Ronaldo goes bananas, United keep a clean sheet, Lescott and Laursen both score. There’s some things in fantasy football you can rely on then. Like the fact I’ll spend a good part of Sunday picking the weekend’s action apart…
Arsenal 1 Birmingham 1
Wenger brought back the big boys after resting players for the FA Cup trip to Burnley last weekend. So the likes of Fabregas, Gallas and Flamini returned, although Wenger was without Rosicky. He was obviously hanging around with Van Persie all week, as he also missed this game with flu just like the Dutchman. Senderos came in for Toure who is away at the Afrcian Cup of Nations. Eboue is also away so Wenger stuck with a 4-4-2. Walcott came in out wide and Eduardo kept his place up front with Adebayor.
It was another stuttering performance from Arsenal. They had possession and chances but for the last handful of games it’s been clear that the fluidity just isn’t there at the moment. Fabregas hasn’t found the net in his last seven Premiership starts – his supply of assists and Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bonus points are just enough to keep him afloat but the lack of goals will be a worry to all concerned. Adebayor is maintaining a very decent points output. His goal from the spot here was his thirteenth of the season and his fourth in five games.
Defensively the Arsenal backline has only conceded three goals in six but Birmingham exposed the old vulnerability at set-pieces here which could be a common theme over the coming weeks with Toure absent. Gallas represents the best option in their back four – he almost demonstrated his knack of scoring goals with a winner in this game. Senderos is of course another, cheaper, option. Arsenal still have a very decent run of games coming, so despite the concerns over form, their players are worth persevering with.
McCleish was without Nafti and Jaidi who were away with Tunisia in Ghana. Schmitz came in at centre-back and club skipper Johnson returned with a protective face mask, in midfield. Kapo came back from a knee injury and got a start on the left with McSheffrey relegated to the bench. O’Connor kept his place as Birmingham went with a 4-4-2.
The dogged display here wasn’t a surprise. Birmingham demonstrated at Old Trafford that they could stifle a superior side and they did that at the Emirates to an even greater degree. Lineup wise Schmitz’s recall wasn’t a surprise but Kapo’s inclusion probably was. The Frenchman offered great value early in the season but it appeared McCleish didn’t fancy him – Kapo could now be in line for a run of games on the left of midfield and could come back into the fantasy reckoning. Elsewhere Larsson remains a popular budget midfield buy – he contributed the assist here, his fourth of the season.
Birmingham’s fixtures pick up after the home game with Chelsea next weekend. They then face Sunderland, Derby and West Ham before taking on Arsenal and Spurs at home. Indeed, four of the next six games are at home. Kapo, Larrsson and even Jerome could be worth a look then, come the end of January.
Injuries and Suspensions
Queudrue picked up an injury and was replaced on the hour-mark. Kapo moved on to four bookings for the season after a yellow in this game.
Aston Villa 3 Reading 1
Villa were about to be unchanged for this match but Mellberg felt unwell in the warm-up so dropped out of the side at the last-minute. O’Neil brought Gardner in at right-back to replace him.
Villa exploited the superb delivery of Ashley Young and exposed the lack of height and power in the Reading defence – Carew and Laursen profiting. Carew hit his fifth and sixth of the season, while Laursen also moved up to six goals for the campaign here. That was his third goal in the last four for the big centre-back who continues to be amongst the best defenders in fantasy games, even though Villa have kept just seven clean sheets. Laursen also regularly benefits from FPL bonus points as he did again here.
Barry and Young continue to earn decent fantasy returns. Barry earned the three FPL bonus points here and has scored five or more in the last four starts in the FPL game. Young now has twelve assists after earning two more here, the highest in the Premiership. Agbonlahor has only found the net once in nine games but continues to earn a few assists and FPL bonus points to justify his fantasy selection. In attaking terms, Villa are certainly on form. They’re record over the last eight games shows fourteen goals – only Spurs and United have scored more over the same period.
