The man’s a machine. Nine goals in eight games have lifted Papiss Cisse to the verge of essential status in Fantasy terms, as those who are yet to jump on board the bandwagon are left fumbling and fretting on the curb side, wondering if they’ve left it too late to buy a ticket.
Today’s brace at the Liberty cut open on of the most heralded defences in the league – Swansea had conceded just 12 goals at home this season. That had no bearing on Cisse, who went about his job of condemning Brendan Rodgers’ side to their third straight defeat with ruthless precision.
His first was a scalpel of a finish to Michel Vorm’s far post, the Dutchman’s despairing drive and fingertips unable to stop Cisse’s drive finding the corner. The second was simply sublime – an improbable angled chip over Vorm’s hapless gaze after Yohan Cabaye’s through-ball had appeared to have caught under Cisse’s feet. He shuffled, rearranged and demonstrated exquisite balance to execute one of the smartest finishes of the season. A bit special, as Alan Pardew will doubtless say.
Those who jumped on Cisse off the back of his consecutive two-goal hauls at West Brom and against Liverpool will be glowing. That leaves the rest of us pondering just how long we can afford to ignore the seemingly unstoppable form of the Senegal striker. Already, over 4,000 Fantasy managers have transferred Cisse in this afternoon – his price has jumped 0.6 in two Gameweeks but we can only expect that to keep climbing.
Gameweek 33 shifts struggling Bolton into Cisse’s sights – a chilling thought. There’s a sniff of a chance that Pardew will be tempted to rotate his resources for that game but surely Cisse’s momentum is undeniable, surely he’ll be given the opportunity to cut the Trotters open?
After that, Cisse and Newcastle face a blank but that’s followed by another temping home encounter with Stoke, with a double fixture in Gamweek 36 that has the Magpies face trips to Wigan and Chelsea.
The opponents hardly matter. Right now, you can throw out the form book and almost disregard fixtures. Alan Pardew has his side playing to their strengths. Resolute in defence with Hatem Ben Arfa providing a drive and spark from midfield, whilst up front Cisse is the executioner supreme. How can we resist?
