Dream Team

PEP GUARDIOLA has an abundance of talent at his disposal but nobody could accuse Manchester City’s mastermind of shirking his duties from a tactical standpoint.Whereas plenty of managers would have been reluctant to change anything about a set-up that puts trophies in the cabinet, the 52-year-old Spaniard is forever adapting his approach.
This season, City have often shaped up in a 3-2-4-1 (or 3-2-3-2) formation with a defender joining Rodri (£3.8m) at the base of midfield to provide build-up play.
The man occupying this hybrid role currently is John Stones (£5.5m).
Stones excelled against Bayern Munich
As a natural ball-playing centre-back, the England international has the necessary technical attributes required to play further up field and of course his tackling, tracking and aerial prowess adds plenty of steel to the midfield.
Stones fulfilled the role superbly once again on Tuesday night as City sent out a message to all their Champions League rivals with a 3-0 win over Bayern Munich at the Etihad in their quarter-final first leg.
It’s one thing filling in for a Premier League game in which City will dominate weaker opposition for the game’s duration but another thing entirely to excel against the likes of Jamal Musiala, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich.
Dream Team gaffers would have already considered Stones as a viable option but his reformed role has made him particularly appealing.
Right now, the 28-year-old is essentially a midfielder who also gets clean sheet points – a Dream Team trick of sorts.
And because he’s occupying more advanced positions, he’s more likely to register goal contributions, as he did against the German giants when his header back across goal was slotted home by Erling Haaland (£9.3m).
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Granted, direct goal involvements are still relatively rare but the mere acts of creating chances and getting shots off will also boost his match ratings (most of the time).
The hybrid role has suited Stones so farCredit: GETTY
Since returning to the team, Stones has produced 25 points at an average of 6.25 per Game Week – he currently appears in just 1.7% of teams.
More generally, it feels like a great time to back City defenders – Tuesday night’s game was just the second time Bayern have failed to score this season.
Ruben Dias (£6.4m) has been excellent of late, as has Nathan Ake (£4.6m), while Manuel Akanji (£4.4m) continues to rack up minutes on the pitch.
City host struggling Leicester this weekend before the second leg against Bayern next Wednesday – a favourable FA Cup semi-final draw against Championship side Sheffield United also looks ripe for healthy returns. More

THE race for top spot among Dream Team defenders this season has been over for a while now.With 213 points to his name, Kieran Trippier (£5.9m) is simply fulfilling his procession at the back end of what has been a miraculous campaign.
The scrap for second place, however, could scarcely be more competitive.
Lisandro Martinez (£4.8m) is the latest name to appear immediately below the Newcastle right-back’s in the rankings as the World Cup winner leapt above Ben White (£4.8m) and Fabian Schar (£3.9m) with an eight-point haul at home to Everton on Saturday.
Martinez has proved to be a good signing for Man United
The Manchester United centre-back was subjected to harsh criticism during the embryonic stage of his Premier League career having been given a torrid time in that now infamous 4-0 drubbing at Brentford.
Since then, his critics have generally either been silenced or converted.
Martinez has been one of the Premier League’s most impressive defenders this season having proved that combativeness, positioning and timing can make up for a couple of lost inches in height.
How many Dream Team gaffers would have tipped him to reach 140 points by Game Week 29 after that disasterclass at the Gtech Community Stadium?
Newcastle and Arsenal’s failure to keep their sheets clean at the weekend cast Martinez’s eight-point return at the expense of the Toffees in an even more favourable light.
Team-mate Luke Shaw (£4.6m) was recently runner-up among defenders but he too lost some ground having been sidelined with an injury.
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Comfortably Dream Team’s best defender this seasonCredit: GETTY
TOP TEN DREAM TEAM DEFENDERS 2022/23

Kieran Trippier – 213 points
Lisandro Martinez – 140 points
Fabian Schar – 139 points
Ben White – 134 points
Gabriel – 133 points
Luke Shaw – 131 points
Dan Burn – 123 points
Diogo Dalot – 118 points
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 116 points
Ruben Dias – 114 points

