Guest writer: Stephen Fuller
And so, as the interminable international Nations League break drags on like a second Pound Shop European Championship, thoughts inevitably turn to the dog’s dinner of a Fantasy League team that you ended up with a few mere weeks ago in those halcyon days of summer, sunburn and fuel under two quid.
Yet ours is not the easy option of bringing in Kevin Schade and Thierno Barry for a slightly less than stellar DCL for a couple of ‘gameweeks’ then ‘pivoting’ to Isak. No, in our Fantasy Leagues anyone with the merest sniff of Deep Heat in their jock strap let alone competence is owned elsewhere, wrapped up in muslin and used safely by our foes until next summer. And even those players returning from long injuries were snapped up with hopeless optimism and a forlorn ‘long-term view’ in the summer. And yet…
All hope is not lost. Within the detritus of your free-agents pool, perhaps lurk some gems that may yet point a way to unlikely fantasy league glory.
Goalkeepers
I spend nothing on goalkeepers at an auction, reasoning that the top ones are overpriced and there is little to choose points-wise between the 4th and 12th best. Best to spend elsewhere. And of course now there are few playing goalkeepers available. However, Coventry look stabilised, fixtures do improve with 4 out of the next 6 at home, and Carl Rushworth is likely to be one of your few available starting keepers. Brighton aside, Rushworth has conceded 1, 1, 0 in the last three outings and even got an assist last time.
Full-backs
In stock market terms these suggestions are like buying when the market is low. Sunderland let in 5 last time out, but it will not have escaped your attention that Belgian international Thomas Meunier grabbed an assist and was playing on the right-wing against Arsenal and Manchester City. There is a risk he won’t always play 75 minutes, but his attacking output has always been good from his usual right back position so I am optimistic that the next few games give him the chance to show why he’s won 14 titles in his career. Similarly, Reinildo Mandava (back from suspension) and Nordi Mukiele offer other Sunderland options.
Of course, Hull have been the stand-out surprise defensively this season, and their run of fixtures – Eve (h), Ful (A), Bre (H), Ips (H) appears quite kind. However, Lewie Coyle rarely lasts 75 minutes as Hull seemingly sub defenders each week. While Coventry’s Jay DaSilva showed a goalscorer’s touch last time out, Milan van Ewijk was more consistent in terms of attacking output in the Championship and should be back from injury.
I don’t yet trust Ipswich defensively but Abdul Outtara looked good against Everton and had a track record of more than a shot on target every two games at Strasbourg – which is high for a full-back.
Other possibilities include Everton’s Ainsley Maitland Niles: he started with a bang so perhaps has been snapped up in your league, but if not he seems to be the starting right back in the solid Everton backline. Bogle (Leeds) will have almost certainly gone but his opposite fullback Gabriel Gudmundsson is now back from injury, and James Justin is listed as a full back too. Leeds’ defence is looking OK – with the caveat of Arsenal away next up.
Centre Backs
Of course, the kinder fixtures apply to centre backs as much as to full-backs and goalkeepers. Coventry’s Bobby Thomas ranked among the top few centre-backs for goals and assists last season: he seems likely to be partnered by Stephen Mfuni and Ethan Pinnock, although neither offers the same attacking threat.
Fulham play all three promoted teams in a run of fixtures which may reward those plumping for Calvin Bassey or the recently preferred David Affengruber, both of whom offer a set-piece threat.
Other possibilities include Brentford’s Yannick Schuster, who has impressed since coming in for Nathan Collins: Collins is due to return after the international break and he always offers an attacking threat.
Joe Rodon is out injured for a number of weeks and this gives an opportunity for Nico Elvedi at Leeds. Elvedi also carries a goalscoring threat of sorts, although his goal for Switzerland against Scotland was only his 4th in 76 internationals and he’s never been that prolific.
You may want to look at Hull’s Ajayi, Harrington and Egan, and Ipswich’s O’Shea and Diop, but arguably Semi Ajayi apart none have ever been prolific for goals/assists which make such a crucial difference for bargain defensive options.
