A slow day for fantasy managers as we attempt to grind our way towards a respectable score thanks to City’s inability to break down 10-man Stoke and Wenger’s inability to resist benching Van Persie. At least Ron came good from the spot as United squeezed out another cleanie at Old Trafford. Here’s the notes from Saturday’s games, in a new format…
Stoke 1 Man City 0
No real shocks in the lineups here. Stoke started with Fuller up front and brought in Pugh to replace the injured Higginbotham. City were unchanged with Zabaleta again in a holding midfield role. As a defender in fantasy games, he offers some value here, should he keep this role and should City stat keeping clean sheets. Both are in doubt to my mind.
City have kept just a pair of clean sheets in the last 14 league games, while their away form remains dire. It’s now just one win in 11 away trips in the league in which they’ve scored 14 goals compared to 27 at home. City do have a double fixture gameweek next time out which does boost the value of their players, however, they do have 4 of the next 6 games away from home which, given their form, is worth considering before further investment. Of course, the outlook on City would change completely should Hughes complete the signings of Given and Santa Cruz. To my mind, both deals will go through before Monday, forcing us to reassess.
Stoke’s home form remains strong, it’s just 3 defeats in their 12 home games so far with 12 scored and 11 conceded. Their next 3 home games show Portsmouth, Boro and Bolton and Bolton at the Britannia making their defence worthy budget considerations – particularly Shawcross. Beattie meanwhile, has 2 goals in 3 games for his new club and deserves some attention as a budget forward over the next month.
Injuries and Bans
Delap will now face a three match ban, missing Stoke’s matches against Portsmouth, Villa and Bolton. Expect plenty of fantasy sales and an FPL price drop as a result. Wilkinson moves onto the suspension tightrope.
Arsenal 0 West Ham 0
Wenger sprung a slight surprise with his team selection. Toure started ahead of Djourou at the back, Eboue came in for Song in midfield but most significantly the in-form Van Persie was rested to the bench with Bendtner starting. This isn’t the first time that Wenger has rested the Dutchman but he had come into this game on fire and on the back of 9 starts in 10 league games. I for one didn’t see this one coming considering that Arsenal needed a win to keep up the pace, even with the FA Cup replay with Cardiff in midweek.
As for the Djourou/Toure situation – my money is still on Djourou being ahead in the pecking order. Toure and Gallas have not played together since October and that was due to an injury to Djourou. As a budget defensive purchase, Djourou is certainly still worth consideration.
Arsenal, without the inspiration of Van Persie for much of the game, failed to hit top gear and breakdown their opponents once again. The Gunners have managed just 4 goals in the last 6 games at the Emirates. Arsenal’s fixtures are kind enough to forget all that however. After the trip to Spurs they face a friendly run (SUN FUL wba BLA new MCY) which should bring profits for both attacking and defensive players.
West Ham meanwhile, were unchanged in this one and continue a rich vein of form. It’s no defeat in six now for Zola’s men. This was their second consecutive clean sheet, having gone 7 games without one prior to that. It was also the first game in the last 5 that West Ham have failed to score but somehow Carlton Cole came out of the game with maximum FPL bonus points (Cole made 12 successful passes and 1 shot all game). He has now earned bonus in 6 of his last 8 games.
Cole and West Ham get no help from the fixture list going forward though. They face United next with difficult trips to Bolton and Wigan to come in the next three weeks. Things pick up for them again between gameweeks 29-32 (WBA bla SUN tot) when interest in their players should pick up once again.
Injuries and Bans
Eboue picked up a knock and was forced off on 36 minutes. Abou Diaby picked up his fifth booking in this one and he will now miss the Spurs game next Sunday. He was also stretched off late one and may face a spell on the sidelines regardless.
West Ham’s Lucas Neil is a new entry onto the suspension tightrope.
Aston Villa 0 Wigan 0
Villa were unchanged, with Gardner keeping Sidwell out of the starting lineup and Carew returning to the bench. Kirkland returned in goal for Wigan. Bramble returned after serving his one match suspension. Koumas replaced Taylor who appears to be on the verge of a move to Newcastle. Zaki missed out with a thigh injury as Bruce switched formations to 4-5-1 pushing Scharner forward into a midfield role. New signings Watson and Rodallega were kept on the bench.
