and two for goalkeeper Artur Boruc after he saved Grant Holt’s late penalty, whilst Andros Townsend’s stunning strike in QPR’s 3-1 win over Sunderland led to the midfielder picking up three extras.
Gabby Agbonlahor added three extras to his total after scoring the winner in Aston Villa’s crucial 2-1 win at Reading, whilst both Liam Ridgewell and James Morrison shared the top BP honours in West Brom’s win by same margin over Swansea.
Norwich 0-0 Southampton
3 Schneiderlin
2 Boruc, Turner
QPR 3-1 Sunderland
3 Townsend
2 Remy
1 Fletcher
Reading 1-2 Aston Villa
3 Agbonlahor
2 Weimann
1 Benteke
West Brom 2-1 Swansea
3 Ridgewell, Morrison
1 Lukaku
Newcastle 2-1 Stoke
3 Cisse
2 Debuchy
1 Walters
Liverpool 3-2 Tottenham
3 Suarez
2 Vertonghen
1 Downing
Gameweek 29: You’re the Captain!!
Thanks to @RotoZdroik for his guest post looking at Captain options for Gameweek29.
FPL: YOU’RE THE CAPTAIN
The list of captain options is extremely small this weekend due to the FA Cup. Out of the six matches, only four of the clubs are in the top half of the table. Two of those teams are Swansea and West Brom in eighth and ninth place, respectively. In a week with only six matches, your captain pick may be more important than usual.
- Luis, Suarez, Liverpool
- Gareth Bale, Tottenham
- Moussa Sissoko, Newcastle
- Steven Gerrard, Liverpool
- Grant Holt, Norwich
Most owners will have the task of deciding between Suarez and Bale. Those two have been the hands down hottest players in recent weeks. Robin van Persie isn’t even up there with them. Bale has seven goals in his last five games, receiving bonus points in all of them. Suarez’s form doesn’t extend to five games, but in his last two which Liverpool has dominated, he has four goals and two assists.
Suarez gets my pick for the top captain option this weekend, mainly because he’ll be at Anfield. In the last match between these clubs, Spurs took the win 2-1 at White Hart Lane with Bale getting the goal and assist. The Reds have been a much stronger team at home this year which gives them the edge in this one.
If you have Bale, it’s hard not to captain him right now. I know I listed Suarez above him, but you can’t really give one of these players a true advantage. No one has been able to stop Bale in all competitions and it’s going to take a lot in this one even on the road. As this is the biggest match of the weekend, hopefully we’ll get to see a few goals.
Sissoko didn’t find the score sheet in his last match which was the first time of his short Premier League career. Stoke is solid defensively, but you can’t really trust them on the road. Newcastle has been very good at St. James’ Park and Sissoko should capitalize on that.
This goes back to hoping there are plenty of goals in this match. Gerrard has fallen off a bit lately, but he has stepped up to the challenge in bigger games this season and scored when it counts the most. I’ll definitely take him over some of the other lesser options out there.
The last spot goes to famed goal poacher, Grant Holt. He’s having a rather disappointing season with only five goals and three assists, but he should get plenty of chances at home against Southampton. The Saints have lost two straight matches giving up six total goals to Newcastle and QPR. Norwich should be able to score a couple and that starts with Holt up front.
*Stats up-to-date as of Mar. 5
Adam joined RotoExperts in 2008 as a member of the Scout/Player Updates Team. Throughout the years, Adam has written articles encompassing a number of sports. If you like your Fantasy advice full of numbers and straight to the point, look no further. Find him (@RotoZdroik) on Twitter, to get a daily take of what’s happening in the sports world
Gameweek 29 preview: It’s a real six-pointer…
Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick, Gareth Bale impressed again and a Manchester United player ended up as the top points scorer. Gameweek 28 was a pretty standard one in truth.
Now though, with the forthcoming FA Cup quarter-finals creating havoc with the fixture schedule, Gameweek 29 is going to prove to be far from normal. Only 12 of the 20 teams are in action, with six matches spread across Saturday and Sunday, as no players from Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea or Arsenal kick a Premier League football. This one isn’t for the faint-hearted.
