Our final glance at Gameweek 32 pays tribute to Southampton’s flourishing forward, City’s potential over the remainder of the season and ponders the double Gameweek 33 dilemma, with few of the main Fantasy targets justifying our attentions right now.
The Player
A goal and assist against former manager Nigel Adkins’ Reading continued Jay Rodriguez’s superb run of form over the last few Gameweeks. Purchased from Burnley last summer for what was, at the time, a club record fee, Rodriguez struggled to make an impact at St Mary’s; starting just half of the first 22 Gameweeks, he produced two goals, a pair of assists and a single Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bonus point before Adkins’ unexpected dismissal back in January.
The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino, however, has made all the difference. Selected as a sub for the Argentine’s first match in charge, Rodriguez has now started eight of the following nine and has produced attacking points in seven of his 10 appearances since Adkins’ departure. Over those matches, he has found the net on four occasions – the same number as Rickie Lambert – and has also chipped in with six assists, two more than his fellow Saints striker; indeed, it’s only been Lambert’s propensity to pick up bonus (13 points to Rodriguez’s six) that has helped him outscore the summer signing by 58 to 54 since Pochettino rolled up at St Mary’s.
From a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective, the only downside is Rodriguez’s classification as a forward. Fielded mainly on the right of the attacking midfield three, with Jason Puncheon dropping rapidly out the picture, his cost of just 5.2 more than atones for this, though. Lambert may remain the number one player in terms of value so far this season but his price of 7.1 is relatively high compared to his cut-price team mate – looking at the upcoming fixtures, Southampton, and Rodriguez, are offered plenty cause for optimism. Home clashes with West Ham, West Brom and Stoke remain, while trips to Swansea and Sunderland are also on the agenda – as Pochettino looks to maintain a run which has harvested back-to-back wins over Liverpool, Chelsea and Reading, he’s been quick to praise Rodriguez as a fundamental factor in his side’s form:
“He is a player who has great dynamism, great quality. He is obsessed by football, lives for football. He has a great mentality. The sky is the limit for him. I don’t see a roof – there is no limit. I think footballers adapt better or worse to certain ways of playing football. He is a player that ever since I arrived has been really confident and playing basically all the games.”
The Team
Monday night’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford looked the perfect opportunity for United to move a significant step closer to the title. Fifteen points clear of their bitter rivals, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side had only dropped three points at home all season – victory would have taken them 18 points clear with just seven matches remaining; the hosts could hardly have had greater incentive in their quest to claim the crown.
Instead, City served up a reminder of the will to win that led them to the summit last time round. While there’s little doubt that United will still take the league, the 2-1 victory hands Roberto Mancini’s side a huge morale boost for the remainder of the campaign and is likely to bring their main protagonists firmly back onto the Fantasy radar.
While Vincent Kompany was unfortunate enough to score an own goal, the Belgian’s return will surely boost our faith in City’s backline – that was the first goal City have conceded in the five games Kompany has played since the turn of the year. As Micah Richards and Maicon step up their fitness recoveries to put pressure on Pablo Zabaleta at right-back, Matija Nastasic offers a cheaper option – at just 5.3 in FPL, he looks in the driving seat to partner the Belgian at the heart of defence.
Yaya Toure’s assist last night means he has produced attacking points in three of the last four, while David Silva (6% owned) will be hoping to shake off the hamstring niggle that forced him off in the dying seconds. Sergio Aguero currently sits in less than 5% of teams and if he shows the same form that produced last night’s winner, plenty will be flocking back to the Argentine.
The fixtures offer plenty hope, too. Mancini’s men still have a double Gameweek to follow – a yet to be scheduled home clash with West Brom is one of four remaining Etihad fixtures, which also see Wigan, West Ham and Norwich roll up, while trips to Reading and Swansea offer plenty promise as Mancini looks to finish what has been a disappointing defence of the title with a belated flourish.
