Ditching a hero World Cup goalkeeper for an Aston Villa striker? No, we haven’t lost our minds.
Some players, like Cesc Fabregas or Diego Costa or Sergio Aguero, seem to have permanent place in people’s teams. However, there are others who are worth a punt for a particular game, a one week-wonder, similar to an emergency loan signing. This week you would be wise to make Christian Benteke that player.
Three players to sign:
1. Christian Benteke
Fixture: Aston Villa V Leicester City
Price: 7.9m
Selected by: 0.6%
Aston Villa may not be a great goalscoring team, they even had to cancel their October goal of the month competition because they failed to score that month, but there’s a number of worthy reasons to back them, and striker Christian Benteke, to score this weekend. Their opponents, Leicester City have just one clean sheet from the previous ten games, and Villa’s Belgian striker is finally back in the team and amongst the goals.
Since signing in 2012, Benteke has an impressive 30 goals in 65 games for the struggling side, and looked set for a big money move to a Champions League team until suffering a long term injury last April. Benteke’s frustration was further compounded after receiving a three-match suspension following his return from injury, however the striker scored mid-week and will be hopeful of registering again this weekend. To sweeten the deal, essentially no-one, a tiny 0.6 per cent of players, have the Belgian in their team. A worthy addition to any side, for this weekend at least.
2. Christian Eriksen
Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur V Crystal Palace
Price: 8.0m
Selected by: 11.5%
Christian Eriksen is already a popular player, with over one in ten of Fantasy Football managers selecting him in their side, but with just cause. The Danish midfielder has become Spurs’ main creative outlet, and would surely have more than just one assist if his team had a prolific striker. He does however have five goals, including two in his last three games, and will fancy his chance against a Crystal Palace side with just one clean sheet in 10 games.
3. Sergio Aguero
Fixture: Manchester City V Everton
Price: 12.9m
Selected by: 36.4%
This one needs no explanation. At this stage there is no point providing stats or predictions, just put Sergio Aguero in your team. He’s expensive and everyone else may have him, but just do it. He’s in the form of his life and, if he continues, will be a dead cert. for player of the year. A no-brainer.
Three players to sell:
1. Tim Howard
Fixture: Manchester City V Everton
Price: £5.3m
Selected by: 13.8%
Tim Howard was one of the stars of the World Cup. He made 16 saves, a tournament record, in the USA’s second round loss to Belgium, received a congratulatory phone call from President Barack Obama and even had his wikipedia page title briefly changed to ‘the secretary of defense’. All of this on the back of a season when Howard kept 15 clean sheets for Everton, registering an impressive 160 points. However, this season, the Everton defence has struggled and the American goalkeeper has been distinctly out of form. In Tuesday’s home game with Hull, Howard conceded a soft goal at his new post, Hull’s first shot on target in the game, and has kept just three clean sheets in fourteen games. The Everton goalkeeper has also committed more than a few howlers this season, in particular when letting six past him against Chelsea.
Everton face in form Manchester City next and it would be wise to ditch Howard, the fourth most popular goalkeeper in the game, who’s a good goalkeeper, but, judging by his performances this season, is overrated. While Everton look incapable of keeping a clean sheet and Sergio Aguero is in the form of his live. Howard is unlikely to replicate his World Cup heroics this weekend.
2. Phil Jagielka
Fixture: Manchester City V Everton
Price: £5.7M
Selected by: 17.3%
Sticking with Everton, and their shaky backline, it would be wise to also ditch Howard’s teammate Phil Jagielka. The defender, like Howard, has been part of just three clean sheets this season, and while scoring two goals, has only managed more than two points in four of Everton’s 14 games this season. With in-form Manchester City, and seemingly unstoppable Sergio Aguero, next up for the Toffees and now would be a great time to ditch Jagielka.
3. Angel di Maria
Fixture: Southampton V Manchester United
Price: £9.6m
- Selected by: 19.3%
The Manchester United winger is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and will not be available for Monday’s game. However, it appears almost one-fifth of you need reminding to ditch Di Maria. The Argentine started his Premier League career in fantastic form but trailed off a little in his final few games before injury. A troublesome hamstring needs time to recuperate and we may not see Di Maria again in 2014. Even if it does miraculously return in the next few games, he’ll unlikely be 100 per cent fit.