In honour of the altered Gameweek, we’re going to switch up the latest Fantasy Yirma preview and instead of the usual fare, we’ll give you a game-by-game breakdown of a weekend which could ultimately prove vital to just how your season ends up. As well as that, we’ll give you a player from each match who we’re tipping to score you some points.
Hold on tight for Yirma’s six appeal…
Norwich v Southampton, Saturday, 15:00
The Canaries have won just one of their last 11 matches, and with boss Chris Hughton declaring that this heralds the start of ‘a big month’ for his side then the pressure is sure to be on at Carrow Road. Southampton will also be eager to make up for their loss to QPR last time out, and so this has the potential to be a tight, low-scoring affair.
Yirma’s verdict:
Saints forward Rickie Lambert (£7.2m) disappointed many as his fine recent run came to an end in the QPR game, and with Hughton struggling to partner Grant Holt (£5.9m) and Luciano Becchio (£5.1m) at the other end, this is a contest in which defenders could shine. Having started all but one match since he signed, Norwich full-back Javier Garrido (£4.7m) will hope to keep things tight at the back and get forward to try and add to his two assists thus far.
QPR v Sunderland, Saturday, 15:00
Will the Southampton win see QPR turn a corner or will it lead them down another cul-de-sac? In truth this could be seen as a pretty perfect game for Harry Redknapp’s side given Sunderland’s patchy away form, but the Rs frequently struggle when home expectations are high, and the visitors might find some momentum from bouncing back from two goals down to draw with Fulham last time.
Yirma’s verdict:
Stephane Sessegnon (£6.9m) hasn’t hit the heights he scaled last season but his goal against Fulham was a second in a row, and the midfielder from Benin gets the nod in a contest which could well see both sides score. QPR’s hopes for a goal are likely to rest on Loic Remy (£5.7m), whilst Junior Hoilett (£5.6m) made a first start since November at the weekend and also provides an added threat.
Reading v Aston Villa, Saturday, 15:00
Reading really need to win this one ahead of trips to Manchester United and Arsenal, and they’ll be buoyed by the fact that Villa have only won two of 14 on the road this season. The home side will know that these three points will only look more important the longer the season goes on, and if they can stay in the game until close to the conclusion of it they can capitalise on Villa’s likely nervousness.
Yirma’s verdict:
Brian McDermott isn’t averse to a bit of forward rotation, but with Pavel Pogrebnyak suspended he’s likely to have to rely on Adam Le Fondre (£5.0m) from the start, with the skipper Jobi McAnuff (£4.7m) another certain starter. ‘Alfie’ gets the not due to his goalscoring prowess though, but the Royals will of course have to watch out for Christian Benteke (£7.0m), who scored the winner when these two met in November.
West Brom v Swansea, Saturday, 15:00
An attractive match on paper, and one for fans of both sides to celebrate the giant strides that their clubs have made this season. However, Swansea have only won one in seven on the road and they face a Baggies side who have won the same amount of Premier League home matches as Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal this season. Steve Clarke’s side could just nick a close but entertaining contest.
Yirma’s verdict:
They badly missed him at Chelsea last weekend, and Romelu Lukaku (£6.5m) returns here in a match in which his strength and power could prove telling. In a match in which the Baggies may be on top, Michu (£8.4m) could find it tough to improve on a run of scoring in just one match in his last eight, whilst Jonathan De Guzman (£5.7m) might find it difficult to make his midfield presence felt.
Newcastle v Stoke, Sunday, 15:00
Neither of these two are in particularly good form, with Stoke winning just one in their last eight in the league and hosts Newcastle never looking that convincing. Alan Pardew’s side will have targeted this clash for a victory though, especially off the back of the late loss at Swansea last time out, and the Geordies’ French connection can combine and help deliver what would be a hugely welcome three points.
