Green Street Hammers
Fansided

Time to buy West Ham in FPL as fixtures open up

By Scott Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Fabian Balbuena of West Ham United in action during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Fabian Balbuena of West Ham United in action during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 20: Fabian Balbuena of West Ham United in action during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 20: Fabian Balbuena of West Ham United in action during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

Balbuena

Position: DEF (Centreback)

Price: 4.4m

Ownership: 0.3%

Pros: Guaranteed starter, regular threat from set pieces

Cons: Only an outside chance of attacking returns, potentially leaky defence

Another summers signing, and a bargain in real life and FPL. I think he’s one of the few players in the Premier League who’s transfer fee is below their FPL one. If we’re not including those who moved on a free transfer anyway. But the General is now a first team regular, and with the favourable fixtures he could become a bargain asset.

Hot. Can Rice contain Maddison?. light

Whilst he is yet to score for the Hammers he has a history of being dangerous from set pieces, and would probably say himself that he should have scored one already. Against Brighton he worked himself free at a corner, only to direct the header wide. In every other game he’s been a target and has averaged 1 shot per game. Certainly not bad for a centre back.

Obviously as a centreback he’s not going to pick up assists too often, or be involved in an attacking sense outside of the set pieces. With Yarmolenko injured however, Snodgrass could be starting a lot more. With the Scotsman on the pitch I would expect the quality of set pieces to increase, thus increasing Balbuena’s value. With the Hammers defence working on issues well, the better fixtures could be a rich time for the Paraguayan centre back.

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