Historically, January has been a time of transition. A make or break period, if you will - wherein brave decisions are made, championships are forged and the tame fall by the wayside. This Christmas period has been a confusing one for Fantasy Managers. How is one to make wholesale changes to their team when Arsenal are outgunning Manchester City in their back yard, United could coagulate or capitulate on any given Saturday and Southampton sit an unthinkable third in the table, with a decent run of fixtures on the horizon. We pick and choose some of the best players to plug in this week - whether you've dropped your January Wildcard or not. Also there'll be some jokes.
Buy Low
Chris Baird (3.9) -- TOT (H)
The last time West Brom got two Premier League clean sheets in a row... was mid December. You were expecting a joke weren't you but seriously - the Baggies have learned to keep cleanies. They've still got a Fantasy gem in their midst in the shape of sub-4m left-back Baird, who's put together two shut-outs and three Bonus Points against Hull and Everton for a total of 15 points. Andre Wisdom has been a starter all season, hence his higher price tag, but if Chrissy boy can nail down that starting berth, you're ahead of the game. There's no telling whether this will be the case unless you're one of those boring people who follows teams like West Brom and which players they pick. I'm just gonna hope he will though and put him in my Widlcard side anyway. For science.
Money Maker
Kyle Naughton (4.3) -- Swansea | SOT (A)
One of dem PL-PL transfers, innit? Makes for a cheap addition to your line-up. Don't expect a clean sheet this weekend, though - after being sent off in Tottenham's season opener, the full-back failed to bag four points for a shut out in any of his subsequent four appearances - largely because he makes terrible terrible terrible mistakes that tend to lead to goals. The Swans have conceded 11 in their last four and next year's Champions League winners Southampton haven't failed to score in six matches, and have only once been denied - at home against Man City. So don't expect the world but do chuck him in if you're keen on turning a tasty profit - He's a steal.
Sell High
Gylfi Sigurdsson (6.7) -- Swansea | SUSPENDED
Obviously you're going to take Siggy out if you have him - especially if you have your wildcard active. That's not the point. The point is I take great delight in this becauselast weekwe told you to dump him. Now, like one of those post-$1,000,000-worth of plastic surgery hotties on The Swan running into her fat, useless troglodyte of an ex-boyfriend, I'm gonna gloat 'til my titties explode. Don't be a stubborn Stu - get him outta there.
Cancel Everything
Eden Hazard (10.7) -- Chelsea | MCI (A)
Just like Benedict Thundersnatch (trend that at your leisure), I've put my foot well and truly in my mouth with this one. So far in there that my tonsils know what my toes taste like, my cuticles are sparkling clean and the kids who hang around outside my house have started calling me "Athlete's face". In the last few weeks, the Belgian's been more waffle than wizard - putting up a measly six points in two games, which is especially disappointing given Chelsea scored seven goals. He's probably worth hanging onto - he remains epic meatballs - but his price tag will start to look extortionate if he doesn't get back to scoring ways sharpish.