Yirma’s verdict:
The amount of new players in this Newcastle side can mean that the team can be somewhat hit and miss, but Yohan Cabaye (£6.6m) has been in the north-east for a while now and can show much-needed leadership skills in what could become a bit of a battle. Moussa Sissoko (£6.5m) is also likely to find plenty of fans given his recent goalscoring form at St James’s Park, but the vote goes to his compatriot.
Liverpool v Tottenham, Sunday, 16:00
Undoubtedly the weekend’s glamour league fixture, this promises to be a terrific watch for the neutral given the two sides’ recent form. Liverpool have scored nine goals without reply in their last two league matches, but Spurs are unbeaten in 12 since their last trip to Merseyside when Everton beat them in December. An exciting contest looks in store, with both sides likely to find the net and get the pulses racing.
Yirma’s verdict:
This was always going to be between two names – although Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho (£6.6m) deserves an honourable mention – and it is home advantage which just sees Luis Suarez (£10.8m) get the nod ahead of Gareth Bale (£10.5m). The Premier League’s top goalscorer has been in devastating form recently, and although you really do need to have both him and Bale in your team at the moment it is the Uruguayan who could win the day here.
GW28 FPL Match Centre, from @Shots_on_target
Friend of Yirma @shots_on_target is back with his terrific match centre, giving you everything you need to know about Gameweek 28. Click on the individual match centre for a better look at all the great stats!
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Welcome to the Gameweek (GW28) Match Centre for Fantasy Premier League. One game is still outstanding – Aston Villa vs. Man City. This post will be updated once it’s complete
Fresh from Rafa’s Rant midweek it was always going to be interesting to see how the Chelsea players performed today and they did okay, winning this game comfortably despite the slender margin. West Brom were content to sit deep and hope for a late sucker punch but were bereft of Lukaku’s heavyweight presence up-front has to rely on a late flurry from Odemiwingie, in from the cold. Demba Ba showed that when played he will have shots and score goals. He’s just Torres’ metatarsal bone away from being the best FPL player ever. Oscar had a stunning game, outshining the more glamorous Mata and Hazard and could have scored two early on. He has 8 goals for Chelsea this season in 43 apps, but only 1 from 25 in the league. Fantasy potential bubbling under the surface.
The Big Man does it again, with a top points haul from a goal and assist. Fellaini owners know what they’re getting. Kevin Mirallas was the other Evertonian to put in a performance worthy of a least a goal, and is back to something of the form that saw me highly recommending him before his injury. Jelavic continues to struggle and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Anichebe back in the team as Everton for their next game. Pogrebynak’s red card affords Le Fondre a rare chance to shine for 90 minutes but despite hitting the bar Reading’s best chances came through attacks from midfield. Baines was kept very quiet and if Everton can’t get a clean sheet against Reading then attacking points look his only hope.
I was failry sure Van Persie would not start this one and get 20 minutes off the bench. Or at least I hoped! But within minutes of the game starting he had an assist. Rooney looked very threatening and scored well. Kagawa. too. will have opened up a few people’s eyes but I feel this was more of a warm-up for him ahead of Real Madrid to give him some gametime. Norwich? Worst performance of any team this season.
Shocker this really, although you had have to thought that QPR were going to get a win at some point this under Redknapp this season, although Southmapton’s victory over City still fresh in people’s minds had been enough for Lambert to be considered for captaincy here. He didn’t threaten much though, and it was Rodriguez who had the most of the attack, on for the injured Lallana. The home side were still the side looking most likely to score though when Remy popped up with a goal to change the dynamic of the game. Whilst the Frenchman may grab the headline it may be Ji-Sung Park’s return to the team that adds the real drive that this team needs to make a fight of it.
Stoke’s season has been unravelling steadily since shortly before Christmas to the point were they can now no longer defend to add to their inability to score goals. Recipe for disaster if they hadn’t started so well. It’ll have to worry fans for next season though, where exactly can they go from here? West Ham are the slightly better version of Stoke with slightly better personnel in positions key to their playing style. Andy Carroll is good at what he does, although not good enough to warrant a picture.
