Steven Fletcher continues his recent goalscoring spree to deny Spurs a victory at the Lane. Steve Morison proves the difference yet again for Norwich as the Canaries snatch all three points at West Brom, while Danny Welbeck gets amongst the goals in Man United’s comfortable home win over Bolton:
Danny Welbeck
His role in United’s opener will no doubt be reviewed by Fantasy Premier League (FPL), with the forward possibly having the final touch on Wayne Rooney’s pass before Paul Scholes found the net. At 6.6, and with just 2% ownership, Welbeck is proving a handy differential right now and his goal means he has netted twice in his last three appearances in the champions’ first XI. Having started five of his side’s last seven matches, Welbeck is beginning to lay claim to an automatic first-team spot, though he was subbed off near the end with a knee knock and may be a doubt for next weekend’s trip to Arsenal.
Nani
Many had opted to hand the winger the armband for yesterday’s clash with Owen Coyle’s side but coming into the game, his Old Trafford form was poor. Nani had scored in just one of his last seven home fixtures and, while Paul Scholes rolled back the years to grab United’s first, Nani again drew a blank, with just three points on the board for his day’s work. With the winter wildcard being flourished and a schedule that sees Sir Alex Ferguson’s side take on four of the top six in the next six Gameweeks, his 10.5 price tag may see many move him on as squads are reconstructed over the next few weeks.
Jonny Evans
With Chris Smalling and Phil Jones both missing due to knocks, the Irishman –fully recovered from a calf strain- stepped in alongside Rio Ferdinand in the heart of United’s back-four. The 3-0 win means that Evans has now returned five clean sheets in his last six starts and at 4.5, is proving to be a real bargain as the season unfolds. With Jones and Smalling priced at 6.6 and 5.3 respectively, and Patrice Evra coming in at 7.1, Evans is certainly justifying Fantasy attention and offers a clear cut-price option as a means of United defensive coverage.
Liverpool’s Formation
Kenny Dalglish rolled out a surprise 3-4-2-1 shape for Stoke’s visit to Anfield. Perhaps the Potters’ physical game played a part in Dalglish’s decision to field three centre-halves at the back, with Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson pushed on as wing-backs. With Steven Gerrard and Charlie Adam sitting in central midfield, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson were tucked in just behind Dirk Kuyt. Given that Kuyt has failed to score this season, the 0-0 result was perhaps not too unexpected, but the decision to omit Craig Bellamy again proved frustrating for the Welshman’s Fantasy owners. Bellamy has returned double figures in his last two starts for the Reds, producing 3 goals, an assist and 5 bonus points, but he was handed no more than a seventeen minutes second half sub role yesterday.
Steven Fletcher
Another game, another goal for the Scotsman as he breached the Tottenham defence to help earn Wolves a vital point at the Lane. Since the start of December, Fletcher has scored 6 goals in eight games and over the course of the season, has netted away to Spurs, Arsenal, United and Liverpool. Priced at just 5.9, he’s averaging 4.9 points per game so far and with games against Villa, QPR and West Brom in the next four, looks a strong prospect.
Michael Kightly
Mick McCarthy rolled out a 4-5-1 for the trip to Tottenham and handed Kightly a first start since the winger returned from a loan deal at Watford. Playing on the right flank, he was one of only two midfielders to be granted the full 90 minutes by Big Mick. Due to the formation, Kevin Doyle and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake warmed the bench for the entire game but with the aforementioned run of fixtures on the horizon, Kightly may well become more of a fixture in the Wolves first-team if McCarthy opts to keep the same shape.
Gareth Bale
The Welshman topped the Captain poll this week ahead of the home clash against Wolves, with 20% of the votes cast. An assist was all Bale could muster, though, as Harry Redknapp’s side spurned the chance to go level on points with City. What is noticeable, however, is Spurs’ attacking threat seems to have heavily faltered of late, almost in spite of their surge up the table. They have scored more than one goal just twice in their last eight matches, with five clean sheets helping them record narrow victories. Spurs – similar to United- now face four of the top six between GW 22-27 and with their goal threat somewhat drying up, many may look for alternatives. As the top-scoring midfielder, Bale is the likeliest to be kept in Fantasy squads- Emmanuel Adebayor, unavailable for next week’s clash with City, looks likely to see significant sales after scoring a single goal in his last seven.
Steve Morison
The Canaries striker once again produced the goods in a victory over West Brom that saw Paul Lambert’s side climb to ninth in the table. Morison, a Scout Notes regular, notched the winner at the Hawthorns and continues to be one of the most consistent Fantasy performers around. The Welshman has scored eight goals and provided four assists this season but the most impressive aspect of these stats from a Fantasy perspective is that they have been spread right over twelve of his seventeen starts. Morison may have yet to hit double figures in any given Gameweek but his remarkable run of form means he is the second highest outfield player in the game for value, with a score of 16.2 bettered only by Demba Ba.
Shane Long
Peter Odemwingie’s Fantasy owners can perhaps count themselves a little unlucky over the way events transpired at the Hawthorns yesterday. There’s every chance that Odemwingie, subject of Friday’s Watchlist piece, is West Brom’s number one spot-kick taker in the absence of Chris Brunt, but he was removed from the field just five minutes prior to a penalty being awarded for the Baggies. Long, returning to action after a back problem, had only just replaced the Nigerian before stepping up to net his first goal since Gameweek 14. It was little consolation, though, as Roy Hodgson’s side crashed to their third consecutive defeat, with Long’s goal the first time the Baggies have found the net since the end of Gameweek 17.
