BE CAREFUL OF the new-ish deadline for Gameweek 2 if you’re a manager in the Fantasy Premier League.
Tonight’s 8pm kick-off between Manchester United and Southampton means that your final squads must be submitted by 7pm.
Here at Donegal Sport Hub, of course, we’re running a league in association with Champions Travel. Here’s the standings after Gameweek 1.
If you’re interested in joining, click on the graphic below. Here’s the latest standings after Gameweek 1
1 – Captain’s choice
ANYONE WHO TUNED into Manchester City’s Champions’ League play-off in Romania on Tuesday would’ve been interested in the form of Sergio Aguero. The Argentine missed two first half penalties against Steaua Bucharest but still finished the evening with a hat-trick in a 5-0 win.
Last weekend, much to the relief of a large percentage of fantasy managers, Aguero did score from the spot as City sneaked a 2-1 win against Sunderland. This week, City are at Stoke City so there might be no harm in leaving the armband with Aguero.
2 – Hazard lights up the Bridge
LAST SEASON WAS certainly a poor one by the immense standards of Chelsea’s playmaker Eden Hazard. The Belgian finished the campaign with just 104 points and five goals.
Hazard blew hot and cold at Euro 2016 and with the fact there’s still a £10 million price tag around his neck in fantasy land, so it meant that a lot of Fantasy Premier League managers – only 20.4 per cent – took a punt on him for Gameweek 1.
Against West Ham on Monday though, Hazard’s return was a decent 10 points, by virtue of a goal scored and a bonus of three. Perhaps even more satisfying for those who took a chance on him was the performance shown, which was back at the level of his 2014/15 campaign. Chelsea, tomorrow, travel to Watford.
3 – The Spanish inquisition
DO YOU KNOW which player had the most shots on target in Gameweek 1?
Of course you did. It was Swansea City’s new signing, Fernando Llorente, in their 1-0 win at Burnley. Swansea weren’t a side that many people were talking up before the start of the season but they’ve a good chance to make it two from two this term when they welcome a Hull City side who shocked champions Leicester City on the opening weekend of the season.
Llorente, formerly of Athletic Bilbao, Juventus and Sevilla, was part of the Spanish squad who won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. His style has long-since been claimed to be one suited to the Premier League and at 31, he’s still got time on his side to make an impact.
4 – Kane and able?
HARRY KANE ONLY posted the almost basic, mandatory two points last weekend in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw at Everton.
The England striker had a bit of a ‘mare at Euro 2016, but his top class performances in the Premier League in the last two seasons cannot be overlooked.
In 2014/15, Kane scored 21 league goals and finished, in fantasy terms, with 191 points. Last season was even better, as he hit the net on 25 occasions on the way to accumulating 211 points. With Tottenham welcoming Crystal Palace on Saturday, it’s likely he’ll get pressing the accelerator down on his current campaign.
Join the Donegal Sport Hub Fantasy Premier League, in association with Champions Travel, by clicking on the image above
5 – Looking ahead
EVERTON PERFORMED ADMIRABLY in their opening Premier League fixture last Saturday, the 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham.
Ronald Koeman has established himself as a manager in England with Southampton and his new side perhaps shaded things at Goodison Park against Spurs, despite being forced to line out without the injuries Romelu Lukaku and Seamus Coleman.
Everton’s fixtures in the short-term aren’t the most frightening, with West Brom (a), Stoke City (h), Sunderland (a), Middlesbrough (h), Bournemouth (a) and Crystal Palace (h) in their next half a dozen outings.
At 5 million, central defender Phil Jagielka might be an option in an Everton side that look more secure under Koeman than they did under Roberto Martinez in recent campaigns.
Fixtures
Friday, August 19
Man Utd v Southampton 20:00
Saturday, August 20
Stoke v Man City 12:30
Burnley v Liverpool 15:00
Swansea v Hull 15:00
Tottenham v Crystal Palace 15:00
Watford v Chelsea 15:00
West Brom v Everton 15:00
Leicester v Arsenal 17:30
Sunday, August 21
Sunderland v Middlesbrough 13:30
West Ham v Bournemouth 16:00
