Gameweek 10 – Trick or treat

We are in gameweek 10 and Fantasy Premier League is starting to take shape.  Most teams have a similar core group of players but who are the differentiators?  With halloween drawing near I play trick or treat with the Premierships finest.

David Silva
I must admit I have a man crush on David Silva.  As much as I hate how City have bought the league I love to watch Silva play.  Towards the end of last season he was starting to show glimpses of his ability but this season he has taken it to a new level.  Against Manchester United last week he bossed the show.  His volleyed pass for the Dzeko goal was immense and he was involved in almost all of the City goals.  In fact he has developed the most annoying tendency in fantast football.  The assist for the assist.  Annoying. Despite this trait, against Wolves at home Silva has to be captain material.  Treat

Anthony Pilkington
So far this season in 7 Premiership starts the Norwich winger has a whopping 3 goals, 1 assist and 6 bonus points.  Pilkington really grew into the game against Liverpool providing the assist and more goal scoring chances for the beast – Grant Holt.  His value has already gone up to £5.2 million (an increase of point 2 since gameweek 9).  Can you afford not to have him in your team at home to struggling Blackburn? Treat

Danny Graham

£4.8million + goals = steal.  The Swansea striker Danny Graham is an absolute bargain and has a magnificent trait for someone so cheap.  He starts every game.  It took him a while to adjust to the Premiership and get going for Swansea but thanks to the persistence from Brendan Rodgers he now has; 3 goals, an assist and 5 bonus points in his last 3 games.  At £4.8 million and at home to struggling Bolton you could do worst then get him for gameweek 10.  Treat

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Gameweek 7 – Click Here To Copy

With regular host MJMaxwell off on a superfluous scouting trip to Portugal, the opportunity is mine to talk to you about a topic that is usually shunned in Fantasy Football circles, though like insider trading is undoubtedly rife….the art of copying. I have been involved in a couple of conversations this week with people who believe that the ability to see anyone’s team is a fundamental flaw in the DNA of the Fantasy Premier League, citing the Sky version as some form of safe haven from the debauchery & illegalities of copying. While I have many times been left frustrated as others have pinched players that I nurtured into my winning teams I must say that actually, when weighed up, transferring in the unknown gem that your mate found last week who happens to take corner kicks for Swansea is quite a liberating experience, especially if your friend has been banging on about it all week. Alas – the ability to ‘click here to copy’ should be lauded. A special mention at this point to @Bobby_BB, and all the others that have perfected this fine art from my teams over the years.

With that in mind, here are my top three picks to copy this week:

1) Nathan Dyer – the value of this cheap as chips midfielder is rising ladies and gents, so get him in quick. With the Swans playing Stoke, Norwich and Wolves in their next three games, Dyer could be good shout for an October point haul (£4.8m)

2) Danny Welbeck – Back midweek and scoring a double, he’s hot property at the moment, and could partner a fit again Rooney up front against Norwich at OT. At £7m this is the cheapest United forward on the market for many a year and he regularly features – get in quick before his stock rises.

3) Jonathan Walters – At £6m this midfielder sometimes features up top for Stoke and is a slightly cheaper alternative to Matty Etherington. He scored this week from the bench, takes the penalties and is starting to hog the bonus points…all in all a good shout.

Speaking of flaws, the FF bonus points system is getting stranger and stranger, with all David Silva lovers getting a serious kick in the googlies last week after a sure-fire MOTM performance went un-rewarded. Here therefore are my top three recommended players who, due to the new EA system now qualify as PCBGDBP –  ‘pretty crap but getting decent bonus points’….

1) Steven Taylor – large oaf who has benefited from Newcastle’s good defensive form, reaping the bonus benefits with 8 this term so far.

2) Kieran Gibbs – Gibbs has embarked on a two-week period without injury, thus sparking his most prolific spell in Arsenal colours. If he stays out of the treatment room then the left back is a relatively cheap option for an attacking defender.

3) Bobby Zamora – alright he hasn’t got that many so far this year but to give the fella credit, he’s only played three games, has 4 bonus points, 2 goals and an assist #handful. Check all relevant press to make sure he is fit before selecting however…

Enjoy the footy this week and remember, to get one up over your mates, always look to #clickheretocopy..

Written by @adamd8 (Who’s credentials include Champions League success with Barnet during an infamous spell as the Bees manager during Championship Manager 2000 – put that in your pipe…)