This Much We Know – Gameweek 33

Our Monday lunchtime regular is served up once again as we assess the lessons learned over the weekend’s nine fixtures. Juan Mata’s central displays for United, Cardiff and Newcastle’s dire defences and Roberto Martinez’ tactical acumen are amongst today’s topics:

Moyes needs to keep the shackles off Mata…
Handed a central role and working in tandem with Shinji Kagawa, the Spaniard won the game at St James’ Park and demonstrated that he needs to be kept in the “number 10” position in order to harness his talents most effectively. Jose Mourinho ejected the playmaker due to his lack of hard running and defensive sensibilities but, when brought in off the flank and liberated from tracking opposing full-backs and wingers, Mata can dictate and decide matches. United cruised against the Magpies on Saturday without both Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie – somehow Moyes has to work Mata into a system that incorporates both, with Kagawa’s recent displays suggesting he’s worthy of a regular spot in the coming season.

Pulis’ Palace are Almost Safe…
A comprehensive win over Cardiff took Tony Pulis’ side seven points clear of the drop zone as relegation becomes increasingly unlikely. One goal conceded in the last four, with Jason Puncheon’s threat from the flank serving up a brace and Joe Ledley starting to produce the performances from the role in “the hole”, the Eagles have found their form just at the right time to offer us budget-friendly options across the board for their double Gameweek 34.

Cardiff are the whipping boys….
Their weekend home hammering means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have now shipped 12 goals in the last three and, with personnel and formation continually changed on a weekly basis, Cardiff’s lack of cohesiveness are making them easy prey. The Bluebirds (who last kept a clean sheet away from home back on December 4) now travel to St Mary’s to face a Southampton side that outplayed City for long periods last Saturday – the Saints may have lost Jay Rodriguez to injury but Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert owners will be looking to the weekend with high expectations.

And Newcastle aren’t too far behind…
With their safety long since secured, the Magpies’ season has tailed off dramatically. Alan Pardew’s side have conceded 11 goals in the last three without reply and are sliding into obscurity again – unable to stem the tide at one end, whilst powder puff at the other. A trip to the Britannia offers Mark Hughes’ side a platform to recover from their Stamford Bridge setback – the Potters back-four look likely candidates for clean sheets, whilst Marko Arnautovic and Stephen Ireland – if he recovers from last weekend’s illness – could prove canny differentials.

Liverpool need Gerrard to avoid yellow peril…
Having successfully navigated three matches without picking up the booking that would trigger a two-match ban, the Reds skipper walks the Tightrope for the final time this Sunday. Whilst Daniel Sturridge’s form has slipped away in recent matches, Gerrard has proven just as crucial to his side’s title tilt as Luis Suarez, with his spot-kick prowess critical to the Merseysiders’ chances – a caution against City this weekend could prove disastrous for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Aguero’s return would be cruel on Dzeko…
There’s no doubt he has his critics and he may go on missing opportunities match after match but, again, the Bosnian produces the goods when given pitch time. It’s four goals and two assists in his last four now as his form goes from strength to strength, but with Sergio Aguero expected to return for Sunday’s Anfield showdown, Dzeko may be forced back onto the bench to accommodate the Argentine if Manuel Pellegrini retains his 4-5-1 formation. City still have four very favourable home games left, though, suggesting a return to Pellegrini’s preferred 4-2-2-2 could be on the cards as they look to rack up the goals at the Etihad – thus keeping Dzeko in the frame.

Wenger can’t afford to give Ramsey time to play his way back…
Yesterday’s defeat at Goodison was an embarrassment but the Gunners still have the fixtures to pip Everton in the race for fourth. Form, unfortunately, is against them. Olivier Giroud has scored in two of his last 10, Santi Cazorla has netted in three of his league appearances all season and, with Theo Walcott’s drive down the right badly missed, Arsene Wenger desperately needs to inject some urgency into his faltering attack. Step forward, Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman’s 25-minute cameo finally signaled his return from injury for the first time since limping off against West Ham in Gameweek 18, and with his side stuttering, could be re-installed to the XI just in time to face Sam Allardyce’s side once again next Tuesday as Wenger turns to Ramsey’s central midfield raids to make the difference.

Salah can be a factor next season…
With pace, trickery and an eye for goal, Mo Salah looks a real prospect that adds a further cutting edge to a Chelsea midfield already brimming with goal threat. The Egyptian served up the points in his first start for the Stamford Bridge outfit as Jose Mourinho opted to bench the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar – looking ahead to 2014/15, Salah looks certain to be favourably priced for the Blues and could be a real bargain if he manages to nail down a starting berth. Alternatively, Mourinho’s team sheet against Stoke could be a sign of things to come, with Chelsea’s options to rotate ramping up beyond this season’s levels and handing Fantasy managers a potential nightmare.

Martinez’ Rotation Policy is Here to Stay…
The emphatic win over Arsenal earned Everton a sixth six successive victory – a record bettered only by Merseyside rivals Liverpool. Whilst Brendan Rodgers’ side has more or less remained the same, Roberto Martinez has alternated his numerous attacking options for the run-in – yesterday’s decision to utilise Romelu Lukaku on the right flank proved a masterstroke and allowed the Toffees boss to operate with the versatile Steven Naismith through the middle. Everton have now scored three times in each of their last four matches – Martinez’ decision to continually change his attacking midfielders has kept them fresh and perhaps afforded them an extra edge over their opponents. However, from a Fantasy perspective, it’s frustrating – only Lukaku’s game time seems guaranteed for the double, though as we’ve seen time and again recently, the likes of Kevin Mirallas and Naismith have still served up the goals and assists in spite of limited minutes off the bench.