Saturday’s Scout Notes

Seven games down, three to go and Saturday delivered a mildly mediocre start to another fantasy gameweek.

There was another blank for the rib-clutching Ronaldo in the face of a stubborn Sunderland showing – the anticipated points bonanza we were expecting from United at Old Trafford never arrived then. Elsewhere, Chelsea powered on efficiently at the Reebok, while Rafa’s rotated troops did the business at beleaguered Blackburn. Here’s the notes…

The Lineups

Starting with the early kick-off and Hodgson kept the same lineup for the fourth successive game against City. Hughes made changes though – forced by injuries to Richards (ankle), Robinho (ankle) and Garrido (Achilles). Ball came in at left back, Hamann started in central midfield and Zabaleta was restored to right back, with Ben-Haim remaining alongside Dunne. Ireland played wide left with Wright-Phillips playing just off Benjani up front.

At the Reebok, Megson kept the same side that won at Sunderland. Scolari meanwhile made one change, restoring Alex to the centre of defence for Ivanovic. That suddenly promotes Alex up the pecking order again in Carvalho’s absence. We might well get another couple of games out of Alex before he makes way then. Joe Cole missed out through injury but is expected back in the midweek Champions League game. Malouda didn’t even make the bench. He has now well and truly dropped out of favour with Scolari and with Drogba and Joe Cole likely to return next week – his opportunities look like being very thin on the ground.

At the KC Stadium, Phil Brown kept faith with his lineup with Dawson still sidelined with his Achilles injury. Barmby kept his place then with Cousin benched. Boro were unchanged with Pogatetz fit to start.

Paul Ince made one change, bringing Derbyshire into the starting lineup for McCarthy. Rafa meanwhile had a field day – dropping Dossena, Riera and Keane to the bench. Insua, Babel and Mascherano came in, while Agger was kept on the bench with Hyypia keeping a starting role. Rafatation is well and truly back then and you now have to worry about Agger’s starting role given that Skrtel is expected to return in a couple of weeks.

Kinnear was forced into one change for Newcastle’s clash with Stoke. Geremi came in for hamstring victim, Nicky Butt. Pulis made five changes with Sorensen, Abdoulaye Faye, Amdy Faye, Diao and Pugh all started. Surprisingly Fuller was left on the bench with Cresswell starting up front.

Just one change from Wenger at the Emirates – Toure returned to replace the injured Gallas. Eboue returned to the bench and came on for Nasri who picked up an injury early on and then was subbed himself after being subject to the Emirates boos late on. Steve Bruce made one change to his Wigan side for this one – Melchiot returned at right-back, pushing Taylor to left midfield with Brown making way. Zaki returned to the bench with Camara keeping his starting role.

The late kick-off saw Ferguson spurn the hopes of four-goal Tevez and start with Berbatov and Rooney up front in an unchanged Premiership lineup. As for Sunderland, caretaker boss Ricky (easy for you to say) Sbragia made four changes, restoring Yorke and Diouf to the midfield, recalling Ferdinand at the back and bringing in Fulop for the injured Gordon in goal. Jones was left on the bench in a 4-5-1.

The Form

Starting in midfield and there was another blank for Ronaldo – his third in succession, much to the pleasure of those who sold him on in the FPL this week. Once again though, none of the obvious captain contenders produced on the day. Both Lampard and Van Persie looked strong options this week but drew blanks; Lampard for the fifth consecutive gameweek. What is also surprising is that he has gained just a single bonus point in his last five games, having collected twenty points up to that stage. Clearly, the Press Association in charge of handing out FPL bonus points, have fallen out of love with the midfielder and are looking elsewhere.

Lampard owners will be getting fidgety then, and with Deco returning to form at Bolton with a goal and three FPL bonus points, there is a ready-made alternative in the Chelsea lineup for those considering the move. Gerrard put himself forward as another worthy alternative with a goal and bonus in Liverpool’s win at Blackburn. This was his third goal in Liverpool’s last seven games.

