Gameweek 12 - FPL

Watford 2-1 West Brom
de Bruyne ---- Falcao
Aguero

West Brom have improved this week but Watford still had enough overall quality to edge the win. The away team's midfield now looks strong, with Keita the next area for improvement, but Watford's is formidable and controlled the game. It was a similar tale in relation to West Brom's defence, which remains strong despite losing Boateng, but Aguero and de Bruyne had enough to win their team the game.

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Swansea City 0-0 Bournemouth

I think the formation that Swansea played today would frustrate this Bournemouth team and it was enough to earn them a point. Bournemouth have the better matchwinners, and their midfield with Cazorla, Thiago and Wanyama looks nicely balanced, but Swansea's 3 central defenders, wing backs and midfielders did enough for me to crowd them out of the game and nullify the away team's attacking threat.

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Stoke City 2-2 Crystal Palace
Suarez (2) ----- Ronaldo (2)

Stoke would have edged this game but for the strange decision to try Mane at RWB. This was complete suicide up against Ronaldo who tore him to shreds all day. Suarez was back with a vengeance and similarly tore Palace's centre backs to shreds. Both of these sides are going in the right direction, but still have that tendency to prioritise their attacks over their defences.

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Middlesbrough 0-0 Hull City

Hull's formation was intended to frustrate Middlesbrough and it served its purpose. TAB has been busy this week but it feels as if he has been doing deals for the sake of it: the team look much weaker with de Rossi back in midfield rather than Fabinho, and Boateng is an improvement on Koscielny but not worth that marked downgrade. Either way, Hull's formation and strong defence did enough to frustrate and nullify Middlesbrough's attacking talent and earn a deserved draw.

Watford vs West Brom

West Brom are getting there and look a decent outfit, I think their defence is pretty strong...I know he's back in the goals in France but I still have doubts over Falcow. I just really like the Watford side and I think they just squeeze this one

Watford Gap 1-0 Sandwell Town

KDB
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Swansea vs B'mouth

Seems to be that Lubo is the whipping boy but this week he's stumbled across a formation that I like and with the players he has it feel like it's balanced...That said B'mouth's front three has a lot of firepower about them and will always be in the goals, Swansea for me get a well earned share of the spoils

Swansea 1-1 B'Mouth

Kane
Firmino

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Sunderland vs Burnley

I'm not sure on Iniesta that deep and I think it puts too much on Casemiro's shoulders as Alli isn;t the best defence-wise either. The back four as always is right up there and I love Mertens Sunderland have maybe the best midfield in the league and I think it just over-powers Burnleys today and that for me is the game changer

Sunderland 1-0 Burnley

Arturo

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Stoke vs Palace

2 extremely potent attacks backed up by pretty solid CM's, this is a genuinely tough game to call...Mane at RWB against CR7 is interesting but atleast he matches his pace and Rudiger there to double up is ok. I just really like that Stoke front 3 and I think the movement they have is just enough for a narrow home win

Stoke 2-1 Palace

Suarez, Couts

Zlatan

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Watford vs West Brom
I do like the West Brom team, there's decent players across the pitch and I am a Falcao fan. West Brom are also strong at centre back but other than that I couldn't​ see any of their players getting into the Watford team. For me, De Bruyne and Aguero get the goals to win the game but they do need to improve centre backs I'd they want to win the league.

Watford 3-1 West Brom
Aguero, de Bruyne x2; Falcao


Swansea vs Bournemouth
Swansea have picked a good formation to get the best out of Ousmane and Sigurdsson. Lindelof is the main weakness in their side. As for Bournemouth they are looking more of a team rather than Messi and others. Firmino and Cazorla I don't rate that highly though - I think a striker who wants to get in behind would work better to give Messi more space. A draw is fair

Swansea 1-1 Bournemouth
Dembele; Messi

Stoke vs Crystal Palace
I don't think Mane works as a wing back, he's either a winger or a striker. Especially against Ronaldo. Suarez and Reus is obviously a fantastic pair in attack but for me Palace edge it, love Herrera and Silva in midfield.