Villa’s fixtures look fairly favourable, certainly once they get the trip to Anfield out of the way next weekend. Blackburn, Fulham and Newcastle then follow. They do have only two of the next six at Villa Park but then Villa have won three and drawn two of their last five away from home, scoring fourteen goals.
Reading had another off day. You can normally bank on them to score – they’ve only failed to do so in four of twenty-two games, but defensively they remain a shambles. Only Fulham have conceded more over the last eight matches. The absence of Sonko and Bikey to the ACN didn’t help their cause here. They looked all at sea from set-pieces without a dominating figure in the air.
Coppell went with a 5-4-1 as they did against Spurs in the FA Cup last weeked. De La Cruz, Gunnarsson and Ingimarsson lined up as centre-backs, with Murty and Shorey operating as wing-backs. Doyle played wide on the right with Kitson a lone striker.
While they continue to concede they continue to score, so their attacking players – Hunt and Kitson in particular will remain worth considering. Although, not over the next two weeks perhaps – it’s United at home next, followed by a trip to Chelsea.
Chelsea 2 Tottenham 0
Grant made just one change from the side that beat Everton in the Carling Cup, bringing in Ashley Cole at left-back for Bridge. Pizarro kept his starting role which meant that Anelka, rather surprisingly, started life on the bench for Chelsea.
It was another gritty display from Grant’s men in a fairly turgid affair. Belletti’s goal, his second rocket of the season, must surely cement his place at right-back with Ferreira out of the sixteen. Grant commented after the game that his full-back was in fine form so his place, for now, looks assured. Belletti has started the last three Premiership matches and along with Alex, presents decent value in the Chelsea defence. That back four has kept twelve clean sheets over the season, although this was their first in the last four.
Wright-Phillips stood out again in a central midfield role – scoring his second Premiership goal of the season here. There’s every chance he’ll be kept there during the ACN with Essien and Obi away. The return of Lampard could disrupt things though, casting doubt over Ballack’s starting role. The German has earned seven FPL bonus points in his four starts since Lampard’s injury. However, Frank was almost available for this match according to some reports so could even come back into the reckoning for the trip to Birmingham next weekend. It’s difficult to read what Grant will do once Lampard returns. It’s unlikely he’ll throw him straight into a winning side next weekend but in the coming weeks there is real doubt that he’ll play both Ballack and Lampard. It’s also likely that Wright-Phillips will certainly be pushed out wide again which could reduce his output after this recent flurry of points.
Anelka settled early after coming on with half-an-hour to go. It’s highly likely he’ll start at Birmingham with Pizarro benched and thousands of FPL managers are already investing him – his value in the FPL game has already increased from 9.2 to 9.3 million over the weekend.
Fixture wise Chelsea’s opponents don’t look too testing over the next few games but they do face four of the next six away from the Bridge. Having said that, Chelsea have the best away form in the Premiership, winning four of the last five.
Spurs were without Huddlestone and Jenas through suspension, while Zokora was away at the ACN. O’Hara and Boateng started in central midfield and were dominated for large spells by Ballack and Wright-Phillips. Elsewhere Spurs were unchanged from the side that drew at the Emirates. Robinson was once again on the bench as Cerny started in goal.
This was only the third time that Spurs have failed to score in a Premiership game all season. This was also the first match in ten that Berbatov has failed to score more than two points in the FPL game. He and Keane remain hot properties then, particularly when you consider that they face Sunderland at home next. Keane’s men have lost the last five away from home, scoring twice and conceding thirteen. Spurs meanwhile have scored nineteen in their last five home games – on paper then, next weekend looks promising for Keane, Berbatov and maybe even Jenas and Huddlestone who should return to the side.
After this however, things get tougher for Spurs with a trip to Goodison and a home game with United.
Injuries and Suspensions
Malbranque picked up his fifth booking of the season in this game. He’ll now miss the home game with Sunderland next weekend.
