‘You have to believe’ – Arteta aims for big trophy ahead of Brighton EFL Cup clash
Video credit: SNTV
There is no doubt that they are the backbone of a successful FPL team, but with a busy festival schedule approaching, it’s time to start thinking outside the box to gain an advantage over your mini-league rivals.
Remember, each manager has a Wild Card, Free Hit, Triple Captain, and Bench Boost (reset in Gameweek 20) available until the end of the calendar year. So when things really start to heat up, it might be worth considering fielding a league championship team.
Each week, we’ll highlight three real differences that will take your team to the next level.
Player 1: Up to 10% ownership Player 2: Up to 5% ownership Player 3: Up to 2% ownership
1. Robin Roofs, £4.7m (goalkeeper, Sunderland, 6.3%)
No one could have predicted that rookie Sunderland would finish in the top four after nine games after returning to the Premier League.
Regis Le Bris is a breath of fresh air in terms of managing the newly promoted side, with the Black Cats moving into second place after a thrilling victory over Chelsea in the ninth leg.
And they have some lucrative matches scheduled for the future. Apart from hosting league leaders Arsenal on November 8th, the next four games will be against Everton (H), Fulham (A) and Bournemouth (H).
Sunderland’s rising star Roofs has scored 52 goals so far this season, more than any other goalkeeper, and has cost £1m less than David Raya, who has scored the second most points (46).
Costing just £4.7m, the Dutchman could also be a useful back-up option to more popular players such as Raya, Robert Sanchez and Nick Pope, especially if they plan to strengthen their bench in the near term.
Combining him with Martin Dubravka (31 goals), who was picked 34.4%, could probably be an option against a tough Arsenal fixture, when Burnley face struggling West Ham (A).
With away games against Liverpool and Man City coming up in the not-too-distant future, making him second-choice number one could be the ideal option – be warned!
2. Nordi Mukiele, £4.1m (defender, Sunderland, 4.7%)
Stick with Sunderland for many of the same reasons.
Despite a difficult start on paper, facing the likes of Manchester United, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, there is no doubt that Sunderland have been surprisingly solid at the back.
They have conceded just seven goals, second-lowest behind Arsenal (three), level with Tottenham Hotspur and Man City, and have kept four clean sheets.
Nordi Mukiele has played a key role in their defensive record, scoring 46 points so far. This equates to an average of 6.6 points per game, and he also scored a goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
We’ve already covered some of the lucrative fixtures ahead, so Mukiele, the 10th highest scoring defender, would be a bargain option at £4.1m.
3. Josh Achiampong, £3.9m (defender, Chelsea, 2%)
Another cheap addition, and another defensive player, who could slot right into the starting lineup or make a great rotation option on the bench when the games are thick and fast.
Josh Acheampong has filled in admirably in the backline during Chelsea’s injury crisis and appears to have secured Enzo Maresca’s place in the backline for now.
Next up is a tough test against the unpredictable Tottenham, before the Blues face Wolves (H), Burnley (A), Arsenal (H), Leeds United (A), Bournemouth (A) and Everton (H) in a series of fixtures in the run-up to Christmas.
Achiampong has only started four games so far, including the last three, but has scored an improbable 27 points (5.4 points per game overall) against Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland.
The 6ft 2in 19-year-old is also an aerial threat, as he showed when he put Chelsea ahead with a bullet header in the 3-0 win over Forest.
With Acheampong starting, Chelsea have conceded just two goals, making him a bold option if they are cash-strapped and looking to make a real difference.
– – –
