Rafa grabbed the headlines and the attention of fantasy managers with his most cryptic team selection yet. Once again however, Liverpool came good with Torres snaffling up the three points with a late winner.
Elsewhere, Villa roll on with another away win, while Jo ignited on his Goodison debut. Perhaps most shocking of all however, was the treatment of Scolari as his men stuttered again at Stamford Bridge. Apparently he doesn’t know what he’s doing. It’s fickle business. Here’s the notes…
Manchester City 1 Middlesbrough 0
No surprises in the City lineup – they’re unchanged aside for the expected debut for Given in goal. Wright-Phillips is starting after his FA reprieve. Zabaleta is again in a holding midfield role with Kompany in the centre of defence to cover for the suspended Dunne. Southgate started with both King and Alves as look for only third goal in the last eight games. Digard returned after serving a three-match suspension. O’Neil is also back after a ban but was kept on the bench.
Boro had opportunities to get something from this – or rather Alves did, but found Given in defiant mood on his debut. His clean sheet and FPL bonus will have put many fantasy managers on alert and it’s worth noting that City have now conceded just two goals in their last four league games. Given and Bridge look good options then, while Zabaleta looks a worthwhile investment while he remains in his holding midfield role. How long he’ll remain there and whether he’ll even command a starting role on Dunne’s return, remains to be seen.
In attacking terms Bellamy continues to provide excellent value. Free of the threat of suspension and with six goals in his last seven league starts, he will be blinking bright on many fantasy radars. Those coming late to the party will find the fixture list does him few favours over next four gameweeks (liv whm AVL che). That tough run of games certainly reduces the appeal of Bellamy and team-mates Ireland and Robinho over the next month, particularly given City’s abject form away from home.
Injuries and Bans
Riggott hobbled off just after the hour mark with what look like a knee injury.
Blackburn 0 Aston Villa 2
Allardyce rotated his front line as I expected, with Roberts earning a start and Santa Cruz dropping to the bench. Diouf was also kept on the bench with Andrews shaking off a knock and Dunn coming in on the right of midfield to replace Emerton who is out for the season. O’Neill kept Carew on the bench and recalled Heskey up front. Friedel, Barry and Agbonlahor were all recalled after missing the FA Cup replay in midweek. Petrov returned from suspension as Sidwell and Gardner dropped to the bench.
Villa have now won seven straight away league games – an incredible run of form, built on a defence that has stood up to the loss of Laursen far better than I imagined. They’ve now conceded just two goals in the last six league games with the likes of Luke Young, Knight and Davies providing strong value over that run. In attacking terms, Agbonlahor at last broke a scoring duck that has seen him go seven games before this one, without a league goal. Milner struck his second in four league games meanwhile and continues to provide a cheap alternative to Ashley Young in the Villa midfield.
Things will start to stiffen for Villa however, with the crucial home game with Chelsea to come next. A kinder run of three games is then followed by a string of tough opposition (CHE STK mcy TOT liv mun EVE). If you’ve yet to climb aboard the Villa defensive bandwagon, now may not be the time to make that move then.
Injuries and Bans
Cuellar was subbed at half-time with an injury.
Benni McCarthy is now on the suspension tightrope and must get through the next two matches without picking up a booking to avoid a ban.
Everton 3 Bolton 0
Moyes brought Gosling into his starting lineup and gave a debut to loanee Jo, with both Fellaini and Pienaar missing out with injuries sustained against Liverpool in midweek. Megson recalled Andy O’Brien to his lineup for Gardner who was strangely missing from the squad. O’Brien took the right-back spot with Steinsson playing on the right of midfield.
What a debut for Jo – the Brazilian on loan from City repaid Moyes’ faith in him by scoring two goals and winning the penalty for Everton’s opener. In fantasy terms he drops immediately onto the radar. Placed in the mid-price bracket (just 7.6 in the FPL), Jo has the assistance of Everton’s kind run of forthcoming fixtures in his favour, plus he is surely assured of a starting role considering Everton’s lack of resources up front. A big consideration for owners of Berbatov and Van Persie fearful of league rotation around the forthcoming Champions League fixtures.
In attacking terms, Arteta is the jewel in the Everton crown. He has to be a key target over the coming month looking at Everton’s fixtures. When Everton win, he is often in the bonus points even if he doesn’t contribute goals and assists. Cahill is a good option in other games but in the FPL, where bonus is a factor, Arteta is worth the extra outlay to my mind.