Berbatov is back! Or maybe not. But he’s quietly and calmly scored 2 goals in his last 2 games and remains Fulham’s go to player for goals. Whilst Fulham have pulled themselves back up from the poor form which blighted them though the colder months the start of some springtime weather has not seen them climb right back to their early season heights. Here they performed to the league average against their opponents, as too did Sunderland against theirs. O’Neils signing of Danny Graham now sees Sunderland line up in a 4-4-2 with Sessengon and Johnson nominally out wide. Both will drift inside though and Graham’s presence should afford them more space and time on the ball, Sessegnon rescuing Sunderland a point here.
Not so obvious who the pick out here as a player with the most fantasy potential. Steven Taylor had the highest F.SCORE of both sides with 2 shots on target and increased scoring from defenders. However, both his were headers and these don’t have quite the conversion rate as some other types of shots (more on this one day!). Similar story for Swansea really, no one player stood out from the stats. Therefore I’m giving the accolade of a picture to this site’s new budget fave Sissoko, who although just 1 shot on target had the most attempts of anyone one on target, showing he is a threat in this side.
Gareth Bale continues his incredible scoring run this season as Tottenham really restricted Arsenal’s opportunities here. There’s really no-one on the Spurs team who can get close to Bale although Sigurdsson and Lennon may flirt with your fantasy affections. For Arsenal, it’s Walcott again really who is the main man. Giroud is an extreme outside bet and until he finds his scoring groove he’s going to remain so.
Yet another player ‘does it again‘ and this time in the most emphatic style of the weekend. Sturridge’s concerning minor injuries are good news for owners of Luis Suarez and what performance this was. The much-maligned Stewart Downing was also on the score sheet and was Liverpool’s 2nd most threatening player. Coutinho’s two assists also warrant attenti0on with some real good attacking passing. Wigan had their chances to score, their two standout players remain Kone and Maloney.
Fantasy Premier League GW28 Nothing but Bonus Points!!
GW28 Nothing but Bonus Points!!
Whilst hat-tricks for Luis Suarez and Shinji Kagawa saw the pair inevitably gain the full trio of extras, there were – as ever – some interesting bonus points doled out across another packed Fantasy Premier League weekend.
Four Chelsea players managed to pick up extras following their 1-0 victory over West Brom at Stamford Bridge, with the Brazilian midfielder Oscar a somewhat surprising recipient of three bonus points despite a failure to register either a goal or an assist.
Oscar’s compatriot Philippe Coutinho (who looks a steal at £6.5m) picked up his first ever FPL bonus point thanks to his two assists in Liverpool’s 4-0 win at Wigan, whilst West Ham’s injury-hit Jack Collison picked up all three thanks to his winning goal for the Hammers at Stoke.
The debate still rages over whether or not Gareth Bale should have been awarded an own goal after he deflected in Per Mertesacker’s flick in Spurs’ win over Arsenal, but the in-form Welshman survived without any points penalty awarded, and with the goal awarded to Mertesacker the big German gained a bonus point from it too.
Chelsea 1-0 West Brom
3 Oscar, Ba
1 Luiz, A Cole
Everton 3 – 1 Reading
3 Mirallas
2 Fellaini
1 Pienaar
Manchester United 4-0 Norwich
3 Kagawa
2 Rooney
1 Carrick
Southampton 1- 2 QPR
3 Remy
2 Bothroyd
1 Hoilett
Stoke City 0-1 West Ham
3 Collison
2 Jaaskelainen, O’Brien
Sunderland 2-2 Fulham
3 Sessegnon
2 Berbatov
1 Riether
Swansea 1-0 Newcastle
3 De Guzman
2 Rangel
1 Davies
Wigan 0-4 Liverpool
3 Suarez
2 Downing
1 Coutinho
Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal
3 Bale
2 Lennon
1 Mertesacker
Aston Villa 0-1 Manchester City
3 Kolo Toure
2 Clichy, Tevez
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