Scout Notes – Gameweek 17 – Saturday

Luis Suarez continues his relentless Fantasy season with a brace and assist against Cardiff. Wayne Rooney recovers from a groin problem to also serve up a double-figure haul, while David Silva and Yaya Toure also prosper in City’s win at Fulham. Yohan Cabaye helps Newcastle hammer Palace, Peter Crouch is key to Stoke’s win over Villa, while Sunderland pick up another clean sheet but lose Wes Brown to a three-match suspension.

Suarez Destroys Yet Another Defence
Once again, the Liverpool forward plundered the Fantasy points to justify a collective show of faith that earned him over 86% of votes in this week’s Captain Poll. Suarez played a part in all three of his side’s goals against the Bluebirds, bagging a brace and also chipping in with an assist for a 16 point haul – since returning from suspension, he has now had a hand in 29 of the Reds’ 37 strikes, thanks to 18 goals and 11 assists in just 12 appearances. Upcoming trips to City and Chelsea are set to test his armband credentials but, with eight sets of double figures over those league matches, it’ll take a brave Fantasy manager not to back Suarez in virtually any given Gameweek right now, such is his monopoly on this term’s Fantasy campaign.

Reds’ Budget Midfield Prospects Deliver
Whilst Philippe Coutinho continues to frustrate, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling picked up the points once again to highlight their budget-friendly potential. With Brendan Rodgers sticking to a 4-3-3, Henderson added to last week’s goal and assist at Spurs by supplying a pair of assists, whilst Sterling found the net for the third time in five appearances since being handed a first-team opportunity. The above-mentioned road trips will deter many from investing but, with three home fixtures in four from Gameweek 20 onwards (HUL, sto, AVL, EVE) the duo could well be on the radar at just 6.0 and 5.0 respectively.

Whittingham’s Cut-Price Appeal
The Bluebirds playmaker continued his ascent up the Fantasy standings with an assist and single bonus point at Anfield. Whittingham is now up to 67 points in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game – equal to Chelsea’s Oscar and only a single point below Southampton’s Adam Lallana yet, despite playing every minute of the season and sitting at just 5.2, he’s owned by only 6% of Fantasy managers. With three favourable home games in the next four, though, (SOU, SUN, WHM), he may well be set for increased investment.

Rooney Recovers to Pick up the Points
After missing the midweek cup win over Stoke, doubts surrounded the England man’s availability heading into yesterday’s home game with West Ham. David Moyes’ non-committal press conference even convinced many to sell Rooney but not only did he start against the Hammers, he lasted the full 90 minutes – enough time to serve up a couple of assists and maximum bonus points in the 3-1 win. While his owners will be a little frustrated by his withdrawn role behind Danny Welbeck again, the latter’s withdrawal on 55 minutes due to a “sore knee” could mean Rooney is shifted to the lone forward role for the upcoming trips to Hull and Norwich – three sets of double figures in his last four road trips even make him a potential captaincy rival to Suarez.

Jaaskelainen Warms the Hammers Bench
The West Ham stopper’s owners will be concerned after he was surprisingly omitted from the XI for yesterday’s trip to Old Trafford. Jaaskelainen had seemed nailed-on under Sam Allardyce – he played all 38 matches last term and had started each of the first 16 Gameweeks before making way for Adrian. At 5.5, he’s hardly budget friendly compared to other Hammers backline alternatives – it remains to be seen whether the alteration was purely to give the new boy a taste of the action as the fixtures pick up pace, though at 4.3, Adrian would represent an intriguing option if he were able to oust the former Bolton man between the sticks.

Magpies Gatecrash Pulis’ Fortress
Palace had racked up three successive clean sheets in front of their own fans prior to yesterday’s visit of Newcastle but were left licking their wounds after suffering a damaging setback. Back in the first-team after serving a one-match suspension last time around, Yohan Cabaye was in the points again for the Tyneside team after opening the scoring in the 3-0 win – having also notched the only goal of his side’s previous away game at Old Trafford, his display earned the praise of his manager and means he has now scored or assisted in eight of his 12 starts this term. Similarly to Whittingham, Cabaye seems to have escaped the notice of most Fantasy managers – despite his consistency, he remains at his initial 6.5 price, with an ownership of just 7%. Pardew’s side have three home games in the next four now but, as two of those visitors are Arsenal and City, their run of six wins in eight looks set to be put to the test.

