Robin Van Persie runs riot at the Emirates to sink a sorry Blackburn. Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse have wildly contrasting home debuts for QPR. James McClean excels once again for Sunderland, Gylfi Sigurdsson shines for Swansea and Sergio Aguero destroys Fulham to send City clear at the top:
Robin Van Persie
An overwhelming favourite in the Captain Poll, the Dutchman came up trumps once again, turning in his highest-scoring performance of the season. Arsene Wenger’s comments of a possible rest for his skipper may have altered some Fantasy managers’ armband decision but those who kept faith were treated to a 40-point haul, with another 6 surely to follow, after three goals and a couple of assists helped destroy a hapless Blackburn. Pre-bonus, Van Persie is already on 180 points- given that Nani was last season’s top scorer with 198 points, the Dutchman’s haul -with 14 games still to go- is indicative of his outstanding campaign to date.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The youngster produced the returns his recent displays have merited, as he helped tear Rovers apart at the Emirates. In just his third start of the season, Oxlade-Chamberlain grabbed two goals in a 67-minute appearance that showcased his outstanding ability. Afforded an opportunity due to Gervinho’s international commitments at the African Cup of Nations, the 5.7 midfielder is certainly giving Wenger food for thought and looks set to see far more game time in the second half of the season. Given that Gervinho has scored twice in his last nine league starts, the recent impact of Oxlade-Chamberlain is clear to see. Rotation will be a concern on Gervinho’s return, but there’s no doubting the potential on offer here should Oxlade-Chamberlin continue to earn starts.
Theo Walcott
The winger produced three assists to return a pre-bonus haul of 11 Fantasy points- his first double-figure display of the season. Walcott has now picked up nine assists this term, his highest of any campaign since joining the Gunners, and with three goals factored in, he’s now jumped ahead of the likes of Juan Mata and sits at ninth best overall midfielder with 99 points. The form of Oxlade-Chamberlain may threaten his regular starting place, particularly when Gervinho returns, with the trio likely to do battle for the two places on either side of Van Persie in the Gunners’ front three.
Anthony Pilkington
The Norwich midfielder bagged his side’s second in the 2-0 win over Bolton and has now netted 6 times this season- the same number as Nani and more than David Silva. Priced at just 5.1, Pilkington has started five of Norwich’s last six games and seems less prone to rotation than most at Carrow Road, having failed to feature in just three league games this season. His eye for goal looks key to the Canaries campaign, and with Wigan and Wolves both visiting Carrow Road in the next six Gameweeks, looks primed for further returns.
Andrew Surman
Priced at a mere 4.4, the former Wolves man offers an even cheaper route into the Norwich midfield. Surman has started eleven of the Canaries last twelve games and seems a favourite of Paul Lambert- yesterday’s goal was his third, in addition to an assist, in that run of games.
Steve Morison
The Welshman was surprisingly benched for the Bolton game- this was only the second time in the last twenty Gameweeks he has failed to make the starting XI. Lambert went with Simeon Jackson and Grant Holt up front, with the former returning an assist before making way for Morison with 17 minutes remaining. Morison has now scored just twice in the last nine Gameweeks and with rotation clearly part of Lambert’s plan, he may not be quite as guaranteed a pick as the last few months have suggested.
Bobby Zamora
While Djibril Cisse made the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Zamora got his QPR career off to the perfect start. The former Fulham man tends to keep his best displays for home games – he had returned five goals and six assists at Craven Cottage compared to a single assist away- and fired his new side into an early lead at Loftus Road. Cisse’s subsequent sending off turned the tide against Mark Hughes’ side, however, and with the Frenchman now banned for three matches, Zamora looks set to be the subject of significant Fantasy investment, with (bla, FUL, EVE, bol) up next.
Adel Taarabt
The Moroccan returned to the starting lineup following months kept in the cold by former boss Neil Warnock and his duties at the African Cup of Nations. Taarabt returned to remind us of his raw goal threat – fizzing in several efforts on goal in an eye-catching display. Should Taarabt cement a starting role and grab set-piece and spot-kick duties, he will once again be worthy of consideration as midfield mid-price acquisition.
Kevin Doyle
Mick McCarthy again started with a 4-5-1 but, up against a ten-man QPR, the Wolves manager’s decision to change to 4-4-2 at half-time paid off handsomely. Doyle has seen little game time of late, starting just one of his side’s last eight matches, but his impact at Loftus Road proved the difference. A goal and assist from the Irishman helped the Midlanders to their first win since Gameweek 14 and with (WBA, new, ful, BLA) to follow, he may see feature more frequently, as McCarthy looks to stave off the threat of relegation.
James McClean
The problem with cheap midfielders is it’s easy to bench them for the pricier options. McClean proved this to be flawed logic, however, as he netted the only goal in Sunderland’s win at the Britannia. One of the in-form players for the league’s in-form side, the winger continued his outstanding run of Fantasy returns since Martin O’Neill afforded him a start back in Gameweek 19. McClean has now scored, assisted or returned bonus in five of his six starts under the new manager and continues to offer a cut-price alternative to Stephane Sessegnon in a Black Cats side that continues to defy expectation.
