Fantasy Football

THIS may come as a surprise, actually it won’t because you’ve already read the headline, no player has earned more bonus points from match ratings than Bruno Fernandes (£5.3m) this season.Manchester United’s midfield talisman registered his 18th rating of 7+ in Saturday’s Manchester derby.
His controversial goal (anyone else exhausted from all the talk of interference?) was the first of a quickfire double that saw the Red Devils come from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1.
Kieran Trippier (£6.2m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£7.6m) also have 18 7+ ratings to their name this term but Dream Team bosses would probably have guessed as much.
Newcastle’s vice-captain is by far and away the game’s best defender while the Belgian creator is king among midfielders at this stage.
That Fernandes rivals this pair in the eyes of our ratings providers, WhoScored, is somewhat unexpected because it wasn’t that long ago the Portuguese playmaker was subjected to frequent criticism.
Fernandes is collecting 7+ ratings for funCredit: getty
In truth, he has been a victim of his own success at times.
Last season, he scored ten goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions – a haul of goal involvements that is more than respectable for a player in his position.
Nevertheless, some fans felt this return represented a significant drop-off from his outrageous debut campaign in Man United colours – 28 goals and 17 assists in 2020/21!
It’s probably fairer to reflect upon that season as a Herculean effort rather than the norm.
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Some criticisms levelled at Fernandes in the last year have been valid though, his passionate nature on the pitch often transfers to petulance and when things aren’t clicking for him he gives the ball away with frustrating regularity.
But ever since Erik ten Hag steadied the ship after an initial wobble, United’s No8 has been increasingly influential.
Man United’s results have been impressive in recent monthsCredit: getty
Four goals and five assists represents a decent return at this stage without causing any jaws to drop but it’s the way he has adapted to the new regime that has led to a flurry of positive match ratings.
In fact, he’s produced nine consecutive 7+ ratings at club level, a streak that extends to 14 games if his World Cup appearances are factored in – Dream Team World Cup managers will remember his plentiful returns in Qatar.
Ten Hag has improved Man United considerably in a relatively short space of time and Fernandes’ uplift in form has one been one of several successes for the Dutch tactician.
With 89 points to his name, the 28-year-old is Dream Team’s fifth-best midfielder at the time of writing and yet he’s half as popular as the man three points behind him, Miguel Almiron (£3.4m), although of course the Newcastle winger has offered incredible value for money.
Fernandes may not be the unstoppable machine he was in 2020/21 but Dream Team gaffers would be foolish to disregard him entirely, his quietly going about his business very well. More

YOU would be forgiven for forgetting that Newcastle signed a £63million striker in the summer. Alexander Isak (£3.4m) was restricted to just 244 minutes of playing time for his new club prior to the World Cup break because of a hamstring injury he incurred while on international duty in September.
The Sweden forward would have been noticeably absent had the Magpies struggled in the months since but, on the contrary, they currently reside third in the Premier League table.
Callum Wilson (£3.9m) and Chris Wood (£2.1m) have shared centre-forward duties between them with the former impressively averaging a goal involvement every 108.8 minutes in the top flight this term.
Wilson has performed well again this season
More broadly, Miguel Almiron’s (£3.4m) purple patch has meant there hasn’t been much talk of a need for more attacking threat.
But of course Eddie Howe would have delighted to be able to call upon Isak again this month.
The 23-year-old got some minutes under his belt against Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester in Game Week 17 and this weekend he reminded fans and Dream Team gaffers alike of his presence when he came off the bench to score Newcastle’s winner against Fulham.
The goal itself was the simplest of tasks, a point-blank header with no goalkeeper to beat, but the magnitude of it should not be underestimated.
Howe’s side are now just one point behind Manchester City and have realistic hopes of Champions League qualification having still only lost one league game in 2022/23.
Isak’s goal was also a wake-up call for Dream Team managers who may have forgotten that the the former Real Sociedad striker scored two goals in three outings before his injury.
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It’s a small size granted, but the Toon’s No14 is averaging a goal every 87.7 minutes in the Premier League since his big-money transfer.
Those numbers, while probably unsustainable, certainly warrant consideration at the very least.
The £63million manCredit: getty
Saying that, patience remains a virtue, it’s not yet clear whether Isak is fully match fit or where he resides in the pecking order at St James’ Park.
Surely the long-term plan is for Isak to be the first-choice striker but it would be understandable if Howe stuck by Wilson for foreseeable future – the England international has always played his best football under the former Bournemouth tactician.
What’s clear is that Newcastle are a team to keep backing in the realm of Dream Team and their upcoming fixtures reinforce the validity of that idea.
They face Crystal Palace next Saturday before two Carabao Cup semi-final legs against Southampton, then West Ham and Bournemouth – two teams at the foot of the table. More

