If he had a defence featuring Paul McGrath, Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini playing in front of him, it would still be hard to imagine poor Jak Alnwick keeping a clean sheet. While Juan Mata looks a good bet to continue his good form against Aston Villa.
Three players to sign
1. Juan Mata
Fixture: Aston Villa v Manchester United
Price: £8.5m
Selected by: 8%
Juan Mata, with three goals and an assist his last five appearances, has been impressive recently for Manchester United, showing signs of the form that saw him named Chelsea player of the year in his two full seasons with the club. Louis van Gaal has tinkered with United’s formation at various times this season, but, in recent games, Mata has been effective when having been afforded a run in his natural position behind the team’s strikers.
In the club’s last game, the 3-0 victory over Liverpool, Mata scored and created two chances with one of them being finished by Robin van Persie. While United were sloppy in possession at times, the Spanish playmaker was typically neat, completing 92 per cent of passes. Mata’s eye for a pass and good form bode well for United’s fixture away to Aston Villa, who have lost to United in the last seven meetings between the pair. Another United win looks likely and Mata could be the man to provide the ammunition.
2. Samir Nasri
Fixture: Manchester City v Crystal Palace
Price: £8.2m
Selected by: 2.4%
Following injuries to Manchester City’s three senior strikers, manager Manuel Pellegrini may opt for a strikerless formation for their game with Crystal Palace. If so, David Silva will most likely play in the ‘false nine’ position, which will involve the Spanish midfielder dropping deep to create space and link up with City’s midfield, who will have an added burden of scoring as well as creating chances in the absence of Sergio Aguero. Samir Nasri, on current form, looks well up to the task. The City midfielder has two assists in his last three Premier League games, while also scoring and assisting in the side’s crucial Champions League victory over Roma. Nasri also has the added caveat of being selected by only 2.4 per cent of players, while strugglers Palace have just one win in their last six away fixtures.
3. Diafra Sakho
Fixture: West Ham v Leicester City
Price: £5.8m
Selected by: 6.7%
Diafra Sakho has five goals in his last six appearances at Upton Park and will be confident of adding to his excellent record this weekend against strugglers Leicester City, a team without a clean sheet in their last 12 Premier League games. Sakho, or striker partner Andy Carroll would both be smart additions for the game. West Ham are in decent form and Stewart Downing has become something of a creative outlet for Sam Allardyce’s side. Although, with Chelsea and Arsenal next up for the Hammers, maybe only make Sakho a one-week deal.
Three players to sell
1. Daryl Janmaat
Fixture: Newcastle v Sunderland
Price: £5.2m
Selected by: 9.9%
The decision to ditch Daryl Janmaat isn’t a slight against the Dutch defender. He has been effective in Newcastle’s resurgence this season and has earned an impressive 62 points, the seventh best for a defender in the league. But Janmat also has the misfortune to play in a defence featuring rookie goalkeeper Jak Alnwick. The 21-year old is Newcastle’s third choice ‘keeper, only making his professional debut against Chelsea two weeks ago, and has conceded eight goals in his last two appearances. Alnwick was at fault for a number of the goals and is set to be under massive pressure against Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby this Sunday. It would be wise to ditch Janmaat, or any Newcastle defender, until first choice ‘keeper Tim Krul, or his deputy Rob Elliot, return from injury next month.
2. Ryan Bertrand
Fixture: Southampton v Everton
Price: £5.6m
Selected by: 22%
Southampton, who have lost their last five games, are currently on their worst run for over a decade. Admittedly their current bad spell has come on the back of possibly their best form for over a decade as the Saints lost just twice in their first twelve games and were beginning to look like challengers for a European spot. While it is unlikely the side will succumb to the popular preseason consensus of relegation, Southampton look to ebbing towards the middle of the Premier League table and face a difficult series of games beginning with Everton this weekend. Ronald Koeman’s side will face Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in their next five games. Ditching any of Southampton’s defence would be a smart move, but maybe opt for Ryan Bertrand as the left-back is selected by almost a quarter of players.
3. Saido Berahino
Fixture: QPR v West Brom
Price: £5.7m
Selected by: 15.3%
Saido Berahino looks to be the most talented player at West Brom and has received an England call-up amid speculation linking him with a move to a bigger Premier League club. However, the goals have dried up for the striker. Having scored seven in his first nine games, Berahino has failed to score in his last seven appearances. Baggies manager Alan Irvine has left the 21-year old out of the starting lineup for the last two fixtures and is likely to do so again this weekend away to QPR.