Derby 0 Wigan 1
Jewell pitched in four of his new boys but couldn’t pick up a result against a resurgent Wigan. Savage, Ghaly, Villa and Robert all started as did Mills in defence. Miller missed out with a groin injury. Lewis and Teale dropped to the bench and Oakley has left to join Howard at Leicester. Fagan and Robert played furthest forward, either side of new boy Villa in a 4-5-1 come 4-3-3 formation. Price was once again in goal with Bywater still sidelined.
Derby’s new faces need time to gel but they don’t have it. In truth, Jewell’s men are down and these signings represent next season’s push for promotion. In fantasy terms Robert could be the one single tempatation. He is struggling for fitness but when he can complete a full game, he could earn some fantasy points given that he’ll hog every set-piece Derby earn. For 4.5 in the FPL game, he’s worth considering if Derby are at home and can eventually find some form. Perhaps towards the end of the season when Robert and Barnes will be playing to keep their place in the Premiership by attracting the attentions of another club.
Wigan have lost just two of their last eight with Bruce clearly turning around their fortunes since his arrival. This was the second clean sheet in four games, their first away from home.
Bruce gave a debut to new signing Palacios in midfield with Taylor out injured, and brought in Boyce at the back with Scharner suspended. Koumas and Sibierski were on the bench with the latter pushing for a start next time out after hitting the winner here. Taylor and Scharner are also expected to return so it will be interesting to see what Bruce does next.
Taylor could well be a very decent buy as a defender playing in midfield while Valencia and Bent could certainly be decent budget purchases looking at Wigan’s fixture list. It’s Everton at home next and that’s followed by games against Boro, West Ham, Sunderland and Derby. Bruce will be looking for two to three victories in that lot with their current form.
Injuries and Suspensions
Davis will be suspended for one-match following his two yellows in this game. He’ll miss the FA Cup replay with Sheffield Wednesday and return for the Portsmouth game next weekend.
Everton 1 Man City 0
Moyes was without Yobo, Pienaar and Yakubu who are all in Ghana for the ACN. Valente came in at left-back allowing Lescott to move to a central position while Arteta returned from suspension to come into the midfield in which Neville occupied the left-hand side. Johnson suffered an injury in training so Anichebe started up front with McFadden.
Lescott struck his sixth goal of the season to win this one. Like Laursen at Villa, his superb goalscoring record has made up for any lack of clean sheets on Everton’s part. He’s kept eight clean sheets this season, one more than the Villa defender. However, Everton have kept three clean sheets in the last four.
Arteta earned his first assist since early October for the goal. He also earned two FPL bonus points, and it’s those that have kept his points tally ticking over in that game over recent months. He could now kick on and certainly, looking at Everton’s forthcoming fixtures, he should have every opportunity. Home games with Spurs and Reading certainly suggest there are goals to come for Everton, although they’ll be keen to get Johnson back fit to help them get them.
The arrival of Fernandes on loan could shake things up a little. Potentially he’ll come in on the left of midfield until Pienaar returns but that in itself could mean a move to right-back for Neville and therefore Hibbert, who earned three FPL bonus points here, could be benched. Moyes could as alternative, opt for 4-5-1 and drop or even sell McFadden. That looks the more likely.
For City, Sven dropped Ireland to the bench in order to incorporate both Elano and Castillo in his lineup. Corluka once again operated in midfield with Onuoha at right-back. Ball remained at left-back with Garrido benched.
At Goodison, City had plenty of possession but lacked a cutting edge. It’s a familiar tale for City this season and surely a striker is on his way to Eastlands before the window closes. Defensively they have tightened up once more, Lescott’s goal was the first they’ve conceded in three games.
Regardless of new signings, things are likely to change once Johnson returns from injury, that could even be next weekend. At this point, Sven will have to decide whether to keep Corluka in midfield, which could threaten Onuoha’s place at right-back.
Significantly, even though City face Arsenal and United in the next six, four of those six are at home. City have yet to lose at Eastlands, have won nine of eleven there and conceded just seven in those games. Hart, Dunne, Richards, Ball and Petrov would appear to be very decent signings over the coming month or so then.
