Schmeichel, joint runner-up in last year’s Premier League golden glove award gets the nod between the sticks for game week three's squad picks. The Algorithm has predicted a potential point’s haul of 4.9, which looks justified against a Swansea side struggling in front of goal (with only one team goal in two games). Although it’s too early to make any dramatic predictions, at the same point in last year’s season the Swans had already netted four times (two of which were away against reigning champions Chelsea). Though what is most notable is West Ham new boy, Ayew (7.3) contributed two of those goals during Swansea’s strong start to the 2015/16 campaign. Sigurdsson and Llorente, with Barrow and Routledge supporting on the wings could cause a potential threat in the games to come. Yet, while the Swans attack beds in the safe play would be to back a Leicester shut out here, particularly after they kept an Arsenal side blessed with attacking options at bay last time out.
It won't be long before Pep begins to supplement his recent successful results with more regular clean sheets in the Premier League. With the dust now settled surrounding Joe Hart’s position in the team, upon the arrival of Claudio Bravo, Stone's owners will be licking their lips. It’s pretty much music to the ears for managers, now Pep finally has a reliable back five that are capable of playing his system. Kompany’s return to first team training is another reason for Stones’ owners to be a little more chipper. Stones attacking threat has been minimal during his fledgling career up until this point (with only one goal in approx. 70 games). But as a cheap way into the city rear guard, FFF suggests you go forth and buy for future weeks.
McAuley has a clean sheet and one goal to his name from two games so far, sitting handsomely on 14 points. Though, don't be too blinded by his goal scoring attributes just yet. While he is a threat in the opposing box from set pieces he is hardly one of the more prolific centre backs in the Premier League for goals scored across a season. McAuley has only picked up a single goal in each of his previous two seasons (no Terry in his prime then). The Northern Irishman’s real value lies in his clean sheet and bonus potential, and as it has already been commented on, Pulis builds his teams with a "defence first" mentality. Pulis has again been true to his style at West Brom across his brief time as manager to date. With number one Goalkeeper Ben Foster back fully fit, after an indifferent season with injuries last year, the Baggies defensive assets now have even more appeal. A double up on their Goalkeeper/Defenders is certainly not a bad idea.
Social media reported that Mandanda looked a class above in goal mid-week versus Blackpool, and therefore could be given the nod this weekend at home to Bournemouth. If he's given his Premier League debut, similarly to Foster's impact at West Brom, it will give the back four much needed confidence, and hopefully solidify the defence. This is certainly an aspect Pardew needs to improve upon quickly, as Palace have lost their first two, dragging themselves further into the poor form pit. Their record now reads 14 losses from their last 21 games, with only two wins. And what better chance to turn things around this weekend against a team with only a solitary consolation goal to their name from the opening weekend. It would seem Bournemouth are another team finding it hard to score themselves, and while Souare doesn't offer much in the way of attacking points for his owners, he certainly should be on a winning side this weekend. That may well require a clean sheet, given both teams shyness in front of goal.
Nolito an FFF favourite, really stamped down his authority after being introduced late on last weekend. He was arguably helped by a tiring Sunderland defence, who looked all at sea and were largely out of position chasing the game, but, he looked very much the Pep player we expected from documenting his time at Celta Vigo. As tireless as old city favourite Tevez, with a style akin to Luis Suarez, Manchester City have landed a real player here. If given his chance don't be surprised to see him averaging a solid 5.0 points a game come season close.
With Mahrez we are talking about a top class player, and you don't need to be a sports journalist to make such statements. Essentially, anyone that didn’t have their head buried in the sand for the majority of August 2015 to May 2016 would be fully aware of his game-changing attributes. So, this is why we see him in nearly one in three teams, even with a season price hike of 4.0. He hasn’t started this season with quite the bang he did last year, but most certainly shouldn’t be written off so early in the season as some 40,000+ managers have already this week. A home fixture against an unsettled Swansea defence presents the French born Algerian with an opportunity to build upon his single goal, which came in the form of a penalty during the opening weekend. FFF believe that his abundance of talent mean he won’t have been “found out”, as some one season wonders have in the past. The cherry on the cake? He appears to be favoured for penalty duties over Vardy again. Well, at least for now.
