[ Images added on 01/01/22 at 15:42 and at 16:05. ]
[ A few extra parts added, given that the fixtures have been rearranged. ]
| General |
• I’m putting this out (31/12/21) so it can be read before people have things going on for NYE, I hope this is interesting and/or helps in terms of ideas with transfers, chips, decisions in general etc – and a way of offering some observations, numbers and pointers on form and fixtures (pandemic permitting, keep a look out for possible changes in fixtures) – hope this reads well and the (rough) numbers give a general idea of form (teams), players playing well and possible differentials.
GW21 sees 4 of the top 4 play each other (Arsenal Vs Manchester City & Chelsea Vs Liverpool), ordinarily that may mean less goals and less opportunities for points but all 4 teams offer plenty going forward and have it in them to do well despite the difficulty of the fixtures – however – I am putting out some fixtures and teams to attack (against teams that are conceding numerous chances and goals).
• Leicester City Vs Norwich is postponed. ***
• Southampton Vs Newcastle United is postponed. ***
glass GW21 algorithm squad (a sort of flexible ‘template’/mix for for those looking at using a transfer or transfer or a chip/looking at short term/medium/long term)
Not saying it is perfect, by any means, but this may help those in a few minds and looking to stay flexible (it is a rough draft, feel free to take a leaf or several leaves from it or opt for players written below in this article or opt for other players not included/written about or a mixture of all of those!).
Sánchez & Sá (Brighton and Wolves are in the top 5 for least goals conceded in the league this season)
Cancelo, Trent, Coufal, Kostas & Amartey (Cancelo & Trent are high for both returns and underlying numbers – two highest returning defenders – whilst Coufal is set to play twice this GW and was one of the highest assisting defenders in 2021/22 and Kostas and Amartay are seemingly cheap playing players for the time being at least).
Salah, Bowen, Gordon, Ward-Prowse and Ramsey (this includes the top scorer in the league in Salah, one of the most in form players for returns and underlying numbers in Bowen, a cheap wide player who looks to be getting minutes in Gordon, Southampton’s main set piece taker Ward-Prowse and Aston Villa’s Ramsey).
Kane, Calvert-Lewin & Antonio (Kane is back in the goals and plays Watford next and has reasonable fixtures, Calvert-Lewin can offer a differential in a DGW with fairly decent fixtures and Antonio is set to have a DGW playing two bottom half teams and particularly Norwich at home).
| Teams To Do Well |
| West Ham United/Everton/Leicester City (Yes and No) |
After beating Liverpool (1-0) GW20, Leicester face a Norwich City side (in GW21) that has conceded the most goals away from home in the Premier League in 2021/22. [Postponed].
• Leicester City face Everton away (rescheduled).
• West Ham United face two bottom half teams in a DGW (Palace away is not easy but West Ham United are one of the highest scoring teams away from home in the league in 2021/22 and are set to face Norwich City at home – who have only won 1 away match in the league and are right up there for most goals conceded away from home in the league league this season.
• Everton have a huge boost in having Calvert-Lewin back available again and are set to play twice (two home matches – against Brighton and Leicester City) – not easy matches but they are not too bad at Goodison Park where the atmosphere can be a boost when the crowd is up.
| Spurs |
• Unbeaten under Conte in the Premier League.
• 11 shots on target in GW20.
• 6 big chances in GW19 (I think I’m right in saying).
• Set to face a Watford side that has conceded in every Premier League match in 2021/22.
| Southampton |
• Unbeaten in their 3 previous Premier League matches (1-1, 2-3 & 2-2).
• Unbeaten in all but 1 of their home matches in the Premier League in 2021/22.
• Face a Newcastle United side that is likely to be without Wilson and that has not won away from home in the Premier League all season. [ Postponed. ]
• Face Brentford at home (not an easy match against a well organised Brentford side but it is not a bad home match, Southampton are unbeaten in all but 1 home match & Brentford have conceded in recent away matches in the league in 2021/22.)
| Manchester City, Liverpool & Manchester United (yes and no, facing top half teams but offer enough in attack, with the caveat of Manchester United are set to face one of the best defences in terms goals conceded in the Premier League in 2021/22.) |
| Teams (Quitely) Showing Some Form/Have Decent Fixtures (Or Ideally Both)/Possible Advantages To Gain (Pandemic Permitting, Fixture Changes Permitting, Possible Double Gameweeks) |
| Manchester City |
| Manchester United |
| Wolves |
| Leeds United (may be fresh after postponements) |
| Liverpool |
| Brighton |
| Spurs (added after the article originally went up) |
| Crystal Palace (a bit mixed)|
| Watford (newly added, in a light of the news that Dennis is apparently not going to AFCON) |
| Everton (Calvert-Lewin boost)|
| Aston Villa |
| Burnley (not great fixtures, possible DGW, more threating with Cornet in the team)|
| Southampton |
| West Ham United |
Remember these are ideas and you can mix and match from these drafts if you like – plus as someone who played FPL for 8 years – I enjoyed doing these and I love a cheap bargain when they come by.
| Most Threating Players (From Attackers To Attacking Full Back/Wing Backs) |
| Son And/Or Kane |
• 3 goals in his previous 3 Premier League matches (Kane).
• Only 3 players have scores more goals than Son (8) in the Premier League in 2021/22.
• * Not many teams * have conceded more goals at home than Watford in the Premier League in 2021/22 (they are right up there for goals conceded at home).
• Set to face a Watford side that has conceded in every Premier League in 2021/22.
| Ronaldo |
• Scored and asisted Vs Burnley in GW20.