Injuries and Suspensions
Cahill is now on the suspension tightrope after picking up his fourth booking of the season in this match.
Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool 1
Boro brought Boateng back into the midfield, despite rumours that he was on his way, to compensate for the loss of Arca and Cattermole to suspension. Pogatetz was ill and missed out and Woodgate was sidelined with a hamstring injury. It was a young and inexperienced back four then with Wheater and Huth in the centre and young Grounds at left-back. Aliadiere and Tuncay passed fitness tests to play up front in a 4-4-2.
An encouraging result for Boro then but the remain an inconsistent no-go area for fantasy managers. Wheater has emerged as the one decent target in their lineup, although his place in the team is not assured by any means. He picked up the three FPL bonus points here giving him ten for the season, the most in the Boro lineup.
Mido’s return to fitness could spark a revival in Boro’s fortunes. He is clearly a key figure to their attacking play which could boost the output of Downing, Tuncay and Aliadiere. Their fixtures over the next month could help them out too – Blackburn, Wigan, Newcastle and Fulham provide the next four opponents.
For Liverpool, Rafa brought Gerrard, Arbeloa and Mascherano back into the side, while Voronin partnered Torres up front. Arbeloa played at left-back with Riise pushed forward. Finnan remained at right-back and Hyypia kept his place alongside Carragher although Agger returned to the bench. Alonso and Babel dropped to the bench and Crouch was out of the sixteen altogether.
In attacking terms, Gerrard has now gone three Premiership starts without a goal or an assist. Torres kept his fine run going here with an equalising goal, his fifth in the last five. Beyond these two, there are few consistent sources of fantasy points right now – that includes the defence.
It’s just one clean sheet in the last seven Premiership games for Liverpool. Agger seems likely to return to the Liverpool side against Luton in the Cup replay or next weekend against Villa. Given Liverpool’s recent lack of clean sheets, he doesn’t appear to offer exceptional value. The arrival of Skrtel in the window also offers Rafa further options in this department, allowing him the ability to rest and rotate his entire back four rather than just his full-backs which he has been annoyingly fond of doing.
The next two for Liverpool will be a test. They face Villa at home, a side who has scored more goals in the last five away games than any other side. Rafa’s men then travel to West Ham, a side who appear to be coming into form as their injuries clear having lost just one in the last five.
Injuries and Suspensions
Alonso earned his fourth booking of the season in this game and is just one yellow away from a one match ban.
West Ham 2 Fulham 1
The Hammers clawed this one back then with an encouraging performance in which Ashton showed glimpses of form reminiscent of his appearances on arriving at Upton Park in 2006. Ljungberg also put on a fine display here, providing the assist for Ashton’s goal and buzzing around the Fulham box all afternoon.
Curbishley was without skipper Lucas Neill through injury so Spector came in at right-back. Etherington returned on the left of midfield with Ljungberg returning from a hamstring injury to move to the right side to replace Pantsil who has left for the ACN. West Ham went with a 4-4-2 with Cole partnering Ashton up front.
West Ham have lost just one of the last five and that was at the Emirates, so it’s clear they’re beginning to find some form. Defensively they’ve earned just one clean sheet in nine but in attacking terms things are looking up with seven goals in the last five. Ashton deserves some attention then on this showing, but elsewhere it’s difficult to see potential targets aside perhaps from Ferdinand and McCartney as mid-to-low price options in defence. The lineup elsewhere is too difficult to predict on a regular basis, particularly in midfield.
Fulham are on the edge of a transition period with new boss Hodgson is likely to be assessing new signings. Today he brought Baird back into the side at right-back, allowing Volz to once again push forward. He could be worth considering whilst employed wide on the right but with Bullard back on the bench and appearing here for the first time in over a year, the midfield lineup remains in doubt. If Bullard can settle and regain fitness, he could well be a potential target given his likely involvement at set-plays and love of a long range effort.
Elsewhere, Dempsey and Davies continue to offer value, particularly in the FPL game where they head the value rankings for midfielders. They could be worth considering, particularly when you consider that Fulham have four of the next six at the Cottage. Two of those four home games are against United and Arsenal however.