Stoke 2-3 Crystal Palace
Suarez, Guerriero; Ronaldo, Silva x2


Middlesbrough vs Hull
This is a difficult game to try and dissect.
I know I've criticised Mascherano but the lineup Hull have gone for would make it very difficult for Boro' to play. I think de Rossi is a bit past his best, and I'm not a fan of the Middlesbrough full backs. On paper the home side are definitely stronger but I think Hull will get a sneaky draw.

Middlesbrough 0-0 Hull

Watford v West Brom

The home side come into this encounter in great form however they were up against a much changed West Brom team giving a debut a number of new recent signings. Watfords strength lies in the quality of their central midfield and with a perfectly balanced trio however they will dominant most games. The signing of Fabinho was an astute one for the visitors in what was a great midfield battle. West Brom looked the much stronger at the back which is an area I’d look to improve if I were Watford whilst there are no real visible weaknesses for the visitors although I’d maybe like to see a little more sparkle in attack. Tight game but Watford just edge it.

Watford 2-1 West Brom
Aguero, B.Silva : Falcao

Swansea City v Bournemouth

Tight game at the liberty with Swansea stifling the Bournemouth attack for much of the afternoon. I like Swansea’s shape and they continue to improve on a weekly basis, Kimmich is a great addition next to Tielemans in a young vibrant midfield although Sigurdsson is a player that can be improved upon in attack. Hard to fault this Bournemouth side although Firmino continues to toil and offered little in this match up. Bournemouth’s extra man in the middle of the park inevitably saw them dominate possession with Swansea pinned back for most of the afternoon. I’d have probably switched Hummels across to mark Messi as Lindelof struggled to contain the Argentine who scored the only goal of the game.

Swansea City 0 v 1 Bournemouth
Messi

Sunderland v Burnley

Another tight game which appears to be the norm when Burnley are in town given the strength of their defence. Goalkeeper still remains a concern for the visitors whilst they seem a tad reliant on Costa and Alli in attack with Mertens not quite as effective stationed on the flank as he has been playing his trade up top this season. Sunderland are equally a strong side however I think cb’s and gk can be improved to match the quality they possess in midfield. I think maybe a sprinkle of stardust in attack is needed in order for this side to reach their full potential as neither team could make the breakthrough in this encounter.

Sunderland 0-0 Burnley

Stoke City v Crystal Palace

After being a tad top heavy in previous weeks Stoke appear to have found a formation that suits their personnel. There are still a couple of square pegs with Reus and Mane both currently playing out of position however if they can bring in a natural rwb and striker then they will be an extremely difficult side for any opponent. Similarly after being over reliant on Ronaldo in previous weeks Palace are beginning to build a more rounded side. Their best players are certainly in attack and strengthening at cb would certainly be a priority. With both sides looking strong in attack it was a game that was always going to contain goals as this one finishes all square.

Stoke City 2 - 2 Crystal Palace
Suarez, Coutinho : Ibrahimovc, Ronaldo

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SWA vs BOU

The away side steal the points in this one against an improving Swansea side. O. Dembele clearly being key, but for me still needs to be put into a wider area to be fully effective and they still need maybe just another top player in midfield to become a much stronger side. The away side look strong up top, but need a stronger goalkeeper and someone different to Cazorla in midfield.

Score: 1-2

SUN vs BUR

Another away win by a small scoreline in this one too. Sunderland have good experience, but too many aging players but a very strong midfield. Would look to get a couple of younger players in to replace some old ones and look for another keeper. The away side look very strong through the middle, just need some more natural width.

Score: 1-2

STO vs CP

Another tight affair but I can't look beyond the home side here. The home side have a very good all round team, but maybe need that extra bit of width as well as not having Mane at RWB if possible. The away side are improving, but for me need stronger CB's to really compete.

Score: 2-1

MID vs HULL

Another very close game but the home side just edge it for me. The away side made it difficult, really defensive and throwing bodies in there to make it tough. But it's the width from the full backs and wingers that made the difference which opened up a little bit more space in the middle for Boro to play with. Middlesbrough do need better quality full backs, although having advanced full backs for this once made a big difference. Hull have a good Italian style team, just not enough threat up front. If they had a true top class CF, they would certainly be an excellent side.

