A new regular – the Masterplan takes a single issue haunting a good deal of Fantasy Managers and explores an array of options on the table – discussing the merits of each. This time around, it’s the Carlos Tevez conundrum, as the bustling Argentine continues his decline from hero to zero.

The Problem

Carlos Tevez has scored just a single goal in his last nine appearances and on Sunday sat out of the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea after failing a fitness test on a groin injury. Reports this week stated that Tevez remains a doubt for the gameweek 31 clash with Sunderland at Eastlands. Tevez is clearly a problem for his Fantasy owners then (over 37% of Fantasy Premier League managers), who must decide whether to hold and hope for an upturn in fortunes or rid themselves of a player who, at one stage, looked almost essential.

Plan A

There’s little need to engage the brain here – Robin Van Persie is surely the obvious replacement. Frighteningly consistent since his return from long-term injury, the Dutchman made a recovery from a recent knee problem to once again score in the 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns. Arsenal also have a double fixture in gameweek 33, a factor which will surely see Van Persie maintain his near essential status.

Plan B

For those already in possession of Van Persie, the Tevez issue could well offer the opportunity to free up some cash for heavy investment in other areas, particularly midfield. The timing is good – both Blackburn’s Junior Hoilett and Sunderland’s Danny Welbeck appear to offer rock-bottom priced assets as forwards, who could well offer a steady stream of attacking returns and Bonus Points in the coming gameweeks.

Fetching one of these two for Tevez would allow funds for either Frank Lampard or an Arsenal midfielder ahead of their gameweek 33 double fixture. This also clears the way for a move to a possible 4-5-1 Fantasy formation, with attacking defenders like Everton’s Seamus Coleman and double gameweek assets like Birmingham’s Roger Johnson and Chelsea’s David Luiz, coming to the fore, along with Stoke’s Robert Huth, Blackburn’s Chris Samba and even Villa’s Kyle Walker.

Plan C

Opt for a differential – the likes of Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll and Darren Bent all offer potential lower down the price bracket and have relatively slim ownership amongst Fantasy Premier League Managers. This looks to be a decent option for those chasing a lead who need to gamble on a differential – Suarez looks the most assured having established himself as the central figure in the Kenny Dalglish revolution. The Uruguayan is the form striker in the Fantasy Premier League, but still represents a gamble given Liverpool’s fixtures, which appear to offer little assistance with City and Arsenal looming.

Plan D

Take a risk on a similarly price option – Wayne Rooney is player in question here, having shown strong form in recent gameweeks (5 goals in 7 starts), clearly offers the potential to replace the kind of scores that Tevez was producing. That potential is however, somewhat disrupted by rotation in the United forward line, with Alex Ferguson seemingly uncertain over Rooney’s partner in attack. Rooney tends to drop deeper with either Javier Hernandez or Dimitar Berbatov in tandem and that is a slight concern – it works for Tevez however and spot-kicks, so profitable for the City man, are also a factor behind Rooney’s appeal. The other major issue here is United’s blank fixture. Forthcoming games against West Ham and Fulham look favourable, but when gameweek 33 arrives, you’ll currently have to bench or sell.

The other alternative is to gamble on a Chelsea forward – take your pick from Dider Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Fernando Torres. The latter looks the most assured of starts but, on current form, the least assured of returns. Chelsea’s gameweek 33 double fixture falls in his favour though, making him an obvious route for current Tevez owners seeking to gamble on a major differential with the potential to explode.