This Much We Know – Gameweek 1

With a couple of fixtures still left in the Gameweek tank, we assess the weekend’s action and offer early opinion on the events and their impact on our Fantasy Football thinking.

The instant reminder of a certain Dutchman’s reliability has already persuaded some to ponder the Wildcard button. The arrival of Roberto Martinez bodes well for Everton’s offensive potential and while one muscular Belgian batters the Gunners to submission, another is already looking a risky investment.

It’s business as usual for Robin…
Two classy strikes quickly offered a reminder that Robin Van Persie is, without question, the Premier League’s supreme goal-getting talent. There was no hint of rust or a lack of sharpness in his game and with Danny Welbeck looking a rejuvenated force in support, United were able to sweep aside a valiant Swansea effort on Saturday evening. While Welbeck’s double earned admiring glances, Van Persie had Fantasy managers urgently reassessing plans and questioning whether the gap between him and other strikers in the league can justify the huge outlay. It’s an argument that rumbled for so long last season; Saturday’s goals brought that back to the agenda, perhaps earlier than expected.

The Torres factor still lingers…
While we looked to Romelu Lukaku to rip through the Hull defence, typically, Fernando Torres turned up on the Chelsea teamsheet to stifle such a scenario. The Spaniard got the nod, earned an assist and eventually made way for the bustling Belgian with 15 minutes remaining. Arguably, in that cameo, Lukaku did enough to earn a start against Villa on Wednesday. While that offers some compensation for those Fantasy managers who opted for the Belgian over the double Gameweek, the presence of Torres in Saturday’s XI makes it clear that the battle to lead the Chelsea line is far from concluded, particularly with Jose Mourinho emphasising the need for a new recruit up top. For now, Torres is still a factor; in the long-term there could be a new face arriving. Both take a dent out of Lukaku’s potential.

There’s a big Belgian shaped hole at the Hawthorns
While Lukaku struggles to establish himself at the Bridge, he’s clearly left a major problem for Steve Clarke at West Brom. The Baggies toiled against a slick Southampton performance but, while last season they could rely on the Belgian’s strength and pace for a foothold, on Saturday they simply succumbed to the tide of passing moves from the Saints. Significantly, one of Lukaku’s top performances for the club came at St Mary’s last season in which he, almost single handedly, tore the Southampton defence apart – there was no sign of such supremacy from Shane Long and Nicolas Anelka, who lack the power to dominate and dictate a defence. Clarke will be concerned, as will Anelka owners who are banking on value from his modest price tag.

The Saints looks set to march on
As for Southampton, it’s fair to say that expectations have already jumped several notches. Suddenly there’s talk of a top eight finish, of “this season’s Swansea”. Mauricio Pochettino continues to impress – bravely putting faith in three 18-year olds for the opening day away trip and coming away with a deserved three points. Going forward, the system looks assured and effective. At the back, there’s renewed steel introduced by Victor Wanyama’s substantial presence as a screen and Dejan Lovren’s assured marshaling from central defence. With Luke Shaw blossoming by the week as an attacking factor and now a new £15 million striker on the books in Pablo Osvaldo, the confidence is flowing on the South Coast. Fantasy managers are on alert and loading up.

The promoted sides lack a cutting edge
Typically, Premier League new boys start by battening the hatches. The first priority is to make themselves difficult to breakdown, hard to beat. Establishing a goal threat is of lesser importance and, when you couple that with a clear lack of quality up front, it’s not surprising that we saw all three promoted sides draw blanks this weekend. There was energy and intent on show from Cardiff, Palace and Hull but there’s no denying that all three will, somehow, have to find a balance between limiting chances at one end, whilst inflicting damage at the other. Meanwhile, Fantasy managers will be backing any defence paired against them in the early Gameweeks.

Everton have goals in them…
Attacking threat doesn’t look to be an issue for the Toffees. Predictably, Roberto Martinez has immediately sold his brand of football to the Everton squad and their dominant, slick display at Carrow Road offered confidence to their fans and Fantasy investors alike. Typically, the three points slipped away – how often did we see Wigan fail to earn the result they deserved from a performance – and yet, in terms of attacking threat, there was so much to admire.

While Ross Barkley earned the plaudits and the Fantasy investment, Seamus Coleman was another to emerge as a key figure. Seemingly charged with raiding down the right flank at will, he was more winger than full-back and, with a toothless West Brom at Goodison this weekend, he already looks a hot property who, unlike Barkley, looks firmly cemented in Martinez’s lineup.

….as do Villa
Paul Lambert’s side ended last season as one of the top attacking sides in the league and have started this term in the same cavalier fashion. Christian Benteke may have benefited from spot-kicks but that does not detract from the fact that he, along with Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann, form a three-pronged attack that will trouble any defence and look set to guarantee goals for Lambert. The stats show that Villa have failed to score in just one of their last eleven league outings – and that was at Old Trafford. Quite simply, whether you invest in Benteke or the lesser talents of his fellow forwards, Fantasy managers can back the Villa attack with some confidence.

The pressure is already mounting at the Emirates
Saturday’s defeat brought immediate pressure on Arsene Wenger, who now faces a crucial midweek trip to Turkey for a Champions League play-off prior to a testing visit to Craven Cottage. There are injuries at the back and concerns going forward while they are still reliant on Olivier Giroud for goals. The Frenchman obliged with the opener on Saturday but the jury is still out: the Emirates faithful still hanker for a “big name” to lead the attack and a title challenge.

Fantasy managers will have drawn little confidence from the weekend and, similarly, will be concerned ahead of the trip to Fulham. Those who held back on the acquisition of Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla seem unlikely to reassess that stance just yet, while any who acquired the banned Laurent Koscielny are already opting out.