BRIGHTON fans would have been quick to notice that Graham Potter’s Chelsea, with their seemingly endless supply of cash for new transfers, are currently three places below the Seagulls in the table.Roberto De Zerbi’s first game as a manager on English shores was the enthralling 3-3 draw with Liverpool back in October, in which Leandro Trossard (£4.3m) scored a hat-trick.
It’s a measure of the Italian’s progression on the south coast that his most recent game was the reverse fixture with Brighton beating Jurgen Klopp’s side 3-0 on Saturday – and the Belgium international who ran riot at Anfield was nowhere to be seen having fallen out with De Zerbi.
Instead, it was Solly March (£2.3m) who played the role of Liverpool’s tormentor.
Whereas Trossard evidently doesn’t see eye to eye with the ex-Sassuolo tactician, Brighton’s No7 is thriving under the new regime.
Man of the momentCredit: getty
March scored two goals in the space of six minutes at the start of the second half to put his side firmly in the ascendancy against Liverpool before providing the assist for Danny Welbeck’s (£2.8m) cherry-on-top.
The 28-year-old’s performance continues a rare purple patch in terms of attacking returns – he’s now registered four goals and three assists in his last five games.
And from a Dream Team perspective, this fruitful run has also produced three Star Man awards.
All things considered, March has added 52 points to his tally over the last four Game Weeks, making him one of the most in-form players since the restart.
Bearing in mind he mustered just 17 points from the first 14 Game Weeks of the season, this dramatic uplift has caught Dream Team gaffers unaware.
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At the time of writing, March appears in just 0.5% of teams but his ownership will surely rise after his eye-catching 20-point haul against Liverpool.
Brighton have scored six goals in two games against Liverpool this seasonCredit: getty
March has fulfilled several different roles during his decade on the south coast but Premier League viewers will have seen him play predominantly as a left wing-back under Potter.
Right now, De Zerbi is deploying him as a right winger with unexpectedly profitable results.
More broadly, De Zerbi deserves huge credit for answering the one criticism of Brighton in recent years.
Potter’s reign on the south coast was mightily impressive but supporters were often frustrated at their team’s inability to convert possession and territory into goals.
Under De Zerbi, Brighton are averaging 2.13 goals per game – that figure increases to 2.83 when considering just the games since the conclusion of the World Cup.
Sure, they don’t keep as many clean sheets as they used to but they’re bold and dynamic.
More importantly, the Seagulls continue to punch above their weight in the league table – they’re currently one point behind sixth-placed Fulham with two games in hand.
Taken to English football like a duck to water
Just a few weeks ago it would have been unthinkable that De Zerbi could discard a player of Trossard’s ability and not see negative repercussions on the pitch but the performances and the results speak for themselves.
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If the players continue to share the coach’s vision and play to his instructions as closely as March is currently then the club will have a great chance of qualifying for European football for the first time in their history.
Dream Team bosses would do well to take note of March’s returns at the very least, he’s comfortably the cheapest asset currently residing within the top 20 midfielders. More

