Cult Leaders: GW2

Essential picks, captain choices and devastating differentials

As GW2 looms before us like a big loomy thing, it’s time for us to roll out another regular weekly feature to help lead you to Fantasy Football Valhalla. Every Thursday in Cult Leaders, we’ll be giving you our top player picks and captain/vice-captain choice for the weekend ahead based on our lengthy discussions that only occasionally veer into renditions of Kylie Minogue songs (see below).

To keep things interesting, we’ll also have three sets of roll-the-dice differentials from the individual perspectives of Pablo, TJ and Si.

The rules: 11 picks in any viable formation, with a total cost not exceeding 83m (because you need at least 17m to fill your bench – unless we go three at the back, in which case, budget increases to 83.5m) and no more than three players from any given team.

GK:
Brighton’s Ryan (4.5m) delivered a 9-point performance vs Watford on the opening day, and we’re backing him for another clean sheet at home to a West Ham team whose confidence must have taken a hit after that 5-0 mauling by Man City.

DEFENCE:
Controversially, we’ve gone for an all-Scouse defence to kick things off, with two picks apiece from Liverpool and Everton. The Reds might not have managed a clean sheet vs Norwich, but Van Dijk (6.5m) and Alexander-Arnold (7m) were among the points anyway with a goal and an assist, respectively. As well as right-sided corners, Alexander-Arnold also has a share of direct free kicks, and almost scored with one vs Norwich, which keeps him just ahead of Robertson in our thinking. And we fancy Van Dijk for points at both ends of the pitch too. Everton continued their good defensive run from last season with a clean sheet away to Palace in GW1, and with a shaky-looking Watford side due at Fortress Goodison this week, we’re expecting defensive (and hopefully attacking) returns from swashbuckling full-back Seamus Coleman (5.5m) and towering Colombian centre-back Yerry Mina (5.5m), although Digne (6m) would definitely have been in our thoughts if our budget had stretched.

MIDFIELDERS:
Salah (12.5m) looked sharp and motivated as he recorded 12 points vs Norwich, and even after playing 120 minutes in the UEFA Super Cup in midweek, there’s no reason to think ‘The Egyptian King’ won’t continue that form away to Southampton, who looked poor in GW1 vs Burnley. Ditto Sterling (12.1m), who will no doubt find Spurs a tougher nut to crack than West Ham, but crack them anyway. One of the Fantasy revelations from season 17/18, Pascal Groß (6.5m) looked to have put last season’s injury problems behind him with a strong showing in GW1, and we’re hoping for more of the same when Brighton entertain West Ham. And despite a disappointing 1-point return in GW1, we’re backing Bournemouth Braveheart Ryan Fraser (7.5m) to get his season back on track with attacking points away to lily-livered sassenachs Aston Villa.

FORWARDS:
Norwich’s Pukki (6.5m) scored a brilliantly taken goal vs Liverpool in GW1, showing why he was the Championship’s top scorer last season with 29, and the visit of Newcastle to Carrow Road represents a great chance to build on that. If that wasn’t enough, we’ve also developed a bizarre fascination with singing “Teemu Teemu Pukki, Pukki, Pukki, Pukki!” to the tune of Kylie Minogue’s I Should Be So Lucky every time his name is mentioned. I’m not saying TJ started this, but you really have to suspect the Aussie in this kind of situation (TJ: It was Pablo). Rashford (8.6m) looked scintillating vs Chelsea last time out, and looks like he is on at least a share of penalties this season, which massively boosts his appeal.

TEAM VALUE: 82.7m

CAPTAIN: Salah (for obvious reasons)

VICE CAPTAIN: Sterling (for equally obvious reasons)

THE DIFFERENTIALS:

<PABLO’S PUNTS>

DEFENCE:
Tyrone Mings (4.5m) capped a fine performance with an assist vs Spurs in GW1, and has potential for returns at both ends of the pitch at home to Bournemouth.

MIDFIELD:
Emiliano Buendía (6m) caught the eye for Norwich vs Liverpool, providing a superb assist for Pukki (Pukki, Pukki, Pukki)’s goal, and should find opportunities even easier to come by at home to Newcastle.

FORWARD:
I love an old-fashioned No.9, and Ashley Barnes (6.5m) was strong, direct and lethal in chalking up 2 goals and a 13-point haul vs Southampton in GW1. Despite their clean sheet away to Newcastle last time out, Arsenal still look fragile at the back, and I can see Barnes socking that particular glass jaw in the early kick off this Saturday.

<TJ’S TINKERS>

DEFENDER:
Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles (5m) caught the eye with an assist and maximum bonus points for a 12-point return in GW1, and I’m backing him for more of the same vs Burnley at home.

MIDFIELDER:
At 7.6m, Anthony Martial has huge bargain potential if he keeps playing (and performing) in Man Utd’s forward line, and their game vs Wolves should be an open affair.

FORWARD:
Moise Kean (7m) made his debut off the bench in GW1 and should start vs Watford, giving Everton some much-needed bite up front.

<SI’S CALCULATED RISKS>

DEFENDER:
I like the look of Brighton this year, and for their home game against West Ham I’m expecting returns from attack-minded wing-back Martin Montoya (4.5m).

MIDFIELDER:
With a goal already to his name, Villa’s John McGinn (5.5m) catches the eye with his combination of modest price and an advanced midfield-role.

FORWARD:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (11m) will be too expensive for most managers who already have Salah and Sterling, but based on his output last year and underlying stats, he’s got a strong good chance of a double-digit return this week against Burnley.