Daily Fantasy Football: Ultimate MondoGoal FA Cup 4th-Round Lineup
What could you do with $100 million? Daily Fantasy Football's MondoGoal is handing you an opportunity to find out, and Bleacher Report's here to provide counsel on which Premier League stars could bolster your matchday XI.
Setting the Table
The FA Cup's field was cut after the third round, but not many giants were slain. For the neutral, this means some heavyweight clashes should be in the offing. Despite requiring some patience for the latter stages, the fourth-round draw was still relatively explosive.
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There are three Premier League clashes and seven top-division sides taking their shows on the roads. This is frequently a stage when the "top" clubs start slipping on banana peels. The "lower" clubs have nothing to lose and play with all the passion and intensity we desire from the would-be giants.
Can talent beat hard work when hard work is working harder? That's the riddle answered in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
| Date | Time (GMT/ET) | Fixture |
| January 30 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Arsenal v Burnley |
| January 30 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Aston Villa v Manchester City |
| January 30 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Nottingham Forest v Watford |
| January 30 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Portsmouth v Bournemouth |
| January 30 | 5:30 p.m/12:30 p.m. | Liverpool v West Ham United |
Not necessarily looking for star names but locating value is your mission.
Here's a prospective XI, using the 3-4-3 formation, that will be attempting to avoid any massive, unforeseen FA Cup casualties.
Goalkeeper and Defenders
Manchester City's goalkeeping situation is normally fluent around early FA Cup and League Cup ties. Joe Hart is Manuel Pellegrini's unquestioned "No. 1," but Willy Caballero ($6.7 million) normally takes on England's domestic cups in the beginning stages. The Argentinian goalkeeper should face Aston Villa with confidence, even more if the Villains arrive with their EPL form.
Defending Caballero's goal might be Martin Demichelis ($6.7 million). Vincent Kompany's long injury absence has left a void in central defence, one filled by Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala. It's possible City's boss gives his trusted veteran a match before a mid-week league fixture.
Similar thinking could apply to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp with Jon Flanagan ($6.3 million). The Liverpool defender should get a run-out against West Ham United before the Reds' Tuesday match at Leicester City, where Alberto Moreno and Nathaniel Clyne will likely start.
In a Premier League match of last season, Arsenal face Burnley at the Emirates. Per Mertesacker is probably suspended from a game he wouldn't have played anyway; Gabriel Paulista ($7.9 million) was likely one-half of Arsene Wenger's central defence partnership when he was originally rested vs. Chelsea. In friendly confines, a solid defensive performance vs. the now-Championship side should be fairly routine.
Midfielders
Wenger has the luxury of resting some players, but not too many. To establish control of the match, the likes of Mesut Ozil ($13.3 million) should find minutes. Needing to erase an abject performance against Chelsea from the book, there is no better chance than the FA Cup.
With Kevin De Bruyne now sidelined for several months, Manchester City's creative midfield responsibilities now rest with its usual conductor—David Silva ($10.4 million). Up against a leaky Aston Villa side, the Spanish playmaker's role has expanded greatly in the past three days.
West Ham United and Liverpool will require offensive sparks as well. For the Hammers, the danger man is obvious: Dimitri Payet ($11.8 million) has run roughshod over England this season and shows little sign of slowing. Liverpool's threat must come from players in the wide areas, and Jordon Ibe ($5.9 million) is one such player.
Forwards
Goals are the lifeblood of football and, in many ways, fantasy football. Our trio of strikers all have differing qualities, but they should have chances this weekend to help their squads advance.
Our first player is Olivier Giroud ($11.4 million). The mammoth Frenchman should be well-rested, as Mertesacker's transgression vs. Chelsea meant an extended rest for both. Wenger controversially took off the 29-year-old, so a consolation against Burnley should be on the proverbial cards.
If Sergio Aguero doesn't start vs. Aston Villa, the next in line is Nigerian starlet Kelechi Iheanacho ($6.6 million). The 19-year-old needs a run of games to establish himself as a serious contender for Pellegrini. Blessed with pace, technical ability and a strong shot, the teenager is one to monitor.
Legendary Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough famously said, "It only takes a second to score a goal." Unfortunately for the club of his greatest triumphs, Watford have two fantastic goalscorers: Troy Deeney being the first and Odion Ighalo ($11.9 million) the second.
The Nigerian half of Quique Sanchez Flores' preferred partnership has stood out this season—against Championship competition, his form should continue.
Recap
As shown, this XI had $1.1 million left over.
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