Defensively O’Neill’s side have now conceded just 2 goals in their last 5 league outings. Their output at the other end has also slowed though with 6 goals coming in those games, compared to 10 in the previous 4. Ashley Young’s return at Blackburn next weekend should help boost their attacking threat, while their fixtures remain fairly favourable in the month ahead (bla CHE STK mcy TOT).
Wigan meanwhile have conceded just 5 goals in their last 9 games, although in attacking terms, they have dried up badly of late and they’ve scoring just 3 goals in their last 6. Their fixtures cheer up a little in the coming weeks (FUL mid che WHM sun HUL) which could see some interest in Zaki, while the De Ridder/Koumas/N’Zogbia (if the deal is completed) situation is worth monitoring.
Bolton 3 Tottenham 2
Megson gave a debut to Mark Davies who replaced the departed Nolan. Puygrenier kept his place in the back four with O’Brien benched again – he now looks good value (4.0 in the FPL) should you fancy the Bolton defence over their forthcoming home games. Gardner (4.3) is another defensive option. He started in midfield here with Basham dropping to the bench. Spurs lined up as I expected, with Modric starting behind Pavlyuchenko and Palacios making his debut with Zokora in central midfield. Chimbonda started on the bench but emerged to play a part in both to Tottenham’s goals.
Bolton have a tough game at Everton next week but follow this with an encouraging run of fixtures which include 4 very winnable home games in 6 (WHM NEW stk FUL wba MID) that makes the likes of Taylor, Davies, Elmander (when fit) and budget defensive purchases – Cahill, Puygrenier and Gardner – all worth a look. Mark Davies also caught the eye on his debut and could be a decent shout as a budget option (4.5) in the FPL over those forthcoming fixtures.
Tottenham’s inconsistent form continues and with Defoe sidelined and a missing gameweek to come, interest in their players is unlikely to pick up in the short-term. Today their inability to defend set-plays was evident again as Cahill, Puygrenier and Kevin Davies caused havoc in the Spurs box. Bent will get some confidence from his goals here but his starting role is still far from secure despite this contribution.
Injuries and Bans
There were suggestions that Modric picked up a knock before being replaced by Jenas at half-time. There’s no confirmed news on that as yet.
Fulham 3 Portsmouth 1
Hodgson named an unchanged side for the fourth game in a row, although they did introduce new loan signing, Giles Barnes, before the match which hints at changes to come. For Portsmouth, Adams was forced to change his defence with Campbell missing out with a hip injury. Kaboul came in, while Traore replaced the suspended Belhadj. Kanu started again up front with Crouch in a 4-4-2.
Fulham get back into gear at the expense of Portsmouth who continue their slide. This was only Fulham’s second win in nine games but Nugent’s for Pompey goal means that they’ve now gone 4 games without a clean sheet having enjoyed a fine run defensively prior to this.
Two double gameweek’s in the next month will heighten interest in Fulham’s players – they face Wigan and United away from home next gameweek, with two home games against Hull and Blackburn in gameweek 28. Their attacking players look the best option, although the arrival of Giles Barnes on loan from Derby has cast a doubt over the starting roles of Davies and Dempsey (both amongst the assists today). Andy Johnson up front, he scored his first league goal since November here, looks the best option until we see how the midfield sorts itself out. Nevland, who looks a good bet to oust Zamora next weekend after two goals here, could also be a consideration.
As for Portsmouth, they too have a double fixture gameweek (LIV MCY) next week but such is their form right now, it’s a struggle to see any potential in their lineup. Crouch may get some interest, while Pennant will not be eligible for the Liverpool game.
Hull City 2 West Brom 2
Phil Brown made three changes to his lineup after defeat at Upton Park in midweek. They were without Cousin who missed this one with a knee injury. Duke continued in goal and at just 3.9, now appears to offer strong value as a bench keeper in the FPL. Bullard was left out of the squad having fallen ill in the week. Mendy, Garcia and Fagan all earned starts then with Manucho and Geovanni dropping to the bench. The Brazilian’s form form has melted away alarmingly and surely those fantasy managers who have kept the faith all this time must get rid now. The Baggies meanwhile, welcomed back Meite who replaced Donk at the back. Zuiverloon reverted to right-back with Hoefkens dropping out.
This one looked as though it had goals in it and so it proved. Hull have now conceded 11 goals in their last 5 home games and even against a West Brom side that had struggled badly for goals on their travels, they couldn’t claim a clean sheet.
