Scout Mission – Gameweek 26

With a number of big hitters returning from suspension or international duties, there is plenty for us to ponder this week. Diego Costa, Yaya Toure, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wilfried Bony are back in the mix, whilst Tim Sherwood’s impact on Villa and Theo Walcott’s minutes are also amongst our lunchtime topics.

Sherwood’s Impact on Villa..
After his half-time team talk sparked the Villains’ last 16 FA Cup win over Leicester, it’s time for Tim Sherwood to prove his worth in the league. The new manager is handed five kind fixtures to kick-start his revolution (STO, new, WBA, sun, SWA) and potentially re-ignite their main men as viable Fantasy assets. While skipper Ron Vlaar is down to 4.3 and new boy Carles Gil looks a class apart in midfield, Sherwood’s impact at the midlands could benefit Christian Benteke the most. Despite failing to score in the last eight Gameweeks, the big Belgian has produced more attempts from close range (21) than any other Premier League striker – can Sherwood’s arrival hand him the confidence boost that could fire him back onto our radars?

Theo’s Minutes…
A strike against Leicester means he’s now scored in each of his last two league starts but the Arsenal winger remains a little too prone to rotation for our liking right now. Since returning from injury, Walcott has yet to appear in the first XI in back-to-back league matches and despite his output, remains in the shadow of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla. The Gunners roll up to Selhurst Park this weekend and will be looking to give Eagles’ new left-back Pape Soaure a baptism of fire – will Arsene Wenger unleash Walcott from the off or will he be confined to bench-warming duties again?

Rooney’s Role for United…
Was the move up front against Preston in Monday’s cup win a one-off or a sign of things to come? With Robin van Persie expected to return to the starting XI for United’s trip to Swansea, Rooney certainly faces a task to avoid slipping back into central midfield, though it was noticeable that the visitors’ comeback win was triggered by the withdrawal of Radamel Falcao midway through the second period. The Colombian’s poor form hands Louis van Gaal a real dilemma and with both Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini getting amongst the goals at Deepdale, the Red Devils’ boss has alternatives in the middle of the park should he choose to unleash Rooney up top again.

The Baggies’ front two at the Stadium of Light..
Last weekend’s emphatic cup win over West Ham saw Brown Ideye and Saido Berahino run riot as Tony Pulis’ side racked up another win. The Nigerian has notched four times in three, whilst Berahino’s tally of seven strikes in eight appearances under the new manager underline his upturn in form. With Sunderland, Villa, Stoke and QPR in the next six, West Brom have the schedule to offer us options at both ends of the pitch and although most of the focus will be on defence, the front two – at just 5.6 and 5.5 respectively – are battling it out for our attentions as a cheap third forward.

Costa as a differential..
Yes, he currently sits in 38% of FPL teams but having plummeted from a 60%+ ownership prior to suspension, the Chelsea striker could prove the difference in many mini-leagues this week. Given that the Blues have a blank Gameweek 27, many are understandably reluctant to draft Costa in this week – in spite of the fact that Jose Mourinho’s side are set to welcome Burnley to the Bridge. Prior to his suspension, Costa had served up five goals and two assists in his last five – his best form of the season – and bearing in mind he’s scored in eight of his nine home appearances so far, Saturday could be a nervy one for non-owners.

The Hoops’ Momentum under Ramsey…
A trip to Hull sees QPR handed another chance to impress after shocking Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in Chris Ramsey’s first match in charge. Ramsey has Charlie Austin back on board after the star striker recovered from a foot problem and with back-to-back home matches against Arsenal and Spurs in double Gameweek 28, the R’s will be keenly monitored by Fantasy managers on the lookout for budget options. Their clean sheet on Wearside bodes well, whilst the 4.6-priced Matty Phillips’ pair of assists against the Black Cats suggest we may have to re-asses the R’s in light of Harry Redknapp’s departure.

Gylfi’s return…
After serving a three-match ban, the Swansea midfielder is back in the mix for a home clash with United. Sigurdsson has plummeted in ownership in recent weeks and now sits in just 23% of FPL sides, though it’s not just his suspension that’s been the problem – attacking returns in just three of his previous ten appearances was indicative of his slip in form. With Wilfried Bony now at City and Bafetimbi Gomis still misfiring, can the Icelandic international find a way back into our Fantasy plans or has his time already passed?

and Yaya’s…
The City midfielder, on the other hand, was in superb domestic form prior to his enforced absence for the African Cup of Nations. Toure had scored in four of his previous five league appearances and the champions’ record without him on board (W1, D5, L1) proves how integral he is to their title bid. Sitting at just 6% ownership in FPL, Toure looks a ready-made differential with some superb fixtures to follow (NEW, liv, LEI, bur, WBA, cpl) and with Sergio Aguero also likely to benefit from his return, our expectations are likely to rise as Manuel Pellegrini’s side go on the attack in an attempt to claw back Chelsea’s lead at the summit.

Bony’s place in Pellegrini’s plans…
Nine goals and a pair of assists in the first 20 Gameweeks for Swansea made a mockery of the Ivorian’s 8.5 price tag. Having netted 17 times in his debut season, Bony’s impact at the Liberty and security of starts made him a popular pick across the Fantasy games – until City came calling last month. With Sergio Aguero nailed-on, Bony is set to battle with Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic for the right to partner the Argentine up top – given that the latter two have been used sparingly in recent weeks, there’s growing hope that he could be set to nail down a regular role for the champions. Now down to just 8.2, such a prospect may be too good to ignore.

Dembele as a potential double Gameweek target…
Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen aside, our Tottenham options are a little limited ahead of double Gameweek 28. Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to utilise Nacer Chadli as a sub once again looks to have deprived us of a legitimate third option, though Moussa Dembele’s installation to the starting XI may yet offer a solution. The latter has now started each of the last six and has racked up a goal and two assists in the previous three Gameweeks – priced at 5.2 and fielded in the support role behind Kane, the Belgian’s display against West Ham this weekend will be monitored by many as we look for a double differential.