Ronaldo strikes back as United slaughter the Baggies. Chelsea stumble past Boro, while Liverpool slip up again at the JJB.

Carlton Cole meanwhile, is emerging as a fantasy legend. He might even find himself in an England shirt or in Granville’s fantasy lineup at this rate. I’m not really sure which would be the biggest honour. Here’s some notes from the midweek points burst…

The Lineups

Starting on Tuesday night at the Hawthorns and while the home side found themselves badly depleted by injuries, United were able to spring a surprise by starting with skipper Ferdinand in their impenetrable defence. Elsewhere Giggs started in midfield as expected, Neville held the right-back spot once again and Park recovered from a hamstring to start out wide. Wes Brown also made a return to action as a second-half sub. Going forward he will now challenge for the right-back spot, along with Rafael when he returns from injury.

The home side started with Donk in defence, despite concerns over his fitness. Mowbray pushed the returning Zuiverloon into a midfield role in an attempt to tighten things up. Fortune started ahead of Bednar, alongside Simpson up front. Koren shifted to a central role to replace the injured Greening, with Brunt returning to the starting lineup.

At Fratton Park, Adams gave a debut to Mullins in midfield as expected but surprisingly started with Kanu alongside Crouch as he shifted formation to a 4-4-2. Hreidarsson took the left-back role, with Belhadj pushed into midfield. Pennant started on the right and surprisingly, there was no starting place for Traore.

Villa had their own debut boy in the form of Hesky who started up top with Agbonlahor. Reo-Coker missed out so Cuellar started at right-back, handing a start to Knight alongside Davies. Gardner was preferred to Sidwell in midfield.

At the Lane, Cudicini made his Spurs debut with Gomes reportedly still struggling with a thigh injury. You have to wonder whether he’ll now feature in the long-term – he looks on his way in the Summer for me. Woodgate returned to the defence as expected, while Bentley was given another chance to impress on the right of midfield. As for Stoke, Pulis kept Fuller on the bench and started with Cresswell up front with Beattie. Surprising that, although Fuller replaced Cresswell early in the second-half and should be in line to start next time out.

There were no major talking points in the linups at the Stadium of Light. Cisse and Jones returned for Sunderland as expected, while Hodgson recalled the likes of Zamora, Pantsil and Murphy to his eleven after resting them at Kettering.

Moving on to Wednesday and Rafa made an array of changes once more for the trip to the JJB. Benayoun, Aurellio and Lucas all gained starts – Dossena, Kuyt and Alonso made way. Wigan meanwhile, gave a debut to Mido up front alongside Zaki. Kirkland’s troublesome back saw him miss out, while Valencia was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Allardyce restored Roberts to his starting lineup alongside McCarthy. Santa Cruz dropped to the bench amidst rumours of an Ewood Park exit, with Zenit’s Pogrebnyak said to be in talks. Emerton and Ooijer also made returns. Bolton gave a debut to centre-back signing Puygrenier with Andy O’Brien making way. Presumably he has now lost his place in the Trotters backline – rather surprisingly. Skipper Nolan returned from suspension.

Robinho started for City, despite all the off-field events of the day. Ireland returned from his ban, while De Jong was given a debut. Kompany shifted to centre-back to cover the loss of Dunne through suspension. Zabaleta started in midfield once again and is emerging as an interesting prospect while that continues. Newcastle started with Geremi and Barton in midfield in the absence of Guthrie (hamstring) and Butt (suspension). Given gave way to Harper in goal as his move away from the club, probably to City, drew closer.

West Ham’s new signing Nsereko, started on the bench, while Phil Brown elected to do the same with his new man – Jimmy Bullard. Surprisingly Duke started in the Hull goal and had a storming game, with Myhill relegated to the bench.

Chelsea welcomed back John Terry who replaced the hamstrung Carvalho. Boro started with King up front, with Alves dropped to the bench despite his run of four goals in as many games.

The Form

Tuesday will be remembered as the night that Ronaldo at last provided Ronaldo-like returns for the first time in 10 games. His two goals brought an end to an unlikely goal drought and repaid those who had kept the faith. The question now remains, can he maintain this kind of output more regularly? If United continue to attack with the kind of fluency they showed on Tuesday and can go on earning first half goals to relax their flair players and open up the opposition, then I can easily see Ronaldo justifying his fantasy price tag at last.

