Fantasy Football

HORDES of excitable Geordies will descend upon London this coming Sunday as Newcastle hope to end their trophy drought by defeating Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final.The big talking point in the build-up to the clash at Wembley has been Nick Pope’s (£4.9m) absence.
Suffering a momentary brain fade against Liverpool, the England international was sent off for handling the ball outside the box to deny Mohamed Salah (£8m) a scoring opportunity.
Loris Karius will therefore be the unlikely starting goalkeeper for the Magpies in what is one of their biggest games in modern times, with Pope resigned to a seat in the stands.
A costly moment
The England international’s sending off sent tremors through the world of Dream Team too.
Even accounting for the minus four points he incurred at the weekend, Pope remains comfortably the best asset in his position with 122 points to his name, 20 more than his closest rival, David de Gea (£3.8m).
However, some gaffers may be concerned that he is running out of steam, and he may not be alone among St James’ Park residents.
Newcastle’s seven most popular assets – Pope, Kieran Trippier (£6.6m), Fabian Schar (£4.5m), Miguel Almiron (£3.7m), Sven Botman (£4.4m), Dan Burn (£4.9m) and Bruno Guimaraes (£3m) – have combined for just 30 points across the last four fixtures.
That underwhelming collective tally contains two red cards, Pope and Guimaraes, but the primary reason for the drop-off in returns is a lack of clean sheets.
A minor blip or something more serious?Credit: GETTY
Trippier and his fellow first-choice defenders reached the top of the rankings in their position as a quartet through a steady stream of clean sheets but having now conceded in four consecutive games, some Dream Team managers may be wondering if the gravy train has been derailed.
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Their chances of repelling the Red Devils this weekend are slim given Pope’s absence and the form of Marcus Rashford (£6.4m) but there’s always a chance the contest might be a cagey one, as can happen when there’s a trophy on the line.
Whatever the outcome at Wembley, Eddie Howe’s side will then have to prepare for a visit to the Etihad the following weekend, another unenviable match-up.
Newcastle assets have performed well above expectations this season but gaffers can’t afford to be sentimental – if their points are drying up then action must be taken.
Stick or twist?
Of course, this current lean patch may only prove to be a temporary blip rather than the start of a significant regression.
Certainly the likes of Trippier and Pope have enough credit in the bank as the outright best performers in their respective positions but it may be wise to start earmarking replacements for the likes of Schar, Burn and Botman.
The Toon have conceded just 15 goals in 23 league games and boast by far and away the best defensive record but if the tide is indeed on the turn then there is nothing to gain from pig-headed stubbornness.
If Newcastle’s defensive assets rekindle their supreme form later in the season then Dream Team bosses can always use transfers to get the band back together. More

PERHAPS we spoke too soon.The assumption here at Dream Team HQ was that Erling Haaland (£9m) would finish his first season in English football as Dream Team’s top points scorer.
With 32 goals to his name in all competitions and still over a third of the campaign to go, the Norwegian poacher has rapidly established himself as the new apex predator on these shores.
26 of his goals have come in the Premier League and given that his closest competitor, Harry Kane (£8m), is nine goals adrift it seems reasonable to assume the 2022/23 Golden Boot race is merely a formality.
In regards to Dream Team, however, Haaland should take note of the growing figure of Marcus Rashford (£6.4m) in his rear-view mirror.
On a rampage!
Manchester United’s homegrown hero continued his scintillating form with two goals at home to Leicester to bank 13 points on Sunday, a day after Manchester City’s No9 blanked in what proved to be a frustrating afternoon at Nottingham Forest.
Haaland’s overall tally of 269 points remains massively imposing but where he once held a 100-point lead over his closest rival, Rashford is now just 42 shy on 227.
Under normal circumstances, a 42-point lead would be an extensive one – and it is – but the rate Rashford is catching up must be considered too.
City’s No9 has added 53 points to his total since the start of Game Week 16 (11 games) whereas his cross-town rival has amassed a whopping 127 points in the same time frame!
Looking over his shoulderCredit: GETTY
Since returning from the World Cup, Rashford has scored 16 goals in 17 appearances, a run that also includes four assists and four Star Man awards.
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The England international may have even fired his side into the title race, with the Red Devils now three points behind their neighbours having played the same number of league games.
As inevitable as Haaland felt during the first half of the season, Rashford feels now.
Whether the 25-year-old is capable of becoming Dream Team’s top dog may depend on Thursday night’s game at Old Trafford.
If Erik ten Hag’s side can edge out Barcelona they will have a great chance of going deep in the Europa League, giving Rashford plenty of fixtures.
A celebration seen every week these daysCredit: GETTY
However, if La Liga’s leaders prevail then he may struggle to overhaul Haaland if the latter continues to prosper in Europe.
Pep Guardiola’s troops will fancy their chances of getting past RB Leipzig over two legs to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
When comparing two assets we would usually look at fixture difficulty as well but, truth be told, both in-form goalscorer are capable of achieving big hauls against any opponent this season.
What’s notable is that Haaland (74.4% ownership) is twice as popular Rashford (37.3%) – gaffers without the latter have missed out on a mountain of points over the last couple of months. More

