Scout Notes – Gameweek 14 – Wednesday

Luis Suarez delivers four goals and an assist in a sensational display as Liverpool batter Norwich at Anfield. Wayne Rooney picks up his fifth booking of the season and is suspended for the weekend visit of Newcastle. Eden Hazard and Yaya Toure both notch twice to continue their ascent up the Fantasy rankings, while the likes of Olivier Giroud and Christian Benteke find themselves on bench-warming duties as festive rotation begins to hit hard:

Suarez Runs Riot Against the Canaries Once More
A 40-yard lob opened the floodgates as the Liverpool forward served up his most sublime display of the season. Heading into last night’s match, Suarez was the overwhelming captaincy favourite for the Gameweek with good reason, having scored four times against the Canaries last season – he mirrored that haul in just 90 minutes against Chris Hughton’s beleaguered side and also served up an assist, playing a part in all of his side’s goals in the 5-1 win. Last night’s 24-point haul means he has now racked up 57 points in his last three appearances at Anfield – with West Ham and Cardiff paying visit in the next three, the Captaincy decision looks pretty much sorted already.

Bendtner Benefits from Wenger Rotation
The Gunners boss had hinted at one or two changes but few would have guessed those alterations included a certain Dane up front. With Olivier Giroud dropped to the bench, Nicklas Bendtner led the line in last night’s win over Hull and needed less than two minutes to vindicate his manager’s decision by heading home the opener – given the relative success of his decision, it’s a tactic that Wenger may well employ again as he looks to protect Giroud’s long-term fitness. Despite suggestions of a rest for Aaron Ramsey and/or Mesut Ozil, the duo started yet again and picked up an assist and goal respectively in the 2-0 win – Theo Walcott was once more introduced as a late sub, with his manager admitting the winger hadn’t been able to practice in the last week due to illness and “is not completely ready” for a start.

Forward Problems for Swansea
Michael Laudrup’s side racked up their second most comprehensive win of the season as they ended Newcastle’s winning streak in style. A 3-0 win over the Magpies didn’t come without its problems, though – Alvaro Vazquez limped off midway through the first-half and, with Wilfried Bony and Michu still sidelined through injury, the Swans have a real dilemma ahead of the weekend visit of Hull. Intriguingly (and despite reports on twitter suggesting Alex Pozuelo was moved up top) Laudrup insisted after the game his change in tactics resulted in a strikerless system, with Jonjo Shelvey as the most advanced central figure – the former Liverpool man grabbed a goal and assist in the win and has now netted in two of the last three Gameweeks. Post-match, the Swans boss was optimistic on the Vazquez prognosis, though, and suggested “I don’t think it’s a bad injury. We aren’t talking weeks”.

Hazard Wreaks Havoc on Wearside
Two goals and an assist at the Stadium of Light maintained the Belgian’s strong run of form and ended Sunderland’s unbeaten home record under Gus Poyet. Hazard has now produced six goals and five assists in the last eight matches for Jose Mourinho’s side, with last night’s 17-point haul his fourth set of double figures in the last seven Gameweeks – with Oscar missing out through an ankle injury, the Belgian’s contribution has never been more crucial, as his manager suggested post-match. With a trip to Stoke and home games against Palace and Swansea in the next four, he looks poised to serve up plenty more festive cheer for his owners and looks too essential for Mourinho to even consider resting.

Bardsley in the Goals Again
The Sunderland right-back was given a torrid time by Hazard from start to finish last night and, after also netting Chelsea’s fourth past his own keeper, had something of a night to forget. Nonetheless, Bardsley’s attacking potential should be monitored after he scored for the second home match in a row for Gus Poyet’s side – at 4.4, he looks nailed-on under the new manager and could be worth considering for those eyeing up the Black Cats’ assets.