Defensively Everton earned another clean sheet although this was their first in four league matches. Baines caught the eye with his supply from the left at a budget price, he surely deserves increased attention from fantasy managers. Evenwith Yobo back and available to Moyes, it appears that Baines is holding his own and at just 4.5 in the FPL game, he offers terrific value over the coming weeks. Jagielka continues to be the FPL bonus magnet back there, while Lescott’s goal threat remains a factor.
Injuries and Bans
Hibbert is the latest Everton player to climb upon the suspension tightrope by earning his fourth booking here.
Sunderland 2 Stoke 0
There were recalls as expected for Jones and Cisse up front for Sunderland. Fulop kept his place in goal despite Gordon’s return in midweek. Bardsley and Whitehead also make returns, with Reid coming in for the injured Edwards out wide. Ferdinand recovered from a hip problem to start so Davenport and Beh Haim were kept on the bench. Pulis brought in the fit-again Diao to replace the suspended Delap. Cresswell replaced Amdy Faye in midfield, while Kelly came in for Pugh at left-back. Fuller started up front with Beattie, keeping Camara on the bench.
The win saw Kenwyne Jones notch his sixth goal in his last nine league games as he continues to present a decent mid-price option up front. Cisse meanwhile has just a single goal in his last seven league starts and looked out of sorts again. That’s the last time I back him over Jones in the Scout Picks. Even so, this looks a good time to cash the pair in if you’ve invested. Sunderland’s appeal as a source of fantasy talent going forward, is blighted by their missing fixture in gameweek 27. Outside of that, fixtures are against them – (ars blank liv WIG mcy whm).
As for Stoke, they continue to slide but the fixture list does give them hope. Fuller’s nasty shoulder injury now presents Camara as a solid budget striker option and he and Stoke have the chance to pick up points over the coming weeks with winnable home games against Portsmouth, Bolton and Boro to come over the next five (POR avl BOL eve MID). Like Hull, they look a decent short-to-mid term source of budget purchases.
Injuries and Bans
Stoke lost Wilkinson to a foot injury, Shawcross to a back complaint and Fuller to an awful shoulder injury in the first half. Fuller’s dislocation will likely rule him out for the rest of the season according to Pulis. Etherington’s red will see him banned for three matches – he will miss games against Portsmouth, Villa and Bolton. Lawrence is now surely set for a run in the side as a result.
Chelsea 0 Hull 0
Scolari was without Cech in goal with a back injury so Hilario started between the posts. Quaresma earned his debut in midfield with Malouda dropping out. Phil Brown made just one change with Geovanni replacing the suspended Mendy.
Chelsea’s form is a major concern – they’ve won just three of their last eight league games and have averaged just a goal a game over that spell. In fantasy terms it was at least another clean sheet (despite plenty of scares) but in attacking terms Lampard needs to step up again to prevent some fantasy fidgeting. Luckily their fixtures fall kindly once they have the now vital trip to Villa Park out of the way (avl WIG por MCY tot new BOL). Indeed, following the game at Villa they have just Everton at home and Arsenal away, in the current top six to play.
For Hull this was a first clean sheet in fifteen league games. To be honest, it’s been coming with Phil Brown making efforts in recent weeks to tighten things up although this result probably says more about Chelsea’s lack of creativity than Hull’s defensive resolve.
Hull’s fixtures aren’t too bad over the mid-term with trips to Fulham and Wigan looking most likely to test them (TOT BLA ful NEW wig POR). In fact with four home games in the next six, it looks a good time to turn to Hull once again for budget purchases. Mendy looks a must as a budget defender playing wide right, while Turner, who earned the maximum fpl bonus, also looks attractive if you’re backing more clean sheets. In attacking terms Fagan at 4.7 in the FPL, looks to offer a good budget option while he holds down a starting role. Matt Duke in goal is also an interesting option as your bench keeper.
Injuries and Bans
Ashbee moved onto eight bookings for the season here and so is just two cards away from two-match ban.
West Brom 2 Newcastle 3
Mowbray was robbed of the craft and guile of Simpson up front who missed out with a hamstring injury. He reacted by playing a 4-5-1 with Fortune leading the line. Kim and Morrison made returns to the midfield then. Kinnear was ill in hospital (best wishes Joe), but assistant Hughton took charge of a Newcastle lineup that gave a debut to Ryan Taylor on the right of midfield as expected. Lovenkrands was a surprise starter then as Martins, picked out by Kinnear as the most likely to make a return here, failed to make the 18. Viduka and Smith did make the bench however, along with Cacapa.
Fortune’s form has been a massive bonus for Mowbray but they were unable to capitalise on this goals here due to defensive lapses. West Brom’s players aren’t too tempting at the moment – aside from Simpson perhaps. Their fixtures over the coming weeks don’t appear to do them any favours (ful eve ARS whm) it’s hard to see many points league or fantasy, coming out of those games.
