In a week where Man City alone outscored Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal combined, we perhaps shouldn’t be surprised that the average was a paltry 41. I managed slightly more than that with a massive 48, but given none of my strikers scored and Eriksen scored 11 on his own, I don’t feel much like celebrating. I dropped to 65,953rd in the overall rankings, but I would settle for that come to the end of the season. What does week 9 have in store? Will these strikers remember how to score goals, or even stay fit?
The Dilemma
Man City scored 7 last week and I have no Man City coverage. That’s the problem. Add to that they are at home to Burnley and it might be time to re-think that strategy. Gabriel Jesus scored twice last weekend, and he’s still reasonably priced at £10.7m. Sergio Aguero continued his comeback by sitting on the bench for another 90 minutes, which makes me think he’ll only be used in an emergency. There’s an EFL Cup tie on Tuesday, so perhaps he’ll be eased back in there? Either way, I don’t think he’s ready for a recall just yet, but Raheem Sterling at £8.1m is looking more of an option by the week. The red side of Manchester have a trip to Huddersfield, where the honeymoon period appears to be over. Romelu Lukaku has looked a bit subdued in the last few games but will he bounce back here? It looks like Marcus Rashford will be out and Phil Jones has also emerged as a doubt.
The early game on Saturday sees surprise package Watford travel to Chelsea, who have Alvaro Morata back after the Spaniard completed 90 minutes on Wednesday. Morata is only £10.2m so if you think he’s back for good then I’d get in whilst the price is low. Super Sunday lives up to it’s billing for once. Arsenal travel to Everton, hoping to avoid another awful away day ater their Watford disaster last time out. Everton themselves are in desperate need for a win, either way neither are a particularly enticing FPL prospect. Tottenham vs Liverpool rounds off Sunday, Liverpool having found their goalscoring touch to the 7th degree in midweek whilst Spurs got a great draw in Madrid. However they just can’t get going at Wembley in the Premier League, maybe Kane needs to face Dejan Lovren to rediscover his home form? On the other hand you’d have to fancy Liverpool’s attacking talent on that big pitch.
Bargain Bin
Tammy Abraham scored twice last week and a home game with managerless Leicester should offer plenty of opportunities to add to his tally. Priced at just £5.7m, he offers a cheap third striker option if you want to invest elsewhere – to make room for Hazard perhaps? Leicester themselves are usually good for a goal but who knows how they will adapt to life under Michael Appleton. They might have a “do it for Craig!” attitude…or they might just down tools. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are up and running with their first win last week, and key man Wilfried Zaha is priced at just £6.7m. The Eagles visit St James’ Park, where they’ll find a Newcastle side clinging to a top half spot. At £6m, Matt Ritchie seems far and away the most value for money option, though Atsu at £5.1m is a more budget option.
Deadline
It’s a Friday night deadline, the powers that be are giving us the gift of West Ham vs Brighton on Friday at 8pm, so your deadline is 7pm on Friday. Don’t forget!
Captain
After scoring 7 last week, you’d have to think Man City will be a good place to put your money this week. Therefore my first choice of captain is Gabriel Jesus, though Sterling at 8.1m is also very tempting – he seems to score a tap in every week. We all know De Bruyne’s quality but he’s just too pricey for me. I’m back Lukaku to bounce back as my second choice – Huddersfield have looked a little shakey in recent weeks and you’d have to think Man Utd will grab the win with goals for Lukaku along the way. My third and final suggestion is Eden Hazard, not exactly a wild choice but he certainly seems back to form judging by his midweek showing, and a home game with Watford could mean goals for both sides on current form.
My team is a bit of a mess. I have nothing on the bench this week, as with Burnley at Man City, I don’t want Ben Mee in the lineup. Mbemba seems to have disappeared, not injured but also not on the bench for Newcastle which is typical, he was useful at £4m. With 0.7m in the bank I’m not blessed with loads of options to change this. Answers on a tweet…
De Gea, Fernandez, Evans, Monreal, Brady, Atsu, Salah, Eriksen, Kane, Vardy, Lukaku (c). Subs: Elliot, Mbemba, McArthur, Mee.
I need my ‘elite’ players to perform, as I don’t think there’s a lot from my lesser valued players this week. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you good luck and may all your arrows be green!