Best picks from Newcastle for Double Gameweek 33
Newcastle play twice in Double Gameweek 33. So let’s assess their best FPL options ahead of matches against Leicester and Crystal Palace.
Friday night’s gritty 1-0 win over Wolves pushed Newcastle a step closer to Premier League survival. Their nine-game unbeaten run had ended with undeserved defeats to Chelsea and Everton but Gameweek 31’s 5-1 hammering at Spurs could have fuelled a bad run.
So it was vital that their good form was quickly resurrected, with the bonus of a clean sheet. That’s why – for the first time this season – most of the FPL community seems interested in Newcastle assets.
According to the Fantasy Football Scout’s Fixture Ticker, the Magpies have the strongest set of fixtures up next.
Underlying Stats
Their big improvement has been in defence. With just one clean sheet up until Gameweek 22, the January arrivals of Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Matt Targett quickly added stability to Eddie Howe’s back line. Four clean sheets have arrived in the 11 games since, with the capitulation at Spurs the only occasion where more than one goal was conceded.
As you can see, they’ve quickly turned from ranking last for attempts conceded and expected goals conceded (xGC), to being one of the more defensively-solid sides in the league.
Ownership for Double Gameweek
That’s why goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is in over a third of top 10k squads, likely in rotation with another.
At £4.4m, Fabian Schar brings back-to-back home matches before a trip to Norwich. The Swiss international also has two goals and an assist from the last seven games. Centre-back partner Dan Burn is less-owned but brings an aerial threat at set-pieces. That’s why he has been named in our ‘Differential Potential’ piece, alongside midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
Up front, Chris Wood seems to be a more popular purchase than Allan Saint-Maximin. A strong start to the FPL season saw the latter reach 1.6 million squads but a combination of injuries and blanks has affected his appeal. However, he is Newcastle’s star player, their primary attacking threat and a joy to watch.
New signing Wood scored only his second goal in 12 appearances last Friday but we learnt that he is on penalties. He is a guaranteed starter until Callum Wilson returns, so brings huge differential capability.
Community Chatter
FPL SWOT is one of many who are planning to buy at least one Newcastle defender.
Additionally, FPL CORF is keeping an eye on attacking prospects Wood and Saint-Maximin.
Another defender to consider is Matt Targett, who provides attacking width and set piece potential. FPL Lonewolf is interested.
For a completely off-the-radar option, FPL Reuser has noticed Bruno Guimaraes. According to Opta, his expected goals and assists per 90 minutes (non-penalty) is very good.