The race to finish second promises to go down to the wire but Martinez has a great chance of clinging onto the silver medal because of the additional fixtures at his disposal.
Whereas the Gunners and the Magpies have nothing but league commitments to fulfil from here on out, Erik ten Hag’s side are pursuing glory in the Europa League and the FA Cup while simultaneously hoping to finish in the top four.
Martinez is likely to feature against Sevilla on Thursday night as the Red Devils welcome the Europa League specialists to Old Trafford for the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
In fact, while the likes of Schar and White have a maximum of four fixtures remaining this month, Martinez could play as many as six in the same time frame.
140 points and countingCredit: GETTY
There’s always a chance the additional fixtures could backfire as it’s far from guaranteed Man United will repel the La Liga side over two legs and Brighton’s dynamic attack will throw plenty at their opponents at Wembley on April 23rd.
As a general rule though, the more fixtures a Dream Team asset has to work with the more points they register.
Martinez currently features in 13.2% of teams. More

IT’S generally accepted that most attacking players need at least a few months to adapt to Pep Guardiola’s specific requirements.This is particularly true of individualistic talents who essentially had free rein at their previous club.
It’s no wonder then, that Manchester City supporters are only now seeing the best of Jack Grealish (£4.1m) since his move from Aston Villa in the summer of 2021.
The 27-year-old had arguably his best game yet in a sky-blue shirt at the weekend when he assisted one goal and scored another as the Citizens came from behind to beat Liverpool 4-1 at the Etihad.
Grealish’s probing dribbles caused all kinds of problems for the Reds, not least Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.3m) who looked all at sea against his compatriot.
In the groove
A £100million price tag was always going to weigh heavy on a player who operated in the Championship just two years prior to the record-breaking transfer and he copped plenty of criticism last season for not hitting the ground running.
However, like Leroy Sane, Joao Cancelo, Rodri (£3.8m) and a few others before him, something has clicked in Grealish and he’s now able to harness his natural attributes in a way that suits Guardiola’s grand plan.
Since returning from the World Cup, he’s provided five assists and scored three goals in 14 Premier League appearances.
Naturally, this surge in goal involvements has resulted in healthy Dream Team returns.
A ten-point return at Liverpool’s expense – his second double-digit haul of the campaign – means that Grealish has produced 50 points across the last nine Game Weeks.
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He’s now level with James Maddison (£5.6m) on 97 points overall, though it’s worth noting the Leicester playmaker has played far fewer games this term.
Grealish has been all smiles of lateCredit: GETTY
Incredibly, Grealish is just the fifth-best midfielder among his team-mates as Rodri, Riyad Mahrez (£6.1m), Phil Foden (£5.1m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£7.7m) are all on 100+ points at this stage.
The brilliant Belgian remains the best option for Dream Team gaffers keen on a Man City midfielder (as all should be) but his points come at a significant cost – he’s the most-expensive asset in his position by a wide margin.
With Mahrez also a costly recruit and Foden sidelined while he recovers from having his appendix removed, the in-form Grealish may be a popular man once April’s allotment of transfers are available from Friday morning.
There are certainly worse strategies than doubling up on City midfielders this month with Guardiola’s men active in the Champions League and FA Cup as well as the bread and butter of the Premier League.
A two-legged affair with Bayern Munich will be hotly contested and Arsenal’s visit to the Etihad towards the end of April could decide the league title but it’s a favourable set of fixtures elsewhere: Southampton, Leicester, Sheffield United, Fulham.
Experienced Dream Team managers will remember that an in-form Grealish is a force to be reckoned with… More

