Cash (AVL, Defender, £4.8m)

Verdict: HOLD

Cash is fully available and offers a budget-friendly route into Aston Villa's defence, with potential for both clean sheets and attacking returns in the upcoming Gameweek 22.

The Reasoning

Fitness & Availability: Matty Cash is fully available ('a') and there is no news regarding any injuries or suspensions, making him a nailed-on starter for Aston Villa.
Recent Performance: Cash's recent form has been a mixed bag, with a 6-point haul (clean sheet) in GW21 and a 5-point return (assist) in GW20. However, he also blanked in GW19 and only managed 1 and 2 points in GW18 and GW17 respectively. This inconsistency is a concern, but the attacking returns show his potential.
Upcoming Fixtures: Aston Villa face Everton (H) in GW22, which is a favourable fixture (difficulty 2) for a clean sheet. This is followed by a tough trip to Newcastle (A) in GW23 (difficulty 4), before returning home to face Brentford (H) in GW24 (difficulty 3). The Everton game is key for his immediate appeal.
Underlying Stats: With 3 goals and 2 assists this season, Cash demonstrates attacking threat from defence. His ICT Index of 84.4 suggests he's involved in Villa's play, and his 6 clean sheets highlight Villa's defensive capabilities when at their best. He's a defender who can haul at both ends of the pitch.

Risks

The primary risk for Cash is the inconsistency in his FPL returns, as seen in his recent blanks. While Villa's defence can be solid, they also concede. The tough fixture against Newcastle in GW23 could see him blank, and there's always a rotation risk in a busy schedule, though he appears nailed for now.

Alternative Options

For a similar price, consider someone like Gabriel (ARS, £5.0m) for more consistent clean sheet potential, or perhaps a more attacking full-back like Doughty (LUT, £4.5m) if you're chasing attacking returns from a differential.

The Strategic Play

If you own Cash, holding him for the favourable Everton fixture in GW22 makes sense. He's a differential at 10.9% ownership and could deliver a decent haul. Beyond GW22, consider his long-term value against tougher fixtures, but for now, he's a decent budget option to keep.

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