GW22 FPL #JackInTheBox

I can't remember the last time I had a successful #JackInTheBox pick but I know it was too long ago.  Thinking too hard and trying too hard is getting me nowhere so I'm taking a different approach this week.  My most successful pick ever was made on gut instinct so the heck with it, I'm gonna try and conjure up a good call using nothing but my gut again this week.

The 8 teams qualifying for #JackInTheBox consideration this gameweek are Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Cardiff City, West Ham, Fulham, Norwich, West Brom and Swansea.  For me this week it's simple; I'm rocking Julian Speroni in goal on my #FPL team for the time being, I want Palace to do well and think they have a chance of keeping Stoke out of the net, despite the recent scoring spree against Liverpool.  I'm not picking Speroni though; I'd rather pick someone who, although a defender, still has the possibility of scoring even if they concede.

Walt's GW22 FPL #JackInTheBox: Joel Ward

I'm going with Joel Ward this week.  For the past few weeks he's spent some time playing in the midfield, which could mean some good FPL points if he continues to spend time with assist-potential in the midfield while still classified as a defender for FPL purposes. Snagging a clean sheet along with an assist or even a cheeky goal will do wonders for my future-telling confidence as well as give me a much-needed boost in my overall season stats.

So there you have it; this week's #JackInTheBox pick; Joel Ward of Crystal Palace.

Good luck Joel; I'm counting on you, brotha.

Here's a random YouTube video featuring this week's pick....

Good luck this gameweek everyone - using that Wildcard or holding on tight?

Cheers!

Walt

Chief's FPL Team - Gameweek 22

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 (-4 HIT):

Rooney & Dzeko OUT

 Negredo & Lukaku IN

Two Wildcards still intact

It can be tough being a lead writer for a blog where your personal fantasy football team is constantly in the spotlight.  All the more so when you voluntarily publish your team 36-48 hours before each Gameweek to tens of thousands of people. It's not nice getting flak when you get it wrong or if people blame you for their own choices. Dedication, immense research and focus is required with burnout not being an option.  It wasn't easy for me to finish in the top 0.2% over the last 2 seasons.  I am a Former World No. 73, don't ya know?  Having said that, Alejandro Gonzalez is a World No. 74 in tennis, buy you don't see him being pompous about that; rank context. The only difference... he is up against another 1,000 or so professionals, where as my former high rank was in a field of 2.78 million; real context. What's up with all this pondering and lamenting you may ask? Well, for the first time ever, my #MNF captain failed and my GW score was alas bang on average.  I am now enduring my worst run in FPL since the turn of this decade and I haven't scored 80+ since DGW1 (despite a string of 60-79 scores since then).  As a result of the status quo, I have decided to focus less on Twitter and more on my team.  I am sorry if I haven't been tweeting too much recently, but I'm not keen on people constantly asking me to respond to Twitter RMT requests.  Please don't expect me to do so now or in the immediate future.  I'm sorry to be blunt, but I need to get back to basics.  My FPL team is the foundation stone of this blog and comes first in my personal FPL activities. I hope that doesn't sound too selfish.

As for GW22, you may have noticed that I haven't activated my wildcard yet.  When I do, I will inevitably transfer in Aguero.  While he is my #HotPick and I can afford him, I decided not to buy him.  I sold Rooney as I doubt he will be 90-100% fit for the Chelsea match and he tends to be off-form when he has fitness issues.  Also, I can't sell Rooney for Aguero as that would mean I have 4 City players which isn't possible.  Also, it would mean that Dzeko would have to go, but there aren't many options for good 7.0M strikers.  In the end I decided to buy Negredo as he has form on side and is cheap.  With the extra funds, I could have realistically bought Giroud or Lukaku.  Both play upfront alone but have patchy form, yet Lukaku is facing his old team.  Also he is playing on Monday night! Transfer made.  Whilst I won't captain him, I think he will come good against WBA and make amends for me.(and the #MNF performance).  For this Gameweek I decided to give the armband to Suarez, due to his amazing form. Sturridge may eat up some of the Uruguayan's goals, but they will both do well together.  I plan on activating my wildcard when the GW23 transfer window opens.

On a final note...

There is more to life than FPL

:)

Fantasy Football Hints - Gameweek 22

#REJECT (R):

Brad Guzan (AST)

Will be facing the lethal "SAS" strike partnership at Anfield.

Liverpool have scored 2.7 goals on average at home in the PL - expect that to rise.

Despite Villa conceding only 11 goals in 10 away PL games, they will struggle in #GW22.

#PUNT (P):

Christian Eriksen  (TOT)

Has scored 3 & assisted 1 in his last 4 PL games

Takes a mean free kick & fits perfectly into Sherwood's attacking psyche.