GAME WEEK 18 promises to be another intriguing one in the Dream Team calendar.Seven teams are set to pull double duty which creates the possibilities of some imbalances that smart gaffers could harness in their favour.
We’ve identified three players with every chance of producing plentiful points in the coming days.
Mohamed Salah (£8.8m)
Business as usual
Okay, so this suggestion is about as mainstream as it gets but with so many viable forward options right now it’s worth serious consideration.
Liverpool’s No11 hasn’t been the subject of as many headlines as usual this season, partly because the Reds’ form as a whole has been inconsistent, but you’d be a fool to underestimate him.
His goal against Wolves in Game Week 17 was his 16th of the campaign in all competitions and runaway leader Erling Haaland (£8.8m) is the only player in his position with more points – the Egyptian has 149 to his name.
This coming Game Week, Salah faces Brighton, who are just one point behind Jurgen Klopp’s side, and while the Seagulls are no mugs they’ve kept just two clean sheets in their last 15 games, one of which was against Charlton in the Carabao Cup.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side give up their fair share of chances and so if Salah has his shooting boots on then he could be in for an enjoyable afternoon on Saturday – these two sides played out a 3-3 at Anfield.
The 30-year-old should also feature against Julen Lopetegui’s side in the FA Cup replay on Tuesday – given their league position, the competition looks to be Liverpool’s best chance of a trophy this season and so Klopp is expected to name a strong XI.
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It’s probably best to stay clear of Liverpool defenders right now but Salah remains a strong option.
Rodrigo (£4m)
One of five players into double figures for Premier League goals this seasonCredit: getty
A niche recommendation here as the Spaniard currently features in just 1.8% of teams.
Having previously been a Dream Team asset to ignore, the Leeds forward has forced himself into contention with 11 goals in 16 outings this season.
The Whites travel to Villa Park this evening before hosting Cardiff for an FA Cup replay on Wednesday night.
It’s entirely possible Jesse Marsch will rotate his squad in midweek but Rodrigo had to come off the bench to help force a draw in Wales so he may be deployed to guard against an embarrassing upset.
The ex-Valencia man averages more points-per-game than Gabriel Martinelli (£3.6m) and Darwin Nunez (£5.5m) this term and he will feel confident of extending his good form in the coming weeks given Leeds’ relatively favourable fixtures.
A goal and a Star Man award in a few hours’ time would propel him up to seventh in the Dream Team rankings among forwards.
Marcus Rashford (£5.4m)
Ready for the Manchester derbyCredit: getty
Dream Team’s most in-form player also pulls double duty in Game Week 18.
Granted, a meeting with Man City Saturday lunchtime represents a testing match-up but Erik ten Hag’s side are in better shape to face their local rivals now than when they lost 6-3 at the Etihad at the start of October.
Plus, Pep Guardiola has promised to do something weird tactically which should encourage the Red Devils’ No10.
Rashford averages a goal involvement every 169.4 minutes against City which is a decent record given how strong the Citizens have been in recent years.
The England international has added a whopping 61 points to his total since returning from the World Cup, scoring in six consecutive matches.

Then in midweek, Rashford will be unleashed upon Crystal Palace, who have lost three of their four games since the restart.
Bruno Fernandes (£5.3m) may also be worth whirl, he’s quietly accumulated 36 points over the last five Game Weeks. More

