Aleksandar Kolarov has a hand in all three of City’s goals in a comfortable win at the Etihad. Fernando Torres grabs a goal and assist as Chelsea hammer Norwich, Santi Cazorla orchestrates Arsenal’s win at Upton Park, James Morrison racks up the points as West Brom win again at the Hawthorns and Michu returns to scoring form as Swansea salvage a draw with Reading…
The City Defence
The champions were the only side to register a clean sheet in any of yesterday’s six games – their first defensive returns of the season. Rather surprisingly, it arrived in the absence of Vincent Kompany after the Belgian missed out with a calf problem; indeed, with the unexpected return of Micah Richards, Roberto Mancini made three changes to the back-four that started away to Fulham last weekend. Here’s what assistant boss, David Platt, had to say on the changes and the injury to Kompany, post-match…
“There were seven changes, some of them because, as Roberto said before the game, we had literally 48/60 hours to rest since Wednesday and others were forced on us – Kompany with a slight calf strain, Nastasic with a slight ankle strain and Javi Garcia with his thigh…We thought he had a chance when he picked it up in the last game but it was the right decision to leave him out – it’s not a huge calf strain”
Only Pablo Zabaleta kept his place but Richards’ return means he is also at risk from Mancini’s rotational whims from now on – although the Argentine’s form is strong right now. With a goal and two assists in addition to his clean sheet, Aleksandar Kolarov returned a monster 18-point haul for his Fantasy Premier League (FPL) owners – we know only too well of the Serbian’s explosive potential but bearing in mind he had scored just three points in the previous six Gameweeks, there will likely be no bandwagon around these parts for his services. Even so, Kolarov was the most transferred in player in the FPL overnight.
Sergio Aguero
Rested to the bench after his midweek Champions League exertions, the Argentine’s arrival at the expense of Mario Balotelli settled the home nerves. Balotelli and fellow-starter Carlos Tevez failed to find the net in the 3-0 and with Edin Dzeko remaining on the bench (he has now played 73 minutes since the end of Gameweek 3), Aguero’s instant impact surely serves Mancini a reminder that he can ill-afford to leave him out. Although he’s grabbed two goals in three since returning from his knee injury, Aguero now heads off on international duty and with Tevez omitted from the Argentina squad, Fantasy managers will likely be wary of investing, in spite of an eye-catching schedule to follow. Tevez would seemed more assured of his start at West Brom in Gameweek 8.
Fernando Torres
El Nino delivered a goal and assist contribution for his Fantasy owners for the third time in seven Gameweeks and has now played a part in seven of his side’s 15 goals this season. The Spaniard continues to make a persuasive case for consideration in our front three forward slots – while the likes of Robin Van Persie and Sergio Aguero have been rested for United and City respectively as a result of recent Champions League games, Torres has played every minute of the season and is currently averaging 6.3 FPL points per game, just edging out the Dutchman’s 6.2.
The Chelsea Midfield
Eden Hazard returned to goalscoring ways after a blank three Gameweeks as the Blues came back from a goal down to see off the Canaries. While the Belgian stretched his lead at the top of the FPL midfield standings with a seven-point haul, Juan Mata continued to offer us a cheaper alternative route into Roberto Di Mancini’s side. The Spaniard provided a pair of assist to outscore Hazard for the third successive Gameweek – he has now produced 27 FPL points since returning from a period of rest in Gameweek 5. Significantly, Mata has also been omitted from the Spanish squad and will therefore remain with Chelsea over the next two weeks. Roberto Di Matteo seemed particularly delighted with this prospect…
“I am surprised and I am very happy that he stays with me. I feel for him because he’s in great form. I don’t know the reasons why but we as a club are happy he is going to be with us.”
Hazard will face two qualifiers with Belgium against Serbia and Scotland, while Oscar and Ramires are included in Brazil’s squad for friendlies with Iraq and Japan – both those matches take place in Europe, however, with Sweden and Poland providing the venues.