Jon Walters
Deployed on the left side of midfield against the Black Cats, Walters has scored just a single goal in his last 12 league outings. With the suggestion that he may lose spot-kick duties after his recent miss, it’s clear that his stock is on a major decline. As the likes of Clint Dempsey and Stephane Sessegnon shine in his price bracket, and new budget options emerge, it’s getting harder to justify the inclusion of Walters in our squads.
Robert Huth
The German centre-back was dismissed in the first half of the frosty encounter at the Britannia to frustrate his Fantasy owners. In truth, however, the decision looked ridiculously harsh and although Huth is currently facing a three-match ban, Stoke’s inevitable appeal looks to have every chance of being successful given the conditions and the nature of the challenge. Card-happy Martin Atkinson can always spare his blushes by claiming he was obscured by the snow.
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Afforded a first full appearance for Swansea since his January loan move, the Icelandic international helped steer his side to their second away win of the season. A goal and assist in the 2-1 win at West Brom means Sigurdsson has produced attacking returns in three of his four appearances for the Welsh side- if he grabs the three bonus points, he’ll have returned 25 points already, an average of 6.25 per game. With a home game against Norwich up next, he looks exceptional value for a mere 5.0.
Danny Graham
The former Watford man grabbed his side’s winner just before the hour mark to take his goals tally to eight for the season. Graham is now Swansea’s top scorer, edging ahead of Scott Sinclair, though while Sinclair has netted all seven of his goals at home, this was Graham’s third on the road. Priced at just 4.8, he is now only second to Michel Vorm for value for Brendan Rodgers’ side, with 87 points to his name thus far.
Marc-Antoine Fortune
He’s come in from the old over the last few matches, and has now started the last three Gameweeks for West Brom. Fortune fired his side ahead against Swansea, vindicating Roy Hodgson’s decision to bring his back into the first-team fold, but, once again, the Baggies struggled for goals. They have found the net a mere nine times in their twelve matches at the Hawthorns, with the likes of Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long scoring once and three times at in front of their own fans respectively. With just five goals and a single win in their last seven, Hodgson must quickly find a solution or his side will be dragged into the relegation battle.
Jean Beausejour
Lining up on the left wing in a 3-5-2, the Chilean made an immediate impact on his home debut. Beausejour produced an assist for Phil Neville’s own goal opener at the DW Stadium, but the Latics failed to hold onto their lead and are now on a nine-game winless run. With (bol, AVL, SWA, nor, WBA) up next, Roberto Martinez’s side have one of the kindest runs of any side on the horizon and Beausejour, at 5.0, looks a viable option for any Fantasy manager looking to take a punt. Victor Moses started alongside Franco Di Santo up front but, once again, drew a blank- he has played in every one of Wigan’s twelve home fixtures and has yet to return a goal or assist at the DW this season; his two goals and three assists have all come on the road.
Victor Anichebe
Though much of the focus surrounded new boy Nikica Jelavic, it was the Nigerian who rescued a point for David Moyes’ men as Everton’s unbeaten run was extended to four games. While Jelavic was afforded a half-hour appearance for the Toffees, the former Rangers man failed to fire, with the introduction of his fellow-sub proving pivotal instead. Anichebe climbed off the bench in the eightieth minute but took just a couple of minutes to find the net and pick up a third goal in his last five appearances, having previously notched against West Brom and Villa since New Year’s Day.
Sergio Aguero
A goal and assist in the comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham saw the Argentine pick up his first attacking returns since Gameweek 20. Aguero may continue to frustrate on the road – he hasn’t scored an away goal since the Gameweek 9 win over Man United – but at home, he’s a different Fantasy performer altogether. He has scored or assisted in nine of his eleven matches at the Etihad and yesterday’s nine point (pre-bonus) haul saw him overtake David Silva as City’s top Fantasy performer this season. With Blackburn and Bolton both visiting the league leaders in Gameweek 26 and 27 respectively, his home consistency will make Aguero a strong armband candidate for both games, particularly as Van Persie has (TOT, liv) in the same period.
Adam Johnson
The winger tormented Chris Baird on the Fulham left, picking up a couple of assist for a dazzling display on the flank. Yesterday’s game was the first time Johnson had produced attacking returns since Gameweek 17- coincidentally, that was the last time he started a home game for City. Johnson has started just five matches at the Etihad this term but has shone almost every time, producing returns in four of those fixtures. Despite playing the full 90 minutes on just three occasions, Johnson has still averaged an impressive 4.4 points per game but, unfortunately for Fantasy managers, there seems to be little pattern in Roberto Mancini’s selection policy and he will always remain no more than a punt, despite his obvious potential.
