The Stock Check – Gameweek 1 – Saturday
Filed under: The Stock Check - Posted by: Mark
A new post-match regular. With the Scout Notes to follow, the Stock Check is a quick thinking, non-exhaustive blast – an at a glance appraisal of those teams and players who have their stock rise and fall as a result of the day’s matches. Today, it’s all about the new arrivals: book your ticket for the “Michu Chu Train”…
On The Up
Swansea City
We knew they had good fixtures to come but nobody expected them to explode at Loftus Road, so often a fortress under Mark Hughes last term. Michael Laudrup is already an honoury Welshman after a stunning result in his first senior game in charge. Fantasy managers are sniffing around the Liberty with renewed vigour.
Michu
Gylfi who? An outstanding debut for the Spaniard. Michu fired the Swans in front with a first half strike to announce himself in the English top flight, while that goal owed a lot to the calamitous Robert Green, the second was an assured finish from a smart Swansea move. With strong fixtures to come, the bandwagon is already roaring.
Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge
Heavily backed as a budget option last season, Dyer cropped up with a brace in the demolition of the R’s, while Routledge contributed a pair of assists. Laudrup had suggested that he wanted his wide men to tuck in and support Danny Graham – they did so with some effect.
Fulham
Martin Jol’s side clicked immediately, delivering a 5-0 spanking to poor old Chris Hughton. Again, there were some impressive attacking displays on show, while the clean sheet reinforced the faith that many showed in the likes of Brede Hangeland.
Mladen Petric
Like Michu, Fulham’s Croatian put his name to the top of our Watchlist with a two-goal salvo to justify his Scout Picks inclusion this week. At 6.0 in the FPL and just 6.8 in the Sky Sports game, he’s a ready-made third striker option: today’s brace will surely provide the catalyst for investment.
Alex Kacaniklic
A 4.5 option in the FPL game, the Swede got the nod with Karim Frei injured and took his chance with Fulham’s fourth. Can he retain his start? Certainly Clint Dempsey doesn’t look a likely threat.
The Sunderland Defence
Full of cheap options, a makeshift Black Cats back four put up a barrier at the Emirates that Arsene Wenger’s side, sans Robin Van Persie, just couldn’t blow down. Fantasy managers will be circling Martin O’Neill’s rearguard as a result.
Liam Ridgewell
A clean sheet and an assist in a win – Ridgewell has set himself up nicely for bonus recognition. We know about his attacking instincts; if Steve Clarke has firmed up the Baggies, then Ridgewell demonstrated today that he could be the key figure in Fantasy terms.
Zoltan Gera
A superb strike for West Brom’s opener – can the Hungarian hold off the claims of Chris Brunt for a starting role and deliver value in the midfield bracket?
Jermain Defoe
He has to take his opportunity while the safety catch is on the Spurs cheque book. Today’s goal confirmed that Defoe can deliver and Fanatsy managers will be twitching at the prospect of Tottenham’s favourable home games to come.
Demba Ba
Remember him? Denied a brace by Hatem Ben Arfa’s reluctance to surrender the spot-kick, Ba stepped out of the shadow of his compatriot Papiss Cisse to remind us that he can score goals. A 7.5 prospect in the FPL, he’ll join Defoe on the mid-price Watchlist.
Hatem Ben Arfa
According Alan Pardew, Ben Arfa was definitely out of the game – he wasn’t, he was very much in it. He won the winning penalty. He took the winning penalty. A new development at Newcastle given that Demba Ba was thought to be the designated spot-kick taker. Is he now in the box seat? At 7.5, he’s another set to gain Gameweek 1 transfers.
Going Down
Scott Sinclair
Ousted from the Swansea starting lineup and dropped to the bench at QPR, the left-winger looks to be out in the cold after refusing to sign a new contract at the Liberty Stadium with Man City sniffing. A 14.2% ownership will be greatly concerned, particularly given that the cheaper alternative, Michu, delivered on his debut. Sinclair absence = Danny Graham on spot-kicks? Graham owners will hope so after today’s frustrating blank.
Adam Federici
Backed by so many going into Reading’s double fixtures, along with the Royals’ back four, Federici fumbled for Michael Kightly’s effort threw away our clean sheets and delivered a massive slab of early frustration.
James Tomkins
Relegated to the bench for the home clash with Villa; this was billed as a rest after his summer in the Great Britain Olympic squad but was still a major surprise for the season opener. With 5.8% ownership in the Sky Sports game, there will be plenty disappointed and concerned that Tomkins could face a battle to earn a recall – particularly with the Hammers keeping it clean.