DREAM TEAM gaffers will get their hands on five box-fresh transfers this Friday.With European knockout ties, FA Cup semi-finals and Premier League double Game Weeks to come in the following weeks, April will undoubtedly prove to be a pivotal month.
Here we’ve identified five players (outside the blindingly obvious candidates) we think could thrive throughout the rest of the month.
Jack Grealish (£4.1m)
Grealish has adjusted to life under Guardiola
Man City’s No10 had one of his best games in a blue shirt at the weekend as he played a significant role in Liverpool’s capitulation at the Etihad.
Grealish scored one goal and assisted another as Pep Guardiola’s side came from behind to win 4-1.
He was great value for his ten points – his second double-digit haul of the season – having given Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.3m) and company a torrid time with his silky dribbling.
The England international’s club form has been noticeably better in recent months and with Phil Foden (£5.1m) sidelined while he recovers from having his appendix removed, Grealish is essentially a guaranteed starter on the left flank for the next three weeks.
He has registered 50 points across the last nine Game Weeks and with City set to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals and Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals on top of four more league games before the end of the month, there’s plenty of time for the 5.2%-owned midfielder to add to his tally further.
Luke Shaw (£4.6m)
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It’s a marathon, not a sprintCredit: GETTY
Man United looked pretty flat against Newcastle and were comprehensively outplayed from start to finish.
However, the Red Devils busy schedule looks ripe for points even if their general functionality as a team is reduced all the while Casemiro (£3.4m) is suspended.
For example, Shaw gained a lot of ground in the rankings last month despite the fact it started with him incurring minus six points at Anfield.
Erik ten Hag’s side host Brentford in midweek before favourable league match-ups against Everton and Nottingham Forest around two Europa League legs against Sevilla.
All in all, Shaw potentially has a further EIGHT fixtures to fulfil before the start of May.
In comparison, Ben White (£4.5m), who nine points ahead of his compatriot after the weekend’s results, has a maximum of five more games in the same time frame – which includes away trips to Liverpool and Man City.
Dan Burn (£4.1m)
Back among the clean sheets
Sunday’s performance would have come as a massive reassurance for the many gaffers who have put their faith in a Newcastle-heavy defence.
Not only did the Magpies keep their first clean sheet since January, Kieran Trippier (£5.7m) rolled back the months to provide an assist and claim the Star Man award – though the right-back very much falls under the category of ‘blindingly obvious’ in terms of Dream Team recommendations.
However, if clean sheets are back on the menu then the Toon’s giant left-back may be worth a whirl as well.
Burn’s upcoming fixtures certainly aren’t anything to balk at: West Ham, Brentford, Aston Villa, Spurs, Everton, Southampton.
With 120 points to his name, the 6ft 7in defender is Dream Team seventh-best asset in his position at the time of writing.
Jarrod Bowen (£3.9m)
You haven’t forgotten about the Europa Conference League, have you?Credit: GETTY
Many Dream Team bosses will instinctively want to keep West Ham assets are arm’s length given their form as a collective this season.
But the Europa Conference League quarter-finals should not be underestimated (okay, they should, but not totally).
Bowen has thoroughly enjoyed himself in the continent’s tertiary competition this term, bagging 44 points in six outings – that record suggests the Hammers’ two legs against Gent may be worth targeting.
With ten goals and six assists in all competitions to his name at this stage, the ex-Hull wingers boasts a respectable total of goal involvements even his tally doesn’t quite compare to his efforts in 2021/22.
It’s worth noting that he’s earned six Star Man awards and only four players have claimed more at this juncture.
West Ham also have eight more fixtures in the diary this month.
John Stones (£5.6m)
Capable of playing virtually anywhereCredit: GETTY
We finish by reverting back to Man City and their adaptable centre-back-turned-defensive-midfielder.
Against Liverpool, Stones played brilliantly alongside Rodri in Guardiola’s favoured system of late and so it’s likely he’ll reprise the role in the coming weeks.
The England international is slightly more likely to contribute goal involvements in his new role but his viability depends on his schedule, which looks promising.
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Granted, Bayern could inflict minus points over two quarter-final legs with all their attacking power but City’s fixtures around those games look like strong clean sheet possibilities: Southampton, Leicester, Sheffield United.
Arsenal’s visit to the Etihad on the 26th is clearly gigantic in the context of the Premier League title race but it’s worth remembering that City beat the Gunners 3-1 in north London. More