IT’S a strong start for Dream Team gaffer Toby Hemming in his quest to win a PlayStation 5 via January’s Monthly competition.His XI ‘Last Minute’ racked up 122 points in Game Week 17, more than any other active team.
There’s still a way to go before the PS5 is claimed but let’s take a closer look at Toby put himself in pole position in the last week.
An eclectic bunch!
As you can see, Toby thought outside the box and that all started with Fulham’s second-choice goalkeeper Marek Rodak (£1.4m), who returned eight points from a rare run out against Hull in the FA Cup.
Tailoring your XI to a specific Game Week in hope of earning mega gains is a perfectly viable tactic and Toby has pulled it off superbly here.
Although there’s nothing funky about an all-Newcastle defence given the Magpies boast the best defensive record in the Premier League this season.
Saying that, Eddie Howe’s men suffered a shock defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the cup but normal service was resumed when the first-choice XI was reunited for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester in midweek.
Toby actually missed out on Dan Burn’s (£4.3m) goal against the Foxes but his other Toon defenders combined for 18 points in Game Week 17.
Rarely spotted in the wildCredit: getty
Bruno Guimaraes (£3.6m) enjoyed his third-best Game Week of the campaign, registering 11 points.
The Brazilian midfielder scored Newcastle’s consolation goal against the Owls and made it back-to-back 7+ ratings with an assured display against the Foxes.
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Backing the right Man City midfielders is no simple task due to Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy but Toby got it spot on this past week as Riyad Mahrez (£5.5m) and Phil Foden (£5m) combined for 28 points.
The Algerian winger scored a brace in his side’s 4-0 win over Chelsea, an effort that earned him the Star Man award, while the England youngster scored one of his own and was credited with an assist for winning one of the converted penalties.
Toby would have expected further returns from the Citizens but they were upset by Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
It has to be said that Antony’s (£3.8m) inclusion proved to be a masterstroke.
The Brazilian has blown hot and cold in Man United colours since his big-money move from Ajax but he scored the opening goal in both the Red Devils’s cup games (Everton, Charlton) in Game Week 17 for a 16-point return.
Antony’s best week in a Man United short yetCredit: getty
Up top, it was a rare fallow week for Erling Haaland (£8.8m) but his ownership is so high (74.1%) that it almost doesn’t matter how many points he gets as pretty much every gaffer chasing glory has him in their team.
In contrast, Marcus Rashford (£5.4m) filled his boots with three goals and an assist across his two fixtures for a 28-point haul.
Old Trafford’s No10 has banked a whopping 61 points since returning from the World Cup – he’s Dream Team’s most in-form asset!
Last but not least, Mohamed Salah (£8.8m) scored his 16th goal of the season in Liverpool’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Wolves for a eight-point return.

There have been fewer headlines written about the Egyptian this term but he’s amassed 149 points to date – a legendary Dream Team asset.
Excellent work, Toby, good luck to you and all gaffers ahead of Game Week 18. More

TODD BOEHLY hasn’t been slow to open his chequebook since becoming co-owner of Chelsea.Having forked out significant fees for the likes of Wesley Fofana, Raheem Sterling, Marc Cucurella, Kalidou Koulbaly and others, the American businessman has now authorised a £9million outlay to acquire Joao Felix’s services for just five months.
The Blues’ confirmed the arrival of the Portugal international on loan from Atletico Madrid yesterday and Dream Team gaffers can now recruit him for £4million if they so desire.
Felix’s natural talent is undeniable but the move has prompted those who were already sceptical of Boehly’s transfer strategy to double their concerns.
New blueCredit: getty
At present, it’s a dysfunctional midfield and the absence of a sharp No9 that seem to be hindering Graham Potter’s side.
Felix, while an exciting addition, doesn’t really address either of those problems.
The 23-year-old plays best as a second striker where he can work off a dynamic No9 and exhibit his playmaking as well as his eye for goal.
This was evidenced recently on the grandest stage of them when he was one of Portugal’s better players in Qatar, particularly when he combined with Goncalo Ramos.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looking lethargic, Chelsea don’t have a specialist in-form striker for Felix to bounce off from the get-go.
In fact, the Portuguese forward likes to operate in the same areas as those preferred by Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic – granted the latter pair are nursing injuries but the point is Felix is not somebody who can come in and plug a hole.
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While we’re on the subject, it’s worth noting that Christopher Nkunku, bound for Stamford Bridge in the summer, is also more of a second striker than an out-and-out front man.
Of course, the nature of Felix’s profile and role is a separate conversation to one regarding his potential to have a positive impact.
If he comes in and proves to be more inventive and creative than his positional arrivals then he will surely improve the Blues’ performances.
Felix played well in Qatar before Portugal’s surprise defeat to Morocco
Truth be told, Felix’s play style jars with Diego Simeone’s approach and four years on from his big-money transfer from Benfica it’s probably fair to say that Atletico has been a bad fit for him – half his La Liga appearances this term have come as a substitute.
He’s a forward who values freedom, expressionism and unpredictability while Atleti’s grizzled coach believes in hard work, identifiable structures, and plenty of dark arts.
Simeone’s approach has been justified many times over – he delivered a league title as recently as 2020/21 – but there can’t have been many attack-minded players who have enjoyed their football under his watch and there’s a sense that Felix hasn’t been utilised to his full potential..
In theory, Potter’s tactics should be more compatible with how the youngster sees the game, at least those we saw during his Brighton tenure.
The English tactician hasn’t yet implemented the same easy-on-the-eye approach in west London but he’s surely working towards a more aesthetic brand of possession – Felix will try unlock defences and won’t settle for many slow sideways passes.
Felix trained with Chelsea for the first time on WednesdayCredit: getty
Still, the Stamford Bridge faithful should be aware that their new recruit operates in the space between their two problem areas, though that’s not to say he’s an unnecessary luxury.
It will be interesting to see how Potter uses Felix, with Sterling sidelined it may be that the youngster is deployed from the left wing though he is not inclined to provide constant width.
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Or Felix may be thrust straight in as a centre-forward, a role he’s occupied plenty of times in the past, but he’s not a traditional penalty box poacher so Chelsea may run into similar issues they’ve experienced when Havertz has led the line.
Either way, Dream Team bosses would probably be wise to wait and see how Felix is integrated before making a decision but he’s one to monitor at the very least. More

