The Digest – Gameweek 2

Our last glance at Gameweek 2 highlights Sergio Aguero’s irresistible display against Chelsea and Everton’s improvement in the final third, whilst the champions’ sluggish start to the season has made their prime Fantasy asset surplus to requirement for many.

The Player

It took Sergio Aguero just ten seconds to convince Jose Mourinho that Chelsea were in for a torrid time at the Etihad last Sunday.

Slipped through for a one-on-one with Asmir Begovic, the Argentine fluffed his lines on that occasion but ultimately tormented the champions with seven attempts on goal, grabbing his first of the season with a display that forced the Blues boss to haul off John Terry at the break.

Overlooked by many for the start of the season due to his late return to summer training, the race is now on to acquire Aguero in light of his weekend performance. Already snapped up by over 195,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers this week, the City striker has risen to 13.1 as we look to his fixture-proof appeal to arrest – what has been for many – a poor start to the Fantasy campaign.

With Raheem Sterling adding speed to the City flank and David Silva dazzling in the middle, City look a force of nature right now. Having fired six past West Brom and Chelsea – sides that racked up 16 and 17 shut-outs in 2014/15 respectively – Manuel Pellegrini’s men are in irresistible form and, in Aguero, they possess a player capable of unlocking the meanest of defences.

The upcoming schedule could hardly be kinder, either. With a trip to Everton preceding clashes with Watford, Palace, West Ham, Spurs, Newcastle and Bournemouth, Aguero’s armband appeal could barely be stronger. Finding the cash to acquire him looks vital as we turn to the reliable Argentine to fire our ailing Fantasy sides back up the rankings.

The Team

It’s easy to forget that Everton finished fifth in their first season under Roberto Martinez in 2013/14.

With the added hassle of Europa League duties to contend with last time out, the Toffees struggled to cope with a packed schedule that even saw them flirt with the relegation places before steadying the ship in the final few months of the campaign. Having stuttered to an eleventh-placed finish last term, the Merseysiders can concentrate solely on domestic matters this year.

Judging by their 3-0 win at St Mary’s last Saturday lunchtime, a lack of European action could prove beneficial for Martinez and Fantasy managers alike. The Saints conceded a mere 13 times at home last year but were swept aside as Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku tore apart Ronald Koeman’s backline. At a time where many highly-owned assets are struggling to justify our collective show of faith, the Toffees duo have already served up two goals and an assist apiece as Everton waste no time in reminding us of their capabilities. Factor in the 5.1-priced Arouna Kone’s goal and pair of assists from the right and it’s easy to see why the Merseysiders have been subject to major bandwagons at the start of the season.

Can they maintain these displays, though? Up next is a perfect storm of form versus fixtures which is set to test the Merseysiders’ mettle. Having emerged from St Mary’s triumphant, Everton now face an extraordinarily tough run (MCI, tot, CHE, swa, wba, LIV, MUN, ars) which may well limit their potential. Whilst many will be prepared to hold until the schedule smiles kinder in Gameweek 11, their weekend display suggests that Everton may be an altogether different proposition under Martinez this time around.

The Talking Point

As Chelsea struggle for any semblance of form at both ends of the pitch, Fantasy managers are deserting Eden Hazard in their droves.

After just two rounds of fixtures, the Belgian’s mere two attempts on goal have persuaded many to look elsewhere as Jose Mourinho’s men stumble out of the blocks.

Certainly, there are no shortage of in-form alternatives. City’s aforementioned run of fixtures has elevated Aguero, David Silva, Sterling and Yaya Toure in our thinking, with many seeking to acquire two or even three of Manuel Pellegrini’s main men in light of their opening displays. With Alexis Sanchez looking electric on the Arsenal left, Hazard’s lofty 11.5 price tag is proving the obvious source of funds to facilitate such moves.

There’s no doubting Hazard’s quality. He has, after all, racked up 14 goals and ten assists in each of the last two seasons and will eventually return to our radars but with Chelsea currently toiling, we cannot afford to carry a premium-priced player as a passenger right now. With Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez boasting both the returns and underlying statistics to justify his inclusion as a viable fourth midfielder, the decision to part company with the Belgian has been made that little bit easier.

Structuring our squads to offer an easy route back for Hazard looks a sensible option and the acquisition of either Silva or Sanchez opens an easy route for his return. For now, though, the exodus is picking up pace as we place our faith in the form players until Hazard, and Chelsea, can rediscover their title-winning spark.