Another Wayne Rooney goal, another Robin Van Persie blank – United’s hard-fought victory at the Cottage added further fuel to the fire for Fantasy managers. Here’s the Stock Check on Saturday’s evening kick-off…
On the Up
Wayne Rooney
Despite being moved to the left midway through the second-half, the former Everton man secured the points with a calm finish. Having grabbed a double last time out against Southampton, Rooney is staking a real case for consideration either as an alternative or partner for Robin Van Persie in our forward lines and looks a real differential with Fantasy Premier League (FPL) ownership under 7%. His consistency of late has been staggering – tonight’s goal made it eight in the last six league starts.
Jonny Evans
His return to the starting lineup made an immediate difference at the Cottage. United had registered clean sheets in each of Evans’ previous two appearances – given they had conceded in the last three without him, his calming influence at the back looks to be a major factor. With the assist for Rooney’s goal, Evans looks set to earn FPL bonus points to cap another assured display.
Going Down
Robin Van Persie
The Dutchman has now registered back-to-back blanks – coinciding with Rooney’s return to the starting XI. The Dutchman had produced in each of his previous ten and while there’s no doubting his consistency over the season, many are now contemplating a switch as mini-leagues start to heat up with the quest for differentials becoming a key factor. With a favourable run of fixtures ahead, Van Persie’s owners will be confident of a return to form but Rooney’s kinder 11.8 FPL price tag liberates budget to be utilised elsewhere.
Antonio Valencia
Handed a start on the right in a 4-4-2, the former Wigan man disappointed yet again and was hauled off on 65 minutes. It’s a single assist in 11 appearances now for Valencia and with Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa pushing for game time, he could well return to the periphery once more. Fantasy managers have been deprived of an assured midfield asset in the United squad all season: there is little sign of that situation changing.
Brede Hangeland
Owned by more than 6% of the Fantasy Premier League player base, Hangeland has been a major disappointment so far this season: yet again he’s without a goal and, with just three clean sheets, his return have failed to live up to a pre-season billing which hailed him as a potential bargain. Tonight the Norwegian suffered his latest setback, withdrawn at half-time with a knock, rumoured to be an Achilles problem, which may now make him a doubt for Fulham’s next outing at Norwich.
