Dream Team

FANS of both Tottenham and Chelsea will be trying to piece together exactly what happened in North London last night.The Blues 4-1 win was one of the most uniquely entertaining games in Premier League history.
Amid what felt like an unprecedented volume of VAR reviews, the hosts went down to nine men and continued to persist with the highest of defensive lines.
Ange Postecoglou’s men shaped up in a 7-0-1 formation at times and the visitors were seemingly confused by the abnormality of it all as they fell into a frustrating pattern of offsides and over-hit throughballs before they eventually capitalised on the advantageous dynamic.

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The morning after the night beforeCredit: Dream Team
Let’s unpack the madness from a Dream Team perspective as there’s plenty for gaffers to mull over.
Nicolas Jackson (£2.7m) was the big winner when all was said and done as he bagged his first professional hat-trick for a 21-point return.
However, the Senegal international made hard work of what should have been easy pickings.
Usually, a hat-trick would trigger a tidal wave of transfers in Dream Team but viewers of the game are unlikely to have been impressed with what the saw from the striker – a remarkable sentiment for a player who took home the match ball!
Jackson is due to face Manchester City and Newcastle in his next two games and, unless those teams also go down to nine men in similarly catastrophic fashion, he’ s unlikely to benefit from such a fortuitous situation again.
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At the time of writing, the 22-year-old is the joint-top performer in Gameweek 11 alongside Jeremy Doku (£3.9m) but it’s probably fair to say the latter will be considerably more popular among Dream Team managers this week.
The easiest hat-trick he’ll ever scoreCredit: Alamy
It was a nightmarish evening for Spurs’ defence.
Cristian Romero (£3.7m) was among the best-performing assets in his position prior to Gameweek 11 but the Argentine centre-back’s red card meant he ultimately registered -5 points – yes, minus five!
And of course the World Cup winner will now be suspended for Spurs’ next three fixtures, meaning he won’t return until December 7th.
Postecoglou is likely to be without Van de Ven for even longer as the Dutchman pulled up with what looked like a serious hamstring injury.
The 22-year-old, who has been one of the best defenders in the league this term, could hardly walk as he left the pitch.
Destiny Udogie (£2.9m) joined Romero in an early bath for two blatant lunges worthy of yellow cards – Gary Neville on commentary said the young Italian was lucky to avoid a straight red for his first offence.
The energetic left-back will only miss one game through suspension but his Dream Team viability took a big hit when he registered minus four points on Monday night.
Van de Ven pulled up with a hamstring injury amid the chaosCredit: Getty
Then there’s the question mark over James Maddison’s (£4.4m) fitness.
Spurs’ No10 remains the third-best midfielder in Dream Team at the time of writing but he was forced off before half time with a knock.
Postecoglou talked down the issue after the game so it may be that the in-form playmaker is available to face Wolves in Gameweek 12 but gaffers await further updates.
This is a major plot point to monitor in the realm of Dream Team as Maddison is the game’s second-most selected player with an ownership of 43%.

Switching focus back to Chelsea, Cole Palmer (£2.8m) continues to impress for his new club.
Results have improved since Mauricio Pochettino installed the former Man City youngster as starting right winger with the 21-year-old also jumping the queue to become first-choice penalty taker.
He converted from the spot to equalise at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and he assisted Jackson’s third goal to pocket 12 points by full time.
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Having plundered 56 points across his last seven outings, Palmer represents a tempting value-for-money option.
Chelsea don’t have European fixtures to bolster their schedule this season but Palmer will certainly be a viable choice for gaffers in need of a cheap midfielder around the Christmas period.

