The Bargain Hunter - Week 23
It never fails.
A week where seemingly every Bargain Hunter pick was spot on, I have to wait two weeks to come back to tell you about it. In today's age of information, no one wants to hear about what you did two weeks ago. I cannot even get a friend on Facebook to respond to a post that is over three hours old on my wall.
So, I will refrain from going into too much detail about Week 22, but let me just throw out some names for you --
Robles. Gardos. Elia. Valencia.
These four players alone collected a total of 60 points last gameweek. SIXTY!!! And the cost? Well, let's just say with those four in your XI, you could afford any other seven starters your heart desired. The only setback I had, which was not under my control, was that midfield pick Samir Nasri popped up with an injury in training after I had published the column and wound up not featuring for Manchester City. Otherwise, it was a banner day for your humble writer.
But I enjoy the thrill of the crystal ball more than I do the nostalgia of a photo album. Forever forward. There are new (and some not-so-new) names to emerge this week for you bargain shoppers, and I cannot tell you how "stoked" I am to point out the deals waiting to be had out there this week in the Premier League.
Remember with an open transfer window, international tournaments ongoing, suspensions and injuries to sort through and cup action for virtually every club since their last league match, there is bound to be plenty of traps out there for fantasy managers, but I think you will find my picks for Week 23 safe and sound. Let's take a look:
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Goalkeeper
Tim Krul (Newcastle United) To know how things can turn out for you when opting for a budget keeper in the Yahoo game, you only have to go as far as this keeper's last name to find the perfect description. OK, I admit I have used the pun before, but I am pretty sure I worded it differently this time. The early kickoff this week is Hull City vs Newcastle, a match to me that screams 0-0. Hull cannot score, they have done so just twice in the previous 10 matches, and that includes being kept out at home against the likes of Leicester, Swansea and West Brom before the arrival of Tony Pulis. With their two main strikers injured, what was once a dormant attack is virtually non-existent. To be fair, these are still professional athletes playing for 90 minutes where one tricky bounce of the ball can set them up to score. If we are here to study the trends though, Hull's lack of attack cannot be ignored. In fact, it should be picked on until further notice. You will not find another keeper anywhere close to Krul's 2.35m in the Yahoo game worth considering, so if you have any hesitation, you are better off paying the premium, because the vast majority of starting keepers right now are all within a couple million pounds of each other, so either go cheap with Krul or spend the cash on the best.
Other Option for Goalkeeper
Allan McGregor (3.65m, home to Newcastle United)
Defender
Phillip Wollscheid (Stoke City) Last week, I opted for Florin Gardos and would like to do so again. With Southampton playing at home to a Swansea side who are now sans Wilfried Bony AND Gylfi Sigurdsson due to the latter having picked up a 3-match ban, the setting is perfect for yet another Saints' clean sheet. He is listed as a secondary option here for two reasons: 1.) If you haven't been investing in Southampton's defense regularly by now, your season is probably a lost one and 2.) it just so happens I like another name better, Wollscheid. Wollscheid made his debut in this column last week, but as a secondary option. Now the two names flip this week. The Potters are home to QPR this weekend after gathering a road cleanie at Leicester last time out. Rangers may have more goals in them than the Foxes do, but that hinges completely on the performance of Charlie Austin. Stop Charlie, get a cleanie - it is easier said than done, but Austin is not as lethal away from Loftus Road so there is hope. The German loanee, available for just 4.63m in Yahoo, gives Stoke instant credibility in the heart of their defense and looks to be set for a great partnership with Ryan Shawcross, who should return to the XI after starting the Potters FA Cup match a couple days ago. When you play teams at the bottom of the table, you have to take care of business. Stoke did so to Leicester, with Wollscheid their highest scoring fantasy defender, and look set to do it again to Rangers.
Other Options for Defense
Florin Gardos (4.94m, home to Swansea) Paul Dummett (5.83m, away to Hull City)
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Midfielder
Victor Moses (Stoke City) There is good news and bad news out of Britannia Stadium at the moment. The bad news is that Bojan has been lost for the season to injury, one of the Potter's main attacking weapons. The good news is - Moses is back to lead his people, and Mame Biram Diouf is making his way back from the African Cup of Nations, so it is possible that Stoke's attack may not skip a beat. Moses, when fit, has been perhaps the best crosser of the ball in the league this season. If that is heaping too much praise, then at worst he is on the short list after names like Stewart Downing and Cesc Fabregas. All he has to do is find that 12 foot tall tree named Peter Crouch in the box and Stoke will beat a porous QPR defense with ease. He only scored three fantasy points last week, but allow the man to get his feet wet again after missing the previous nine matches. He should be all systems go this week. Just stay fit young man, and investors will be satisfied. His low score actually lowered his price to a tick under 7m, just 6.99m for the man they call Moses.
Other Options for Midfield
Theo Walcott (4.20m, home to Aston Villa) James Ward-Prowse (6.99m, home to Hull City)
Forward
Graziano Pelle (Southampton) What Bargain Hunter column would be complete without a featured player from Southampton? Last week, I had Florin Gardos and Eljero Elia, who combined for 37 fantasy points at a combined price of under 10m. Then there are names like Ryan Bertrand, who I have owned since he cost less than 4m, or James Ward-Prowse, who is a dead ball specialist that never seems to eclipse the 10m threshold for midfielders. No one, however, has been more publicized here than Pelle, who again finds his price dipping into the land of the absurd. Currently at 5.78m, he looks like a misprint when listed among other forwards in the Yahoo player list. The only other player anywhere near Pelle in price and matching his production is Leonardo Ulloa, and the vast majority of his points came very early in the season. But Pelle remains an enigma in price only. His talent is clear. He is a physical presence, a strong finisher, and surrounded by teammates who will create plenty of opportunities for him. The opponent, Swansea, are in big trouble with their attacking options but the losses of Bony and Siggy cannot be positive for the team's overall morale and with captain Ashley Williams nursing a sore shoulder, there is plenty of reason to suspect a slaughter at St. Mary's this weekend.
Other Option for Forward
Jermain Defoe (4.97m, home to Burnley)
Follow the RotoWorld_PL team on Twitter: Galin | Jeremy | Neal | Nik | Steve | Ben | Rob | Aaron