A ROUND of applause for Lee Bishop, Game Week 22’s top gaffer.His team, the imaginatively named ‘Bishop FC’, posted an impressive score of 121 points.
Let’s take a closer look at how he did it…
Four teams represented
Lee is a Manchester United fan but he didn’t go overboard on his own team in a week in which the Red Devils played twice.
David de Gea (£3.8m) earned eight points against Leeds on Sunday and escaped from the Nou Camp with two more despite conceding twice.
Makeshift centre-back Luke Shaw (£3.8m) wasn’t so lucky in Catalonia as he incurred minus one point but he still ended Game Week 22 as the best-performing defender because of his 15-point haul at Elland Road, achieved via a clean sheet, assist and Star Man gong.
The England international now has 100 points to his name, something only six other defenders have achieved at this stage.
Kieran Tierney (£3.3m) didn’t feature for Arsenal against Brentford or Man City so it has to be said that Lee got that one wrong – Oleksandr Zinchenko (£3.3m) is very much the Gunners’ first-choice left-back at the moment.
A Shaw thingCredit: GETTY
And it was a relatively quiet week by Kieran Trippier’s (£6.6m) immense standards too.
Newcastle’s vice-captain had to settle for three points as Eddie Howe’s side were held to a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
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That fixture proved to be a prosperous one for Lee overall though because his faith in Miguel Almiron (£3.7m) was rewarded with an eight-point haul.
The Paraguayan winger scored his tenth league goal of the campaign, which is more than he managed in his first four seasons combined!
Defensive midfielders are usually best avoided in the realm of Dream Team but Rodri (£4m) has to be considered an exception at this stage.
Manchester City’s reliable Spaniard earned a massive match rating against Aston Villa to claim the Star Man award on top of his goal for a 13-point haul, which he boosted to 16 with another solid showing at the Emirates – no midfielder produced more points in Game Week 22.
Like a new signing!
Kevin De Bruyne (£7m) came pretty close though thanks to his masterclass on Wednesday night.
The Belgium international exhibited incredible technique to open the scoring before reverting back to his familiar role as assist-provider for City’s third goal – he banked 15 points when all was said and done.
A return of 13 points meant Game Week 22 was the second-most profitable of the season for Bukayo Saka (£4.5m).
Arsenal’s No7 provided the assist for Leandro Trossard’s (£3.7m) goal versus Brentford before he converted a penalty against Pep Guardiola’s side in midweek.
Saka is now the third-best asset in his position.
Unstoppable formCredit: GETTY
It’s a trio of familiar names up top.
Erling Haaland’s (£9m) ownership of 74.5% means it’s rare to see an IX without him and a 13-point haul restored normal service after two consecutive blanks.
These days, Marcus Rashford (£6.4m) is just as inevitable as Man City’s No9.
Man United’s homegrown hero scored an important header at Elland Road before he squeezed one in from a tight angle at the Nou Camp.
He’s become the second player to pass the 200-point mark in 2022/23 – Haaland being the first of course.
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Mohamed Salah (8m) had mustered just two points in his five previous games leading up to the Merseyside derby but he came good for Lee on Monday night with a thrilling counterattack goal and subsequent Star Man award for a 13-point return.
Great work, Lee, good luck to you and every other gaffer ahead of Game Week 23! More

