#gw35

walsh: saving even with 4 frees

Hello everyone! So after weeks and weeks of begging, those lovely people at Fantasy iTeam have finally weakened and let me loose on the Fit Blog again. I’ve dug out a few fantasy stats from the past 4 gameweeks, and added a bit of info that might help you make the most of the remaining 4 gameweeks of the season, I hope you enjoy the read.

Firstly, I’m bucking the trend on reviewing the previous gameweeks results, mainly because as I write this there’s still a few fixtures of it remaining, and I’m sure you’ll agree it’s more important to look at what’s likely to happen over the next 4 gameweeks, rather than what happened in GW34.

So let’s start with a few team and player stats from the last 4 gameweeks. (These stats do not include GW34’s midweek fixtures)

Team Stats Attacking Threat

Goals/Attempts/Conversion Rate

1. Liverpool 17 from 78 attempts, 21.8% 2. Man City 15 from 78 attempts, 19.2% 3. Everton      13 from 65 attempts, 20.0% 4. Spurs 11 from 79 attempts, 13.9% 5. Chelsea 10 from 86 attempts 11.6% 6. Man United 10 from 43 attempts 23.3%

Top 3 Defences

1. Chelsea 3 clean sheets from 4 fixtures, 1 goal conceded 2. Palace 3 clean sheets from 4 fixtures, 1 goal conceded 3. Everton 3 clean sheets from 5 fixtures, 3 goals conceded

Player Stats

Forwards

Goals/Assists (Starts/Minutes played) Suarez 4/2 (5/476) Rooney  4/0 (3/246) Lukaku  3/1 (5/462) Dzeko 3/1 (4/297) Lambert 2/2 (4/362) Bony 2/1 (5/443) Hernandez 2/1 (1/148) Adebayor 2/0 (2/193)

Midfielders

Goals/Assists (Starts/Minutes played) Y Toure 5/0 (5/378) Eriksen 4/3 (4/382) Gerrard 3/1 (5/452) Mata 3/1 (4/361) Mutch 3/1 (4/383) Puncheon 3/0 (4/360) Special mention to; Matic 0/4 (4/375) Mirallas 1/3 (2/215)

Defenders

Goals/Assists (Starts/Minutes played) Skrtel 3/1 (5/476) Baines  1/1 (5/471) Pieters 1/1 (4/362) Rosenior 1/1 (3/321)

So, GW35, a bonus gameweek, and that extra transfer couldn’t of come at a better time, I’m guessing most of us will have teams stacked up with players from Everton and Man City after their double gameweek in GW34. Man City play last and Everton next to last in GW35, that reduces our transfer options massively. Now I’m not one for selling perfectly fit players before they’ve played, but with the way my teams are set up, and the order in which the fixtures are being played in GW35, there could well be a good case to do so this week to make the most of those transfers.

GW35 Fixtures

Spurs vs Fulham (12.45)

The bookies make Spurs the favourites for an home win here and I have to go along with them on that, Spurs have scored 11 goals in their last 4 fixtures and I expect them to add at least another couple to that tally here. Fulham have won their last 2 fixtures against Norwich and Villa and are battling hard to beat the drop, I think they can and will stay up, even without getting any points from this one. Eriksen and Adebayor should be on most peoples watch list this weekend, Spurs don’t have any real tough fixtures remaining this season and their players could be good value. For the managers on a tight budget, Holtby and Sidwell could chip in with a few points before the seasons over, even if they don’t reap any rewards in this one.

Prediction: 2-0 Key Player: Eriksen

Remaining Fixtures Spurs: Stoke (a) West Ham (a) Aston Villa (h) Fulham: Hull (h) Stoke (a) Palace (h)

Aston Villa vs Southampton (15.00)

Villa without Benteke is as appealing as chips without gravy, I can’t see anything other than a comfortable Southampton win here, just like last gameweek... Yeah, okay, I bet a lot of us got that one wrong, but I’ll be right this gameweek and I fully expect Lallana and Lambert to be back in the points!

Prediction: 0-2 Key Player: Lallana

Remaining Fixtures Aston Villa: Swansea (a) Hull (h) Man City (a) Spurs (h) Southampton: Everton (h) Swansea (a) Man United (h)

Cardiff vs Stoke (15.00)

Cardiff got the result they needed last gameweek but they’re still in the bottom 3 and will need another win here if they want to keep any hopes of premier league survival alive, there’s no doubt they’ll be going for it but I can’t see them getting the win they need, Stoke are playing well and I expect them to win this one.

