The Knee Jerk – Double-barrelled

Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s left-foot ensured that the double gameweek had the impact we’d anticipated, but there can be no doubt the he was an unexpected source of satisfaction.

A 30-yard screamer, deflecting off Tim Cahill’s posterior, marked the closest Everton’s Aussie has got to getting his name on the scoresheet this season. Assou-Ekotto has gone one better than the Socceroo, rightly claiming a stunning strike, although his application for goal of the season will surely be turned down thanks to Cahill’s intervention.

With 10% ownership in the Fantasy Premier League game, after over 40,000 transfers in for Gameweek 20, Assou-Ekotto has clearly provided a major boost to a fair slice of Fantasy managers. Those who missed out on tonight’s goal, assist and clean sheet bonanza can at least take some comfort from the fact that such returns were far from signposted. The Cameroon international had scored just one league goal in his previous five seasons – he had mustered just a single shot on target this term before this evening.

It was surely Assou-Ekotto’s price tag, rather than his proven attacking prowess, behind his selection for Tottenham’s double Gameweek. His investors could hardly have expected a profit of 21 point (24 with the inevitable bonus) for their punt.

All the expectation was instead laid at the door of Gareth Bale, Rafael Van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor. While the two of that trio managed to scratch together an assist of Tottenham’s two matches, Adebayor was a major let down; just two goal attempts, both off target, saw the Togo striker do little to justify the FPL armband.

For many, the first double gameweek passed as a non-event – a reminder that the hype and over investment so often involved, can slap us in the face. And yet, ironically, the unlikely profit from Assou-Ekotto demonstrates just how that extra transfer, perhaps even a 4-point hit, can pay off spectacularly when the doubles come around.