Defensively both these sides looked a shambles – certainly West Brom have had some severe injury problems at the back and while they should have the likes of Donk back in their rearguard next time out, it’s still worth considering the likes of Fulham’s Johnson who will be coming up against the West Brom defence next.
Newcastle are slowly gluing their squad back together with Smith and Viduka close to starts now. Their fixtures are also tough over the next six gameweeks (EVE bol MUN hul ARS CHE) and with so many question marks surrounding their starting lineup, I don’t recommend investment here. Ryan Taylor owners will be encouraged by his starting role on the right of midfield and his assist. He has a strong chance of retaining his place next time out, despite the return of Gutierrez from suspension. Taylor will require monitoring week to week however, given the competition for places that’s now built up.
Wigan 0 Fulham 0
Steve Bruce was able to welcome back Valencia to his right wing, while N’Zogbia made a debut on the left of midfield. Zaki was still not 100% following more calf problems so he was kept on the bench with Rodallega given a full debut. Scharner kept his place in defence with Boyce dropping to the bench. As for Fulham, Hodgson resisted the temptation to start with Nevland up front despite his two goals last weekend. Zamora kept his place then, while Dacourt and Barnes were kept on the bench as Fulham kept an unchanged side yet again.
A pretty dreadful game by all accounts which Fulham so easily could have won. Zamora and Johnson up front, for all their tireless running, still cannot provide the goals away from home. Fulham have now scored just three goals in their twelve away games this season. Despite this, interest in their players will be on the rise. Hodgson’s men have the trip to Old Trafford to come in this gameweek and then follow that up with a winnable home game with West Brom. A trip to the Emirates is then followed by a second double fixture in gameweek 28 which sees them face Hull and Blackburn at the Cottage. The likes of Johnson, Murphy (both in the FPL bonus this week) will surely gain more fantasy suitors over the next fortnight then.
As for Wigan, this goalless draw leaves them with just five goals over the last eight games, although they’ve also conceded just five goals in that spell. It’s four clean sheets in the last seven league games – representing excellent value from their budget defenders. A trip to Boro next time out gives them every chance of extending that further but the forthcoming fixtures (mid che WHM sun HUL) and a poor showing here, hint that Wigan’s run of form could well waver. Certainly by gameweek 31 you need to consider clearing the decks of Wigan players (eve ARS MUN).
Injuires and Bans
Both Valencia and Brown were subbed early on with knocks. They were followed by Mido (surprise surprise) who also picked up a knock and was replaced by Zaki just before the break. Figueroa is now on the suspension tightrope having picked up his fourth booking here.
Fulham lost Etuhu to injury, he was replaced by Dacourt for the second half. Paintsil is a new entry on the suspension tightrope.
Portsmouth 2 Liverpool 3
Extraordinary stuff from Rafa in this one. Torres and Alonso dropped to the bench – fair enough, these were signposted with both suffering from fatigue and knocks. However, Kuyt was also rested alongside them in addition to Riera. So with Gerrard out injured and Lucas banned, Benitez brought in Mascherano, Ngog, Agger, Babel, and Aurellio. The latter took a central midfield role, with Benitez deploying three centre backs behind him.
As for Portsmouth, Adams brought back Belhadj from suspension to replace Traore who was carrying a knock. Campbell returned for the injured Kaboul at the back. Basinas made an impressive debut in midfield.
It’s difficult to decide how much to take from this one. The worrying factor for fantasy owners of Liverpool players is obviously the extent to which Rafa is prepared to gamble on his lineup. In the end he pulled this one out of the fire, or rather Torres did with another late late goal. Going forward however, there is clearly a significant lack of security surrounding Liverpool’s fantasy assets.
The Champions League now becomes a major consideration in this equation with Liverpool facing two ties with Madrid in late February and early March. Rafa’s men take on City next time out after the FA Cup weekend. That game is followed by the first leg in Madrid. A trip to Boro is then followed by a home game with Sunderland and a week a later, they host Madrid in the second leg. Looking at that it appears that it’s mainly the home game with City next time out that looks a potential rotation hotspot – although give the fuss caused by the team selection here, it will be interesting to see how he preserves his troops for that first leg with Madrid.
Personally I avoid Liverpool’s players due to the constant fear of rotation. That’s only escalated now that the Champions League is active once more. As for Portsmouth, they were unlucky here with Crouch and Nugent putting in the work to perhaps warrant a point. The missing fixture in gameweek 27 does seals the fate of their players as fantasy assets, just in case you were tempted to see past their current run of form.