Jan Vertonghen
Surprisingly omitted from the Spurs lineup for the trip to Newcastle. We had such high hopes for the former Ajax stopper who has the goal record to present a viable differential at the back. It looks as though he could face a battle to establish a starting role – although Andre Villas-Boas can’t have been impressed with his defence. William Gallas captain? I know, we can’t figure it either.
Rafael Van der Vaart
Another player who found himself on the bench, the Dutchman emerged to replace Sigurdsson on 68 minutes, only to leave his leg flailing to bring Hatem Ben Arfa to the deck for Newcastle’s penalty. A starter for home matches?
Liverpool
Luckily, few were backing them with their nightmarish fixtures. The 3-0 defeat at West Brom confirmed that Brendan Rodgers has a job on and Liverpool currently remain bereft of true Fantasy potential.
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“I am happy with the way I’ve started, but on the other hand, I should have scored four or five more, so that’s something for me to work on.”
Robin Van Persie talks about his early form at United ahead of his first Manchester derby
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August 19 at 9:11 am
Wild Rover says:
Members area player predictions has Michu scoring 5.9 goals all season??
August 19 at 9:14 am
G00NER_91 says:
+1 I also found Dyer’s prediction qute low aswell, when I was considering Michu or Dyer.
August 19 at 9:14 am
Manani says:
you think 15+??
as soon as you say yes, i will press confirm transfer
August 19 at 9:14 am
TheFellowAsian says:
Yeah he was the highest scoring mid in La Liga last season
August 19 at 9:16 am
The Stock says:
£2m. Oh my good Lord.
August 19 at 9:12 am
gazh83 says:
I’m thinking
Mata out – Dyer in +4 million in the bank
may rival for points with Swansea’s fixtures and Chelsea’s Gw3
August 19 at 9:16 am
The Stock says:
Bonkers. Mata far more viable over course of the season. Will get bags of points.
August 19 at 9:12 am
alex5-clio says:
I agree about spending some points to get the on form players before price rises.
So I’m going to go
Mata > michu
And either
Noble > barfa
Or
Torres > RVP/ Rooney
August 19 at 9:13 am
Barca forever says:
If you have Mata and Torres, just do RVP and Michu. that’s what i’d do mate. I already have michu (yes he was NOT on my bench, get in!!) gotta find a way to get RVP in
August 19 at 11:44 am
PSteady says:
Does anyone know when the Price Rise is likely to happen ??
August 19 at 9:14 am
Wild Rover says:
2 post in a row where they are getting rid of Mata who may get 20+ points this week…
August 19 at 9:19 am
The Stock says:
Indeed. Knee jerk an understatement. ‘leg jerk’ maybe?
August 19 at 9:26 am
Gaz Downright says:
or maybe just the one word?
August 19 at 9:42 am
Desertbug says:
Knee (-dless overreaction?)
August 19 at 9:41 am
SAB says:
Agree Wild Rover
Ridicluous reactions to one player having a good game while there are still 4 matches this week and 37 more gameweeks.
What happens if Pieenar gets 2 today? make another transfer?
August 19 at 9:42 am
Desertbug says:
Yup, obviously.
August 19 at 9:14 am
Evs says:
I’m not just saying it as I have him but. . .
Michu played really well yesterday, and de Guzman in fact.
Siggy who
? ? ?
August 19 at 9:19 am
The Stock says:
Looks like you and I were on to something….
August 19 at 9:20 am
Barca forever says:
watch next couple of games mate, Michu is going to dominate PL this year. His stats from Spain says it all anyway
August 19 at 12:19 pm
dasjagermeister says:
he had one good season in la liga.
August 19 at 9:14 am
Billy Gilmore - Nuevo Gerente del Betis says:
New Post guys
http://www.fantasyfootballscou.....-saturday/
August 19 at 9:18 am
TheFellowAsian says:
Nzogbia—->Michu???
August 19 at 9:22 am
TheFellowAsian says:
Good business?
August 19 at 2:13 pm
BananaMan says:
Based on yesterday’s performance I would say yes!
Although I had Michu on my bench….angry doesn’t cover it!
August 19 at 9:19 am
alex5-clio says:
I want to keep cazorla so it’s either michu for bale or mata
August 19 at 9:27 am
TheFellowAsian says:
as this is my first full season just interested when do you guys play your WC usually?
August 19 at 9:27 am
TheFellowAsian says:
i mean like in what situations and what time
August 19 at 10:57 am
Anderson8 says:
Varies. Depends on how messed up your team is. Most play it though leading up to a big double game week or after to offload players.
August 20 at 8:33 am
pleccy says:
Any ideas whe Tevez will price rise? CTC and Total FPL are saying very different things!