All the talk going into the gameweek surrounded Wayne Rooney’s hamstring but, despite his start against Norwich, the Canaries could, and perhaps should have frustrated United further. While the leaders struggled to breach their opponents, neighbours City eventually swept Blackburn aside at Ewood with another powerful display – a convincing win, despite losing Sergio Aguero to a worrying groin injury in the first-half.
While the leaders prevailed, below them, the likes of Newcastle and Villa again impressed. Brimming with mid-price prospects, these two continue to reap the rewards for resolute defences and, in Demba Ba and Gabby Agbonlahor, have two strikers in bloom. Here’s the Scout Notes from Saturday’s action…
Agbonlahor the Difference
Yesterday’s match with Wigan was all about Gabby Agbonlahor. A goal and assist in the 2-0 win means there’s no question the forward will pick up the maximum bonus points for his display against the Latics- he’s now scored in every home game this season. Incredibly, Agbonlahor has either scored, assisted or picked up bonus in every single game this season, with his style of play clearly favoured by the EA SPORTS PPI. He’s jumped 0.5 in price so far, but at just 7.0 still looks a real bargain. As we mentioned in last night’s Knee Jerk article, Agbonlahor revealed he has a back problem and will look to get it sorted during the forthcoming international break- this news can surely be expected to slow down any bandwagon until Villa reveal further prognosis.
Latics Lose Again
Their three opening games against the promoted sides may have seen them unbeaten, but Wigan have now tasted defeat in every match since a gameweek three win over QPR. Worryingly for Roberto Martinez, his team seem toothless in attack- just one goal on the road in four attempts now. Ironically for the Latics, their talisman of recent seasons- Charles N’Zogbia- could only make do with a place on the Aston Villa bench and managed a brief second half appearance against his former side; both club and player must be wishing they never parted this summer. The next four gameweeks look kind for Wigan, however- (FUL, wol, BLA, sun)- and Martinez will be reliant on the likes of Franco Di Santo to fire his side up the table.
Kean Defiant
The calls for Steve Kean’s resignation grew louder after Blackburn’s home loss to Man City but the Scotsman is determined to stay put. Only Michel Salgado was missing from the first-choice back-four but Rovers were simply swept aside by a buoyant Man City and have now conceded ten goals in the last three games. While the gameweek five win over Arsenal bought Kean a temporary reprieve from the fans’ fury, their form under his guidance has been dire, with only Junior Hoilett displaying any semblance of consistency- Fantasy managers have steered well clear, in the main. A trip to Loftus Road follows in a fortnight’s time but unless Rovers produce a remarkable turnaround in form, his days look surely numbered. Kean has vowed to carry on regardless but is due to meet the club’s owners next week when the club take a tour of India.
Mancini Keeps His Word
True to his word, Roberto Mancini did, indeed, bench Edin Dzeko after the Bosnian’s Tuesday tantrum in Munich. Mario Balotelli started alongside Sergio Aguero though a groin injury to the Argentine within half an hour allowed Samir Nasri to climb off the bench and steal the show. A goal and two assists are sure to capture the maximum bonus and even though Nasri has been hot and cold since his move to City- 13, 4, 2, 3, (14 +bonus)- the Frenchman has –surprisingly- picked up more assists than David Silva, despite the Spaniard’s far superior consistency. Aguero’s prognosis will be crucial for Fantasy managers- any time on the sidelines would almost guarantee Dzeko and Balotelli starting places in light of the Carlos Tevez saga.
Toffees Come Unstuck
Tim Cahill recovered from a leg injury and took his place behind recalled Louis Saha for the Merseyside derby but it was the referee who grabbed the headlines in Everton’s 2-0 loss. Martin Atkinson’s decision to send off Jack Rodwell incurred the wrath of David Moyes and all but ended the home side’s chance of victory, according to the Toffees boss. More worryingly for owners of Leighton Baines, the left-back is still struggling to show the form of last season- seven fixtures into the campaign, he has yet to assist a single goal and with just one clean sheet to his name, Baines is slowly but surely starting to be sold off by Fantasy managers.
Carroll Ends Drought
It may have taken him seven attempts, but Andy Carroll couldn’t have picked a better time to grab his first goal of the season. The forward endeared himself to Liverpool fans in the best way possible, firing the visitors ahead in an eventful Merseyside derby. Luis Suarez bagged his fourth of the season and could also have had an assist, if Dirk Kuyt hadn’t missed a first half penalty. Two back-to-back wins for the Reds finds them in perfect form as they prepare for the gameweek eight visit of Man United. With (NOR, wba, SWA) to follow on, Liverpool look ripe for investment before squaring up to (che, MCY) in gameweeks twelve and thirteen.