Branislav Ivanovic
With a goal and assist in the 4-1 thrashing, the Serbian took his tally for the season to three goals and an assist – equalling his attacking returns from the previous campaign already. Pre-bonus, Ivanovic is now sitting on 55 points at the top of the FPL leaderboard and is offering superb value for money, in spite of a high 7.1 price tag. The fixture list may be about to stiffen severely for the Londoners but his potential going forward is likely to see plenty more Fantasy managers snap up his services in the next fortnight. It’s worth noting, however, that Chelsea’s schedule includes three home games in the next six – against United, Liverpool and City, while their away trips have them go to Spurs, Swansea and West Brom – three of the more difficult away venues. Ivanovic may have to rely on attacking returns to repay investment over that run.
Chelsea Rotation
Di Matteo has been kind to Fantasy managers to this point, signposting the recent rest for Juan Mata and handing his key performers uninterrupted starts. The Chelsea boss indicated in his press conference on Friday that none of his squad were due a break but did offer more detail post-match yesterday that hinted at some rotation to come…
“I always said we have a good squad and I’m utilising it. We’ve not seen much of Cesar Azpilicueta or Oriol Romeu who will get more time after the international break. We’ve got Marin coming back and Daniel Sturridge has been injured. We’ve got options and so far we’ve been lucky with injuries but after the break it is a busy fixture list and we will refresh the team a little bit”
James Morrison
The Scotsman strengthened his appeal as a strong mid-price midfield differential with a goal and assist as West Brom maintained their 100% home record under Steve Clarke. Priced at 6.0 in FPL and with an ownership of less than 2%, Morrison continues to thrive in “the hole” behind Shane Long – he has now picked up more Fantasy points than any Baggies player and has provided attacking returns in four of his seven appearances.
Arouna Kone
The summer signing is proving to be a key performer for the Latics this season. Wigan have scored seven times in the six games Kone has started and yesterday’s goal and assist contribution means he has played a part in five of those strikes. Indeed, pre-bonus, the 6.5 priced FPL forward has averaged five points per start over his six first-team appearances yet, with so many other mid-price forward alternatives available, he currently has just 0.4% ownership. With (WHM, WBA, RDG) in the next six, he could be set to pick up some Fantasy interest, though trips to Spurs and Liverpool may be enough to deter some suitors.
Kone was played in a front three with Franco Di Santo and Shaun Maloney and the trio all came out of yesterday’s game in profit. Indeed, Roberto Martinez reserved special praise, post-match, for his attacking players…
“Our play showed invention and real variety with Shaun Maloney, Arouna Kone and Franco Di Santo playing at such a high level and looking very dangerous whenever they were in the final third.”
Leighton Baines
Everton may have produced just one clean sheet in the last six Gameweeks but Baines continued to pick up the points with a late spot-kick against Wigan. Intriguingly, the left-back has been stronger on the road so far, producing attacking returns in three of his four away matches, and has been a stand-out performer in terms of consistency amongst his fellow Toffees. Baines has now scored six or more FPL points in five of his seven Gameweeks; compared to Steven Pienaar (four) and Marouane Fellaini (three), it’s little wonder why we never tire of singing his praises. David Moyes joined in on the act following Baines’ showing…
“Baines was outstanding today…At times he was unplayable he was that good. His penalty was fantastic and his performance was up there as good as anything. We needed it and he drove us on, and we showed great character because we weren’t getting a lot of decisions going for us.”
The Swansea Midfield
Shipped out by huge amounts of Fantasy managers in the past couple of Gameweeks, Michu hit the goal trail once again to end a three-game barren streak. With a home clash against Wigan next up, the Spaniard’s owners will be happy to hold for at least another match before the fixtures start to stiffen for Swansea, though with 72% possession and 26 efforts against Reading, Michael Laudrup’s offered plenty attacking threat yesterday. While question marks remain over Laudrup’s first-choice wingers, Wayne Routledge is making a strong claim for a regular role – he produced a goal and assist for his Fantasy owners as the hosts clawed back a two-goal deficit and has now picked up 26 FPL points in his four home matches.
Danny Graham
The striker has struggled for goals under Laudrup and, significantly, was replaced by Luke Moore at half-time yesterday. Moore duly impressed, providing the assist for Wayne Routledge’s equaliser. Graham’s starting role is now surely at risk for the visit of Wigan. Laudrup had this to say on Moore’s impact…
“I thought he did well…He worked a good opening within the first minute and missed it, but overall it was a very good 45 minutes from him.”
