Sunderland are playing like a team transformed at the moment and their players are reaping the benefits from a Fantasy Football perspective.
Gameweek 24 review
Not since the days when barbershop quartets were still popular (were they ever really that popular?) has there been as much red and white garments in evidence as there is in the Dream Team this week, with Sunderland players dominating the first XI and a little Arsenal, Stoke and Southampton thrown in for good measure.
The Black Cats have no less than four players in the Dream Team this week and one in every line of the pitch, from Vito Mannone in goals (11 points), to Phil Bardsley at the back (10), Jack Colback in midfield (12) and Fabio Borini up front (11).
None of those aforementioned players was the highest scorer this week, however, as that honour was shared by Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and West Ham’s Kevin Nolan on 16 points apiece after both of them scored braces against Crystal Palace and Swansea respectively, with Rickie Lambert not far off on 15 points after a goal and two assists against Fulham.
The two goals scored by Charlie Adam that put Man United to the sword also led to his inclusion with 15 points, one ahead of Chelsea’s match-winner at the Etihad, Branislav Ivanovic.
Making up the Dream XI this week were Aston Villa’s Leandro Bacuna after his second goal in two games against Everton and West Ham’s George McCartney after a clean sheet and two bonus points against Swansea.
J-League
There was very little change at the top of the J-League after what was a pretty average week of scoring overall, but it was still a significant one for Barry Curran and his Gambitbeer side, who increased their lead at the top of the J-League to a commanding 38 points.
Anthony Murphy’s Sea Dogs!!! just about held onto second place ahead of former leaders Champions 2013/14, managed by Stuart McGoldrick, in third, with Brian Ruane’s Dukes of Hazard a further 11 points back in fourth place.
There is a new face in the top five in fifth, meanwhile, after 65 points from Adrian Marnane’s very cleverly-titled side Michu at De Gea bar making a push to join the J-League elite not long before the season begins to enter ‘squeaky-bum time’.
J-League Top 5:
- Gambitbeer – Barry Curran: 1,633 points
- Sea Dogs!!! – Anthony Murphy: 1,595 points
- Champions 2013/14 – Stuart McGoldrick: 1,594 points
- Dukes of Hazard – Brian Ruane: 1,583 points
- Michu at De Gea Bar – Adrian Marnane: 1,578 points
Black Cats enjoying all the luck
At a certain point earlier on in this season, most football fans and pundits had written Sunderland off and had them down as relegation certainties. Even after the sacking of the incredibly volatile Paolo di Canio, it seemed as if Gus Poyet was left with too big a job to do having been left with a squad that he didn’t assemble and that appeared completely disillusioned and almost resigned to their fate.
Now, although not quite entirely rosy in the garden – they remain only two points clear of the relegation zone – things are definitely looking up for Poyet’s side, who are 14th in the table and have a Capital One Cup Final to look forward to next month.
Since defeat to Spurs on December 7, the Black Cats have lost just one of nine league games and that run has done wonders for some of their individual players as far as Fantasy Football is concerned.
Nobody has epitomised their recent revival more than Adam Johnson (£7.0 million), who has been involved in practically all of their goals since the New Year, with six goals, two assists, six bonus points and 51 points in total in his last four games.
Further back, despite missing the opening nine and a half games, goalkeeper Vito Mannone (£4.5 million) has more points than David de Gea and has a record of one clean sheet in every two games while regularly topping up his points total by making a considerable number of saves most weeks.
Defenders John O’Shea (£4.8 million) and Phil Bardsley (£4.5 million) have benefitted most from the increased solidity at the back, while Ki Sung-Yeung (£4.9 million) and Jack Colback (£4.2 million) offer great value in the middle of the pitch considering that they are a good bet to start and finish nearly every game.
With seven league goals between them all season, Steven Fletcher, Fabio Borini and Jozy Altidore are far less reliable up front but Borini (£6.2 million) is probably the best option at the moment on the back of two goals in three games.
Sunderland have Manchester City and Arsenal to play in two of their next three games so a manager exercising caution around them right now is understandable, but momentum is an important factor in football and fantasy football and the Black Cats are certainly purring at the moment.
JOE’s Fantasy Football Picks:
Top Dollar: Robin van Persie (£13.6 million). Has bagged two in two since his return to the United side and although United are not firing on all cylinders, Fulham are in dire straits right now and might suffer at RVP’s feet at Old Trafford.
Mid-Range: Adam Johnson (£7.0 million). As elaborated upon above, his stats speak for themselves at the moment, having averaged almost 13 points a game in his last four games.
Bargain Basement: Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.4 million). A bit pricey for bargain basement perhaps, but with four clean sheets in five games, Chelsea are looking more solid by the week and the assured Spaniard almost always plays 90 minutes and never lets anyone down.
Irish Pick: Shane Long (£5.6 million). When he scores, he tends to do so in bursts and after breaking his duck for his new club against Spurs, he’ll fancy his chances of following it up against Sunderland on Saturday.
Captain’s Pick: Eden Hazard (£10.6 million). Only got three points for his contribution against Manchester City but he was immense. Hasn’t scored in three games but we reckon he’ll put that right against a vulnerable Newcastle outfit at Stamford Bridge.