• 8 Premier League goals in 2021/22.
• 14 goals (something like that!) since rejoining the club.
• Scored in 2 of his previous 3 Premier League matches.
• Set to face one of the best defences in the Premier League in GW21 Vs (Wolves) but has matches against teams mostly in the bottom 10 from GW22 onwards (Salah leaving for AFCON will surely present more opportunties to bring him in in FPL).
| Salah |
• Highest scoring player (9) away from home in the Premier League in 2021/22.
• Set to face a Chelsea side that has conceded in aproximately 8 of their previous 11 Premier League matches.
• Set to face a Chelsea side with injuries to key defenders/defensive (minded) players (Thiago Silva, James, Chilwell & Kante, not all definitely ruled out but are somewhat unlikely to feature).
| Maddison |
Maddison is looking in fine form, making runs in behind, creating chances and is carrying a threat from distance and is on set pieces.
• Is set to face his former club, that has conceded 8 goals in their previous 2 Premier League matches, and is believed to be fit and ready for the fixture.
• Has scored/assisted in most of his recent Premier League starts.
| De Bruyne |
Faces an Arsenal side that have only lost one match at home in the Premier League in 2021/22, but has had joy by scoring well at the Emirates, and is looking quietly in decent firm (well worth considering for up and coming GWs, if not this one).
• Playing rather central but pulling out wide to put dangerous crosses (or pull backs) in.
• 3 goal attemps in GW20 (hit the woodwork).
• 3 goals and 1 assist in his previous 4 Premier League matches.
• High up for key passes, on set pieces and is arguably one of the best strikers of the ball from in and around the 18 yard box or from distance in the league.
| Trent |
• Joint highest returner for defenders with Cancelo (clean sheets, assists & goals combined).
• Scored at Stamford Bridge in 2019/20.
| Cancelo |
Joint highest returner for defenders with Trent (clean sheets, assists & goals combined).
| Middleweights |
| Bowen |
• 11 assists (may include FPL/unofficial assists) in the Premier League in 2021/22.
• 4th for chances for big chances created on average (stat researched through SofaScore).
• 4th for big chances missed (seemingly a negative stat but he is getting in the right positions or areas).
• Set piece taker.
| Possible Differentials (Mainly 5 % Or less)|
• Raphinha (not really a differential but this ended up here somehow) has scored 5 goals at home in the Premier League (I think!) and has returned in most home matches and main set pieces (influential) in 2021/22 (high up for underlying numbers and faces a Burnley side, * possibly * with Pope out, that has conceded a considerable amount of goals away from home in 2021/22.
| Iheanacho |
• Is likely to start, with Vardy & Daka injured/unavailable, looked sharp and fresh away against his former club Manchester City in GW19 – scoring/assisting multiple goals – and faces an aforementioned Norwich City side that is the highest conceding team away from in the league in 2021/22 (pretty sure that is right, definitely up there for most goals conceded away anyway).
| Edouard |
• Quietly boosts decent home form this season, scored/assisted 3 goals in GW20, and has some reasonable fixtures coming up (albeit some difficult ones too, may be worth considering as a budget striker and/or with the a chip).
| Calvert-Lewin (Match Fitness Permiting)|
• May well play for the first time since the opening month of the season, Everton’s key focal point and top scorer in 2020/21, and has pretty decent fixtures coming up (has an impressive record of putting bottom half teams to the sword and as well as showing he can deliver against top 6 sides too).
| Ward-Prowse |
• Main starter, key player and influential.
• Excellent set piece taker (direct free kick, indirect free kicks, corners and penalties).
• 5 Premier League goals in 2021/22.
• Scored in his previous 3 Premier League matches.
| Broja |
• Has a rather respectful goals per minutes ratio (and or goal involvement) in the Peemier League for Southampton in 2021/22.
• Set to face a Newcastle United side that has injuries to first team players (especially defenders).
| Lookman |
• 2 goals in his previous 2 Premier League matches (chances of getting significant minutes increased with Vardy & Daka injured/available).
• With Vardy & Daka unlikely to play in coming GWS, and having scored in two consecutive Premier League matches, Lookman may offer a differential with his quick dribbling skills, pace and cutting in on his right foot (or possibly playing on the right).
| Cavani |
With United seemingly playing a 4-2-2-2 (or something along those lines) – it means more attackers can play in this system and with the likes of Sancho, Greenwood and Rashford being able to play wide (ish) – the Uruguayan and a forward with may well have more chances of getting significant minutes (argubly particularly at home when having more possession and trying to break teams down, but can be useful away too, having scored away at the likes of Newcastle United and Southampton since arriving to the Premier League).
| Castagne |
It may be strange to include a defender that plays for a team that has only 3 clean sheets in the league all season (albeit a couple of them have came in recent GWs) but a bit of horses for courses (some players or teams do better in some types of matches or against different types than others) is worth considering and for those who are interested aa bt of a punt when using a chip or are after a player for a few GWs before having the option of wildcarding out players.
| Varane |
The former Champions League winning and World Cup winning defender is back and available for selection again and if you fancy paying a bit extra for more security of starts and a threat from set pieces (not taking them but getting on the end of them) – Manchester United’s defence in 2021/22 is far for up there for least goals conceded but has improved somewhat recently (Newcastle match aside, 8 shots on target conceded away in front of loud home support and against a team that has scored in most home matches this season) and has conceded less chances on target and goals * overall * in recent GWS.
ZONERISM 
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