Chief's Main Togga Draft Team (Festive Period)

Fan Feud's Fantasy Football Show: "Xmas Special" (18-20)

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Fantasy Premier League Tips: Strikers for Gameweek 17

Drop

Rickie Lambert

The former Southampton man was dropped from the starting lineup in Liverpool’s last two matches where Brendan Rodgers had unexpectedly gone with a false nine strategy. Lambert who was signed for a plan B option, has only scored a single goal in the Premier League this season and unquestionably needs support from the wingers as well as attacking midfielders to get the job done. The England international is likely to feature on the bench once again as The Reds require to be more speedy upfront against The Gunners. However, the Liverpool boss has made rambling team selections this season, yet if he starts as Mario Balotelli serves a one match ban, it’s reasonably tough for the veteran to break into a well-organized Arsenal backline who has several key defenders back from injury. Gloomy and never glorious, no place in the dream team!

Punt

Jose Pozo

A 18-year old wonder-kid who has only played 137 minutes for his senior team under the punt category? Well, The Citizens have star forward Sergio Aguero out with a long term medical concern, whereas the boss has confirmed that remaining two strikers Jovetic as well as Eden Dzeko is still short of fitness for this weekend. The Real Madrid youth rank player almost opened his goal account against Leicester City but only to be denied by the man in goal. On the other hand, Manchester City are never short of qualities along the flanks and in midfield which just give him an advantage to pounce in for goals. The Spaniard could be a tricky choice but may benefit from the sublime services that the home side could provide.

Hot

Olivier Giroud

The Frenchman was on rampage mode against Newcastle United last weekend with two classy goals where the match ended 4-1 favouring the home side. Giroud’s prowess in the air and physical strength to outmuscle defenders in the box are strong advantages for his to continue his goal tally. It’s quite clear The Gunners missed him a lot during his absence due to injury. Arsene Wenger played two strikers in the previous match and is expected to do so when they visit Anfield this weekend. Moreover, he has the ability to smash in goals way out from the penalty box, remember that stunning rocket against Manchester United, being his first touch after returning from a lengthy medical treatment. He might add more woes for The Reds as he can constantly press their backline, whereas if it’s Dejan Lovren marking him, he would be in all smiles. A strong contender for the fantasy premier league team!

Star Picks

Diego Costa – The Spaniard finished from close range last weekend to add his goal tally to a dozen this season.

Wilfried Bony – One of the best finishers in the league, scored his eight goal of the campaign against Spurs.

Wayne Rooney – The versatile forward has been influential for Manchester United since returning from the international break.

Romelu Lukaku - Six goals and two assists by the Belgian!

Danny Ings – The Clarets young hero has netted four goals and contributed two assists this season.

“Disclaimer: This article represents the writer’s point of view, not FanXT. Readers discretion is advised.”

Marco’s Maverick – GW17 – Steven Fletcher

Well, another double digit haul last week with Olivier Giroud. It’s been a couple of very good weeks for the maverick amassing 29 points in the last two gameweeks. Let’s not stand on our laurels though as there’s more points to be gained this week and another chance to climb the ladder.

Newcastle’s recent goalkeeping crisis has yielded a feast of goals for travelling teams and Sunderland will look to continue their excellent run in the North east derby. Alnwick is expected to recover from his shoulder knock he picked up earlier in the week to spare Pardew still further.

Priced at 5.3m Fletcher comes in much cheaper than the likes of Austin, Berahino, Ulloa and some other premier league strikers who've been hitting the headlines in recent times and arguably Fletcher is better than the lot of them. Owned by 0.6% of managers he is another diamond in the rough and has already on a couple of occasions produced double digit displays and will be a key part of Sunderland’s bid for safety for the rest of the season after slowly coming back from injury.

The Mackems have a good record in recent years over the Geordies and have taken maximum points in the last 3 matches and unbeaten in 5 against them so despite a slow return of premier league points Gus Poyet can be optimistic that his side can get the kick up the backside it surely needs.

A home visit of Hull who are another side struggling for form and a trip to Villa Park will be key battles for Sunderland in the following two games but they have the undoubted quality to return points in the three matches we have mentioned here.

Following the success of Carroll and Giroud we hope Fletcher can follow in those footsteps and people have been putting those guys in in there droves in the hope they can continue their form. Are you a manager that follows trends or sets them?  

@marcodelwattsio

Maverick History:

Gw16 -  Giroud 13 pts

Gw15 -  Carroll 16 pts

Gw12 -  Diouf 0 pts

Gw11 -  Austin 7 pts

Gw10 -  Adebayor 1 pt

Gw9 -  Brunt 8 pts

Gw8 - Lampard 7 pts

Gw7 - Hernandez 2 pts

Gw6 - Mane 4 pts

Dolphin's Statistical Previews - Gameweek 17

MANCHESTER CITY VS CRYSTAL PALACE

- The 2011/12 & 2013/14 Premier League champions have scored more goals on the road (aproximately twice as many) than at the Etihad this season.

