TOTW 29 Predictions

There were a ridiculous number of options available for TOTW 29 with it being quite easy to make two full sides. Here is my attempt to narrow that down to 23 players with big names like Trent, Kroos, Cavani and Depay all making the prediction.
 

Goalkeeper

Mike Maignan – GK - OVR 82>>86 
What looked to be a routine 2-0 win on paper for Lille was actually anything but with Metz putting a lot of pressure on the league leaders. Maignan was spectacular between the sticks though making a total of seven saves with one being a penalty to keep his sides clean sheet intact, while also helping to remain top of the Ligue 1 table with just a few games remaining. L’equipe named Maignan MOTM with an 8/10.

Defenders

Trent Alexander Arnold – RB - OVR 87>>89
With defenders being difficult to select this week it gives EA an opportunity to force TAA into the side. Although he was not named MOTM in Liverpool’s first Anfield domestic win in 2021 he did secure the three points with a late goal. There are not a lot of high-profile names for EA to include this week either which only increases the chance that they opt for TAA.

Pepe – CB - OVR 81>>84
With there being another obvious option from the Portuguese league it made me question Pepe even more than I already was but in the end without any other clear-cut options I had to include him. Pepe provided the assist on one of two Porto goals as they recorded a 2-0 win over Tondela away from home. He was awarded MOTM with a 7/10 which could be enough for him to secure his first IF.

Willi Orban – CB - OVR 79>>82
Leipzig recorded a 4-1 win over Bremen this weekend with Forsberg being named MOTM with a 1.5 for his goal while Sorloth scored twice to pick up a 2. Despite those two options I am instead going defensive with Orban. The Hungarian was also named in Kickers TOTW after his assist and defensive display saw him pick up a 2-match rating. With an obvious lack of defenders, while both attackers and midfielders have a plethora of options, I can see them opting for Orban.

Midfielders

Memphis Depay – LM - OVR 85>>89
I debated this one for a while due to it being Depay’s fourth IF of the year should it happen but with his last coming nine weeks ago, I don’t see why it can’t happen. Lyon went on to beat Angers 3-0 in the final fixture of Ligue 1 with Depay playing an unusual LM role for them. The Dutchman still found himself among the goals though, scoring two of the three. Alternatively, we could see Paqueta make it for his goal and assist but it all depends on whether EA wants a fourth Depay or not.

Leandro Paredes – CDM - OVR 79>>82
After losing to Lille last week, it could have easily taken a toll on PSG, but they bounced back strong, beating Strasbourg 4-1 away from home to keep up the chase. Mbappe performed as usual but I expect the IF to go the way of Paredes of whom picked up an 8/10 from L’equipe for both a goal and an assist from a CDM role.

Ever Banega – CM - OVR 83>>86
From one Argentine to another, we turn to the Saudi League to Banega who was outstanding for Al Shabab as they managed a 4-1 away win to go level on points with first placed Al Hilal. With two goals and two assists, the Argentine midfielder looks nailed on for his SIF of the year. Banega received perfect match ratings and with a nice pace, the upgrade would become a decent overall card.

Toni Kroos – CM - OVR 88>>90
Although there was no obvious inclusion from the El Classico it is almost inevitable that we will see one included. As for who that will be Kroos is seemingly the only option. The German scored one of their two goals in a 2-1 win while also being the highest rated Madrid player. It was a result made that much more important by the title race. With Atletico dropping points it now puts Real just one point behind.

Christian Pulisic – LW - OVR 81>>84
Chelsea recorded a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace this weekend with Pulisic scoring two of those four. The American has found game time hard to come by as of late but with a strong performance from him, it will give Tuchel more questions to answer. Mount was actually named MOTM but with just one assist I can’t see him making it over Pulisic’s two goals

Forwards

Edinson Cavani – ST - OVR 84>>86
There has been a lot of talk about Cavani’s future at Manchester United with the Uruguayan striker seemingly wanting to move back to South America. United will hope they can convince him to stay on though with Cavani being an important player to the club this season. Another strong performance saw him spearhead a United comeback against Tottenham, with a goal and an assist helping them to a 3-1 win. He was unlikely not to open the scoring too with his goal being ruled out due to a “foul” from Mctominay. Even with the ruled-out goal, I feel he has done enough for inclusion though. 

Alexander Lacazette – ST - OVR 83>>85
Onto another Premier League striker now with Lacazette. Although his time at Arsenal has not been as successful as many had hoped and predicted the Frenchman finally looks to be finding his form for the club. Another two goals this weekend against Sheffield United too his tally for the season to 13 while also making it 5 in his last six. He has finally managed to hold down a position for the club and as a result, is scoring goals on a regular basis for them

Substitutes

Guilherme – GK - OVR 78>>82
We have seen the RPL get snubbed time and time again with only a couple of players making TOTW this year but surely Guilherme has to make it here. Lokomotiv Moscow came out as 2-0 winners in a 2nd v 3rd battle against rivals Spartak Moscow. Largely down to a wonder show between the sticks from Guilherme, who in total produced 10 saves to keep his clean sheet which in turn gives them a shot of securing the second champions league position with just five games remaining in the division.