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JUST a few weeks ago, merely the notion of an Everton defender thriving in the world of Dream Team would have been laughable.Now it’s a reality.
Vitaliy Mykolenko (£2.7m) entered the top ten assets in his position this weekend with a 10-point return at Brighton’s expense.
Dream Team’s most in-form defender!Credit: Dream Team
The Toffees’ left-back would have risen to joint-sixth had his side held on for a win over the Seagulls but Ashley Young’s (£1.9m) late own goal meant even honours at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Mykolenko gave his side the lead early on when his strike deflected in off Lewis Dunk (£2.5m) and he played his part in a classic rearguard before the visitors eventually broke through with a slice of good fortune.
While the Ukraine international would have been disappointed with the result having led for so long, he continued his impressive turnaround in the world of Dream Team.
By the end of Gameweek 6, Mykolenko had just 16 points to his name.
However, after an upturn in form, emphasised by a burst of 40 points across the last four Gameweeks, he now boasts an overall total of 62.
Incredibly, he’s now above the likes of Kyle Walker (£3.5m), Virgil van Dijk (£4.5m) and Gabriel (£4.1m) in the rankings.
An unexpected gemCredit: Getty
Not that many Dream Team gaffers have benefited from this purple patch.
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Everton’s No19 currently features in just 0.1% of teams.
For perspective, he’s less popular than Daniel Sassi (£1m), Toti (£1.9m) and Ameen Al-Dakhil (£0.8m) – if those names don’t ring a bell, that’s the point!
Mykolenko’s lowly ownership is understandable as it wasn’t that long ago Everton looked as if they would spend the entire campaign battling relegation.
Sean Dyche’s side remain 16th even now but they do seem to have turned a corner of late.
Defeat in the Merseyside derby at Anfield is their only loss in five games since the start of October – a run that includes three victories and three clean sheets.
Everton’s results have improved in the last monthCredit: AFP

What’s particularly notable about Mykolenko’s recent success is his extraordinary tackle rate.
The 24-year-old has registered 37 tackles this season, the highest tally among defenders and fourth-highest among all players.
17 of his 62 points (27.4%) have come through tackles.
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Whether gaffers should be rushing to recruit Mykolenko is another conversation entirely but he deserves huge credit for his recent efforts.
He’s statistically the most in-form defender in Dream Team right now!

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THERE are several obvious reasons not to select Bruno Fernandes (£5.5m) in Dream Team.Firstly, as captain of Manchester United, he represents a team that have underwhelmed so far this season.
The Red Devils are eighth in the Premier League table having lost five of their 11 games.
Erik ten Hag’s have also lost two of their three Champions League games and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Newcastle last week.
Problems to solveCredit: Getty
Secondly, it’s fair to say that Fernandes wouldn’t win many popularity contests.
Most elite-level athletes are ultra competitive but the Portugal international is particularly prone to adverse reactions when things don’t go his way – see the last ten minutes of the Manchester derby for the most recent example.
This unflattering habit tends to irk neutrals (and even a few Man United fans) which can negatively impact their perception of him as a player when weighing up potential Dream Team strategies.
Thirdly, Fernandes is undeniably expensive.
At £5.5m, the 29-year-old is the third-most costly midfielder in the game and the joint-fifth most expensive among all assets currently.
All that being said, the truth is that Fernandes remains an excellent option.
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An important figure for Manchester UnitedCredit: Dream Team
While it’s true Man United have been below par as a collective, individual performances are what really matter when measuring one’s Dream Team viability.
On Saturday, Fernandes spared his team further blushes with a stoppage-time winner at Fulham for an 11-point return.
And a quick look at his underlying numbers suggest he was owed a double-digit haul.
He leads the way among midfielders for big chances created this season and only Jarrod Bowen (£5m) has registered more shots on target.
His petulance may rub some fans up the wrong way but Dream Team bosses should remove personal feelings and judge each player on their sporting merit.
Fernandes is prone to a sulk and he spends plenty of time arguing with referees but in terms of attacking potency, both as a playmaker and a goal threat, there are few better in his position.

That last-gasp momentCredit: Rex
His match-winning effort at Craven Cottage took his overall total to 85 points – a tally bettered by only five midfielders at the time of writing.
Admittedly, Fernandes’ price is a legitimate concern for Dream Team managers.
With so many in-form options and just nine points separating the fourth and 11th-best midfielders right now, opting for a cheaper alternative to allow for improvements elsewhere is a perfectly reasonable tactic.
However, United’s skipper should not be underestimated, especially given his upcoming fixtures.
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Ten Hag’s men face Copenhagen on Wednesday night then play Luton, Everton and Galatasaray in their next three.