HAVING looked totally bereft of confidence for almost the entirety of last season, Marcus Rashford (£5.1m) has rediscovered his best form with aplomb this campaign.In 2021/22, Manchester United’s No10 mustered just five goals in all competitions and a measly 38 Dream Team points.
This term, he’s already on 15 club goals and 143 Dream Team points.
Rashford is the third-best forward in Dream TeamCredit: getty
Game Week 17 was Rashford’s best of 2022/23 so far as he took Everton and Charlton for a combined 28 points.
He scored one and assisted another as the Red Devils swept aside the Toffees in the FA Cup third round on Friday night, claiming the Star Man award in the process, before he came off the bench to seal his side’s win over the Addicks in the Carabao Cup quarter-final with a late brace on Tuesday night.
The 25-year-old has scored in six consecutive games since the resumption of the domestic season following the World Cup in Qatar.
In fact, he’s scored seven goals and provided two assists in his last 426 minutes of action.
Since the restart, Rashford has plundered a mighty 61 Dream Team points, more than double that of Erling Haaland (£9m) in the same time frame.
Man of the moment
Manchester City’s prolific No9 has scored four goals in five outings since for a return of 30 points, a great effort, but it just goes to show how rampant Rashford has been over the festive period and into the new year.
There are plenty of enticing options up front for Dream Team gaffers to shuffle between right now.
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Haaland remains a mainstay while Harry Kane (£7.4m) continues on his merry way but Arsenal pair Gabriel Martinelli (£3.5m) and Eddie Nketiah (£2.6m) offer incredible value for money.
In-form goalscorers Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.4m) and Rodrigo (£3.8m) are more than viable too, but despite this stiff competition, Rashford has quickly become a must-have asset.
The remainder January brings two tough tests for Man United in the form of neighbours Man City and league leaders Arsenal (plus two more favourable match-ups against Crystal Palace and Reading) but the England international is too hot to ignore, whatever the schedule.
Rashford appears in 25% of teams
Erik ten Hag’s side have won eight games in a row in all competitions and have rallied to the point where they will feel confident of competing against the Premier League’s current top two – they beat the Gunners in September but were comprehensively outplayed in the last Manchester derby.
Both Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta will be wary of Rashford’s threat but whether they can nullify him is another matter entirely.
Dream Team bosses should be asking themselves if they can afford to go without Old Trafford’s homegrown hero – three quarters of gaffers are missing out at the time of writing. More