SOME of Arsenal’s more pessimistic supporters feared that the knee injury Gabriel Jesus (£4.8m) suffered at the World Cup would derail their title challenge.As it happens, the Gunners compensated for the Brazilian’s absence impressively with Eddie Nketiah (£3.4m) and Leandro Trossard (£4m) stepping up at different times to ensure the wins kept coming.
Still, there’s no doubt the four-time Premier League winner’s return to action has given Mikel Arteta’s side a boost ahead of the run-in.
As if to underline this point, Jesus scored a brace at home to Leeds on Saturday to ensure Arsenal matched Man City’s 4-1 win earlier in the day to therefore maintain their advantage in the title race.
A subtle message of confidence
The 26-year-old scored a penalty to open the scoring with usual spot-kick taker Bukayo Saka (£5.6m) on the bench because of an minor injury niggle.
Then in the second half he was on hand to convert Trossard’s smart pullback, just as a No9 should.
Naturally, his performance would have been noted by Dream Team bosses.
Gabriel Martinelli (£3.9m) claimed the Star Man award but Jesus’ haul of 13 points was the biggest of the game and the joint-best registered by a forward at the weekend among all fixtures.
Having been the second-most popular player in the game prior to Game Week 1, the former Man City striker provided healthy returns for a sizeable chunk of gaffers before the World Cup break.
He was transferred out of tens of thousands of teams when news of his three-month lay-off broke but a double-digit haul upon his first league start back gives Arteta and Dream Team managers a nice selection headache.
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Jesus enjoyed himself against LeedsCredit: GETTY
There’s only space for three starters in the front line but Martinelli, Trossard, Saka and Jesus would all be justifiably aggrieved if named on the bench when fully fit.
Rotation is inevitable and sensible in a real world context but potentially problematic in the realm of Dream Team.
Will Jesus start every game at centre-forward between now and the end of the campaign?
If so he would clearly be a brilliant Dream Team option.
However, if he’s to share duties with Trossard and/or Martinelli (Saka is a lock on the right when fit) then he may not be given the necessary minutes to provide plentiful returns.
With transfers set to be refreshed on Friday, there must be a few Dream Team bosses tempted to bring Jesus back into the fold… it is Easter weekend after all. More

LIGHT the beacons!Newcastle ended their clean sheet drought with a 2-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday as Kieran Trippier (£5.7m) became the first defender to pass 200 points in Dream Team this season.
The reliable right-back provided his eighth assist of the campaign as Eddie Howe’s side comprehensively outplayed the Red Devils at St James’ Park.
Erik ten Hag’s men mustered just one shot on target in the game and by the second half it felt inevitable that the Magpies would register their first clean sheet in all competitions since January.
Back on trackCredit: GETTY
The mini drought was a painful one for a sizeable chunk of Dream Team managers as Nick Pope (£4m) and Newcastle’s first-choice defenders are among the most popular assets in the game.
The England goalkeeper banked a much-needed five points having failed to notch any positive returns in the previous eight Game Weeks.
In fact, Pope has reclaimed his place at the top of the goalkeeper rankings from David de Gea (£4.1m) as there was just one point between them prior to Game Week 28 – the Spaniard incurred a minus point in the north east.
Fabian Schar (£3.6m), Dan Burn (£4.1m) and Sven Botman (£3.3m) all added eight points to their respective tallies at the weekend.
The latter is the only one of Howe’s preferred back four not inside Dream Team’s top ten defenders right now – he’s one point adrift in 11th.
But there’s no doubt Trippier was the big winner of the fixture.
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A league of his ownCredit: GETTY
The 32-year-old claimed his eighth Star Man award of 2022/21 to swoop 15 points when all was said and done – only Kevin De Bruyne (£7.7m) has more Star Man awards (nine) at this stage.
At the time of writing, no player has scored more points than the England defender this Game Week.
Having moved onto 210 points overall, Trippier now holds a whopping 74-point lead at the top of the rankings among defenders – Ben White (£4.5m) is the new name in second place.
Not only is Trippier the first double centurion in his position, he may well finish the season as the only defender on 200+ points.
Now that Newcastle’s clean sheet drought is over, gaffers will be wondering how many more they can register in the coming weeks.
Howe’s side face West Ham, Brentford, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Everton and Southampton before the end of April – a relatively favourable run all things considered. More