Spurs have won 4 of their last 5 matches including at OT; expect more v Swansea.

#HOTPICK (H):

Sergio Aguero (MNC)

He instantly bounced back from injury with a midweek goal.

May have been out for few weeks, yet still remains the 2nd best goalscorer in the PL.

Almost anyone in the City team can score goals, but he remains their most potent threat.

FPLH's GW Star Picks:

Mignolet

G. Johnson

Mertesacker

Baines

Hazard

Eriksen

Silva

Gerrard

Suarez

Aguero

Negredo

Subs:

Szczesny

Januzaj

Koscielny

Whittaker

FANTASY FORECAST*:

SUNDERLAND & SO'TON TO DRAW (1-1).

ARSENAL TO BEAT FULHAM (3-1).

CRYSTAL PALACE & STOKE TO DRAW (2-2).

MAN CITY TO BEAT CARDIFF (3-0).

NORWICH & HULL TO DRAW (2-2).

WEST HAM TO BEAT NEWCASTLE (2-1).

LIVERPOOL TO BEAT ASTON VILLA (3-1).

TOTTENHAM TO BEAT SWANSEA (2-1).

CHELSEA TO BEAT UNITED (2-1).

EVERTON TO BEAT WEST BROM (2-1).

*NOT TO BE USED FOR BETTING PURPOSES

The Rearview Mirror: FPL GW21 Wrap-Up

I didn't realize it at the time, but when my daughter beat me 2-0 in Chutes 'n Ladders on Thursday night I probably should have taken it as a premonition of some sort.  Being American, I have become fascinated with the emphasis on gambling and betting that I see plastered all over the FPL Twittersphere, and I can't help but wonder what the odds were for 6 of 10 GW21 fixtures to finish with a 2-0 result.  Maybe if I lived in England my bank account would be as parched and thirsty as my FPL points total so far this season.

Anyway, I hope the 282,802 of you who activated your January wildcard then planned, plotted, predicted, estimated and guessed your way through the 10-day window between GW20 and 21 got what you were looking for, because GW21 is done and dusted; and in its wake are the following memorable headlines/observations:

Hull City 0 -2 Chelsea

Hazard continues wicked form, puts Blues ahead

'Nando makes it 2

Chelsea kill off a match and make Jose joyful while briefly snagging tabletop

Cardiff City 0 - 2 West Ham
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer takes charge of Bluebirds for first time
Carton Cole and Mark Noble score on Andy Carroll's return
Big Sam is spared - but for how long?

Everton 2 - 0 Norwich
Gareth Barry puts hosts ahead with left footed stunner
Baines sets up Mirallas free kick special with textbook marauding run
Goodison rocks and Roberto revels in recent successes

Fulham 1 - 4 Sunderland
Dempsey returns just in time for relegation zone "6-pointer"
It's Adam Johnson Day at Craven Cottage - get your bobblehead later
When's the last time Sunderland scored 4 in the EPL?  A: Jan 3, 2012 v Wigan

Southampton 1 - 0 West Brom
Pochettino celebrates a year in charge as Boruc returns
Lallana lets his feet do the talking this week with nice strike beneath Foster
Is the Southampton clean sheet train gonna start rolling again?

Tottenham 2 - 0 Crystal Palace
Jason Puncheon - OH MY! - does Lloris get pk save points for THAT!?!
Eriksen starts to make a habit of scoring - notches Tottenham's first
Toronto-bound Defoe gives Spurs a going away present with nice finish

Man Utd 2 - 0 Swansea
Januzaj shines again
Valencia, Welbeck score
Evil Kagawa gets on the score sheet as Moyes takes a deep, deep breath

Newcastle 0 - 2 Man City
Dzeko opens the scoring early with a 4-point gift for his FPL owners
Pardew left steaming after Tiote robbed of potential Goal-of-the-Year nominee
Negredo continues fine form and justifies himself as worthy FPL replacement for Rooney

Stoke City 3 - 5 Liverpool
This match had a little bit of everything
Suarez bags 2 more and earns more bragging rights for those who own (and Captain) him
Sturridge scores on his long-awaited return and Gerrard slots a PK home

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Arsenal
Arsenal ensures disaster doesn't strike twice (remember Opening Day?)
Wilshire and Giroud find the goal for injury-laden Gunners
Back to the top for Arsene and the troops

Stay tuned as the week unfolds; I'm anxious to see how many thousands of FPL managers decide that GW21/22 is the right time to cash in that most valuable of FPL commodities - the January wildcard.  As for me, you couldn't pry it out of my hands with a crowbar.

Cheers everyone!

Walt

Pilot Podcast: Dolphin Dissects - #GW21 Analysis

Podcast

#CalledIt Differential Pick - GW21

Walcott out for the season. Rooney out for at least GW21. RVP and Agüero still unavailable. 

