City’s attack scream for our attention. Wenger’s rotation delivers a mere glancing blow. United look reliant on their young protégée. Another piece is added to Tottenham’s midfield puzzle. Here’s the lessons learned from the Gameweek 8 weekend.
Silva and Aguero have arrived…
West Ham had no answer to the City pairing on Saturday evening. The guile, movement and trickery of City’s attacking duo, along with the presence of Yaya Toure, wrestled control of the game and allowed Silva and Aguero to torment and kill off their opponents. In Fantasy terms, these two have arrived on our radars in a big way. Aguero has seen more transfers in than any other Fantasy Premier League (FPL) forward in the Gameweek but, by comparison, Silva continues to be ignored. With Toure established in many lineups, Mesut Ozil so popular and a cast of performing low-to-mid price assets on show, it’s perhaps understandable. However, with goals seemingly on tap for City and Silva integral to most of their attacks – there’s a major differential on offer.
So has the “false nine”…
What do you do when you don’t have a centre-forward? You simply don’t play one. We’ve saw both West Ham and Newcastle deploy 4-6-0 systems this weekend, with Hatem Ben Arfa deployed as the most central attacker against Liverpool, while Sam Allardyce again allowed Ravel Morrison and Mo Diame license to attack from central areas against City having trialled the system in the 3-0 win at Spurs. Will it boost these players’ opportunity for Fantasy points? Maybe in the case of Ben Arfa – at least he’s on the pitch and contributing, after a return to the Magpies XI. It’s Sunderland up next this weekend, against a defence that melted away when faced with the Swansea tide. It remains to be seen if Alan Pardew feels the need to flood the midfield against the Black Cats. With Lee Cattermole and Cheick Tiote on the pitch, Ben Arfa might be better off hugging the touchline.
We got away with the first bout of Wenger’s rotation…
Yes, Aaron Ramsey returned double figures in the FPL once again but let’s not forget, were it not for Mathieu Flamini’s double vision, the Welshman may been limited to a ten-minute cameo. We shouldn’t overlook that Arsene Wenger took the decision to rest Ramsey ahead of the Champions League showpiece with Dortmund. That not only indicated just how important Ramsey has become to the Arsenal cause but also highlights how many options Wenger has at his disposal now that Santi Cazorla has returned. Wenger has warned us that the rotation will continue. Let’s agree now to take it on the chin when it arrives.
Gus Poyet Has a Job On His Hands….
The Sunderland heads looked to drop as soon as Swansea earned the advantage at the Liberty. Following that opener, it was one-way traffic with the only surprise the fact that Michu didn’t crash the party with a goal in the 4-0 win. Poyet looked to make his mark on the teamsheet with changes but clearly faces an epic task to lift the spirits and the resolve at the Stadium of Light. We wondered if we could possibly cash in on the “Poyet effect” with some cheap or mid-price differential assets – from Saturday’s showing, it would appear that’s unlikely, at least for now. It’s the Tyne-Wear derby up next for Poyet – that gives him an early opportunity to win over the fans; or perhaps lose them forever just two games in. I can’t help think this is not the Premier League “challenge” Poyet would have wanted.
You can add Townsend to the Spurs midfield mix…
It was written in the stars that Andros Townsend would cap his fortnight with England with a goal for Spurs. When it arrived, it was fortunate and also ironic that, given that Townsend has fired in shots from range all season, it took a crossed ball attempt for him to notch his first league goal.
Fantasy managers have suddenly woken up to his potential – only Ozil has seen more transfers in the Gameweek so far, as we scramble to the latest Tottenham midfield asset in hope that this is “the one” that will emerge as the key candidate. With Christian Eriksen benched, Gylfi Sigurdsson under pressure with both Aaron Lennon and Erik Lamela available, it looks a straight tussle between Townsend and Paulinho.
The price tag of 5.6 has obvious appeal and, while there’s long-term doubts his starting role, Townsend’s form is strong enough to see him rise to that challenge. Can he find consistent returns to justify a spot as a fourth midfielder, though? Or, at just 5.6, is he being brought in as a bench option on rotation?
The Spurs midfield continue to provide more questions than answers this season. It was so much easier when Gareth Bale was about.
Moyes needs Januzaj…
I’m certain that Adnan Januzaj will be “managed” carefully by David Moyes. That we’ll see times when he’ll be kept from the cauldron and introduced late on to influence matches. Right now, however, Moyes needs the spark provided by the 18-year-old as his side continues to grind through matches without the fluidity and verve of their Manchester rivals.
It’s good news for Januzaj and certainly those who have taken a punt on the 4.9 midfield prospect. It remains to be seen if he is given Champions League pitch time – start on the bench on Wednesday and we can be pretty certain that we’ll see him face Stoke at Old Trafford. It seems unlikely that Moyes will risk turning back to the inconsistencies of Ashley Young on the left flank when his team is already struggling to cling to their title ambitions.
Pochettino won’t help Lambert make the plane to Rio…
We’ve seen Rickie Lambert sacrificed before and so it proved at Old Trafford on Saturday. Once a sound mid-price investment up front, he’s slipped dramatically in our thinking, not least because the heavy-hitting form strikers have become so established. Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to sacrifice the striker in order to flood the midfield inflicted further damage and has us set on Adam Lallana as the one source of attacking points within a hugely-improved Saints lineup. You have to feel for Lambert, however. In a make-or-break season that will decide if he gets the opportunity to play a World Cup, his chances look slim as he struggles for form with his regular Southampton starting role in question.
