Re-Preview Gameweek 19 and 20

With the games coming thick and fast, I’m combining the review and preview for Gameweek 19 and 20. This will be short and sweet, given the limited time for preparations.

Musings from Gameweek 19

Berbatov

Frustrated Berbatov owners finally received their rewards for their patience with a goal and three bonus points against Southampton. The next three games are SWA, wba, and WIG which should provide ample opportunity for the enigmatic Bulgarian to please his Fantasy owners.

Van Persie

Despite his price tag, the consistency of Van Persie makes for such a good captain´s pick that I think you are doing yourself a disservice leaving him out of your team. For most managers, the best way to set up the team is to build around Van Persie, trying to pick up cheaper differentials.

Midfield Maestros

Meet Mata and Bale, two of the best midfielders in the league.

Bale´s hattrick underlined his Fantasy potential and he now has nine goals and four assists compared to his 10 and 14 last year.

Mata has been Mr. Consistent lately, with three goals and an assist in the last four games as Benitez has made him the fulcrum of the his Chelsea setup.

Brunt and Walters

Two underappreciated Fantasy players scored in the double-digits in Gameweek 19.

Brunt was pivotal in West Brom’s away win at QPR, scoring and assisting for a total of 13 Fantasy points. Back from injury, he has provided four assists and a goal in eight starts and provides a decent budget option at 5.5.

Walters is more expensive at 6.5 and is an out of position prospect, playing in behind Stoke’s lone striker. He’s a certain starter and a stable provider of Fantasy points, if an unspectacular option.

Sunderland Defence

Available at a discount, the Sunderland defence is back to its best under O’Neill. Cuellar and Mignolet are the best options.

Gameweek 19 Captain Picks

I’m documenting whether I’m passing the test with my captain picks. If a captain pick scores over three points in the Gameweek it is considered a success and I am also noting double-digit Gameweek scores.

In the Friday Foreplay for Gameweek 19 I recommended Van Persie, Mata, and Michu as captain picks. Michu failed to deliver although he was dangerous and went off with an injury. Van Persie and Mata both scored.

Quality of captain picks:

• Good captain picks: 32/56
• Double digit captains: 10/56

Gameweek 20 Captain Picks

1. Van Persie: Another easy pick with Manchester United playing at home and Rooney out with an injury.

2. Cazorla: Due to the tube strike, Cazorla should be fresh and ready to do some damage against a tired and depleted Newcastle side.

3. Berbatov: A punt, but Berbatov will be afforded space against a surprisingly open Swansea team.

Gameweek 20 Heavy Hitters

With Rooney out and Welbeck a doubt, Hernandez will likely lead the line for Manchester United at home against West Brom.

Walcott has played well in the lone striker role and should start against Newcastle.

Mata’s consistency is the reason for his pick, although playing away from home against Everton should be a tough matchup for Chelsea.

Bale’s free role in Villas-Boas setup allows him to arrive in the box, in Lampard style, to finish off attacking moves.

Suarez has delivered a goal and an assists in his last two games after four blanks and should seriously test the QPR defence.

Gameweek 20 Clean Sheets

Sagna is the cheapest option into the Arsenal defence.

Begovic is having a great season and is a good bet for a clean sheet against a Southampton team that has scored three goals in their last five games.

Jaaskelainen is also a good goalkeeper shout, facing a hapless Reading team away from home.

Gameweek 20 Punts

Kone faces an Aston Villa team that has conceded 12 goals in two games.

Luiz, playing out of position in Chelsea’s midfield, has assist potential as well as set piece duties.

Carrick provided two assists against Newcastle and has two targets for through balls in Van Persie and Hernandez.