THE list of Dream Team’s top-performing midfielders this season makes for interesting reading.
For various reasons, the usual suspects are nowhere to be seen, replaced by some unexpected wildcard options — but does this mean gaffers should think outside the box when formulating their future plans?
Top of the pops[/caption]
TOP 10 DREAM TEAM MIDFIELDERS THIS SEASON
- 72 pts – Antoine Semenyo (£4.9m)
- 69 pts – Moises Caicedo (£4.7m)
- 60 pts – Enzo Fernandez (£4.7m)
- 59 pts – Jack Grealish (£3.8m)
- 59 pts – Diego Gomez (£3m)
- 59 pts – Mohammed Kudus (£4.8m)
- 57 pts – John McGinn (£4.5m)
- 56 pts – Bruno Guimaraes (£5.1m)
- 53 pts – Elliot Anderson (£4.1m)
- 53 pts – Iliman Ndiaye (£4m)
The first thing to note is the success of assets without European fixtures to bolster their schedules.
Semenyo, Grealish, Gomez and Ndiaye have thrived despite being limited to domestic duties.
Earlier this week we drew comparisons between the former’s efforts for Bournemouth this season and Bryan Mbeumo’s 2024/25.
Dream Team bosses who felt comfortable backing the aforementioned midfielders despite their comparatively light workloads have been rewarded so far but whether this trend will continue is a key question at this juncture.
Rejuvenated[/caption]
There have been two rounds of European league stage fixtures so far.
However, four more are scheduled across the next seven Gameweeks — the fixture deficit between those involved in Europe and the others will be significant by mid-December.
The likes of Semenyo and Grealish will have to play exceptionally well to give pace with their rivals who play in midweek regularly.
The value of additional fixtures is already apparent when browsing the above list as McGinn and Anderson owe their lofty rankings to notable Europa League performances.
McGinn has already scored twice in the Europa League this season[/caption]
We must acknowledge that this data is taken from a relatively small sample size as the season is still young.
This is best evidenced by the fact Gomez ranks so highly in his position despite having played less than half of Brighton’s Premier League minutes.
The secret to his success was an extraordinary four-goal haul against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup that yielded 32 points in one fell swoop.
The Paraguay international is likely to drop down in the coming weeks as the Seagulls do not have any favourable lower league opponents in the diary.
He does it all![/caption]
Caicedo’s success has come as a surprise to most gaffers.
Chelsea’s No25 leads the way for tackles and his unmatched tally of interceptions means he ranks third for bonus points but his precise long-range shooting is a new development.
Having previously never scored more than one league goal in any season since he moved to England, he’s bagged three in seven outings this term.
Whether Caicedo can maintain his new-found attacking threat remains to be seen but there’s no denying his backers have reaped huge rewards across the first two months of the campaign.
Almost as interesting as the names at the top of the midfield rankings are those missing.
The likes of Bukayo Saka (£6.1m), Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m), Cole Palmer (£5.5m), Phil Foden (£5m) and Eberechi Eze (£5.1m) are conspicuous in their absence.
Injuries are part and parcel of the game and those afflicted can’t be blamed but the point is that Dream Team bosses have not been able to rely on familiar favourites in midfield so far this season.
Saka and Eze could come on strong as the Gunners have six fixtures to fulfil across the next three Gameweeks.
By the time the November international break comes around, the Arsenal pair may be among the best performers in their position.
And it’ll be interesting to see how Palmer performs when he is given the all-clear to return to action.
With Caicedo and Fernandez racking up points for fun, gaffers won’t be in any rush to change their Chelsea midfielder(s) of choice.
Intriguing times ahead.
Dream Team in association with Midnite
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