Injuries and Suspensions
Bocanegra was forced off with a cut to his cheek midway through the first-half. Konchesky meanwhile, picked up his fourth booking of the season.
Man United 6 Newcastle 0
Ferguson brought in O’Shea at right-back for the suspended Wes Brown. Tevez’s bruised ankle cleared up and he lined up alongside Rooney with Ronaldo back in a wider role. Carrick kept his place with Hargreaves sidelined.
It was a breathtaking performance by United – couple that with a Newcastle side with crippled confidence and a defence ravaged by the African Cup of Nations and you got goals. Ronaldo kept up his incredible goalscoring run by helping himself to a hattrick. Tevez struck a brace to move to ten goals for the season and also earned an assist and two FPL bonus points here. Significantly, despite having chances, Rooney left this six-goal mauling with just one assist. Clearly the form of Tevez and Ronaldo has almost halved Rooney fantasy output. A spurt of form and points is probably just around the corner but Rooney’s barren, pointless spells are becoming wider and more frequent. In fantasy terms, Ronaldo, Tevez and a United defender look pretty certain to be better options from now until May.
United’s defence kept another clean sheet, it’s thirteenth of the season. Ferdinand struck his second goal of the campaign here and earned a single FPL bonus point. Traditionally he’d lag behind Vidic on those terms but while they are both level on seven FPL bonus points, Ferdinand now appears to offer a similar or even superior goal threat. They’ll both fancy their chances at set-pieces next weekend with Reading missing a commanding centre-back and Hahnemann clearly struggling.
Neville’s return at right-back is a key factor – in the FPL game he is know valued at 5.7 – a bargain that would free up valuable funds elsewhere whilst guaranteeing a high clean sheet return. The evidence points to a return to action very soon. He turned out and scored for the reserves in a forty-five minute performance last week but is likely to need another reserve team game before Ferguson puts him back in the Premiership firing line. My bet is he’ll start against Portsmouth on January 30 giving Brown another likely start at Reading next weekend.
What’s to say about Newcastle? There can’t be many of their players in fantasy teams around the land right now such is their form and inconsistent lineup. A new boss is surely just a week away so there will be a shake-up. Until then there’s no real fantasy talent to consider here. In fact it’s worth noting who is taking on Newcastle in the coming weeks – defensively they still look terribly fragile despite a brave performance by Taylor in this game. They go to the Emirates at the end of January. If a new boss hasn’t arrived by then to restore some pride, that could be the game that Arsenal use to cut loose.
Injuries and Suspensions
Rooney moved precariously onto the suspension tightrope by picking up his fourth domestic booking here.
Smith will be banned for two matches for seeing red for foul and abusive language in the final minute. He’ll miss the FA Cup replay with Stoke and the weekend clash with Bolton. Butt also misses this game as he now begins his suspension for picking up ten bookings over the season.
Bolton 1 Blackburn 2
Bolton began life without Anelka then. They had Davies fit to lead the line and Megson put him down the middle with Stelios and Guthrie pushed up to support him either side. Cohen started once more in midfield, alongside Nolan with Campo sitting in front of the back four. Michalik came into that defence for Meite who is at the ACN. Diouf is also at the tournament.
Megson’s tactics without the quality of Anelka are pretty straightforward – get the ball forward quickly let Davies win free kicks and use set plays to profit. Today’s goal, a superb strike from Nolan, came that way as Joey O’Brien played the ball back into a crowded penalty area after a free kick had been half-cleared.
Campo and Nolan’s dead ball delivery and Michalik and Davies’ height at set plays will play vital roles in the coming weeks then while Megson looks to grind results while he looks to bring in some new quality with Chelsea’s money. Whether fantasy managers can profit from these players is another matter. Davies is a mid-price option, he picked up the three FPL bonus points but is on the verge of a one-match suspension with four bookings. Nolan could be the best bet but his price tag could be off putting with others of a similar price tag appearing to offer a greater return. Certainly if Megson can seal the signing of Matt Taylor from Portsmouth, his delivery from midfield and set-pieces could be worth some points in this system.
