The Knee Jerk

The Knee Jerk – It’s About Time

With just five games played out, Saturday satisfaction always looked unlikely. It’s fitting however, that with the big guns yet to be primed, we saw a handful of mid-price players come to the fore and deliver long overdue returns. Fitting and just little bit painful.

Jamie O’Hara started proceedings, blasting a dramatic equaliser to earn Wolves an unlikely point. Full of industry, creativity and threat, O’Hara has been an influential figure, without delivering returns for those brave enough to take a punt. Subject of our recent Members’ Monitor article and, just a couple of gameweek’s later, O’Hara has at last broke his duck. It was coming.

The start of something special? With City up next and three away games in four, it seems unlikely. Even so, O’Hara could yet figure on our radars should McCarthy get Wolves earning victories again.

A few hours later, Sunderland’s Stephane Sessegnon – another mid-price midfielder who has failed to live up to his pre-season billing, earned Steve Bruce three points with a victory at the Reebok.

Ironically, Sessegnon’s first goal of the season coincided with his shift back to the flank, as Bruce paired Connor Wickham and Nicklas Bendtner in his forward line. The Dane later converted a second for the Black Cats; Sessegnon providing the assist and fetching a belated 10-point return for the few thousand Fantasy managers who had kept the faith. Expect bonus points to follow on Monday morning and, with three home games in four to come, suddenly “Sess” is back in the game and blinking bright.

While Sunderland prevailed at Bolton, Yohan Cabaye also fired his first goal of the season to hand North East rivals Newcastle the points. The Frenchman is another Fantasy prospect that’s been touted as overdue returns. Having delivered just a couple of assists thus far, Cabaye gleefully converted to keep the Magpies buoyant and Wigan resigned to the relegation spots.

Unlike Sessegnon, Cabaye’s stock seems unlikely to rise from today’s success. Alan Pardew is now set to steer his happy ship through choppy waters, three away trips in four with Stoke, City and United presenting three of the toughest destinations around. Cabaye’s next significant return could be a good few weeks away.

Is anyone out there feeling smug? Is there really any Fantasy manager with O’Hara, Sessegnon and Cababye tucked away in their lineup? There can’t be many and yet, there will be plenty who have owned at least one of them previously, now pondering what might have been.

Having been threatening to return all season, the trio chose today to get off the mark – a day which seems set to see such modest scoring for many. That only fuels the frustration and makes their late delivery all the more difficult to accept.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

1,562 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dom Salahnke
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    First

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    1. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      ... in line to the retard clinic

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  2. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    o'hara is pretty simple really. played deep in a 4-4-2 all season did nothing, played further forward for the final 30mins today and scored. give jonathan creek the night off

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    1. Qubit
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      spot on really. sadly its too late for both wolves and my fpl team. He's been my planned transfer out for some time now (weeks, but couldnt do before). Wolves fixtures arent very nice going forward.

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      1. applebonkers
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 8 months ago

        given you a lovely farewell present at least

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    2. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      sound analysis.

      that he was the non-scoring player with most shots on target does not really change it either. fpl players must produce. regularly. unlike for example mata.

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  3. Dom Salahnke
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    No one on here?

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  4. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    My knee is strangely calm, this evening - must be the beta-blockers ... 🙂

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    1. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      I will have the orthopaedic check in with you tomorrow night if its still motionless

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  5. ozone
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Suarez wtf.

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    1. Smarty Pants
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      he'd be essential if the points were awarded for hitting the woodwork

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  6. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    i wont feel safe in this game untill pool go 2 up

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    1. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      ouf 😛

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  7. Manilaman
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    As a Suarez captainer I miss the old bonus points system.

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    1. Brian (Not the Messiah)
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      yeah he's getting nothing with all these off target shots!

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  8. Cruicky
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    This is going to be a long 90mins for me as a Suarez(c) owner....

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    1. Brian (Not the Messiah)
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      40 mins...

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      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 8 months ago

        34....

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    2. everyday, i'm shufflin…
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      No, it will be too short.. You don't want the game to end until Suarez score at least 2 goals.

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      1. The buck stops with me
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 8 months ago

        Suarez will be taken off soon

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    3. Bolt-on
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      At 80 mins I reckon he'll have a goal and an assist

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  9. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    gerrard is getting forward much more now, finally worried

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  10. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Gerrard getting forward more, me likey....

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  11. sachmo
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Still upset that at the SWA-WOL result having gambled and doubled up on Swanse defence. Tuned out at 80 minutes, checked the result an hour later and...

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  12. The buck stops with me
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Grant Holt, enrique clean sheet gone

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    1. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      jubilation!!

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  13. AP
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Naaaaaaaarrrrrrich.

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  14. Cruicky
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    1-1 Holt goal, Pilkington assist.

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  15. McEwan
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Oh no!

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  16. takemehome
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    hope Suarez is subed

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  17. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    sessegnon, o'hara and holt.

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  18. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    any bolton fans here who can shed some light on the boyata injury?

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  19. Smarty Pants
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Holt score only against top teams, can't be bothered about the rest

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  20. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Holt vs Reina, Carragher and Johnson........ No contest! 😀

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  21. Clarkie
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Had Bellamy 2-0, damn Norwich, play to the script will ya

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  22. MARVELLUS
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Amazing cross. Surely a good thing for Suarez owners.

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    1. Gaz Downright
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      😆

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  23. ozone
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    F*ck.

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  24. Mr Smith
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Oh for gawds sake, losing patience with this season now

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  25. Hated, Adored but never Ign…
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Suarez has kept possession about twice this half. Get him off before he is booked for dissent

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  26. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Kuyt has got to come off, surely not saurez

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  27. Hated, Adored but never Ign…
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Suarez gas kept possession about twice this half. Get him off before he is booked for dissent

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    1. Hated, Adored but never Ign…
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 8 months ago

      Damn, thought I had cancelled it in time!

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  28. Feanor
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Terrible keeping from Reina. He looked like Alumina on that cross.

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  29. Manilaman
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    Pilkington for England.

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  30. Back on the horse
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 8 months ago

    christ. enirique cs gone. this is a sparse week so far

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