United shock off the last of their remaining goal-shackles in spectacular style with a powerful performance, albeit against a West Brom side riddled with injuries and robbed of left-back Paul Robinson for half the game. Berbatov scored his fifth goal in as many games and continues to lead the way in the mid-to-high price bracket just ahead of the likes of the in-form Van Persie and the sporadically brilliant Robinho. The Bulgarian’s popularity in fantasy terms will surely go on growing – United’s flourishing attacking form and decent run of fixtures will only feed that trend.

Vidic also confirmed his position amongst the season’s fantasy favourites. Yes he is priced significantly higher than the likes of Evra, Neville and Van de sar, but for me his assured starts and threatening presence at set-plays makes him indispensable to my mind.

Finally, a word on Giggs. He was magnificent on Tuesday, earning three assists and the maximum FPL bonus. I still prefer Vidic/Ronaldo/Berbatov as a United threesome but Giggs could break his way into a few fantasy lineups if he can convince us of regular starts. That’s a big “if” in my book, despite his undoubted quality.

Villa got the job done at Fratton Park to continue their rise and Portsmouth’s slide. Agbonlahor kept things ticking over with another assist but he’ll need goals soon to convince his fantasy owners to keep faith. Heskey’s goal shouldn’t fool many – we need more evidence before investment will come his way and Ashley Young’s return to the side.

Spurs showed a glimpse of their potential, albeit against a shocking first half performance from Stoke. Lennon caught the eye again and even got on the scoresheet, while Modric ran the show and earned an assist and FPL bonus in the process. Defoe showed his prowess with his second goal back in the Tottenham colours and he will also earn some fantasy attention.

The fixture list isn’t too bad for Tottenham in the coming month or so but the fact that they miss gameweek 28 will hamper interest in all but Defoe. Beattie’s first goal for Stoke shouldn’t go unnoticed. Fixtures look good for him and Fuller over the next three gameweeks and they look solid budget considerations.

Moving to Wednesday and Bolton defied the odds, stats and all the logic I could muster but slotting two first half goals past Blackburn. They were the first goals in four games that Bolton had manufactured. A bitter pill for Big Sam to gulp down between chews, against his former employers. Blackburn’s defensive resolve under Allardyce went out the window then, while Bolton’s scorers Davies and Taylor would have put themselves back on the fantasy radar. Rovers did at least prove their attacking potential at Ewood again with the fightback that saw them come away with a point. McCarthy missed from the spot but earned an assist and goal to compensate – his fifth goal in five games. He also pocketed the maximum FPL bonus on the night.

West Ham’s Di Michele and, once again, Carlton Cole, were the stars of the night up front though. Cole hit his sixth goal in six league games, an incredible run of form that justifies his recent FPL price rise. Those late to the bandwagon must now consider whether he maintain that form with Arsenal and United over the next two games.

Bellamy got himself a debut goal – the second time he’s scored against former club Newcastle this season and his fifth goal in five league starts. Interest in him will surely pick up and it will be worth monitoring whether he can help City’s form on the road with his pace on the break. If he can, then he should profit significantly from some kind forthcoming fixtures. Wright-Phillips also stood out, earning maximum FPL bonus and his first goal since September. He’s been sleeping soundly for weeks but may have chosen a good time to wake and find form. A decent differential perhaps.

Chelsea’s Kalou was the top fantasy scorer on the night – his two goals will surely raise his profile given his classification as a midfielder in some games, including the FPL. He and Ballack present cheaper alternatives to Lampard, although Frank did contribute an assist and more FPL bonus. It was another lacklustre Stamford Bridge performance however, against a Boro side who kept them at bay for long periods all too easily. At least at the other end it was a clean sheet for Chelsea – their first in four games.

The Everton vs Arsenal and Wigan vs Liverpool fixtures turned in the dreaded 1-1 scoreline. The Goodison clash did at least see two form players and popular fantasy picks deliver. Cahill headed his fourth goal in seven league games to hand Everton the lead, before Van Persie continued his hot streak with his ninth of the season, surprisingly only his second goal in seven league starts. Gerrard’s blank at the JJB helped to emphasise the return to form of Ronaldo. Liverpool slipped again then and once more failed to keep the opposition out. Rafa’s defence has now kept just two clean sheets in the last eight league games. By the way – any idea how long it will take for Rafa to give up on Lucas? Answers on a postcard.