Daily Fantasy Football: Ultimate Mondogoal FA Cup 5th-Round Lineup
What could you do with $100 million? Mondogoal's Daily Fantasy Football 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
Sixteen clubs, from three divisions, remain in the 2015/16 FA Cup.
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Three victories away from a Wembley Stadium final, the incentive for most clubs is apparent: England's preeminent domestic cup guarantees money, glory, a parade and European qualification (albeit the Europa League).
Losing in the fifth round, though, is a what-did-we-do-this-for proposition. While other clubs are enjoying an extended break, losing places a club one game back in the battle of attrition and demoralised from their ejection.
| Date | Time (ET/GMT) | Fixture |
| February 20 | 12:45 p.m./7:45 a.m. | Arsenal vs. Hull City |
| February 20 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Reading vs. West Bromwich Albion |
| February 20 | 3 p.m./10 a.m. | Watford vs. Leeds United |
| February 20 | 5:15 p.m./12:15 p.m. | Bournemouth vs. Everton |
2015/16's fifth-round offering is back-end loaded. Tottenham Hotspur vs. Crystal Palace and Chelsea vs. Manchester City are Sunday's diamond fixtures, but Saturday is compelling in its own right.
Our mission is not necessarily to look for star names but locate value from Saturday's slate.
Here's a prospective XI, using the 3-4-3 formation.
Goalkeeper and Defenders
Watford have recorded two 1-0 victories in the FA Cup this season—Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo the respective goalscorers against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
While Quique Sanchez Flores' formidable strike partnership takes headlines, the vital components to his team's success were back-to-back clean sheets. One by preferred goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes and the second from recent addition Costel Pantilimon ($6.5 million).
Understanding the shaky nature of cup competitions, solid defensive performances are a stabilising force. Combining with the full-backing quality of Nathan Ake ($7.8 million) and Allan Nyom ($6.8 million), Watford should keep Leeds United relatively quiet.
Arsenal didn't have the simplest third and fourth rounds of the FA Cup. Arsene Wenger needed a come-from-behind victory against Sunderland and beat Burnley 2-1, spoiling the Clarets' halftime deadlock. Arsenal—in a rematch of the 2013/14 FA Cup final—face Hull City in their third consecutive home draw.
The Gunners will have the Emirates Stadium's freedom at their disposal; an attacking full-back such as Hector Bellerin ($9.4 million) should have a field day.
Midfielders
Aiding the Spanish defender could be the creative talent required to break down a stingy, Championship-leading Hull side—Mesut Ozil ($14.2 million) and Aaron Ramsey ($11.7 million) appear a capable duo in that respect.
Both the German and Welshman have the wherewithal to dismantle a low defensive block. With Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere injured or recovering, Wenger is rather limited in attacking central midfielders until March, but the ones on call are talented.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth and Everton will clash on the south coast. Eddie Howe's club has suffered a slight tailspin recently. Losses to Arsenal and Stoke City have them four points from the Premier League's drop zone, but the FA Cup is often an environment for solace. Matt Ritchie ($8.0 million) is arguably the Cherries' best attacking threat with Callum Wilson injured, and his rocket-like left boot should come with a warning.
Roberto Martinez's men are likewise stuttering. Three wins in their last 13 EPL games is far from what Everton should be earning, but their FA Cup experience has been smooth—victories over Dagenham & Redbridge and Carlisle United ahead of their visit to Dean Court their journey.
Connecting defence and holding midfield with Everton's attacking options, Ross Barkley ($12.5 million) is the Toffees' engine. Scoring just twice in the last campaign, the England international has upped his tally—already on the scoresheet 11 times this season. If a victory against Bournemouth is coming, it should arrive through Barkley's endeavour.
Forwards
The 22-year-old's team-mate Romelu Lukaku ($9.3 million) has been Barkley's largest beneficiary. With some of the offensive burden off his shoulders, Lukaku has found more space this season. Everton's leading goalscorer, with 20 in all competitions, the Belgian is having his best professional campaign.
On his day, Bournemouth have little chance of shutting the burgeoning striker down.
Having maybe the worst professional season of his short career is Saido Berahino ($4.8 million). Multiple years were spent on loan before he broke into the West Bromwich Albion first team in 2013/14, and last season was a brilliant showing for the 22-year-old, but not so much this year. Tony Pulis added Salomon Rondon and Rickie Lambert to the fold in the summer, and wantaway Berahino has been forced to stay at the Hawthorns.
A slight consolation is Berahino seems to be Pulis' FA Cup forward, and the Burundi-born Englishman has three goals in two appearances this season. Reading manager Brian McDermott will be aware of the danger posed, but foreknowledge only goes so far.
Closing our XI is Danny Welbeck ($8.1 million).
Scoring possibly the Premier League season's chief goal with his stoppage-time winner for Arsenal against Leicester City on Sunday, surely Wenger cannot leave Welbeck's soaring confidence on the bench. Playing Barcelona on Tuesday, Welbeck probably won't start that Champions league tie, but Hull City is an altogether different proposition for the Manchester United product—one he should handle with aplomb.
Recap
As shown, this squad used $99.1 million.
Check out Mondogoal to construct your own XI.
Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
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