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MANCHESTER CITY vs Bournemouth promised a wealth of Dream Team points and the most one-sided match-up in English football delivered.But not in the way many Dream Team managers predicted.
Pep Guardiola’s side scored six goals at the Etihad but Erling Haaland (£7.6m) had to settle for just the one point as he was substituted at half-time with an ankle niggle after missing out on the fun in the first 45 minutes.
A frustrating afternoon for Dream Team’s top points scorerCredit: Getty
The next most-popular City assets in the world of Dream Team after the Norwegian poacher are Kyle Walker (£3.5m), Julian Alvarez (£4.6m) and Ederson (£3.6m) – all three registered just two points each.
It’s rare that a team’s four most-selected players all miss out when the side in question wins 6-1 but that’s exactly what happened on Saturday.
However, Haaland and Alvarez’s loss was Jeremy Doku’s (£3.9m) gain.
The tricky winger produced an exhibition in front of his home fans, directly contributing to FIVE of the six goals for 21-point return.
At the time of writing, he’s comfortably Gameweek 11’s top performer.
ElectricCredit: Dream Team
The Cherries held relatively firm for half an hour before Doku opened the scoring after a neat one-two with Rodri (£4.1m).
Once the floodgates were open, the 21-year-old toyed with Andoni Iraola’s beleaguered troops, showing off his quick feet and devastating acceleration.
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He went on to register FOUR assists, setting up Manuel Akanji (£4.4m), Phil Foden (£4.5m) and Bernardo Silva (£3.6m) twice.
Doku made his name with his dribbling ability but, after the game, Guardiola made a point of highlighting his contribution to the team’s approach play.
The Belgium international’s acceleration and willingness to take on defenders is what makes him entertaining but it was his composed decision-making in the final third that made him so effective against Bournemouth at the weekend.
Doku’s 21-point haul has propelled him up to tenth in the Dream Team midfield rankings – he’s now above the likes of Kaoru Mitoma (£4m), Dominik Szoboszlai (£4m) and Declan Rice (£4m).
A full-back’s worst nightmareCredit: Getty
Juggling Man City assets is a huge aspect of Dream Team as the treble-winners produce so many points between them but Gameweek 11 has been another reminder of how difficult it can be to happen upon the optimum combination.
At the time of writing, Doku appears in just 5.2% of teams – a reflection of his uncertain status in the pecking order.
The ex-Rennes winger has impressed every time he’s taken to the pitch but Jack Grealish (£4.1m) was selected to start the Manchester derby in Gameweek 10 and the latter justified the decision with an accomplished display.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the England international start on the left wing against Young Boys in midweek.

Doku hoards points when he’s on the pitch but the reason for his relatively modest Dream Team ownership is because he’s played just 654 minutes – less than half available.
However, given the electric nature of his start to life on English soil, Doku will surely start more often in the coming weeks and months.
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Rotation is inevitable with Guardiola, Dream Team gaffers know that better than anyone, but it’s generally worth the risk as forgoing City midfielders altogether means sacrificing a mountain of points.
It will be interesting to see how many managers recruit Doku ahead of Gameweek 12.

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DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 11 in one easily digestible dose.Manchester United’s injury crisis has worsened with the news that Casemiro (£4m) will be sidelined for “a few weeks” with a hamstring strain.
Victor Lindelof (£2.1m) is also a doubt for the Red Devils’s trip to Fulham having come down with illness.
Luis Diaz (£3.6m) has trained with Liverpool this week but it’s not yet known whether the Colombian winger will travel to Luton amid an ongoing family issue of significant severity.