Score: 1-0

Watford 2-1 West Brom
Aguero, De Bruyne; Carrasco

Not a lot wrong with either side, in West Brom's case it's simply going up against a better side today but I like their balance and a more established striker helps.

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Swansea 1-1 Bournemouth
Kane; Messi

I think the 3-4-2-1 works in Swansea's favour today, not enough to get all three points but I can see them frustrating Bournemouth for long periods and earning a draw.

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Sunderland 1-1 Burnley
Vidal; Costa

Sunderland have a bit of an edge with their attack today but unfortunately they couldn't capitalise as Burnley's defence kept them mostly at bay. Casemiro, Iniesta and Alli aren't too shabby either and I feel Burnley do enough to get a draw.

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Middlesbrough 0-0 Hull

Vintage bus parking as Hull frustrate Boro all day, Hull have the defence and midfield with enough discipline to make the system work, they could have won it with Dybala and Dzeko a threat but a goalless draw is how I saw it.

Watford 1-0 West Brom
Aguero

Watford - cant fault the side, id maybe go for a better rb than valencia

West brom - just felt the side was a little below the watford side, id look at replacing falcao if i had the choice


Swansea City 0-1 Bournemouth
Messi

Swansea - i like the side, just lacked the stardust that bournemouth had, id look to improve on lindelof

Bournemouth - improve on the keeper


Sunderland 0-0 Burnley

sunderland - the keeper is bang average, also not sure rabiot is needed with the other 2 you have

Burnley - get a better keeper, would also improve on guedes


Middlesbrough 1-0 Hull City
Sanchez

Boro - cant fault the side, would maybe improve on daxler and de rossi if it were me

Hull- id go and look to improve on the 2 younger centre backs, maybe one more experienced option needed

Watford 2 - 0 West Brom

West Brom are getting there, but could do with improvements in defence. Watford are a strong side overall, although Valencia could be improved upon.

Sunderland 1 - 2 Burnley

Sunderland struggled against Burnley, despite having a strong team themselves. Their defense proved to be too weak to withstand the constant barrage of the Burnley attack, however.

Stoke City 0 - 2 Crystal Palace

Stoke are still struggling to find a formation that suits them. For me, Reus and Mane would struggle in the roles they were given.

Boro 1 - 1 Hull City

Both sides were very even. Not much that could be changed on either side. Dybala fit well into this system and playing this role.

Watford 1- 0 WBA
KDB
The home side were simply too strong in midfield and going forward here. The away side are very strong defensively, and have probably the 2nd best cb partnership in the league for me. But in midfiedl Watford were too strong for them. I think WB could do with more creativity in the midfield. There's little wrong with the home side at all, if it was me I'd be looking at trying to improve on Reina/Valencia if I could.

Sunderland 1 - 1 Burnley
Robben ; Costa

I think the home side would've won the midfield battle, I'm not a fan of the Burnley mix in cm and up against the strongest midfield in the league I think they'd struggle here. In defence though Burnley are a class apart, Azpi at left back I'm not a fan of too much cutting in, but defensively he's fantastic there. And with the threat of Costa at the other end I think a draw is the fair result.

Stoke 2 - 2 CP
Suarez, Reus ; Ronaldo (2)

I think Stoke's formation here cost them the chance to get all 3 points. Mane is obviously a hard worker but I don't think he's a wb, and up against Rose and Ronaldo down that side I think CP would have had a lot of joy. At the other end I think Stoke's attack would've had too much for the CP cbs.

Boro 2-1 Hull
Hazard (2) ; Dybala

The home side had too much class here. I liked the away side's formation better here, classic big small man double act is always a win for me. But I felt Caldara and Locatelli weren't at the level of the rest of the players in the 2 teams. The home side have a great attack, I'd pick De Rossi as the player to improve on, his game has dropped in the last year, not at the level he once was.