NO player personifies Liverpool’s decline from last season to the current campaign more than Joel Matip (£3.8m).The likeable Cameroonian centre-back finished 2021/22 with 236 points to his name, a tally bettered by only four defenders: Andy Robertson (£3.9m), Virgil van Dijk (£4.9m), Joao Cancelo and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£4.8m).
As the cheapest member of the Reds’ first-choice back four, he was among Dream Team’s most endearing gems.
This term, however, it’s no exaggeration to say he’s been one of the most disappointing flops.
Matip has incurred minus points in nine fixtures this seasonCredit: GETTY
Matip contributed to a clean sheet in the Merseyside derby on Monday to bank five points but even that desperately-needed haul pushed his overall total up to just 15.
The extensive list of defenders with more points to their name includes Jordan Zemura (£1.4m), Cedric Soares (£1.8m), Lyanco (£1.4m), Cheikhou Kouyate (£2.1m) and Jamaal Lascelles (£3m).
This stark contrast between seasons is reflected not just in the 31-year-old’s Dream Team returns but in observations from fans and pundits alike.
It could be argued that Matip actually outperformed Van Dijk last season but he’s looked terribly vulnerable this term and, with fitness issues throw in, has consequently been limited to just eight league starts (and 15 appearances in all competitions).
He’s far from the only Anfield resident to suffer a significant drop-off, in fact Mohamed Salah (£7.7m) and Roberto Firmino (£3.7m) are the only individuals who have continued to provide the goods this season and the latter has been frustrated by injury setbacks.
Form is temporary…Credit: GETTY
Jurgen Klopp’s side would have have savoured their victory over neighbours Everton but the table remains grim reading for a side who hold both domestic cups, they’re ninth having won nine of their 21 league fixtures so far.
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A thrashing away to Napoli aside, Liverpool’s performances in the Champions League have been more typical of recent years but another meeting with European specialists Real Madrid in the round of 16 represents a stern test.
Naturally, Dream Team managers have ditched Matip in their droves and his ownership is now below 1%.
Fingers crossed he regains his best form at some stage but for now, as an embodiment of Liverpool’s dip, gaffers should stay clear. More

DREAM TEAM gaffers are forever keeping an eye out for bargains.This season, several affordable midfielders have mixed with the familiar premium options at the top of the rankings.
Even now, seven of top 13 midfielders are available for less than £4m – let’s run through the septet…
Kaoru Mitoma
A rising starCredit: GETTY

Brighton
£3.2m
84 points

The Seagulls’ new fan favourite with a degree in dribbling (literally).
Mitoma gave everyone else a head start and didn’t score his first point until Game Week 12 but since then he’s given it both barrels – he’s averaged 6.5 points-per-game since getting off the mark.
The 25-year-old has scored seven goals in all competitions and his educated running has ensured plenty of 7+ ratings and three Star Man awards.
Solly March
March madness!Credit: GETTY

Brighton
£2.8m
85 points

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Graham Potter did a fantastic job at Brighton but if there was one criticism of his reign it’s that the team didn’t score as many goals as they deserved.
Roberto De Zerbi has imprinted his own style on the south coast and while clean sheets are now harder to come by, the goals are flooding in.
March has been a revelation under the Italian coach and is currently on a run of five goals, three assists and four Star Man gongs in his last nine outings.
Previously a wing-back/utility man, he’s thriving on the right wing where he can take up more advanced positions.
Rodri
A reliable performerCredit: GETTY

Manchester City
£3.7m
87 points

The Spain international is something of an anomaly in the realm of Dream Team because he’s a defensive midfielder who consistently provides healthy returns.
Generally speaking, deep-lying playmakers or tough-tackling anchors do a lot of the dirty work that doesn’t translate to points in the same direct manner as goal involvements.
Rodri has bucked that trend for three seasons on the bounce now thanks to impressive match ratings and a penchant for the odd goal.
He’s actually the best-performing asset of the current Game Week at the time of writing having taken Aston Villa and Arsenal for 16 points.
Casemiro
Safe hands