- Crystal Palace have not won a Premier League away match since beating Everton (2-3) in September.

ASTON VILLA VS MANCHESTER UNITED

- Aston Villa have only scored two 2nd half goals in the Premier League this season.

- Manchester United have beaten Aston Villa by 3 goals or more 3 times since 2013.

HULL CITY VS SWANSEA CITY

- Hull City have not won any of their last 9 Premier League matches. 

- Hull City have not won a Premier League match since beating Crystal Palace (2-0) in October.

- Exactly (3) half of Swansea City's Premier League away goals (6) this season had been scored in Manchester prior to scoring away at West Ham United (3-1) in GW15.

SOUTHAMPTON VS EVERTON

- Everton have not scored in any of their last 2 visits in the Premier League at St.Mary's but Everton have only failed to score once in their last 9 Premier League away matches.

- Everton have scored in 14 of their 16 Premier League matches this season; only Manchester City have stopped Martinez's men from scoring away from home this season.

- Everton have scored goals from outside the area through several players such as Kevin Mirallas, Ross Barkley, Samuel Eto'o & Phil Jagielka this season.

- 4 of Ross Barkley's 7 Premier League goals have been scored from outside the box.

SPURS VS BURNLEY

- Spurs have lost more matches at White Hart Lane than away from home in the Premier League this season.

QPR VS WEST BROM

- QPR have failed to score in 5 of their 8 Premier League matches this season but have scored in 7 of their 8 home matches.

- West Brom have kept clean sheets away against Southampton (0-0), Spurs (0-1) & Hull City (0-0).

WEST HAM UNITED VS LEICESTER CITY

- West Ham have only failed to score in 2 of their 16 Premier League matches this season.

- Leicester City's only 2 Premier League victories up to this point came back to back against Stoke City (0-1) & Manchester United (3-5).

NEWCASTLE UNITED VS SUNDERLAND

- The last several meetings have seen red cards, a penalty miss & an own goal.

- Sunderland have won 3 consecutive Premier League matches against Newcastle United.

- There have been 5 red cards in the last 8 Premier League meetings between both clubs.

LIVERPOOL VS ARSENAL

- Liverpool's only 2 Premier League home victories against Arsenal since 2007 were won by 3 goals or more on both occassions - 2007 & 2014. 

- Aaron Ramsey, Glen Johnson, Pepe Reina & Laurent Koscielny have all scored own goals (at Anfield or Emirates) in this fixture over the last several years.

- The 5 of the last 6 Premier League meetings (at Anfield/the Emirates) have been won by 2 goals or more.

STOKE CITY VS CHELSEA

- Last season's meeting seen Stoke City edge out a 5 goal thriller (3-2).

-  No fewer than 9 goals have been scored in the last 2 Premier League meetings at the Britannia Stadium.

- Stoke City are the team that have conceded the most amount of headed goals/goals from set pieces this season. 

- Chelsea have scored 6 goals in their last 2 Premier League visits to the Britannia Stadium.

- Eden Hazard has not scored a Premier League away goal since January but the Belgium international scored 3 Premier League away goals from December to January; the Chelsea number 10 scored a brace away at Sunderland (3-4) in December.

- All of Diego Costa's Premier League goals (4) up to this point have been scored in the North West of England.

Chief's Main Togga Draft Team (GW17)

Chief's #FPL Team - Gameweek 17

Latest Rank: 16,644
 

  Transfers:

  Cazorla/Baines  OUT (-4*)

  Fàbregas/Clichy IN
New Bank Balance: £0.4M

*I think it's a must having 5-6 CFC/MCI players until early January 2015.

Why have I re-purchased Fàbregas and picked him as captain for GW17?

The stats don't lie...

 _

  Fàbregas has the 2nd highest "final third passes" away from home in FPL.

He has the 2nd highest number of "key passes" away from home in FPL.

Fàbregas has the 3rd highest ALI (potency) away from home of fit players.

He has has the highest number of assists away from home in FPL.

Fàbregas is due more shots on target & goals, based on past pedigree.

Playing #MNF. In 14/15, #MNF games average more goals than non-#MNF.

Source: Asliga

Fàbregas is CFC's top scoring FPL points magnet away from home thus far:

 

 

Fàbregas is the most potent (ALI) CFC player away from home this season:

Within CFC, Fàbregas is a BAPS MAGNET away from home:

 Finally, Fàbregas may not shoot a lot, but he is the "Pass Master General":

 Source: Asliga

On a side note, I WON Fan Feud's #MNF game by one point in #GW15 and won their top prize:

 Can you outdo me on their game-by-game platform?

Feel free to sign up and try to beat me this weekend!

 

#GW17 - Fan Feud's Weekly Fantasy Football Show

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