Fantasy Premier League Strategist

“What do you mean there’s a gameweek that started during the week?”

Rest assured that there will be a number of your rivals who have no idea that there is an extra gameweek staring on Tuesday night. Luckily for you, my well-informed reader, the Dirtsheet arrives well in time for the midweek set of fixtures. Please try to keep a straight face as your team (hopefully) races ahead.

Gameweek 13 was certainly unlucky for some – messers Suarez and Aguero contrived to disappoint the vasy majority of FPL managers who had plumped for either as their choice of captain. Fantasy staple Boruc also decided that now is the perfct time to strand his owners in goalkeeping limbo. Let’s hope gameweek 14 proves to follow the plan a little better…

Here’s the Dirtsheet for Gameweek 14.

THE DIRTSHEET: GAMEWEEK 14

The Eleven – (3-4-3)

Costel Pantilimon (MCI) /Michel Vorm (SWA)
Opponent – West Bromich Albion (H)/Newcastle United (H)
NOTE: I am providing two goalkeepers here due the widespread effect of the injury to Artur Boruc. With 3 clean sheets in his last 4 games, I’m opting for the beanpole Romanian to cover the City defence against WBA. He is a solid choice of replacement for anyone affected by the injury to Artur Boruc and has a good run of fixtures over the next 5 matches. His place is his alone to lose, but his performances so far have given little hope to Joe Hart regarding a return to the starting team. If you are a little uneasy that Hart may return, then Michel Vorm is a more solid choice.

Per Mertesacker (ARS)
Opponent – Hull City (H)
Last week, owners of Mertesacker must have breathed a huge sigh of relief when a possibly game-ending facial injury was waved away as a mere scratch by the German. It allows Mertesacker to line up against a travel-sick Hull City. I expect a clean sheet and perhaps bonus points come Wednesday night. I wouldn’t rule out a cheeky assist or goal either.

Dejan Lovren (SOU)
Opponent – Aston Villa (H)
It’s amazing to see the fall from grace of Christian Benteke. He looks like a player that does not want to play for Villa. Regardless of the reason, it means that Southampton have the perfect opportunity to get back to doing what they do best – keeping clean sheets. Although they are without Artur Boruc, I still think the Saints backline will keep Villa at bay. I’m going for Dejan Lovren to provide a chance of both attacking and defensive points.

Glen Johnson (LIV)
Opponent – Norwich (H)
I’m loading up on attacking Liverpool players this week, and Glen Johnson is the first of three selected ahead of the home tie against Norwich. So far this season, Johnson’s attacking threat has not produced the points that some of his displays should have returned. I think that Brendan Rogers will be well aware that Luis Suarez will need more than the supply afforded to him by Victor Moses and Raheem Sterling, and will ask Johnson to attack as often as possible. While a clean sheet is a good bet, I think attacking returns could also be on the cards.
Steven Gerrard (LIV)
Opponent – Norwich (H)
While he rarely deserves consideration as a captaincy choice, his superbly taken goal against Hull highlights Steven Gerrard’s consistency as an FPL player. That’s attacking returns in 7 of his last 8 games. With an injury to Daniel Sturridge and doubts over Coutinho’s fitness, I am looking to Gerrard to step up to the plate and continue his incredible run.

Eden Hazard (CHE)
Opponent – Sunderland (A)
As with Suarez and Aguero, Hazard failed to shine in a fixture he was expected to do well in. Although Oscar reported on social media that he was fine after
being substituted in the 41st minute against Southampton, I cant shake the feeling that Mourinho will give him a rest. Therefore, I’m looking to the Belgian to return attacking points at the Stadium of Light.

Adam Lallana (SOU)
Opponent – Aston Villa (H)
I’m backing the Saints to return to winning ways against Villa and Lallana will be key to attacking returns. He has been one of the stand-out performers so far this season, and with 2 double-figure returns in his last 3 home games, Lallana is a good prospect for attacking returns this week.

Aaron Ramsey (ARS)
Opponent – Hull City (H)
Another masterful performance, this time at Cardiff, cements Aaron Ramsey’s place in the Dirtsheet once again. It’s amazing that he started at £5.5 in FPL this year. Hull showed their home defensive stability against Liverpool, but their away record is less than ideal. While rotataion is a small doubt coming into the game, Arsenal have a chance to move even further away from the chasing back before Christmas. Exciting times in London.

Luis Suarez (LIV)
Opponent – Norwich (H)
Liverpool will be hurt and, more importantly, Luiz Suarez will be hungry for goals after being well beaten by Hull City. Next up is Norwich at Anfield, a game which Liverpool won 5-0 last year. I cannot see anything but a comprehensive victory for the home side, especially if Coutinho can start. The sight of Moses and Sterling supporting Suarez is not as appealing as Coutinho and Sturridge, and being honest, this concerns me just a little. However, it would be a brave manager who does not have Suarez heading into this fixture.

Sergio Aguero (MCI)
Opponent – WBA (A)
A rare blank by the Argentine in the 3-0 defeat of Swansea is not enough to dampen my spirits ahead of a trip to West Brom. It was Samir Nasri who stole the headlines with 2 goals, but I think Aguero’s guile and acceleration will be of more threat to the Baggies rearguard on Wednesday night. He will also draw fouls for Negredo and Toure’s free kicks.

Wayne Rooney (MUN)
Opponent – Everton (H)
Another two goals, this time against Spurs, means there is no doubt that Rooney has entered one of his famous purple patches of form. Up next is a home tie against an Everton side berift of Leighton Baines. I think United will attack the space on the wings and Rooney is clinical when being supplied from that position.

The Captain – Luis Suarez (LIV) –
I think that Suarez will be the runaway leader in all internet captain polls carried out this week – I cannot see Suarez going two games in a row without scoring. There will be goals at Anfield, and without Sturridge (and possibly Coutinho), Suarez will lead the line. Aaron Ramsey is also a good choice, but I think there will be a number of different goalscorers/assisters in the Arsenal game and therefore his bonus point potential might sufffer.

The Clean Sheets
I’m looking to Southampton, Arsenal, Liverpool, Stoke and Manchester City to return clean sheets.

The Unusual Suspects
Defender: Jan Vertongehen (TOT)
Midfielder: Antonio Valencia (MUN)
Striker: Peter Crouch (STO)
Captain: Adam Lallana (SOU)

And that’s a wrap! It’s quick, it’s informative and it’s helpful. It’s the Dirtsheet, and it’s here every Friday! Please follow us on Twitter and share! Every follower counts!