*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
I did it! After four Gameweeks of having an extra transfer at hand I have finally used it. I wanted to get rid of O'Brien and mulled over many defensive options. I wanted an attacking defender and was close to signing Baines. However that would have been pricey. Instead I went for Huth, which could be a risk as I am doubling up with Begovic. But the fact is that Stoke's fixtures are reasonable for the next 8 weeks or so (see previous post). Moreover Huth possesses a formidable attacking threat. He may not have scored this season, but I am confident he is due a goal - his league strike rate for Stoke is 10% + which would make any central midfielder or winger proud.
As for the other transfer that involved ditching Podolski. Despite being listed as a striker he has been playing as a de facto midfielder at Arsenal, with Giroud as the out-and-out striker. That was a put off and his performance v QPR was the final straw. Thus I decided to replace him with an on-form goal poacher, step in Jermain Defoe. He on the other hand has been fantastic this season. A regular run in the first team has meant that he has bagged 5 goals and 3 assists in 9 Gameweeks. I was close to buying him last week at 7.8 but in the end forked out an extra 0.2 for waiting a week later. So far this season Defoe has proved he can score against small teams, big teams and in derby matches. With this in mind his upcoming juicy fixtures are of interest as follows:
GW 10 - Wigan (H) - High goal scoring potential v a leaky defence
GW 11 - Man City (A) - Mild goal scoring potential v an inconsistent defence
GW 12 - Arsenal (A) - Moderate goal scoring potential v an inconsistent defence + derby
GW 13 - West Ham (H) - High goal scoring potential + derby
GW 14 - Liverpool (H) - Moderate goal scoring potential v transitional defence
Wigan have conceded almost 2 goals per away match this season, which means that I will captain Defoe. As for the vice-captain's armband I have decided to give that to RVP following his heroics against Chelsea.
This is the time for a Stoke purchase to capitalize on their favorable fixture list. Having only conceded one goal at home they play Newcastle, QPR, and Blackburn at home in the next four Gameweeks with Bolton away in between. Begovic and Shawcross are the reliable picks but for only 4.0 you could pick up right back Andy Wilkinson.
Should you want to gamble on Stoke delivering goals Walters and Etherington stand out as the attractive picks. Walters is playing up front and has penalty duties, having registered two goals, two assists, and seven bonus points this season. Etherington has a proven Fantasy track record, having scored ten goals and provided 16 assists in the last two seasons.
