Scout Mission – Gameweek 23

As always, there’s much to consider as we assess the pertinent issues for the Gameweek ahead. Arsenal and Palace’s growing number of options in the final third, United’s Old Trafford form, Stoke’s response to Bojan’s season-ending injury and the pitch time of Daniel Sturridge are amongst our Thursday lunchtime topics.

Chamakh’s place in Pardew’s plans…
A double from Marouane Chamakh in the 3-2 weekend cup win at Southampton hands Alan Pardew a welcome headache this weekend as Palace play host to Everton. With the Moroccan unavailable, the Eagles boss partnered Dwight Gayle with Yaya Sanogo in the previous Gameweek before a switch from 4-4-2 to 4-4-1-1 proved the catalyst for a 3-2 triumph at Burnley. Only a few weeks ago, Palace looked bereft of attacking ideas but with Gayle and Jason Puncheon racking up five goals and two assists in the last couple of league encounters, and the likes Sanogo and Wilfried Zaha also delivering in recent outings, Chamakh’s return adds another unlikely name in the mix as Palace look to maintain momentum under the new man in charge.

Sturridge’s minutes at home to the Hammers…
After failing to make the bench for Tuesday’s cup loss at Chelsea, Sturridge looks poised to be named amongst the subs as Brendan Rodgers’ side welcome West Ham to Anfield this Saturday. With Diego Costa potentially set for a ban, the Liverpool striker’s return to action would be perfectly timed for Fantasy managers as we look to freshen up our frontlines. Having failed to play since Gameweek 3, we’re not holding our breath over this one but there’s no doubt that if Rodgers can keep him fit, Sturridge could have a significant say in the final few months of our Fantasy seasons.

United’s Home Comforts…
Typically, three Old Trafford clashes in five (LEI, BUR, SUN), all against bottom five opposition, would have Fantasy managers falling over themselves to invest in United’s main men. Their current form is a real concern, though – Louis van Gaal’s side have fired just 37 shots in their last four matches, the third least of any side, and were unable to break down Cambridge’s defence in their previous domestic fixture. Wayne Rooney, Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie all have the class to prevail but Van Gaal’s tactics are making it difficult to justify any outlay in his attack right now – can one of them stake a claim for consideration or will United’s defence remain the most risk-free route going forward?

The Potters’ form in Bojan’s absence..
Mark Hughes was dealt a cruel blow earlier in the week after his playmaker was ruled out for the season with knee ligament damage. Bojan had flourished in the last few weeks, notching five times in his last 10 appearances in all competitions, and looked a valid option up top as the fixtures smiled kindly. There are Britannia alternatives, though. Victor Moses bagged a goal and assist in Monday’s cup win at Rochdale, Jon Walters has been fielded up front in each of the last two, whilst Senegal’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations means Mame Biram Diouf could be back in contention ahead of a run which pits the Potters against just one top-half team in the next eight Gameweeks.

Poyet’s 3-5-2 formation…
The arrival of Jermain Defoe has resulted in a change of approach from Gus Poyet. The Sunderland manager has ripped up his cautious 4-1-4-1 set-up to partner Defoe with Steven Fletcher up top and hand Patrick van Aanholt and Billy Jones the wing-back berths, allowing Adam Johnson a roving central role behind the front pair in the previous Gameweek. One look at the Black Cats’ remaining home fixtures (BUR, QPR, WBA, AVL, NEW, CPL, SOU, LEI) underlines why their manager is switching his focus to attack and Defoe and Johnson, at just 6.0 apiece, could leap onto our radars if they can deliver against the Clarets on Saturday.

Pulis’ Defence against in-form Tottenham…
It’s been business as usual for Tony Pulis, whose impact at West Brom has harvested clean sheets in both his league matches in charge. The Baggies have kept out Hull and Everton so far but a visit from Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs – buoyed by clinching a Wembley cup final place last night – looks a different test altogether. With Christian Eriksen in red-hot form and Harry Kane scoring in five of the last six road trips, Andre Wisdom and co. face a tough task to register shut-out number three.

Wenger’s set-up against the Villains…
As the injuries finally ease, the Gunners’ embarrassment of riches in the final third has the potential to play havoc with our Fantasy plans. At present, the in-form Santi Cazorla seems the likeliest candidate for those looking for a Gunners midfield double-up along with the immovable object that is Alexis Sanchez but there’s no question the competition is increasing. Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott both staked a claim for a start at home to Villa on Sunday by bagging a goal apiece in last weekend’s cup win at Brighton and, when fully fit, could force Wenger into a first-team re-think. Olivier Giroud may be less explosive but with four goals in his last five, the Frenchman may well be the most hassle-free option alongside Sanchez as we look to take advantage of Arsenal’s kind run of fixtures.

The Saints attack with Mane back..
A two-goal salvo against Newcastle in the previous Gameweek has catapulted Eljero Elia onto Fantasy radars. The Dutchman has been transferred in by over 74,000 Fantasy Premier League managers – more than any other midfielder – since the previous Gameweek but Senegal’s unexpected exit from the Africa Cup of Nations may have already thrown a spanner in the works here. Ronald Koeman now welcomes back Sadio Mane for Sunday’s 4pm kick-off at home to Swansea and bearing in mind he’s notched in each of his last three league outings, there’d be no surprise if the summer signing was immediately re-installed to the starting XI. With the fixtures falling kindly for the Saints, the question is can the 5.5-priced Elia still keep his first-team spot in spite of Mane’s return or will he immediately tumble down the pecking order?

Aguero’s form at the Bridge…
It’s now three appearances without a goal for the City striker after his blank at home to Middlesbrough in the cup. Clearly still lacking match sharpness, Aguero could hardly face a tougher task to turn that form around this weekend – Chelsea have conceded a single goal in the last eight league matches in front of their own fans and hardly need to go on the offensive, given that they are five points clear of their opponents. If, as expected, Diego Costa is slapped with a ban, Aguero looks the obvious replacement given that City host Hull, Newcastle and Leicester in the subsequent five – deliver at the Bridge on Saturday night and the bandwagon will go through the gears ahead of next week’s Etihad clash with the Tigers.