Scout Notes – Gameweek Thirty – Saturday

Grant Holt grabs a double before receiving his marching orders for Norwich. Djibril Cisse sees red again as QPR crumble at Sunderland, Alex Song is pivotal as the Gunners clock up another win, while a brace from David Wheater earns Bolton back-to-back wins and allows the Trotters a climb out the drop zone:

Gary Cahill
The former Bolton man continues to earn the starts under Chelsea interim boss Roberto Di Matteo and is currently looking nailed on in the heart of the Blues defence. Cahill slotted in alongside the returning John Terry, with David Luiz dropping to the bench, and earned a second clean sheet in three since Andre Villas-Boas’ dismissal. The centre-half also scored a goal in his other game under Di Matteo –midweek against City – meaning that, since a change of manager at Stamford Bridge, the 5.3 priced defender has averaged seven points per game, more than any of his team mates.

Theo Walcott
The Arsenal winger was amongst the points yet again, maintaining his recent upturn in consistency. Walcott’s goal in yesterday’s 3-0 win over Villa means he has either scored, assisted or picked up bonus in six of the last seven gameweeks. Since providing a trio of assists against Blackburn in Gameweek 24, Walcott has averaged 7.28 points per game, proving a key figure in the Gunners’ successful attempt to overhaul Tottenham in the race for third place.

Alex Song
Another major performer for Arsene Wenger in his side’s seven-match winning streak, the Cameroon international provided a pair of assists in yesterday’s stroll. Song has five assists in his last five appearances and, pre-bonus, has averaged 5.6 since Gameweek 26; with the Gunners currently looking unstoppable, 5.9 priced Song looks a viable mid-price alternative to Walcott amongst the Arsenal midfield options right now.

David Wheater
An unexpected brace from the centre-half earned Bolton back-to-back wins for the first time this term. Wheater had previously failed to score all season but, in an emotional day at the Reebok, his double was enough to see off rivals Blackburn, with the win paying fitting tribute to the stricken Fabrice Muamba . Owen Coyle’s side have now climbed out of the relegation zone and are afforded the perfect opportunity to grab another three points next weekend, with a trip to bottom dogs Wolves up next.

Morten Gamst Pedersen
While Yakubu and Junior Hoilett have hogged the headlines for Blackburn, the Norwegian has been steadily racking up the points of late. Pedersen’s long-throw assist for Steven Nzonzi ‘s consolation at Bolton was his third in as many Gameweeks and his supply will be vital over the next few matches, with West Brom, Swansea and an out-of-sorts Liverpool coming up in the next four.

Steven Gerrard
The Liverpool skipper made his third consecutive full appearance yesterday – the first time he has managed to do so in an injury-plagued campaign. Gerrard had notched five goals from just eight starts in the lead up to yesterday’s game but had failed to provide a single assist for Kenny Dalglish’s side. That all changed at Anfield, as he set up Luis Suarez for his first goal in front of his own fans since Gameweek 15. Added to his hat-trick against Everton, Gerrard has played a part in all four of his side’s last home goals – with Villa and West Brom next to visit the red half of Merseyside, his contribution will be vital if Dalglish is to stop an alarming run of five losses in the last six.

Victor Moses
A high challenge inside the box by Martin Skrtel saw the former Palace man subbed off on 41 minutes with a facial injury but, with Shaun Maloney converting the subsequent spot-kick, Moses grabbed an assist to continue his strong away form. He’s produced attacking returns in five of his last six on the road at an average of 5.5 per game; David Silva, in comparison, has averaged 3.3 over his last six away. Yesterday’s four-point haul means Moses has now hit the 100 point mark, the first outfield player priced 5.0 or under to do so.

Grant Holt
The Norwich skipper took his tally to 12 league goals for the season with his match wining brace against Wolves, as he continued to offer outstanding value on his 5.3 FPL price tag. Holt marred the display with a red card for two bookable offences and will now miss the trip to Fulham in Gameweek 31. It’s possible that Holt may well have been rotated back to the bench for this game anyway having been preserved at Newcastle last time out. Steve Morison now seems likely to lead the line at the Cottage.

