Scout Mission – Gameweek 17

As the festive fixture list starts to pick up pace, we’re keeping a keen eye on the upcoming weekend’s matches. Here are the scenarios and line-ups on our radar for Gameweek 17:

Moyes’ Use of Rooney
Our initial concerns centred around the United forward’s position on the pitch after he was shifted to a more withdrawn berth behind Danny Welbeck for Sunday’s visit to Villa. Last night’s absence for the cup win over Stoke merely added another twist to the situation, though. Drafted in by over 150,000 Fantasy managers this week, Rooney’s groin injury now has 20% of FPL managers fretting on his availability ahead of United’s home game with West Ham – Moyes is hopeful he’ll be back, whilst Shinji Kagawa’s availability for the Stoke match suggests that, if fit, Rooney could be handed the lone forward role again, with the Japan international tucked in behind. Hopefully Moyes will shed a little more light on this during tomorrow’s press conference but there’s every likelihood we could be wading into the weekend’s action with no more clarity on this. Up front, in “the hole” or sitting in the stands – Moyes’ decision on Rooney is set to have a major say on our Gameweek 17 Fantasy prospects.

City’s set-up without Aguero
A calf injury against Arsenal puts the Argentine out of the Fantasy frame for up to eight weeks, his manager revealed on Tuesday evening. As Aguero’s owners exit en masse, with a potential 10-Gameweek absence on the cards, Manuel Pellegrini’s formation away to Fulham will be crucial as to how we assess City’s Fantasy prospects. Aguero’s partnership with Alvaro Negredo has been key to City’s outstanding attacking form – Pellegrini’s side have scored at least 14 goals more than every side bar Liverpool after just 16 league fixtures – but, in terms of possible frontline replacements, Edin Dzeko lacks the Argentine’s mobility up top, whilst Stevan Jovetic has struggled with injury and has been handed just one start and two sub appearances so far. Pellegrini moved to 4-2-3-1 when Aguero was subbed off on Saturday and retained that system for Tuesday’s cup win over Leicester. A potential move to the role in “the hole” for David Silva, with Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas patrolling the flanks, would boost the Silva’s stock further and afford us some assured options in Pellegrini’s midfield.

Tottenham’s prospects with AVB gone
We had high hopes for the likes of Roberto Soldado, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen at the start of the season after their big-money moves to the Lane. The trio’s performances for their previous clubs suggested they could be Fantasy royalty on these shores but it hasn’t quite panned out like that. With Andre Villas-Boas now gone, we get the chance to reassess their main protagonists all over again – Tim Sherwood left all three out of his line-up for last night’s cup loss to West Ham, though, and instead opted for the likes of Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor. Could they step up at Southampton and stake a claim as unlikely festive differentials as the north London club look to take advantage of a kind run of upcoming festive fixtures?

West Brom’s response to Steve Clarke’s dismissal
Palace, Sunderland and, to a lesser extent, Fulham, have all benefitted from the managerial merry-go-round. Despite beating United and drawing with Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea, a recent run of four straight defeats proved the undoing of Steve Clarke. A home game with Hull gives the misfiring Baggies the chance to regroup and potentially hand the likes of Stephane Sessegnon and Morgan Amalfitano a shot in the arm after a recent lack of output.

Henderson and Sterling against Cardiff
A move to 4-3-3 against Spurs last Sunday allowed Liverpool to rack up their most impressive display of the season. Devoid of their injured skipper Steven Gerrard, the current set-up looks unlikely to change , allowing Joe Allen and Lucas to sit in front of the back-four once again. Jordan Henderson’s goal and assist against Spurs brings him onto our radars, whilst Raheem Sterling’s strike was his second in the last four Gameweeks. Granted, the subsequent back-to-back trips to City and Chelsea are enough to deter us but, following that, the Reds have three home games in four – meaning Henderson (5.9) and Sterling (4.9) have the chance to stake a claim for our transfer plans this weekend.

Remy at Pulis’ new fortress
After racking up eight goals in his first 10 appearances, the Magpies frontman has gone off the boil in recent matches. Remy has managed just one assist over the last four Gameweeks and, as his ownership starts to decrease, he’s now faced with a trip to Selhurst Park, where the hosts have now served up three consecutive clean sheets. With a 15% ownership, Remy is the seventh most popular forward in the Fantasy Premier League game (injured duo Aguero and Robin van Persie included) and has three home games in the following four – a return to form against Tony Pulis’ resilient backline will surely see the suitors come flooding back.

Theo’s display against the Chelsea defence
A brace on his first start since Gameweek 4 finally brought the Arsenal winger back onto our Fantasy radars. Walcott’s double at the Etihad was all the more impressive given that City had previously shipped just two goals in front of their own fans and, with Olivier Giroud struggling for goals up top, the wide-man’s contribution will be crucial as Arsene Wenger’s side look for the win that will keep them top of the table. With one clean sheet in the last 11, Jose Mourinho’s side have been anything but resilient and offer plenty hope for the Gunners – surprisingly, the bandwagon has been slow in picking up speed this week but if Walcott hogs the headlines on Monday evening, the floodgates will surely open.

Sunderland’s home performance against Norwich
Tuesday evening’s cup win over Chelsea means the Black Cats have now won four of their six home games in all competitions under Gus Poyet. Newcastle, Southampton and City have also tasted defeat at the Stadium of Light to suggest that, if the Uruguayan is to steer his side to safety, results in front of the Wearside faithful will be key. Promisingly for Poyet, the remaining home schedule (NOR, AVL, SOT, STO, HUL, WBA, CPL, WHM, EVE, CAR, SWA) could barely look more fortunate – Sunderland’s assets are handed an early audition this weekend as our winter wildcard plans edge a little closer.