FPL Hints - Gameweek 21

FPLH's GW 21 Team*

Transfers: Sessegnon (OUT) / Walcott (IN)

*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 Reasoning

Sometimes you have to go with your gut instinct even if it means a -4 hit.  Alas I didn't do that last GW and lost out on 26 points, as well as my place in the FPL Cup!  You guessed it, I wanted Theo Walcott but stalled at the last hour.  I even recommended him as one of my ideal XI hot picks for GW 20.  I suppose at least that purchasing Podolski for Tevez was a minor masterstroke and gained me a further 11 points.

The problem was that I wanted to give Valencia one final chance (and he just about delivered).  Another option was to get rid of Michu but I didn't want to panic sell a top goalscorer due to his short-term injury.  The final choice was to sell Sessegnon, despite his quasi-return to form.

For this GW I have gone with the obvious and brought in Theo Walcott.  I had in fact bought him in November before he was struck down with injury and had Reading not had a DGW I wouldn't have sold him for the ill-fated Robson-Kanu.  Ironically, Theo has an upcoming DGW and I thought it best to plan ahead and bring him in now, especially with Southampton (A) being his next fixture.

I was looking at a -4 hit for GW21 and many options stood out; Marveaux (4.2), Gibbs (5.5), Evans (5.8), Azpilicueta (5.6) to name but a few.  Knowing my luck they will probably score goals and keep clean sheets between them in GW 21.  In the end I decided to hold my horses and not make any other rash changes as my team looks relatively strong.

My captain for GW21 is Theo Walcott, which was a no-brainer.  I doubt he will be rested v Southampton as Arsenal didn't play on Boxing Day.  On a more positive note, as I won FPL Dugout's league last season I gained automatic entry into their Champions League for this season and I look forward to dominating it!

Recommended Player for Gameweek 21

  
Theo Walcott

Scored a colossal 40 points in his last 3 PL matches!

Listed as a midfielder but now playing as a striker.

At sub £9.0M, he is value for money.

FPLH's Hot Picks XI for GW 21

Hart

Luiz
Walker

Gibbs

 

Lennon

Walcott-c

Valencia

Mata

Van Persie

Defoe-vc

Podolski

Subs:

Lloris

Azpilicueta

Marveaux

B. Davies

6/15 Hot Picks' feature in FPLH's GW Team

Recommended Player for Gameweek 33

Recommended Player for Gameweek 33 - Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Coming of Age?

He has shown more consistency than usual in recent matches and is finally conveying his true class.  My recommended player for Gameweek 33 is Arsenal's Theo Walcott.  His shock inclusion into the 2006 England World Cup squad and shock exclusion from the 2010 England World Cup squad sums up the inconsistency that once surrounded his nascent career.

But with the departure of Fabregas and Nasri, I believe he has matured and truly come of age.  Of course he had a slow start to the season, with a paltry 1 goal and 1 assist in the first 9 matches in a transitional team.  But since Arsenal's emphatic 3-5 cricket score victory at Stamford Bridge, Walcott's proven skills have without a doubt converted into regular match winning performances.  This is evident with his 3 goals and 4 assists in his last 9 matches that has included him facing the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool, Newcastle and Man City.  It is interesting to note that Arsenal have won 8 of their last 9 matches and it's no coincidence that Walcott has aided their rejuvenation.

Aside from his form, Arsenal's upcoming two fixtures* are another reason as to why you should select him, as follows:

GW 33 - Wolves (A)

GW 34** - Wigan (H)

*I am planning to keep him in my team for the next two Gameweeks but may replace him with a player involved in a Double Gameweek in Gameweek 35 or Gameweek 36.

**GW 34 is a truncated gameweek where only six Premier League matches are taking place.

The 23 year old is still remarkably young enough to play for the British Olympic Football Team, despite obtaining his first senior cap 6 years ago as a teenager.  At 9.4 he is reasonably priced when compared to Lampard (11.0), Gerrard (9.9) and Silva (9.5).  Considering his regular attacking output and prowess of scoring and creating goals, he should probably be valued at 10.0+ easily, which makes him value for money.

In the unlikely event that he fails to perform in Arsenal's next two matches you could always replace him with a player that is involved with a Double Gameweek (GWs 35 or GW 36).  If you still doubt him, please don't.  I believe that Walcott will continue to perform in the remaining part of the season and will probably be one of England's integral players at Euro 2012.  Is that not reason enough for you to sign him?

I will post My GW 33 Blog Team (with confirmation of my selected captain and vice-captain) a night before the Gameweek commences.