Midfielders
Yeah, right, we’re going to find a midfielder who offers goal and assist opportunities that no one has bought yet. Well, we’ll try. Some may not be available in your league, but I suspect at least one will be.
James McAtee is playing every week at Forest and is beginning to thrive under the faith Oliver Glasner has put in him. He has no goals or assists as of yet, but averages nearly 2 shots a game and ranks highly for successful crosses, and chances created – the same number as Cherki and just one below Bruno Fernandes so far this season.
Sunderland’s Nilson Angulo is starting every game this season and averages over one goal involvement every two games (G+A per 90 of 0.56). Sunderland’s next few fixtures are kinder so he could well add to this.
Brighton have started so well this season that it is unlikely that Yasin Ayari (0.3 xG on target per match) or Malick Yalcouyé (0.76 G+A per 90) are available, but grab them if they are. Julio Enciso is obviously a former Brighton player who can catch the eye at Ipswich – averaging nearly 3 shots a game and creating big chances, although I am not sure Ipswich will score enough goals. If they do, expect them to come from Jack Clarke if he continues to get starts. Clarke averaged better than a goal every other game last season and has continued that record in the Premier League, with an even higher xGOT per 90 of 0.72 suggesting he is perhaps unlucky not to have more. Having started the season as a substitute, he has now started Ipswich’s last two games and has the potential to be Ipswich’s talisman this season.
Yeremy Pino is a seasoned under-performer whose creative output is undermined by the inept finishing of Mateta and Strand Larsen. Last season he was 5th in big chances created – better than Rogers, Saka or Szoboszlai. His xA per 90 was in the top 10 and higher than, for example, Gross. Of course, he is undone by Mateta who missed the second most big chances last season (20). This season Strand Larsen (who had a shot conversion rate last season of 9.1%, nearly as bad as Trump’s would-be assassins) is preferred, but with a similar tale of missed chances. Crystal Palace forwards should be being sued under the Trades Description Act. But this can’t continue, can it? (Yes, I too can hear the echo of Mick McCarthy). And if it doesn’t, expect Pino to shoot up the assists chart as he delivers on that potential, and rattle in the odd free-kick too. And keep an eye out for Anan Khalaili, who is categorised as a midfielder while playing as a wing-back. He is the ‘new Munoz’, with a history of creating chances and scoring goals in the Belgian Pro League, yet without any defensive risks/benefits.
Elsewhere, Coventry’s Ethan Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni have so far failed to shine this season, but together with Victor Torp they offered excellent attacking output from midfield last year and can surely improve.
I doubt if Hull’s Mohammed Belloumi is available for you: he has been their key attacking outlet with 2 goals and 2 assists. That said, he only got 5 goal involvements in a whole season in the Championship so it remains to be seen if this form will continue.
Forwards
There seemed to be fewer quality forwards in this year’s auction and, with any late Summer signings or unexpected starters beginning to shine (yes I’m looking at you, Charalampos Kostoulas) no doubt long gone, this is a shallow pool.
Sorba Thomas has made an impact for Hull since arriving, and is unlucky to be classed as a forward. He scored 10 goals and had 11 assists in the Championship last season and will be crucial if Hull are to survive.
Giorgino Rutter has recovered from injury and is likely to be pushing for a starting place at Brighton now – and may have been discarded in the September rush for current Brighton starters. He was expected to step up in Welbeck’s absence and he may yet get a chance to prove himself as Welbeck’s successor.
I first saw Brandon Thomas Asante many years ago for Sutton and Oxford City in non-league football, and whilst he looked a cut above that level I am surprised (and delighted) to see him in the Premier League. With 17 goal involvements last season, and starting in Coventry’s only win last time out, he may possibly be given the chance to keep the starting spot when Awoniyi returns from injury.
Brian Brobbey’s recent international injury means Wilson Isidor will likely get a run of starts for Sunderland. He has already delivered a goal and assist off the bench, and so also offers the hope of long-term points too.
