Last weekend it was Dimitar Berbatov, this evening itโs Rickie Lambert that will be wandering into our minds mid-conversation, over the Saturday evening tipple. Prompting nagging doubt, questioning our best-laid plans.
Lambert is the latest to cause cracks in our established Fantasy thinking. Like the Bulgarian, he arrives in a Gameweek where, once again, the likes of Eden Hazard and Michu โ assets who were cemented in our squads – returned blanks. The foundations of the template team again come in question then, with Lambert joining the queue to find a place in our forward lines that looked so settled just a fortnight ago.
Thereโs little doubt that, as we suggested in the midweek Watchlist article, Lambert has emerged as the budget striker of choice. However, we also spent some time in said article pondering if he could be more than that. If he could displace the array of mid-price assets fighting for our attentions โ Dimitar Berbatov, Steven Fletcher, Jermain Defoe. Tonight, Iโm even wondering if he can threaten to break up the heavy-hitter pairings.
Iโll be watching Carlos Tevez carefully against Arsenal. While heโs flourished in the opening matches, Sergio Agueroโs return to fitness and Roberto Manciniโs โnine livesโ approach to Mario Baltoelli raises a cause for concern. Thatโs before we consider that Eden Dzeko has, as heโs done so often, found the net when heโs given pitch time.
A Tevez blank or, worse still, an early withdrawal against Arsenal, could trigger a rethink. Thereโs little doubt that City have the fixtures to find goals in the coming weeks, but growing concerns about their defence and Manciniโs insistence that it must approve, has raised alarm bells for me.
I remember when City battened down the hatches, when they fought for 1-0 wins away from home. Should Mancini take that route again, we could see 4-5-1 with Yaya Toure behind Aguero away from home, something that would hurt Tevez’ scoring potential immeasurably. While Sir Alex appears to be going all out for goals, will Mancini dare to tweak his tactics to tighten up?
Such thoughts crop up before I even consider the merits of sticking with the ultra-expensive Robin Van Persie, under the threat of rotation and rest. I’m trying to fight those doubts off, however.
There is clearly a very attractive plan B forming. Lambert, like Berbatov, offers assured starts. He offers the โbig fish in a small pondโ scenario. He offers spot-kicks, assists and he faces a long line of fixtures that could bring further returns. The temptation to go with this option, even over the proven class of Tevez, does begin to mount when you consider that Manciniโs whims can waver and throw us the unexpected.
This kind of talk is almost sinful, โKnee Jerkโ material of the highest order. We’re talking about supreme Fantasy assets here, while Lambert is perhaps just a noisy new arrival at the party. Four goals in five games is a decent entrance, however, and certainly Tevez will need to offer a reminder of his class on Sunday if tonightโs bout of puzzle-head isnโt to transform into a fully-fledged plan of action.
