One big dilemma – several routes to a solution. Once again we take on the big issue currently rattling around the brains of Fantasy Managers and present our view of the paths to take, in order of preference.
The Problem: A double gameweek for City and Spurs offers another opportunity to cash in and fetch a points haul that can shift mini-league fortunes. The issue here is that rest and rotation is a concern, particularly in the City ranks. Roberto Mancini has already announced that he could look to shuffle his pack, perhaps even for the weekend trip to Everton.
Earn three points in that game however and City could assure themselves a Champions League spot, making Tuesday’s clash with Spurs academic in that respect. That match falls just four days before an FA Cup Final with Stoke and then, bizarrely, City will host Stoke at Eastlands the following Tuesday. There’s every chance that players will be rested for both games around the Wembley Final then.
To add to the mix, Carlos Tevez is reportedly close to a return to training and, if available, will almost certainly see some action in Tuesday’s game. With that in mind, how do we approach the potential offered by gameweek 36 and its double fixture?
Plan A
Stay Flexibile. The threat rotation in the City lineup, is pretty strong, particularly if they earn a result at Goodison and Blackpool take something from Spurs. With that in mind, Fantasy Managers would do well to back double gameweek acquisitions who seem less vulnerable, or at least do not take up valuable positions or funds in the squad.
Mario Balotelli and David Silva are two players who will be particularly at risk should Roberto Mancini have the luxury of resting players for the Spurs encounter; they could also be handed a rest for the league clash with Stoke following a run-out on the sapping Wembley turf.
While Aleksandar Kolarov also falls in that bracket, with many Fantasy Managers choosing a formation with three at the back, his potential absence would not be such a big issue. Losing a striker or midfielder, particularly players priced at 8.5 and 8.0, would seem a far greater problem.
As we covered in a recent Technical Area, Yaya Toure at 6.0, looks the most secure option the City midfield. The Ivorian has started the last 8 games for Mancini and can adopt a holding midfield role, or play his part at the attacking point of a central midfield triangle with Gareth Barry and Nigel De Jong mopping up. Coming in 2.5 less than Silva, the sting of him missing out due to rotation would not be as severe, and would leave funds for reparations elsewhere.
Will Toure be as productive as Silva? Three games with just a single Bonus Point would indicate that he would represent a gamble in that respect, but would you rather have stronger security over 3 league fixtures or the promise of more explosive returns and the nagging anxiety before the teamsheets are announced?
Plan B
Keep clear. While Rafael Van der Vaart looks pretty much essential going into the gameweek deadline, do you need to supplement his potential with City’s risky assets? While Van der Vaart offers potential via Bonus, set-pieces and the fact that he’s Tottenham’s leading scorer – none of the players offered up by City present such assurances.
Sure enough, Silva has promise. His form over the past two months has been superb and he is certainly beginning to deliver on his hefty transfer fee. Remove the freakish 5-0 win over a poor Sunderland side in gameweek 31 however, and City have scored just 6 goals in their last 7 games – hardly a statistic that instills confidence and promotes investment in their attacking players.
The damming statistics go on; away from home Mancini’s side have just 2 goals in their last 4 trips, losing 3 of them, so the weekend visit to Goodison, with Everton still showing form, seems unlikely to be a rout. After that, City will host Spurs prior to a Cup Final distraction and, as we can recall, last year’s Champions League decider was a tense affair with just a single Peter Crouch goal between the sides. City just cannot be relied upon to deliver and taking points hits with rotation a threat, is a gamble too far.
Plan C
Go for broke. An option that will surely be adopted by Fantasy Managers desperately attempting to claw back a mini-league lead. Heavy investment in double gameweek assets against a backdrop of potential rotation is an ultimate “he who dares” policy.
City’s current form away from home suggests that they will fail to earn three points at Goodison, that should ensure that Silva and perhaps Balotelli will be needed to take on Spurs. Similarly, if City slip in that game, Mancini will surely need to go all out for three points against Stoke the following Tuesday. In a nutshell, you’re banking on City failing to claim a win before the FA Cup Final, therefore ensuring that Mancini must field his strongest lineup for the forthcoming league encounters. Silva, Balotelli and Kolarov should all start two, if not all three games. Bring them in with Rafael Van der Vaart and sit back and watch the points roll in.