Yakubu
A red card on 22 minutes sent the Nigerian back to the dressing room but Blackburn Rovers recovered without him to collect a fine three points with 10 men. As we’ve documented previously, Yakubu will now miss three league matches having commanded more transfers going into the Gameweek than any other player in the FPL. Indeed, Yakubu’s price in the FPL increased again to 6.2, despite his impending absence. Steve Kean brought on David Goodwillie (5.6 in the FPL) to offer him an option up front once the red card had been dealt – he could now be given the task to lead the Rovers attack over the next three (eve NEW ars).
David Dunn
The Blackburn veteran earned his first Fantasy returns of the season with a priceless goal and assist contribution to the Rovers victory. Having scored nine goals in the 2009/10 campaign, Dunn’s career has since been blighted with injury and he has never looked likely to recapture that kind of goalscoring form. He has started seven of the last eight matches, however, and is clearly favoured by Steve Kean as the main support to the lone striker with Morten Gamst-Pedersen and Junior Hoilett on the flanks.
Morten Gamst Pedersen
The Norwegian’s free-kick was his first strike since the Gameweek 2 goal at Aston Villa – a timely return to the scoresheet. Like Dunn, Pedersen is a midfielder who has previously tempted Fantasy investment but has since diminished as a force. His ownership of Blackburn’s set-plays always makes him a consideration and having started the last 13 league matches, he certainly remains nailed-on in Steve Kean’s lineup. That same cannot be said for Mauro Formica, who came off the bench to wrap up Blackburn’s win. The Argentinian dropped to the bench against Fulham, having started the last eight league matches. At 5.0 in the FPL however, Formica appears to remain the best option within the Rovers midfield.
Bryan Ruiz
Martin Jol switched the role of the Costa Rican in yesterday’s game, shifting him from the right-wing to a support role behind Bobby Zamora. Fulham started with Clint Dempsey on the left-flank, with Damien Duff recalled to patrol on the opposite flank. Ruiz however, failed to register a single effort on goal over the 90 minutes.
Frank Lampard
The Chelsea man scored the winning goal as Andre Villas-Boas side scrapped for a 1-0 win against a spirited Sunderland at the Bridge. Lampard’s goal was fortunate and owed a great deal to Fernando Torres’ acrobatic volley that struck the bar. Nevertheless, this was Lampard’s ninth goal of the season – two more than any other midfielder in the FPL. Lampard has started three of the last four league games for Chelsea and has scored three times in his last six appearances. When selected, he remains a source of Fantasy profits. A lack of a secure starting role seems likely to keep Juan Mata as the key Fantasy target in the Chelsea midfield however. Mata was again influential in yesterday’s win, although he came out with a blank – the classy Spaniard has mustered just a single goal and two FPL bonus in his last seven league appearances, as his Fantasy owners begin to fidget.
Fernando Torres
With Didier Drogba away at the African Cup of Nations and Daniel Sturridge left on the bench following his recent hip injury, Torres (10.0 in the FPL) was charged with leading the line and impressed, despite failing to notch once again. His crashing volley lead to the goal, while Torres also had several efforts and looked lively throughout. The Spaniard may well be on the verge of breaking out of his dry spell, having failed to register Fantasy returns since Gameweek 6. Villas-Boas will surely keep faith with Torres for trips to Norwich and Swansea next.
Stephane Sessegnon
While Sunderland came away from the Bridge empty handed, they had the chances to at least earn a point. The likes of James McClean, Craig Gardner and Nicklas Bendtner all missed opportunities, but it was Sessegnon who caught the eye again for Martin O’Neill’s side. The Benin international tormented the Chelsea back four with his pace and trickery and he was the source of several goalscoring opportunities for the visitors. Heavy investment came his way leading into the Gameweek and, with two consecutive home fixtures to come, Sessegnon seems set to continue to earn new Fantasy owners during the Wildcard window. An overnight price rise saw his FPL tag increase to 6.6.
Darren Bent
A seventh goal of the season, his second in three games, earned Villa a point against Everton. After a generally ineffectual Fantasy season, Bent could now threaten to push himself into consideration given Villa’s decent run of fixtures over the forthcoming Gameweeks. Certainly, while Gabby Agbonlahor has struggled having notched just a single assist in his last nine league starts, Bent has begun to emerge as the more tempting attacking prospect in Alex McLeish’s squad. One major caveat however – Bent has scored six of his seven goals at Villa Park. However, he now plays four of his next six on the road.
Stephen Ireland
A third consecutive start for the impish midfielder, brought further Fantasy returns as he assisted Bent’s opener. Having scored and assisted at Chelsea, Ireland has suddenly returned to our radars and, whilst preferred in the support role behind the lone striker, he would appear to offer decent value at just 5.6 in the FPL, for those looking for midfield filler. Ireland will surely benefit from Villa’s obliging run of opponents if he can remain in favour, although McLeish’s side will need to replicate the three goals at Stamford Bridge and score on their travels, if Ireland is to see profit.
