Dream Team

MIDFIELDERS from Manchester City have tended to dominate Dream Team in recent years.At this moment in time, however, it’s West Ham who boast the best assets in the all-important position.
After 12 Gameweeks, three of David Moyes’ troops are among the top six midfielders – no other team has more than one representative in the top ten!

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Ward-Prowse and friends are thriving this seasonCredit: Dream Team
Bukayo Saka (£6.5m) remains top dog on 130 points but Jarrod Bowen (£5.2m) is just 11 points behind in second place on 119.
The Hammers’ No20 is somewhat generously categorised as a midfielder as a fair share of his minutes have come as a centre-forward in recent weeks.
Even when he plays from the right flank, Bowen is usually his side’s primary attacking threat – he’s scored nine goals in all competitions already this term.
For comparison, no other midfielder has scored more than six goals at this stage.
The 26-year-old is level with Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m) on 18 shots on target, the joint-most among assets in his position.
Bowen is a fantastic selection despite his lofty price of £5.2m but many Dream Team gaffers have potentially had their plans scuppered ahead of Gameweek 13 by an availability concern.
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Bowen withdrew from the England squad with a knee injury and while West Ham are said to be hopeful the issue isn’t as significant as first feared, he may be unavailable this coming Gameweek.
Moyes should provide an update during his press conference later this week.
Nine goals and countingCredit: PA
James Ward-Prowse (£4.2m) completes an all-English podium of Dream Team midfielders having amassed 106 points.
The set-piece specialist is the game’s joint-top assist provider with nine to his name in all competition, alongside Saka.
However, the true secret of the former Southampton captain’s success is his ability to earn plentiful bonus points.
Ward-Prowse has earned 25 bonus points to date, the most among all players – that’s almost a quarter of his overall tally.
Lucas Paqueta (£3.9m) is currently joint-sixth in his position alongside the injured James Maddison (£4.2m) on 94 points.
The Brazil international has scored five goals this season with three of them coming in his last five outings.
A talented playmaker in possession, the 26-year-old is also an excellent defensive asset high up the pitch.
Paqueta has made 45 tackles already in 2023/24, the third-highest total among all players, an output that has earned him 19 points.
Two midfielders in one!Credit: Getty

West Ham’s midfield success is particularly relevant at this juncture as their double header this coming Gameweek appears favourable – Burnley in the Premier League followed by Backa Topola in the Europa League.
If Bowen, who features in 23.3% of teams, is indeed sidelined with injury then Dream Team bosses could hope to earn healthy returns from either Ward-Prowse or Paqueta instead.
Backing multiple Hammers may even be a profitable strategy!

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Kaoru Mitoma (£3.9m) is the ninth-most popular midfielder in Dream Team at the time of writing.But the Japanese winger is likely to be among the most transferred-out players ahead of Gameweek 13 because of availability concerns.
Roberto De Zerbi should provide an update later in the week but at this stage it’s thought Mitoma will not travel with the Brighton squad to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Gaffers seeking a replacement might be wise to include Simon Adingra (£2.8m) on their shortlist.

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Sparkling formCredit: Dream Team
The 21-year-old was the Seagulls’ best performer just prior to the international break.
He banked 15 points in Gameweek 11 thanks mostly to his decisive display in Amsterdam in the form of a goal and an assist against Ajax in the Europa League.
Adingra then followed up with an 11-point haul in Gameweek 12 despite Brighton’s underwhelming draw with Sheffield United at the Amex.
The Ivory Coast international scored the hosts’ only goal and earned three bonus points in the process to continue his impressive individual form.
Statistically, Adingra is one of Dream Team most in-form midfielders as he’s averaged 8.7 points-per-game across his last three outings.
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Only Cole Palmer (£3m), Phil Foden (£4.7m), Bukayo Saka (£6.5m) and Raheem Sterling (£3.8m) have registered more points in their last three fixtures.
Adingra produced an impressive performance against AjaxCredit: Rex
Mitoma remains Brighton’s top performer in Dream Team with 83 points to his name but Adingra has closed the gap in recent weeks – he’s now just 11 shy of his team-mate on 72.
However, the ex-Nordsjaelland winger is currently £1.1m cheaper than his team-mate and he’s also scored more goals than Mitoma this season.
Individual performance is what really matters but some Dream Team bosses may be concerned about Brighton’s collective form.
De Zerbi’s side are well placed to progress to the Europa League knockouts but they’re without a win in their last seven domestic fixtures.
Still, Gameweek 13 should be considered a favourable one for Adingra and company with an away trip to AEK Athens hot on the heels of their meeting with Forest.
Mitoma is expected to miss Brighton’s visit to Nottingham ForestCredit: Alamy

Looking further ahead, Gameweek 15 appears ripe for returns too with the Seagulls set to face Burnley and Marseille in consecutive home games.
In conclusion, Adingra is a cheap, in-form option with relatively favourable fixtures ahead who should be guaranteed plenty of minutes.
Right now he features in just 0.6% of teams, making him something of a hidden gem.

