Say What – Gameweek 34

We take a look at some of the pertinent quotes over the last few days this afternoon. Tim Sherwood talks up Villa’s new playmaker, Gylfi Sigurdsson is looking to kick on from his weekend haul, Jason Puncheon discusses the Pardew effect whilst John Carver and Mark Hughes are keen to be cautious with the pitch time of Siem de Jong and Peter Odemwingie after the pair returned from long-term injuries.

Sigurdsson looking for more goals

Gylfi Sigurdsson netted for the first time in six weeks as the Swans ran out 3-2 victors over Newcastle United. The Icelandic midfielder has struggled to deliver attacking returns playing at the tip of a midfield diamond since the Manchester United clash in Gameweek 26, recording just one goal and an assist during that period. It’s no coincidence that Sigurdsson’s 13-point haul on Saturday (one goal, one assist) coincided with manager Garry Monk’s decision to switch to a 4-2-3-1 set-up, allowing the former Tottenham midfielder to opearate in “the hole” behind lone striker Nelson Oliveira. Sigurdsson is now targeting further goals as the Swans embark on a perilous final chapter to their campaign (STO, ars, MCI, cry):

“I’m not quite there, but hopefully I’ll get a few more before the end of the season to meet my target. But I’m not revealing what that is. I’d love to tick that box, especially as the team has reached one target by beating our points record. I’ve enjoyed the season – we’ve really come along as a team, so to get the tally that I’ve been striving for would be a great achievement for me.”

Puncheon on Pardew impact

Since Alan Pardew took the helm in Gameweek 21, only four teams have scored more goals than Crystal Palace (22), despite their back-to-back blanks against West Brom and Hull. The Eagles have offered an impressive close-range threat, too – sitting second for efforts inside the box to champions City by 130 to 150. Jason Puncheon, Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bolasie and Glenn Murray have all reaped the rewards of the refreshing attacking philosophy introduced to the club by the new man in charge and Puncheon was full of praise for the turnaround in approach:

“I think he [Pardew] has just improved the belief in individuals, getting the most of out of people. You see Wilfried [Zaha] – he’s up and down the pitch, getting back. Yala [Bolasie] is doing really well, and somebody like Glenn [Murray], he didn’t have an opportunity at the start of the season but he’s come in and he’s done well. We work on a lot of the things we do in the game, in training. He takes away all the attackers and they go and do separate things to the defenders, and it is working.”

Sherwood talks up Grealish’s talents

Aston Villa youngster Jack Grealish has repaid the faith invested in him by manager Tim Sherwood after being handed three successive starts for the West Midlands club. The 4.3-priced playmaker turned out a commanding performance at Manchester City, with only three other midfielders engineering more chances (three) for their team-mates in Gameweek 34 – strengthening his case for investment as the Villains gear up for three home ties (EVE, WHU, BUR) in their final quartet of fixtures. Speaking on the burgeoning talent, Sherwood praised the Ireland U21 international’s intensity and awareness, insisting that Grealish is now his prime pick in that No. 10 berth:

“He receives the ball and dribbles it around people. They kick lumps out of him because he’s so confident. The ball is his friend, it sticks to his foot. The more opportunities he gets, the better he’s going to become…When I first came here, he wasn’t even sitting on the bench and they were singing someone’s name. I was thinking: ‘That doesn’t sound like mine.’ It wasn’t. It was Jack Grealish. For someone who’s not played, he’s a star. I’ve seen him train – he has intensity. He wants to play. He deserved that opportunity. I am only picking a team in the best interests of winning a football match. I had no doubt about him. He is a player for the future of this football club – but he’s a player for now as well. If I wasn’t sure about him, I wouldn’t be putting him in. I looked for a No.10. I looked at my options. He was my No.1. He has good awareness. He plays with wing mirrors.”

Carver admits De Jong isn’t ready to start

Emerging from the bench to replace Remy Cabella late on against Swansea, Siem de Jong scored in his first appearance since Gameweek 3 as Newcastle United fell to a 3-2 home defeat. The 6.8-priced Dutchman scored 57 goals in 168 appearances for Ajax and will be eyeing up further goals as the Magpies embark on a favourable run-in (lei, WBA, qpr, WHU). Toon head coach John Carver believes that De Jong is the creative spark that the Tynesiders have been missing, although concedes that he’s not quite ready to start yet:

“He’s a talent – he’s quality. He’s a creative type of player. Siem hasn’t played a (full) Premier League game yet, but what he’s got is such a sharp brain. He’s technically very good, and we can put him in to a system where he might not put in the ground work, but we could fill a team around him. You need a creative player in there to win games. He’s not ready to start yet. He needs a 90 minutes.”

