This Much We Know – Gameweek 28

As always, our Monday afternoon regular casts an eye over the weekend’s matches as Fantasy managers begin to plan in preparation for the decimated Gameweek 29 schedule:

Adebayor is a frustrating figure…
This is nothing new. We know this. We’ve known it since he appeared back on our player lists. In a Gameweek in which many granted him the armband after his midweek Europa League double, the Tottenham forward treated us and Tim Sherwood to a laboured display which garnered just an assist as the north London outfit huffed a puffed against Cardiff. Let’s be honest, as soon as Adebayor emerged as a Fantasy prospect, we were waiting for him to let us down – is it too early to get the jitters or is Sunday’s complacent display a sign of things to come?

Dawson isn’t bowing out easily…
The Spurs club skipper was a dominant figure in the home win over Cardiff and was singled out for post-match praise by his manager. While Younes Kaboul is injured and could well oust him to the bench when fit – as we saw as recently as Gameweek 26 – Dawson’s display will not have made it easy for Tim Sherwood. Much as we’d like Kaboul as a prospect for 4.6, it may not be an option just yet.

Martinez feels he can rest Mirallas…
The Belgian was omitted from the Palace teamsheet for the postponed Gameweek 26 clash as Roberto Martinez looked to give him a breather. Having scored in each of his last two home stats, Mirallas was heavily-backed this weekend but found himself warming the bench as Everton squeezed past West Ham. With Gerard Deulofeu and Aidan McGeady both pushing for game time, the recent turn of events is a real concern – all the more frustrating given Everton’s excellent forthcoming ruin of fixtures. Romelu Lukaku’s winner against Big Sam’s men suggests he may be the Merseysiders’ key attacking option for the run-in now.

The midfield malfunctions just go on…
Mirallas rested, Robert Snodgrass ineffective and replaced at half-time with an injury, Adam Lallana impressive without quite producing the points in Southampton’s home loss to Liverpool. How fitting, then, that both Eden Hazard and Yaya Toure reminded us of their brilliance and ability to deliver yet again this weekend. Fantasy managers are screaming out for some differentials to show some consistency and rival that duo’s appeal but given their form, it’ll be a bold move to go without either for the run-in. Even those who have pointedly rejected Toure up until now will likely succumb to his potential, bearing in mind that City will have three doubles in the last nine Gameweeks.

Suarez and Sturridge – it gets tricky from here on in…
In recent weeks, owning both has paid off in style – particularly if you made the switch back to Suarez this weekend. Sturridge arrived at Southampton on Saturday evening as the forward in form, though, and was understandably backed by many but only returned a two-point haul. Only once in the last five starts have Suarez (4,5,2,5,15) and Sturridge (9,6,15,16,2) registered similar scores, highlighting how difficult they are making the armband decision. Both may be in outstanding form but the margins of error are substantial – calling the captaincy wrong in each of the last five would have earned you 36 points, whereas the right decision would have brought home 122 points. From here on in, the armband call looks a difficult one, fraught with potential frustration.

Sterling could be sacrificed as we reach the business end…
A run of 15 successive league starts came to an end last weekend as the youngster dropped to the bench. Brendan Rodgers drafted Joe Allen into the centre and rolled out a midfield diamond in his successful attempt to contain Southampton at St Mary’s – Sterling’s impact as a second half sub still saw him find the net but given the emphatic display against the Saints, the winger’s owners may well be worried.

Benteke might just be the answer…
The Belgian is threatening to embark on a run similar to last season, where he notched 14 times in the last 18 Gameweeks. Benteke put on a muscular display to skittle the Norwich back four on Sunday, taking his tally to five goals and a pair of assists in his last eight appearances and demonstrating he’s got the weaponry to banish any talk of relegation at Villa. Fantasy managers who dare to take a punt with one of their precious squad slots up front could well be rewarded by the in-form Belgian.

Arsenal are giving us the jitters…
There are real concerns about the Gunners’ prospects at both ends of the pitch and we’re already seeing significant sales of their main Fantasy assets since the weekend loss at Stoke. One win and a single clean sheet in the last four highlights Arsenal’s current form as his side start to stumble – with a blank Gameweek 29, followed by Spurs, Chelsea, City and Everton, the exodus is understandable.

Baines is back in the reckoning…
The Toffees left-back delivered an assist, maximum bonus and clean sheet return against West Ham on Saturday and was joint-top for creativity over the Gameweek, supplying as many chances as Eden Hazard. Since returning from a toe injury in Gameweek 19, Baines has racked up three sets of double figures, with a goal, two assists and nine bonus points over that period – Seamus Coleman has a goal and two bonus points by comparison. With the Merseysiders set for some superb fixtures after this weekend’s blank, those currently without an Everton defender may well be swayed by Baines’ form.