The Gameweek comes to a midweek conclusion, leaving us little time to contemplate its impact before we’re beset with another round of matches. Nonetheless, while Gameweek 33 failed to provide the anticipated profits, it was sprinkled with events that look set to shape the season climax. With Robin Van Persie emerging from the shadows to cast uncertainty on the role of team-mate Wayne Rooney and Sunderland throwing off talk of relegation to find flair and a precious three points, there is much to consider.
The Player
When presented with a player of Robin Van Persie’s pedigree for a double Gameweek, you may have thought that his selection and backing as captain would be a simple decision to make. And yet, the Dutchman went into fixtures at Stoke and West Ham off the back of a spell which had seen him return just a single goal in his last eight league outings, a drought that had lasted 10 appearances in all competitions.
Such a run had been testing the faith of Van Persie’s most staunch supporters – even those who had benefited from his seemingly unstoppable form which had, earlier in the season, see him score 10 goals in 10 Gameweeks in an extraordinary run of consistency.
While the gleefully converted spot-kick and controversial equaliser at West Ham will hardly go down as highlights in our Fantasy seasons, they could possibly take on far more importance. Van Persie’s 16 point Fantasy Premier League (FPL) haul was second only to John Terry in a Gameweek that saw a large section of Fantasy managers look elsewhere for the captaincy – including some of the top FPL players.
Van Persie’s belated return to goalscoring ways has shaken things up, then. The top of the FPL and throughout the mini-leagues, have changed shape somewhat as the Dutchman bloomed once again. Typically, the United striker was not about to end the season with a whimper: having suffered significant sales in recent weeks, Van Persie could now go on being a major influence on matters should he maintain form over the run-in.
The Team
While attentions were drawn to double Gameweek assets, Sunderland travelled to rivals Newcastle encouraged by their showing in defeat at Stamford Bridge. Despite the confidence gained by the display against Chelsea, few would have anticipated the reaction and performance that Paolo Di Canio gleaned from his side in the 3-0 win at St James’s Park.
Inspired is a fitting term to describe Sunday’s display as the Black Cats showed resolve at the back and invention and flair going forward – both factors that had been sadly missing under the latter stages of Martin O’Neill’s tenure.
At the back, Simon Mignolet’s performance in goal underlined his talent and confirmed him as one of the top performers between the sticks this season. While that was hardly a transformation, the revival of Stephane Sessegnon and Adam Johnson were perhaps more notable. The pair tormented the Newcastle backline, with Sessegnon’s movement and dribbling, in particular, a highlight of Sunderland’s newfound attacking verve. With Seb Larsson brought back into midfield to help destroy and prompt with his assured passing, it seems that, almost overnight, Di Canio has stumbled upon a winning formula with a squad that appeared to offer limited talent and fight.
This can’t be a coincidence or a matter of chance – Di Canio’s own remarkable showing on the sidelines demonstrated the passion and enthusiasm with which he goes about his business and these traits have undoubtedly provided a hugely effective boost for his squad. Whether this is short-term remains to be seen. We’ve yet to see the flipside of Di Canio’s methods – when passion spills over into the impetuous and ill-judged.
For now, Fantasy managers have an opportunity to ride the wave of confidence that has swept through the Stadium of Light. It’s not too late to open ourselves to Di Canio’s contagious spirit and consider investment in a set of players that seem transformed and set to end the season with a swagger.
The Talking Point
While Van Persie’s owners can find much comfort in a Gameweek which finally witnessed his revival, it’s ironic and perhaps fated that, in the same spell, Wayne Rooney’s fortunes appear to have swung in the opposite direction.
Withdrawn to a midfield role at the Britannia, while Rooney was a significant factor and a force in the 2-0 win, his owners, and perhaps Rooney himself, will have been frustrated at having his attacking instincts shackled, while Van Persie and Javier Hernandez patrolled on the shoulder of an obliging Stoke backline.
With Van Persie having his spot-kick duties confirmed at Stoke, Rooney was at least given the opportunity to restore the balance at Upton Park. His performance in last night’s 2-2 draw was, however, amongst his least effective of the season.
Replaced on 71 minutes – the second time he’s been substituted in the last three matches, Rooney’s body language suggested all was not well in his world: a world that has perhaps been confused by rumours of a summer move to Paris.
There is inevitably much speculation surrounding the effects that a potential Old Trafford exit is having on the player and the relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson. While Fantasy managers are left to sift through the press talk, there is certainly the suggestion that there has been a shift in outlook from Ferguson when it comes to Rooney. Having talked up the partnership with Van Persie, it’s been Rooney that has been the fall guy – the player shifted wide, deep and even rested to the bench.
The effect, in Fantasy terms, is that Rooney has scored two goals in the last eight Gameweeks or seven appearances. While that’s been enough to compare against Van Persie’s own dry spell, it appears the Dutchman is not only about to emerge from that barren run but is also the player firmly in favour with Ferguson. The manager’s relationship with Rooney and the role he plays in the United run-in, both seem far from certain.
