Premier League Fantasy football questions for week 23

Is it time to drop Jamie Vardy?

The seasons feel good story so far.  Vardy has shown even in today's society, where it's all brilliant or terrible, that failure to provide immediate success doesn't mean you cannot break through later in life.  He has also shown you can do it by coming through the divisions and he has done it all with the level of workrate that makes any player a fans favourite.

The question for Vardy is can he achieve the next level of progression.  Can he maintain himself as a proven top EPL forward and continue with an average of a goal every other game.

Vardy has just the 1 goal in the last 8 games but those stats don't tell us everything.  He has struggled through the period with a groin issue that required an operation.  5 of those 8 games were away from home and opponents included in the run were Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton, Manchester City and Spurs.

His underlying stats tells us he is the same player, just the goals have dried up.  The fixtures don't get an easier either.  Stoke City, Liverpool, Manchester City then Arsenal are his next 4.

There is though one new piece of evidence that suggests you may wish to hold fire dropping him.  Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City's first choice penalty taker has now missed two in a row.  Vardy then may now be next in line to get the duties and the Foxes have certainly won a few pens over the season so far.

So, if you hold in the Official game or on heavy discount is it time to sell?

Crystal Palace have failed to score in 5 straight Premier League games.  Can they break their run against the league's best defence?

On the plus side the Eagles face a Spurs side with no clean sheet in 4 league games.  The problem for Palace over those 5 games has been with the njury to star man Yannick Bolasie.  His pace, drive and power was a handful for every team he faced and he finally started adding goals to his game.  Combine that with injury and suspension to leader Yohan Cabaye and the the lack of goals makes sense.  Finally, Palace have had an amazing first half of the season despite not having a goal scoring forward in the squad.

Rumours of a possible move for the Emmanuel Adebayor continue.  Whilst he would provide an immediate goal threat he could cause issues in the dressing room, as he seems to have everywhere else he has gone.  For Tottenham to try and play the whole season with just Harry Kane tells you something.

If Palace are to end the run the most likely answer to the question is Cabaye.  With that being obvious you would think the Spurs defensive plan would be to suffocate the frenchman and draw the fouls and yellow cards he seems to rack up.

Often in these circumstances it turns out to be a player you just didn't consider.  Scott Dann Is a well known goal threat and Joel Ward is overdue that monster score.  Someone has to score don't they?

If though you sit on the side of the fence thinking this simply means 6 games without a goal, keep a close eye on Spurs team news later in the week.   Kieran Trippier at just 1,474m in Fantrax was picked at right back against Sunderland and could hold that spot.  We all know from last season just how effective he can be in the Fantrax scoring system.

Which forward will break his goal scoring run this week?

Odion Ighalo has no goal in 3 games and just 1 in 5.

Theo Walcott has no goal in 5

Romelu Lukaku has no goal in 3 and scored in 1 of the last 5 games.

Jamie Vardy has 1 goal in 8

Someone always scores against Aston Villa.  So who in the WBA lineup is our best bet?

James McClean is starting to show the odd sign of the Wigan form that made him a fantastic fantasy pick two seasons ago.  Ex Villa old boy Craig Gardner scored at Chelsea and has been racking up the shots since coming in for the injured James Morrison.  Or maybe it's the trademark WBA set piece goal.

Is Jermain Defoe a player you will pick this week?

Defoe is one of the Premier Leagues most reliable goal scorers.  At 33 years of age he may be slowing but his ruthless finishing remains.   In Fantrax he is a value price at just over 11m.

The evidence that tempts isn't just his recent form but the pattern of who he scores upon.  In the last 3 EPL games he has 5 goals.  The three opponents in that run were Villa/Swansea and Spurs.  The goals came against the two relegation rivals.  It suggests the main hope the Black Cats have of once more avoiding the drop is the proven EPL match winner in matches against the lesser opponents in the classic 6 pointers.

Bournemouth are playing great football but are very bold in their approach.  In theory there should be space on the break for Defoe once more.  Tempted?

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