Papiss Cisse scores yet again as Newcastle climb to fourth with a 3-0 win over Stoke. Clint Dempsey returns to Fulham’s left flank, Robin Van Persie draws a blank once more, James Collins is unlikely to feature in Villa’s clash with Bolton on Tuesday, while Spurs continue to falter ahead of double Gameweek 36.
Papiss Cisse
The league’s in-form forward maintained his outstanding scoring record, notching yet again as Newcastle made it six wins in a row in a comfortable 3-0 win over Stoke. Cisse’s ninth goal in the last six was also supplemented with an assist in yesterday’s stroll at the Sports Direct Arena for a nine point, pre-bonus return. With Spurs going down at QPR, Alan Pardew’s side are now sitting three points ahead of the London outfit in fourth and three behind Arsenal with a game less played. The Magpies have all to play for, then, ahead of the double Gameweek 36 trips to Wigan and Chelsea, with 16% owned Cisse likely to attract more interest than almost any other player ahead of next week’s round of matches.
Yohan Cabaye
While Cisse and Hatem Ben Arfa have attracted most of the recent headlines, the Frenchman has slipped under the radar somewhat and, since a move to 4-3-3, is starting to appeal more as Fantasy option. Despite lasting just 59 minutes before being subbed off with an ankle problem, Cabaye scored twice and provided an exquisite assist for Cisse to return a 14 point haul – he looks strong favourite for maximum bonus. He has now produced attacking returns in each of his last three Gameweeks, picking up 31 points, and could be a decent differential punt for the double Gameweek – Pardew revealed post-match that the 5.8 priced midfielder’s ankle issue was “not serious”.
Newcastle Defence
With Tim Krul recovering from a back problem sustained in training earlier in the week, Pardew’s side once again returned a clean sheet – their fifth in the six-game winning streak. While the likes of Krul and Danny Simpson are being considered ahead of the double Gameweek, it’s worth noting that four of those clean sheets have come at home – Newcastle have only played on the road twice in their winning run, conceding in a 3-1 at West Brom and nullifying Swansea at the Liberty in a 2-0 Gameweek 32 triumph.
Robin Van Persie
With plenty of changes expected for Chelsea in light of the Blues upcoming Champions League Semi-Final return at Barcelona, many Fantasy managers handed the Dutchman the armband in hope of a repeat of the 19 point Gameweek 10 display at the Bridge. While Roberto Di Matteo did, indeed, rest and rotate, Van Persie once again failed to notch – leaving him with a single converted spot-kick in his last seven. Although he sees out the season with games against Norwich and West Brom, the Arsenal man is looking a likely contender to be sacrificed by many ahead of the double Gameweek, with a trip to Stoke up next for the off form forward.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The winger has recently plummeted to as low as 5.0 in price but, with Yossi Benayoun unavailable due to the conditions of his loan deal, Oxlade-Chamberlain was given the nod ahead of Gervinho on the Gunners’ left. While Benayoun could be considered favourite to return to the left for next week’s trip to Stoke – he had started the previous three – Oxlade-Chamberlain could play a more prominent role on the opposite flank over the final three Gameweeks in light of a hamstring injury to Theo Walcott. Arsene Wenger revealed post-match that Walcott sustained what looks like season-ending hamstring injury against the Blues, expecting him to be sidelined for a minimum of 21 days.
Chelsea Rotation
While Chelsea look likely to receive plenty Fantasy interest ahead of next week’s home clashes against Newcastle and QPR, Roberto Di Matteo’s starting XI was a clear warning that there may well be disappointment ahead. Juan Mata was afforded a brief sub role, while Frank Lampard remained on the bench. With Didier Drogba out due to a knee problem, the decision to start Fernando Torres was an easy one for the interim Blues boss but, with the Barcelona game to come, in addition to the FA Cup Final, Di Matteo has shown he has no qualms over resting his main men. Defence seems the most secure option, though even Ashley Cole was omitted from the first-team, with the left-back coming on late in the Emirates stalemate. Petr Cech and John Terry are perhaps the only certainties; even if David Luiz remains sidelined, Gary Cahill could perhaps find himself subject to rotation when Branislav Ivanovic is back from suspension for the May 2 game with QPR, if the interim boss chooses to utilise the Serbian in the centre-back position as opposed to right-back – as yesterday’s team sheet showed, nothing can be taken for granted.