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Crystal Palace are not a “one-man team” by any stretch of the imagination.Such a moniker was perhaps appropriate for the Eagles at times during Wilfried Zaha’s tenure in South London but these days it’s very much a team effort at Selhurst Park.
That being said, there’s no doubt Eberechi Eze (£3.6m) is a key player for the current crop.

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A natural footballerCredit: Dream Team
Dream Team managers know this as well as the Palace fans as the 25-year-old was among the very best assets in his position up until Gameweek 7, at which point a hamstring injury sidelined him for the duration of October.
In the 132 minutes he’s played since returning to full fitness, Eze has banked 15 points.
Palace’s No10 came off the bench to provide an assist against Burnley in Gameweek 11 and he scored against Everton just prior to the international break.
Essentially, he’s picked up where he left off.

It will be interesting to see how many Dream Team gaffers transfer Eze into their teams ahead of Gameweek 13.
Hodgson’s side aren’t among the eight teams set to pull double duty via the European competitions but their Premier League fixture is a favourable one in the form of a trip to Luton.
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The Hatters mustered an impressive draw against Liverpool last time out at Kenilworth Road but the fact remains they have registered just one win since promotion (away to Everton) and they’re only above the relegation zone right now because of the Toffees’ recent points deduction.
Eze hopes to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024Credit: Willie Vass
Without being harsh on Rob Edwards’ men, they represent a friendly match-up in the world of Dream Team.
And given that Eze averages 7.1 points-per-game this season, it seems reasonable to expect a decent haul.
For context, Jarrod Bowen (£5.2m), James Maddison (£4.2m) and Bukayo Saka (£6.5m) are the only midfielders who average more points-per-game in 2023/24.
This isn’t a short-term punt either as every Premier League team will play twice in Gameweek 14 and Eze’s double of West Ham and Bournemouth looks relatively favourable on paper.
No discussion of Eze’s Dream Team viability would be complete without a mention of bonus points.
The England international has earned 23 bonus points this campaign.
James Ward-Prowse (£4.2m) is the only player with more to his name and that’s largely because he’s played five games more than Eze, who boasts impressive dribbling statistics.
Eze currently features in 4.4% of teams – making him a potentially brilliant differential option.

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THE international break rumbles on but Dream Team managers will already have their eyes on this weekend’s Premier League action.Manchester City v Liverpool leads an engrossing Gameweek 13 in which eight clubs are set to pull double duty via the European competitions.
With club football having paused momentarily, some gaffers may need reminding of Dream Team’s most in-form players.

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Foden and Jackson are among the most in-form players Dream Team has to offerCredit: Dream Team
Here’s the current top ten based on average points-per-game across each asset’s last three fixtures.
DREAM TEAM’S MOST IN-FORM PLAYERS:

Erling Haaland (£7.7m) – 11 points-per-game (across last three outings)
Nicolas Jackson (£3m) – 10.3
Cole Palmer (£3m) – 9.7
Phil Foden (£4.7m) – 9.3
Bukayo Saka (£6.5m) – 9.3
Vitaliy Mykolenko (£2.9m) – 9
Raheem Sterling (£3.8m) – 9
Simon Adingra (£2.8m) – 8.7
Jermey Doku (£4.2m) – 8.7
Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m) – 8.3

