The Knee Jerk – Robin Red Faced
Filed under: The Knee Jerk - Posted by: Mark
“He is an exceptional player and when you feed him in the box, he’s deadly.”
You see, we kind of knew all that. We realised that, against Blackburn, particularly a Blackburn reduced to ten men after half an hour, Van Persie had the tools to destroy them and deliver massive returns. The problem Mr Wenger, is that on Friday afternoon you uttered this…
“I will rotate a little bit because many players have given a lot…[With Van Persie] the temptation is there.”
That was news to us Fantasy managers. That put the frighteners on and, despite our attempt this morning to deconstruct that statement and put up arguments against the idea of resting Van Persie, some took action. Indeed, two of the top four ranked Fantasy Premier League managers opted to give the armband to Sergio Aguero – perhaps oblivious to Wenger’s threats, but more likely as a result of them.
The very idea of us, a site dedicated to passing information to Fantasy Football managers, ignoring the quotes from Wenger was never a viable option. We turned a blind eye to Friday’s Sun report, but when Wenger speaks, we had to report it. So, to counter that, in this morning’s Preamble, we stressed the need to keep faith with Van Persie and hope that Wenger resisted the gamble. Hopefully, that helped some in their decision to sit tight.
Is there a lesson to be learned? Certainly the fact that Van Persie remained on the pitch to provide an assist to Thierry Henry with the score at 6-1, indicates that the idea of resting Van Persie didn’t cross Wenger’s mind once the goals started flowing. Had Van Persie been tiring, had he been desperate for a break – why was he left on the pitch when the match was dead and buried?
Only Wenger has the answers, and it seems we’ll never quite work out his thinking when it comes to Van Persie. With the Champions League programme looming, we can surely expect more uncertainly, perhaps some smokescreens.
However, today surely confirmed that we can ill afford to take risks with Van Persie and the armband. There is no better Fantasy damage dealer and if there’s a chance that he will be on the pitch, particularly against abject opposition, we have to back him. That policy may cost us – there may well be occasions when Van Persie will be left fidgeting on the bench whilst sporting our armbands. The question is, will those who suffer that fate feel any worse that those who missed out on today’s incredible haul? Right now, in this Knee Jerk, it seems unlikely.
About The Author
“Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.”
Mark
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As a rule no woman in her 40s for me! » -
my 2 year old just saw a photo of king kenny and said 'poorly man' lol i think he meant to say 'poor manager… » -
Robben is unbelievably selfish, always injured and a problem in the dressing room. Even at his best hes not even close… » -
Very, very quiet. »
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Poor Chamberlain'll be gutted. 45 now, looks well. » -
:wink: * »
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yup, what they said. » -
Very quiet at the minute.... » -
Another of Fergies old boys willing to roll over for him you mean :wink; »
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February 4 at 6:18 pm
disparate dan - liverpool > manchester says:
anyone else feeling a bit uninspired having silva at the moment?
February 4 at 6:20 pm
808Shadow says:
na even though he’s started to go downhill a bit on the points he’s still in the mix on everything and is still being the main playmaker in my opinion. It’s only a matter of time until he stacks up some points
February 4 at 6:20 pm
denial says:
There were those feelings knocking about just before winter WC time and then he popped up with a few points. I’ve had him since the start, so there’s just no way I’ll be getting rid. No other decent options either.
February 4 at 6:20 pm
Hate that rotation says:
Yep. Other midfielders playing better at the moment. Only got him coz of fixtures.
February 4 at 6:20 pm
colonel shoe says:
its one of those season long haves really i guess, covering his general consistency, but yeh i get your point,
February 4 at 6:21 pm
halnone says:
Not really
February 4 at 6:23 pm
Cowshed - Jordan Rhodes is not for sale. says:
Me. The more i see Silva, the more he seems like a big game player. I dont think its a coincidence that 3 of his biggest scoring games this season have been against Liverpool, Man U and Arsenal. Im not saying hes poor in the games against lower teams, just that he seems to coast a bit more.
February 4 at 6:26 pm
v12w12 says:
Yes defo although he is consistent enough with an assist per game at least normally.
