Clint Dempsey steals the show with a hat-trick as Fulham hammer Newcastle at the Cottage. Stephane Sessegnon produces the goods once again for Sunderland, Robbie Keane returns to haunt Wolves, Mark Hughes’ first home game results in a win and Liverpool are brushed aside by Bolton at the Reebok.
Clint Dempsey
Two clinical strikes and a conversion with his chest from two-yards took the American to nine goals for the season – making him the joint top scoring midfielder with Frank Lampard. We’ve been rattling on about Dempsey’s potential for several weeks and those who drafted him in on an early January wildcard were treated to a handsome haul, just a fortnight after his hat-trick in the FA Cup. While there might just be a reluctance to consider Dempsey following such a big return, Fulham’s fixtures and Dempsey’s form point to continued profit and, with a first FPL price rise to 8.6 overnight, hesitancy could well be costly.
Bobby Zamora
Three assists and a goal from the penalty spot capped an outstanding display with Fabio Capello watching from the stands. Subject of our timely Watchlist article earlier in the week, we anticipate a surge in his output in the coming Gameweeks given Fulham’s run of opponents – Zamora duly delivered ahead of schedule against a Newcastle defence which failed to cope with Fulham’s second half display of attacking football. For those resisting the lure of Dempsey in midfield, Zamora looks a very healthy option for the third striker spot with his 6.6 price tag.
Ryan Taylor
Having returned a clean sheet and assist in the win over QPR and with high praise from Alan Pardew ringing in his ears, Ryan Taylor was duly dropped to the bench for the trip to Fulham. Taylor had occupied the right-flank role in recent games, having surrendered the left-back role to Davide Santon. Taylor’s owners will now be shifting uncomfortably, having watched Ben Arfa stand out as the Magpies strongest performer in the 5-2 defeat. There could be an outside chance that Taylor will rotate with Santon at left-back but, in all honesty, his starting role now looks under greater threat now than at any point this season.
Hatem Ben Arfa
A goal and assist return from the Frenchman surely cemented his starting role in Alan Pardew’s side, despite a miserable second half showing form Newcastle. Ben Arfa was unquestionable the shining light in the defeat and looks a good option for the Gameweek 23 clash with Blackburn. Pardew could well shift him behind a lone striker, although he seems set on playing Ben Arfa in a wide role and with Demba Ba and Pappis Demba Cisse surely set to be paired on their return from the African Cup of Nations, it’s hard to see anything but a 4-4-2 from Newcastle for the majority of the season.
Craig Bellamy
When he starts, he produces. Bellamy’s performances and returns for Liverpool have been outstanding, which makes it more curious as to why Kenny Dalglish appears to resist handing him a regular starting role. Bellamy has now scored four goals in his last three starts but has been limited to appearances from the bench in four of the last seven league games. Reinstalled in the attack alongside Andy Carroll at the Reebok, Bellamy converted his fifth goal of the season, feeding off a Carroll flick. Luis Suarez now has just one league game remaining as part of his eight-match ban – missing the trip to Wolves. His return will surely dent Bellamy’s potential, although the Welshman could be a decent short-term punt for the Gameweek 23 clash.
The Liverpool defence
With just one clean sheet in their last five games, the Liverpool back four is failing to keep pace with the likes of City and United. The Reebok showing was nothing short of catastrophic at times, with the home side’s attackers afforded all manner of time and space. Dalglish has duly threatened changes to his lineup following the defeat and this surely must extend to his ailing rearguard. Fantasy managers, and owners of Jose Enrique and Martin Skrtel in particular, should take note that Liverpool visit Wolves and United away from home next, while Everton, Arsenal and Spurs pay visit to Anfield. It’s difficult to see a single clean sheet amongst that lot given the current form and confidence.
Mark Davies
The impish midfielder stroked home his second goal in six league games, and is clearly reveling in his new role up in support of lone striker David Ngog. Davies has now earned 13 consecutive league starts under Owen Coyle and looks to be a favourite of the Trotters’ boss. At 4.8, he will come onto the radar as a budget midfield consideration should his form carry through to a more favourable run of fixtures for Bolton. Chris Eagles was also lively against Liverpool, tormenting Jose Enrique on Bolton’s right-flank. Eagles has returned to favour having dropped to the bench for a prolonged spell – he has now started the last three. With Arsenal, Chelsea and City lined up in in the next five Gameweek however, Bolton’s cheap attacking assets are unlikely to attract interest in the short-term.
Everton’s Attack
Tim Cahill may have notched his first goal in over a year, but there’s little doubt that it was fortuitous given the handball by Mauroanne Fellaini with the assist. David Moyes’ side have now scored just seven goals in their last ten games – making the creative efforts of Landon Donovan and Leighton Baines redundant, as opportunities are wasted. With the fixture list now turning against the Toffee’s, there will be real concern that they could plummet into a relegation battle, should they continue to struggle for goals. Their Fantasy assets look set for a steady decline.
Robbie Keane
The on-loan forward was handed a first start by Alex McLeish and hogged the headlines with a brace against his former club. Keane was afforded just 10 minutes last week away to Everton but started alongside Darren Bent as Villa stretched their unbeaten run on the road to five matches. The Irishman has been priced at a lowly 5.0 by FPL and while a home clash against QPR looks enticing, trips to Newcastle and Man City will be enough to deter most suitors. Darren Bent, subject of Friday evening’s Watchlist article, netted Villa’s opener in the 3-2 and has now scored three in his last four appearances.
