Twenty-four hours ago, today’s stroll looked to be routine: another dawdle down familiar paths accompanied by the press boys’ friendly banter. Yesterday’s news from Stamford Bridge changed all that.
In just a few weeks, Juan Mata has gone from cutting the figure of a failing, peripheral fantasy asset, to one that could suddenly shape our seasons. The news of twanged hamstrings, making him a major doubt for today’s trip to Swansea sent shockwaves, with those who have leapt upon his rapidly rising stock suffering an unforeseen kick in the breadbasket.
Over 100,000 Fantasy Premier League managers acquired the Spaniard in the last seven days – another 20,000 swiftly ejected him once Roberto Di Matteo had brought us the news. Evidence again, of just how early transfers can sting when events conspire against us; the urge to catch Mata’s continued rise in value looks to have come at a price.
There’s little comfort to be had amongst this morning’s press. Only the Guardian give Mata a sniff of making the Chelsea cut, with the other sources handing starts to Victor Moses or Oriol Romeu in Di Matteo’s Liberty lineup.
The aching pain of Mata’s likely absence may well be palpable now but, without him, there’s little guarantee that Chelsea will find the legs or fluidity to break down a confident Swansea side. Eden Hazard has the opportunity to underline his importance to the Blues and restore his superiority over Mata as a Fantasy asset but it’s a hefty task. The Belgian’s failing would certainly hand the Spaniard’s owners a sugary compliment to Friday’s bitter pill.
Elsewhere, our attentions are drawn to Old Trafford where Robin Van Persie faces his former employees and a likely torrent of dissent from the traveling Arsenal faithful. There could be similar barracking aimed in his direction across the lounges of Fantasy managers: those without the Dutchman will be desperately hoping that Wayne Rooney will crash the party and rob Van Persie of further returns that would see him go on confirming himself as the most wanted FPL asset. It’s an intriguing start to the day and one that could, almost immediately decide the prosperity of our Gameweek.
Mercifully, there is little conjecture amongst the morning teamsheets in the press. Once again the City lineup splits most, with the majority going with a Carlos Tevez/ Sergio Aguero partnership at Upton Park. The Sun have opted for Tevez with Edin Dzeko, with no start for Aguero; it’s the reverse in the Telegraph with Tevez dropping out. Newcastle’s Demba Ba appears in all the predicted lineups bar the Sun, while Carlos Cuellar looks nailed on according the press, despite unsettling talk of a hamstring problem. Romelu Lukaku, tipped for a start over Shane Long in both the Sun and the Times, could yet be an unlikely source of points in Monday’s floodlit clash.
That seems a world away with under an hour to go before we commit our squads. Right now, there will doubtless be plenty of Fantasy managers hoping for little more than damage limitation in the next 48-hours. The scenario of going into the Gameweek with a redundant Mata and without Van Persie in attack is unsettling and clearly hands those better placed the opportunity to earn a dramatic points swing.
There will be plenty viewing today’s events from behind the sofa, cowering like some seventies tot, scared witless by the Cybermen. They will hope that the events of this weekend pass without the spectacular, or least that it arrives from unlikely sources and not from the gilded talents of Hazard and Van Persie.
It’s strange how one fateful twist of tired sinew can strike fear and have us yearning for the ordinary and uneventful. It’s one of the darker sides of this game we love.
