The man you all love to hate
Joey Barton has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this week – sending out tweets deemed insensitive in the wake of Gary Speed’s death but the 29-year old midfielder is our Funny Feeling Friday selection this weekend despite the off-the-field controversy.
Barton has only 1 goal this season (it came back in September) and is owned by just 6.8% of fantasy footie managers but, wearing the captain’s armband at QPR and still taking a good majority of the team’s set pieces, we can justify the selection as he costs just 5.9M…
Of course, striker Heidar Helguson at 5.2M (and owned by just 1% of managers) is probably a better selection, but he scored 3 goals in the month of November, so if you’re in the market for a “funny feeling” midfielder and not a striker, let’s look at the surprising selection – Barton.
We big-upped Barton on our blog last August – when he cost only 4.5M and was just beginning his 2010-2011 Premier League campaign with Newcastle. You laughed at us then, but we had the last laugh. Barton had a fantastic season – with 4 goals, 9 assists, and more importantly – 20 bonus points. Remember, fantasy football players on your team are just inventory to you – you don’t need to subscribe to their off the pitch lifestyle or views.
QPR take on West Brom in a mid-table clash, but I give the edge to the home side, even without their first choice GK Paddy Kenny – who is out injured. Barton and Helguson should have space to operate, and if SWP is fit, they should be able to score against a West Brom team that has kept just one clean sheet in their last 25 Premier League away games.
Sticking with the numbers, West Brom have won only three out of 30 Premier League away games in London.
I see goals in this one, then. A 0-0 isn’t on the cards. And I think Barton may just well be involved. Don’t support him on Twitter, that’s fine. But at 5.9M and home to WBA this weekend, he’s our Funny Feeling Friday. A goal, assist, and/or bonus points for the QPR Captain.
Good luck to all fantasy managers.
Related posts:
Barton is a solid shout this week, thought QPR missed him last week. Here are my top 5 budget buys for this gameweek, thoughts/feedback?
http://footballfollower.com/football-blog/budget-fantasy-football-players-premier-league-week-14/
QPR looked disjointed without him last Gameweek. I had him last season but with his price increase (and loss of assists to Carrol) he isn’t viable anymore.
Good luck feeling your way through this Friday.