Prediction: 1-2 Key Player: Arnautovic

Remaining Fixtures Cardiff: Sunderland (a) Newcastle (a) Chelsea (h) Stoke: Spurs (h) Fulham (h) West Brom (a)

Newcastle vs Swansea (15.00)

Newcastle have lost the last 4 and conceded 12 without reply, that’s not good, I hate backing anyone to win away at St James Park as Newcastle always seem to find some form when I do. Remy could be back in action this weekend, which would give Newcastle the boost they need, Swansea are a good defensively, but I’m backing Newcastle to score and win this one, with or without Remy.

Prediction: 2-1 Key Player: Cisse/Remy

Remaining Fixtures Newcastle: Arsenal (a) Cardiff (h) Liverpool (a) Swansea: Aston Villa (h) Southampton (h) Sunderland (a)

West Ham vs Crystal Palace (15.00)

Palace have won the last 3 without conceding (I’m writing this before their away game at City) I expect that record to have gone on Wednesday night but they have already done enough to pull themselves clear of the relegation battle. The bookies fancy this one for a home win, I fancy a draw, with Carroll and Puncheon the most likely to score fantasy points.

Prediction: 1-1 Key Player: Carroll

Remaining Fixtures West Ham: West Brom (a) Spurs (h) Man City (a) Palace: Man City (h) Liverpool (h) Fulham (a)

Chelsea vs Sunderland (17.30)

Yeah, home win and another clean sheet for Chelsea, I’m confident on that. Chelsea have created more chances than any other team, it’s putting the ball in the net that’s the issue for them, Hazard is still a doubt and then there’s the potential rotation of players in preparation for the Champions league semi final in midweek, it’s definitely a case of waiting for those starting line ups before signing Chelsea players right now.

Prediction: 3-0 Key Player: Eto’o

Remaining Fixtures Chelsea: Liverpool (a) Norwich (h) Cardiff (a) Sunderland: Cardiff (h) Man United (a) West Brom (h) Swansea (h)

Norwich vs Liverpool (Sun 12.00)

This is the away banker of the weekend for me, and that’s no disrespect to Norwich, it’s just hard to see anyone beating Liverpool right now, Liverpool could be without Daniel Sturridge who’s got an hamstring injury, and they will be without Jordan Henderson for the next 3 fixtures after his sending off against Man City in GW34, even so, it’s hard to see anything other than a convincing away win. Norwich’s well documented tough run of fixtures starts here, unless your desperate, I’d avoid their players.

Prediction: 0-3 Key Player: Suarez

Remaining Fixtures Norwich: Man United (a) Chelsea (a) Arsenal (h) Liverpool: Chelsea (h) Palace (a) Newcastle (h)

Hull vs Arsenal (14.05)

Anything other than an Arsenal win here could put a dent in their Champions league hopes for next season. I can see them getting the win they need, Arsenal have some very winnable fixtures remaining and their players could be good transfer targets this GW and going forward for the remainder of the season. Hull do have a game in hand but 3 of their 4 are away from home, unless you’re considering an attack on May’s Manager of the Month competition I’d stick to Arsenal players on this one.

Prediction: 1-2 Key Player: Giroud

Remaining Fixtures Hull: Fulham (a) Aston Villa (a) Man United (a) Everton (h) Arsenal: Newcastle (h) West Brom (h) Norwich (a)

Everton vs Man United (16.10)

This is a tough one to call, the odds and stats suggest this is an home win, but I’m going for the draw. The chances are our teams are full of Everton players, but it really is worth considering a few transfers based around Man United if you can, they have 3 favourable home fixtures after this game. There is a rumour that Rooney could be out for the rest of the season with that toe injury so Mata and Welbeck/Hernandez should be on everyone's transfer radar now.

Prediction: 1-1 Key Player: Mata

Remaining Fixtures Everton: Southampton (a) Man City (h) Hull (a) Man United: Norwich (h) Sunderland (h) Hull (h) Southampton (a)

Man City vs West Brom (Mon 20.00)

I can’t see anything other than a home win here, and whoever starts up front for Man City could be a good captains selection this gameweek. Man City still have the extra game to play in GW37, as do West Brom, but I can see more chance of good points from the Man City players between now and the end of the season.

Prediction: 4-0 Key Player: Aguero

Remaining Fixtures Man City: Palace (a) Everton (a) Aston Villa (h) Hull (h) West Brom: West Ham (h)Arsenal (a) Sunderland (a) Stoke (h)

Well that’s it from me for this season, but before I sign off I’d like to thank all the UK mini league regulars for making the mini league an enjoyable place to spend the season again, and give a special to Mouldy for his contributions with the weekly competitions and all those who chip in with their predictions, thanks a lot!