The Talking Point
The vast majority of Fantasy managers will be more than happy to draw a line under the previous set of fixtures in a Gameweek where many of the big hitters failed to produce. Luis Suarez was a massive armband favourite ahead of Liverpool’s home clash with West Ham but failed to notch for the third league match in succession, Robin Van Persie is now 10 appearances in all competitions without finding the net, while Juan Mata and Eden Hazard failed to deliver as Chelsea stuttered to a win over Sunderland. Gareth Bale at least can be excused for missing Tottenham’s home draw with Everton through injury.
Indeed, with only two of the top 10 midfielders (Michu and Robert Snodgrass) and forwards (Rickie Lambert and Christian Benteke) respectively producing any attacking points at all last weekend, many are prepared to gamble more than ever as we look to put the disappointment behind us. With Arsenal, Everton, Fulham, United and West Ham all playing twice, the temptation to freshen up our squads with a points hit or two is understandably great but while doubles are always worth a gamble, a real lack of form for many of the main protagonists makes this weekend difficult to call.
Back-to-back trips to Stoke and West Ham – two sides both scrapping for survival – are by no means easy for a United side with a single goal in each of their last three. These are the occasions typically made for Van Persie to flourish as a Fantasy force but the Dutchman has done little to justify the “keep calm and captain RVP” mantra for a number of weeks now. There’s no doubt Wayne Rooney has been in superior form in recent matches, though Van Persie’s 37% owners will be hoping he can return to scoring form and outgun his fellow forward.
Over at the Emirates, Arsenal’s two home games are perhaps the most promising but the Gunners have been sharing the points around in recent matches – Tomas Rosicky hogged the headlines at the Hawthorns last week as Santi Cazorla fell flat, though the Spaniard – with double figures in each of his last two at the Emirates – is way out in front in this week’s Captain Poll. Olivier Giroud has a single goal in his last seven but a pair of home games could be the perfect time to awake the Frenchman from his recent slumber. The fact that nine of Giroud’s 10 goals this term have arrived at the Emirates may persuade some to take a punt, while Theo Walcott’s potential return could scupper Gervinho’s chances of another start after a trio of impressive displays on the flank.
With Kevin Mirallas bagging three goals in four, Marouane Fellaini back after a two-game suspension for Everton and Leighton Baines producing a goal, assist or clean sheet in nine of his last 11, the Toffees trio look the men most likely for David Moyes’ side. Dimitar Berbatov is head and shoulders above anyone else at Fulham right now, while those eyeing up West Ham assets will be buoyed by their weekend goalless draw at Anfield, though further up the field, the options are scarce. Kevin Nolan has scored once since November and although Andy Carroll has notched in each of the last three at Upton Park, the United defence could keep him at bay after the Hammers travel to in-form Southampton.
What compounds our dilemma is there are plenty of single Gameweek sides with strong fixtures that could potentially outscore those with two. Liverpool travel to Reading, for example, offering Suarez the chance to atone for last Sunday’s blank – having registered 20 points away to Norwich and 17 at Wigan, he’s up against the worst defence in the Premier League. The issue for those holding Suarez and without United coverage, then, is do they gamble on him failing to deliver?
Elsewhere, City entertain Wigan at the Etihad in midweek. David Silva – if fit – could also produce; he has returned double figures in three of his last four at home, while Sergio Aguero’s dazzling winner at Old Trafford is likely to persuade plenty to jump on board the bandwagon. The fixtures from here on in fall kindly for City and with a double Gameweek still to follow, many may choose to plan beyond this weekend with their transfers.
The same applies to Christian Benteke and Rickie Lambert’s owners. Two of the most consistent performers over the last few months, they have Fulham and West Ham at home respectively – with Berbatov and Mirallas the only double Gameweek forwards offering similar form, many may decide a four point hit simply isn’t worth it; Lambert, in particular, has a run in that will surely earn him plenty more points before the season is out. With double Gameweek 36 also to consider, where Chelsea, Spurs, City and West Brom could potentially have a pair of fixtures apiece along with Swansea and Wigan, forward planning is perhaps needed if we’re to achieve a stronger balance and avoid further points hits over the next few Gameweeks.