Steven Fletcher
Wolves’ star forward was subject to huge investment prior to the Molineux match but failed to return the points for his new owners. Fletcher had risen 0.3 since the previous weekend but analysis of the stats shows he tends to keep his attacking points for road trips. The Scot has scored six of his nine goals away from home and has found the net in just two of his eight home appearances this season. He has the chance to rectify that next week, though, as Liverpool pay visit on the back of a 3-1 defeat at Bolton.
Wolves Midfield
The home side’s midfield men made the headlines for a variety of reasons yesterday. Dave Edwards and Michael Kightly – in his second game since returning from loan- netted for Mick McCarthy’s side but Karl Henry was dismissed for violent conduct, after kicking Villa’s Marc Albrighton as the youngster lay on the ground. Henry will now miss the next three games for the midlands outfit and may be joined on the sidelines by Emmanuel Frimpong; the loanee was taken off just before the hour mark after receiving a kick to the head and is set to undergo scans on a possible eye injury.
Stephane Sessegnon
The Benin international goes from strength to strength under the guidance of Martin O’Neill. A goal and assist against Swansea brings his record under the new boss to three goals and four assists in eight games- he returned two goals and four assists in fourteen fixtures under Steve Bruce. With the three bonus points more or less nailed-on and a home match with Norwich up next, Sessegnon will continue to see plenty investment- he has risen 0.4 since O’Neill has arrived, such has been his level of performance.
Simon Mignolet
The Belgian has conceded just two goals in four games since returning between the sticks. Yesterday’s result was his second successive home clean sheet and at 4.3, he’s certainly offering plenty cut-price potential. The Black Cats defence has been significantly bolstered since O’Neill’s arrival; they have shipped seven goals in eight games since Steve Bruce left, compared to 17 goals in fourteen prior to his dismissal.
Jonathan Walters
With a home average of 6.8 points per game prior to yesterday’s defeat, the out-of-position midfielder was subject to plenty Fantasy investment. Walters’ spot-kick duties have helped swell his points haul considerably but yesterday saw him fluff his lines, as Ben Foster saved the Irishman’s second half effort, meaning Walters returned zero points for his Fantasy owners. With three home games in the next five still to come, though, many will choose to hold.
Ryan Shotton
The 4.1 priced defender recovered from an ankle injury in time to take his place on the right wing for the Potters. A second half reshuffle saw Shotton drop back into defence, though, replacing Jonathan Woodgate in the back-four, as Jermaine Pennant came off the bench to freshen up midfield. Shotton was then subbed off himself, allowing Pennant to provide the assist for his replacement, Cameron Jerome.
Thomas Sorensen
The Dane suffered an uncomfortable afternoon in the defeat to the Baggies and will now be feeling the pressure from Asmir Begovic for the number one jersey. Tony Pulis’ side have now conceded four goals in their previous two home matches – an alarming trend which casts real doubt over the potential of their mid-price defensive assets. Sunderland, Swansea and Norwich visit the Britannia in the next five – that looks a strong set of fixtures, although all three sides have the form and weaponry to cause the Stoke defence problems.
James Morrison
The midfielder netted his second goal in his last four starts as West Brom pulled off a shock win at Stoke. While West Brom have struggled of late, their main problems seem to have come at the Hawthorns- this was their third away win in their last four road trips. Morrison also provided an assist in addition to grabbing the opener- it was a foul on the Scot that led to his compatriot Graham Dorrans’ last-gasp free-kick winner.
West Brom Forwards
With just one goal –a converted penalty- in their last four games, Roy Hodgson decided to ring the changes to West Brom’s attack for the trip to the Britannia. Both Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie were benched, allowing Simon Cox and Marc Antoine-Fortune to lead the line for the Baggies. Long was afforded a seven minute sub appearance at the end and, while neither of Hodgson’s two forward starters produced any attacking points, it seems there’s plenty uncertainty surrounding the starting positions up front right now for the midlands side.
Akos Buzsaky
The Hungarian was rarely utilised by Neil Warnock and had played thirty-one minutes since the end of Gameweek 3 prior to Mark Hughes’ arrival. He’s started both matches under the new boss and curled home a superb free-kick yesterday as the London outfit picked up all three points in Hughes’ first home match in charge to climb out the drop zone. There’s no doubt Rangers will invest in light of Warnock’s departure but, at 4.4, Buzsaky could be one to watch given their upcoming fixtures. With (WOL, FUL, EVE) arriving at Loftus Road between Gameweeks 24-27, the omens are looking good, given that they had taken a single point in their previous five home games.
Heidar Helguson
The only forward to start both league games under Hughes, Helguson had a mixed match. His penalty duties saw his miss one and score one from the spot- he has now scored eight goals in total, with six of those coming from eight home starts. With those aforementioned fixtures just around the corner, Helguson, at 5.2, could be a decent cut-price option, though with another nine days left of the transfer window, it may be best to wait until Hughes has reinforced his squad.
Hugo Rodallega
Since returning to the Wigan first-team in Gameweek 19, the Colombian has been a consistent source of Fantasy returns. The Latics may have picked up a single point over those four fixtures, but Rodallega has proved a solid performer for his owners. Yesterday’s consolation means he has scored twice and provided two assists over those games, picking up 23 points- an average of 5.75 per game. After next week’s trip to Spurs, Roberto Martinez’s side have a run of six fixtures (EVE, bol, AVL, SWA, nor, WBA) that could be crucial to their chances of survival and Rodallega looks in the type of form to produce right now.