February 4 at 6:31 pm
Says says:
he’s unlucky not to have earned a peno assist in this game so far
February 4 at 6:34 pm
disparate dan - liverpool > manchester says:
seems that i have seen many people start sentences regarding silva with “he’s unlucky not to…”
February 4 at 6:19 pm
Spoiler says:
savic watch – no f** ups yet!
also this game feels like a training match at times
February 4 at 6:20 pm
Dr Bronner says:
yer, and with this score and performance you don’t expect a fightback second half
February 4 at 6:19 pm
belha nadaliste says:
HUMONGOUS amount of key passes by aguero this game, and no shots off target
February 4 at 6:21 pm
tangtastic says:
Yeah.. I’m really really glad I captained him over RvP now!
February 4 at 6:20 pm
Milanista says:
The way the first half went I’m disappointed to only have one goal from Aguero, Silva and Richards. Second half could see a few City goals.
February 4 at 6:20 pm
Doesnt Mata says:
Sick of ManC players not offering explosive returns. Happens week after week.
February 4 at 6:21 pm
Podge says:
Yeh they get shared around so much
February 4 at 6:23 pm
Doesnt Mata says:
It’s infuriating. It’s always some random that gets the points, like Johnson or Nasri, then fades away for 2 or 3 games. So annoying.
February 4 at 6:21 pm
colonel shoe says:
then dont have em in your team, simples
February 4 at 6:20 pm
Synchronicity says:
Barry is utterly woeful
February 4 at 6:24 pm
jas5sk says:
He’s going to be Captain for the Euros
February 4 at 6:20 pm
wrh says:
Really shouldn’t have tried to get clever and take the expensive defender (Huth) from the bad team and the cheap defender (Clichy) from the good team. If Huth is out for 3 games can I do any better than Evans?
February 4 at 6:22 pm
Yateszy says:
Really shouldn’t have tried to get clever and take the cheap defender (Evans) from the good team. Hmm.
February 4 at 6:24 pm
wrh says:
The irony is just sickening, huh? But he’s so cheap I think it might be worth it.
February 4 at 6:23 pm
IceMan DB says:
His red card should get rescinded so stick with him.
February 4 at 6:24 pm
808Shadow says:
shawcross, R.Taylor, senderos, Cahill, theres tons of better defenders for the points
February 4 at 6:29 pm
A2U says:
Get someone else in for the next three weeks, then you’ll want Evans or another man u defender for the rest of the season
February 4 at 6:21 pm
zoltar74 says:
Did anyone get vision of Jo Hart coming off at half time? Thinkn he would have had a heap of stalactites hanging off him from lack of moving around in that 45min… Poor bloke would be freeeezn
February 4 at 6:22 pm
colonel shoe says:
aye looks pretty cold, still snowin here oop north
February 4 at 6:23 pm
denial says:
I’m sure his weekly salary + win bonus will go some way to keeping him warm the poor lamb.
February 4 at 6:30 pm
disparate dan - liverpool > manchester says:
depends on the intensity of mineral deposits in the water dripping off him to be honest
February 4 at 6:22 pm
Milanista says:
Baird’s performance is good for Kelly’s chances of remaining 1st choice at right back.
February 4 at 6:27 pm
everyday, i'm shuffling.. natt says:
+1 … Kelly looks more interesting as he’s cheaper and less likely to concede own goal than Senderos.
February 4 at 6:23 pm
A2U says:
Remember City vs Fulham in the first half of the season. I believe it was exactly the same at the end of the first half (2-0 City) yet Fulham came back to draw 2-2. Not saying it’ll happen again, but it could
February 4 at 6:24 pm
Krisbee says:
does anyone think Zamora, Sess and… this is really scraping the barrel….Moses will get any bonus points?!
February 4 at 6:26 pm
808Shadow says:
I would think zamora and sess definitely have a good chance with the goal from zamora and the game winning assist from sess but moses I’m thinkin not so much
February 4 at 6:27 pm
jkisthe1 says:
Sess maybe, am hoping for a cheeky Mignolet BAP, Zamora same, Moses, no chance
February 4 at 6:28 pm
Holy see says:
Sess could, not alot of standout performers in that game. He, at least, got an asisst. Remember him having a shot off target. Ridiculous his ppi suffers as a result but hey, whaddya gonna do.
February 4 at 6:24 pm
zeppelin484 - additional generic quip, designed to make me look more considerable to my peers... says:
Was Huth’s red card deemed as violent conduct?
