We’ve one more match left of the Gameweek but the weekend’s nine fixtures served up plenty for us to consider. The return to form of a couple of fading Fantasy forwards, Chelsea’s change in formation and City’s rampaging attack are amongst the topics on today’s lunchtime menu…
Sometimes patience is all that’s needed…
Romelu Lukaku and Olivier Giroud have been subject to significant sales over the last few weeks as their Fantasy stars started to wane. Both delivered the goods last weekend to serve a reminder that, at times, we can be a little too hasty with the hatchet. Lukaku’s brace takes him to seven goals and an assist in eight appearances for Everton, whilst Giroud, for all his detractors, sits on 76 points after his double against Southampton – just a single point off third in the overall standings. Granted, with Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney all justifying their hefty price tags with a series of week-in, week-out returns, it’s difficult to sometimes keep the faith in lesser-priced alternatives but providing we are prepared to ride out a blank or two along the way, there are clearly options beyond the heavy-hitting trio who will reward our patience.
Frank’s time isn’t quite up…
Chelsea arrived at Upton Park with one win on the road all season – Jose Mourinho’s solution was to revert to his tried and trusted formation of years gone by. The 4-2-3-1 went out the window, replaced by the 4-3-3 that helped the Blues win back-to-back titles in the Special One’s first stint at the Bridge – with Frank Lampard pushing on from the centre, Oscar was shifted to the wing as the veteran scored twice in a comfortable 3-0 victory. Mourinho’s decision may cast the likes of Juan Mata and Andre Schurrle further onto the periphery but if he continues with the same system, there may just be life on Lampard’s Fantasy season just yet – prior to the weekend, he’d produced one assist since Gameweek 3.
Rodgers can afford to protect Sturridge…
Before this week’s Merseyside derby, Brendan Rodgers admitted the former Chelsea man had been playing with a dead leg for three-to-four weeks. Having managed 90 minutes for England in midweek, Rodgers took Sturridge out the firing line for the first time this season and moved to a 4-3-3, with Luis Suarez flanked by Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson. Up until now, a lack of alternatives means Rodgers has been forced to field Sturridge despite a number of niggles – by contrast Coutinho and Suarez are relatively fresh, having appeared in only seven of the Reds 12 league fixtures. While he still managed to climb off the bench to grab a ninth goal in 12 appearances, Sturridge’s owners will be a little worried by the weekend line-up – with Hull, Norwich, West Ham and Cardiff in the next five, Suarez’ ownership is set to grow and grow. Sturridge is already ranked third in the “Transfers Out” charts ahead of Gameweek 13.
Pulis has the foundations to build the Selhurst Park fortress…
Keith Millen’s final match in charge of the Eagles earned a 1-0 win at Hull and saw the visitors pick up a second clean sheet on the bounce. Having conceded in the first 10 Gameweeks, the interim manager’s impact has been immediate and sets Palace up perfectly for the arrival of Tony Pulis – games against Norwich, West Ham and Cardiff offers the chance to replicate the steely resolve that brought Stoke 30 clean sheets in the last three seasons. One look at Palace’s home games suggest the likes of 4.0 priced Joel Ward may well be worth consideration if the Pulis effect takes place – (WHM, CAR, NEW, NOR, STO, HUL, WBA) are the next seven visitors to Selhurst Park.
City can purr without Silva…
After toiling at Sunderland in the previous Gameweek, City’s Jekyll and Hyde campaign continued as they annihilated Tottenham on Sunday afternoon. Many attributed the loss against the Black Cats to David Silva’s absence but with the Spaniard still sidelined due to a calf complaint, City still managed to put six past a defence that had previously conceded just once on the road all season, with Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas providing an able support cast alongside FPL leader Sergio Aguero. Given they also put four past United without Silva, their reliance on his talents isn’t quite so apparent.
Villas-Boas has too many options…few of them are working…
A home defeat to Newcastle last time around persuaded Villas-Boas to make six alterations to his XI yesterday. The changes made no difference to his goal-shy attack as Spurs failed to score for the third successive match – essentially, Tottenham’s raft of summer signings simply seems to have clouded the waters as Villas-Boas struggles to find any sort of consistency in selection. Erik Lamela was handed his first league start, while Emmanuel Adebayor came in from the cold at half-time in a change of formation – neither made a difference in an insipid display and with a game against United up next, Villas-Boas need to somehow find a settled side. Given the level of performance from his charges, that’s easier said than done.
Crouch is strictly essential for Potters…
Four goals in the first eight Gameweeks had the prophets of doom circling, with many suggesting Mark Hughes would lead Stoke straight to the Championship. The installation of Peter Crouch as the lone forward for the Gameweek 9 trip to United seems to have finally made the difference, as Hughes’ possession games begins to pay off – Stoke have now notched eight times in the last four, with Crouch playing a part in four of those strikes, courtesy of a goal and three assists. No other side in the bottom half of the table has scored more than Hughes’ outfit now and with Cardiff, Hull and Villa in the next five, they look set to push on. Yes, he’s far from fashionable but Crouch, at 5.5, may just free up funds for those needing cash to splash in midfield.
Rooney’s too key to be rested…
David Moyes spoke of handing the forward ”a breather” somewhere over the next couple of months but with Robin Van Persie still troubled by ongoing groin problems, Rooney looks immune to his manager’s rotational whims right now. A goal and assist in yesterday’s draw at Cardiff means he has played a part in 11 of his side’s last 16 strikes – while the Dutchman continues to drop in ownership, the Rooney bandwagon rolls on, with the threat of suspension the only downside; a yellow against Cardiff was his fourth of the season and brings him just one more caution away from a single-match ban. Moyes will surely have that in mind when considering the timing of any weekend off. Meanwhile, Rooney might just be eyeing up a booking against West Ham in Gameweek 17 to give him Boxing Day with the kids. Cynical? Let’s just see.
