This Much We Know – Gameweek 28

Harry Kane’s ankle blow tears up the masterplan. Transfer speculation casts a cloud over Romelu Lukaku’s rise, while Josh King proves he doesn’t even need penalties to prove his value. We learned this and more from the low-fat Gameweek 28…

Kane blow sends us back to drawing board…
Just a week ago we stressed the near-essential status of Harry Kane for our squads – seven days later, we now have to face up to life without him.

In a chain of events typical of this season, another ankle injury has derailed a prize Fantasy asset, just as momentum appeared to have rendered him key to our plans.

With Spurs confirming ligament damage this evening, we must now consider how we re-adjust, with reserved funds potentially free to invest and Sergio Aguero perhaps no longer surplus to requirements.

Lukaku’s contract is an unwanted distraction…
With Kane ducking out of the equation, we now rely on Romelu Lukaku to remain a mainstay and keep producing the performances and output that have served us so well to this point.

But today’s revelation that he’s rejected Everton’s “bumper” contract offer casts an untimely cloud over the Belgian’s current status.

So reliable at Goodison Park, having returned goals in his last five home outings, Lukaku looked a shoo-in to retain the Gameweek armband ahead of the visit of Hull City.

Now doubtless subject to a frenzied media circus, with speculation on his future spinning furiously, we have to pray that Lukaku remains focused on scoring goals to keep the points flowing.

Sanchez may return sooner than planned…
Recent events surrounding Kane and Lukaku may now see us consider our perspective on Alexis Sanchez.

While we’d welcome the luxury of being able to assess the Chilean’s performance, along with Arsenal’s, against West Brom, there’s now an argument to move early.

Many will have funds available should Kane be ruled out and, for those perhaps doubting Lukaku’s frame of mind ahead of Gameweek 29, Sanchez would be the obvious fallback for the captaincy.

While there are clearly doubts on the form and mindset of Sanchez and Arsenal at this time, with two double Gameweeks seemingly guaranteed, there can be no question that our move for their prize asset will arrive at some point.

The Baggies are browsing the brochures…
Not quite on the beach, West Brom appear to be in danger of settling for their lot having surrendered so willingly to Everton at Goodison Park.

With safety secured and a European place likely to be seen as an unwanted fringe benefit, Tony Pulis’ men are caught in limbo with their motivation levels in question.

While Fantasy managers are evacuating on their assets at pace, equally we must start to consider West Brom as a convenient opponent, who could offer goals and clean sheet opportunities to those teams up against them.

Ahead of Gameweek 29, it’s perhaps another factor to consider when weighing up the merits of an early return for Sanchez.

The gap between Coleman and Baines widens by the week…
Already an argument settled by Seamus Coleman’s relentless form which has seen him provide a goal, assist or a clean sheet in eight of nine Gameweeks, Saturday’s unfortunate chain of events only compounded matters.

Baines withdrawal at half-time, robbing him of Everton’s shut-out, put recent developments into sharp focus.

Baines cannot hope to mirror Coleman’s tireless marauding, and while his crafty left foot remains a factor, Saturday’s back problem is perhaps symptomatic of an asset reaching the latter stages of his career.

Further injuries and rest and rotation may soon follow, with Everton surely likely to recruit cover at left-back in the summer.

That would see the gap become a chasm when next season’s player list enters circulation.

King may be an offer we can’t refuse…
For all the concerns on Bournemouth’s fixture list and chatter surrounding double Gameweek assets, we surely cannot afford to overlook Josh King.

Eight goals from the last seven Gameweeks hammer home his potential and, while spot-kicks have been a factor, King almost extinguished that dependency on Saturday by scoring an open play hat-trick and dragging his earlier penalty wide.

The Norwegian is likely to regain duties for the home fixture with Swansea City and, if Jack Wilshere is considered for a start, King will likely move back into the central striker role.

The fixtures are against him but, with Bournemouth surely required to fight for survival until the final kick, we have to consider that the formbook can be an unwanted distraction at this point.

The Cherries are capable of scoring against any opponent – they have done so in five successive away matches. Should they maintain that record, there is surely no question that King will go on providing returns to justify the modest outlay.

Coutinho tests the patience…
At times this season Philippe Coutinho has won our trust, but we seem a million miles from that scenario now.

Recruited ahead of a Gameweek 28 meeting with Burnley, having topped the shot charts over the last four Gameweeks, the Brazilian put in a listless shift against the Clarets, resulting in his withdrawal on the hour-mark.

Yet to return to the form and output we saw before his mid-season ankle injury, the impact of that setback lingers.

As we start to evacuate slots to make way for double Gameweek assets, Coutinho is likely now seen as one of the first to be sacrificed, with his role in our season perhaps even at an end.

Sigurdsson to Mawson has been a profitable link…
Defences should have really caught on to Alfie Mawson’s threat at set-plays but, rather like Gareth McAuley at West Brom, he appears to a hugely effective blunt weapon that just can’t be repelled.

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s delivery is clearly a factor, and while the two combined to muster a mere consolation at Hull City, the goal proved far more significant for the pair’s Fantasy owners.

There is no double Gameweek on offer, but Mawson and Sigurdsson can remain loyal servants over the coming weeks, with the talk of Martin Olsson as an alternative to the centre-back now well and truly silenced.