In Redmond we are bestowed with a true out of position (OOP) prospect. Claude Puel has made it very clear with well documented comments comparing the nippy, tricky winger striker to Arsenal legend, Henry.
“I see Redmond here as having the qualities of a striker. He can shoot, dribble and make exciting things happen. He’s been a good surprise for me. It seems a pity or a waste to leave him on the right. He can play up front.”
Redmond has attempted six assists and had six shots on goal across 180 minutes of football. With midfielders being rewarded one more point than strikers for goals (and also more likely to take the bonus points versus an equivalent goal scoring striker from the same team) he is definitely one you should be taking advantage of for now. Redmond needed a little more support against Manchester United, but, many teams will visit the reborn Old Trafford fortress this year and come unstuck.
Townsend is another midfielder in this week’s squad picks that has been subbed out more than he has been subbed in (circa. 10,000 times) after two game week blanks. The arrival of Benteke (7.4) to work off and deliver incisive passes to should improve his attacking points output. His powerful left foot can count itself very unlucky across the first two games of the season, with no goals or assists to show for some very impressive attacking numbers. During 180 minutes of football Townsend has amassed more shots, crosses, and successful final third passes in comparison to other popular manager choices in the same price bracket.
His greedy style of play means you can always count on him for a high shots-per-game ratio, and that style coupled with the other positive numbers above means a points explosion is surely due. Who would back against it happening against the Cherries this weekend.
It’s the second week running in FFF’s squad picks for the Argentinean bulldog. Aguero’s tireless nature is hard not to love and when you couple that with world class talent it makes him an essential pick, and one of the safest captain choices out there. He once again showed his strength against Stoke last weekend, as he so often does. He simply proved too much of a handful in the end for the Potters, who have always been relatively solid in defence at the Britannia stadium. This Sunday he will face a back four that have lined up alongside one another only a couple of times. With this in mind, FFF can see West Ham struggling not to concede 2 or more. With Aguero’s goal involvement touching on one in three last season, FFF are backing him to walk away from this one with 6.5+ points.
Costa, has risen in price in the last couple of days after looking very much like Conte’s first choice striker. However, The Bat-man (Batshuayi 9.0) is proving to be a very viable alternative and is causing Conte to have a formation and selection headache. Batshuayi has scored three goals and one assist in 67 minutes of competitive football since signing. Yet, Costa looks like the man to lead the line for now, and this is why FFF predict he will provide 5.1 points this weekend against newly promoted Burnley, who are still adjusting to the league. Costa's passion is both his weapon and undoing and he has looked incredibly pumped up so far this season, returning his managers with a solid 10 points (two goals in two games). But, controversy is never too far removed from the adopted Spanish player, and in his opening two games there have been cries for red cards from opposing supporters. Nonetheless, it is this fire in his belly that makes him the goal scorer that he is. The yellow cards he has picked up in both games are a result of that heated energy, and definitely didn’t do his bonus point potential any favours (not receiving a single bonus point from either game) which is something that needs to be monitored if you want the most for your 9.6 spent,
Kane is the only player in this week’s squad picks to have dropped in price, having had nigh on 150,000 managers transfer him out of their teams. Although it is difficult with Ibrahimovic (11.7) and Aguero’s form to not pull the plug on the Spurs’ man (especially when Ibra’s price is similar), this week probably wasn’t the week to drop him. Kane was guilty of a slow start to the season last year and it took him seven games to get going before registering his first goal of the campaign. Nevertheless, from game week seven onwards he managed to find the net 25 times in the final 32 games. That form is quite simply astonishing, and justification to why he is worth every penny of his starting price tag of 11.0. Liverpool present stiff competition for Spurs, however, it is their defence that is the weakest part of their team and although Milner is a very good all-rounder left back most certainly wouldn’t be in his top five best positions. FFF expect to see goals in this open ended affair, and Kane should be involved. If his involvement includes a goal, then he’s already ahead of where he was at last year – A personal best season which saw him win the golden boot. Here’s to hoping another budget points magnet emerges in the mould of last season’s Mahrez 5.5 and Alli 5.0, that way we may be able to look at a front three of Kane, Ibra and Aguero.
Join 89% of our members who won their main mini-league last season.
GET IT NOWAlready a Premium user? Login here
