An extraordinary and exhausting day, kick-started by seven different goalscorers in the North London derby, capped by City’s drubbing of Villa and the return to form of Santi Cazorla, Eden Hazard and Michu among others. Here’s the Stock Check on Saturday’s action so far…
On the Up
Carlos Tevez
With so many making the trade to Luis Suarez in the last week, Tevez chose this weekend to remind us of his class. Before today, he had scored just once in nine league appearances but with a brace and two assists to his name in the drubbing of Villa, the Argentine secured his biggest points haul of the season to reward those who had remained patient after a comparative dry spell.
Sergio Aguero
Not surprisingly, Aguero also got in on the act at the Etihad to notch a brace and leave Fantasy managers wondering just how best to cover City’s attacking potential from this point on. The competition for the forward slots in our squads remain intense but the City pairing offered timely reminders of their impressive CV’s today.
David Silva
The Spaniard fetched an assist on his return last weekend and this time around notched his first goal of the season, with two assists thrown in as City ran riot. If we can’t find room for the City strike pairing, Silva is shaping up to be the solution for City coverage from midfield.
Santi Cazorla
He had us worried for a minute but Cazorla today took advantage of 10-man Tottenham to return his second double-figure haul of the season, repaying the faith of those who remained patient with the playmaker.
Oliver Giroud
The Frenchman is getting in gear. We highlighted his numbers in this week’s Monitor article and Giroud delivered on them again today – his fourth goal in his last three starts in all competitions has again roused interest as Fantasy managers will consider how they are to cover Arsenal’s attacking potential.
Theo Walcott
Along with Bacary Sagna, Walcott was pivotal to Arsenal’s success with wave after wave of attacks forming down the right-flank. They are both clearly options, with Walcott offering the alternative to the classy Santi Cazorla. Sagna meanwhile is a very viable option in the Gunners backline, although it must be said that Wenger’s side have kept just a single clean sheet in nine.
Luis Suarez
Another two goals to take the Uruguayan to the top of the scoring charts and reinforce his position as the in-form front man to rival even Robin Van Persie. Suarez may well be a booking from a ban but he has now returned in his last six league starts.
Raheem Sterling
Two assists for the young England starlet again offered further evidence of just how he is growing into a superb asset for Liverpool and such a strong option as our budget midfielder.
Jose Enrique
Deployed on the left of midfield having played at wing-back in a 3-5-2 at Stamford Bridge, the Spaniard returned a goal and assist, together with a clean sheet to crash his way into our thinking from this point on.
Andre Wisdom
With Enrique shifted to midfield, the young defender retained his start and could now be here to stay as a Fantasy option if Rodgers perseveres with Enrique’s new position.
Rickie Lambert
The Saints’ talisman delivered his first league goal in seven league appearances to reinforce his credentials as a top budget option up front. With strong fixtures to come, Lambert looks to top of the pile for those shopping for a cheap third striker, although with so much heavy-hitting talent available, it’s looking difficult to justify such a policy.
Shane Long
Lambert isn’t alone in the budget bracket, with West Brom’s Shane Long another strong option having notched goal and assist returns in the win over Chelsea. Long has now scored four goals and earned five assists to sit on 54 points in the Fantasy Premier League game, putting on top of the value rankings for forwards pre-bonus.
Michu
Another of the suspension tightrope crowd to come good, the Spaniard struck his first returns in four league starts to remind us why he attracted such interest early in the season. With improved fixtures to come, Michu remains a hot-property in the mid-price.
Eden Hazard
Another to deliver after a recent slump, Hazard temporarily emerged from the shadow of Juan Mata to deliver Chelsea’s goal, his first in five league starts.
Going Down
Marouane Fellaini
Another strong display from the Belgian, capped with an assist to ensure that he’s now delivered returns in his last four league starts. However, this came at a price as Fellaini picked up his fifth booking of the season to confirm that he’ll miss the potentially profitable Gameweek 13 fixture with Norwich at Goodison.
Pablo Zabaleta
With Micah Richards still sidelined, the Argentine looked assured of his league starts at right-back in a 4-4-2 or part of a back three. Maicon’s return to fitness has provided Roberto Mancini with an option, however and with Zabaleta putting in 90 minutes in midweek and with a Champions League tie looming, he was rested to the bench.
Wayne Routledge
Having shown strong form to seemingly cement his start, Routledge found himself relegated to the bench at Newcastle as Michael Laudrup started with Nathan Dyer following his equaliser at Southampton last time out.
Branislav Ivanovic
The Serb had seemed untouchable in the Chelsea defence. Versatile and widely considered their best defender, it now seems the emergence of César Azpilicueta has given Roberto Di Matteo more options and today he rested Ivanovic to the bench, despite the absence of John Terry.