Boruc Absence Hits Saints Badly
With Artur Boruc and Kelvin Davis both sidelined through injury, Mauricio Pochettino kept faith in Paolo Gazzaniga for the visit of Villa. The Argentine conceded three times against Paul Lambert’s side and, factoring in his weekend showing at the Bridge, means he has shipped five goals in just 123 minutes – Boruc has conceded eight times in 1,137 minutes over 12 starts by comparison. With City rolling up to St Mary’s this Saturday, the Saints manager will be desperate for Davis’ return to action ahead of a schedule that also sees his leaky defence square up to Newcastle, Everton and Chelsea in the next six.

Benteke Dropped by Villa
Paul Lambert finally lost faith in the big Belgian last night and rang the changes for Villa’s trip to Southampton. A shift to 3-5-2 saw Libor Kozak return up front, partnered by Gabby Agbonlahor through the centre as Antonio Luna was handed the wing-back role on the left – given that both his frontmen grabbed a goal in the 3-2 win, Lambert may very well choose to keep faith in a winning side ahead of a favourable schedule that sees his side face Fulham, Stoke and Palace in the next four. Afforded a late second-half sub appearance, Benteke owners look to exit en masse after finally losing patience with the out-of-sorts Belgian.

Rooney Set for One-Match Ban
The United forward had looked a more than viable captaincy prospect ahead of a home clash with his former club. Rooney welcomed Everton to Old Trafford on the back of four sets of double figures in five appearances but left his owners hugely frustrated after delivering no more than a yellow card against the Toffees – crucially, this was his fifth caution of the season and means he is now set to miss the weekend visit of Newcastle. With Robin Van Persie sidelined yet again through a groin problem, David Moyes has his fair share of problems right now – Javier Hernandez looks the likeliest candidate to lead the line, with Shinji Kagawa tucking in behind the Mexican in a 4-2-3-1.

Oviedo the Toffees Hero
The Costa Rican delivered a crushing blow to Moyes as his former club left Old Trafford with the three points. Deputising for Leighton Baines once again, Oviedo added to his goal against Stoke at the weekend by grabbing the winner at United – he has now equalled Baines’ goal haul for the season and, more impressively, has notched twice from open play, whereas both Baines’ goals came courtesy of set-pieces against West Ham back in Gameweek 5. Frustratingly for would-be suitors, Oviedo’s classification as a midfielder across Fantasy games is hugely detrimental; all the more so given that the Toffees racked up clean sheets in both his starts. Roberto Martinez’ side have now registered eight clean sheets this season – just three fewer than during the whole of 2012/13 – but with an outstanding schedule from Gameweek 16 onwards (FUL, swa, SUN, SOU, sto, NOR) many will be looking to acquire one, or even two of the Toffees backline.

Toure at the Double for City
In a match which saw rotation of both Alvaro Negredo and Stephane Sessegnon hit owners hard, City registered their second win on the road this season in a five-goal thriller at The Hawthorns. Manuel Pellegrini partnered Sergio Aguero with Edin Dzeko and handed Negredo the night off, though while the Argentine notched his eleventh goal of the season to maintain his lead at the top of the overall standings, Yaya Toure made up significant ground on Aaron Ramsey in the midfield standings. Luck undoubtedly played a part, though – Aguero’s departure on 69 minutes afforded the Ivorian spot-kick duties just five minutes later and Toure duly converted his second of the night and seventh of the campaign; bettering his best-ever tally for the Etihad club. With maximum bonus also accrued, Toure is now up to 92 points overall, just eight behind Ramsey after his assist against Hull.

Vertonghen Ankle Worry for Spurs
Andre Villas-Boas’ defence proved crucial in turning around a one-goal deficit at Fulham. Kyle Walker picked up an assist and Vlad Chiriches grabbed his first goal since joining in the summer as Spurs scored on the road for the first time since Gameweek 8 to leave Rene Meulensteen defeated in his first match in charge of the hosts. Villas-Boas’ decision to swap Roberto Soldado for Jermain Defoe up top made little difference and once again leaves him with plenty to ponder ahead of the weekend trip to Sunderland – as does a potential injury to Jan Vertonghen. The Belgian was helped off the pitch by two members of Tottenham’s backroom staff at the final whistle after turning his ankle – post-match, his manager confirmed the ankle is swollen and is set to be assessed later today.