Friday’s early kick-off is a predictably sparse affair for Fantasy managers, with modest returns on offer as West Ham and Leicester City play out a 1-1 stalemate.
Vardy stifled once again
Jamie Vardy went into the London Stadium encounter as the top owned asset on show, part of 14% of squads. He had produced just a single return – a goal in Gameweek 10 against Everton – in his previous six outings.
Tonight’s assist for Marc Albrighton’s opener provided little compensation for his owners. The striker mustered just one shot on goal and has now totalled only five efforts from his last four appearances since the arrival of manager Claude Puel.
Those statistics will do little to slow further sales, with Vardy’s ownership dropping by 118,000+ over those previous four Gameweeks. More than 59,000 moved Vardy on ahead of tonight’s deadline.
Riyad Mahrez also disappointed. The Algerian had produced two goals and three assists from his previous five outings. While he sparkled in the early stages, he cut a disgruntled figure when withdrawn on 69 minutes by Puel.
It perhaps gives an indication of Demarai Gray‘s progress under Puel that he remained on the pitch while Mahrez was hooked. Gray was eventually replaced in stoppage time. The 5.3 option has played 90 minutes in three of his four matches under Puel, while Mahrez has been replaced early in three of four.
At the back, it’s now just one clean sheet in six for Leicester, with Spurs their next opponent in Gameweek 14 on Tuesday.
Lanzini the stand-out Hammer
Manuel Lanzini was perhaps the most notable Fantasy performer for the home side.
He created five chances on the night and, along with left-back Aaron Cresswell, monopolised many of West Ham’s set-pieces.
Lanzini provided the crossed corner for Cheikhou Kouyate’s equaliser, having previously supplied a string of free-kick deliveries.
The Argentine picked up two bonus points along with his assist to score eight on the night.
However, priced at 6.8, Fantasy interest in the playmaker is likely to remain muted unless the Hammers can be transformed as an attacking force.
Interestingly, David Moyes deployed 4.4 defender Arthur Masuaku on the left-flank in front of Cresswell. But for all his pace and industry, the Frenchman’s final ball lacked quality.
With Michail Antonio back in training, Moyes will surely shake up his attack to accommodate the powerful winger, and Masuaku is the most likely to make way. That change could even be in place for the Gameweek 14 trip to Everton.
Marko Arnautovic is an early doubt for that encounter. He suffered a knock to his knee and was finally withdrawn on 69 minutes. Moyes brought us this on the setback post-match…
“He complained before, if you noticed he got a kick – or an injury – just before half time, and I was annoyed he kept limping around. You need a foghorn here on the touchline to hear anybody, but i wanted him to keep going and he did. He seemed okay at half time but I think at the end it’s just caught up on him, hopefully it’s not too severe I think he should be okay.”