The January wildcard couldn't have come at a better time, huh? Yup, it's a good thing, especially since you can (if you somehow managed to not activate the WC yet) afford yourself short-term differentials and then quickly replace them the next week.

There were three players I was strongly considering as my #CalledIt pick this week (in alphabetical order):

1. Dimitar BERBATOV
2. Santi CAZORLA
3. Christian ERIKSEN

Eriksen (7.2m) has been thriving as of late under the new leadership over at Tottenham and finally showcasing his vast repertoire of moves and undeniable talent. Looking at his last three PL games, he creates a tad more than 1 chance and manages roughly 2 shots on goal per game which translates into 2 goals and 1 assist (in the last 3 GWs). Not bad. At the same time, Cazorla (9.5m) managed to fire away 5 shots on target and create 10 chances, but he only has 1 assist to show for himself! Berbatov (7.0m), on the other hand, only played one game since coming back to the Fulham squad and had 2 shots on target (1 goal) and has created 3 chances.

To be completely honest, I would want to give the #CalledIt tag to all three of them. Why? 

• Berbatov is playing against Sunderland. At home. Doesn't get much better than that.
• Cazorla could be given a more attacking role in their visit to Aston Villa and his stats are really nice as of late.
• Eriksen? On form. Full of confidence. As Chief always says - Form is key.

But, there can be only one. I give my voice to Berbatov, who will be looking to impress in his first game playing together with "Captain America" (Clint Dempsey), and I am not talking about impressing his current owners, more his future ones...ahem. #CalledIt pick for GW21 - Dimitar Berbatov.

Disclaimer: If you are looking for a longer-term differential, go with Eriksen or Cazorla. Berbatov is more short-term.

#FlyBuy - GW21

This weeks pick is a player who has returned to action recently following an absence through injury. A consistent Premier League performer, his points return often surpasses those who operate in a more forward role.

Luckily, during his absence, a team-mate assumed responsibility for continuing to provide a goalscoring threat. This player chipped in with 3 goals during this enforced absence, and as such is now owned by more than 45% of all FPL managers - Seamus Coleman.

However, the parameters of #FlyBuy are that my pick must be a player owned by between 3% and 20% only, and from a team currently placed between 5th and 15th in the Premier League.

I predict after GW21 he will no longer be available to me as a FlyBuy pick, as his team will no doubt win this weekend (and could end up in 4th place) and as more and more managers activate their January Wildcard, his ownership stats (currently 14.1%) will increase dramatically.

With the ability to fly high once again - and pick up where he left off before injury - my pick this week is Everton left-back, Leighton Baines. Best left-back in the world? See for yourself...

Chief's FPL Team - Gameweek 21

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:

Walcott OUT

 Ozil IN

Belated Happy New Year! It's January and that can only mean one thing in the world of #FPL... 

JANUARY WILDCARD!

Please note; you can activate your wildcard anytime during January, but wildcard changes must be confirmed before February 1st 11.30am GMT.  Despite my team being in need of a shake up, I don't intend to activate my January wildcard until the end of Gameweek 22.  The Walcott injury was a major blow for my team.  He was a good end of December signing for Gameweek 19 and solid captain for Gameweek 20.  His injury will force Wenger into the transfer market and will cause many FPL managers to reshuffle their teams.  Had he not been injured, I would have sold R. Bennett or Flanagan as my defence could do with a pre-wildcard boost.  I didn't think it was worth taking a -4 hit for a defender.  I will ditch Dzeko just before Aguero returns to the team, but he seems viable for now.  I was tempted to replace Walcott with "Captain America" - Clint Dempsey.  But I want him to rediscover some of his old form first.  Arsenal coverage made sense, which is why I decided to repurchase Ozil.  He seemed a bit knackered before his injury at the end of December.  He was due a rest, so the short-term injury may have come as a much needed break.

Not only have I decided to re-buy Ozil, he is also my captain for Gameweek 21.  As you all know by now, I enjoy picking Monday night football captains when given the chance.  For the time being, I believe Ozil will become Arsenal's most important attack orientated player with Giroud being knackered and Ramsey, Walcott and Bendtner being absent. Ozil takes free kicks, assists often (home & away) and also scores goals from time-to-time. Such pedigree and prowess makes him the ideal transfer and captain for Gameweek 21.  I could have captained Eriksen but he needs to show me some consistent form first.  Rooney seemed viable, albeit a fitness doubt.  Dzeko is a risk whereas Suarez could be blocked out by a "work-in-progress" Stoke side.  Ozil as captain has a risk v reward element to him which I like.  Most importantly, Arsenal will be looking to maintain top spot and gain revenge against Villa after their shock opening defeat of the season.  Game on!

Ozil - Der Assist Meister - Wunderbar!