Lampard remains the FPL’s highest scoring midfielder though, while Bosingwa has soared to the top of the overall scoring charts with his fourth assist at the Reebok and a couple more bonus points. His consistent scoring clearly offers an alternative for your captain selection while Lampard and Ronaldo falter.

With double gameweeks to come in the New Year, United’s Park is sneaking onto the fantasy radar. Once again Ferguson partnered Rafael with Park down the right hand side – this recent development has strengthened Park as a fantasy consideration. It would seem that Rafael is set for a continued run in the side with O’Shea tied up at left back with Evra suspended. That should see Park continue in front of him, particularly away from home. Carrick is another who deserves some attention. He was instrumental for United against Sunderland, without earning credit via FPL bonus.

Owen was the leading striker on the day, his two strikes against Stoke taking him onto six goals for the season. It should be noted that Owen has made just eight full starts this season, indicating that he remains a major goal threat when he puts together consistent starts in Newcastle colours. Forthcoming games against Portsmouth, Spurs and Wigan suggest that he should add to his goal total in the next few weeks. He is a clear differential to Defoe in the mid-price bracket then.

Hull’s Marlon King brought in his second consecutive goal plus bonus haul with the spot kick against Boro. With Fuller rather unexpectedly benched for Stoke, King now clearly has top billing in the budget strikers bracket in the FPL and offers a saving for those still holding on to Zaki prior to his missing fixtures in gameweek 18. Benjani also promoted himself in fantasy terms with a well taken goal at Fulham. Strong fixtures and a low-to-mid price bracket make him a worthy consideration over the Christmas period – although come January, he will clearly be under severe threat for a starting role.

Anelka turned up with his first goal in three games at Bolton but will now come under threat from Drogba with his suspension now up. Anelka shouldn’t have to fear for a starting role, although Drogba’s availability could well impact on his minutes on the pitch and the number of chances that come his way. Drogba’s return could be a positive for Anelka but it’s clearly a new unknown that his owners will have to consider.

Berbatov owners will be getting mildly distressed with his current output. The Sunderland game looked, on paper, an opportunity for the Bulgarian to kick-on. He drew another blank however and has just a single goal (no assist or bonus) in his last four starts. A trip to former club Spurs comes next – a game he will certainly start with Rooney suspended. After that, the missing gameweek may see some Berbatov sales, with interest likely to pick up again in the New Year when United’s double gameweek’s come rolling in.

Defensively, Saturday’s results reiterated the value of the top three clean sheet collectors – Chelsea, Liverpool and United. Yes, Liverpool conceded at Blackburn but it was the lack of consistent clean sheets from the low-to-mid price teams that emphasised their importance to your fantasy team.

Fulham and Newcastle looked decent options for a clean sheet going into this weekend but both conceded. Everton and City have leaked goals consistently this season, similarly Hull’s defensive form has evaporated, while Portsmouth continue to concede goals. Only Villa of late have shown any potential to threaten the big three defences. We’ll see what they can do at Goodison today.

Chelsea moved onto eleven clean sheets for the season, Liverpool have ten and United nine. The gap between those three and the rest is a gulf rather than a gap. Villa have six with City, Fulham and Arsenal sitting on five. Such is the inconsistency amongst mid-price defences – City, Everton, Portsmouth and Boro – it’s difficult to justify anything but a FPL back five that consists of three big defenders and a pair of budget ones unless you’re looking for attacking returns from Laursen, Turner and Portsmouth’s Johnson.

Injuries and Bans

Arsenal’s Samir Nasri picked up an injury after 32 minutes after receiving a clattering from Palacios.

Ronaldo walked off the pitch clutching his rib area on 65 minutes. The injury has yet to be assessed so we all await news on that.

Rooney picked up his fifth booking against Sunderland and, along with Evra, he will miss the trip to Spurs.

Wigan’s Palacios now faces a one match ban having picked up a fifth yellow today. He will miss next week’s match against Blackburn.

Stephen Ireland was the most notable addition to the suspension tightrope. Stoke’s Griffin, also moved on to four bookings for the season with another yellow at Newcastle.