February 4 at 6:28 pm
everyday, i'm shuffling.. natt says:
Should be from its look. FPL just flagged him with info of being suspended until 3 Mar.
February 4 at 6:24 pm
Dr Heckle says:
Kevin would love it if Man City win
February 4 at 6:25 pm
jkisthe1 says:
ok went in to today 9 points behind in ML, am currently outscoring him by 9, with Richards extra 1 to go on. He has Simpson to come for Komps, plus Raylor and Ade, I have Santon, the rest are the same. This is gonna be close, hoping for a Spurs win not involving DAD
February 4 at 6:25 pm
Wayne_Pooney says:
quick question if they get rid of huth assist will his -2 pts also be removed. He should then get 2 pts right in fpl?
swing of 4 vital pts there
February 4 at 6:25 pm
Wayne_Pooney says:
huth red card – not assist
February 4 at 6:27 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
Ah, right, no. The -3 will stay whether he wins any appeal or not.
February 4 at 6:28 pm
Wayne_Pooney says:
-3? it was -2
February 4 at 6:30 pm
tangtastic says:
you get -3 for a red.. he is on -2 because he got 1pt for game time……..
February 4 at 6:30 pm
Demi says:
-3
February 4 at 6:30 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
The -3 for the red card. 1 for playing less than 60 mins, -3 for the red.
February 4 at 6:26 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
You’ve lost me.
February 4 at 6:27 pm
Wayne_Pooney says:
if fa take a look and say it wasn’t a sending off and decide he is not suspended will his -2 pts be changed to 2 pts?
February 4 at 6:27 pm
Aguerolicious says:
points will not be restored
February 4 at 6:27 pm
Wayne_Pooney says:
why????
February 4 at 6:27 pm
Dr Heckle says:
cards are usually rescinded midweek, after all points have been allocated
February 4 at 6:28 pm
Aguerolicious says:
+++
February 4 at 6:28 pm
Milanista says:
Not how it works.
February 4 at 6:29 pm
Slaps says:
Huths red card will not be rescinded…. they never do – even if it did fpl wouldn’t change any point awards
February 4 at 6:26 pm
The Viper says:
Aguero will come off, in and around 60 mins… I just know it
February 4 at 6:29 pm
futbolnotsoccer says:
STOP IT
February 4 at 6:30 pm
The Viper says:
I’m sorry, he always come off early though & their cruising..
Signs are good if he stays on though..
February 4 at 6:30 pm
jkisthe1 says:
as long as he makes it to 60
February 4 at 6:32 pm
The Viper says:
….and has another goal in the bag
February 4 at 6:26 pm
fleabag says:
I dont understand the Van Persie rest quotes:
“I will rotate a little bit because many players have given a lot,” said Wenger. “[With Van Persie] the temptation is there.
“We are in a situation at the moment where he is the main goalscorer, so I will maybe have to build a team that works around him.”
That sounds like he cant be rested to me.
February 4 at 6:31 pm
Shogun says:
What it is is unclear. Lots of maybes and specultion.
That said it confirms the fact that Wenger knows he needs a rest – that’s the point, it added a lot of doubt. These things are never certain.
February 4 at 6:27 pm
Dr Bronner says:
f’in hell – what an uninspired boring useless disinterested bunch of pundits and commentators ESPN have got today. not one of them is interested in this game.
February 4 at 6:40 pm
disparate dan - liverpool > manchester says:
really making me want to sign up
February 4 at 6:27 pm
Tommytour59 - Timmy Loving says:
Aguero Captain over RVP next week?
February 4 at 6:28 pm
IceMan DB says:
Bale or Dempsey.
February 4 at 6:29 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
Sigurdsson
February 4 at 6:29 pm
everyday, i'm shuffling.. natt says:
Not when he’s playing away from Etihad.
February 4 at 6:30 pm
jkisthe1 says:
Captain America
February 4 at 6:31 pm
v12w12 says:
RVP
February 4 at 6:31 pm
tangtastic says:
Tevez
February 4 at 6:34 pm
Bowstring92 says:
I’m with ya there….. or RVP if I’ve learned anything from this week.
