Fantasy Premier League: Five players to pick for Gameweek 12

Lazy weeekends are over-rated. A weekend without the Premier League makes for despondent times ahead and desperately angry faces amongst us football fanatics. After yet another international break, the world’s favourite league is back along with it’s favourite ally, the Fantasy Premier League.And as always, we are back with another bag of suggestions to help you cope with the vital transfers that can make or break your weekend.Here is our latest list for Gameweek 12:

#1 Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

Cesar Apilicueta is quickly earning himself a reputation of being one of the best defenders not only in England but across all of Europe. With a moderately kind run-up coming the way of Chelsea, Azpilicueta can serve as the perfect bast for your recipe of success in the FPL.

The league leaders play host to a West Brom side who have gone a little cold of late, winning only one of the last six games. Naturally a right-back, Azpilicueta has taken to the left side of the field like a duck to water ever since Jose Mourinho positioned him there last season in a move that finally saw Ashley Cole leave West London in order to seek more playing time.

Priced at 6.0, the Spanish international is the the cheapest amongest the Chelsea regular back four. Chelsea’s run-up sees the Londoners entertain West Brom, struggling Spurs and Hull at home in their next three games along with away trips Sunderland, Newcastle and Stoke (none look a daunting task on paper). This should be the perfect time for your pick-up of the Spanish full-back.

#2 Paul Dummett (Newcastle)

A month ago Newcastle were reeling, having not won a single game in their opening first seven games. Fast forward a month and the Magpies find themselves in the midst of a five game winning streak which includes wins away to Manchester City (in the League Cup) and Spurs, while also collecting the prized scalp of Liverpool at St. James’ Park.

The biggest reasons for their Phoenix-esque rise to eighth spot on the table has been been there re-found confidence at the back. Not only are they confident but they are not lacking in execution as well. Newcastle have conceeded only a solitary goal during this run which has see Dummett play both centre and left-back. With Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor likely out for their game at St. James’ Park, the Welsh international may have to again shift inside to partner Mike Williamson.

Priced at 4.2, Dummett can help you fill the position of the budget defender. With Newcastle playing lowly QPR and the goal-shy Burnley in two of their next three games, Dummett might be the best value for money player around.

#3 Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

As in the case of Cesar Azpilicueta, Eden Hazard enjoys a great run-up in the next six games. While Hazard was phenomenol for fantasy owners last season, the Belgian wizard is yet to cast his spell in a profound in the first quarter of the season.

His price tag of 10.0 means that fantasy owners have shied away from Hazard in favour Alexis Sanchez and Angel di Maria, who are in the same price range but have been handsomely outscoring the folmer Lille star.

With Di Maria faultering ever so little (scoring a total of 15 points in the last 4 GWs), Hazard will soon find many takers as the schedule softens up for the Blues. So far, the Belgian has looked more at ease in the familiar surroundings of Stamford Bridge, where he has had double digit point games in the last two.

#4 A player from Stoke City

Victor Moses celebrates after scoring against West Ham.

They say that a lamp lights the brightest just before its flame gets extinguished. That may well be the case for Stoke City and their run-in.

Stoke City probably have the easiest of fixtures this weekend (with all due respect to Burnley) and you just might want to make the most of it. Burnley have so far been dismal away from home and I really can’t find ways in which things will get better any time soon for the Clarets.

The newlings have found scoring away from home especially difficult and for that very reason, Geoff Cameron (priced at 4.2) will seem to be very amiable option to pick up.

If it’s a midfielder, you are looking for the cheap, Victor Moses might be the man for you. The young English winger has notched up a goal and an assist in his last three games and should be up for grabbing a few points up against bottom-of-the-league Burnley.

However both these trasfers should come with a statuatory warning that Stoke will up against Liverpool (A), Manchester United (A) and Arsenal (H) in the three following their tie against Burnley.

#5 The budget forward: Charlie Austin/ Ayoze Perez

Fantasy owners have been seeking all the possible ways to squeeze in both Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa in to their line-up and I attach no blame to them for being too greedy. I want to do that as well but that needs a lot of sacrifices in other areas of the pitch.

One of the foremost budgeting required to pull the trick off is to get a budget forward which can get you some valuable points ever so often. That’s where these two gems come in.

Charlie Austin hasn’t at all seemed fazed by the challenge of coming up to the big league. In fact there have been spells where he has looked more than comfortable strutting out his stuff. The Englishman has been on a roll of late, scoring 4 in his last 3 and 5 in his last 6 to go along with an assist against Liverpool in GW8.

Austin is reasonably price at 5.8 and with Fabricio Coloccini out of the game for Newcastle, you can very well put money Austin to a menace at the back to deal with for Newcastle.

Newcastle also have a gem on their hands in the form of young Spaniard Ayoze Perez who has now scored in each his last four games. Perez was a revelation at Tenerife last season and according to him, turned down offers from Real Madrid and Barcelona amongst others to further his career in the North-East of England.

Perez helps you further cut down on your expenses in the forward spot; having been currently priced at a paltry 4.9. The dimunitive 22-year old doesn’t win most of the balls that are played up to him, but at the end if the day, he wins you the game.

#6 Punt of the week: Jefferson Montero (Swansea)

Swansea’s summer recruit Jefferson Montero, priced at 5.7 and selected by a mere 0.2% of the owners can really provide the differential this weekend. The Ecudorian caused real havoc last Gameweek against Arsenal, putting his pace and trickery to full use.

Manchester City’s defence is like that guy who once used to be handsome but is now squidgy around the edges. They no longer hold he aura of invencibility that they used have during the days of Roberto Mancini and the spot of left back right now is an Achilees heel for the side.

Aleksander Kolarov is out with injury and Gael Clichy has looked out of sorts there in recent times. With Montero slowly but surely getting into the think of things in the Premier League, I expect the South American to give Clichy a real run for his money.

Edited by Staff Editor