The Digest – Gameweek 4

Our final look back at Gameweek 4 brings Southampton’s in-form frontman and United’s improving play under assessment, while we also ponder the potential of moving to a five-man midfield as our options in the centre of the park continue to increase.

THE PLAYER

It’s three strikes in two matches now for Graziano Pelle, who is beginning to show signs that he may be able to continue his goal scoring record under Ronald Koeman at previous club Feyenoord. The forward clocked up a total of 55 goals and 15 assists from 66 appearances in all competitions over two seasons with the Dutch side, and we’re now seeing why Koeman was so keen to bring the Italian with him when he took over the helm at Southampton this summer.

A slow start over the first two Gameweeks had some doubting whether the Saints were up to the task after a summer of upheaval at St Mary’s, but with two wins and seven goals accrued in their last couple of fixtures, Fantasy interest in their assets is escalating by the day. Pelle has already seen a price increase to 7.6 since a weekend brace against Newcastle and, with excellent fixtures to follow (swa, QPR, tot, SUN, STO), looks the standout option in the mid-price forwards bracket right now.

With Diego Costa now sitting in per 50% of Fantasy teams, Pelle’s displays have come at an ideal time as we look for in-form options alongside the Chelsea star. And what’s more, still with just 4.6% ownership in Fantasy Premier League, the Italian remains a deadly differential – if he gets amongst the goals at the Liberty this weekend, though, that surely won’t be the case for much longer.

THE TEAM

A change of system, a change of fortunes. Louis Van Gaal rolled out a midfield diamond formation for the first time this season against QPR on Sunday afternoon, and not only did it bring Man United their first win of the campaign, it also resulted in a second consecutive clean sheet.

Central to United’s win were the performances of new boys Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera – playing as the more advanced pair in the diamond, the two former La Liga men pulled the strings time and again for the Red Devils, and both grabbed a goal and an assist in the 4-0 rout. It’s been an infamously barren spell for United midfielders in the last couple of seasons in terms of Fantasy potential, but in Di Maria and Herrera we may once again have genuine options in United’s ranks, with the latter’s modest 7.3 price tag a particular lure if his manager keeps the same system.

However, question marks still remain in other areas of the pitch. Juan Mata may have scored his second goal of the campaign on Sunday, but his owners will have been disappointed to see the Spaniard withdrawn on the 66 minute mark as Radamel Falcao was given his Old Trafford bow. Will Mata continue to be the man sacrificed? This move also saw Wayne Rooney drop deeper behind the front pairing of Falcao and Robin van Persie – a potential worry for the England captain’s 35.6% ownership, though his 10 point haul suggests that few will be shipping him out this week.

Although United’s form is on the up, we’re still far from clear on Van Gaal’s preferred XI as we approach Gameweek 5. Certainly, with fixtures to come against Leicester and West Ham in the next two, those holding United assets will be more than happy to keep, though non-owners may yet be a little wary of investing in the likes of Mata and Rooney right now until we get a clearer picture of Van Gaal’s plans.

THE TALKING POINT

Di Maria’s display, coupled with the form of the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez, Cesc Fabregas, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Raheem Sterling, poses managers an interesting question: is it time move to a midfield ‘Power Five’ once again? A hot topic around these parts during the summer, most have ultimately opted for the traditional 3-4-3 formation this season, but with early Wildcards being wielded a change of tact might be the solution some are looking for.

The main reasoning behind this theory is simple: there’s too much uncertainty over the forward options in a number of teams. With United, for example, Van Persie is struggling to find any hint of form, Falcao is still returning to full fitness and settling in to his new surroundings, and Rooney’s role in the side his uncertain.

Alternatively, Arsenal’s only forward option is Danny Welbeck, who may be heavily backed to excel with the North London outfit, but still has plenty to prove before he can be considered a reliable Fantasy option. A final example would be Swansea, where Wilfried Bony and Bafetimbi Gomis are effectively diminishing each other’s potential as they scrap for pitch time – the effects of this are noticeable, with only one assist to show between the pair thus far.

On the other hand, the midfield assets in these sides are thriving. For United, there’s Di Maria, Herrera and, for now, Mata For Arsenal, you can take your pick from Ramsey, or Sanchez or perhaps gamble on the returning Theo Walcott. And, of course, for Swansea there is Sigurdsson, with an average of 7.75 points per appearance this season.

Whilst Diego Costa looks nailed on as the main forward for the majority of managers, there’s a definite argument that there’s better value in midfield for most teams. The problem is that it just seems to go against some sort of primal instinct not to field a front three. However – for those willing to oppose their innate proclivities – such a tactic looks increasingly valid as the 2014/15 campaign unfolds.