Scout Notes – Gameweek 15 – Saturday

Papiss Cisse scores twice to end Chelsea’s unbeaten run. Yaya Toure grabs City’s winner as Sergio Aguero limps off injured. Charlie Austin inspires QPR to victory before seeing red against Burnley, while goals from Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla are not enough to stop Arsenal falling to defat at Stoke.

Toure Nets as Aguero Limps Off Early

As mentioned in last night’s article, City face an anxious wait over Sergio Aguero’s fitness after the City striker limped off just six minutes into a 1-0 win over Everton. Manuel Pellegrini’s post-match comments on possible ligament damage merely adds fuel to the fire as we brace ourselves for what could be a season-changing injury for the champions and Fantasy managers alike.

Echoing the events of last season, Yaya Toure benefitted from spot-kick duties in the Argentine’s absence. The Ivorian’s winner took his tally to three goals in the last four Gameweeks, with a total of 10 FPL points on each of those occasions taking him onto 62 points – just two behind the likes of Angel di Maria and Oscar amongst midfielders. Aguero’s possible absence merely compounds matters at a time where City face Leicester, Palace, West Brom, Burnley and Sunderland in the next five but Toure’s form suggest he could be the next best bet to take advantage. The midfielder now teeters on the Suspension Tightrope, however, after earning his fourth yellow of the season against the Toffees – a factor that many deter many from taking the plunge.

Cisse Stuns the Blues

A deadly double from Papiss Cisse brought Chelsea’s unbeaten record to an end as the Magpies’ impressive recent form continued. Having started in the midweek draw at Burnley, the Senegal striker was afforded a place on the bench yesterday lunchtime but needed just 38 minutes to fire both goals in a 2-1 win. It’s seven goals in just 465 minutes for the 5.7-priced striker now – whilst his pitch time continues to be managed by Alan Pardew, his keen eye for goal could still be worth considering on the back of such form. The fixtures are against Newcastle, though, with Arsenal, United and Everton in the next four, and with the likes of Steven Taylor and Moussa Sissoko both suspended for their clash with the Gunners and Fabricio Coloccini doubtful once again, Pardew’s side face a tough task to emerge from the Emirates victorious next weekend.

Cesc Topples off the Tightrope

For the third Gameweek in a row, the league leaders are set to be without the services of one of their first-team regulars after Cesc Fabregas earned his fifth caution of the campaign. Jose Mourinho had been robbed of Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic in the previous two matches due to similar circumstances and will now prepare for a home clash against Hull without the Spanish playmaker – who climbed above Eden Hazard in the FPL standings by bagging the assist for Didier Drogba’s consolation. Costa’s indiscipline once again got the better of him on the road – another caution means he’s been booked in all six away appearances.

Chadli Benched Again as Spurs Stutter

Mauricio Pochettino recalled Roberto Soldado to the starting XI for yesterday’s home clash with Palace but once again left his top scorer on the bench. After recovering from a brief injury, Chadli has now failed to start each of the last three for the north London side and the exodus is likely to pick up pace as his minutes continue to diminish. Given that Tottenham have now failed to score in the last two now, though, Chadli’s omission from the first XI has hardly proved beneficial to his side’s fortunes and his remaining 14% owners will be hoping Pochettino re-assesses his options ahead of the weekend trip to Swansea.

Crouch and Walters Halt Gunners Revival

Mark Hughes’ decision to hand Peter Crouch a first start since Gameweek 9 proved instrumental as Stoke ended Arsenal’s recent run of clean sheets. Crouch and Jon Walters may be an unfashionable Fantasy pair but both racked up the points in yesterday’s 3-2 win at the Britannia after bagging a goal and assist apiece. Walters – who missed the midweek loss at United – has now scored in three of his last four appearances and has delivered excellent value at 5.2. With Chelsea, Everton, United and Arsenal in the next six, though, the schedule is still very much against Hughes’ side.

