With Villa and City set to play out the Gameweek later on this evening, we focus on a trio of midfielders whose weekend displays suggest they could have a real say in the last two months of the season. Daniel Sturridge’s propensity to pick up knocks is also on our minds, while Loic Remy’s eye for goal suggests QPR’s quest for survival might not depend on a certain misfiring Moroccan, after all:
Kagawa has announced himself…
When United sealed the deal to bring Shinji Kagawa from Dortmund last summer our expectations were understandably high. Kagawa had fired 13 goals and pitched in with eight assists in his final season in Germany, providing a vital cog in their attacking ploys. We pictured Kagawa playing off the striker, feeding the bullets to Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez. Then United signed Robin Van Persie.
The Dutchman’s arrival set up the partnership with Rooney and left Kagawa’s role in doubt. Significantly, Saturday’s game against Norwich handed the Japanese international a rare start playing in a central role, giving Kagawa the opportunity to demonstrate his talents with an exquisite hat-trick. Cue Sir Alex Ferguson’s beaming post-match reaction and the assurance that “next year he’ll be far, far better.”
That will give us food for thought over the summer, as we ponder Kagawa’s progress and a potential increase in role in United’s purring attacking machine. As for this season, Kagawa has perhaps done enough to earn more starts – with just five appearances in the first XI from Gameweek 8 onwards, his Fantasy potential has been limited but if United can wrap up the title early, Kagawa may get further opportunities to show his blossoming talents.
It’s time to put our trust in De Gea….
Four consecutive shut-outs for the United back four have suddenly lifted Sir Alex’s defence amongst the best on show – with nine clean sheets, only Chelsea, Liverpool and City can better the league leaders’ tally. There’s surely more to come: United’s run-in is favourable and the only obstacle for investment appears to be the threat of rotation within a rearguard that boasts worthy assets – notably Rafael and Jonny Evans. Of course, you can invest the cash and get royalty in the form of Patrice Evra, a player who tops the defender rankings after enjoying a profitable season at both ends of the pitch.
Alternatively, David De Gea is the other route open to us. Having looked likely to be subject to rotation with Anders Lindegaard it’s one we’ve been reluctant to explore but De Gea has started the last 13 matches, including both league outings prior to the Champions League clashes with Madrid. This surely cements De Gea as United’s number one, removing the doubt over his security of starts and boosting his Fantasy stock. Available for 5.5 in the Fantasy Premier League game, the Spanish stopper is the cheapest option on offer and now perhaps the answer for those looking to cover United’s new resilience, without shelling out the big bucks required for Evra.
Oscar is stealing Mata’s thunder…
While Juan Mata’s owners watched the Spaniard frustrate for the third Gameweek running, Chelsea’s young Brazilian took centre stage, peppering the West Brom goal and helping to inspire a hard-fought 1-0 victory. Oscar was at the forefront of Chelsea’s attacking waves, cropping up in the box and leaving Mata and Eden Hazard to drift to wide areas. He’s started six of the last seven – a pattern of rotation that’s similar to that of his more senior team-mates, although the return of Victor Moses does perhaps put more strain on his security of starts. Given Saturday’s performance, however, there’s an increasing feeling that, like Kagawa, Oscar could finish the season strongly; that perhaps both Hazard and Mata will diminish as factors as Oscar contributes more goals and assists to the Chelsea cause.
Coutinho already looks a bit special…
Two Premier League starts and, already, Philippe Coutinho has a goal and two assists to his name. While Luis Suarez soaked up the plaudits and added another match-ball to his collection, the 20-year-old Brazilian quietly exploited the gaps in Wigan’s midfield to slice open the defence and provide the foundations for Liverpool’s menacing 4-0 victory. There may still be doubts on his physicality – on whether he’ll cope with back-to-back starts when the rough stuff inevitably comes his way. The player himself seems determined to shrug off such treatment and, from his DW display, it’s clear he possesses the tools to punish those who fail to shackle his movement and imagination. Like Kagawa and Oscar, Coutinho was placed in that “wait and see” bracket – unlike that pairing, Fantasy managers may well be willing to make the gamble early. A modest 6.5 FPL price tag and a seemingly telepathic understanding with Suarez certainly helps matters.
Injuries could settle the Sturridge vs Suarez debate…
Arguably, if Daniel Sturridge had been fit to start at Wigan, Luis Suarez would not have had the opportunities to convert his hat-trick. Indeed, you have to wonder just what Sturridge would have made of the gaps in the Latics rearguard, how he would have fed off the service of Coutinho. As it was, Sturridge missed out – a knock, purportedly more trouble with the thigh injury sustained recently at City – kept him out with Brendan Rodgers stressing that he will look to protect Sturridge. Certainly, the form of Suarez in the central striking role allows Rodgers time to ease him back into the frame. The recent spell of strains and scrapes have undermined Sturridge’s potential and won the argument for those holding Suarez in their Fantasy lineups; it remains to be seen if Sturridge can shake off this recent run of knocks, regain the central role and re-start the debate.
It’s Remy that’s vital to QPR’s chances, not Taarabt…
We’ve spent words on this site reciting the statistics, predicting that, if QPR were to survive then Adel Taarabt will be the key figure. Aside from a brief glimpse of his talents in the win over Fulham, the Moroccan has done little but frustrate both his Fantasy owners and Harry Redknapp – so much so that the R’s boss had seen enough. Junior Hoilett, another player much admired on these pages, earned a start on the Rangers’ left at St Mary’s and his performance was surely enough to see Taarabt face an uphill battle to regain the opportunity to impress. While Hoilett sparkled, it was Loic Remy who provided the threat. Flanking the stand-in target man, Jay Bothroyd, Remy’s movement and pace troubled a Saints defence, while his smart finish for the R’s opener gave a glimpse of what Redknapp’s side have been missing – a natural goalscorer, capable of firing them to safety. Remy is still thought to be short of full match fitness but it’s clear he’s got enough in the tank to provide a spark. If Redknapp can build on that and get Bobby Zamora alongside him, the escape act might still be on and Fantasy managers may still have some interest in the wares at Shepherds Bush.