Manchester United
£3.5m
95 points

Like London buses, you wait an age for a defensive midfielder who produces loads of points and then two come along at once.
The five-time Champions League winner has made a world of difference to Man United and while his experience and industry are intangible factors, it’s his nine goal involvements that have endeared him to Dream Team bosses.
Casemiro is the ninth-best asset in his position right now despite his recent red card.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
A surprising package

Tottenham
£3.6m
96 points

Another combative midfielder… what is going on this season?
It’s a similar story here as Spurs’ No5 have contributed five goals and five assists so far this term, more than would have been expected of him given his role within the squad.
You would have got long odds on Hojbjerg being his side’s next-best performer after Harry Kane (£8.2m) this campaign but that’s the reality of it after 22 Game Weeks.
Miguel Almiron
Where did Almiron’s form come from?Credit: GETTY

Newcastle
£3.4m
99 points

A surprise package here not because of his specific position – backing wingers is usually a wise move – but because of his unanticipated new lease on life.
The 29-year-old has scored more Premier League goals (ten) in 2022/23 than he managed in his previous four seasons combined!
Almiron is one of just seven players into double figures for league goals and the other six are all categorised as forwards.
Martin Odegaard
The Gunners’ skipperCredit: GETTY

Arsenal
£3.2m
104 points

In terms of pure value for money, there aren’t many Dream Team assets who can hold a candle to Arsenal’s captain this season.
Odegaard’s playmaking is his great strength but he’s developed a keen eye for goal since his move to these shores – he has eight league goals from 21 outings this term.
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Add in five assists and the same number of Star Man awards and it’s no wonder the Norwegian’s ownership is up to 37.9%.
The Gunners’ No8 is the fifth-best midfielder overall but, taking price into account, he’s arguably been the most valuable asset in his position to date. More

LET’S preface this article with a simple statement: Kevin De Bruyne (£6.7m) is one of the best midfielders of his generation and one of the greatest players to ever grace the Premier League.It’s because of this reputation that Dream Team gaffers hold the Belgian to an immensely high standard.
All things considered, he is living up to lofty expectations this season having banked 135 points to date.
At the time of writing, Bruno Fernandes (£5.9m) is the only midfielder with a higher tally and his lead is a slender one at four points.
That being said, it can’t be denied that De Bruyne is enduring something of a lean spell of late.
Stick or twist?
He’s mustered 12 points in eight outings since the start of Game Week 16 – Manchester City have played ten fixtures in that time frame.
During this time, he’s averaged 1.5 points-per-game which is represents a significant drop-off from his healthy season average of 4.8.
The 31-year-old has provided two assists during this relatively barren patch so it’s not like his owners have been totally starved of goal involvements but, given his price, his recent returns are a cause for concern.
Contrast De Bruyne’s form with the aforementioned Fernandes and Riyad Mahrez (£5.7m).
Man United’s Portuguese playmaker has earned a whopping 72 points since the start of Game Week 16 while City’s Algerian winger has added 70 points to his total.
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Any Dream Team gaffers that replaced De Bruyne with either of these options last month would have been rewarded with massive gains.
Things haven’t gone De Bruyne’s way in recent weeks from a Dream Team perspectiveCredit: GETTY
It’s only natural that De Bruyne’s backers will now be debating the best course of action going forward.
A decent showing from the strawberry-blonde creator in tonight’s mouthwatering top-of-the-table clash at the Emirates between Pep Guardiola’s men and Arsenal would likely take him back to the top of the midfield rankings.
And history is on De Bruyne’s side – he’s rarely kept quiet for long.
His tally of 16 assists in all competitions so far in 2022/23 would be freakish for most players but it’s what fans have come to expect from a player whose crossing and eye for a killer pass is unparalleled.
He’s only scored three goals this season which represents a decline from last term when he scored 19, his best-ever campaign in that regard.
However, only Kieran Trippier (£6.6m) has earned more Star Man awards (seven) than De Bruyne’s six.
This conundrum is affecting 45.5% of Dream Team managers – only Trippier and Erling Haaland (£8.8m) are more popular currently.
Cue a classic De Bruyne masterclass this evening… More