In attacking terms for Hull, Mendy stole the show with a goal, an assist and maximum FPL bonus points. Classed as a defender, he has become almost essential to Hull’s attacking ploys down the right side of midfield. At just 4.0 in the FPL then, he looks a nailed-on budget defensive purchase despite the lack of clean sheets being generated by Phil Brown’s side.
Aside from Mendy, options at the KC stadium look fairly limited. Duke is worth a look as a bench keeper to free up funds, while Bullard will surely be pivotal to their chances of survival. Fixtures aren’t too bad for them once next week’s visit to Stamford Bridge is out of the way (TOT BLA ful NEW).
As for West Brom, Simpson scored his first league goal for them and, as a striker in the Baggies lineup, he continues to look a decent budget midfield purchase. Fixtures aren’t in his favour however, after the Newcastle home game Mowbray’s side have a tough run of games (ful eve ARS). Investment in Simpson looks a decent option from gameweek 29 onwards however (whm BOL STK por mcy SUN)
Injuries and Bans
Richard Garcia picked up a knock and was replaced on 81 minutes.
Mendy picked up his fifth booking of the season and he will now miss the trip to Chelsea next weekend. Dawson has now moved onto the tightrope by picking up his fourth booking here.
Robinson picked up his fifth booking in this one and having had one ban rescinded, will now face a one match suspension and miss next weekend’s game against Newcastle. Zuiverloon will also miss that game after getting his fifth yellow here, while Morrison is now on the tightrope.
Middlesbrough 0 Blackburn 0
Boro made a number of changes to their lineup. Huth came back into the defence with Wheater shifting to right-back to replace McMahon. Young Josh Walker started in midfield for the suspended O’Neil, while King kept Alves on the bench. Tuncay also returned to the starting lineup with Shawky making way. Jones replaced Turnbull in goal – that’s both Myhill and Turnbull who have lost their starting roles in the last week – both are popular bench keeper options in the FPL. Allardyce made just one change for Rovers, with Santa Cruz starting up front with McCarthy – Roberts dropped to the bench.
Southgate’s side are in awful form with no win in 12 now. This was at least their first clean sheet in 9 games but more significantly they’ve scored just one goal in their last 7 league games – an incredible stat. Blackburn look more healthy. This was their fourth clean sheet in the last 6 games and while they are struggling for goals away from Ewood, they are keeping things tight on the road. Things stiffen badly for them fixture-wise now though (AVL mun hul EVE ful ars) so I would steer clear of their mid-price assets for the next month despite the double fixture in gameweek 28.
Injuries and Bans
Rovers suffered two injuries on the day. Keith Andrews was forced off on 42 minutes, while Brett Emerton sustained an injury and was replaced on 50 minutes. There are no details on the extent of those injuries as yet.
Man United 1 Everton 0
Fletcher replaced Giggs in the only change to the United lineup. Vidic recovered from a knock to his knee sustained in training to take his place in defence. For Everton, both Cahill and Fellaini recovered from injury to take up their starting roles.
This one went with the script in many ways – a tight affair which United dominated in terms of possession but Everton did a decent job of keeping them at arms length. Ronaldo’s penalty handed him a third goal in two games and rewarded those fantasy managers who handed him the armband. Everton kept him, Berbatov and Tevez fairly quite however and there will be more profitable games ahead for United’s attacking players.
Defensively it was yet another clean sheet for Van der Sar and his defence, although not for Neville – he was subbed on 55 minutes and denied the extra points. Brown, who replaced him, will now push for starts, making the right-back spot even more unpredictable.
It’s a double gameweek next for United with games agianst West Ham away and a home game with Fulham. As always, I endorse Vidic, Ronaldo and Berbatov as the fantasy tri-force. Although there are cheaper options, they are all vulnerable to rotation, particularly with Evra, Rooney and Nani in line for a return to training in the week.
Everton are over the hill fixture-wise from this point on. They now look ripe for fantasy investment with a very strong run of games (BOL new WBA bla STK por wig). The back four should remain strong throuhgout that run with Lescott and Jagielka the dependable picks, Baines the less secure budget option. In midfield the likes of Cahill, Arteta and Fellaini, in that order, will surely see a lot of interest from this week on.
Injuries and Bans
Gary Neville appeared to have picked up a niggle and was subbed just before the hour-mark.