Defensively Bolton had conceded just one in five matches at home before today. Andy O’Brien still offers a decent low-price option as a centre-back then, particularly if you can rotate him in for Bolton home games.
For Blackburn, Hughes was without Emerton who picked up a knock against Coventry in the FA Cup last weekend. However, he could welcome back Ooijer to take the right-back spot – the Dutch defender had missed the last two months with a hamstring injury. Dunn and Reid returned to the central midfield for Tugay and Mokoena, the latter away at the ACN. Santa Cruz was fit to partner McCarthy with Roberts and Derbyshire both on the bench.
Blackburn were the better side Hughes swung the game when he introduced the muscular Roberts for McCarthy. Rovers’ away form has been good – just one defeat in five and eleven goals scored – second only to Villa’s fourteen. At home however, they’re struggling, losing three in the last five and scoring just four goals. With those stats in mind you can expect a tight, low scoring game against Boro next weekend, with a few goals going in at Villa Park at the end of January. Bentley and Santa Cruz will remain popular targets then, while Samba’s goal here my attract some suitors. Rovers have however, kept just one clean sheet in the last eleven Premiership games.
Injuries and Suspensions
Campo picked up his fifth booking in this game and will miss the home game with Fulham. He is eligible to play at Newcastle on Saturday due to the seven day rule.
Sunderland 2 Portsmouth 0
Keane, not surprisingly, made a number of changes following the home defeat to Wigan in the FA Cup. Stokes came back in on the left of midfield, Yorke returned to central midfield after missing the Cup match through suspension. Jones was passed fit and lined up alongside Murphy up front. Whitehead took the right-back spot and Evans played his first Premiership game for Sunderland in central defence alongside Nosworthy. Surprisingly, McShane was dropped to the bench.
Richardson will get all the attention after his two goals in this game. Interestingly, Keane employed him in a central midfield role, giving him total freedom to bomb forward as he did here with great effect. That kind of role will increase his involvement in Sunderland’s attacking play and his fantasy potential. At 4.9 million in the FPL game and 3.6 in the Fantasy League, he represents a very decent mid to low price option.
Like Richardson, Jones will always profit if Sunderland do well as he is always central to their attacking play. He earned an assist for Richardson’s first goal here, his eigth of the season, and is always likely to be amongst the bonus points as he was today with another couple. Priced at 5.5 million, he is still top of value rankings for forwards in the FPL game.
Defensively Sunderland don’t offer much – this was only their third clean sheet of the campaign. However, it’s worth monitoring just how the arrival of Evans from United will affect their defensive record. Clearly Keane sees him as first choice at centre-back.
Sunderland have two tricky away games in the next four – at Spurs next and at Liverpool at the end of the month. Their next home games do look far more promising however, against Wigan and Birmingham.
Portsmouth were without Johnson who picked up an injury last weekend so Pamarot came back in, this time at right-back. Hreidarsson kept his place, for this week at least, at left-back. With Muntari, Bouba-Diop, Utaka and Kanu all at the ACN, Harry brought in Mendes to central midfield alongside Hughes who recovered from a hip injury to play. Mvuemba was also drafted into midfield and Benjani played out wide in a 4-5-1. Nugent started as the lone striker, although Benjani pushed up alongside him in the second-half.
Once they fell behind, Portsmouth really struggled and as I’ve mentioned in previous notes, I can really see them struggling without Muntari and Bouba-Diop. Defensively they’ve kept just two clean sheets in the last seven while they’ve scored just six goals in the last eight and three of those came at Villa. Harry needs a signing or two.
Injuries and Suspensions
Evans was suffering from cramp and was replaced by McShane on seventy six minutes. Yorke and Collins both moved on to the suspension tightrope by picking up their fourth bookings of the campaign here.
Portmsouth’s Pedro Mendes picked up his fourth booking of the season in this game.