The Bargain Hunter - Rob Wright
Week 10 already...... it only seems like yesterday that we were all tinkering with our teams and saying how confident we were that this was our year to take down James Dash. Well I'm not sure how many of you are still felling the same, but I am certainly not one of them. This year, more than any other, seems to be very hard to predict in terms of who will score points and against which teams. Like my beloved Spurs team, I'm calling this another "transitional" year.
On the plus side there has been some bright lights this year, some of you may remember I wrote a blog before the season started about the "bargains" that could be had at the beginning of the season, well as we sit here in week 10, that turns out to be a little hit and miss. I did mention Sigurdsson though and he hasn't let me down, neither have Tadic or Pelle, the rest? Well, lets just move on shall we.
This week is a transfer bonus week for you all, meaning that played right you could have 15 players scoring points in week 10, or it may be a chance to dump some of your dead wood and bring in some fresh blood. Whichever way you use them make sure you get the best from them.
Before I go into next weeks fixtures I'm going to carry on my trend of looking for some bargains to free up that much needed cash, but this time I'm going to let the FiT stats do the talking and not my own meandering mind. As usual I have only included 1 player from each team (otherwise the lists will be full of Southampton players)
Top FiT Points Scorers 6.1m - 7.5m.
Berahino, 6.5m, 53 Points, Next 3 Games = Leicester, Newcastle, Chelsea
Clyne, 6.7m, 48 Points, Next 3 Games = Hull, Leicester, Aston Villa (Bertand 48 & Tadic 45 were next on the list)
Sakho, 6.1m 44 Points, Next 3 Games = Stoke, Aston Villa, Everton
Chadli 6.3m 43 Points, Next 3 Games = Aston Villa, Stoke, Hull
Ulloa, 6.7m 43 Points Next 3 Games = West Brom, Southampton, Sunderland
Top FiT Points Scorers 6m & Under
Jedenak, 5m, 39 Points, Next 3 Games = Sunderland, Man Utd, Liverpool
Diame 5.4m 39 Points, Next 3 Games = Southampton, Burnley, Spurs
Fonte, 5.8m 38 Points, Next 3 Games = Hull, Leicester, Aston Villa
Austin, 5.6m, 36 Points, Next 3 Games = Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle
Dyer, 6m, 33 Points, Next 3 Games = Everton, Arsenal, Man City
I'm sure you will agree there are some great point scoring opportunities to be had in there, and with only 9 games gone their points totals give a very healthy return. Right then, on to this coming weekend.
This sounds like an easy one to predict, but Liverpool haven't hit top gear yet and Newcastle are looking for their 3rd win on the bounce, so maybe not. Rodgers has a big decision to make this week in whether or not to leave Ballotelli out of the side and bring Lambert in, with Sturridge still side-lined his option are limited. Some people are suggesting to play Sterling in the central role - personally its not for me, I think the lad could do it but I think he has enough on his plate at the moment without the weight of goal scoring being shoved on him. It's an interesting choice for sure. I cannot tell you if Newcastle have turned a corner or not, they have won their last 2 but I'm still not convinced.
This is an easy one to predict, whilst I like Sean Dyche and think he has things to offer as a manager, his team are just not strong enough for the EPL, its a shame because they are hard working and deserve something from the season. A lot will depend on the games with the teams around the bottom of the league. Unfortunately, this week they have Arsenal, who are another team who haven't found top gear yet, but with Sanchez, Welbeck, Ramsey and maybe the returning Walcott, they will have far too much for Burnley.
Again another "home banker" or is it ?.......no it is. Chelsea should and will have more than enough to get past a poor QPR side. Harry has a lot of problems to sort out if he is going to get his team out of this situation, with a good win last Monday against Villa it's possible, but not very likely, I guess a lot will depend on January. But I'm nor even sure Harry will be there by then to sort it out. Chelsea will stroll this game, whether Costa is over his injury problems or not they will win comfortably.
On paper an even match up, with Everton starting slowly Martinez seems to have got over his defensive problems suffered at the beginning of the season, and they will be tested against a Swans side boasting a quick and powerful front 3 of Bony, Routledge and Dyer. I expect this to be close but to also have goals, for entertainment value from both sides this could be the game off the week.
2 very good sides in this game, Hull have been hit with injuries and have still put up some very good performances, last week was the first time this season that they have failed to score and they still managed to get a point from the game. Southampton have surpassed even their own fans expectations so far this season, Koeman has done a fantastic job of integrating new players while getting over the loss off most of their best players in the summer. Although for me they didn't lose their most needed player, Schneiderlin, he is the glue that holds the midfield together and with the exception of Matic, is the best in the league at what he does. This will be a close fought game and will be won by the odd goal in 3.
West Brom are in great form at the minute, and with only 1 defeat in their last 5 suggest they are going the right way and with Berahino in the form of his life they look like they should win this game. Leicester have not won in 4 and haven't scored in the last 2, Pearson has done a fantastic job at Leicester and if Ulloa can find the form he had in the first few weeks of the season they will have enough to stay up and will cause some teams problems this season, but not today.
Stoke are funny to predict his year. just when you think they are hitting form and going the right way they follow up a win with a defeat. wins against Newcastle and Swansea were sandwiched with a defeat to Sunderland, and they were poor in loosing against Southampton last week. West Ham on the other hand are having a great start to the season wins against Liverpool and Man City have given them real confidence. Valencia and Sakho have really hit the ground running and given Big Sam the one thing he was missing.....Goals. This game depends on which Stoke turn up, this makes it hard to call.
The first Sunday game brings us to Manchester for the derby, for obvious reasons the Arsenal / Spurs game is my favourite derby, but this is next on my list. These games normally don't fail to deliver, goals, controversy, sending offs, and most of all, excitement. This will be no different. Some are saying that Pelligrini is under pressure following a couple of needless defeats this season and there poor form in the Champions League. Man Utd have had a mixed start to the year and there form has been up and down, LVG is still trying to find his best team, this hasn't been helped with injuries and suspensions to key players. This game though, all bets are off, form means nothing when these 2 meet. It will come down to who wants it most.
Villa have been another inconsistent team so far this year, they will be buoyed by a FiT again Benteke and with Spurs lack of cohesion at the back he could figure strongly in this game, even though they have failed to score in their last games I think Villa have all the makings of a good team, its just trying to put all the pieces together and get them playing, the loss of Delph has and will be a big blow for them. Spurs are at best inconsistent this season, outside of the EPL they look a strong side that can match anyone, but only have 1 win in their last 7 EPL matches (and they've only played 9), which points to a team that are bang out of form and struggling, but with Villa being very dry up front this could be a turning point in the season.
The week rounds off with 2 teams that really need the 3 points, Sunderland have been very poor at the back over the last couple off weeks, and Palace let a 2 goal lead slip last time out. This points to some goals in this game, I think this could be a good game with both teams vulnerable and also have players that can score. I don't expect this to be a thrilling 4-4 but there will be goals and keep and eye on Jedenak, he pops up with some vital goals and is always good for an assist.
Rob (Bargain Hunter) Wright