Santi Cazorla
A dazzling display at Upton Park ended West Ham’s unbeaten home record and lifted Arsenal into the top four. Cazorla was at the heart of everything good about the Gunners’ forward play and fired home a stunner for the visitors as Arsene Wenger’s side came back from a goal down to clinch the points. Away from home, in particular, the former Malaga man is a strong source of points. While he’s produced just one assist in three Emirates appearances, Cazorla has bagged two goals and a pair of assists in four road trips – only on his first away fixture, at Stoke in Gameweek 2, has he failed to provide us with attacking points.
Gervinho
While many had chosen Gervinho as their Arsenal midfielder due to a kind price tag and role as the lone forward, the Ivorian was shifted to the wing yesterday as Olivier Giroud returned to lead the line. Gervinho was the most transferred in player so far in the Gameweek going into last night’s match, having also gained huge investment prior to today’s deadline. However, those who opted for his recent form to cover the talents of Santi Cazorla could now face a rethink. With Theo Walcott making his claim for starts with a goal and assist from the bench, and Giroud now with confidence, Gervinho’s starting role is under major threat. Despite his higher cost, Cazorla continues to look the best option and with three home games and a trip to Norwich in the next five, plenty more Fantasy managers will be snapping up the Spaniard’s services in weeks to come.
West Ham Injuries
Sam Allardcye confirmed post-match that Ricardo Vaz Te looks to have suffered a dislocation of the shoulder in the second-half of the Arsenal clash. He will now face between eight to twelve weeks on the sidelines. That period of absence is likely to bring Matt Taylor further into the equation, although both Yossi Benayoun and Modibo Maiga offer alternatives for Big Sam – interestingly, Allardyce opted for Taylor over those two options from the bench yesterday.
The Hammers boss also has injury concerns over Guy Demel and Winston Reid – too hugely popular Fantasy targets. According to Allardyce, both are now doubtful for West Ham’s meeting with Southampton…
“I don’t think we’ll have them back in two weeks – I think they’ll be out for a little bit longer than that by the looks of their injuries. Certainly Ricardo is a big blow because it looks like a dislocated shoulder and that’s anything from eight to twelve weeks….I think Guy Demel has pulled a thigh muscle and that could be four weeks and Winston Reid had a back spasm and we couldn’t bring him off because we’d used all of our substitutes and had nobody else to bring on.”
Reading’s 4-4-2
Brian McDermott’s decision to move from 4-4-1-1 to 4-4-2 last week has certainly bolstered the appeal of Reading’s attacking assets. With four goals in their first four matches, the Royals’ cut-price options were far from appealing but a switch of system has brought Jobi McAnuff and Noel Hunt plenty of joy over the last couple of games. McAnuff provided assists for both the visitors’ goals at Swansea yesterday – the second successive Gameweek he has managed this feat. Indeed, he has now produced five assists for the season, second only to Eden Hazard’s six; bearing in mind that Reading have only scored eight goals, McAnuff’s delivery from the wing is proving crucial to their chances of finding the net.
Hunt has also benefitted after McDermott decided to drop Danny Guthrie for last week’s visit of Newcastle. Partnering Pavel Pogrebnyak up top, his strike at the Liberty means he now notched in both his last two starts; he has equalled the Russian’s goal tally, despite the fact he has played less than half the number of minutes.
Alex McCarthy
Picked out in last night’s Stock Check, it’s worth stressing the value offered by Alex McCarthy in the coming weeks. While Reading are far from a rich source of clean sheets, McCarthy seems assured of saves and, with fixtures improving and a double Gameweek to be announced, his prospects for returns look good. Crucially he is available for just 4.0 in the FPL game – only Southampton’s Paulo Gazzaniga can rival him at that price and his starting role is perhaps not quite as secure as McCarthy’s. Brian McDermott was certainly full of praise for his young keeper, post-match…
“He’s a keeper that wants to make the number one spot his own. We’re blessed with some really good goalkeepers at this club and today Alex was outstanding.”
