Greetings from Australia, home of the planet’s biggest and best sporting events. Think Asian Cup (the world’s showpiece soccer event: yep, “soccer”!) and world championship fighting (no, not the UFC tiddlywinks, I’m talking about the darts of course (thank goodness the chairs were only plastic!)).

I’m pleased to introduce blue_moon’s “fantasy spotlight”, a periodic series where we focus on those lost souls in need of fantasy footballing redemption.

By way of background, I think we all agree that the 2014/15 fantasy football season has been an unusual one in many respects, and certainly very different to 2013/14. For example: 

•    The vast majority of fantasy teams follow a "template" probably to an extent not seen before.

•    In view of the wonderful performances by the Premier League teams in the FA Cup in recent weeks, we're less likely to see double game weeks to the extent that we observed (and profited from) last season.

•    Sam Allardyce is loved by his fans.

•    Sir Alan (Pardew that is, not Sugar) actually (finally?) left Newcastle.

•    Everton have assumed their rightful place on the premier league table.

•    Wes Brown has only conceded one own goal.

•    Wes Brown has not conceded a red card.

•    Wes Brown has played 90 minutes in his last four premier league matches.

In view of the above (well, some of the above anyway), the search for differentials is probably now as important as it's ever been in recent seasons, particularly for those looking to stay competitive in their mini-leagues. To those for whom global domination is still a reality, I say congratulations, and I wish you well for the remainder of the season.

Some things, of course, never change. Kevin Mirallas’ spirit of generosity is an excellent case in point.

We’re certainly blessed in 2015 with the volume, quality, and diversity of online fantasy football content and commentary that we now have to choose from. Top-draw sites such as fantasyfootballfix.com and fantasyfootball247.co.uk mean we now have an embarrassment of fantasy footballing riches on which to base our research and team selections, with menu options to appease even the most fastidious of players and statisticians. I hope this small periodic contribution is worthy of a place among the fantasy footballing elite.

As the January wildcard comes and goes and we embark on the “championship rounds”, so to speak, it’s time to not necessarily hit the “pause” button, but rather to take stock of what’s unfolded to date. With the fantasy footballing masses gushing praise, reverence and downright obsession with the likes of Sanchez, Hazard, Costa, Silva, Aguero, Kane, Defoe (WTF?) etc…, perhaps we should stop for a minute and reflect on the forgotten men of fantasy football (cue violins here). You know who I mean. Those deserted by the very "football fantasisers" on whose bedroom walls their photos once stood proud; those in respect of whom effigies are now burnt across the globe. Once loved, now maligned. From "must haves" to "differentials". The very scapegoats towards whom online expletives, vitriol, and downright hatred are targeted when that dreaded red arrow (the scourge of fantasy football) graces our webpages. Remember the "Bojan Bandwagon"??

Think of those devoid of fantasy footballing loving as we speak. The ones whom the experts telling us to shun. The ones in need of fantasy footballing salvation… 

And so we turn to blue_moon’s “fantasy spotlight”.

For me, one clear candidate stands out this week, and that is none other than Graziano Pelle of Southampton.

Graziano Pelle (Southampton)

“Pelle?”, I hear you say. No, I have not confused the name with the Brazilian great. Yes, I am aware that his (the Italian’s, not the Brazilian’s) main claim to fame thus far is that he is a former junior dancing champion (with his sister of all people!). Nevertheless, GP is a man clearly in form, not having registered double figures since his 2 goal haul against Sunderland back in GW 8, with his top weekly score since then being a measly 7 and 43 points in his last 14 gameweeks is indeed riveting to say the least. I am politely reminded that Harry Kane achieved that in 5 gameweeks!

But yet he still sits 4th overall among the forwards this season…

The January wildcard gods of course haven't been kind to poor Graziano. With the emergence, then the ascension, in recent weeks of that phenomenon (I would say “nuisance”) affectionately known as the "Kane Plane" (or was it a Train? Either way he’s been a pain!), coupled with the occurrence in GW 22 of what experts thought would be confined to the annuls of modern history (Diego Costa bonus points) and the return of Sergio Aguero from injury, there appears to be no room in the inn for GP. Slim Dusty's famous "pub with no beer" is somewhat poetic here. Heck, we even fell in love with the idea of captaining a QPR striker (and a chubby one at that) for a number of weeks. Seriously?

Hang on, I’ve got a better one: Defoe’s back!

Whilst still owned by some 15% of fantasy teams (most of which I suspect have now assumed the status of "ghost teams" at this point in the season as the grind of fantasy football begins to take its toll on the best of us), active fantasy football owners are deserting GP in droves, which has seen his price fall from 8.5m in GW 12 to 7.8m in GW 22, with the trend still appearing in the southerly direction.

It didn't help that GP blanked in GW 22 v Newcastle. However he was most unlucky, hitting the post late in the match, and the overall service to him was poor, which I put down to the fact that not only were Saints missing key midfield players in Schneiderlin and Wanyama, and Tadic continued to remind us that his exploits in the 8-0 drubbing of Sunderland in GW 8 were indeed a fluke, but Saints also had the inconvenience of having to play an FA Cup midweek replay only days before. They were generally flat, they were tired, but still managed a win at a venue in which they have not registered a victory in some 18 years (since 1997). Interestingly, GP’s woodwork effort in GW 22 means he has now hit the timber 6 times this season, more than some clubs have managed in total thus far.

They say football is a great leveller….

But the real carrot here folks is the fact that Saints host Swansea in GW 23, who let's face it are struggling. The wheels have well and truly fallen off that cart. Not even the presence of a Monk seems likely to save what appears an inevitable slide out of European football for 2015/16, made worse of course by Gylfi Sigurdsson's suspension until 21 February, thanks to his red card in Swans' loss to Blackburn in the FA Cup. Confidence is down following their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea in their most recent premier league outing. And they’ve just sold their main striker. All cards point towards a clinical dissection by Ronald Koeman's band of merry surgeons. Expect GP to lead the charge. A hat-trick beckons.

Following the Swansea shellacking at St Mary's, Saints face QPR (A), West Ham (H), Liverpool (H), West Brom (A), and Crystal Palace (H). 15 points and plenty of goals beckon. Juicy!

With Saints re-emergence in January, I fully expect GP to finish the season very strongly, and lead the Saints to what I anticipate will be automatic Champions League qualification. All roads lead to the powerful Italian in this very impressive squad, so ignore him at your peril.

For what it’s worth, I’m giving him the armband this week.

Look, it could have been worse: I could have written a piece on Mario Balotelli. Actually, on reflection, that would have been rather amusing…

Best of luck to all.

Cheers,

blue_moon