TOTW 30 Predictions

We could be on the horizon of a very strong TOTW with TOTW 30 potentially having three 90+ rated cards as Son, Mbappe and Immobile all look set to pick up IF’s alongside a headliner upgrade for Brandt

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford – GK - OVR 83>>85
It’s been a while since I seriously struggled for a goalkeeper selection but this week was unbelievably difficult for them. Everton looked more and more relegation bound as the weeks went by so everyone was expecting United to pile the pressure on them but they surprised, winning 1-0 and giving themselves some well needed motivation by doing so. Pickford made four saves in total to keep his clean sheet and with it being such a big result I do expect an Everton IF to come from it.

Defenders

Ivan Perisic – LWB - OVR 81>>86
Obviously, the modern-day full back has chanced but I simply can’t imagine Perisic as one. That is what is happening at Inter right now though and the Croatian seems to be adapting well. Perisic provided both assists on Inter’s goals as they recorded a 2-0 home win over Verona. He picked up a 7.5 from Gazzetta which as a defender should be more than enough for him.

Yannick Gerhardt – LWB - OVR 77>>81
I was a little hesitant on Gerhardt as I felt the position was a LM rather than a LWB but with Kicker’s TOTW listing him as a defender I felt that EA may follow suit. Nmecha was named MOTM but with him being a silver option there was no way that he was getting in. Gerhardt received the same match rating as Nmecha with a 2 and with two assists from what looks to be LWB he stands a good chance of sneaking in.

Lucas Vazquez – RB - OVR 81>>84
Real Madrid got another step closer to their confirmation of the 2021/22 league title with a 2-0 win at home to Getafe. Vazquez played in the deeper RB role for this match and performed well, scoring one goal and helping towards the clean sheet. There are a few options from the defensive side in La Liga but with Madrid winning I feel that Vazquez is high up the pecking order.

Midfielders

Heung Min Son – LW - OVR 89>>92
Now the obvious issue with this one is Son’s previous IF coming just three weeks ago in TOTW 27 but we have seen EA previously go with as little as a two-week gap, although with significantly lower rated options. That being said Son was simply magnificent and with us getting towards the end of the game now I don’t see the issue with being slightly more lenient with the IF gaps. Spurs won 4-0 against Aston Villa with Son scoring three of those four and receiving a perfect 10 match rating from Sky for doing so. If EA decides against Son, I still expect Spurs to receive an IF with Kulu managing a goal and an assist to continue his form for the club.

Julian Brandt – CAM - OVR 81>>84
Brandt was one of the few players to receive a headliner card without already having IF cards. The German put in one of his best performances of the season this week, scoring both of Dortmund’s goals as they recorded a 2-0 away win over Stuttgart. Giving those who completed his SBC a long-awaited upgrade.

Mason Mount – CAM - OVR 83>>86
Southampton has been on the end of the massive losses over the past few seasons and Chelsea added another to their collection this weekend, beating them 6-0. Several Chelsea players are in contention for TOTW with Alonso, Havertz, Werner and Mount all making a case for inclusion. Mount seems to be the safest bet after scoring twice and assisting another from CAM.

David Silva – CAM - OVR 85>>86
Silva is now 36 years old but still manages to play at an elite level, although his statistics have dropped massively. He put in his best performance of the season so far this weekend, providing the assists on both Sociedad goals as they recorded a 2-1 away win over Elche.

Benjamin Bourigeaud – RW - OVR 78>>86
Another risky selection with just a four-week gap however if I am justifying the inclusion of Son, I simply have to go with Bourigeaud as well. Rennes are currently second in Ligue 1 which is quite remarkable really and a few of their players seem to be in with a shout of a TOTW spot almost every week. Bourigeaud is one of those and should he make it, it will be the third time he has the season. He gets the nod for scoring twice as Rennes fought hard towards a 3-2 away win over Reims. L’equipe awarded him an 8/10 with the next best Rennes player only managing a 6 which shows just how important he was this week.

Forwards

Kylian Mbappe – ST - OVR 90>>94
Mbappe was robbed last week after scoring twice and assisting another two and still failing to make the side. EA opted for Neymar, who was also a strong candidate but simply putting it Mbappe was far superior. Ironically Neymar would have featured in this week's side had EA gone with Mbappe last week with the Brazilian scoring a hat trick. Mbappe is the man likely to receive the IF however, after he also managed a hat trick, with PSG running away with a 6-1 away win over Clermont. Should EA decide once again to snub Mbappe It will be Messi’s 3 assists that gets noted. Mbappe received the higher match rating however and thus that should be enough to see him in.

