It was a close call in the Captain Poll heading into this Gameweek. With Everton and Newcastle handed a pair of fixtures apiece, Nikica Jelavic and Papiss Cisse were virtually neck and neck in light of their recent respective form – both received 26% of the votes cast, with the latter just edging it by a total of 36. After today’s results, however, the Croatian’s owners are the ones with plenty to smile about so far.
Many a Fantasy forward line had been chopped up and re-assembled prior to this morning’s deadline – Robin Van Persie was shipped out by 85,000 owners, while more than 32,000 got rid of Wayne Rooney. It was little wonder – Cisse had notched nine his his last six, while Jelavic had bagged a brace in each of his previous two; both offered the promise of substantial points hauls, with 90,000 and 150,000 Fantasy managers snapping up their services respectively.
While Wigan swiped the wheels off the Newcastle bandwagon this afternoon with a stunning 4-0 triumph, Jelavic racked up the points against travel-sick Fulham. Only six minutes were on the clock before he grabbed his first – powering a penalty past Mark Schwarzer in the opposition goal. A second was added prior to half-time, as he swept home a Steven Pienaar pass to take his tally to eight in seven starts since joining in January.
With Pienaar running riot, providing three assists in a superb 83 minute showing, the Toffees scored four goals for the third successive game – the first time they have done so since 1964. The boost afforded to Everton’s attacking credentials since the introduction of both Pienaar and Jelavic makes David Moyes’ side an altogether different outfit from the one that struggled so badly for goals prior to their arrival – 29 goals in their first 28 Gameweeks has now been followed by 18 in the last six.
Everton now head off to Stoke on Tuesday and, with the Potters failing to return a clean sheet in their last eight, Jelavic’s owners will be licking their lips in anticipation of another goal or two. Cisse rolls up to the Bridge on Wednesday – with Chelsea conceding one goal in their three home games since Roberto Di Matteo took charge, the omens perhaps don’t look too good for those who handed him the armband.
This evening’s game at Carrow Road has already shown there will be a few more surprises before the Gameweek is out. Luis Suarez received a mere 121 votes in the Captain Poll this week but grabbed his highest points haul of the campaign against the Canaries – the Uruguayan bagged a sensational hat-trick and still has Fulham at Anfield on Tuesday.
Newcastle’s hammering also affords Tottenham a lifeline in their race for fourth – a win against Blackburn tomorrow would see Harry Redknapp’s side climb above the Magpies. Those who handed Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Bale or Rafael Van der Vaart the armband may have extra cause for optimism, then, and hope that they can – like Suarez – can follow the Jelavic road.*
*Pun courtesy of Andy Goddard.