As is often the case, City’s prolific No9 leads the way having scored braces against Young Boys and Chelsea just prior to the international break.
In fact, Haaland has notched a mighty 78 points since the start of Gameweek 9 – a run that includes nine goals in six games.
Hot on the Norwegian’s heels is Chelsea’s 22-year-old forward who has rectified his early-season wastefulness of late.
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Jackson missed a host of clear-cut chances in his first few appearances for the Blues but since then he followed up a hat-trick against Tottenham with a goal in the thrilling 4-4 draw with Pep Guardiola’s side.
Granted, the Senegal international benefited from the unique nature of the game against Spurs – the hosts went down to nine men and continued to hold an ultra high defensive line – but a return of 29 points across his last two outings is undeniable.
Whether he’ll be able to continue his improved form going forward remains to be seen as Mauricio Pochettino’s men face Newcastle, Brighton and Manchester United in the next two Gameweeks.
Top of the treeCredit: PA
Jackson’s team-mate completes the podium off the back of his clutch penalty against his former club.
Palmer’s spot-kicks have significantly increased his Dream Team viability and his general contributions to Chelsea’s upturn have not gone unnoticed.
The left-footed winger even earned a late call-up for England last week.
If the Chelsea pair could be considered surprise inclusions in this list then Foden and Saka should be seem as expected regulars.
Both are among an exclusive group of four midfielders with 100+ points to their name this season.
City’s homegrown hero earned the maximum available five bonus points amid the chaos at Stamford Bridge and has provided consistent returns for over a quarter of Dream Team bosses this term.
As for Arsenal’s No7, he continues to provide lorry-loads of points despite clearly being hampered by niggles.
Saka is the game’s top midfielder heading into Gameweek 13.
Rising starCredit: Rex
We’ve recently highlighted the prosperous form of Mykolenko, Sterling and Doku but Adingra’s efforts have flown under the radar until now.
Where Brighton are concerned, most eyes are on Kaoru Mitoma’s (£3.9m) returns but it’s the 21-year-old Ivorian who has cashed in against favourable opposition of late.
The Seagulls’ No24 scored one goal and assisted the other when Roberto De Zerbi’s side beat a beleaguered Ajax 2-0 in Amsterdam.
Adingra then followed that up with a goal at home to Sheffield United in Gameweek 12 – all that adds up to 23 points across his last two fixtures.

Lastly, a reminder that individual players are capable of flourishing amid dysfunctional teams.
Man United have been out of sorts throughout 2023/24 so far but Fernandes’ personal stats are encouraging.
Four goals and three assists may seem no more than respectable but the Portugal international leads the way among midfielders in terms of both shots on target and big chances created.
Dream Team managers should always factor form into the equation when deciding upon their transfers.

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INTERNATIONAL call-ups aren’t handed out solely based on Dream Team points – we know that.But what we also know is good individual performances contribute to high scoring points and should put you in the frame for one.
James Ward-Prowse was unlucky to miss out
So you may be surprised to learn that five of England’s top 10 players of the season so far aren’t included in Gareth Southgate’s latest squad to face Malta and North Macedonia.
The highest of those snubbed is West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse (£4.7m) who is a contentious call to many Three Lions supporters.
DREAM TEAM’S TOP TEN ENGLISH PLAYERS

Bukayo Saka – £6.5m – 130pts
Jarrod Bowen – £5.2m – 119pts
Ollie Watkins – £4.7m – 108pts
James Ward-Prowse – £4.2m – 106pts
Phil Foden – £4.7m – 105pts
Kieran Trippier – £5.4m – 103pts
James Maddison – £4.2m – 94pts
Anthony Gordon – £3.6m – 93pts
Raheem Sterling – £3.8m – 88pts
Nick Pope – £4.2m – 86pts

Ward-Prowse is amongst the cheapest of the top English scorers so far too at just £4.2m, with Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips surprisingly more-fancied than JWP.
His 106 points actually puts him 7th in the charts across ALL of Dream Team, highlighting his impact at the Hammers this term.
It’s Arsenal starboy Bukayo Saka who is the leading Lion at this stage of the season, with a cool 130 points despite his recent injury troubles.
More than one in three managers (37.8%) have put their faith in Saka and haven’t been let down, with 22 bonus points in total to his name.

No surprise to see Saka top the list
Jarrod Bowen (£5.2m) and Ollie Watkins (£4.7m) are second and third on 119 and 108 points, respectively.
Registered a midfielder, Bowen has 23.4% of manager’s trust in Dream Team, with a 7.4 points per gameweek average so far.
While Watkins is the highest English forward in the game, despite just 19.2% of managers backing him so far.
Phil Foden (£4.7m) is fifth on the English list, with Kieran Trippier (£5.4m) just two points behind him in sixth.
James Maddison (£4.2m) is the next of those not included in the latest squad, though he does miss out through injury and would have been a potential starter had he not been crocked.
Despite his well-documented, stunning start to the season, he’s just a point clear of Anthony Gordon (£3.6m) who has been snubbed altogether.
The U-21s hero has been a revelation for Newcastle this year, with Scotland reportedly circling to tempt him north for international football.
Gordon has shown top, consistent form for Newcastle
He has nine bonus points to his name from his 93 total so far and can count himself unlucky to have missed out.
Team-mate Nick Pope (£4.2m) will likely also feel aggrieved given his own solid form for Newcastle, particularly after seeing benchwarmer Aaron Ramsdale and Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone picked ahead of him.
Pope is tenth on the English list, which is just below Raheem Sterling (£3.8m), who has rightfully been singled out for praise given his return to top form at Chelsea.
Sterling’s last three gameweek scores read 18 – 6 – 8, showing his contribution to the Blues upturn in fortunes in recent weeks.
Southgate says the door is “100% open” for Sterling to return in the future – he’ll maybe just need to improve on his 15 bonus points to date!
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