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With the first day of Game Week 10 in the books, in Fantrax NMA I sit on 72 points from 7 players.
I tortured myself over what to do about Harry Kane, but in the end sold him for Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian missed a PK yesterday but still returned 11 points. I’m not sure whether the transfer was a smart one or not: I held Kane at 15. Time will tell.
I also moved out Coutinho for Sane. This one was easy, since I had no significant discount on Coutinho. Sane rewarded me with 16 points, so that decision was clearly a good one.
I still have Virgil van Dijk, Pascal Groß, James Tarkowski, and Nick Pope to go, so I’ll be closely following the action today and tomorrow. I am 28 points away from 100 with 4 players left — fingers crossed!
Brighton vs Southampton
Both sides will be looking to make it two wins in a row by claiming victory in this south side derby. Brighton surprised everyone last weekend, defeating West Ham 3-0 at London Stadium. Glenn Murray’s brace in that game will see him lead the line again this week despite Tomer Hemed’s return from suspension.
Sofiane Boufal rose from the bench last week to register the late goal against West Brom that secured victory for Soton. That was enough for him to make the starting 11 today, at the expense of Nathan Redmond.
Only 1 point separates these two sides in the standings, so both teams will feel like they are in with a chance. This could well be an entertaining match, and I like the fantasy prospects of Pascal Groß, Dusan Tadic, Virgil van Dijk, Lewis Dunk, and Mat Ryan.
Leicester vs Everton
Both have struggled this season, and each is playing a first league match under a new manager. I don’t like Leicester’s appointment of Claude Puel. He is known for his safe, patient style of possession-oriented football. Under his management, Southampton ranked 20th in finishing and failed to score at all in his last 5 home games.
Contrast this style with Leicester’s, which has relied on a quicker and more direct philosophy based around counter-attacking. It would seem, then, that either the team or the gaffer will be in for an adjustment at the King Power Stadium. Such transitional periods can be rocky and painful, but a team often gets a bump in its first game under a new manager, so perhaps that spark will be enough for the Foxes to prevail.
David Unsworth, on the other hand, is a product of the Toffee youth system, was a popular first-team Everton player from 1992-1997, and has coached there since 2013. He is a die-hard Toffee and fan-favorite who has done a caretaker stint at the club once before. I think this time he deserves a permanent chance. Athough Sean Dyche has been tipped as first-choice to replace Ronald Koeman, a league victory away to Leicester would help bolster Unsworth’s odds.
I don’t like this game for fantasy purposes, but I wouldn’t argue with you for choosing Vardy or Mahrez.
Burnley vs Newcastle
Monday’s match is another clash between two clubs separated by only 1 point, the Clarets positioned just below the Magpies in the league table.
A Burnley side that is already a bit shaky at home may be further rattled by the rumors surrounding Sean Dyche and Everton. Burnley are winless in their last two games, and there are doubts about the fitness of key players Chris Wood and Sam Vokes, but Dyche will be looking to show that he is worthy of Everton’s interest.
Unbeaten in their last three matches, and with the best start of any newly-promoted side since West Ham in 2013/2014, Newcastle have surprised many pundits this year. Rafa Benitez will be looking to extend his side’s success with a win at Turf Moor, and the bookies are calling them 6/4 favorites to do just that.
So that’s a quick prologue to GW10’s remaining action. Join the comments to let us know how you did yesterday, whom you have left to play, and whether you kept or sold Kane. Also: Who’s on your barn-door radar? Come on in—let’s chat!