The Fantasy Football Mix – Gameweek 31

A new regular weekly news article has landed. Dave and Joe, our very own Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher mull over the weeks talking points and provide definitive answers to those gameweek choices we just can’t decide over.

As gameweek 31 approaches off the back of a tedious international break, there are a few issues that need addressing in the world of fantasy football. It is the first of a run of double gameweeks between now and the end of the season, although not the most glamorous with Villa and QPR each playing twice.

Agüero – Is he form and fixture proof?

The first issue that many FPL managers are dealing with is whether to keep or discard Sergio Agüero. The misfiring striker hasn’t scored since February 21st and for a (current) value of £12.8 million, which may drop as managers pull the trigger on him in preparation for this week, questions must be asked in terms of his worth. Both of us here are in agreement that as things stand, he’s got to be kept. He’s one of very few players in the league that has that potential to score upwards of 10-15 points in nearly any game. Admittedly he hasn’t been fantastic recently as the stats will show, but, much like the frustratingly low-scoring Christian Eriksen in the last few weeks, he is getting chances which is always assuring.

This City side just dismantled Tony Pulis’ West Brom in GW30 after slipping up against Burnley the week previously and I think that since City have been pulled into a race for 2nd, it may kick-start some form for them. Previously they were in no man’s land, cast adrift from Chelsea but too far ahead of the chasing pack, and I think that partly led to some below par performances.

Given that Costa is currently a doubt, RVP is still injured, and Sturridge has picked up his 14th injury in 26 months (seriously), I don’t think the alternatives are there for Agüero should you wish to get rid of him. I think a Palace side that has been shipping goals under Pardew should be some good shooting practice for Aguero and, given that he’s the second highest scoring striker in FPL after our apparent Lord and saviour Harry Kane, he deserves a chance for at least this week. With a game against United next week and Chelsea’s upcoming DGW in GW34, Costa’s fitness will play a large part on whether I keep Agüero this time next week.

The International Break - Fantasy Limbo

Speaking of Kane, after his heroics in an England shirt and given his relatively easy run-in, I begrudgingly think he’s someone who needs to be kept too. He’s the popular choice and as his ownership is currently at 49.7% overall and will probably be close to 100% of the top 1000 by the start of GW31, I don’t think you can afford to risk missing out on his goals if you hope to hold on to whatever league position you may have. Unfortunately, even his 79-second debut goal for England couldn’t sufficiently liven up those dull international breaks, nor could the almighty ShLong scoring late-on for Ireland vs Poland.

Thankfully GW30 was kind to most, but the last thing you would want after a bad week is to sit and wallow in your own fantasy filth for 2 weeks. Saturdays aren’t the same without FPL, for some reason there just wasn’t the same sense of excitement waking up on Saturday morning to find out the day’s 3pm kick-off is Iceland away to Kazakhstan. One of the bright-sides is that any little niggles have hopefully had time to rest and are now ready and waiting to go this weekend. The other is that the 2022 winter World Cup is still 7 years away.

DGW31 - Should you care?

Being on the horizon of possibly the least exciting DGW this season, with two games for both Villa and QPR, the question has to be asked if it is really worth losing points to transfer in players from either team. With Villa away to United first before hosting QPR, while QPR’s first game sees them travel to West Brom,

I’m not sure either of them will really benefit from having 2 games. I think it is a week where if, like myself, you happen to have Hutton or another DGW player in your squad then throw them in and see what they can do. After this week Villa’s next 3 weeks are Spurs away, blank week, then City away and I would be much more likely to double up on players playing against them than players playing for them.

QPR have fairly awful fixtures on the way too, the blank in GW33 as well as games against Chelsea, Liverpool and City left this season - meaning it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense in gambling on their players either. Instead look to Swansea or West Brom who have better fixtures coming up and good defensive potential.

Now we know that isn't the most exciting preview of this week, so if you have your heart set on some DGW fun, then the only players you should be looking at for a short-term fling are the following:

●    Scott Sinclair: This man seems revitalised under the man who found/inspired/fathered Harry Kane, Tim Sherwood. After spending his time at City presumably practicing his origami with £100 notes, football in Birmingham seems to be treating him slightly better.

●    Matt Phillips: £0.6 cheaper than Sinclair at £4.6 million, he has better games and is in better form. Since coming back into the side in early February, he has 4 assists and a goal in 7 games.

●    Charlie Austin: He does that thing where he scores goals. Two fixtures against bottom half opposition could see him nick a couple over the course of the DGW.

●    Mauricio Isla: Our punt for this week. What can we say about him? He plays, sometimes. He’s friends with fellow Chilean Alexis Sanchez, probably. He likes to get forward but does play for QPR at the end of the day. More sensible approach might be Yun at £3.9 million purely because he’s cheap.

That just about covers this week, if you have any questions or thoughts, fire them into the comments section. We’ll be back next week, let’s hope it’s a good one!

@DavedByTheBerr

@J0E_90