By Graham Ruthven, in dialog with Jonas Sand Låbakk
Introducing our skilled
Jonas is a 21 12 months outdated pupil who, like FotMob, hails from Norway. He was Fantasy Premier League champion for the 2023/24 season, ending forward of 11 million different managers. So who higher to offer skilled recommendation?
Learn his skilled recommendation each week.
*Don’t neglect the early FPL deadline for this spherical – make your transfers and get your group sorted earlier than 18:30 GMT on Friday 21 February*
The Eye Check vs. The Stats
Matheus Cunha (6.8m) has been a shining gentle for Wolves this season even because the Molineux outfit have struggled on the incorrect finish of the Premier League desk.
The Brazilian is now the fourth highest scoring attacker in FPL at this second in time. Solely Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak and Chris Wooden have tallied extra factors than him over the course of the 2024/25 marketing campaign.
Wolves have come via a collection of tough fixtures throughout which many FPL managers bought him. Now, although, Vítor Pereira’s group have a extra beneficial run of video games with an upcoming assembly with Southampton in GW29 most interesting.
In GW25, Wolves confronted Liverpool at Anfield. Regardless of the robust job, Cunha nonetheless managed to catch the attention, discovering the again of the online in opposition to the table-toppers.
Cunha presents loads on the pitch and that’s mirrored within the FPL bonus factors he has accrued this season. The Brazilian nearly all the time collects three bonus factors with each attacking return he delivers.
In 9 of the final 11 matches he has delivered an attacking return, Cunha has additionally been awarded three bonus factors.
On the statistical facet of issues, although, there may be motive to imagine Cunha is over-performing.
The 25-year-old has registered 16 aim involvements from an Anticipated Objective Involvements (xGI) of simply 9.8 this season. Cunha is a prolific shooter, averaging 3.5 per 90 minutes, however lots of them are sometimes low xG alternatives.
Whereas some imagine Cunha is an everyday penalty taker for Wolves, he has solely taken two from the spot this season with Pablo Sarabia often their first-choice from 12 yards.
Leandro Trossard (6.9m) is one of some low cost Arsenal attacking property who’re value a take a look at within the coming sport weeks.
The Gunners are within the midst of an damage disaster with Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli all sidelined. Trossard is due to this fact prone to begin in opposition to West Ham this weekend.
Towards Leicester Metropolis in GW25, Trossard contributed an help in a 2-0 win, amassing six FPL factors. There’s extra hype round Ethan Nwaneri (4.5m) (the 17-year-old was my lengthy shot tip final week) however Trossard holds actual worth.
Trossard’s versatility might see him begin as a centre ahead in opposition to West Ham simply as he did in opposition to Leicester. The Belgian was moved to the flank after Mikel Merino’s match successful introduction for Raheem Sterling.
Merino bagged a brace in his 21 minutes on the pitch, suggesting Mikel Arteta might begin the midfielder up entrance in opposition to the Hammers. Nevertheless, Trossard continues to be a strong guess to play 90 minutes in GW26.
Like Cunha, Trossard’s stats don’t make for essentially the most constructive studying. Nonetheless, he may very well be a vital determine for Arsenal between now and the tip of the season, with the Gunners chasing Liverpool in first place.
Arsenal even have Chelsea in GW29 when different groups have a clean sport week. Trossard may very well be a superb choice to your group in the event you aren’t planning on utilizing your Free Hit.
Lengthy shot
Christopher Nkunku (5.7m) was a participant many FPL managers (together with myself) had been excited to start out the season with.
Many believed the Frenchman would obtain common sport time after a constructive pre-season. This, nevertheless, did not materialise as Nicolas Jackson began the marketing campaign in sturdy kind as Chelsea’s first-choice quantity 9.
Now, although, Jackson is out till April via damage with Marc Guiu additionally sidelined. Subsequently, Nkunku, whose value has fallen to five.7m from 6.5m at the beginning of the season, ought to get a run within the Chelsea group.
This makes Nkunku a probably highly effective differential with simply 2% of managers proudly owning him. Chelsea even have a run of beneficial fixtures developing with the highlights being dwelling video games in opposition to Southampton in GW27 and Leicester in GW28.
If he retains his place within the lineup, Nkunku may very well be a wise decide for this stretch.
Upcoming video games to comply with
GW26 could be essentially the most clearly compelling of sport weeks from a FPL perspective, however there are nonetheless three standout fixtures.
Leicester Metropolis host Brentford, on Friday night time, in a match that has some shock potential. The Foxes could be preventing relegation close to the foot of the desk, however Brentford have been broadly poor on their travels this season.
Ruud van Nistelrooy may very well be a superb decide as an Assistant Supervisor whereas Bryan Mbeumo (7.9m) and Yoane Wissa (6.3m) are value monitoring.
Saturday’s conflict between Arsenal and West Ham ought to see the hosts declare three factors, however their damage troubles may very well be an element.
Nwaneri (4.5m), Trossard (6.9m) and Arsenal’s defensive property together with Gabriel (6.3m) ought to all be in your radar.
My final sport to keep watch over is the one between Bournemouth and Wolves on the Vitality Stadium.
The Cherries are favourites for the win, however Wolves have the potential to shock. All three Bournemouth midfielders – Antoine Semenyo (5.7m), Dango Ouattara (5.1m) and Justin Kluivert (6.0m) are value watching. In the meantime, the aforementioned Cunha is an choice too.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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