After an up-and-down season last year, are you at all surprised that we returned with average results with our first offering of Fantasy Football advice for this season?
We got it right by advising you to select Dimitri Payet, who continues to look an impressive signing at West Ham United, and Yaya Toure, but Graziano Pelle let us down for a clean sweep by failing to net against Everton. We made the correct call with West Bromwich Albion's James Chester, though, after he was dropped to the bench for their game with Watford.
Below is Sports Mole's offering for week three of the new Premier League season as we look to improve on our indifferent start.
Who to pick
1. Wayne Rooney
After hardly touching the ball in Aston Villa's penalty area last Friday, the use of Wayne Rooney in the number nine role was questioned by the club's supporters, while manager Louis van Gaal was interrogated by the media regarding the issue, something which he didn't appreciate. However, Rooney produced a better display in Manchester United's victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League and he doesn't look in danger of being dropped anytime soon. Newcastle United are the visitors to Old Trafford on Saturday, a team who look susceptible to conceding goals, and Rooney, who hasn't scored in his last nine games for United, could take the opportunity to break his barren spell in front of goal.
2. Bafetimbi Gomis
During the opening six months of his stay at Swansea City, Bafetimbi Gomis was well and truly in the shadow of Wilfried Bony and an exit from the club looked likely. However, since Bony's departure, Gomis has proved to be a revelation, scoring five goals during the run-in to help Swansea to eighth place, as well as netting in the club's opening two games of this season. The Frenchman is showing the form that made him a household name in French football, and after already striking up an effective partnership with Andre Ayew, it is difficult to see him not scoring at struggling Sunderland. Confidence in their defence looks at an all-time low, and Gomis will be looking to extend his current streak of seven goals in eight games even further.
3. Pedro
New arrivals to the Premier League are normally given time to find their feet, but with Chelsea only recording one point from two games, that is unlikely to be the case for Pedro. The Stamford Bridge outfit are in need of a boost at both ends of the pitch and the Spaniard could see himself quickly introduced to first-team action by Jose Mourinho. It shouldn't be a major problem for the 28-year-old, who has already played a handful of games for Barcelona this season, and he is no stranger to playing British sides in the Champions League. West Bromwich Albion may look to take the physical approach to stop him having too much of an impact at The Hawthorns, but they will be hard pressed to stop a player who has spent all of his career playing at Camp Nou.
Who to avoid
1. Harry Kane
After scoring 31 goals in all competitions last season, Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane would have been the first name on the team sheet for a lot of fantasy football managers, but so far, the England frontman has failed to hit the heights of last season. It is hardly a surprise after he played 51 games for Spurs and several others for his country during that time, and without a full pre-season behind him, he has looked sluggish. That won't last for long, but it isn't the ideal situation for Kane or Spurs ahead of a trip to a rampant Leicester side looking to win their fifth successive home game. Kane should have his moments against a team who looked better equipped in attack rather than defence, but it is questionable whether he is sharp enough to act when presented with an opportunity in the box.
2. Micah Richards
After being handed the captain's armband at Aston Villa and his place in the team seemingly being guaranteed, Micah Richards has become an attractive option for fantasy football managers, but despite Villa only conceding one goal in their first two games, we believe that he should be left out of your teams this weekend. Villa make the trip to London to face Crystal Palace, and given their speed and power in attack, Tim Sherwood's defence could find themselves in for a tough afternoon at Selhurst Park. To their credit, the only goal that they have shipped so far has been a deflected effort against Manchester United, but Palace will rack up the majority of their points in front of their home fans this season, and we think that will be the case on Saturday.
3. Xherdan Shaqiri
Stoke City supporters are probably still in disbelief having managed to secure the signature of former Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri from Inter Milan for a club-record fee, but despite manager Mark Hughes pulling off the biggest transfer in the Potters' history, it doesn't mean that he will start this weekend. The Swiss was suspended for Stoke's 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur and the manner in which they ended that game leaves Hughes unlikely to drop players who impressed at White Hart Lane. Shaqiri will likely feature off the bench against Norwich City but he will have limited time to pick up any points for your team.