Fellaini discusses his upturn in form..

Marouane Fellaini had a dismal first season at Manchester United, tallying zero goals and two assists in 1374 minutes of action. The Belgian has enjoyed a far more productive campaign under Louis Van Gaal, notching five goals and two in his last six starts – establishing himself as a mid-priced differential. Fellaini revealed his frustration at being made a scapegoat for the Red Devils’ poor performances last term but is now stronger mentally to tackle the challenges ahead:

“I had played five years in England and every season I played very well for Everton. Then, for one year, I lost my football, I lost my quality, I lost everything. Bull****. That’s my opinion. And now my quality has come back. But that’s not right, that’s not right. The difference this summer is five players come, not just me. It would have been completely different if five players had arrived at the same time as me, but they did not. Just me. So I was in the middle of it. Sometimes, I didn’t play — and it was still me. I was injured for three months — still me. It was stupid, a bad experience….It is different now. The fans, the people, they are with me, not against me. Last season was bad for everyone — but I have had the strength to move on. That is football. I learned a lot from that. I am stronger mentally. I always thought I was, but now more than ever.”

Martinez on Lennon form

Aaron Lennon has been a revelation for the Toffees since sealing a loan switch from Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window. The pint-sized winger has averaged over five points per appearance in his previous six starts, carding two goals and an assist in the process. Everton’s remaining schedule serves up three favourable fixtures (avl SUN, whu) before Lennon is ineligible for the Gameweek 38 clash with parent club Spurs. In an interview with evertontv prior to the win over United, manager Roberto Martinez lauded Lennon’s impact on the Merseyside club and is reviewing the possibility of a permanent transfer when the dust has settled on this campaign:

“Aaron is enjoying his football and his contribution to the team has been significant. He has got four games left and all I want is for him to enjoy every single second of it and make sure he enjoys the experience as much as we have benefitted from his talent. Then, at the end of the season, will be the moment to sit down. A loan is a loan and it means that we are looking for a successful outcome out of that. Then, when the loan finishes, you have got a three way conversation to see where that will take us. But the focus now is to see Azza enjoying his football in the next four games.”

Hazard on Mourinho’s role in his season…

Chelsea’s relative lack of goal threat in their previous three outings (two goals) has been countervailed by a defensive diligence that’s seen them record a trio of successive clean sheets. In the last four matches, no side has conceded fewer big chances (one) than the champions-elect. Eden Hazard has been directly involved (three goals, two assists) in the Blues last seven strikes, underlining how pivotal he’s been in cementing their spot at the summit. Hazard reiterated how Jose Mourinho has added defensive qualities to his game to complement his natural attacking flair:

“I train well with him[Jose Mourinho], we work well but the most important thing for me is he let me play, he just asked me to be the best and he doesn’t give me pressure. So for the player we are free and this is good. Everybody knows I like to have the ball at my feet, but without the ball I try to give everything offensively, defensively. This is my job. But for me, the most important thing is to create something, to score for the team or create an assist.”

Hughes to use Odemwingie Sparingly

Peter Odemwingie clocked his first minutes for Stoke City since Gameweek 3 as the Potters were held to a 1-1 at home to Sunderland. The Nigerian forward emerged as a budget differential in last year’s iteration of the Fantasy Premier League, registering seven goals and two assists for the Britannia outfit. In spite of his return to the fold, Mark Hughes is keen to court caution with the former West Brom man’s minutes for the remainder of the season:

“Among the disappointment [of not beating Sunderland], the really pleasing thing from our point of view is Peter Odemwingie coming back and getting on the pitch, having a good positive effect. He’ll be better for that and we’re delighted that he’s able to come on and make an impact. It’s a little bit too soon for him in terms of his game time. He’s probably not ready to start games yet but he can impact games for us from now until the end of the season coming from the bench.”