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For the first time since 2014/15 (excluding blank game-weeks), we have had two back-to-back game-weeks with average scores of less than 40. The season has been difficult to predict so far with the 0-0 draw that Bournemouth and Norwich played out summarizing it in a nutshell. Both teams had yet to keep a clean sheet, had the worst defensive stats in the league but somehow still contrived to keep each other out.
Only Raheem Sterling picked up any attacking returns out of the top 10 picked captains and that too was just a paltry five points. Things are expected to revert to normal as the season goes on and as FPL managers we should recognize these game weeks as anomalies rather than the rule.
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Be patient with your picks and trust your decision-making process, things will turn around soon. The points spread is slim due to low scores everywhere and just one good game week can propel you up the overall standings.
3 Players to Pick this Gameweek
1) Raheem Sterling (AVL) –
Raheem Sterling was involved in all of Manchester City’s five goals in their Champions League fixture against Atalanta as the winger assisted Sergio Aguero’s first goal, won the penalty for his second and then went on to bag a hattrick himself.
Although he has only notched two attacking returns in the last six-game weeks, he continues to post impressive underlying statistics.
No midfielder has taken more shots in the box (SiB) than Sterling’s 26 this season and only John McGinn (12) has landed more shots on target (SoT) than his 11.
He also leads the way for ‘big chances’ with 11. Manchester City top all the attacking metrics – goals (29), shots (189), SoT (70) and ‘big chances’ (43) and will be looking to keep the pressure on Liverpool as they host a porous Aston Villa side.
The Villans have allowed more shots (162) than any team in the league and only Norwich City (103) have allowed opponents more SiB than their 100. The standout captain pick this week.
2) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (CRY) –
Arsenal endured a difficult visit to Sheffield United in game-week nine and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang international was starved of service as the Gunners’ struggled for creativity. The Gunners have traditionally been a side that thrives on beating the midtable teams at the Emirates and this encounter should prove an entirely different kettle of fish from their last one.
Only Sadio Mane (59), Sergio Aguero (61) and Kevin De Bruyne (66) have registered more FPL points so far this season than Aubameyang’s 57 and only Aguero and Tammy Abraham (both eight) have scored more goals than his seven.
He is ranked fourth amongst forwards for SoT with 11 and fifth for ‘big chances’ with eight. Arsenal have scored eight goals in their four matches at the Emirates so far, landing 25 SoT, an average of over six a game. Their opponents Crystal Palace have conceded seven goals on the road this season and are yet to keep a clean sheet on their travels.
3) Danny Ings (LEI) –
Danny Ings scored his third goal in as many games as Southampton picked up a hard-earned point away to Wolves in game-week nine. Over the last four game-weeks, only Neal Maupay (16) has taken more shots than Ings’ 15 amongst forwards and he is ranked fifth for ‘big chances’ with four. Southampton have been posting decent attacking numbers as a unit as well.
Only Chelsea (66), Aston Villa (76) and Manchester City (86) have taken more shots than the Saints’ 63 over the last four gameweeks. Although Leicester’s defensive statistics are impressive, it is worth mentioning that they are yet to pick up a clean sheet on the road this season, conceding five goals in their four away matches.
The former Liverpool man looks to have cemented his place on the Saints’ teamsheet at the expense of Che Adams and is a great replacement option for Teemu Pukki, allowing you fund for upgrades elsewhere.
3 players to drop this game-week
1) Teemu Pukki (MUN) –
Teemu Pukki failed to register any attacking returns for the fourth consecutive match as Norwich City failed to get on the scoresheet at Bournemouth. The underlying statistics for the last four gameweeks indicate that his lack of points is not down to bad luck. The Finnish international has taken only five SiB in the last four matches, with 17 forwards managing more.
He landed only four SoT, with 13 forwards bettering that total. The Canaries landed only 11 SoT across this period, the fourth-lowest in the league. To make matters worse, Norwich seem to have adopted a more defensive diamond system as well, as seen in game-week eight which will further stifle the supply to Pukki.
The most sold player this week, Pukki is losing value at a rapid rate and with so many forward options doing the business, he simply has to go.
2) John McGinn (MCI) –
After consecutive goals in game-week six and seven, John McGinn has failed to register any involvement in Aston illa’s next seven goals. This can largely be put down to a formation change by the Villa manager which has seen Jack Grealish pushed to a more advanced position.
The Englishman has registered two goals and an assist in the last two matches and seems to be thriving in a more attacking role.
With the two priced at an identical £5.9m, there is no use in holding on to McGinn any longer especially given Villa’s upcoming run. The Birmingham side play Manchester City, Liverpool, Wolves, Manchester United and Chelsea in five of their next six matches, an extremely set of fixtures.
FPL managers are advised to either switch to Grealish or opt for other budget midfield options such as Andriy Yarmolenko and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
3) Martin Kelly (ARS) –
Martin Kelly missed the visit of Manchester City in gameweek nine with an injury. With James Tomkins approaching full fitness and Mamadou Sakho not too far away, his days as a starter for the Eagles are surely numbered.
The Former Liverpool defender sits in over 25% of teams at the time of writing and will lose value at a rapid rate once his huge owner base starts shipping him out.
The Eagles play Arsenal, Leicester, Chelsea and Liverpool in their next four matches so any chance of clean sheets would appear slim at best. If you are short of cash, Rico from Bournemouth is an excellent alternative for a similar price.
