Scout Notes – Gameweek 13 – Sunday

Wayne Rooney is at the double as United draw at Tottenham. Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez suffer rare off-days, Samir Nasri notches twice as City maintain their 100% home record, whilst Artur Boruc is subbed off during Southampton’s loss at the Bridge with a hand problem:

Rooney Delivers for United Yet Again
With Robin Van Persie still sidelined due to a groin complaint, the England international was handed a lone forward role at the Lane, with Shinji Kagawa tucked in behind, as David Moyes retained the 4-2-3-1 formation which swept aside Leverkusen in midweek. Rooney continued his outstanding form by bagging both goals in the 2-2 draw, as he benefitted from Van Persie’s absence to convert a second-half spot-kick – a 13-point return was his fourth set of double figures in the last five Gameweeks and means he has now played a part in 13 of his side’s last 18 strikes from Gameweek 4 onwards. The next six fixtures offer him plenty opportunity to maintain his recent showings – home games against Everton, Newcastle and West Ham, supplemented by trips to Villa, Hull and Norwich is rated the most favourable for attacking returns, according to our fixture ticker. However, Rooney continues to walk the Suspension Tightrope and remains just a single caution away from a one-match ban. The champions will be missing Phil Jones for the match against Everton through suspension, after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season.

Paulinho Moved to Advanced Role
Having made six changes prior to the Gameweek 12 defeat at City, Andre Villas-Boas was relatively conservative with his tinkering for the visit of United. The Spurs boss made three changes to his starting XI, dropping Erik Lamela for fellow new-boy Nacer Chadli on the left after the former made his first league start of the season at the Etihad, whilst the return of Mousa Dembele to the starting line-up allowed Paulinho the chance to shift into the role in “the hole” behind Roberto Soldado. The Brazilian seems immune to his manager’s rotational whims and is the only midfielder or forward to start all 13 league games – his assist yesterday was the first time in five matches he has returned attacking points and suggests Paulinho could be set to benefit if Villas-Boas retains his services further up the field. Kyle Walker’s Fantasy owners will also be a little more optimistic with yesterday’s showing. Handed the majority of set-pieces and corners, the right-back resultantly served up his first strike of the season from a free kick to highlight his capabilities from dead-ball situations.

Gerrard’s Consistency Continues
With strike partner Daniel Sturridge sidelined due to an ankle injury and Philippe Coutinho fit enough only for the bench after also sustaining an ankle problem in training, Luis Suarez stuttered to a rare blank away to Hull. Flanked by Victor Moses and Raheem Sterling, with Jordan Henderson tucking in behind, the Uruguayan failed to produce the points for only the second time in eight appearances this season, though with three hugely favourable home games to follow in the next four (NOR, WHM, CAR), his owners will be expecting an immediate return to form. Coutinho’s emergence off the bench in the second period also bodes well for the midweek Anfield encounter with Norwich – post-match, Brendan Rodgers admitted his squad “isn’t big enough” to cope with the absence of both the Brazilian and Sturridge from the XI.

While Suarez owners suffered a rare day of frustration, Steven Gerrard maintained his recent run of form. Having failed to produce any returns in the first five Gameweeks, the Reds skipper was a long way off Fantasy radars but, since then, he’s served up a superb run of consistent Fantasy displays – yesterday’s free-kick means he has now scored or assisted in seven of the last eight league fixtures for Rodgers’ side. Now up to fourth in the FPL midfield rankings on 69 points, Gerrard remains a real differential – he currently resides in just over 8% of teams ahead of the above-mentioned schedule.

Bruce Reverts to Three at the Back
Robbie Brady owners were left with another blank as David Meyler took centre-stage with a goal and assist in the Tigers’ unexpected home win over Liverpool. Handed a role in the centre as Steve Bruce opted for last season’s Championship formation of 3-5-2, Meyler, in his fourth start in the last five, served up his first Fantasy returns of the season in the 3-1 victory. With Curtis Davies suspended for the midweek trip to Arsenal after receiving his fifth caution of the campaign, it remains to be seen whether Bruce will retain the same formation or move to a four-man backline to deny the Gunners the freedom of the flanks – with Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore (who grabbed an assist and goal respectively) nailed-on in central midfield regardless of formation, Meyler looks the likeliest to drop out in spite of yesterday’s impressive showing.

Nasri at the Double
For once, Sergio Aguero failed to produce the points as City chalked up another comfortable home win. The runaway winner of last week’s Captain Poll served up nothing more than a yellow card for his owners, with Alvaro Negredo and Samir Nasri bagging the goals instead in a 3-0 triumph over Swansea. The Spaniard’s opener means he has now scored or assisted in each of his last six league appearances at the Etihad, whilst Nasri’s brace once again highlighted the impact of Manuel Pellegrini – the former Arsenal man has now produced points in seven of his thirteen appearances, with yesterday’s 16-point haul his highest of the season. With David Silva still sidelined with a calf complaint, Nasri remains a real differential for the free-scoring Citizens, with an ownership sitting at just 4%.

Mourinho the Shape Shifter
Having started the previous couple of matches in all competitions with a 4-3-3, the Chelsea boss rolled out a 4-2-3-1 for the visit of Southampton. This saw Frank Lampard benched and Juan Mata handed a role on the right flank, with Oscar tucking in behind Fernando Torres, but the Brazilian’s enforced withdrawal saw Lampard brought on just before the break. Mourinho then went one step further for the second-half – introducing Demba Ba to partner Torres in a 4-4-2. The switch proved the catalyst for a comeback which saw the Blues score three times in the second period. With Mourinho bringing the likes of Michael Essien into the XI for yesterday’s match, he’s clearly determined to stick by his promise of festive rotation and utilise the depth of his squad. John Terry and Gary Cahill highlighted the threat Chelsea carry from the beck, with the Blues skipper picking up maximum bonus to move to 68 points overall – second only to Eden Hazard amongst Mourinho’s side and second in the defender standings, two points behind Everton’s Seamus Coleman.

Keeper Conundrum for Saints
Subbed off just before the hour mark, Artur Boruc is set for a spell of up to six weeks on the sidelines with a dislocated finger, according to reports. The second-most popular keeper in the FPL game, with over 23% ownership, Boruc has managed just a single clean sheet in six due to a punishing schedule. With Paul Lambert’s side scoring in just two of the last seven Gameweeks, the chances of a home clean sheet look strong, though with City rolling up to St Mary’s at the weekend prior to a trip to Newcastle, the short-term schedule remains taxing. Those who chose to double up on Boruc and fellow Saints stopper Kelvin Davies face the unlikeliest of scenarios – the latter is sidelined through injury, leaving third-choice option Paolo Gazzaniga as the front runner over the festive period. At 3.9, the Argentine is certainly cheap but, as he showed at the Bridge, is lacking in match sharpness after months of inactivity.