The week in Fantasy Premier League: 'Ibraguero', The Pogba Effect and the curious case of Vincent Janssen

The transfer window merry-go-round can have wider consequences for your Fantasy Premier League team than you think, writes Ken Rooney.

As players continue to come and go, Premier League line-ups remain in flux - which means more headaches for long-suffering fantasy managers.

The Steady Eddies will look to quietly build their team value, seeking the safe harbour of proven club stalwarts as they wait for the dust to settle. The gamblers among us will be going with their gut, looking to be the first to grab the Next Big Thing before everyone else.

The Vincent Janssen conundrum

Much of the chatter among the FPL community this week has centred around one of Tottenham’s new recruits - Vincent Janssen.

With five shots inside the box, he’s showing plenty of promise, but that's not what's occupying the minds of FPl veterans. It’s the effect his presence is having on his teammates that has us mulling a Spurs clearout.

Since Janssen’s arrival, recent FPL darlings like Kane, Alli and Eriksen are now playing further away from goal, a potential death sentence for their once explosive FPL returns.

The return of Mousa Dembélé in GW5 will reveal a lot, but for now, Spurs attackers are struggling to justify their lofty pricetags.

The Pogba Effect

Then we have the situation of Paul Pogba at Man United. Some 15% of FPL players worldwide have already drafted him in – an amazing figure considering he was suspended for United’s opening fixture.

The €110m man looked lively against Southampton, registering four shots (three inside the box) and nine successful dribbles - but delve a little deeper and you’ll find his impact on his teammates is far more interesting.

Wayne Rooney played in a more withdrawn role than United’s opener against Bournemouth, while the average position of Luke Shaw jumped forward dramatically, bolstering his case to be our go-to attacking defender this season.

With Pogba on the pitch, Zlatan seemingly now stands alone as United’s most advanced striker – offering yet more comfort to those who gambled on the big Swede from the get-go.

"Next time you pass!" 👀

https://t.co/bPf93fucef

— Uber Football Facts (@UberFootbalI) August 19, 2016

Do you Ibraguero?

We’re just two games in, but already the league is already dividing into two camps  - those who have ‘Ibraguero’ (Ibrahimovic and Aguero) and those who don’t.

If these two stay fit and firing, the destiny of many a mini-league title may rest on who dumps one of this expensive duo first - or last!

For now at least, it’s time to decide which tribe you belong to.

If you’re going Ibraguero you’re sure to keep in touch with a huge portion of players, hoping to eventually overtake them with some canny mid-price transfers elsewhere.

55% of the top 1000 own both https://t.co/Sjef3leNTb

— Fantasy Football Fix (@FantasyFootyFix) August 20, 2016

If you decide to shun one, or even both (you mad thing!) then you can channel your inner Harry Redknapp, transferring to your heart’s content, gleefully jumping on whatever bandwagon takes your fancy - before watching City and/or United matches from behind the couch.

25.6% own neither Aguero or Zlatan https://t.co/rJySEwd3dz

— Fantasy Football Fix (@FantasyFootyFix) August 20, 2016

Quick Tip

Keep an eye on Daryl Janmaat (WAT 5.0), particularly from GW6 on. Watford’s new recruit was an assist machine at Newcastle - who knows, he might even get you a clean sheet or two now that he's part of a less comedic defence.

Daryl Jamaat has assisted more goals in the Premier League than any other defender since his debut in August 2014 #FPL

— Fantasy Football Secrets 🤫 (@FPLSecrets) August 24, 2016

BUY

Ross Barkley (EVE, 7.7m): In the first half of the season, it seemed that he was lucky to score the points he did. This time, he’s looking unlucky not to score more. Koeman has shown trust him and it looks like it’s paying off.

TRY

Andros Townsend (CRY, 6.5m): Fantasy managers don’t need Gordon Gekko to tell them “greed is good”. The former Newcastle man is taking every reasonable opportunity to have a pop at goal (and a few unreasonable ones too) with eight shots so far. Surely they’ll go in at some stage.

GOODBYE

Juan Carlos Paredes (WAT, 4.0m): 15% are keeping the faith, but this is not the £4.0m defender you're looking for...

Top of the League

Early days of course, but already Gerard Hogan is setting the pace as he retains his spot at the summit of the Official Irish Examiner League (join code: 251768-521616). His forward line did the business, and he even had the luxury of banking his free transfer. Catch him if you can.