Nani’s Form Brings Uncertainty Back To United’s Midfield
Just a few weeks ago Antonio Valencia appeared to have emerged as a genuine force in the United midfield. After months of uncertainty in Ferguson’s ranks, Fantasy Managers at last had an attacking player that they could turn to as a supplement to Wayne Rooney’s ample returns. The Ecuadorian had served up four goals and four assists in the final couple of months of 2009 and all looked rosey for him and his fantasy owners for the year ahead. Then, against the odds and from nowhere, Nani put himself back in the game.
Alex Ferguson handed the Portuguese winger a starting berth in the same eleven as Valencia in the 3-0 win over Burnley. It wasn’t until the United boss switched Nani to the opposite flank in the 4-0 win over Hull however, that he began to reveal himself as a true prospect. Nani has since thrived on the right-wing in the wins over Hull, Man City and last weekend at the Emirates. This has been achieved at the expense of Valencia who has sat out of all three matches and now faces a battle to regain his starting role.
It’s a huge change in fortunes for Nani – a player who was reported to be offered to Wigan in exchange for Valencia in the Summer and was looking for assurance on his future at Old Trafford just before Christmas. But where does this leave us Fantasy Managers? Back in a world of uncertainty by the looks of things. Ferguson has recently admitted that he faces a dilemma with the two wingers, indicating that he recognises the right-flank as Nani’s preferred and natural position…
“When he plays on the left maybe he does that (over-elaborates) but the right side is his natural position…It is amazing when you talk to the players – they all want him to play. They all think he is fantastic. We are getting consistency from him now. We have a really good player. We wondered if he would feel tired after three games in a week but he never showed that until the last 10 minutes. But it gives me a massive decision now between Nani and Antonio Valencia.”
So far Nani’s fantasy returns have seen three assists in his last two games but with Rooney firing goals from all angles, further assists and even goals could well be in Nani’s locker with regular starts. Priced significantly cheaper than Valencia across the fantasy games (6.5 vs 8.4 in the Fantasy Premier League game), Nani has the edge right now but rotation with Valencia is surely on the cards.
United’s schedule, with Champions League fixtures now looming, hands Ferguson the opportunity to justify resting and rotating the pair and we could see that in action with Portsmouth at Old Trafford this weekend. With a trip to Villa Park on Wednesday, the form of Nani could well be saved for the sterner opposition that awaits in midweek. That would come as a major disappointment for early investors in the Nani bandwagon.
There is of course a chance that Ferguson will unleash the pair of them at times, although we seen that Ferguson is a keen admirer of the workrate of Park on the left, while Giggs is always another option, despite his move to a central role for the main part of this season. There’s just so much uncertainty then, leaving us with little option but to study Ferguson’s selection patterns and attempt to predict which of Valencia or Nani is set to be preferred for the next fixture. It’s a dangerous, frustrating game but then frustration has come hand in hand with Nani ever since he arrived at Old Trafford.
Is it worth a 4 point hit to do A.Cole -> Evra and Anelka -> Drogba, which would allow me to upgrade Baird -> Cahill next week?
I would only lose Cole if you need the money. He is always a good potential for an assist/goal
I’ve got Ivanovic to cover the Chelsea defence, and he’s had a decent share of assists. And I could use the money elsewhere
Would appreciate some input chaps
Need to replace Dunn with someone, I already used one of my 2 freebies to do Anelka OUT and Drogba IN, midfield consists of Fab/Taylor/N’Zogbia/Dunn/Gera, am thinking Dunn OUT Tuncay IN or taking a 1-2 week cheeky gamble on Nani?
Have 2.3 in the bank
I wouldn’t gamble on Nani. I’d go for Tuncay, but some people seem to think Etherington’s a better bet
Etherington is safer as he will play every game, but Tuncay has the creativity and has actually started the past 5 Stoke games I think!
Dunn out…Petrov or Tuncay in??
ok i’m confused, plan to go Anelka to Rooney. Fantasy Tools says Anelka at 150% to down tonight and Rooney 108% to go up tonight. Fiso says both at 70% so price unlikely to change overnight, which is right ? I’d prefer to wait but theres a potential £0.2m differential if I time it wrong
Tonight or you´ll ´lose´ 0.2,
Tools is normally more accurate I think.
I love FantasyTools!
Anybody know if Sorensen’s position is under threat from Begovic? Plan on playing Sorensen this weekend…….
Play him, he’s in good form so he should be safe for the immediate future
Chaps, I have a question regarding my Sun Dreamteam.
I’ve got my deadline tomorrow and I’m replacing Steve Gerrard. Which would you rather for the rest of the season, Lampard or Fabregas?
Currently I’m going towards Lampard as I think he’ll play more games i.e. Chavski further in the Champs League and still in the FA Cup.
I’m currently 3rd out of 55 people & just 4 points off the lead. This is a huge decision considering the money available for the winner.
Help!!
do champs league and fa cup games count?
if not it’s gotta be fabregas. between gw27 and the end of the season he could average 10 points a game
Fabregas for me, especially with Drogba back which will probably lessen Lampard’s returns.