City’s Midfield Prosper at the Cottage
With Sergio Aguero injured, Manuel Pellegrini surprisingly paired Alvaro Negredo with Edin Dzeko for the trip to Craven Cottage. While City ran riot once again and grabbed four goals against Rene Meulensteen’s struggling side, the Spaniard managed just an assist for the 294,000 FPL managers who drafted him in last week – Dzeko failed to produce before making way just prior to the hour mark. Instead, as we’d suggested in Monday’s This Much We Know article, it was the City midfield that profited in Aguero’s absence. Yaya Toure and David Silva both returned 10-point hauls – the Ivorian’s ninth goal of the season was followed by maximum bonus, whilst Silva provided a pair of assists and couple of bonus points, taking his average to 6.7 points per game under Pellegrini. Given their relentless home form, back-to-back Etihad showdowns with Liverpool and Palace look set to see plenty load up on the pair – a trip to Swansea is also on their short-term agenda before the winter wildcard kicks in. At the back, Costel Pantilimon’s new owners were left frustrated after the Romanian warmed the bench yesterday – a run of seven league starts came to an end after Joe Hart got the nod to return between the sticks.

Meulensteen Tinkers with Front Three
With Dimitar Berbatov missing out due to a groin injury, the Fulham boss handed Adel Taarabt an unexpected chance in the lone forward role against City. The Moroccan provided an assist in the 4-2 defeat but, with his manager optimistic of a quick return for Berbatov, his acquisition seems a little ill-advised right now. Kieran Richardson was another out-of-position asset to benefit from his manager’s tinkering. Previously utilised as a left-back by Martin Jol, he was moved to the left of the front three and grabbed a goal for the Cottagers – with Norwich, Hull, West Ham and Sunderland up next, the 4.8-priced midfielder may be worth monitoring if he retains his advanced berth.

Amalfitano Benched in Baggies Stalemate
The Frenchman’s Fantasy owners will be somewhat concerned after he was ousted from the starting line-up for West Brom’s first game since the departure of Steve Clarke. Caretaker boss Keith Downing shifted Stephane Sessegnon from the role in “the hole” onto the right flank in Amalfitano’s absence and drafted in Scott Sinclair onto the opposite flank – both wide men were subbed off in the second period, though – an indication that the Baggies’ assets look far from secure as Downing attempts to find his preferred balance.

Brown Sees Red in Black Cats’ Shut-Out
A goalless draw with Norwich continued Sunderland’s impressive run of defensive displays yesterday. Gus Poyet’s men have now registered a clean sheet in four of the last seven Gameweeks to highlight their cut-price potential under the Uruguayan but their short-term prospects look set to be undermined after Wes Brown was dismissed against the Canaries. The centre-half will now serve a three-match ban after a late challenge on Rickie van Wolfswinkel and will miss the upcoming league matches against Everton, Cardiff and Villa before returning for the Gameweek 21 trip to Fulham.

Kozak in the Goals as Benteke Misses Out
Handed a chance up top due to Christian Benteke’s knee injury absence, the Czech forward grabbed Villa’s consolation at the Britannia. With Gabby Agbonlahor suspended yesterday, Kozak was partnered by Andreas Weimann in a 4-4-2 and notched his third goal in four starts – his chances of further appearances in the Villa XI look high over the festive period after Lambert confirmed Benteke is still struggling with the knee injury he picked up on international duty a couple of months ago. The Villa boss went on to suggest a rest “will do him the world of good”, with Kozak looking in the driving seat for the upcoming three festive fixtures (CPL, SWA, sun).

Crouch Leads Potters to Victory
The big target man proved the difference for Stoke after racking up a goal, assist and maximum bonus points in the 2-1 win over Villa. Since Crouch returned to the first-team back in Gameweek 9, Mark Hughes’ side have tasted defeat just twice in nine matches – with three goals and four assists, the 5.5 priced forward has played a part in seven of the Potters’ 13 strikes over that period, finding the net against the likes of United and Chelsea. With Newcastle, Spurs, Everton and Liverpool up next, though, investment in Stoke’s main source of Fantasy points looks a little risky, in spite of his impressive recent form.