This Much We Know – Gameweek 8

A wasteful Theo Walcott prompts panic. Rotation policies and Champions League commitments cause headaches. Charlie Austin and Jose Holebas offer value solutions, while the efforts of Joe Allen and Junior Stanislas could yet be shunned. Here are the learnings from Gameweek 8 so far…

Walcott can’t be ignored…
With four goals and a pair of assists in the last four Gameweeks and with his starting role seemingly assured, Theo Walcott is no longer a Fantasy asset that can be dismissed.

Still priced at 7.8 but rising at pace, Walcott offers a points potential to rival, if not better, most options up front, playing in an Arsenal side that faces a beleaguered Middlesbrough and Sunderland next.

The damage he could inflict to those defences and to those FPL managers without his services could be considerable.

The Arsenal winger’s Gameweek 8 haul could have been doubled and, while it’s perhaps optimistic to presume that his consistency will continue, those next two opponents do not look equipped to cope with an Arsenal attacking machine fronted by Walcott’s current goal threat.

Rest and rotation is biting hard…
Arsenal have a Champions League tie with Bulgarian’s Ludogorets Razgrad on Wednesday – a tie that shouldn’t stretch Arsene Wenger’s resources. As a result, rest and rotation were not a factor to consider ahead of their Gameweek 8 fixture.

But Manchester City and Spurs have tougher tests this week, with Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino preparing line-ups to face Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen.

While we expected those European dates to be factors, we clearly underestimated the impact they would have on Gameweek 8.

Both Sergio Aguero and Son Heung-min were preserved on the bench against Everton and West Brom respectively.

City and Spurs both dropped points, perhaps as a result of resting their key men but, nonetheless, Saturday’s teamsheets provided the latest evidence that Premier League managers are now less likely to exert assets in and around European commitments.

We saw Claudio Ranieri rest Riyad Mahrez at Stamford Bridge, withdrawing him early in Gameweek 7 at Old Trafford.

Equally, Arsene Wenger benched Alexis Sanchez for the Gameweek 3 Emirates meeting with Southampton.

We can’t be sure if it’s a change in data available to managers or a switch in philosophy across the board. But we do know that we can no longer take the threat of rest and rotation lightly – it seems it’s a bigger factor than ever this season.

Holebas can rival defensive big-hitters…
Another tactical switch from Walter Mazzarri, this time reverting to a three-man defence but deploying Issac Success on the left flank, appears to have elevated Jose Holebas’ potential once again.

Watford’s formation at the Riverside Stadium was, in the main, a 5-4-1 setup, with Holebas deployed behind Success and reaping the rewards of the havoc caused by the lively Nigerian.

With dead-ball duties assigned and a proven talent from range, Holebas’ stock is on the rise.

If Mazzarri’s tactics can also introduce a new level of resilience, evidenced by their first clean sheet on Sunday, then the Greek full-back could even rival the output of some of the big-ticket defensive options.

The tightrope is providing an unnecessary distraction…
With Holebas thriving and Diego Costa retaining prolific form, it seems that fears over fifth bookings and one-match bans could cloud our judgement.

Holebas looks a wise investment regardless of his seemingly inevitable suspension.

As for Costa, perhaps the form of Romelu Lukaku is the main reason why many are still ignoring his claims.

Another blank for Zlatan Ibrahimovic tonight will surely generate further transfer traffic heading for the Chelsea man, while Sergio Aguero needs to revive his fortunes against Southampton in Gameweek 9 if we are to keep on ignoring Costa’s claims.

Austin is ahead in the third striker race…
Charlie Austin may not be completing matches for Southampton, but he’s now cemented his starting role and, in a side that’s creating ample opportunities, looks to guarantee goals.

Priced at just 6.4, with spot-kicks now also assured, Austin appears tailor-made for our third striker position, slotting in alongside two big-hitters.

Southampton’s Gameweek 9 trip to Manchester City may act as a deterrent for now, although with just one clean sheet to their name, Guardiola’s rearguard hardly has the form to keep a vibrant Saints at bay.

Sofiane Boufal’s imminent introduction may yet disrupt matters in Puel’s frontline, though arguably if Austin retains his start as expected, the Moroccan’s presence can only boost the striker’s prospects further.

Stanislas and Allen may still get ignored….
We spend weeks crying out for value options in midfield and then when they announce themselves, we find reasons to shun their claims.

But with so many midfielders tempting investment in and around the top bracket, it looks a gamble to compromise spending, even when considering a fourth midfielder candidate.

The emergence of Stoke City’s Joe Allen and now Junior Stanislas of Bournemouth as sub 5.5 options presents a clear route, but it’s questionable whether either can be true replacements for big-ticket midfield items.

There’s always the concept of switching to 3-5-2, but then Charlie Austin’s form casts doubts on that idea.

As fifth midfielders, Allen and certainly Stanislas are hard to justify – the former, at just 4.8, looks a straight replacement for Etienne Capoue but, like the Watford man, can punish us from the bench.

The pair are unfortunate that, right now, Fantasy managers are obsessing on their midfield line-up and yet to take up the potential of switching funds to defence.

With the Arsenal and Spurs rearguards both failing in Gameweek 8, that’s understandable – particularly with the likes of Holebas reminding us of the value on offer elsewhere in defence.

Hazard can still be a big factor…
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard may yet renew his application for consideration in our mix of midfield talent.

Antonio Conte’s recent tactical shift appears to have re-invigorated the winger’s role in the Chelsea side, unshackling him from a position on the flank to tuck inside and bomb beyond Diego Costa.

Hazard returned a third goal in as many outings in all competitions with a weekend strike against Leicester City and, given his advanced position throughout, we now need to monitor the Belgian’s progress.

Heaton and save points can win the day…
While Holebas’ potential promotes caution when considering high-end defensive assets, Burnley’s Tom Heaton goes on belittling the expensive keeper options with returns that belie his 4.6 price tag.

Heaton was outstanding at St Mary’s on Sunday, producing a season-high 11 saves to cement his place at the top of the FPL goalkeeper standings.

He’s returned an additional ten points from saves, which, coupled with four bonus points, is the equivalent of three more clean sheets to add to Burnley’s tally of two.

No Premier League goalkeeper has returned more than three clean sheets thus far and Petr Cech, one of those on three shut-outs, has just five save points and no bonus to his name.

Should this trend continue, Heaton looks set to finish the season challenging for the top-ranked keeper spot, making a mockery of his price tag and teasing those who have spent 5.5 on a keeper option.

Hull suddenly look like whipping boys…
Having suffered heavy defeats in their last four, shipping 17 goals, Mike Phelan’s Hull City look to have claimed an unwanted new status.

The early season resilience has long gone, with opponents now seemingly picking them apart at will.

Bournemouth’s attack is an improving force but the Tigers will surely face sterner tests and Fantasy managers will now be consulting fixture lists and preparing investment accordingly.

Phelan’s men have an improving run of opponents ahead of them, but Stoke City, Watford and Southampton over the next three Gameweeks will now consider their meeting an opportunity not only to earn three points but also to provide a boost to their goal difference.