We’re scratching for points, kicking around the remnants of a Saturday that returned just a single clean sheet and lacked fixtures for Chelsea and United to help salvage our points totals. It’s a fragile Sunday morning then, as the Fantasy hangover lingers.
I suggest “the hair of the dog” and a thorough examination of yesterday’s events courtesy of our exhaustive Scout Notes…
Saturday’s Fantasy scoring was very low all round with an average Fantasy Premier League total of just 13 points. The lack of defensive returns was a major contributing factor with Newcastle the only side from fourteen to record a shut-out. When you consider that last weekend we saw clean sheets for just three sides – Blakckpool, Liverpool and Birmingham – it’s becoming clear that the tactic of selecting cheap defenders has paid off of late. The only route to Fantasy points from the back over the last fortnight has been to find defenders who can contribute at the other end and this week Blackburn’s Chris Samba, West Brom’s Jonas Olsson and Tottenham’s back from the dead full-back – Alan Hutton, were those offering some reward.
In the early kick-off we saw West Ham line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Carlton Cole flanked by Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne. The Hammers width took advantage of Stoke’s lack of a natural full-back in the first half, controlling the play, but were out-battled after the break by their more physical hosts. In Avram Grant’s absence, they picked up their first point of the season, and now have three home games in the next four league matches. Scott Parker, who grabbed the Hammers goal from two yards, notched his second in consecutive games as a result and also bagged his first two Bonus Points – he looks a strong option for those looking for a rout route to Hammers returns over those fixtures.
Stoke gave Jermaine Pennant a starting place on the right and the winger set up Kenwyne Jones’ equaliser, as the club’s record buy earned the 3 Bonus Points for a display that saw him bag his second goal in as many games for Tony Pulis’ side. The Stoke boss will have to address his side’s sluggish start to games, though- they have now been trailing at half-time in all five of their league games, the worst record for the first 45 mins in the league. A run of (new BLA bol) now await Stoke – not tough opponents but Pulis will be concerned about the lack of clean sheets thus far. Uncharacteristically they are one of four sides without a shutout and have conceded 20 shots inside their penalty area so far this term. Only Aston Villa’s defence has conceded more.
Birmingham gave a start to Alexander Hleb away to West Brom, following the long-term injury sustained by James McFadden in training. Cameron Jerome grabbed his first goal of the season, but it was something of a bittersweet game for Scott Dann, who assisted the Jerome goal but put through his own net for the Baggies equaliser. Jerome went into Saturday’s game having fired in more shots without a goal than any other striker. He’s now ended that run and looks a strong option for Birmingham’s fixtures that show three home matches in the next four (WIG EVE ars BLP).
Graham Dorrans came on for the second half in West Brom’s game with Birmingham and helped turn a 1-0 deficit into a comfortable 3-1 victory over their Midlands neighbours. Peter Odemwingie grabbed a goal (and 3 FPL Bonus Points) and has now scored or assisted in three of his four games for Roberto di Matteo’s side. At just 5.0 in the Fantasy Premier League game, he is beginning to earn attention as a potential budget signing. West Brom have now taken seven out of nine points from their first three home league games but fixtures at Arsenal and United in the next three will test their spirited start to the season and could deter interest in Odemwingie.
Gareth Bale seems set to rotate between full-back and midfield on an almost weekly basis now- despite Rafael van der Vaart also playing in midfield, the home game with Wolves saw the Welshman take his place on the left wing, as Harry Redknapp drafted Benoit Assou-Ekotto back into the Spurs starting XI. Aaron Lennon dropped to the bench as Robbie Keane earned his first league start since January, with Redknapp returning to his favoured 4-4-2 formation.
Van der Vaart came out of the game with a goal from the spot and huge credit. The maximum FPL Bonus Points followed while the stast show that no other player registered more efforts on goal (5) than the Dutchman. Elsewhere an injury to Younes Kaboul dented his Fantasy propsects. Little is know on that but Alan Hutton’s introduction at right-back helped turn the game and he will take some dropping given his display. Hutton is available for just 4.8 in the FPL; that situation is worth monitoring.
Steven Fletcher bagged himself his second goal for Wolves in their defeat, and despite having only played 169 – mostly due to fitness/injury problems – seems to be settling in with Mick McCarthy’s side with relative aplomb. With a short burst of good fixtures (AVL, wig, WHM) the record signing could be a good sleeper pick as a cheap (5.3) short term striking investment. Kevin Doyle at just 5.4 offers similar potential. He’s been under the radar with just 2 assists so far this term.
A word here on Jelle Van Damme – he dropped to the bench for this game and clearly currently offers little security for his Fantasy owners. A shame, when he starts he appears to offer an attacking threat and yet questions over his current level of fitness are seeing him struggle to maintain a start at left-back or in midfield.