February 4 at 6:28 pm
isacki - "well, that about wraps it up for the famous five" says:
Now the elephant in the room is RVP going absolutely mental, but at least the bigging up of Aguero on pens was right – he was just given one and scored one. He could get more in the second half tbh and while it looks unlikely he’ll surpass RVP’s score, he could still give a better captaincy than most people have had for weeks.
I lucked this one tbh, after waking up I played captain roulette until the deadline and was on RVP when I hit the updating screen.
February 4 at 6:29 pm
jkisthe1 says:
*takes a bow*
That being said I’m still being told Milner would have taken it if he was on, even though I have categorically refuted this idea.
February 4 at 6:34 pm
isacki - "well, that about wraps it up for the famous five" says:
Yeah you’ve been saying from the start Kun is on pens and you were conclusively vindicated today. There have been so many Milner takes them replies based on erroneous assumptions. Let them be, they can learn the hard way.
February 4 at 6:32 pm
v12w12 says:
Lol, thought I was the only one that did things like that
February 4 at 6:36 pm
isacki - "well, that about wraps it up for the famous five" says:
Lmao ditto!
February 4 at 6:31 pm
colonel shoe says:
this means war looks like worst film ever
February 4 at 6:33 pm
TheLightKnight says:
mama mia
February 4 at 6:35 pm
Dr Bronner says:
mate, so much. I hate seeing the advert for it.
February 4 at 6:37 pm
colonel shoe says:
i think the fact its got ‘war’ by edwin starr as the backing track winds me up more
February 4 at 6:47 pm
SvenGoranErskine says:
melancholia
February 4 at 6:33 pm
Slaps says:
All these generic teams knocking around, this guy is top of my league
http://fantasy.premierleague.c.....istory/24/
shows it pays to be different…..
February 4 at 6:38 pm
Ghost says:
He’s had most of the usual suspects during the season though.
February 4 at 6:45 pm
Slaps says:
well i suppose he’s had a few, but Szczesney in goal all year is pretty different!
February 4 at 6:33 pm
futbolnotsoccer says:
Does anyone who doesn’t have Jevans tempted to bring him in despite his terrible fixtures the next couple gameweeks?? or should I focus on somebody else?
February 4 at 6:34 pm
Dr Heckle says:
who? what? why? yeah, someone else
February 4 at 6:35 pm
futbolnotsoccer says:
hehe
February 4 at 6:34 pm
jamboken77 - Jamie Carragerrrrggghh says:
I really hate the new BBC website! If you click off the page and go back it refreshes from last time and takes ages!!
February 4 at 6:35 pm
colonel shoe says:
ha aye, i love the sudden flurry of updates ive already seen
February 4 at 6:36 pm
In Kenny We Trust: Wildcard Schmildcard says:
Captained Van Persie last week over Bale
Captained Aguero this week over Van Persie
Anyone share my pain?
February 4 at 6:37 pm
Acquafresca says:
last week, yes. this week, no
February 4 at 6:39 pm
tangtastic says:
Snap.
February 4 at 6:40 pm
dodger49 says:
Ouch
February 4 at 6:36 pm
Acquafresca says:
Just wondering, how do all you Tawio owners feel?
2 games, 0 CS, loss to wolves at home.
I honestly dont see any clean sheet potential with their shaky d and kenny in net.
February 4 at 6:38 pm
disparate dan - liverpool > manchester says:
sure;y nobody has actually bought a qpr defender though?
February 4 at 6:38 pm
tangtastic says:
Will hold for a couple more games perhaps. But eyeing up a replacement already yes.
February 4 at 6:40 pm
TheLightKnight says:
you decide to omit the assist which counters your argument somewhat
February 4 at 6:42 pm
Podge says:
He’s muck as anyone who seen him play first time attested to.
February 4 at 6:37 pm
disparate dan - liverpool > manchester says:
lol @ tevez playing in a testimonial back home
February 4 at 6:37 pm
Hate that rotation says:
Comon fulham
February 4 at 6:37 pm
Arsenals Number 10 says:
captained ox over rvp because i thought he was being rested
February 4 at 6:38 pm
andy85wsm says:
So not that bad then.
February 4 at 6:38 pm
tangtastic says:
For anyone living in Manchester:
I will pay you TEN LONDON POUNDS to go down to the Etihad and take out the floodlights so the game gets called off.
TEN LONDON POUNDS.