We bring Gameweek 4 to a close with our usual synopsis, which this week finds us drooling over the class of an old favourite, reviving the fortunes of North London assets and berating the whims of the Old Trafford schemer.
The Player
There were other contenders but, as almost 80,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers will testify, Dimitar Berbatov proves irresistible.
It wasn’t only his two goals that leads to his rise in prominence, or the fact that he was handed spot-kick duties. It’s not necessarily even his modest price tag that sparks the appeal. For me, it’s the nature of Berbatov’s performance against West Brom which proves so convincing.
Martin Jol knows exactly how to work with Berbatov’s talents. How to keep him in areas when he can taunt and punish opponents. The Bulgarian had plenty of the ball but didn’t have to come looking for it – Fulham kept him fed and allowed him to patrol the final third with menace. Berbatov duly returned two strikes and put in a shift that indicated he will be the fulcrum of the Cottagers’ attacking endeavours. Goals, assists and bonus points look assured – all should be delivered in quantities to more than justify his current price tag.
The Team
For the second week running, Arsenal impressed and hinted that they could yet play a part in the title race. In Fantasy terms, however, it was perhaps Tottenham’s victory at Reading that proved most significant.
Andre Villas-Boas has had his critics – a section of which seem so dismissive of his methods and appear to be willing him to fail following his demise at Stamford Bridge. The Spurs boss has bravely kept Emmanuel Adebayor’s ego in check, however, allowing Jermain Defoe to flourish and it was the latter’s goals that won the game and the plaudits at the Madejski.
Snuggled in the mid-price bracket, Defoe is a Fantasy asset that few will trust, given a streaky past and a lack of security. There’s little doubt that he is a striker in form, however, and a marksman of proven pedigree. A start against QPR looks certain and it will surely be Defoe who will carry the main threat to Mark Hughes’ men as Villas-Boas goes in search of a first home win since arriving at the Lane.
Equally, Fantasy managers will have be alerted to Gareth Bale’s strike – a first goal of the season that at last saw the Welshman deliver on his promise and price tag, offering a viable alternative to the current “template” midfields. Many have lost faith in Bale, as they have his manager, but there was plenty on show on Sunday to suggest that this is ill-advised.
The Talking Point
Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to rest Robin Van Persie to the bench for the home clash with Wigan rattled many. Not least me.
While some soothsayers called it correctly, I never really considered that United had quite found the gears to take on Wigan without Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and even the creativity of Shinji Kagawa. The 4-0 scoreline proved me wrong but, more significantly, gave Ferguson the comfort of knowing that such a gamble can be made again.
Wigan are, after all, no mugs and yet United brushed them aside in a stirring second-half; the “old spice” of Paul Scholes complimented by a sweeping new fragrance provided by Nick Powell.
The worry is that as United make progress in the Champions League and when Rooney finds form and fitness, the urge to rest Van Persie could flood through Ferguson’s veins more frequently. Far too frequently for the liking of the Dutchman’s ever-growing Fantasy ownership.
Seven days ago Van Persie graced this article and already looked untouchable. A Fantasy asset above all others. He still is just that but now, thanks to Ferguson’s slippery strategising, there are new question marks hanging over the value he can deliver, with a threat of rest and rotation blighting his potential prior to every European excursion. It’s unsettling.
