Scout Mission – Gameweek 33

Our usual delve into some of the upcoming Gameweek’s most pertinent topics arrives this Thursday lunchtime. Chelsea and Leicester’s options for the double, Harry Kane’s display at Newcastle, Sergio Aguero and David Silva form and Tony Pulis’ ability to derail the Crystal Palace bandwagons are all on today’s menu.

That third Chelsea slot…
For many, Eden Hazard and Branislav Ivanovic have already nailed a place in our starting XIs by now. With the in-form Loic Remy struggling to recover and Diego Costa still sidelined, can we really place our trust in Didier Drogba for the double Gameweek? Jose Mourinho’s side had one shot on target against QPR and still managed to win, suggesting that, with his options up front restricted, the Blues boss is happy to sit tight and sneak a win here and there as his side close in on the title. Clearly, such an approach could strengthen the rest of the Blues backline’s prospects for the run-in, though Cesc Fabregas’ winner at Loftus Road, allied with a pair of assists over the previous two, may be the best solution. Having been handed the role in “the hole”, the Spaniard can now play with the handbrake off after both he and Nemanja Matic managed to avoid a two-match ban after the Suspension Tightrope was extended to 15 yellows last Sunday.

Leicester’s main men ahead of the double….
After taking his tally to two goals and a pair of assists in the last three, Jamie Vardy is a wanted man, with over 22,000 FPL managers already snapping up his services this week. With Nigel Pearson intent on going on the attack, Leicester’s tally of eight goals in the last three certainly merits our consideration and David Nugent’s two strikes and assist seem to have sneaked under the radar, with just 3,000 new owners taking a punt. As the Foxes prepare for a double Gameweek 34, Esteban Cambiasso has stepped up with a goal and assist in two, and with a number of defenders offering impressive goal threat in recent weeks, a third successive win for the Foxes could prove influential to many a managers’ plans.

United’s momentum at the Bridge….
Having swept aside Spurs, Liverpool and City in recent weeks, the Red Devils have underlined their fixture-proof appeal ahead of a trip to Chelsea. The Liverpool victory aside, Louis van Gaal’s men have struggled somewhat on their travels, winning just five of 15 away matches so far and with Jose Mourinho canny enough to park the bus and play for a point to protect his side’s lead at the summit, Juan Mata, Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young’s flourishing form faces its stiffest test yet. With Everton, West Brom, Palace and Hull in the final five, a big performance will bring United onto our radars for the run-in.

Pulis’ attempt to rein in Murray and Bolasie….
This time last year, Tony Pulis was masterminding Crystal Palace’s great escape. With his new club, West Brom, dragged back into a relegation dogfight after losing four of the last five, he now needs to somehow curtail the Eagles’ attacking talents at Selhurst Park in order to reignite the Baggies survival bid. Glenn Murray (six goals and four assists in his last six appearances) and Yannick Bolasie, with three goals and four assists in four, have been subject to major investment this week as Palace go in search of their fifth straight win under Alan Pardew. Can Pulis spoil the party by re-instilling his side’s resilience or will Palace’s attack-minded display consign their former manager to another worrying defeat?

The Saints defence on the road….
A routine 2-0 home win over Hull took Southampton’s tally to 15 clean sheets for the season last weekend. Although Ronald Koeman’s side have conceded just 12 times on their travels, they’ve kept out their opponents just four times outside of St Mary’s and with only two of the final six fixtures in front of their own fans, it remains to be seen whether they can improve that record. Given that Nathaniel Clyne, Ryan Bertrand and Jose Fonte are amongst the six most popular defenders in FPL, we’ll be keeping a keen eye on their display at the Britannia, as our attentions start to focus on the upcoming double Gameweek alternatives.

Aguero and Silva against the Hammers….
With double Gameweeks on the horizon, the City pair look the most at risk as a means of freeing up cash. Three home fixtures in four (WHM, AVL, QPR) could barely be kinder for Manuel Pellegrini’s side as they look to bounce back from their Old Trafford mauling and parting company with either has the potential to backfire. After a switch to 4-4-1-1, Aguero’s brace at United ended a five-match goal drought, whilst Silva’s recent home returns (17, 11, 9 in last three at the Etihad) have served notice of his potential – a convincing display against Big Sam’s side could send many of us back to the drawing board.

Kane’s form on Tyneside….
Three blanks in the last four suggest the youngster’s season is – just like Tottenham’s – coming to a disappointingly premature end. Bearing in mind that Kane had blanked only three times in 13 appearances prior to his Gameweek 29 trip to United, his recent returns are indicative of a lack of motivation amongst Mauricio Pochettino’s charges. It’s fair to say that his armband appeal is no longer convincing but can Kane put the Magpies’ porous defence to the sword and keep his place in our three-man frontlines for now?

Everton’s chance to finish strongly….
Having served up four clean sheets in their last five at Goodison, the Toffees now have four home fixtures (BUR, MUN, SUN, TOT) allied with trips to Villa and West Ham to end the season. That improved resilience has seen Leighton Baines and co. arrive on our radars again, though there could be options right throughout the Toffees XI after Roberto Martinez’ in-form side racked up three wins and a draw in the last four. With Romelu Lukaku expected to return this weekend and Aaron Lennon earning points in three of his last four, that obliging run-in could prove beneficial for those looking to invest in the blue half of Merseyside.

Monk’s set-up with Gomis ruled out….
The Frenchman’s four goals in six had brought him onto the radar before limping off early on against Everton last weekend. With Gomis now out for four weeks, Garry Monk faces a tactical dilemma as the Swans look to take advantage of three favourable matches (lei, new, STO), though. Although Monk’s decision to field Wayne Routledge in an advanced central role benefitted Gomis, the midfielder has failed to earn any attacking points since Gameweek 7, whilst Gylfi Sigurdsson has a goal and assist to his name in the last 13 rounds of fixtures. Will Monk turn to newcomer Nelson Oliveira as a like-for-like replacement for Gomis or will be restructure his attack in order to get the best out of Sigurdsson’s skills once again?