Unconvincing United
Man United were fortunate to escape what, on paper, looked a routine encounter against Norwich, with the three points. Alex Ferguson perhaps set the tone by opting to rest David De Gea in goal, while Ashley Young was also kept preserved on the bench – Ferguson later revealing that he was nursing a slight ankle knock. Both Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez started however, but were unable to carve up a determined Norwich backline as expected.
Anderson and Danny Welbeck eventually breached the resistance – two players who have flirted with Fantasy attention this season. Anderson now has two goals and an assist to his name to present a coverage option in midfield, while Welbeck, introduced from the bench again, seems unlikely to dislodge the established front pairing to deliver long-term potential, despite three league goals so far this term. Elsewhere, the likes of Phil Jones recorded a welcome clean sheet – the third of the season – but, in truth, United looked unconvincing again at the back and will need to vastly improve if they are to shut-out Liverpool and City in the next two. The return of Nemanja Vidic, mooted for the Liverpool clash, looks vital to their defensive prospects.
Norwich Fail To Capitilise
The Canaries will wake this morning and wonder how they returned to East Anglia with nothing to show for their efforts at Old Trafford. Paul Lambert’s side created numerous opportunities, including a one-on-one and a deflected shot that struck the post in the second-half. Lambert kept the same starting eleven for the third consecutive game – a 4-5-1 with Steve Morison the lone striker – clear indication that the Norwich boss is settling on his Premier League strategy, home and away. Wes Hoolahan seems settled in that formation playing just off the striker and, with Norwich’s fixtures improving in the coming weeks, he could yet emerge as a decent budget differential in midfield.
Bendtner Delivers For Black Cats
Sunderland fought back from two early setbacks to earn a 2-2 with West Brom and there were shoots of progress on show in attacking terms at least. An under fire Steve Bruce was forced into a change at the back with Titus Bramble suspended from the club – Michael Turner made his first start to the season then, Lee Cattermole also returned with David Vaughan out of the squad through illness. Nicklas Bendtner came out of the game with his first Sunderland goal and an assist; he has now notched Fantasy returns in three of his four starts for the club. An impressive start, although Fantasy managers need to be wary that he will sit out gameweek eight and the trip to parent club Arsenal. Seb Larsson also registered returns from this game – a smart assist for Bendtner’s opener; with three assists and a goal to his name, the Swede continues to pick up mid-price Fantasy interest despite a torrid start to the season for Sunderland.
Baggies Let It Slip
Roy Hodgson will surely have been disappointed to see a two-goal lead slip at the Stadium of Light. In attacking terms however, he would have been relieved to see his side score goals after notching just once in the last four. Chris Brunt started proceedings by delivering his second assist of the season – a sweet dead ball delivery for James Morison’s early header. That was followed almost immediately by Shane Long’s third league goal – more evidence of his finishing abilities that have seen him emerge as a clear Fantasy alternative for Peter Odemwingie. Roy Hodgson will take his side into two consecutive local derbies against Wolves and Villa next and Long could draw some interest with the obliging Wolves defence up at the Hawthorns next.
Wolves Aggrieved In Defeat
A fourth straight league defeat for Wolves, a third consecutive home reversal – Mick McCarthy’s side were seemingly robbed in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle by two decisions which surely would have seen them grab at least a point. Defensively however, there are major concerns in the Wolves unit having conceded nine in the last four games. McCarthy went into this game making tweaks to his lineup, recalling Steven Fletcher and shifting back to 4-4-2. Fletcher delivered his third league strike of the season as he continues to offer potential in a Wolves squad that currently looks otherwise bereft of Fantasy prospects.
Battling Magpies Roll On
An unchanged lineup from Alan Pardew came away with three points from Molineux to continue Newcastle’s superb start to the season. In truth, the Magpies were fortunate to steal the victory, but strong performances by Tim Krul in goal and the likes of Steven Taylor in defence, again carried Pardew’s side through. Demba Ba got his name on the scoresheet once more, following his hat-trick in against Blackburn – enough to attract further interest from Fantasy managers. Jonas Guitierrez was Newcastle’s outstanding attacking player however, delivering a rare goal to give Newcastle daylight; at 6.0 in the FPL, Guitierrez is however competing with Johan Cabaye for Fantasy investment – the Frenchman delivered his second assist of the season for Ba’s first-half effort.
