Midfielders were once again high on the points scoring table on gameweek 27 and with so many viable options available to fantasy premier league managers it can be difficult to find the balance between potential and price.
As I mentioned yesterday, I am expecting Gameweek 28 to be a high scoring fixture week with plenty of favourable fixtures for the top teams.
With that in mind, I have gone for plenty of the big hitters in this week’s midfielders picks.
Juan Mata (Chelsea) £10.1 million. Fixture: West Brom (Home)
Both Chelsea and Juan Mata endured a frustrating weekend when they lost 2-0 to MAn City on Sunday. The fact that they played Sparta Prague on Thursday night and were given a very tough game by the Czech side, didn’t help them going into Sunday’s game. They are in midweek action again this week in the FA Cup against Middlesbrough. On paper Chelsea should comfortably see off the Championship side but as we’ve seen time and time again this season, nothing is straight forward at the Bridge.
Chelsea face a rejuvenated West Brom side on Saturday but as I mentioned yesterday, the Baggies will be without Lukaku who is a massive loss to them. Mata has failed to provide a goal or an assist in each of his last two league games which is something that hasn’t happened in quite some time. He has now been over taken as the leading points scoring midfielder. Saturday’s game should see him get back on track and improving on his impressive tally of 10 goals and 12 assists.
Marouane Fellaini (Everton) £7.8 million. Fixture: Reading (Home)
Fellaini has been very frustrating since the turn of the year and has scored just two league goals. The last time I included him in my ‘midfielder tips’ was before gameweek 25. That week I said it was last chance saloon territory for the Belgian in the eyes of myself and the majority of Fantasy Football managers. Thankfully he came up with two goals and a man of the match display that weekend, so let’s hope for a similar outcome this time around.
Everton take on Reading at Goodison Park on Saturday. David Moyes will still be fuming at how his side managed to lose 2-1 to Norwich last weekend. The Toffees will be keen to get their European challenge back on track and will be fully aware that three points is an absolute must against a struggling Reading side. In their earlier meeting this season, Everton conceded a late winner to the Royals and will be out to exact some revenge for that defeat. Fellaini is currently rated as having a 75% chance of playing due to an ankle injury but should be ok to play this weekend. Fellaini looks certain to continue in his more advanced role on Saturday where he has been so effective this season and at £7.8 million, plenty of Fantasy Football managers will be expecting a decent return from him this week.
Jason Puncheon (Southampton) £5.1 million. Fixture: QPR (Home)
Puncheon gets the nod as my budget priced midfielder for gameweek 28. The Saints winger has featured heavily in plenty of Fantasy Football teams as his current ownership of 13.2% suggests. Puncheon has featured in all but two of his side’s league games this season and has chipped in with more than his fair share. He currently has 4 goals and 6 assists to his name and had such a good price, it is little wonder plenty of managers have opted for him as an ideal squad player.
Since Mauricio Pochettino has taken over from Nigel Adkins, Southampton have been playing a very attractive brand of football with Puncheon being central to the new manager’s plans. This weekend they welcome QPR to St. Mary’s when they will be hoping for a repeat of their 3-1 victory over the Rs earlier in the season. Puncheon also scored in that game so he will be hoping for a similar return this weekend. He started on the bench in Sunday’s defeat at Newcastle. It looks like he was rested but after such a disappointing result, Puncheon should be reinstated to the starting XI for Saturday’s game with QPR.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham) £10.2 million. Fixture: Arsenal (Home)
What more can you say about this guy than hasn’t already been said? Gareth Bale has featured in my weekly tips section more than any other player this season and justifiably season. Bale has been in scintillating form of late which has seen him become the highest scoring midfielder with 167 points. He has scored 6 goals in his last 4 games and in those 4 games has picked up 10 bonus points. Such has been his incredible form, his price has also bee creeping up. He is now £10.2 million which makes him the most expensive midfielder in the game but he is worth every penny of it. 26.1% of Fantasy Football mangers have now got Bale in their teams and I fully expect that figure in increase before the North London derby at the weekend.
Spurs take on Arsenal at White Hart Lane on Sunday which is always a fixture which delivers goals. Bale has been thriving in his new free role and it will be interesting to see if the Gunners can handle him. I fully expect Bale to continue his remarkable goal scoring run. We saw on Monday night and in previous weeks how he is capable of scoring goals out of nothing. Arsenal’s defence has been less than impressive in recent weeks which is something I think we can expect Gareth Bale to exploit fully in GW 28. Simply put, Bale is a must have right now for ALL Fantasy Football managers.
Do you think that gameweek 28 will be a high scoring week? What midfielders do you see returning the points this weekend?
Article by Cian Tracey
Cian has written 86 awesome articles.
A man with a plan and an eye for fantasy potential. Follow Cian on Twitter @CianTracey1
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Which Swansea Midfielder between Routledge, De Guzman or Hernandez?
Between De Guzman and Hernandez. But seeing as I have De Guzman myself, I’d go with him. Played very well in the cup final on Sunday and grabbed two goals. Let’s hope he carries that form into GW 28.
VPS start?
Looks doubtful. We’ll know more after Ferguson’s press conference tomorrow.
I had Bale as captain last week and earned 30 points from him. I also have Monreal as a defender. He got me 7 points last week but if Bale is on a scoring run should I bench Monreal?
Hi Stuart. Do you not have any other options for the bench? I don’t think I’d bench either. Monreal has plenty of attacking threat as his assist last weekend suggests. And obviously you’re not going to bench Bale!
Bale for captain?
Will be posting my Captains Picks later in the week KB. Check back on site.