Welbeck Benched in Gunners Loss

The former United man was finally ousted from the Arsenal XI as Olivier Giroud the line at the Britannia. Arsene Wenger handed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alexis Sanchez the wide roles and whilst the Chilean grabbed an assist, he’s now scored just once in four appearances since being shifted out of the centre. Having previously admitted concerns over pushing Sanchez too much, Wenger has confirmed he’ll rest his top scorer for the midweek clash with Galatasaray, ensuring he’ll be fully refreshed for next weekend’s home clash against Newcastle.

Whilst Sanchez remains the main attraction in the Arsenal midfield, both Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla offered a reminder of their talents by bagging a goal apiece in the 3-2 defeat. The pair have now delivered a goal and assist in each of their last two and three appearances respectively and, at a price of 8.7 and 8.1, be yet be worth re-visiting as Fantasy differentials if they can push on from here.

At the back, Wenger will be without Calum Chambers next weekend – the summer signing serves a one-match ban against the Magpies after collecting a pair of yellow cards. With Mathieu Debuchy poised to return to action in midweek against Galatasaray, Chambers’ 22% of owners certainly have some cause for concern, though his versatility may yet keep him in contention- Wenger fielded him at centre-half as he continues to manage Laurent Koscielny’s ongoing Achilles complaint.

Black Cats Resilience Returns

Gus Poyet’s side bounced back immediately from their home mauling at the hands of City in midweek and ground out a goalless draw at Anfield. Sunderland have now collected three clean sheets in their last four and, aside from that 4-1 defeat against the champions, have conceded only two goals in five of their previous six outings. That run coincides with the installation of Costel Pantilimon – the 4.4-priced Romanian has now averaged five points per appearance this season, superior to any other first-choice keeper to date.

Gerrard Back Amongst the Subs

Omitted from the Reds’ XI last weekend, the skipper announced his intentions by returning to form in midweek and grabbing a goal away to Leicester. Gerrard’s first strike since September was unable to persuade Brendan Rodgers to retain his services for the visit of Sunderland, though, as Jordan Henderson, Lucas and Philippe Coutinho were handed the central roles in the goalless draw. Yesterday’s team sheet certainly strengthened the idea that Rodgers is gradually phasing his captain out of the Reds XI – Liverpool have now served up a clean sheet on both occasions he has been dropped and while they continue to toil in the final third, the Merseysiders are looking a little more resilient in recent outings.

McGregor Saves the Tigers

The Hull number one stopped a spot-kick for the second time this season to earn his side a first clean sheet in six attempts. Curtis Davies continued on the bench, whilst Nikica Jelavic dropped out for Abel Hernandez up front but in spite of McGregor’s heroics, Steve Bruce’s side are toiling in the final third. Hull have scored just two goals in the last seven now and with Chelsea, Swansea and Sunderland up next, it’s difficult to see than run improving soon.

Berahino Dropped as Baggies Drought Continues

A goalless draw at Hull continued the form that has harvested just one goal in five Gameweeks for West Brom. After being shifted to the left flank in midweek, we’d concerns over Saido Berahino heading into this one and the youngster’s poor form persuaded Alan Irvine to bench him for the first time this season. Adding further frustration for his 17% owners, West Brom were awarded a spot-kick in his absence (which Graham Dorrans duly missed) and yesterday’s 18-minute sub appearance suggests that many will show him the door over the next few days.

Austin Goes from Hero to Villain

The QPR striker grabbed a goal and assist in yesterday’s 2-0 win over Burnley to continue his superb home showings. Austin’s haul means he has now served up five goals and three assists in the last five at Loftus Road but his second-half dismissal means he’s set to miss the R’s weekend trip to Everton. One look at the following fixtures suggests that Austin owners may be happy to simply bench him this week – he’s then set for three plum home fixtures (WBA, CPL, SWA) and a trip to Burnley in the subsequent five. In the R’s midfield, Leroy Fer was in the goals for the second successive home match and at 5.5, is starting to suggest he could be a decent budget option for the festive period.