Last updated on December 24th, 2019
Written by Jønathan Kahn. You can catch him on twitter @jkisthe1. Kahn has ranked as high as 105th on the All-Time FPL Manager list!
Previous Review Results
As we reach the halfway point of the season it’s time again to take a look back over the last few weeks to see how well my predictions have fared and who to look at in the coming weeks. Let’s start with a review of the picks from last time out:
Daryl Janmaat
This spot appears to be cursed. First Wily Boly, now Daryl Janmaat. Two picks both almost immediately struck down by injury. This pick went nowhere. I don’t really know what else to say.
Wilfried Zaha
Very much a mixed bag here. Zaha has registered his first three goals of the season in this period but has also registered three blanks. This is a pick I followed myself when I played my wildcard. Still, for the price, Zaha has been a decent pick and has scored three of Palace’s five goals this period. The fixtures are still in his favour though so more points could be in the offing.
Danny Ings
Another of my picks that I bought and it turned out to be a great decision. Seven goals in his last seven games for a total of 54 points. One of the most in-form players in the league who, up until now, has dispelled any fears over his previous injury record. The fixtures, however, are about to toughen up which will prove a much sterner test of his form.
Next, we’ll move on to look the best performers over this period (we’re excluding Ings again)
The Good
Jonny Evans
Now I’ve just thrown up, so we’ll move on. It absolutely kills me to write this, I’ve been extremely anti-Jonny Evans for FPL for years now (I consider him the biggest troll in FPL history). But in the last weeks, he’s made me eat my words. Two clean sheets, a goal and an assist have seen him soar to fourth in the defenders charts. Many people have taken much joy in this.
Jack Grealish
Where would Aston Villa (and many FPL teams) be without their captain and talisman? Three goals in this period have seen him collect 32 points. With a few favourable fixtures still on the horizon, there’s more scope yet for Grealish to add to his total.
Teemu Pukki and Neal Maupay
A return to form for an early-season favourite and a new kid on the block. Both men have registered three goals in their last six and look full of form and confidence. Both are the focal points of attacking sides which means the potential is still there.
The Bad
Kurt Zouma
He’s back. He hasn’t been bad per se but there hasn’t been a standout option either. So Zouma takes the honour on the basis of expectation versus reality. He’s played every minute in this period but returned just two clean sheets and no attacking returns. On the plus side, there haven’t been any negative scores this time.
Christian Pulisic
It started off brightly with eight points in Gameweek 12 but since then it’s been a sea of blanks with perhaps his best contribution recently being his Gameweek 18 no show that allowed managers to get auto subs (in many cases, Todd Cantwell). So much more was anticipated.
Jordan Ayew
Much was expected of the Palace frontman after some initial early form and Palace heading into some favourable fixtures. Instead, Ayew has offered nothing but a sea of blanks and now finds himself playing in a wide position as Palace suffer an injury crisis.
Ones to Watch
So, time for those picks. Hopefully, I can maintain my track record:
Adam Webster (BRI) – Price £4.4m, Ownership 0.2%
I was tempted to put my curse theory to the test and wreak some havoc, but instead, I decided to try an actual pick (I apologise in advance to Mr Webster for any injury he may suffer this GW). Brighton have a decent run of fixtures incoming and whilst many will be looking at his teammate Lewis Dunk, Webster could offer a cheap, lower owned alternative. Webster already has two goals, the same number as his teammate (though Dunk has two assists) and has almost identical stats (Webster with five attempts in his last four, compared to six for Dunk), Webster could offer a bargain route into that defence
Paul Pogba (MNU) – Price £8.4m, Ownership – 3.5%
Ok so it’s an expensive pick but it could also be a shrewd differential. United’s key man in midfield, Pogba could start to take free-kicks away from Marcus Rashford. If he can rediscover the form he showed when Solskjaer first arrived, then he could be the pick to make all the difference to both United and our FPL teams.
Neal Maupay (BRI) – Price £5.8, Ownership – 1.8%
I’ve mentioned him already but I’ll bring him up again. He has the form, he has the fixtures, he’s on penalties and he has very low ownership (when I suggested Ings, his was 2.9%). For those looking at Ings fixtures and thinking they have missed the boat, Maupay could be the alternative you are looking for.