James McClean
The winger returned his first Fantasy points in five league outings with an outstanding display, capped by a goal and assist returns – maximum FPL bonus points look highly likely to follow. McClean has seen his FPL sales stall in recent weeks as Martin O’Neill’s side have mustered just four goals in their last six, but Saturday’s win over QPR saw them return to free scoring ways. McClean is still available for 4.9 as an FPL midfielder and clearly represents outstanding value. A trip to City and a home clash with Spurs will, however, test the Black Cats’ form and could restrict shot-term attacking returns.

Stephane Sessegnon
The Benin international returned to the Sunderland lineup after a three-match suspension and immediately cast his spell – transforming the Black Cats into a more fluid attacking force. Sessegnon’s strike for the third goal means he has now returned either a goal or an assist in five of his last six home matches. Like McClean, his potential in the short-term is likely to be affected by tough encounters with City and Spurs but, following that, we could see investment pick up once more, as Sessegon’s price of 7.1 looks to recover from a recent slump.

Niklas Bendtner
The Arsenal loanee is beginning to hint at a degree of consistency having scored three in the last four outings for O’Neill’s side. With Frazier Campbell vying for what appears to be a single striker role in the Sunderland lineup, Bendtner has reacted to convert his opportunities and has suggested that he could even offer short-term value as a third striker option. With a price tag of 6.1 with home fixtures with Wolves and Bolton to come, Fantasy managers may well be tempted by a brief dalliance.

QPR’s Striker Options
Djibril Cisse’s crazy two-footed challenge drew teeth-clenching frustration from boss Mark Hughes and sees the French international facing up to a four-match ban. Cisse will now miss vital league games, with a question mark over whether Hughes will risk starting with him in his lineup again on his return in Gameweek 35’s clash with Spurs. Certainly the R’s plight is getting desperate and Hughes must now try to discover some form without Cisse in his ranks. Adel Taarabt could now be pushed up in behind Bobby Zamora, while Jon Mackie and the returning DJ Campbell and Heidur Helguson could also be options – that pair are estimated to be a fortnight from fitness.

Leighton Baines
The Everton left-back is now just three points behind Tottenham’s Benoit Assou-Ekotto as the leading defender in the FPL. Baines’ rise up the ranks has been unspectacular and steady, although a recent run of three clean sheets in the last six has boosted his tally; yesterday’s goal at Swansea was also his fourth of the season. Baines has returned to the fore since renewing his acquaintance with Steven Pienaar on Everton’s left flank and that relationship could well see bring further returns. Everton’s fixtures look kind over the next four Gameweeks and could provide a window for investment, making Baines an expensive but potentially profitable differential. His FPL ownership currently remains under the 7% mark.

Nikica Jelavic
The Croatian striker struck his second league goal in Everton colours and, like Baines, could now be in line to profit from a decent run of opponents in the coming weeks. Jelavic missed ample opportunities to return a bigger haul at the Liberty Stadium but, crucially, is finding himself in goalscoring areas and, with the supply from Baines and company improving, should be in line to boost his reputation further. Denis Stracqualursi will likely take pitch time from him over the remainder of the season but Jelavic looks in the box seat when it comes to starts and could offer value at 5.9.

Peter Crouch
A goal of the season contender from the Stoke striker raised his profile and pushed him forward for inclusion in England’s 2012 squad. Crouch will surely be going all out over the run-in to book his place in that squad and, with eight goals to his name already, should now be targeting his best ever Premier League goal return – having scored 12 with Southampton in 2004/05. Stoke’s fixtures appear to give him a platform – with Wigan, Wovles and Villa up next. At 6.2 in the FPL and an ownership of just over 2%, Crouch is another differential for that third striker option.

Yaya Toure
While David Silva has returned just a single assist in his last seven league outings, Yaya Toure has returned from the African Cup of Nations with intent and is putting in some strong displays. The equaliser at Stoke was only his fourth of the season but, with the potential to push up behind a lone striker, we could yet see further returns from the Ivorian and at 7.7 in the FPL, he seems to offer far more palatable coverage of City’s attacking potential than the failing Silva.

The City Defence
Yesterday’s slip at the Britannia saw the back four concede for the third league game running having kept four consecutive clean sheets prior. Both Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany could be in line to return to the fold for the home clash with Sunderland but with a visit to Arsenal to follow in Gameweek 32, Fantasy managers will need to be certain before backing any acquisitions in Mancini’s rearguard.