The Digest – Gameweek 21

We glance back at Gameweek 21’s events this Thursday lunchtime, as West Ham’s fit-again playmaker returns to Fantasy managers’ radars. Elsewhere, Man United’s upturn in attacking output and the upcoming armband alternatives to Sergio Aguero are also on our menu.

The Player

A goal and assist in West Ham’s comeback win at Bournemouth signalled Dimitri Payet’s return to Fantasy form on Tuesday evening.

Afforded a couple of sub appearances in league and cup over the Hammers’ previous fixtures, the Frenchman was re-installed to the starting XI for the first time since sustaining an ankle injury back in Gameweek 12.

With Payet pulling the strings, Bilic’s men extended their unbeaten run to eight league outings after a run of gritty displays without their talismanic playmaker. Fantasy managers have been quick to act – drafted in by over 140,000 last week, he’s been snapped up by a massive 105,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers as a result of his midweek endeavours.

Whilst the 11-point haul underlined his explosive potential, Payet’s consistency is key here – he’s picked up points in nine of 13 league appearances since arriving over the summer.

Impressively, the Frenchman’s Dean Court haul took his average to 6.1 points per game in 2015/16 – only Riyad Mahrez and Mesut Ozil have managed more. Whilst both Mahrez and Ozil are owned by 66% and 55% respectively, Payet currently sits in just 12% of FPL teams ahead of the weekend trip to Newcastle.

One look at the schedule suggests that the bandwagon won’t be slowing anytime soon. Given that the Magpies match is one of five fixtures against the bottom nine (new, MCI, AVL, sou, nor, SUN) in the next six, Bilic, and Fantasy managers alike, will have every reason for optimism as the Hammers look to strengthen their top-six ambitions.

The Team

Whilst a 3-3 draw at Newcastle may have dented their title ambitions, it did, at least, continue Man United’s recent return to attacking form.

Louis van Gaal’s side have now scored five times in the last two Gameweeks – although that’s not overly prolific, put into perspective, they had found the net just seven times in the 10 league matches beforehand. Furthermore, the Red Devils sit top for shots inside the box (24) and second only to Arsenal for big chances (five to six) in the last two matches, with Wayne Rooney the chief beneficiary in their turnaround, having produced three goals and an assist over that period. It’s been a long time coming but Van Gaal’s captain is finally starting to suggest he could, once again, be a viable contender for our three-man frontlines.

Jesse Lingard’s strike at St James’ also strengthened his chances of further pitch time. A peripheral figure mainly due to injuries this year, he’s now notched in two of his last five starts and, at just 4.2, could be another to monitor in the budget midfield bracket.

The upturn in the final third has come at a time where United were in danger of falling off our radars altogether. After a resilient start to the season, they’ve managed just two shut-outs in the last nine Gameweeks, with the appeal of backline regulars David de Gea and Chris Smalling very much on the wane.

Sitting two points off fourth spot, the Red Devils’ problems at the back may well continue to see them go on the offensive. Upcoming clashes against Liverpool, Southampton, Stoke and Chelsea aren’t the easiest but if the under-fire Dutchman is to keep his side in the Champions League race, attack may well be his best form of defence from this point onwards.

The Talking Point

After following up his Gameweek 20 winner at Watford with a goal and two assists in cup clashes against Everton and Norwich, the race was on for Sergio Aguero’s signature as City welcomed the Toffees to the Etihad last night.

The Argentine had looked back to his best after yet another stint on the sidelines and over 120,000 FPL managers snapped him up in expectation against an Everton defence with two clean sheets in 14 prior to last night’s goalless draw.

Although Aguero’s blank proved frustrating, the impact was felt less due to the failure of a number of contenders, with the likes of Harry Kane, Mesut Ozil, Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne all unable to take advantage.

Nonetheless, for all his explosive potential (as clearly evidenced by a five-goal haul at home to Newcastle), there’s no doubt that Aguero has been far less consistent this season. He’s scored in just four of his 13 league appearances and produced only one assist, whilst, on the road, that strike at Vicarage Road was his first attacking returns in seven away appearances in 2015/16.

Up next, Aguero now hosts Palace before travelling to West Ham and Sunderland – fixtures in which his owners will surely back him with the armband.

With Kane at home to Sunderland this weekend, though, and Lukaku then hosting Swansea and Newcastle over Gameweeks 23-24, those who are prepared to go without the Argentine in order to strengthen elsewhere certainly have very viable captaincy alternatives who may well be set to capitalise should he blank once again.