The Digest – Gameweek 11

Our final look back at Gameweek 11 casts an eye over City’s talismanic Argentine, Newcastle’s improving form and assesses the growing case for a Sergio Aguero-Diego Costa frontline partnership.

The Player

The champions may be faltering badly in their bid to retain the title but for all their failings, no one can point the finger of blame at Sergio Aguero. The Argentine’s brace at QPR took his tally to 12 for the season and means that, when on the pitch, he’s played a part in 70% of City’s league goals this term – given the extent of his contribution, it’s little wonder many reckon Manuel Pellegrini’s side are only an Aguero injury away from a crisis.

Luckily for Fantasy managers, the Argentine continues to steer clear of the treatment room – something he attributes to a personalized training regime put in place after his return from the World Cup. Still only with a 27% ownership, Aguero’s lofty 12.7 price tag is clearly proving a deterrent but those who continue to overlook him are paying the price on a regular basis – he’s scored in eight of the opening 11 Gameweeks.

Furthermore, Aguero’s penchant for picking up bonus not only strengthens his case for inclusion but highlights his captaincy credentials – he’s earned bonus points in all eight matches he’s scored in, whereas Diego Costa has collected bonus in four of the seven league encounters where he’s found the net.

With Manuel Pellegrini returning to a lone striker system at Loftus Road, Aguero reveled in the role as sole focal point for his team’s attacks and in spite of City’s toils, there seems no stopping him right now. As shown in 2011/12, Aguero’s 23 goals and nine assists underline his capabilities if he can steer clear of injury – providing he can, he looks on course to easily surpass his season best 211 points in City’s memorable title-winning season.

The Team

A 2-0 win at West Brom continued the form that has now seen Newcastle win five back-to-back matches in all competitions as the “Sack Pardew” brigade pipe down.

It’s been an extraordinary turnaround which has transformed the Magpies defence from Fantasy flops to cut-price heroes – having shipped 14 goals in the first seven Gameweeks, Tom Krul and co. have since been breached just once in the subsequent four.

So far, raiding right-back Daryl Janmaat has been the jewel in the crown at the back – a pair of assists at the Hawthorns took his tally to 47 points this season, just one less than Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, for example. Weekend scorer Fabricio Coloccini has now earned bonus on all four occasions he’s managed a clean sheet, though, whilst Paul Dummett, at 4.1, offers the cheapest route into one of the most resilient rearguards around.

Frustratingly, Newcastle offer little in midfield, where Moussa Sissoko is their highest scorer on 26 points despite playing all but one minute of the season so far. The talented Rolando Aarons is one to watch but his propensity for picking up injury means he’s only appeared three times this term, with a knock forcing him out of contention against the Baggies.

This leaves up front, where Ayoze Perez continued his exceptional form by netting for the third successive Gameweek last weekend. The nonchalant manner of the Spaniard’s opener suggested a player full of confidence, as he added to recent strikes against Spurs and Liverpool – available for 4.8, it remains to be seen whether he can retain the lone striker role when Papiss Cisse is fully fit but it’d be harsh on the youngster to be dropped at this point. Certainly, with QPR, West Ham and Burnley in the next three, Perez, and the Magpies, have the platform to prosper further as Pardew’s side march onwards and upwards.

The Talking Point

Prior to the Aguero show on Saturday evening, Diego Costa’s winner at Anfield served a timely reminder of the Chelsea striker’s credentials. The summer signing has now netted in seven of his nine league appearances and, like the City striker, is delivering a level of consistency that is unmatched by cheaper frontline options.

Given the fine fixtures that both now face, many will be looking to bring Aguero and Costa on board and opt for a cut-price option – as we’ve discussed in previous Digests, there are plenty of in-form strikers around in the budget bracket, with Charlie Austin, Saido Berahino and Diafra Sakho tussling for our attentions right now.

Nonetheless, a Costa-Aguero partnership does limit our funds elsewhere. Fortunately, with mid-price options such as Nacer Chadli, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Stewart Downing all sitting inside the top six FPL midfield standings and offering excellent value, we have clear alternatives should be look to free up cash in the centre of the park.

With Alexis Sanchez scoring for fun, Cesc Fabregas relentlessly consistent and the likes of Eden Hazard and Angel di Maria still posting strong underlying stats, though, turning our backs on most of the premium midfielders could be a risky tactic.

When you factor in the form of Leighton Baines at the back, it’s clear some form of cost-cutting is required in order to strike a balance right throughout our squads at the moment. Certainly, there looks to be a real divide in how we approach our current dilemma but, for the sake of variety and mini-league shake-ups, surely that can only be a positive thing.