The roundtable results - GW9

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Last week we went around the table to get expert analysis on the topical fantasy football issues of the week, but how did the experts’ advice fair?

READ MORE: Here’s Gameweek 9’s roundtable in full

Here’s a quick reminder of who was on the panel last week.

Yahoo Daily Fantasy UK: Yahoo offers tips and tricks for all fantasy formats and even offer the chance to win money playing football every week.

Fantasy Football Scout’s Jonty: Joe Lepper (aka Jonty) from FFScout is the community manager for the leading Fantasy Premier League presence online.

Who Got The Assist?: Nick and Tom produce a weekly pod and have a website celebrating the first question all managers ask when a goal goes in.

The Topics

Chelsea have kept only three clean sheets so far and they are missing Kante for the next few weeks, is it time to ditch their premium defenders?

Chelsea went down 2-1 to Watford at Stamford Bridge but they pulled it back to 4-2 with a brace from Michy Batshuayi and one of the Blue’s premium defenders- Cesar Azpilicueta. Marcos Alonso again failed to make an impact at either end of the pitch in Saturday’s early kick-off and was withdrawn after 68 mins. The Spanish wing-back failed to take a shot or create a chance.

Meanwhile Azpilicueta remained on the pitch and grabbed the vital third goal to take the Blues into the lead with just minutes remaining.

The Blues have conceded as many goals (6) in Kante’s two-game absence as they did in the first seven games.

N’Golo Kante is not expected back for another two weeks, with games against Bournemouth and Manchester Untied to come.

Winner: No clear winner

READ MORE: How to win money playing Yahoo Daily Fantasy

Spurs have won just one game in their last 10 away to the top six and Harry Kane is yet to score this year at home. Is it time to ditch him ahead of Liverpool (H), Manchester United (A) and Arsenal (A) in the next four?

Harry Kane scored twice and assisted another during Tottenham’s 4-1 thrashing of Liverpool. Liverpool’s defence was suspect for all four goals, but Kane capitalised on the mistakes as any good striker would do, and showed that he can score at Wembley in the league.

Manchester United away was always going to be the toughest test but Mourinho’s men stumbled against Huddersfield at the weekend so Spurs could not have found a better time to play them.

Winner: Yahoo and WGTA

Manchester United have been a fortress at the back with seven clean sheets in eight games. Is it time to double up on United defensive assets?

Manchester United had not conceded in their last four games and Huddersfield has failed to score in a month of football. So of course this would be the game for the Terriers to tear up the form books and send United packing back home with nothing.

Phil Jones went off after just 23 minutes and was replaced with the hapless Victor Lindelof who was arguably at fault for both goals. That will be the last we see of the Swede in the league this year. United face Spurs and Chelsea in their next three games. Maybe double United defence is too much Red for now.

Winner: No-one.

READ MORE: Time to double up on United defensive assets?

Given the fixtures what do you see as the best formation to play this game week?

Popular premium defenders such as Alonso, Sead Kolasinac and Ben Davies all blanked this week. However, their cheaper counterparts Nacho Monreal, Azpilicueta and Kieran Trippier were all involved in goals. Their teams may have all conceded but premium defenders are still getting returns, just not the most popular ones.

Winner: No clear winner.

Which big players are at risk of rotation?

Pep Guardiola duly delivered on most fantasy managers’ fears, benching Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling. Everyone knew one of Manchester City’s attackers had to miss out with the return of Sergio Aguero and most banked on it being Leroy Sane, as Sterling and Jesus were withdrawn early in the midweek Champions League game.

Winner: Everyone mentioned Manchester City unsurprisingly.

READ MORE: Treble City too much?

Who is the must have player this week?

The must-have player in Gameweek 9 was Harry Kane, the highest scoring player on all fantasy football formats with his brace and assist. Raheem Sterling was backed twice by the experts but he didn’t move from the bench. Jonty backed Lukaku at Huddersfield, who made United’s only goal.

Winner: Jonty

Which player should everyone be keeping an eye on over the next few games?

It’s a bit too early to call this but all three suggestions, Anthony Martial, Wilfried Zaha and Tamm Abraham blanked struggled to make any impact in their respective games.

Winner: Too early to call.

READ MORE: Zaha one to watch in the next month?

Which player will eat the poisoned pre match lasagne this week (deliver a flop performance)?

The biggest flop of the week was the City pair of Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling. The Brazilian started from the bench and had no returns while the Englishman didn’t feature at all. In terms of the expert’s answers: Chelsea lost their cleansheet early, Kane was the highest scoring player of the week and Eden Hazard picked up an assist.

Winner: Yahoo

Who is the best Gameweek captain choice?

The best captain of the week was undeniably Harry Kane. Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sanchez were close with a goal and an assist each in their 5-2 victory over Everton. Nicolas Otamendi completed the holy trinity of defender actions against Bunrley, with a goal, a clean sheet and three bonus points to make him the second highest Fantasy Premier League player of Gameweek 9. The panel twice selected Lukaku who got an assist and once selected Sterling, who didn’t feature.

Winner: Jonty and WGTA for Lukaku pick.

READ MORE: What is Yahoo Daily Fantasy and how do I win money playing fantasy football?

Looking at the fixtures which teams are nailed on for a clean sheet?

Brighton, Manchester City, Newcastle and Southampton were the only teams with shutouts this week. Yahoo got two out of three but was the only panelist to give three teams. But I’m going to give myself the win for this regardless because it’s close.

Winner: Yahoo

Which alcoholic beverage would you recommend to see you through Gameweek 9?

What a stressful Gameweek. Manchester United got turned over by the Terriers. Pep rested the ‘wrong’ players. Arsenal finally started firing with Sanchez, Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette featuring together for the first time. And Kane finally broke his Wembley duck, not once but twice against Liverpool. A Belgian beer was definitely needed to keep up with all that.

Winner: Jonty

Gameweek 9 Winner

Yahoo Daily Fantasy UK: 4

Fantasy Football Scout’s Jonty: 4

Who Got The Assist?: 3

Congratulations to myself and Jonty who pulled away in the final two questions with some debatable awarding of points. Better luck next time Tom and Nick from Who Got the Assist!