After the inaugural gameweek of this year’s premier league, which saw newly tuned Manchester United facing a home defeat, three sent-offs, two missed penalties and as many as 23 goals, we are ready to head onto this week’s action. With four of the present top six teams enjoying home comfort, here we sneak into the prediction zone to pick some players who will prove worthy in the fantasy battle in the next few days-
Defenders
As far as the fixtures reflect, Spurs, Chelsea and Swansea has the best chance to earn a clean sheet. Had they been achieved it, their keepers and defenders will enjoy a hefty amount of points to please the fantasy managers. Apart from that we can also expect to see a handful of goals from the backline. Names like Dejan Lovren of Liverpool, Curtis Davies of Hull City, Baines of Everton and Kompany of Manchester City will open their account of scoring pretty soon. This week may turn out to be the point fest for the managers possessing aforesaid defenders, who love to perform at the other end of the pitch also.
Midfielders
Gylfi Sigurdsson (6.2, having a price rise of .2) promises again to gather points as a confident Swansea side will face the newly promoted Burnley in their first home-leg encounter this season. The Icelander, who was instrumental in his team’s victory over the red devils delivering with a goal and an assist, has been given the license to play freely by his manager Gary Monk.
Sigurdsson’s former team-mate Christian Eriksen (8.0), though having a below-par impact in the last match, is raging to put a lightning performance in their home clash against QPR.
The match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge poses to see a flurry of goals. Fantasy owners having Cesc Fabregas (9.1) or Schurrle (7.5) can have a rise smile at the end.
West Ham’s Stewart Downing was outstanding last week. Priced at only 5.5, he can be a valuable asset in this week’s team as West Ham is taking on an out-of-shape Crystal Palace in the third London derby of this season’s Premier League.
Remy Cabella (7.5) can be a star this weekend after he failed to register substantial points in the Magpies’ opening clash against Man City despite an eye-catching performance.
Players like Yaya Toure, Ramsey, Sanchez, Sterling and Tadic will always be under the radar as they have themselves under the list of potential names who can deliver points with consistency.
Forwards
Diego Costa (10.5) and Wayne Rooney ( 10.5) can again be the forwards to place your money on this time. Naismith (5.5) and Bojan (5.5) can be in the race for the third choice forward.
Transfer tips:
As the managers are only allowed to do one free transfer, here are some tips to them in order to draw out the gambling cards with success.
To get rid of the uncertainty about Felipe Luis (6.0) making it to the starting eleven, one can bring in Koscielny who is available at the same price. Apart from that, Hull’s Curtis Davies (5.0), Tottenham’s Eric Dier (5.1) and Villa’s Ron Vlaar (4.6) can be a good option if one wants to keep some penny at their banks.
In case of the midfielders, one can rope in cheap and promising Ward-Prowse (5.0) of the Saints’ in place of the disappointing Lamela and Young. Stewart Downing (5.5), who produced most no. of accurate crosses last season, can also be a good replacement.
As most of the focus has been shifted towards Sigurdsson, the unnoticed Wilfried Bony can prove to be lethal against Burnley. He will be a good option instead of Olivier Giroud, who is showing no sign of form in the recent games. One amongst Charlie Austin and Loic Remy is expected to find the net this time as they had a cumulative 4 shots on target last time around. With Shane Long out to Southampton, Thomas Ince of Hull City (5.5) has been handed the regular forward role. With 3 shots on target out of 4 last time, he can surely be bet upon to break the jinx.
Apart from that, Naismith (5.0) and Berahino (5.6) can be your low priced third choice forward this weekend as the other options are not showing exemplary outcomes.
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I suggest Rooney or Costa as captain if you want to play safe. Now to gamble big, you can make Terry or Cahill Captain because they are expected to keep the clean sheet and also have a high chance of scoring from the corner.
Good one.. What about the choice of captain for gw2? Costa, Rooney, Siggy?