Arsenal gw29-38: BUR hul WHM bir WLV tot wig MCY bla FUL
Chelsea gw29-38: por WHM bla AVL mun BOL tot STK liv WIG
If you are willing to ride out Arsenal’s upcoming tough fixtures you have to go Fab.
In fact a nice home game for Arsenal v Sunderland in gw27 and an away game at Stoke put the icing on the cake. In gw28 Chelsea play City.
I agree with Slinky that Drogba will take the limelight off Lamps and affect his points scoring.
until DGWs and missing weeks put a spanner in the works….
Fab is 1.5m cheaper so I could upgrade Dempsey to Milner too. Thanks peeps, Fab it is
In the Sun, Champs League and all domestic cup games count too so I’m not too worried about DGW’s and missing fixtures.
Fabs for sure.
So it looks like Anelka down in price & Rooney up again. Probably going to hold onto Evra (for the dgw) and also Lamps, so not going to free up any cash by selling either at present. With only £0.3m in the JOMT bank balance it looks like I’m going to have to take the gamble tonight – I just hope Fergie does not mention anything about Rooney rotation tomorrow.
yeah but the DGW 27 for United sold it for me, together with Capt this week will make up for any points hits
Rooney has to be captain this weekend eh? Man Utd must win against P’smouth, preferably by racking up a decent margin to improve the goal difference. Rooney has to play.
I’m ready to hit the transfer button after much thought (read: avoiding work). I’m selling Anelka and Ballack and buying Drogba and Nani (despite rotation risk).
My team would be:
Hart (Sorensen)
Evra RJohnson Dunne (Dawson, Bramble)
Fabregas N’Zogbia Nani Duff (Eagles)
Rooney(c) Tevez Drogba
Should I push the transfer button … or figure out a different midfielder to buy?
Thanks and appreciation for any comments!
id put etherington in instead of nani
because of the rotation risk?
any information about McCarthy (youngster I think) from wigan?
http://www.fantasyfootballscou.....-mccarthy/
How is this team for the upcoming GW? Just made my transfers.
Sorensen
Evra – Dann – Cahill – A Cole
Modric – Fabs – Tuncay
Rodallega – Rooney (c) – Tevez
Subs: Hart, N’Zogbia, Duff, Baird.
?
I’m quite keen to do Drogba in for Anelka before the price change but I’m still waiting for the Fantasy cup to be drawn to see what I’m up against. Very annoying.
This is why I’ve primed the transfer button to push soon, but then still dithering over Nani.
I thought Mark would have bought you a digital camera for Christmas Granville?
Nani is not a big risk a 6.4. I have had similar price midfielders and more (Milner) for months and settled for 3 or 4 points weekly. I have gone for him and Adebayor tonight as a dirty weekend starting tomorrow means no internet.
Ahhhh…not sure how to respond to your information, Dad. Maybe more than we need to know. I’m talking about Nani, of course.
Ive done it before price change
Whens Drogs goin up in value?
Just went anelka to drog…
Will it be worth it??
Anelka is gonna go down and drog is goin up…
Yeah sure, but it’s the points that count at the end of the day, and it’s conceivable that Drogba will only get 2pts. Mmmm, dilemma.
Who to start….Zamora away to Bolton or Larsson at home to Wolves????
Larsson of course.
Larsson totally. That’s a no-brainer.
Was debating Anelka
Drogba but went Anelka 
Tevez
Over the next 2GW’s Tevez has 3 games against easier opposition to Drogba’s 2 games although i do fancy Drogs to do well this GW.
Not having Tevez for the DGW could be a big mistake for me as my nearest rival has him – i think my transfer is 50% sensible and 50% tactical
Drogs will be in for GW 27 onwards.
Sounds sensible…
Stoke defender or midfielder for the DGW?
Thinking of getting rid of Kyrgakios due to L’pool poor fixtures
Who can you afford? Hard to go past Shawcross in defence…
Hi guys,
I’ve just played my wild card and would love some advice on what to do with my spare 0.7m. I’ve currently got:
Sorenson/Jenson (only able to sell Sorenson for 5.2m)
ACole, Shawcross, Ridgewell, Olsson, Shorey (ACole 7.3m, Shaw 4.8m)
Lampard, Fabregas, Hunt, Bowyer, O’Hara
Rooney, Tevez, Bent (Bent 7.4m)
Any suggestions?
possible risers tonight: none
possible drops tonight: fabregas
rooney will go up
plenty dropping too by the looks of it, Anelka a cert
sorry ignore that list.
I’d move Valencia on the left and Nani right. I’d have Valencia cutting inside – his shot is better than his delivery into the box and I don’t see him beat too many fullbacks.
I’d only play Park in tight games and then it’s 50/50 between Nani and Valencia and Nani IF he maintains consistency. That remains to be seen to date
I would bet my house that you are not Alex Ferguson, then.
What’s the chance of a Fulham cleanie this weekend? They are away at Bolton.