It is that time of year, after all.
Gameweek 13 review
In the history of this Fantasy Football column we don’t think we’ve seen the Dream Team look as orderly as it does this week, with every selected player seemingly abiding by the rule that they have to have posted a tally that’s a multiple of five.
The entire back four of Aaron Cresswell, Glen Johnson, Chris Smalling and Gael Clichy, for example, all contributed the top individual score of 15 points after all four scored at the weekend.
Every single one of the remaining seven players, meanwhile – Costel Pantilimon in goals, a midfield four of Esteban Cambiasso, Joe Cole, Mile Jedinak and Yaya Toure and the front two of Robin van Persie and Charlie Austin – scored ten points in a team that’s a dream for lazy mathematicians everywhere.
J-League
After what was arguably the worst scoring weekend of the season so far there wasn’t too much movement at the top of the J-League this week, with Terry O’Rourke’s Sporting Kilbeggan holding onto top spot.
A solid 59 points led to Enda McGearty’s Coin Men leapfrogging Stephen Mullet’s wecouldwinitsixtimes into second place, while Dan Kelly’s Heroes made their way into the top five, a single point behind Diarmuid McCarthy’s ABCDE F.C. in fourth place.
J-League Top 5:
- Sporting Kilbeggan – Terry O’Rourke: 818 points
- Coin Men – Enda McGearty: 810 points
- Wecouldwinitsixtimes – Stephen Mullett: 795 points
- ABDCE F.C. – Diarmuid McCarthy: 791 points
- Kelly’s Heroes – Dan Kelly: 790 points
Bargain hunting
Anyone who did even the slightest hint of forward planning will have been prepared for this mid-week gameweek for quite some time, but we can’t help but feel that this round of fixtures crept up on us a little all the same.
Much like Christmas shopping at this time of year, it’s bargains you’re after and there is very little time for fuss so below are a few players that have been catching the eye of late and will cost you little more than a thought if you’re planning on a bit of last-minute wheeling and dealing this evening.
Chris Smalling (£5.3 million): Although guilty of a massive brain-fart against Manchester City, Smalling is the only United defender seemingly capable of escaping injury of late and right now, he is a certain starter in a defence that have conceded just three goals in the last five games.
Mile Jedinak (£5.2 million): We’ve a lot of time for the Crystal Palace skipper, who already has five goals to his name this season, including three in his last five games.
Harry Kane (£4.9 million): Kane has played 90 minutes in Spurs’ last three games and now he’s being given a decent run, you’d fancy him adding to the two goals and two assists he’s managed so far. He’s managed a half-decent 23 points in his last four outings alone.
Danny Ings (£5.7 million): Burnley are finally starting to make their mark on the Premier League and a lot of that is down to Ings, who has scored four goals and registered over 30 points in his last five games.
Charlie Austin (£6.0 million): Despite QPR’s struggles, only three strikers in the Premier League have more fantasy football points than Austin, who has banged in seven goals and provided two assists so far.
JOE’s Fantasy Football Picks
Top Dollar: Sergio Aguero (£12.8 million). Man City have a terrible record at the Stadium of Light, but nobody is playing better in the league at the moment than the deadly Argentine, who picked up his first two assists of the season against Southampton last time out.
Mid-Range: Wilfried Bony (£8.4 million). The Swansea frontman is always a handful and scored his sixth goal of the season against Crystal Palace on Saturday. He’s averaging just over six points a game in the last seven games.
Bargain Basement: Danny Ings (£5.7 million). Of all the names suggested above, we’re going to go for in-form Ings, who has three goals and 21 points in his last two games.
Irish Pick: Seamus Coleman (£6.9 million). Against Hull at home, we’re returning to our default option of Coleman, who looked dangerous against Spurs when given the freedom of the right wing.
Captain’s Pick: Wayne Rooney (£10.4 million). As we pointed out last week, Rooney is a man who scores goals in runs and Fantasy Football points in spurts so given the form he’s in right now, we expect him to add to the two goals and 17 points he’s scored in the last two games against Stoke this evening.
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