Gameweek 25 was one to forget for me as none of my punts repaid my faith in them. Crystal Place full-back Martin Kelly, who has won the most tackles in the Premier League this season, played well in Palace’s draw with Newcastle but couldn’t keep a clean sheet or affect play further up the pitch. Hull’s fortunes turned against Aston Villa and the Tigers won convincingly but my pick Ahmed Elmohamady didn’t play a part in either of their two goals, although a clean sheet point brought his total up to three points. Finally, my striker of choice, Jermain Defoe, failed to score in what was a shock result which saw the Black Cats lose 2-0 at home to QPR. Here are Gameweek 26’s Best Punts as I look to get back to my usual form. All prices and ownership figures are correct as of the February 15.
Kyle Walker
Position: Defender
Club: Tottenham
Price: 5.8
Ownership: 0.6%
It was a two-horse race for the defensive punt in this week’s article; John Stones or Kyle Walker. I went for the latter as Leicester’s improving form in front of goal could pose a threat to Martinez’s side. This isn’t the case, however, with West Ham. The Hammers were hammered 4-0 in the FA Cup last weekend and looked toothless. Just as Andy Carroll was gathering form, he has been ruled out for the rest of the season and the controversy surrounding Diafra Sakho’s failure to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations seems to have affected his confidence. This lack of firepower seems to worsen away from home. Before failing to score at West Brom last weekend they had only netted once away from the Boleyn Ground since Boxing Day. These statistics make good reading for a Spurs defence that has kept four clean sheets at White Hart Lane this season and has also already kept a shut-out against the Hammers this season.
Kyle Walker is a member of that Spurs defence and offers great attacking potential. He has cemented a place in the side since the turn of the year, and with Harry Kane hungry for goals, his potential for assists is greater than ever. Walker bagged an assist against West Brom in Gameweek 23 and I fancy that he will add to that this Sunday. Since the start of January, Walker has created four goalscoring chances and put in 15 crosses, as well as averaging a passing accuracy of over 87% in the final third. In that time period he has also completed eight of his 12 attempted dribbles. Walker has been bombing up and down the wing looking to spearhead Spurs’ moves going forward and tee up the in-form Kane. With a favourable fixture and potential for assists it is hard to look past the full-back this weekend.
Theo Walcott
Postion: Midfielder
Club: Arsenal
Price: 8.9
Ownership: 1.1%
One of the more expensive punts that I have chosen, Theo Walcott’s injury that ruled him out of the first half of the season means that he has few suitors. At only 1.1% ownership, however, he could be a key differential in the coming weeks. Managers who played Fantasy football last season will remember his huge point hauls and if he reaches those heights this Gameweek the one in a hundred managers who own him will leap up their mini-leagues. The winger has scored in his last two Premier League starts and his link up play with Mesut Ozil has been impressive. Walcott looks to run the channels so that Ozil can pick him out with his defence-splitting through balls. Arsenal have lacked a player who tries to get in behind the defence this season and Walcott’s direct style is incredibly effective for them. Against Leicester in Gameweek 25 Walcott averaged a shot on target every 36 minutes and touched the ball 11 times in the final third. He wants to make up for lost time and is dying to get on the score sheet week in, week out.
This Gameweek Arsenal travel to Crystal Palace. After Martin Kelly let me down last week I am now forced to believe that with Pardew’s more attacking style of play the Eagles have lost some of the defensive solidity that Tony Puils engrained in the side last season. Palace haven’t kept a clean sheet at home since the September 27 and I can’t see them bucking that trend against an Arsenal side who are in full flow at the moment. The Gunners’ win against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup last weekend was achieved at a canter and they looked convincing and clinical. The free-flowing football they are playing at the moment will prove too much for Palace on Saturday, and with such a low ownership, a proven Fantasy player such as Walcott is hard to say no to.
Christian Benteke
Position: Forward
Club: Aston Villa
Price: 7.4
Ownership: 0.4%
I didn’t think Christian Benteke would be making another appearance on my punts articles this season but the big Belgian is here again for Gameweek 26. There is one main reason why. After Villa’s win against Leicester in the FA Cup last weekend Shay Given announced that at half time new Villa boss Tim Sherwood advised his side to “play to Christian’s strengths”. I thought that Benteke might be ousted by Tim Sherwood as he hasn’t scored since before Christmas. However, Sherwood seems to be putting his faith in the misfiring striker. This is incredibly similar to a situation at Tottenham last season. Emmanuel Adebayor was an outcast when Sherwood took over but the young English manager gave the striker a new lease of life and Adebayor finished the season strongly. There are remarkable similarities between Benteke’s style of game and Adebayor’s; they are both target men and aim to spearhead attacks. If Sherwood could get the 30-year-old Adebayor scoring then there is no reason why he can’t work his magic with a 24-year-old Belgian who has bags of potential.
Whilst Benteke may have lost his goalscoring boots this season, he has kept his effort levels high; the strong striker has won 71 aerial duals, 55% of those he has contested. With Sherwood looking to make Villa a more offensive side, Benteke’s hold-up play will be key this weekend. The Belgian has also won 10 headers from set pieces this season – only Peter Crouch has won more, which highlights his threat from set-play routines. Even if he is struggling in open play his endeavour to get on the end of long balls for his side is impressive. This weekend Villa face Stoke at home. The Potters have been struggling lately. They were thumped 4-1 at home by Manchester City in the Premier League before being beaten 4-1 again last weekend against Championship side Blackburn. Their confidence will be rock bottom, and with eight goals conceded in their last two fixtures, I reckon Benteke will break his duck this Gameweek.
Gameweek 25’s Best Punts*
DEF – Chris Smalling 17 pts, 5.3, 0.7%
MID – Samir Nasri 13 pts, 8.2, 1.8%
FWD – Dame N’Doye 12 pts, 5.5, 0.1%
* These punts were the best performing players with under 2.5% ownership in the Fantasy Premier League game. They were NOT my picks.
9 years, 1 month ago
Some strong choices this week. I think this is the comeback week for you with that bunch. Good luck.