Only owned by 5% of fantasy managers despite 13 goals last season
New column for you this week. Was going to call it “Decisions, Decisions,” or “Either/Or” but went with the more dramatic “A Fantasy Manager’s Dilemma.”
Managers have dilemmas every week. Who to sit and who to start? Who to buy and who to sell? Who to captain? I may have loads of experience (7 years of playing the game) but I’m no different. Like you all, I’m correct with my decisions, sometimes, and I’m wrong other times, but the best feelings are when transfers ‘pay off,’ and the worst feelings are when they don’t pan out but the other player you were considering ends up bagging a brace…
Let’s take a look today at one dilemma that has been clawing at me all week. Should I draft in Rafael van der Vaart (9.8M) or Steven Gerrard (11M) into my fantasy side? Sure, every manager’s situation is unique (you may already own VDV or Gerrard, or perhaps you can’t afford them) but for the sake of the column, I’ll write from personal experience, as it’s all I’ve got.
I’ve got 11M+ to spend on a midfielder. I can’t afford Frank Lampard, so he’s out of the equation at 11.7M. I know the merits of David Silva, Nani, and Ashley Young – as I own two out of the three. I’m looking for a points-scoring, consistent, season long, Captain’s Armband worthy contributor. Thinking long term, as always. Malouda and Kuyt don’t play enough for my liking. Mata is superb but I already have Chelsea attacking exposure through Sturridge, so I’ve landed on Gerrard vs. VDV as my two potential Gameweek 9 acquisitions.
I’ve been leaning to Gerrard all week. He’s fit, back on free kicks and penalties, and his next three matches are a fantasy manager’s wet dream. Norwich, West Brom and Swansea. For the sake of the conversation, I don’t own Suarez (9.5M) though he’s a superb buy.
Gerrard’s positives are his short term schedule, 200+ point past fantasy seasons, and the fact that he is worthy of the Captain’s Armband at home in a Liverpool team that looks to be hitting their stride. His negatives? He costs 11M, he’s only played one match in the last six months and is 31 years old. Could he re-injure the groin? Will he be rested and rotated against weaker opposition to keep him fresh as Liverpool make a Top-4 run? Another positive is that he takes on Norwich at Anfield tomorrow – and Norwich have given up quite a few penalties this season. It’s emotional, not logical, but I “feel” a penalty earned by Suarez and converted by Gerrard. Immediate returns! I’ll look like a genius…
Gerrard’s price is so high that my fellow mini-league rivals may not be able to afford him, and owned by just 1.8% of managers, he becomes an instant ‘unique’ player that differentiates me from competition. All good… And my instinct says he scores against Norwich.
What about Van der Vaart? He’s only owned by 5% of fantasy managers and costs just 9.8M. His immediate list of fixtures is friendly, but not as friendly as Gerrard’s. He scored 13 league goals last year.
The good news? He’s cheaper than Gerrard and in form in the league. The bad news? Well, where should we start? Redknapp has played him on the right where he’s been less effective. Adebayor (8.5M) (like Suarez to Gerrard) is a cheaper alternative for Tottenham exposure who is also in form. Jermain Defoe threatens VDV’s playing time. And VDV is very injury prone and tends to miss the odd gameweek every month.
Van der Vaart also hasn’t completed a full 90 minutes since August. He’s been substituted in three straight matches. That’s pretty poor.
The good news? He’s not registered for the first stage of the Europa League so won’t be tired from midweek matches. He’s on penalties and free kicks, just like Gerrard.
It’s 50-50, then. Take a chance on VDV, the often injured star not guaranteed 90 minutes, and sometimes not even guaranteed a start with Defoe lurking? Or pay the extra 1.2M and go with an old reliable, guaranteed to bring in the points, but losing that extra chunk of change to improve the squad elsewhere?
For me, it’s a tough one. I had “Gerrard in” all week. But today, after seeing Defoe play the full 90 in the Europa League and fail to fire for Tottenham, I’ve moved my chips to the Dutchman. I’m “all in” VDV as a season long keeper and hope my managerial prowess will allow me to improve my squad with the extra 1.2M saved. I’m betting on myself when it comes to future transfers. I’m sad not to bring in Gerrard, and will be especially sad if he does the business tomorrow against Norwich, but over the entire season, VDV should produce at the same levels as Gerrard though both do suffer injuries from time to time.
Do you agree?
There you have it. There have been hundreds (if not thousands) of fantasy manager dilemmas on this blog over the years, so we may as well make it official with its own dedicated column.
Now let’s just hope VDV can put one or two past Blackburn…
Good luck to all fantasy managers this weekend.
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VDV for me. Gerrad is more prone to injury and more prone to rotation, plus Van Der Vart is a goal machine
yea man, i agree with u, get VDV, replace ur liverpool player with Suarez! improve ur team with the money left.
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