Selecting your captain can either be the most edifying or infuriating experience known to Fantasy man. Last week those who relied on Tottenham to produce their semiannual capitulation to Man City were richly rewarded - skippering four-goal hero Aguero provided a majestic 38 points - although it shoulda coulda woulda been more had Lloris not saved that pen. This week we look at how to replace another premium striker - Chelsea's main man is on his sick bed and while some may stand rigidly by the Spanish superstar, those with the wherewithal to not get married to players they don't actually have any real life connection with will be looking to see who is fit to wear the old emperor's new clothes.
Sell High
Diego Costa (11.1) -- MUN (A), QPR (H), LIV (A)
The prospect of saying "adios" to Costa Del Gol (I'll keep saying it 'til someone gives me props) might make you brown your pants but his long-threatened injury concerns finally forced him to miss out last week and talk of a virus + hammy problems does not a happy Fantasy manager make. As ever, his status must be monitored and Jose's Friday lunch press conference will be a key indicator of his playability but the conventional wisdom is leaning towards the drop, meaning we'd better start scouting for girls replacement nominees. Costa might be Fantasy gold but he won't make you any points if he doesn't play. Do bear in mind, though, that you'll want to leave enough cashish in the piggy bank to bring him back in once he's fit.
Buy Low
Saido Berahino (5.7) -- CRY (H), LEI (A), NEW (H)
You should obviously consider Graziano Pelle (8.1) if you haven't already got the Saints superstar but the best value forward in the game is actually West Brom's Burundian beauty. Having exploded with 13 pts in GW1, the England U21 striker laid low until three weeks ago and has since scored four in three, two of which were against Liverpool and Manchester United. His next three fixtures almost guarantee goals and he still costs less than a fruit salad so here's hoping you have two free transfers and can upgrade a midfielder after you replace Costa with the "new Wilfried Bony" (TM).
Danny Welbeck (7.3) -- SUN (A), BUR (H), SWA (A)
Nostradamus once said that soon after Danny Welbeck's silly little chips started coming off, he would become a Fantasy football messiah. Who am I to argue with a prophetic apothecary? Especially with goal funnels Sunderland and Burnley awaiting them in the next three - between them they have conceded 18 goals in their last six matches. Meanwhile Arsenal have only failed to score once and that was away to Chelsea. Danny boy's the new focal point and that's always a good thing... right?
Emanuel Adebayscore (8.3) -- NEW (H), AST (A), STO (H)
A home tie against the Toon is just about the tastiest thing on the GW9 menu but even when Spurs go gangbusters in Europe, they suffer the world's very most almightiest hangover the following weekend. A full strength team put FC Never-Heard-of-Them to the sword so Tottenham may not spank hapless Newcastle in quite the fashion you would expect. They do have a pretty fixture list, though, and Ade is back in the team now following a surprise start for Soldado against Man City - who promptly proved what he's not worth. Off to somewhere sunny he goes in January, then. In to score a goal every other game comes the Togolese tap-in machine. Involve him in your plans; thank me later.
'Memba We Told You?!
Dusan Tadic (7.6) -- STK (H), HUL (A), LEI (H)
STK at home does not mean that that fancy new Covent Garden restaurant that's too clever for vowels delivers. Rather, it means goals. QPR and Sunderland put five past the once-staunch Potters at their respective gaffes so a mesmeric Southampton, who lest we forget boshed eight past Sunderland just t'other day, should have no trouble smashing their back doors in (thanks to Richard Keys for that lovely idiom). Tadic, whom we've been recommending as quite the tasty little side dish for some time now, bagged a goal and four assists in that extravaganza, to rack up 23 points and remind everyone who's boss (he is, but we're kinda neat too).
Fool's Gold
Eduardo Vargas (6.4)
Giving this guy two goals in the Liverpool fiasco is the kind of generosity FPL can get away with because only 0.1% of managers own him (I'm actually shocked it's that high). The first was scrambled in off his shin, the second off Gerrard and he only played 12 minutes. Obviously no-one smart enough to read this blog would put him in their team but isn't it nice to all just agree on something for once?
Pics of the Week
Two pics for you this week. The first one's a thinker...
Everyone's least favourite Hollywood "actor" rivals Balotelli for world's craziest double-fool:
Dressing like a rapist is hard work but no-one really has to do it, Shia. Come on, man. Get it together.
