#CalledIt Differential Pick - GW9

After watching Arsenal's mid-week Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund, I was amazed (yet again) by Santi Cazorla. He looked Gillette sharp and seemed to have that extra bounce in his step that "sealed" it for me immediately - he will be my #CalledIt pick for GW9!

However, teams with a new manager usually play much better all of a sudden, almost like a new team - could it happen to Crystal Palace as well? I don't really think it will (as I know the majority of the #FPL managers will be captaining Özil, so it must work out, right?) and with Santi still coming back from an injury (and all that midfield talent Arsenal has all of a sudden), I decided to steer away...EH, who am I kidding? It was just a gut feeling that I have. And my gut is telling me NOT to settle for the obvious choices of either Santi, Cabaye or Torres, though ALL of them could (and should) be included as viable differentials for this week. 

So, I have decided to go with Bony. High expectations before the season have not yet paid dividends and at times he even seemed to hold back Michu. But he has managed to take 10 shots (4 on target) and has created 5 chances (1 assist) over the last three games, which makes me believe he can deliver against West Ham. Wilfried Bony, (you can get him for 7.5m at your local #FPL shop) is my #CalledIt for GW9.

FPL Hints - Gameweek 9

Disclaimer: *FPLH reserves the right to change this team at any time. Any changes made will most likely be confirmed on FPLH's Twitter account.

Transfers*: J Morrison OUT / A Townsend IN

One transfer? But doesn't my team look a bit different? The sharp-eyed among you will know of my last minute panic transfer* last Saturday. After reading of reports that Van Persie was a significant doubt, I sold him for Rooney and changed my captain to Suarez at 11.28am BST.  Ironically, Van Persie did play after all, yet I bagged more points with Suarez as captain, Rooney rewarded me with an assist and as a result of the transfer I have £3.0M in the bank!

For this GW, I was tempted to use my spare change to make a decent acquisition.  I didn't want to modify my team too much due to their decent fixtures as a whole.  But I did want to offload someone with lack of game time and dipping value.  I offloaded J Morrison after his failure to squeeze into WBA's new look midfield.  I should have sold him sooner as I lost £0.3M on him.  Lallana tempted me as a replacement, but I didn't want to eat too much into my spare funds.  Fortunately, there was a player with the same price as Morrison + form on his side - Andros Townsend.  He is now a mainstay flank player for Spurs, can use both feet and has some good upcoming fixtures against teams that have conceded more than a goal a game as follows:

GW 09 Hull (H)

GW 10 Everton (A)

GW 11 Newcastle (H)

Townsend has a decent EA Sports PPI rank and finally scored his maiden goal for Spurs last week.  He was rested midweek for Spurs' Europa League tie.  His offensive attributes are such that I have decided to captain him against a Hull team that have conceded 8 goals in their last 4 PL away games.  Such stats and my bullish instincts encouraged me to captain him.  This is despite the fact that I have other captain candidates via Ozil (my VC), Rooney and Suarez.  However, Ozil and Rooney played in Europe midweek, where as Suarez is playing a WBA team that have only conceded 6 goals in 8 PL games.

GW Reject:

SPERONI (CRY)

GW Punt:

LALLANA (SOU)

GW Hot Pick:

TOWNSEND (TOT)

Why?

At £5.7M, Townsend is value for money.

Overall 10th best EA SPORTS PPI rated midfielder.

A flair player that can score & also create chances.

FPLH's GW Star Picks:

Lloris

Dawson

Johnson

Evra

Townsend (c)

Lallana

Barkley

Ozil

Rooney

Suarez

Giroud

Subs:

Vorm

Michu

B. Davies

Clyne

FPLH's Projected GW Results:

FPL Hints - Gameweek 9

FPLH's GW 9 Team*

Transfers (OUT): Cech

Transfers (IN): Begovic

*FPLH reserves the right to change this team at any time. Any changes made will be confirmed on FPLH's Twitter and Facebook accounts.

 

Team Selection Reasoning

Following a bumper Gameweek 8 you would think that my team selection for Gameweek 9 would be easy?  Well no!  After much toing and froing I have decided to only make one transfer, which may come as a surprise to some.  I have sold Cech and brought in Begovic.  Despite Chelsea being top of the league they haven't kept many clean sheets.  With Terry's suspension I don't think that task will become easier for them.  Thus I decided to cut my losses and bring in a cheaper alternative.  Begovic appealed to me due to Stoke's dogged defensive "park-the-bus" system.  Moreover their upcoming fixtures are fairly kind to them as follows:

Sunderland (H) - High clean sheet potential

Norwich (A) - Moderate clean sheet potential

QPR (H) - High clean sheet potential

West Ham (A) - Mild clean sheet potential

Fulham (H) - High clean sheet potential

Newcastle (H) - High clean sheet potential

West Brom (A) - Mild clean sheet potential

Aston Villa (A) - Moderate clean sheet potential

Everton (H) - Moderate clean sheet potential

I can't stress how much I pondered over the second free transfer.  Defoe was an option, but I was worried he might tire after his European encounter.  Berbatov, Ben Arfa, Crouch, Aguero and Lennon were of interest too but I wasn't fully convinced.  I really want to get rid of Podolski but have decided to give him one more chance v QPR.  Fellaini has also lost favour with me, but I will bench him for now.  I then thought of beefing up my defence, but the overall lack of clean sheets this season was a put off.  In the end I opted to maintain the free transfer, despite the lack of captain options in my first XI.  I decided to captain Van Persie (even though he will face up to Chelsea), as he is a big game player.  Remember his hat-trick at Stamford Bridge last season?  I doubt I will score 80 points again for Gameweek 9, but never say never...

Recommended Player for Gameweek 9

Asmir Begovic

(Stoke)

Why?

Has kept 2 clean sheets from his last 3 matches 

Stoke play a very dogged defensive system

They have generous upcoming fixtures

Priced at sub 5.0 - Bargain!

Stoke's Solid Metal

FPLH's Hot Picks XI for GW 9

  Begovic (STO)

  Vermaelen (ARS)

  Riise (FUL)

  Kompany (MNC)

Nasri (MNC)

  Bale (TOT)

  Ben Arfa (NEW)

Sterling (LIV)

  Defoe / cpt (TOT)

Van Persie / vc (MNU)

  Aguero (MNC)

Subs:

  Mannone (ARS)

  Mertesacker (ARS)

  Lowton (AST)

Nolan (WHA)

5/15 Hot Picks' feature in FPLH's GW 9 Team