Newcastle’s away trip to Everton saw two new boys make their debuts for Chris Hughton’s side; Cheick Tiote replaced Alan Smith in centre midfield, and Hatim Ben Arfa took the place of Jonas Guttierez on the left wing. Ben Arfa shone throughout, grabbing a wonder goal on the stroke of half-time that ultimately proved to be the game-winner. His showing was possibly the single most eye-catching of the day and although the Opta stats show that he contributed just a one failed cross and a goal from his one attempt, they also highlight that he tormented Everton with 6 Successful Dribbles – a total only matched by Villa’s Marc Albrighton.
Ben Arfa will surely see more of the ball for home encounters and three favourable opponents in the next five (STK mcy WIG whm SUN) mean that he will make our Watchlist rankings on Monday and at just 5.0 in the FPL makes a strong claim as your fifth midfielder for the next few Gameweeks at least. Team-mate Joey Barton shouldn’t be ignored however – he put in another strong shift which saw the maximum FPL Bonus Points come his way. The Opta stats show that he saw more of the ball than any other Newcastle player (75 touches) and produced more Successful Passes in the Opponents Half (30).
Everton took a step back from their last gasp draw against Manchester United last week as a relatively tepid display blotted their performance unfavourably and the Toffees continued to follow the trend of starting the season slowly. The industrious hard work of a key player like Tim Cahill was noticeably absent and with two strikers (Yakubu and Beckford) struggling for form goals are looking hard to come by right now. Both Mikel Areta and Steven Pienaar put in shifts but with three away games in the next four fixtures (ful bir LIV tot), it’s getting very difficult to justify holding Everton’s assets while they appear to struggle for an end product.
Fulham’s Clint Dempsey showed his eye for goal in Mark Hughes’ return to old club Blackburn. With Bobby Zamora absent for around 5 months, Dempsey looks a good bet for starts up front, and despite Moussa Dembele receiving most of the hype this week (and a questionable award of 3 bonus points), it was the American midfielder who grabbed the Cottager’s equaliser. Dempsey has scored 7 goals in his last two seasons, but could beat that total in this more attack-minded Hughes side, particularly with Fulham’s next six matches looking favourable (EVE, whm, TOT, wba, WIG, AVL).
Carlos Salcido made a hugely encouraging debut for Fulham at left-back. He saw a lot of the ball, contributing 87 touches according to the Opta stats. He did of provided the assist for Dempsey’s goal and put in four crosses overall. His price tag of 5.0 may put off investment but clearly he has the attacking intent to offer potential returns at both ends. As a sidenote, Stephen Kelly was switched to right-back to make way – this left John Pantsil benched and fighting for a starting role.
It was the home side of Blackburn who, of the pair, got off to the greater start when Christopher Samba – having been tipped by myself and Mark – got his head on the end of a route one ball from goalkeeper Paul Robinson. More suited to Real Madrid Big Sam says, we think Michel Salgado is probably the closest he will get any time soon. Young loan striker Mame Biram Diouf again put himself about the pitch with promise while his namesake El-Hadji was more content with putting Mark Schwarzer on the deck time and again.
Sunderland may have benefited from an “extra time” equaliser but their efforts against Arsenal cannot be doubted. Although the FPL Bonus Points fell to Malbranque, Bramble and Samir Nasri, the stats showed superb performances from Jordan Henderson and Al-Muhammadi in the Black Cat’s midfield. Al-Muhammadi is of course classed as a Defender and therefore looks a prospect once Steve Bruce’s side can begin to promise regular clean sheet returns. Right now however they face a miserable run of fixtures (liv MUN bla AVL new) that are unlikely to see the Egyptian return in defensive terms.
Bolton scored for the third successive away game and have clearly developed the knack for spoiling home clean sheets. There’s every evidence that Owen Coyle has instilled a slicker brand of football amongst his players and the likes of Lee, Elmander and Kevin Davies are benefiting. They may not be lighting fires in Fantasy terms just yet but there is clear potential once fixtures fall kindly for the Trotters. Martin Petrov recorded his first Fantasy returns of the season at Villa Park yesterday with the assist for the Davies equaliser. He had more attempts on goal and put in more crosses than any other Bolton player on the day. He was however subbed yet again – he is yet to complete 90 minutes this season. Finally it’s worth noting that although Kevin Davies had another strong game and notched his second goal of the season – he is now sitting on four bookings and on the verge of a suspension.
The Carling Cup may provide an unnecessary distraction at times but, when it comes to suspensions, it can be very handy. Both Arsenal’s Alex Song and Newcastle’s James Perch will avoid missing league games through bans as a result of their sides’ Carling Cup ties in midweek. Song saw red for two bookings at the Stadium of Light while Perch has incredibly gained five bookings in five matches for the Magpies. Both will serve out their one match bans and be eligible for next weekend.
