Hello and a Good Friday to you. The Premier League served up great entertainment in Europe this midweek but what will the weekend have in store? Game week 35 is looking like it could be a big one for Fantasy Premier League managers with eight sides playing twice. They include both Manchester clubs, Tottenham and Arsenal so many of your FPL favourites will pull double duty. As ever, I’m here to try and identify where the points will come from. First though, let’s review last week.
My score of 62 (58 when you take off an extra transfer) defeated the average of 54 and saw our overall rank rise to 5,578th. It was a rather strange week, it is unusual for a score so close to the average still result in a green arrow but it was a week where the “dead” teams performed particularly well. A lot of wildcards were activated with poor returns but they should at least be set up well for this week. How’s that for a link?
As I used my wildcard a long time ago I’ll talk you through my problems later. Let’s see who is up to what this week, shall we?
The doublers
Top of the shop this week are Manchester City, who face two difficult games but in many ways, that helps our selections. Revenge will be sought against Tottenham on Saturday before they make the very short trip to Old Trafford on Wednesday. With two huge games and no Champions League to concern them, I’d be surprised if Pep took too many risks with the team selection in these two games. Presuming they aren’t carrying injuries, goal machines Sterling (£11.5m) and Aguero (£11.7m) will start both games. There’s a title to be won and these two fixtures are the biggest hurdles to overcome.
Tottenham proved they could score against Man City on Wednesday and they will fancy their chances of doing so again. It’s their home game with Brighton that entices me though. Spurs are in a battle to secure a top-four spot and can’t really afford to take too many chances, especially with Harry Kane out. I’d expect Son (£8.8m) to start both after his rest last week. The defence is less certain, but with Sissoko picking up an injury on Wednesday the midfield options are dwindling.
Next on my list is actually Wolves. Home games with Brighton and Arsenal bring Raul Jimenez (£6.9m) into my thinking. Brighton have been woeful recently whilst Arsenal struggled to beat 10 man Watford on Monday. There shouldn’t be an issue of rotation now with no FA Cup to distract Nuno. Seeing as we’re on this fixture, let’s discuss Arsenal. A home game with Crystal Palace is all well and good ahead of the trip to Molineux, but who really knows what Arsenal’s team will be? Which of the two strikers get the nod? Will Ozil play now Ramsey is injured? These are all questions I can’t be bothered with – select with caution.
Watford don’t have a bad pair of games either. Away to Huddersfield should be a chance for goals and a home game with Southampton looks okay on paper. The only problem is, their main goal threat and captain Troy Deeney is suspended. Mavericks, Deulofeu and Pereyra, are doubts too, which throws doubt over just where the goals will come from.
Man Utd continue to bemuse. They managed to beat West Ham more by luck than judgement – two penalties, both scored by Paul Pogba, but can you rely on that as a source of goals? They’re off to Everton and then host the Manchester derby. They’re not great fixtures but their need for points is getting urgent, so don’t rule them out.
Single man, reveal yourself
We shouldn’t rule out those who play only once. League leaders Liverpool are off to Cardiff, a huge game at both ends of the table. Salah, Mane and co will fancy their chances of notching.
Chelsea are also in action only once. They host Burnley on Monday night which should be a good stage for Eden Hazard. With the Europa League not in action until the following midweek, there shouldn’t be any rotation issues here.
Captain
It almost goes without saying your captain should be somebody playing twice. Man City have two tough games but Sterling and Aguero are fixture proof. Son will also be a popular choice after showing he can score against Man City on Wednesday. That coupled with a home game against Brighton puts him up the pecking order. Raul Jimenez has two home games which immediately makes him a standout candidate. Do Wolves have anything left in the tank though?
My team
Here we are as it stands – I’m eyeing up the triple captain chip this weekend.
Foster, Duffy, Robertson, Digne, Doherty, Hazard, Salah, Son, Vardy, Rondon, Wilson. Subs: Anderson, Wan-Bissaka, Camarasa, Fabianski.
I’d like to do Jimenez and Sterling for Vardy and Anderson but I’m £0.8m short. I might, therefore, do a -8 to do Digne to Bednarek. Hopefully, triple captain will see off the eight-point loss plus the security of players playing twice.
Whilst I mull that over, just a reminder that the deadline is 11:30 on Saturday 20th April. All that is left to do is for me to wish you good luck and may all your arrows be green!
