The big points are scored by the players who cost the big bucks, but who fills up the rest of your team is arguably just as important. Here are a few tips on some bargain buys for managers on a budget.
Gameweek 11 Review
After a weekend where most of the attention focused on super-subs, it was somewhat appropriate that the two leading points scorers are players that are well used to the Manchester United bench.
One of them, Javier Hernandez, managed to do more in 45 minutes than his team-mates could do in 90 with two goals, an assist and three bonus points for a 15-point total, one less than the 16 points he would have achieved if he had been on the pitch for the same amount of time as his former team-mate Dimitar Berbatov, who delivered a masterclass against Arsenal at the Emirates.
Elsewhere, it was the unlikely duo of West Ham and Stoke who dominated the Dream Team by providing five out of the eleven players between them. Ryan Shawcross (9 points) and Charlie Adam (10) featured for the Potters, while West Ham were represented by Kevin Nolan (11), Jussi Jaaskelainen (8) and our own Joey O’Brien (9).
Norwich’s Javier Garrido (9) also got a look-in, as did two midfielders who continued what have been excellent campaigns so far, West Brom’s James Morrison (10) and the brilliant Marouane Fellaini (13).
J-League
Barry McCabe’s Breffni Blues managed to hold firm at the top of the J-League this week, but there was a big push from the chasing pack, so much so that Stephen Ruth’s Man Red dropped from second place and out the top five altogether.
Gavin Gingles’ Meath Lovers Pizza took their place as the leading challengers after an excellent 78 points, with Derek Dickenson’s Haven’t Got a Kalou, Michael Brophy’s Athletic Bilbrophy James Shannon’s Jagerbombers and the brilliantly-named Shawn Michaels Babes, led by Mickey Hanrahan, making up the top five.
Barry may be on top but he commented on last week’s piece worrying that he mightn’t stay there too long, a sign the chasing pack might interpret as a weakness from the so far nerveless leader. 13 points provides him with a bit of a cushion for now, but he’ll just have to wait to see how comfortable that cushion proves to be, eh Barry?
J-League Top 5:
- Breffni Blues – Barry McCabe: 705 points
- Meath Lovers Pizza – Gavin Gingles: 692 points
- Haven’t Got a Kalou – Derek Dickenson: 682 points
- Athletic Bilbrophy – Michael Brophy: 679 points
- Shawn Michaels Babes – Mickey Hanrahan, Jagerbombers – James Shannon: 673 points
On a budget: Bargain buys for under £8 million
It’s stating the obvious to say that the highest scoring players in the league are the ones that cost the most money.
Their high price comes from either their reputation or the fact that the more points they accrue, the more their value gradually increases, but while it would be nice to fill your team with the most expensive players in every position, there are budgetary constraints in place that prevent managers from doing so and rightly so. Where would the challenge be otherwise?
So while picking the big boys command most of a manager’s budget, it is where they spend the rest of their money that is arguably more important. With that in mind, here are five players who have been on fire so far but won’t burn a hole in your pocket.
Leighton Baines (£7.6 million). The £8 million limit is a moot point in this case because no defender costs more than £7.6 million, but if you are to make room for one expensive defender Baines is an excellent choice because of his ability to provide both goals and assists, of which he has two and three respectively so far.
James Morrison (£6.2 million). An ultra-reliable performer who perhaps doesn’t always get the acclaim he deserves. The highest scorer in a West Brom team who are flying, he has three goals and three assists so far.
Marouane Fellaini (£7.6 million). We’ve heaped plenty of praise on that luscious head of his already this season but we’ll heap a little more after his goal and assist last weekend brought his totals to six (goals) and three (assists) in only ten games.
Dimitar Berbatov (£7.4 million). With five goals, three assists and nine bonus points from only six starts, Berba has proved that while he might have lost a bit of pride at Old Trafford last season, he lost none of his class.
Peter Crouch (£6.9 million). Stoke might be unfashionable, but only four strikers have scored more Fantasy Football points than the English beanpole, who has four goals, two assists and 11 bonus points to his name so far.
JOE’s Fantasy Football Picks:
Top Dollar: David Silva (£9.3 million). A must-have for most of last season, Silva lost his way a little towards the end, but was badly missed while out injured recently. After his glorious assist for Dzeko’s goal on Sunday, can he get back to his best?
Mid-Range: Kevin Nolan (£6.8 million). Any one of the players mentioned above are worth a punt, but for a bit of variety, Nolan has proved fantastic value for money with five goals and two assists so far. Pity the chicken celebration was only temporarily put on hold last weekend.
Bargain Basement: Ryan Shawcross (£5.1 million). Always a popular choice amongst Fantasy Football managers, Shawcross hasn’t actually scored this season, which makes it likely he’ll do so sooner rather than later.
Irish Pick: Joey O’Brien (£4.0 million). Has played every minute of West Ham’s last two games and picked up two clean sheets and a bonus point while he was at it.
Captain’s Pick: Luis Suarez (£10.0 million). Liverpool have repeatedly struggled against teams they believe they should be beating at Anfield in recent times, so in that regard giving Suarez the armband is a bit of a risk, but it’s hard to ignore the form he’s in at the moment.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
