The Digest – Gameweek 31

Our final look back at an eventful Gameweek 31 sees us bring Villa’s in-form talisman, QPR’s attack-minded displays and the dilemma over Diego Costa onto this afternoon’s radar.

The Player

Arriving at the club in the wake of a ten-match spell that harvested just two goals for Aston Villa, Tim Sherwood’s primary focus was to reinvigorate Christian Benteke’s misfiring season after the striker had scored just twice in the opening 25 rounds of fixtures. Considering that the Belgian forward has netted seven times in as many outings since Sherwood’s appointment, it’s clear he is profiting from the former Tottenham manager’s attacking philosophy.

With his confidence on the up, Benteke has returned to the barnstorming form that battered top-flight backlines in his debut season in 2012/13, where he racked up 19 goals for the midlands outfit. Sherwood clearly understands that if his side are to avoid the drop, involving the Belgian as much as possible is the best way forward and Benteke’s hat-trick against QPR last night highlights a shift in tactics since the new manager arrived. Under the stewardship of Paul Lambert, Benteke touched the ball an average of 47 times per appearance, while Sherwood’s presence has increased this figure to 70. He’s exerting a greater influence on opposing defences, too, boosting his average of 23 touches in the final third up to 36 touches in the last six outings.

Benteke’s red hot form has doubtless put him on the radar of a myriad Fantasy managers searching for a differential to set them apart in their mini-leagues. Given that his upcoming trips to Spurs and Chelsea are sandwiched by a Gameweek 33 blank, though, non-owners might be tempted to hold off until the Villains’ closing four fixtures, which affords them three winnable matches (EVE, WHU, sou, BUR) in front of their own fans.

The Team

Having found the net seven times in their double Gameweek, QPR are second only to Arsenal (nine to 11) in terms of goals scored in the previous four matches. The London club had surpassed the one-goal mark on just one occasion in the 13 fixtures prior to Gameweek 31, yet achieved that feat twice in a matter of four days, recording a 4-1 win over West Bromwich Albion and a 3-3 stalemate with Villa.

While Charlie Austin continued his surge up the goalscorer ranks with a brace over the course of the double – only Harry Kane and Diego Costa (19) have notched more goals than Austin’s 17 – Matty Phillips has taken up the mantle of chief creative outlet under Chris Ramsey. The 4.6-priced Phillips – a forgotten man under Harry Redknapp – has produced two goals and seven assists in eight appearances and offered Fantasy managers a real consistent source of points, blanking just twice over that run of matches.

Ramsey’s men will do well to perpetuate their scoring streak as they embark on a quartet of fixtures (CHE, WHU, liv, mci) against high-calibre opposition, with a blank Gameweek 33 also to factor in. As evidenced by the last few days’ events, though, Ramsey’s determination to go on the offensive in order to boost his side’s survival prospects suggests that their main men in the final third could still thrive – certainly, with their porous backline shipping 58 goals, more than any other side, the R’s boss certainly knows that attack may be his only form of defence.

The Talking Point

Diego Costa’s recent injury setback completely changes the dynamic of Chelsea’s double Gameweek 34. Although the combative frontman is targeting a return for the Blues’ trip to Arsenal (the first tie of their double), there surely remains major question marks over his start at the Emirates, with non-owners perhaps no longer needing to engineer a route into their squads for Costa. With Loic Remy (7.1) almost certain to be given the nod in Costa’s stead – having bagged the winners in Chelsea’s last two matches – Charlie Austin’s 22% ownership now have a perfect exit route lined up.

As another byproduct of Costa’s absence, Sergio Aguero’s patient 24.6% ownership can perhaps afford to resist shipping out the Argentine livewire in the hope that he’ll rediscover his rhythm in the near future. With a single assist in the last five, an Aguero-Costa swap looked the obvious option as a means of freeing up funds but many may decide to hold for now – after the trip to United, Aguero has three home fixtures in four (WHM, AVL, QPR) which could barely be more persuasive.

Certainly, Daniel Sturridge could potentially benefit from an upcoming double if Liverpool beat Blackburn in the cup tonight but, again, the former Chelsea man’s injury troubles are a real concern – as is his tally of two goals in eight appearances. A fully-fit Sturridge and Costa would certainly spark a significant exodus from Aguero owners but with both struggling to find a way out the treatment room, there’s few other options jumping out at us in the premium price bracket.

With the 10.9-priced Costa very unlikely to be handed two starts in the double, then, funds are freed up to invest more heavily in alternatives among Chelsea’s squad. For many, Eden Hazard and Branislav Ivanovic – sitting at the summit for midfielders and defenders respectively – are the two obvious options, leaving us with a free Chelsea space to fill. Given that Remy has managed four starts under Jose Mourinho, some remain unconvinced over his security of pitch time in Costa’s absence, though he clearly has the form to flourish regardless.

Providing Cesc Fabregas can steer clear of the referee’s wrath this weekend, he will avoid a two-match ban and with an assist in each of his last two, will also be earmarked by many, given that Oscar has failed to manage 90 minutes since Gameweek 23. The Spain international flew to Italy yesterday for surgery on a broken nose but is expected to feature at Loftus Road, with a protective mask enabling him to take part. Alternatively, John Terry’s three goals in four between Gameweek 17-20 highlighted his capabilities and if the Blues show any signs of increased resilience, he could prove a canny double-up option along with Ivanovic as Mourinho’s men close in on the title.