IT would be naive to downplay the significance of tonight’s top-of-the-table Premier League clash.Having played one game fewer than Manchester City, Arsenal are currently three points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side but defeat this evening would drop them down to second on goal difference.
The safety net of a game in hand means the Gunners’ fate will remain in their hands as long as they avoid a total thrashing but there’s no telling how a loss to their title rivals, and subsequent fall to second, would impact them psychologically.
Conversely, victory would likely provide a massive morale boost that may be enough to carry them over the line throughout the final third of the campaign.
Should the Citizens lose, they may well feel the Premier League is something of a lost cause and focus their attention entirely on their quest for European glory.
A pivotal showdown
Such decisive fixtures invariably provoke a torrent of combined XIs and we too shall oblige but only on the condition that we use this season’s Dream Team points to solely determine the selected players.
GOALKEEPER: Aaron Ramsdale (£4m)
Arsenal’s custodian edges out Ederson (£4.4m) by three points.
The England international’s overall total of 69 is bettered by five other assets in his position but Man City’s No1 is not among them.
Goals have flowed freely for the top two teams but clean sheets have been harder to come by then many would expect.
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Ramsdale narrowly edges out Ederson in the Dream Team rankings ahead of tonight’s gameCredit: GETTY
DEFENDERS: Ben White (£4.5m), Gabriel (£4m), Nathan Ake (£4.1m)
Neatly, this back three would function very well should they ever combine in reality.
Both White and Ake have played the majority of their minutes at full-back this season (right and left respectively) but are centre-backs by trade.
The former is four points off a century, something achieved by just eight defenders at this stage, while the latter sits on 76, one ahead of Ruben Dias (£5.9m), though the Portugal international boasts a superior points-per-game average.
Gabriel reigns supreme at the back among these teams with 101 points to his name.
It’s worth noting that Joao Cancelo would have been included in this XI had he not left the Etihad to join Bayern Munich on loan – he amassed 99 points before his unceremonious January exit.
MIDFIELDERS: Riyad Mahrez (£5.7m), Kevin De Bruyne (£6.7m), Martin Odegaard (£3.2m), Bukayo Saka (£4.2m)
The exuberance of youthCredit: GETTY
The real-world viability of this team takes a hit here but who cares, this is Dream Team and it’s an incredible quartet!
Bruno Fernandes (£5.9m) is king among midfielders right now but these four names make up the rest of the top five as the only other centurions.

De Bruyne – 135 points
Mahrez – 113 points
Saka – 108 points
Odegaard – 104 points

City’s brilliant Belgian has endured something of a lean streak of late (by his standards) but 16 assists in all competitions is a formidable tally at this stage of the season.
As for the Algerian winger, he’s been on a tear of late, posting 70 points across the last seven Game Weeks.
Arsenal’s captain has scored eight goals and provided five assists in 20 league appearances so far while the Gunners’ homegrown No7 has 16 goal involvements in all competitions.
Phil Foden (£4.7m) is unlucky to miss out here given that he’s Dream Team’s seventh-best midfielder at the time of writing with 96 points to his name.
FORWARDS: Erling Haaland (£8.8m), Gabriel Jesus (£5.3m), Gabriel Martinelli (£3.2m)
InevitableCredit: GETTY
Norway’s apex predator is the first name on the team sheet in this hypothetical exercise.
With 31 goals under his belt already, it’s not inconceivable that Haaland may reach 50 before the end of term; hence his obscene Dream Team points tally of 261, which is 55 better off than that of his nearest rival among assets from all teams.
Jesus makes the cut despite his lengthy injury lay-off having plundered 88 points before the World Cup break.
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His team-mate and compatriot Martinelli is three points further back having endured something of a slump in recent weeks.
However, the 21-year-old’s contribution of seven goals and two assists has helped put Mikel Arteta’s side in pole position. More