What to do with Armando Broja?
Up next in our ‘What to do’ series, we look at Southampton’s Armando Broja. Specifically, should FPL managers keep or sell him?
What to do?
At a time when plenty of midfielders hold appeal and premium defenders like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joao Cancelo and Reece James seem irresistible, having a cheap yet regularly-playing forward like Armando Broja should be brilliant. Owning the Southampton man brings formation flexibility for FPL managers. And it’s not like other strikers are making their own case for inclusion.
However, he is without a return in seven matches. Blanking against Norwich, Everton, Watford and Leeds is not a good look for the loanee from Chelsea. Patience is running thin. So perhaps it’s time to get rid of Broja.
Player’s Form
The 20-year-old scored in his first two starts for Southampton. Although the Saints had replaced Danny Ings with Adam Armstrong, netting against Leeds and Burnley put him firmly on the FPL radar.
Having forced himself into Ralph Hasenhuttl’s starting XI in Gameweek 15, he has stayed in for all-but-two matches since. The first eight of those brought an impressive four goals and two assists. But nothing since Gameweek 24.
On the left, Southampton’s goal attempts between Gameweeks 8 and 24. On the right, attempts since Gameweek 25. There has been a noticeable drop-off in Broja’s shots stats.
He cannot play next weekend, as it’s against parent club Chelsea. Therefore, will Hasenhuttl use this as a convenient excuse to reinstate Armstrong back into his favoured line-up?
Team’s Fixtures
This absence is followed by Double Gameweek 33 and another three promising fixtures for the Saints.
On the other hand, their matches looked good recently and it still brought no goal involvements. Current owners of Broja may find some cover for the Chelsea trip, with the intention of playing the Albania international again afterwards. But it depends on whether Broja actually gets back in the team.
FPL Alternatives
Going forward, the answer might be to find another cheap forward. Whereas many may see Broja as a back-up player not worth using one precious transfer on, a few names look tempting.
Only two forwards costing either £6.0m or less have accumulated more points – Emmanuel Dennis and Teemu Pukki. Imminent home games versus Burnley and Newcastle make the latter a decent differential. Meanwhile, Dennis’ Watford team mate Cucho Hernandez is priced at just £5.0m and has three recent league goals. Interestingly, the Hornets will face Leeds, Burnley, Everton and Brentford in home games.
Elsewhere, Hwang Hee-chan (£5.4m) will blank in Gameweek 33 but Jean-Philippe Mateta (£5.2m) may have secured his spot as first-choice Crystal Palace forward. Although he has two recent goals and a promising fixture run, surely Odsonne Edouard and Christian Benteke will soon get a turn.
Thoughts from the FPL community
FPL SWOT has certainly noticed Broja’s poor form.
For Nighthawk, it’s not just about the quantity of games, he’s concerned by the quality of those opponents.
Popular online personality Harry (FPLTIPZ) is also contemplating going with a better cheap enabler.
