Ever since Eidur Gudjohnsen arrived at Spurs and the Fantasy Premier League saw fit to classify him as a midfielder for just 5.5, I have been waiting for the neat-footed Icelander to get his opportunity. Today’s appearance from the bench at the Britannia, capped by Tottenham’s goal, may well have marked his arrival on our watchlists. For a little while at least…
Gudjohnsen arrived courtesy of a knock suffered to in-form Roman Pavlyuchenko and with Jermain Defoe claiming he’ll be back in ten days, we could well see Eidur start against Fulham in the FA Cup in midweek and then get a league start next weekend. Who do Spurs play? I hear you ask. Portsmouth at the Lane. That’s Portsmouth, bottom of the table and without their best player Jamie O’Hara because he’s ineligible against his parent club.
Spurs are a fairly efficient goal machine right now, despite the lack of Lennon’s searing pace. They also looked pretty decent against Rovers there last time out and should be good for two, three or even four against Pompey. Gareth Bale will be a hot hot property this week and Gudjohnsen could just be a one week only mid-price midfield differential.
Elsewhere it’s got to be said it’s been a slow start to a gameweek that’s been smothered in a thick gravy of hype (I’m loving Master Chef right now) generated by all those double players. With Villa uncharacteristically conceding and Wolves uncharacteristically scoring twice, it was really only those who invested in the Everton pairing of Arteta and Pienaar who can hit the bars with a smug grin tonight. Yes Darren Bent produced but just how many of us gambled on breaking up our Rooney/Drogba/Bendtner or Torres attacks to bring in the Sunderland striker?
Bent did the damage to Birmingham today, making it just one clean sheet in ten league games for McLeish’s side. The Premier League newcomers were once cut from the same cloth as their manager. Stoney, hard-tackling and as tight as Wenger’s purse strings. Now they’re experimenting with attacking and branching out to score the odd goal – with Cameron Jerome leading that avenue of research – they seem to have forgotten about all their priorities at the other end of the pitch. The likes of Hart, Roger Johnson and Ridgewell remain popular fantasy players but given their form and their fixtures to come after this gameweek (ARS LIV mcy), it seems likely we’ll see plenty of managers getting fidgety and looking for defensive bargains in the next week or so. The Stoke and Fulham defences – like reliable old flames of yesteryear, could well be worth a look with their double fixtures to come in gameweek 34.
I was more than a little frustrated by the fact that Wenger left Abou Diaby benched in today’s win over West Ham. Yes Diaby replaced Nicklas Bendtner in the second-half but it’s clear that his place is far from assured. At this stage in the season we need regular starts, even from our mid-price players. If you’re a Diaby owner then the solution could well lie with Stoke’s Matt Etherington. I couldn’t help but notice that he took the spot-kick to get Tony Pulis’ side back in the game against Spurs today. While he may relinquish that duty should Lawrence or Fuller be on the pitch, it could well be another admirable string to his bow. Ehterington has been the major source of creativity (other than Delap’s gadget arms) and with Stoke running into some nice opponents (whm HUL wlv ful BOL), including a double fixture, he looks a good option at just 5.4 he looks a very good option for the month ahead.
That’s it for now. More random thoughts may enter my head and find their way onto digital pages. For now I’m going to bask in the inevitable Fabregas bonus points before popping out to listen to more “what might have beens” from Granville over a pint.