The Knee Jerk – Saturday

Aaron Ramsey returns home and ensures that his Fantasy bandwagon accelerates once more. Meanwhile, over at Goodison, a Spanish starlet grasps his opportunity, whilst Roberto Martinez’ teamsheet is just one of several to cause Fantasy managers some early concern.

The Game Changer

The script seemed almost too perfect – Aaron Ramsey returning to his hometown club in the form of his life. Having blanked in his last two, those Fantasy managers who had, to this point, resisted his bandwagon had begun to cling to the hope that his output had regressed. While it was written in the stars that Ramsey would light up once again in Cardiff, there was every chance that the home side would battle and deny the Welshman to frustrate Arsenal’s title charge.

Typically, in an incredible season, Ramsey was to stick to the “Roy of the Rovers” script. A brace of goals took his tally to eight for the season, while the inevitable maximum bonus will have him soar away to the top of the Fantasy Premier League midfield rankings.

Ramsey’s rise to heavy-hitter Fantasy status is quite simply remarkable. It’s also compounded by the fact that, to this point, there’s been no real contender to rival his output. The likes of Eden Hazard, Yaya Toure and Oscar remain in his wake, despite their far loftier price tags.

Just when it seemed the Welshman’s form had stalled, his rise in ownership slowed, today’s events have seen his relentless bandwagon pick up speed again. Once more, those who have dared to ignore the Gunners man now face the indignity of swallowing their pride and coughing up a fee almost 2.0 more than his initial value, whilst having to accept that his points will help them make little ground but only aid them in keeping pace with the majority above them.

The Underused

Gerard Deulofeu has been straining at the leash at Goodison, awaiting his chance to add to a string of eye-catching cameos from the bench. Today’s decision by Roberto Martinez to hand the Barcelona loanee his first Premier League start stung those holding Kevin Mirallas, while Deulofeu’s performance will have given them, and the Everton boss, food for thought.

A goal and assist provided the returns, but Deulofeu sparkled throughout as he tormented Stoke and underlined his claims for regular Everton starts. Mirallas now faces a real battle to earn a recall for Wednesday’s trip to Man United, while Martinez will know that it’s going to prove very difficult to play down Deulofeu’s claims from this point on.

For Fantasy managers, the Spaniard’s potential is limited, if not almost killed, by his classification as a forward in the FPL. Even with a modest 5.4 price tag, few will really consider moving for the loanee, given just how precious and profitable our slots up front have become. Instead, Deulofeu’s impact this season could be limited to killing off Mirallas as a Fantasy option. Ironic, given that the Belgian enjoyed only his second double figure return against Liverpool last weekend.

The Selection Poser

With December’s strenuous schedule set to stretch our bench resources to their fullest, today provided a real warning shot across the bows. An array of popular budget and mid-price Fantasy assets found themselves rotated to the bench as the likes of Mirallas, Ross Barkley, Ravel Morrison and Michael Turner were all ousted.

While Mirallas’ rotation with Gerard Deulofeu was always looming, few would have expected it to follow his Merseyside derby display. The Belgian has started every one of Everton’s league outings before today and, while he could well return at Old Trafford in midweek, his security of starts must now be in question.

Barkley’s rotation risk is nothing new – although again, it’s somewhat surprising to see his precocious talent dropped to the bench following a convincing display against Liverpool.

Morrison’s plight also took us by surprise. Having started the previous nine league matches, the former United starlet had seemed settled in Sam Allardyce’s lineup and, with the Hammers struggling for goals, he had seemed the most likely to provide a spark.

An assist off the bench should ensure that Morrison will not be a major concern, but it offers a reminder that few of us can afford to approach the Christmas period without secure starters on the bench. With Michael Turner also looking set to face a battle to regain his Norwich starting role ahead of Seb Bassong and Ryan Bennett, today undoubtedly cast a question mark over a batch of budget talent.