This is my optimised team line-up for Gameweek 8.
In defence there are some fairly obvious picks with Johnson and Rafael both having high clean sheet potential to add to their attacking threat. Sunderland have been miserly at home this year so Mignolet gets the nod between the sticks. Riise was my biggest dilemma, tying with Baines for projected score this week. The home fixture and greater clean sheet potential gave him the edge over Baines' higher attacking threat.
Amongst the midfielders the most likely omissions are probably from United. The visit of Stoke though, whilst a very winnable fixtures for United is not a guaranteed goal-fest and no-one player really stands out from Sir Alex's outfit. Michu has the last of his and Swanea's kind opening run of fixtures and I would expect a few good chances from him. Kevin Nolan is the pick out of all midfielders this week with a home tie against leaky Southampton.
Cazorla gets his inclusion thanks mainly to his consistency and Arsenal's good overall performances this season, and is the only player with an away fixture in my team. Finally, Gareth Bale gets the last spot in my midfield despite a tricky fixture against Chelsea. The next picks from my projection model after the Welshman would be Jarvis (but have Nolan already) or either Fellaini or Nani. From these I'd agree with the statistical prediction that Bale and Tottenham have the greater chance of goals.
Up front Luis Suarez is miles ahead in the projections for this gameweek and is my captain option. Will he frustrate? There'll be a lot of people backing him this weekend against Reading, that's for sure. Fletcher continues to feature in my select XI. Despite his unsustainable goal:shot conversion rate he is still Sunderland's only focal point in attack, and he still remains a great goal scorer at this level. Finally, Berbatov goes straight back into reckoning, assuming he has recovered from the thigh injury over the international break. If Berbs is still unfit, I would give his place to Wayne Rooney.
Let me know what you think of these picks. Who do you agree with and who not? Stay tuned later today too for my updated Buying Guide for the next six gameweeks .
Solid lineup. If this were a real squad I would probably take Hughes over Riise. I know Riise can rack up the assists, but Hughes is locked on and 1 mil cheaper.
ReplyDeleteI might consider Pienaar this week as well. Of course, in that lineup, I'm not sure who I would take out!
Yeah, it's not a bad team. Who would you captain from this lot? And who vice? I have an uneasy feeling about Fletcher for some reason but my data and slection is not based on goals scored at all, but SoT and % of Team Shots, and he comes up good. Fingers crossed Berbs is fit.
ReplyDeleteSuarez seems the obvious choice statistically. Of course, statistically he looks like the best forward in the EPL! Still though Reading is truly awful and I don't see how you can choose any one else. I know I am not.
ReplyDeleteAs for vice, I would probably go Nolan or Berbs. Berbs should have a strong game if fit. That's a big "if" though.
I like Suarez this week. He may have played at La Paz but I don't think there are many people in the EPL that can match his fitness levels.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably his final captaincy call for a while for me.