This week’s Digest focuses on a certain Argentine at City, the recent revival at the DW and the dilemma many Fantasy managers have up front, with the possibility of shedding one or perhaps even both of Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney from our Fantasy squads proving to be a hot topic on the boards.
The Player
His return to the City first-team may ultimately prove too late for the club’s title bid but, for Fantasy managers, Carlos Tevez still offers plenty potential. Roberto Mancini’s side have rediscovered their swagger since the Argentine’s installation up front, returning to the early-season attacking form that simply tore their opponents apart.
With Tevez working in tandem with Sergio Aguero, the Etihad side seem an altogether different animal from the one that stuttered and struggled so badly for goals over the past few months. Tevez’s work-rate and ability to drop deep and link up play affords Aguero the space to thrive – the pair’s on-pitch understanding is far superior to anything Aguero has struck up with Mario Balotelli or Edin Dzeko over the course of the season.
While Tevez stole the headlines in Saturday’s annihilation of Norwich with three goals, an assist and 19 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points for his afternoon’s work, the knock-on effect on Aguero has seen both players lead the charge for transfers-in this week, ahead of the trip to Wolves. Already, both have been acquired by more than 20,000 Fantasy managers.
The stats speak for themselves – while Tevez has picked up 26 points in his last two appearances, Aguero has now notched four goals and picked up two assists alongside his compatriot in Gameweeks 33-34. Given that Aguero had returned four goals and one assist between Gameweek 18-32, the stark comparison must have Mancini ruing that fateful evening in Munich way back in September.
The trip to Molineux is likely to see plenty more Fantasy managers scramble to get a piece of the action, despite a home game with United to follow in Gameweek 36. Although Mancini’s men are rank outsiders for the title and have ruled out by many, it’s fair to say that with Tevez on board, we can expect the unexpected.
The Team
Another great escape beckons for Roberto Martinez’s men. Only a few weeks ago, the Latics looked doomed. The fixture ticker was a sea of red; with their more testing run of games to follow, many had written Wigan off but last night’s win at the Emirates gave them their fourth triumph in the past five Gameweeks.
Liverpool, Stoke, United and now Arsenal have been put to the sword as Martinez engineers another scramble for survival. While their ascent up the table has been remarkable, the knock-on effect in Fantasy terms has been particularly damaging. Their 1-0 win over the league leaders in Gameweek 33 is the only goal United have conceded in the past seven Gameweeks; coming on the back of a 2-0 win over Stoke at the DW, this helped Wigan chalk up back-to-back home clean sheets for the first time this term.
Despite the visitors’ recent form, huge numbers of Fantasy managers handed Robin Van Persie the captain’s armband for last night’s match only for Jordi Gomez and Franco Di Santo to steal the Dutchman’s thunder. With Victor Moses playing a significant part over the last couple of months – the winger has now returned 37 points in the last seven Gameweeks – Martinez’s men clearly have the bit between their teeth and with their top-flight safety on the line, have proven to be a potent source of Fantasy points.
Certainly, their form will have many thinking twice over handing Clint Dempsey the armband ahead of this week’s trip to the Cottage now. With games against Blackburn and Wolves to see the season out, the cut-price potential on offer amongst Martinez’s troops could prove profitable over the final hurdle of the campaign.
The Talking Point
As double Gameweek 36 edges ever nearer, Fantasy managers are starting to shape their squads and assess the potential ahead. With Spurs, Newcastle and Everton all facing a couple of fixtures each, the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Papiss Cisse and Nikica Jelavic are all set for significant investment, with the trio all expected to play a part in both their respective clubs’ pair of matches.
The shake-up in our forward lines has many even contemplating what was, perhaps, previously unthinkable; getting rid of Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney. Van Persie’s blank against Wigan last night took his recent tally to a single goal in the last six Gameweeks – with the Dutchman’s superb Fantasy season now tailing off in disappointing style, the decision to cash in and move on still looks risky, given he finishes the season with games against Norwich and West Brom.
For Rooney, up next is a home clash with Everton – a game he notoriously tends to struggle in. David Moyes seems to know just how to nullify Rooney’s attacking threat, with the Toffees likely to sit tight and give their former player little space to operate in. After that, it’s a trip to City in Gameweek 36 and, with eight other clubs afforded a pair of fixtures, the logic behind his transfer out is obvious, with many instead holding onto Antonio Valencia for United coverage. A home clash with Swansea in Gameweek 37 looks prosperous but, with a trip to Sunderland on the final day of the season, Rooney has, arguably, one strong fixture still to come.
Shipping out one or both would certainly free up plenty budget to plan elsewhere – the likes of Jelavic has dropped to as low as 5.8, for example – and would freshen up our squads, with so many forward lines looking a little too similar at the moment. With many a mini league still on the line, it’s a viable tactic, though, and one that could undoubtedly reap reward for those Fantasy managers bold enough to take a chance.
