Two goal salvos litter the day’s action as Everton’s Maroune Fellaini returns to form, Christian Benteke maintains his, while Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko announces himself as a force to shock Rafa’s men at St James’ Park. Here’s the Stock Check on Saturday’s action so far…
On the Up
Marouane Fellaini
His first goals in six league outings clawed Everton back into the Goodison clash with Villa and again demonstrated his worth as a Fantasy asset. His owners may have been wavering following an alarming dry spell but today’s returns will surely cemented his place in our midfields once more, even with a trip to Old Trafford up next.
Christian Benteke
Another outstanding performance from the powerful Belgian as his two-goals dismantled the hapless Everton defence. Benteke is now on ten goals for the season, having scored four in his last three league outings. Villa’s season has been miserable but Benteke continues to be a revelation.
Moussa Sissoko
Sissoko showed his potential with an assist on his impressive debut at Villa but today, the Magpies’ new French signing blinked brightly on the Fantasy radar with a brace that decided the game with Chelsea. Given license to get up to support the attack, the power of Sissoko could be a huge factor for Newcastle and attract big Fantasy interest with his modest 6.0 FPL price tag.
Jimmy Kebe
While Adam Le Fondre has stole the headlines in recent weeks, it was the turn of Jimmy Kebe to underline his budget potential in today’s win over Sunderland. The 4.6 midfielder boosted his reputation by taking his tally to five for the season and push himself forward as a viable fifth midfielder option.
Ian Harte
Another of Reading’s budget options, the 3.8 defender showed his worth by whipping in a superb delivery for Kebe’s dramatic late winner. While the clean sheets may be scarce, Harte’s ability from a dead-ball makes him a prime asset as a bench defender given his rock bottom price.
Rickie Lambert
Not to be outdone by Benteke’s returns in the budget bracket, the Southampton hitman kept his tally ticking with an 11th goal of the season, his fifth goal in his last eight league appearances to keep his stock on the rise as the top ranked budget striker.
Victor Anichebe
Another option for those shopping with pennies up front: Anichebe was given the nod by David Moyes ahead of Nikica Jelavic and repaid the faith by netting Everton’s equaliser and, later, earn an assist from the 3-3 draw. The introduction of Jelavic to chase the game indicated that Anichebe’s shift as the lone striker may well be limited, however.
The QPR Defence
A fourth clean sheet in five games was perhaps scant consolation for Harry Redknapp with another two points lost but, for Fantasy managers, it demonstrated the value of the R’s rearguard once again. Julio Cesar, Clint Hill and Chris Samba are likely to fetch further interest following a fine run of defensive form. Nedum Onuoha owners were left frustrated, however, their man missed out with an injury, presumably sustained in training on Friday.
Lukas Podolski
Things look bleak for Podolski’s owners but, having been benched from the start, the German striker came on as the Gunners chased the three points and benefited from a big deflection to notch the winner. While fortunate, his threat from set-plays earned the Podolski the right to score his goal.
Juan Mata & Frank Lampard
Beaten on Tyneside, the pair of Chelsea midfielders still kept their Fantasy stock soaring. Mata has now scored in three consecutive matches, having returned assists or a goal in nine of the last 11 matches. Lampard is presenting a viable alternative for those without the funds for the consistent Spaniard: he too has notched in his last three and has seven goals in his last nine league outings.
Shaun Maloney
His late equaliser for the Latics gave Maloney his third returns in four matches, underlining his importance to Wigan as a source of goals and assists. Like Kebe, his stock is on the rise this evening and today’s events would have boosted his appeal as a fifth midfielder option. After a season scattered with niggles and knocks, Maloney has now started the last eight league matches.
Going Down
Demba Ba
A suspected broken nose in a clash with former team-mate Fabricio Coloccini ended Ba’s afternoon and compounded the misery of his Fantasy owners who had stuck by him following rotation in the last two league outings. It’s not known if Ba will now face a spell on the sidelines but, with rotation still a major concern, we can surely expect continued sales of the Senegal striker.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Having started the last eight league matches, it was Azpilicueta’s owners who felt the pinch from Rafa Benitez’s rotation policy today. With John Terry back installed in the Chelsea back four, Branislav Ivanovic switched to right-back and relegated the Spaniard to the bench. It’s not clear just how Rafa will go on rotating his defensive options from this point on but, today’s defeat may well hand Azpilicueta an immediate recall.
Guy Demel
Withdrawn at Fulham in midweek, it now seems that Demel suffered an unreported injury in that game as he missed out altogether in today’s win over Swansea. With the Hammers keeping a first clean sheet in eight and with Emmanuel Pogatetz offering options at the back, Demel may now struggle to earn a recall to the starting lineup.
Michu
Without Danny Graham as an option up top, the Spaniard led the attack for Michael Laudrup’s side but drew a blank again. Michu is now without a goal in six league starts and his owners can only hope for a return to form for their man, although his two fixtures in Gameweek 26 will surely see him retained and even transferred in by many.
Anthony Pilkington
The Norwich winger suffered a hamstring injury in the first-half in the 0-0 draw at Loftus Road and will now be a doubt for the favourable home clash with Fulham up next.