Matteo Darmian – RWB - OVR 76>>81
Serie A could have easily been ignored entirely this week with several low scoring matches seeing practically no options for the division. Damian's place in the side largely depends on EA’s positional classification but with his NIF being a RB I would expect them to class it as a RWB which if they do makes Darmian a certainty for this side after he scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for inter while Gazzetta awarded him a 7.5.

Emiliano Buendia – RM - OVR 77>>81
Norwich ran rampant while hosting Huddersfield on Tuesday evening, scoring seven without reply. There were two clear cut options for TOTW, with Pukki scoring a hat trick while Buendia managed one goal and three assists. Thankfully, the decision was made easy for me with Pukki featuring recently in TOTW 27. With EA’s “rules” in place that means the Finnish international is illegible and thus Buendia is the easy choice.

Atiba Hutchinson – CM - OVR 76>>81
Besiktas look to be putting some breathing space between them and second played Fenerbache. Another win during the mid-week set of fixtures helped them to go four points clear with a game in hand, putting the title in their hands to lose. Hutchinson was the catalyst in the match providing the assist on all three of their goals in a 3-0 win over Alanyaspor. Despite the midfield being packed this week two of the bench are seemingly nailed on from mid-week fixtures.

Daichi Kamada – CAM - OVR 76>>81
There are gold midfielders with two goals and one assist which I am ignoring in favour of Kamada which makes little sense considering that the Japanese midfielder only managed one goal and one assist but with Kicker then naming him POTW he becomes impossible to ignore. Frankfurt played out a seven-goal thriller with Wolfsburg, coming out on top 4-3 which makes the game that much more likely to be recognized, so despite the competition, I would be very surprised if EA didn’t opt for Kamada.

Haris Seferovic – ST - OVR 75>>81
Continuing the string of top end performances on the subs we move onto Seferovic who was involved in four of Benfica’s five goals during their 5-0 win over Pacos. The Portuguese league has been largely snubbed this year but with two goals and two assists, he should walk into the side.

Wahbi Khazri – ST - OVR 76>>81
Ligue 1 probably offered the most options this week with several players standing out. One of those was Khazri as the Tunisian forward bagged three goals for St Etienne in their comfortable 4-1 home win. A result which all but confirms their safety in Ligue 1 for another season. He was awarded an 8/10 from L’equipe but with three goals he was getting in regardless.
 

Reserves

Gautier Lloris – CB - OVR 67>>76
This was a very difficult decision with Auxerre providing two very strong options for TOTW. Sakhi is the unfortunate player missing out with three assists to his name for Lloris with two goals and a clean sheet from CB. With EA often opting for a defensive player in the reserves it made sense to go for Lloris with him being an obvious option while we have numerous alternative attacking ones. Both players do deserve a spot but realistically only one will make it and I fully expect that to be Lloris.

Stuart Dallas – CM - OVR 73>>79
Dallas could easily go down as a silver star but one way or another I expect to see him featuring in the upcoming promo. Leeds performed one of the best snatches and grab jobs you will see this season if not the decade. After scoring with their first shot of the match they were almost instantly reduced to 10 men with Cooper getting sent off for a poor tackle. Manchester City went on the equalize early in the second before hammering Leeds. In total, they had 18 shots with 78% possession. Leeds held on strong though and in the 92nd minute Dallas broke through to score his second goal of the game with what was Leeds's 2nd shot of the match to secure a remarkable 2-1 win.

Mohamed Elyounoussi – LM - OVR 76>>84
Although Elyounoussi is unlikely to feature in the reserves I have put him here to try and increase my overall score. With a ridiculous number of midfielders performing well this week a couple is inevitably going to miss out but who that will end up being is hard to say. Celtic recorded a 6-0 win which will stand out and thus I can’t see Elyounoussi’s two goals and one assist missing out, especially as it will be his SIF making him 84 overall.

Martin Kobylanski – LM - OVR 68>>77
There were a couple of hat tricks which I snubbed this week with Asprilla’s three all coming from the spot while Frey scored three in a loss. Although both could quite easily feature, I have instead opted for Bundesliga 2 POTW, Kobylanski. The Polish midfielder scored twice and assisted another to receive a perfect match rating as Braunschweig went on to win 4-0 away from home.

Adis Jahovic – ST - OVR 73>>79
Jahovic’s second stint at Goztepe has not been as successful as his first but that was to be expected with the striker approaching the end of his career. With just two goals from his opening 26 league fixtures this season it’s difficult to justify his position in the side though. He managed to score three times this weekend though with Goztepe beating Hatayspor 3-2 away from home, showing signs from his prime days