Ciro Immobile – ST - OVR 87>>90
Continuing with the high rated players we move on to Immobile. Immobile took another step closer to the golden boot this weekend, scoring three times to help Lazio record a 4-1 away win over Genoa. Gazzetta awarded the Italian a modest 8/10 for his hat trick but he will definitely be included in TOTW 30 either way.

Substitutes

Diego Lopez – GK - OVR 77>>84
I almost opted to ignore the substitute keeper as it could be just about anyone but seeing as two are guaranteed I may as well take a punt. Lopez made six saves in total for Espanyol as they recorded a 1-0 home win over Celta Vigo. The Spaniard continues to impress in the top division despite now being 40 years of age.

Alfonso Pedraza – LB - OVR 77>>81
With both Villarreal and Bilbao sitting a few spots outside of the European positions it was an important match for both sides with both realistically needing a win. Neither side managed that though with the score ending level at 1-1 and thus both sides will likely be disappointed. Pedraza is in line for an IF though after being awarded MOTM for his goal in the score draw.

Enock Mwepu – CM - OVR 75>>84
Brighton managed a 2-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday, delivering the gunners a massive blow to their champions league ambitions. Mwepu was involved in both Brighton goals alongside picking up the MOTM award. With a strong base card, it gives a good opportunity for the featured player and although with just one goal and one assist making him a fringe option, I feel that the PL bias will push him through.

Cheick Doucoure – CM - OVR 75>>80
It was an eventful encounter between Lens and Nice, to say the least, with three red cards between them, two of which went the way of Nice. Lens were the side which excelled though scoring three times without reply. Three of their players managed to get into L’equipe’s TOTW but with Doucoure managing an 8 it’s him who looks set to get the nod. 

Alessane Plea – RW - OVR 79>>82
Bundesliga options were few and far between this week but as is often the case I expect a couple to be forced into the side with EA likely the division in general. Plea was named MOTM for his goal and assist during Gladbach’s 2-0 away win over Furth.

Mauro Boselli – ST - OVR 75>>81
Even the substitute bench was hard to get on for strikers this week with all three selected scoring three times for their club. The first of those three is Boselli who scored three of Estudiantes’s five goals during their convincing 5-0 win over Cordoba. 

Darwin Nunez – ST - OVR 76>>84
Nunez picked up a future star card from EA earlier in the game and the Uruguayan continues to justify the hype being placed on him. Benfica won 3-1 this weekend with Nunez scoring all three of those goals, taking him to 24 goals from 24 games this season. There are multiple clubs around Europe declaring interest in the forward who shows no signs of slowing down as it stands.

Reserves

Rhys Healey – ST - OVR 68>>81
Although the emergence of several in Italy has occurred in the past couple of seasons in general there are very few English players who excel outside of their home nation. Rhys Healey is finding a lot of success since making the move to France, albeit coming at a lower level in Ligue 2. The Englishman scored another hat trick this weekend, during Toulouse’s 4-2 away win taking his own tally to 16 for the season.

Kemar Roofe – ST - OVR 74>>80
The hat tricks came left right and centre again this week making the reserves section difficult to distinguish between. Roofe managed an assist on top of his three goals however which gives him some additional leeway. Rangers won the match 4-0 but after their loss to Celtic, it's going to be too little too late for them.

Tarik Tissoudali – ST - OVR 72>>79
Gent ended their season on a high, defeating Leuven 5-0. Tissoudali played a big role in the result scoring three of those five goals and being named MOTM in the process. 

Adam Le Fondre – ST - OVR 70>>78
Ironically, we now have two English players playing in abroad divisions but Fondre is slightly different, playing at the end of his career in a league presumably for enjoyment purposes. Le Fondre was involved in four Sydney goals as they cruised their way to a 5-0 away win, making him an easy selection for this side.

Leonardo Campana – ST - OVR 65>>75
David Beckham’s Inter Miami have not lived up to expectations and are becoming somewhat of a joke side, going without a win from their first five games this season. Campana carried them to their first win during their sixth attempt however as his hat trick saw Inter Miami beat New England 3-2.