This Much We Know – Gameweek 17

Our Monday lunchtime regular comes round once again as we assess the lessons learned from the nine weekend matches. QPR’s talisman, City’s Spanish maestro and Villa’s Belgian hitman are all on the menu, whilst Louis van Gaal’s multitude of attacking options and Everton’s dire defensive form also arrive under analysis.

Visiting defences still don’t have the Austin answer…
Okay, this is getting somewhat ridiculous. Austin’s ability to win matches for QPR at Loftus Road is hardly an unknown – visiting managers really shouldn’t require covert video footage to indicate that they need to either mark him out of matches or stop the supply at source. It’s clearly not happening, however. Perhaps Austin really is an unstoppable force – it’s certainly a lot more difficult to argue against that after this weekend. Up to 11 goals for the season, only Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa can boast better goal records as Harry Redknapp relies on the budget striker to fire his side to safety.

Silva is the winner in City’s false nine…
Forget any thoughts of James Milner being handed an unlikely boost by City’s false nine system- it was Silva who was off the leash and allowed to buzz around the opposing centre-backs at the Etihad on Saturday. The impact was immediate, as Manuel Pellegrini set his side up to ensure the little Spaniard was afforded the freedom to drift into the box and deliver from close-range. Milner’s still not sexy but Silva’s twinklings look seductive as the fixtures continue to smile kindly on the champions.

Monk isn’t afraid to rotate…
After bossing the home match against Tottenham only to lose late on, the Swans needed a morale-boost as they made their way to Hull. Garry Monk was still confident enough to make seven alterations to his XI and leave behind a trio of key players due to minor injuries, whilst Wilfried Bony was rested to the bench to allow Bafetimbi Gomis a run-out. That, at least, is likely to guarantee Bony’s minutes for the remaining two or three matches before his departure for the African Cup of Nations, though it also suggests the Swans boss will certainly be emboldened enough to rest and rotate when the need arises again, bearing in mind the 1-0 win at the KC also came without the services of playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Hull are whipping boys in waiting…
A dreadful run of results, ravaged by injury and suspension and unsettled by off-field issues with Hatem Ben Arfa and Paul McShane – Steve Bruce’s Tigers are in a sorry state right now. Currently, Hull are there for the taking – having scored twice in their last nine and managed one clean sheet in eight, even Sunderland and Leicester might find goals against them over the next two.

Falcao’s brilliance threatens Van Persie’s minutes…
Handed his first start since Gameweek 7, the Colombian’s superbly taken goal at Villa was a show of intent. Clearly, Falcao is in no mood to sit on the bench over Christmas and with Angel di Maria also returning, Robin van Persie was replaced with 30 minutes to go – that’s the earliest the Dutchman has been hauled over by Louis van Gaal this season. With Wayne Rooney looking the only guaranteed starter – albeit in a deep-lying position – Van Gaal faces a tough task to accommodate all his attacking options as the treatment room finally begins to empty.

Benteke is just warming up….
The Belgian’s curling effort against United was top drawer – that’s now two Goal of the Month contenders in three matches since his return to the Villa fold. Encouragingly for Fantasy managers, the signs are obvious, with Benteke looking in the mood to atone for lost time and drag Villa to mid-table safety by virtue of his individual brilliance alone. The fixture list offers a clear opportunity for us to invest – for all Villa’s toils, we can’t underestimate the big Belgian’s ability to overcome them and put on a one-man show.

The Toffees are brittle…
After a series of unconvincing displays, a trip to struggling Southampton had looked the ideal chance for Leighton Baines and co. to remind us of their Fantasy appeal. Instead, Baines’ potential goes on drowning amongst a back-four that’s being breached with apparent ease – Everton have just three clean sheets to their name this term, a far cry from last year’s 15 shut-outs in Roberto Martinez’ first year at the helm. The Toffees’ manager’s excuses are becoming less convincing by the Gameweek and with Romelu Lukaku looking bereft of confidence, his side are treading water and heading in the wrong direction. The Boxing Day meeting with Stoke looks a huge match in terms of regaining momentum – with trips to Newcastle and Hull thereafter, the schedule could barely be kinder for the Merseysiders to return to form.

Kane is untouchable…
The questionable talents of Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado are back in the fold but it’s fair to say that if Mauricio Pochettino looks to rest Harry Kane to the bench, he risks a White Hart Lane revolution. The youngster’s relentless energy would suggest that he can more than cope with the hectic festive schedule – having notched in each of the last three in all competitions, his form certainly indicates that his manager can ill-afford to even consider taking him out of the Tottenham XI right now.

Carroll’s a monster in Big Sam’s setup…
Forget the prospect of West Ham signing Wilfried Bony – you have a feeling that, given the choice of Sergio Aguero or Andy Carroll, Sam Allardyce would still choose the latter. The Hammers boss knows exactly how to use the Carroll weaponry – the fact that the Geordie is actually adding a new dimension to his game – ie, the ability to move around a bit – is all gravy for Big Sam (he loves his gravy) and the Hammers prospects. It’s the Chelsea and Arsenal defences up next – neither will be relishing facing the West Ham air raid with their Christmas legs on – the question is, does Carroll have the belly for back-to-back brawls?

Sunderland’s resilience is worth noting…
In the cauldron of a North East derby at St James’ Park, Costel Pantilimon’s performance was simply outstanding. A late withdrawal to Anthony Reveillere meant that, essentially, Gus Poyet was forced to field a back-four comprised of four centre-halves but with the big Romanian proving unbeatable between the posts, the Black Cats prevailed once again. Only City have managed to score more than once against Sunderland in the eight matches since Pantilimon’s installation between the sticks – four clean sheets and just seven goals against over that period suggests that if they can find a little bit extra up front, their resolute backline looks more than capable of sealing their survival.

Giroud is finding his stride…
Like Benteke, the Arsenal striker is a mid-price asset hinting at a strong run of form. The last few matches have highlighted that, when fit, Giroud is Arsene Wenger’s preferred choice for the central role up top and the Frenchman has duly vindicated his manager’s faith by bagging four goals in six matches since his return from an ankle injury. With Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck offering alternatives up top, though, do we trust Wenger’s rotation policy over the Xmas spell to allow Giroud to deliver?