Fantasy football cheat sheet: “Mike” Smalling’s defensive renaissance means points, points, points

We never thought we’d see the day but Chris Smalling is finally looking like a proper centre-half.

Manchester United’s vice captain hasn’t put a foot wrong this season as Louis van Gaal has orchestrated consecutive 1-0 victories in the league and while neither has been the prettiest of games, Smalling has excelled in both.

On gameweek 3, we’ve gone for a hefty shake-up as we look to take advantage of Manchester United’s defensive solidity while new boys Watford can punish Southampton’s sluggish full backs.

*And if you feel like showing us up, our league code is 986651-240656*

Three players to sign

Chris Smalling

Fixture: Manchester United v Newcastle
Value: £6.1m
Selected by: 10%

In two games, Chris Smalling has already amassed 18% of the points that he earned in the whole of last season so it looks like he’s turned the corner.

Perhaps Louis van Gaal ought to get his players’ names wrong in future because “Mike” has come out of the blocks like a man with a point to prove.

The last three games between United and Newcastle have resulted in an 8-1 aggregate score for the Red Devils and Steve McClaren’s toothless Magpies don’t look like they’ll be too threatening at Old Trafford.

Disorganised and panicky, it’s hard to see where Newcastle are going to find a goal this weekend and the professionalism with which United have seen out games this season has us confident in another 6+ points from Chris Smalling.

Odion Ighalo

Fixture: Watford v Southampton
Value: £5m
Selected by: 1.3%

You may not have heard of him but Odion Ighalo could be the sneaky way to get a steal on your fantasy football rivals, hear me out.

With Bertrand injured and Clyne gone to Liverpool, Southampton’s lack of pace in defense is looking like their Achilles heel this season and they’ve already conceded two goals from counter-attacks.

Watford may not be the fastest side in the league but Odion Ighalo has got the power in his legs to outpace the Saints defenders, just like Romelu Lukaku did last week, and Quique Flores will have his men set out to pounce on the opportunity to punish Southampton with end-to-end counter attacks.

Andre Ayew

Fixture: Sunderland v Swansea
Value: £7.1m
Selected by: 10.5%

It’s never too late to join the Ayew party but please, PLEASE, don’t accidentally buy Jordan, Andre’s the only Ayew for us.

The Swansea forward could well be on his way to “signing of the summer” territory after a pair of genuinely promising performances this season.

Garry Monk has put together one of the best sides in the league and with Bafetimbi Gomis’ ability to torment Sunderland’s centre-backs, there should be plenty of room for Ayew to get a couple of shots on Costel Pantilimon’s goal.

Meanwhile Sunderland are doing a sublime job in their campaign to get relegated and are sitting pretty in 20th spot, having conceded 7 goals in their opening two fixtures.

Advocaat ought to consider firing his club doctor to deflect attention away from their piss-poor performances and Andre Ayew is only going to compound their problems on Saturday afternoon.

Three players to sell

Hugo Lloris

Fixture: Leicester v Spurs
Value: £5m
Selected by: 3.6%

Leicester under Claudio Ranieri are going all the way to the Champions League final next season.

The Foxes have essentially turned into a conveyor belt of goals since the tinkerman took over in the summer, with six in two, and Spurs’ panic in defence was made abundantly clear when they threw away three points against Stoke.

With Mahrez, Okazaki and Vardy leading the line, it’s almost impossible to see Mauricio Pochettino’s men keeping a clean sheet at the King Power.

John Stones

Fixture: Everton v Man City
Value: £5.5m
Selected by: 4.4%

We’re not saying John Stones isn’t worth the €150 million valuation that Everton have slapped on him (we may be exaggerating) but against this reinvigorated Man City team, even top defenders come undone.

The fact that Manuel Pellegrini guided his men to consecutive 3-0 victories, over a usually compact Tony Pulis team and the Premier League champions, would suggest that most teams aren’t going to be able to keep the scores down.

Stones has looked decent so far this season but you can tell that the continued transfer speculation is playing on his mind and any distractions are going to be a hindrance against a freescoring City.

The Everton defender would be lucky to finish Sunday with one point to his name so we have to drop him, like a stone as it were.

Saido Berahino

Fixture: West Brom v Chelsea
Value: £6.5m
Selected by: 15.5%

Where has the perpetually exciting, always dangerous Saido Berahino gone?

In Tony Pulis’ desire to bring a big man to The Hawthorns with Rickie Lambert, Berahino seems to be struggling to find his place with the new system.

He’s done absolutely nothing in his first two games and there’s not a chance in hell that Chelsea are going to be as poor as they were against City.

The signing of Pedro will be a much needed boost for Jose Mourinho and his players and the Blues boss will have drilled defensive organisation into his back four and midfield all week long.

Third game without a goal for Tony Pulis’ men? I think so.

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10