The goals kept flowing, as Dempsey and Hunt reward investment with strong returns to hand some fantasy managers a dream double gameweek. Here’s some notes on the games that brought number 13 (lucky for some) to an end…
Hull’s 3-2 win over Everton saw Stephen Hunt earn the fantasy plaudits with a goal and an assist; Bullard owners were left scratching their heads meanwhile. The inspiration behind the weekend’s 3-3 draw with West Ham didn’t even make the bench. Phil Brown later described the decision to rest Bullard as “precautionary” with the midfielder still rehabilitating from his long-term leg injury. Bullard will be expected to earn a recall for the trip to City this weekend – although Brown admits he will have to consider his team selection carefully after the Everton victory.
The Hull boss made three changes to his side last night with McShane in for the suspended Mendy, while it was Boateng who replaced Bullard in midfield. Geovanni earned a recall for Fagan up front.
Hunt will no doubt get some attention following his goal, assist and FPL bonus, although with a missing fixture in gameweek 17 and some tough fixtures to come (mcy avl BLA ars MUN) around that, it doesn’t look the best time to invest in Hull, despite their form that has seen them score six goals in the last two home games.
As for Everton, they continued their patchy run of form. Moyes could at least take something from the comeback having been 3-0 down at the break and the return of Pienaar to his midfield; he replaced the suspended Fellaini last night. Yakubu started up front with Saha, with Gosling dropping to the bench.
Like Hull, Everton miss a fixture in gameweek 17 and also have dreadful fixtures to come in the next month (LIV TOT che BIR sun), although three of five are at home where Everton are unbeaten in the last five. The weekend clash with Liverpool now looks crucial, but, Saha aside, fantasy investment is unlikely.
The night’s other encounter saw Fulham ease past Blackburn by a three goal margin, although to be fair to Blackburn, they had more than their fair share of what was, in the main, a dreadful game.
Clint Dempsey’s brace was undoubtedly the big news on the night for fantasy managers – richly rewarding the double gameweek investment that came his way. Duff chipped in with a pair of assists, while the likes of Hangeland and Schwarzer also came up trumps with a clean sheet of course, following the 1-0 defeat to Birmingham at the weekend.
Hodgson made a few changes to his lineup – recalling Pantsil at right-back for Kelly, whilst Duff returned for Gera on the left and Nevland was handed a start up front. That saw Dempsey drop back into midfield with Simon Davies making way. This changed on the hour mark, with Gera’s introduction for Zamora pushing Dempsey forward alongside Nevland – with some effect.
Going forward, the Fulham lineup is clouded by the imminent return of Murphy and Andy Johnson from injury. We have to expect a good few shuffles and changes to come in the next couple of weeks then, although Dempsey is surely assured of starts on this form – he may shift back to midfield however.
Having earned a surprising 2-0 win at the Reebok on Saturday, Blackburn disappointed here. Assistant boss Neil McDonald recalled Jacobsen at right-back, shifting Chimbonda to the left to cover for the injured Givet. Grella came in for Nzonzi in central midfield, whilst Andrews replaced the injured Emerton in the other change.
Looking at both these sides going forward and Fulham are another to suffer from the missing gameweek 17 fixture. That’s likely to stall interest in their players in the mid-term, although two home games against Bolton and Sunderland next should see investment in Dempsey continue for at least a fortnight.
As for Blackburn, they also have two home games next (STK LIV) which should bring some rewards given their home form this term. Looking at the season ticker, Blackburn’s fixtures look strong all over Christmas and into the New Year, which should see sustained interest in Dunn, despite his blank last night.