GW29 Preview – Written by @NiallHawthorne

I fondly remember the days when you could quietly and patiently build up to a Double Gameweek that would involve some of the biggest FPL hitters in the game.

These days they’re announced about 20 minutes before I put finger to keyboard.

Arsenal and Manchester City will play twice this week. If you have a few of their players in your squad already, good for you! If you haven’t, then you have a decision to make. -4? -8? -12???? With Pep Roulette? Are you bloody mad?

Oh, you’re reading this, of course you are.

Onto GW29!

GW29 Defender: Ben Foster, Watford

I’ve seen that video.

I’ve read what he does for those less fortunate them most.

He’s a fecking superstar. He’s also got 9 clean sheets and 15 Bonus Points this season.

Yes, this is a sentimental pick, but he also shut out Liverpool and has form.

The only downside is that he’s facing Christian Benteke, and he likes to be kind to those less fortunate…

Cue Benteke hat-trick.

GW29 Midfielder: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City

Raheem has had a bit of a Premier League break recently, but he is fit and back in action as witnessed at The Bernabeu.

He’s now almost a bit of a differential, particularly in a double gameweek, with an ownership of just 14.8% at time of typing.

He faces the notoriously non-stingy defences of Manchester United and Arsenal. The usual caveats of Pep Guardiola’s fickle finger of fate apply, but if you’re looking to make up ground, what you got to lose?

Plus, he’s off to Madrid this summer, so pick him while you can!

GW29 Forward: Diego Jota, Wolverhampton Wanderers

There’s form and then there’s FORM.

Diego Jota is in FORM. Plundering hat-tricks in Europe, and adding three goals and two assists in his last two league outings.

The fixtures are favourable also as Graham Potter leads his Seagulls to the Wolves. He’s owned by less than 7% of players too. If your mini-league rival has Jimenez, Jota is your man.

GW29 Captain: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal

Did you hear the one about the striker that scored 49 league goals in just over two seasons, playing for a ropey team under three different managers and surrounded by a mix of kids, delicate flowers and spoofers?

You have actually, his name is Aubameyang, and he’s a premium striker in world football. How the f*ck Arsenal have him remains a mystery to me. Imagine if he played in a really good team?

Anyway, that’s enough winding up of @FantasyYIRMA for one paragraph. Auba plays twice this week and the first game is against a West Ham side who have decided that attack is the best form of defence. Against Arsenal this might work, but it might also leave them open to Aubameyang.

The second game is against a Laporte-less City defence.

All aboard!

GW29 Outsider: Ismaila Sarr, Watford

Following his frankly hilarious performance at Anfield a few weeks ago, his Senegalese ‘bro’ Sadio Mane asked Troy Deeney to look after Ismaila Sarr.

Yeah, that worked out well, didn’t it!

Sarr has played over 45 minutes in just 11 league games this season, and has five goals and four assists to his name. With Deulofeu out for the rest of the season, Nigel Pearson will be praying that Sarr remains fit as he’s their main hope of survival.

With an ownership of just 1.5% and a trip to Selhurst Park next up, you could do worse than pick up on Sarr’s coattails.

Then you just need to buy a player called COVID-19 and you’d have opponents avoiding you like the plague.

GW29 Draft: Michail Antonio, West Ham United

I’ve long been an admirer of Antonio. He reminds me of a beefier Stan Collymore in that he’s got all the attributes needed to be a monster of a footballer, but just can’t seem to put it all together consistently.

However, he’s a handful when he does play, and I can see him giving Sokratis/Luiz/Mustafi a torrid time with his pace and power, as West Ham attack as if their Premier League lives depend on it. And they do.

GW29 Preview Written by @NiallHawthorne