With another Gameweek just around the corner already, we take a look back at the lessons learned from the 10 fixtures played out over Saturday and Sunday:
The Sturridge vs Suarez debate needs revisiting…
It looked cut and dried but recent weeks have done enough to warrant a re-examination of the Liverpool pairing from a Fantasy perspective. Brendan Rodgers’ move away from a front two has seen Sturridge outscore his fellow forward by 44 points to 38 since returning from injury in Gameweek 21 – indeed, the former Chelsea man has eclipsed the Uruguayan in three of his last four starts and matched Suarez’ haul in the other first-team appearance. Getting rid of Suarez is certainly not an advisable option but, if you have both, handing Sturridge the armband doesn’t look such an outlandish idea after all.
Barkley and Januzaj’s talents are being tempered…
Both youngsters warmed their respective benches at the weekend as the fear of burnout convinces Roberto Martinez and David Moyes to court caution with their game time. There’s no denying the talents of both Barkley and Januzaj but, as the season unfolds, the numerous midfield options on offer at Everton and the arrival of Juan Mata at United are forcing the duo’s owners to part company. Barkley’s lack of form (one goal from Gameweek 7 onwards) makes the exodus understandable but Moyes’ insistence on choosing Ashley Young over Januzaj is baffling. The United starlet’s owners were optimistic he’d return to the fold against Fulham but, in spite of his side’s toils, he was used sparingly from the bench again – if his manager won’t start him against a side at the bottom of the table, his Fantasy value is pretty much redundant to us.
But the budget starlets are still about…
Luckily, though, there’s still options in the budget bracket. Raheem Sterling’s brace against Arsenal served noticed of his improving form as Liverpool continue to rack up the goals. The youngster was widely expected to make way once Daniel Sturridge returned from injury but Brendan Rodgers’ change of approach, with the Reds affording their opponents possession and playing on the counter, has been a real shot in the arm to Sterling’s potential. Over at Palace, Tony Pulis’ decision to hand Tom Ince a role in “the hole” on his top-flight debut allowed the on-loan youngster to snap up a goal and assist against the Baggies. The Eagles have Everton, United and Southampton in the next four, suggesting Pulis could keep that lone forward system and ensure Ince stays on our radars.
Pulis has his own ideas…
The home game against West Brom saw the Palace boss hand three of his January signings a starting berth. Ince’s impact was the most dramatic but the installation of Joe Ledley and Scott Dann to the back-four is also significant. Palace have offered us excellent defensive value under the new manager but, with Jonny Parr and Danny Gabbidon ruthlessly benched, Pulis is clearly intent on putting his own stamp on the side, regardless of the efforts so far.
Hazard is a force of nature…
Form is one thing but Hazard’s current level of performance is beyond anything we’ve seen from a midfielder this term, bar Aaron Ramsey. Hugely impressive at City, he came to the fore with a hat-trick which shook up the rankings and reminded us what we’ve missed from midfield this season – a genuine heavy-hitter who can rival the free-scoring strikers who have rendered the armband decision almost academic.
Ivanovic’s raids are coming to fruition…
A match-winner against City was followed by the Serbian’s first assist of the season against Newcastle. Ivanovic has now delivered back-to-back double-figure hauls and, with his upturn in attacking displays allied with a resilience which has seen Chelsea deliver seven clean sheets in the last nine, he’s back on our radars again. With John Terry sitting out the Magpies game through injury, Ivanovic – cheaper than his skipper at 6.1 to 6.8 – may well be the weapon of choice for those yet to invest in Jose Mourinho’s backline ahead of tomorrow’s trip to West Brom.
Pellegrini is not selling the Kolarov option to us…
A run of five starts in six from Gameweek 17-22 now looks a false dawn as the City left-back was once again rotated to the bench. With a goal and five assists over 14 starts, compared to Gael Clichy’s failure to produce any attacking returns in 12, the Serbian’s owners will be hoping his manager unleashes him over the three plum home ties against Sunderland, Stoke and Villa. If Manuel Pellegrini is looking to tighten up in light of his forward’s lack of goals, though, the Frenchman looks the safer option – City have six clean sheets with Clichy in the XI compared to three with Kolarov as a starter.
The FA could be about to shake up the Fantasy season…
Reports suggest the FA could be set to take retrospective action on Yaya Toure’s alleged kick on Ricky van Wolfswinkel during City’s goalless draw at Norwich on Saturday. A potential three-match ban would see the Ivorian miss the next two league matches and, with City also skipping Gameweek 28 due to their Capital One Cup Final against Sunderland, the 44%-owned Toure would be out of the equation for the next three Gameweeks – a hugely significant situation which would set the midfield market into overdrive.
Rooney’s ability to adapt is killing his potential…
Utilised in a more withdrawn role once again by David Moyes, Wayne Rooney’s Fantasy prospects are slowly dwindling as the season unfolds. Many had assumed the arrival of Juan Mata would prove beneficial but, while the Spaniard and Robin van Persie have served up three assists and three goals respectively in the last trio of fixtures, Rooney has drawn blanks. Rooney looks a victim of his own versatility as Moyes attempts to restructure his starting XI and, at 11.3 in the Fantasy Premier League, his potential as a differential heavy-hitter up front looks limited to say the least.
