When Carlos Tevez fetched his brace and Bonus in Gameweek 23 to boost his ownersโ returns and put a knife in my heart, I searched everywhere for a scrap of consolation. The only thread I could muster was that, given his return against Wolves, his owners would surely think twice about swapping in double Gameweek assets or even Robin Van Persie. Sitting on Dimitar Berbatov and Fernando Torres, I could only look for my faith in them ahead of Gameweek 24 to pay off and hope that Tevez owners would sit still. There might just be a silver lining in there somewhere.
This evening Tevez huffed a puffed around a Villa Park pitch with his owners hoping that he could throw off the shackles and match the impressive tallies recorded by Torres, Berbatov and Van Persie โ he failed.
The power certainly shifted. Berbatov exploded once again โ another hat-trick, taking him to 17 goals for the season. The formula now seems confirmed โ Old Trafford+Wayne Rooney=Big Berbatov returns.
Rooney himself, wrongly selected ahead of the Bulgarian in my Scout Picks going on todayโs showing, fetched a pair of assists and scraped Bonus. The trip to Blackpool may yet bring further points for Rooney, but with confidence flowing through his icy veins, few would back against further Berbatov returns at Bloomfield Road. Thatโs if he plays of course โ we need reminding that Alex Ferguson dropped his goal machine to the bench following his five goals against Blackburn; nothing is assured.
Having said that, perhaps Robin Van Persieโs contribution in Arsenalโs 3-0 drubbing of Wigan was nailed-on. Subject of a recent Knee Jerk, the Dutchmanโs form continues to demand the upmost attention from Fantasy Managers. Van Persie has snatched the thunder from both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas and is hauling points at an alarming rate. With fixtures falling in his lap, itโs hard to see Van Persie letting up; unless another tweak or twinge intervenes of course.
Then we have Torres โ his brace at Wolves signaled his gradual ascent back to form. Two goals away from home, with Fulham at Anfield still to come in the Gameweek. Heโll be licking his lips, as will his owners.
What a difference a week makes. Suddenly Carlos doesnโt look so essential. While heโs got his feet up in midweek gazing at the pictures of his kids on the mantelpiece, Torres, Berbatov and Rooney will be helping themselves to more points. Then, in Gameweek 25, while he takes the banana skin trip to Birmingham โ todayโs big scoring trio all have home fixtures to follow their doubles.
Few of us can find a place for all these riches. Fantasy Managers have no choice but to shuffle the forward line with form and fixtures, back hunches and hope for results. One thing looks certain – standing still, getting locked in by FPL prices and putting faith in long-term returns from your strikers looks folly. Having the resolve to say goodbye an old faithful is a big ask, but if you can anticipate the power shifts or at least go with it, it looks likely to prove crucial.
