With Swansea’s home game against Hull set to play out the Gameweek tonight, we look at the lessons learned over the last few days. The impact of two new managers on the relegation contenders, United’s woeful home displays, Chelsea’s porous backline and the Emirates displays of Arsenal’s new boy are all served up this lunchtime:
Pulis has been quick to find another fortress…
A win and clean sheet in each of his first two home games at the Palace helm highlight the immediate impact of Tony Pulis. Following on from the good work of caretaker boss Keith Millen, the former Stoke manager has continued a run which has now earned four clean sheets in five Gameweeks, with a single goal conceded – an incredible turnaround in a backline that had previously shipped 21 goals in the first 10 Gameweeks. The upcoming home schedule looks superb, as does a home/away rotation with Cardiff all the way up to Gameweek 27 – all of a sudden the acquisition of Julian Speroni or Joel Ward looks like a canny move, as Pulis draws up the barricades and transforms Selhurst Park into his new Britannia.
Ozil loves his home comforts…
The Gunners summer signing served up yet another double figure return at the Emirates in yesterday’s draw with Everton. Whilst there’s no doubt Aaron Ramsey has been Arsenal’s most consistent Fantasy performer, Ozil’s explosive showings at the Emirates leave the Welshman trailing – in six appearances in front of his own fans, he has produced 10 or more points on four occasions, whilst Ramsey has managed this twice in eight Emirates showings. The flip side of this is a unimpressive run of form on the road, which has harvested three assists over six games, with blanks drawn on four occasions – a run of three road trips in the next four will prove a real test of his travel sickness.
United’s stage fright at home is a worry…
Eight home games have produced just eight goals as the champions continue to stutter under David Moyes. Wayne Rooney’s weekend suspension was lessened by Robin Van Persie’s return from injury but the champions blanked yet again in front of their own fans – Newcastle had been soundly beaten at Swansea in midweek but walked away from Old Trafford with three points and a clean sheet thanks to Yohan Cabaye’s solitary strike. Last term, United racked up 45 goals at home – more than any other side – and allowed Fantasy managers to rely on the Dutchman time and again, with points hauls almost guaranteed. This time round, only Villa and Palace have averaged fewer goals per game in front of their own fans. Three road trips to Villa, Hull and Norwich in the next four may suit Moyes’ side, then, as his Theatre of Dreams continues to look the stuff of nightmares.
Jose’s defence ain’t what it used to be…
Typically, trips to Sunderland and Stoke were likely to deliver clean sheets for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in his first spell at the Bridge. Yet, in the past week, the Blues have conceded three to both sides on their travels as a real lack of solidity threatens to kill off their title bid – Mourinho has admitted that “individual mistakes” are proving costly as he attempts to strike a better balance on both sides of the pitch. Ironically, at a time where budget options such as Palace have improved at the back, Chelsea have gone the other way – two goals conceded in the first five has been followed by a single clean sheet in the subsequent ten, with 15 goals against over that run. The Special One may have criticised his attackers after the 3-2 loss at Stoke but Chelsea have hardly been goal-shy of late – they have now scored at least twice in all but one of their last nine, suggesting the finger of blame is perhaps best pointed at those further back.
Everton have the form to defy any fixture…
Trips to United and Arsenal in the past week were coloured a dark red in our fixture ticker – an indication of the difficulty level anticipated. The Toffees passed both tests with flying colours, defeating former boss David Moyes and denying the Gunners victory thanks to a late Gerard Deulofeu equaliser as they continued a superb start to the season which has seen them lose just once, away to City. Sitting fifth, Everton have now played every other side in the top seven – aside from the City loss, they have won three and drawn two and look able to go toe to toe with the best of them. Next up, Martinez’ side are handed an eye-catching run of games in the next six (FUL, swa, SUN, SOU, sto, NOR) and may only be derailed by complacency – an unlikely scenario, though, as the Toffees continue to offer us outstanding value for the festive season and beyond.
The Etihad mauling may be the making of Spurs…
A 6-0 defeat at City could easily have had long-lasting repercussions but Andre Villas-Boas’ side have quickly regrouped and come out fighting. Seven points from the last three games sees them sitting just three points off second and has coincided with a new-found eye for goal – Spurs have now scored twice in every game since the Etihad hammering, compared to nine strikes in the first 12 Gameweeks. The defensive solidity that produced seven clean sheets in the first 10 Gameweeks may have vanished, with the north London club conceding in every game, but Spurs’ improved attacking consistency may well offer us options if they can maintain their recent form in front of goal – three home games in four hand Villas-Boas the chance to make this Christmas a merry one at the Lane.
Meulensteen could be the spark Berbatov needs…
Let’s face it, regardless of his side’s perilous league position, Dimitar Berbatov is never one to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in. While there’ll be no lung-bursting runs in an attempt to win back possession, the Bulgarian offers the Cottagers a real touch of class that is devoid amongst the rest of the relegation contenders – harnessing his talents is clearly essential to Rene Meulensteen’s prospects of keeping the London club afloat. It’s so far so good, then, with Berbatov’s goal and assist in the new manager’s first two matches mirroring his tally from the 13 matches played out under Martin Jol – blanks in the upcoming two against Everton and City would be understandable but with Norwich, Hull, West Ham and Sunderland directly after, the Bulgarian may finally be worth considering again if his displays continue to improve under his former United first-team coach.