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Erik ten Hag won’t be able to call upon Casemiro for a few weeksCredit: Dream Team
Alex Moreno (£2.5m) may be involved for Aston Villa at the City Ground this weekend.
The Spanish left-back hasn’t featured since the end of the last season, when he had established himself as a regular starter over Lucas Digne (£2.6m).
Key midfielders Lucas Paqueta (£3.7m) and Edson Alvarez (£2.1m) are both suspended for West Ham’s trip to Brentford.
Kurt Zouma (£2.2m) has “trained a little bit” but the centre-back remains a doubt.
Gameweek 11 comes too soon for Pervis Estupinan (£3.2m) but Tariq Lamptey (£2.1m) is available for Brighton ahead of their visit to Goodison Park.
Gary O’Neil confirmed what most Dream Team bosses already expected when he told journalists that Pedro Neto (£3.2m) won’t return before the international break.
The in-form winger pulled up with a hamstring injury against Newcastle last weekend.
Neto was in impressive form before his hamstring injuryCredit: Getty
Kevin De Bruyne (£6.7m) is Manchester City’s only absentee with Manuel Akanji (£4.4m) having served his suspension.
Pep Guardiola has previously suggested that Phil Foden (£4.5m) and Julian Alvarez (£4.7m) are playing through minor niggles but the pair remain fully available.
Reece James (£4.2m) lasted an hour of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup victory over Blackburn in midweek and will assessed ahead of Monday night’s highly-anticipated meeting with Tottenham.
Mykhailo Mudryk (£2.8m) returned to full training at Cobham this week.
Eddie Howe told reporters that he didn’t expect any of Newcastle’s injured players to return – meaning Alexander Isak (£4.2m) and Sven Botman (£4.1m) remain unavailable.
Martin Odegaard (£5m) is expected to start at St James’ Park having been named as a substitute in Arsenal’s last two games.
The Gunners’ captain came off the bench to score a consolation goal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
Both Emile Smith Rowe (£2.3m) and Gabriel Jesus (£5.2m) will be sidelined until after the international break at least.
Odegaard should return to Arsenal’s starting line-up this weekendCredit: Rex
Roy Hodgson confirmed that Eberechi Eze (£3.6m) will be among Crystal Palace’s squad this weekend.
The Eagles’ No10 was among the best midfielders in Dream Team prior to his injury.

ARSENAL
Injuries: Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe
Suspensions: None
ASTON VILLA
Injuries: Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia,, Jacob Ramsey, Alex Moreno (doubt), John Duran (doubt)
Suspensions: None
BOURNEMOUTH
Injuries: Ryan Fredericks, Emiliano Marcondes, Tyler Adams, Neto, Darren Randolph (doubt)
Suspensions: Lewis Cook
BRENTFORD
Injuries: Shandon Baptiste, Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry, Mikkel Damsgaard, Kevin Schade, Keane Lewis-Potter
Suspensions: Ivan Toney
BRIGHTON
Injuries: Julio Enciso, Jakub Moder, Pervis Estupinan, Solly March, Danny Welbeck
Suspensions: None
BURNLEY
Injuries: Michael Obafemi, Hjalmar Ekdal, Manuel Benson, Jordan Beyer (doubt), Aaron Ramsey, Lyle Foster
Suspensions: Josh Cullen
CHELSEA
Injuries: Trevoh Chalobah, Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia, Ben Chilwell, Armando Broja (doubt), Mykhailo Mudryk (doubt)
Suspensions: None
CRYSTAL PALACE
Injuries: Michael Olise, James Tomkins, Dean Henderson
Suspensions: None
EVERTON
Injuries: Seamus Coleman, Dele Alli, Andre Gomes
Suspensions: None
FULHAM
Injuries: Tosin Adarabioyo, Adama Traore, Kenny Tete, Issa Diop
Suspensions: None
LIVERPOOL
Injuries: Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Andy Robertson, Ben Doak
Suspensions: None
LUTON
Injuries: Dan Potts, Jordan Clark, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Amari’i Bell, Mads Andersen, Reece Burke
Suspensions: None
MANCHESTER CITY
Injuries: Kevin De Bruyne
Suspensions: None
MANCHESTER UNITED
Injuries: Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro
Suspensions: None
NEWCASTLE
Injuries: Javier Manquillo, Joe Willock, Emil Krath, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak, Elliot Anderson, Matt Targett
Suspensions: None
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Injuries: Danilo, Gonzalo Montiel, Felipe, Divock Origi, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood (doubt)
Suspensions: None
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Injuries: Rhys Norrington-Davies, Daniel Jebbison, Max Lowe, Will Osula, John Egan, Chris Basham, Tom Davies, Oli McBurnie, Anel Ahmedhodzic
Suspensions: None
TOTTENHAM
Injuries: Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, Alfie Whiteman, Manor Solomon, Destiny Udogie (doubt), Ben Davies
Suspensions: None
WEST HAM
Injuries: Kurt Zouma (doubt)
Suspensions: Edson Alvarez, Lucas Paqueta
WOLVES
Injuries: Hugo Bueno, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (doubt), Joe Hodge, Pedro Neto
Suspensions: None

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