Villa Defence
Fantasy owners of James Collins were dealt a bitter blow yesterday, as the Villa defender limped out of the goalless draw with Sunderland due to a groin problem. Over 21,000 managers drafted in the centre-half ahead of their double Gameweek but Collins looks destined to return just a single point, with Alex McLeish admitting he is unlikely to recover in time for Tuesday’s home game with Bolton. Carlos Cuellar’s owners were handed a boost – the Spaniard started at right-back in place of Alan Hutton before moving to the centre alongside Nathan Baker when Collins went off and looks nailed-on for the Trotters’ encounter.
Sunderland Attack
Yesterday’s Villa Park blank means Martin O’Neill’s side have now gone four games without a goal. With their top-flight safety secured, the Black Cats have significantly diminished as an attacking force and with just a single game next week – albeit at home to Bolton – the likes of Stephan Sessegnon looks set for a substantial drop in ownership as Fantasy managers freshen up their midfield options for the final three Gameweeks of the season.
Junior Hoilett
The young Canadian returned from the hamstring problem that forced him off at Swansea last week to grab a superb goal and boost his side’s slim chances of survival. Although Rovers stopped a five-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over Norwich, QPR’s win over Spurs means the Ewood Park outfit remain in the bottom three. While the 5.5 priced, 1% owned, forward could be a pivotal player in the final three Gameweeks as Steve Kean’s men scrap to avoid the drop, trips to Spurs and Chelsea, in addition to a home clash with Wigan, hardly heighten his appeal.
Chris Eagles
Owen Coyle sprung a selection surprise yesterday, fielding Martin Petrov, Ryo Miyaichi and Chris Eagles in the starting XI for the home clash with Swansea. While the former two were handed roles on the flanks, Eagles tucked in behind Kevin Davies and vindicated his manager’s decision with a goal in the 1-1 draw. Petrov also picked up the points, providing the assist for the former Burnley man’s equaliser. Eagles’ display is surely set to earn him another start in the Trotters’ second double Gameweek fixture at Villa on Tuesday, rewarding the 13,000 Fantasy who drafted him in this week.
Clint Dempsey
The US international returned to his role on the left of midfield yesterday, as Pavel Pogrebnyak shook off an ankle problem to lead the line for Martin Jol’s side. Dempsey had produced three back-to-back double-figure hauls in the previous Gameweeks while deputising for the Russian up front, but disappointed his Fantasy owners with just an assist in the 2-1 win over the Latics. With Pogrebnyak grabbing a goal in the win, Dempsey looks set to continue out wide, though this will hardly deter potential investors ahead of next week’s trips to Everton and Liverpool, as the American is afforded further opportunity to extend his 20 point lead over Gareth Bale at the top of the midfield rankings.
Adel Taarabt
The Moroccan hit the headlines for all sorts of reasons in yesterday evening’s win over Spurs. Taarabt’s wonder free-kick was enough to earn his side their fourth successive home win – he has produced attacking returns in each of those victories, as Liverpool, Swansea and Arsenal were all previously put to the sword. A second yellow card in the 78th minute, however, means he’s now out of next week’s trip to Chelsea, affording him just two more games (STK, mcy) to influence the R’s survival bid. Taarabt’s enforced absence may see a change of set-up from Mark Hughes; QPR continued in their recent 4-5-1, with Djibril Cisse an unused sub despite his return from a four-game suspension.
Tottenham’s Form
As their chase for a Champions League place threatens to fall apart, Tottenham’s recent form is a huge worry for Fantasy managers ahead of double Gameweek 36. On paper, Harry Redknapp’s side have the most straightforward schedule of any side over the remainder of the campaign but yesterday’s Loftus Road defeat continued their woeful away form. Spurs have now failed to score in five of their last six on the road and have won just one of the last four White Hart Lane fixtures. With an upcoming pair of fixtures against Blackburn and Bolton, the Londoners clearly have the potential for points, though many will be reluctant to take a punt, given their recent woeful displays. Spurs had to make to without Emmanuel Adebayor and Louis Saha for yesterday’s match, with Redknapp hopeful the former will be available for next week’s matches.
