Our midweek regular returns this afternoon as we look to the upcoming Gameweek and outline the players, teams and scenarios we’ll be keeping eye on between Saturday lunchtime and Monday evening’s Hawthorns clash.
Sturridge’s Performance
The former Chelsea man remains the most popular forward in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game but his owners are starting to get twitchy. Sturridge sits in 36% of sides but, without a goal in the last two, has been sold by over 90,000 this week as Fantasy managers migrate to Luis Suarez as their preferred Reds frontman. A blank in this week’s Merseyside derby could be the final straw for many Sturridge owners; with a trip to Hull and three home games in four (NOR, WHM, CAR), overlooking his strike partner for such a run could prove a huge oversight as he attempts to add to his tally of four sets of double figures in six appearances. If Suarez manages to breach the Everton backline and deliver yet another haul, the deal will surely be sealed for many.
Giroud’s Form and Walcott’s Return
The Gunners lone forward is another whose appeal is on the wane. A goal in each of the first four Gameweeks has been followed by a single strike (against Palace) in the subsequent seven, with Giroud mainly relying upon assists to bolster his tally – as Suarez, Sergio Aguero and the United front two all hit their stride, though, his 32% ownership is diminishing. The potential return of Theo Walcott for a run of three home games in four could add another dimension to Arsene Wenger’s side and offer us an alternative route into the Gunners attack at a time where Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil are owned by 58% and 32% of FPL managers. Fantasy managers at least have the option of cutting ties with Giroud and looking to Walcott as their Arsenal coverage, thus freeing up a vital forward slot – Arsene Wenger only has Nicklas Bendtner to turn to.
Coloccini’s Comeback
Fit in time for the previous Gameweek, the Magpies skipper was retained on the bench as Alan Pardew kept faith in Mike Williamson and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa as his central defensive pairing. Although the Magpies produced a second successive clean sheet at Spurs, Coloccini looks set to be offered a way back into the XI as a result of a one-match suspension to Mathieu Debuchy – Yanga-Mbiwa seems the likeliest to shift, either to right or left-back to cover form his absent compatriot. Having earned maximum bonus both times he’s picked up a clean sheet, Coloccini is back on our radars with two consecutive home games against Norwich and West Brom on his agenda – down to 4.9 in FPL, the Argentine is poised to reclaim his berth in the back-four, forcing Williamson and Yanga-Mbiwa to battle it out for the other slot when Debuchy returns next weekend.
Tottenham’s Defence Facing The City Attack
Heading into Gameweek 12, City are the last remaining side with a 100% home record. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have averaged four goals per game in front of their own fans, notching 20 times over five fixtures, with Sergio Aguero already serving up hauls of 12, 13 and 18 points at the Etihad. Typically, then, the Argentine would be the obvious armband candidate but he faces the toughest away defence in the Premier League this weekend – Spurs arrive on Sunday afternoon having conceded just once in five road trips. Andre Villas-Boas’ side also face United and Liverpool in the next five but if they can keep Aguero and company at bay, Jan Vertonghen and Kyle Walker owners may be happy to hold and ride through the upcoming schedule.
Sessegnon vs Amalfitano
A home game against Villa is the first of four Hawthorns fixtures in the next six for Steve Clarke’s side. While Amalfitano was quick out the blocks, with two goals and a couple of assists in his first four appearances, the Frenchman has now drawn blanks in the following four – Sessegnon, on the other hand, has chipped in with a goal and assist in the last two. Both remain firmly under the radar – Amalfitano, at 5.2, has an ownership of 4%, while the 6.6 priced Sessegnon resides in less than 3% of teams; a strong performance from either in Monday evening’s derby may prove decisive for those eyeing up a route into the Baggies midfield.
Meulensteen’s Impact
The former United coach will be looking to arrest an alarming slump in form from Martin Jol’s side. Aside from their 4-1 demolition of Palace in Gameweek 8, Fulham have offered little going forward – they have scored just six times in the other 10 fixtures and managed two clean sheets all season. Havingvowed to get the best out of Dimitar Berbatov, Meulensteen is handed three home games in four to reinvigorate the Bulgarian; with Steve Sidwell leading the way as their top scoring FPL player, it’s fair to say Fulham have offered us slim pickings as a Fantasy force.
Benteke’s Confidence
It’s four games without a goal for the Villa forward but as last week’s Monitor article for members indicated, the chances are still falling his way – he’s simply failing to take them. Crucially, the fixtures are also in Benteke’s favour – our season ticker rates Villa as top for attacking potential between now and Gameweek 20. Having missed Belgium’s match against Japan with a knee knock last night, he’s expected to be back in time for Monday’s derby trip to West Brom – given that he has has Sunderland and Fulham in the following three, a morale boosting display against the Baggies could see Benteke bully both strugglers and begin his ascent back up the Fantasy rankings.
Good Evans?
David Moyes’ recent team sheets have given Fantasy managers hope that the Northern Ireland international is establishing himself as a backline regular for United. Evans has started five of the last six and, in season where Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have suffered most than most from “niggles and knocks” to quote their new manager’s favourite phrase, Evans is emerging as a solid contender in defence. With Phil Jones also struggling due to a groin problem, Evans – at 5.0 – rolls up to Cardiff this weekend, as the hosts attempt to register a Manchester double in front of their own fans, having defeated City back in Gameweek 2. If Evans can help marshall the Red Devils to a second clean sheet in succession for the first time this term, the bandwagon could start to pick up pace as Moyes looks to take advantage of a kind schedule from Gameweek 14 onwards.
