Nemanja Matic saves Chelsea’s blushes as Eden Hazard misses a late spot-kick in a 1-1 draw with Maribor. Yaya Toure notches for City before seeing red in a home loss to CSKA Moscow, Andy Carroll edges nearer a first-team return for West Ham, Antolin Alcaraz could be out for up to three months for Everton, whilst Palace’s Damien Delaney is available for the weekend trip to Old Trafford as Neil Warnock prepares to batten down the hatches.
Spot of Bother for Hazard
For last night’s trip to Maribor, Jose Mourinho made four alterations from the side that started against QPR on Saturday. Petr Cech, Kurt Zouma, Andre Schurrle and Didier Drogba replaced Thibaut Courtois, Gary Cahill, Oscar and Diego Costa, though the latter two were introduced at the break after a poor first-half from the visitors. Chelsea failed to replicate the form that swept aside their opponents 6-0 only a fortnight ago and, after going a goal behind, had Nemanja Matic to thank for keeping their unbeaten start to the season intact. Eden Hazard had the chance to win it for the Blues but fluffed his lines from the spot – only the third time in his career he has failed to convert a penalty.
The Scout Says: In spite of his failure to score, Costa’s owners will be happy enough with a 45-minute appearance as Mourinho opted to hand Didier Drogba the full 90 instead. With Loic Remy still injured, the Spain international looks odds-on to return to the starting XI away to Liverpool this weekend and, with other results going Chelsea’s way, Mourinho may well be able to manage Costa’s minutes better in the Champions League. The Blues now have a three-point advantage at the top of Group G and need just one win in to make the knockout stages, suggesting Mourinho may continue to start with Drogba for the remaining couple of group matches, at least. In midfield, Oscar’s growing importance to the team was reflected by a second-half sub role ahead of the Anfield clash, with Schurrle failing to grab his chance to impress, whilst at the back, Chelsea’s normally resilient defence continues to stutter – they’ve now conceded a single goal in five of their last six matches in all competitions.
Toure Sent Packing in City Shocker
Having edged past United in the weekend Manchester derby, Manuel Pellegrini kept faith with the same starting XI for last night’s home encounter with CSKA Moscow. This saw Sergio Aguero partnered by Stefan Jovetic in a 4-4-2 once again, with James Milner and Jesus Navas handed the roles out wide. Yaya Toure grabbed the hosts’ only goal in a 2-1 defeat before being sent off along with Fernandinho, whilst Aguero played the full 90 minutes as City continued their winless start to the Champions League campaign.
Post-match, Pellegrini was perplexed by his team’s display and attributed their loss to a growing lack of self-belief:
“It is very difficult to understand how we played so bad from the beginning. We were so nervous, we gave away two bad goals – we didn’t play. It is difficult to know why. It was such a low performance from important players. It is a strange moment. It is not just this competition. In the last two weeks we are not playing. I don’t understand why but we must find a reason because we must arrange a situation. It is a crisis of confidence.”
The Scout Says: Whilst City went into last night’s match buoyed by their derby win, the United match has been the only high point in a poor run of form. Pellegrini’s side have now lost three and drawn one of their last five in all competitions and he will be desperate to boost morale with a win against QPR before another fortnight’s international break. In spite of the fact he played from start to finish, Aguero – having played a part in 66% of his side’s goals this season – is surely too important to bench against a defence that has conceded more times than any other over the opening ten Gameweeks. Last night’s result leaves City bottom of their group with two matches to go and in danger of spiraling out of Europe altogether – bad news for Pellegrini and co. but a scenario that would be welcomed by Fantasy managers; given that they are also out of the Capital One Cup, the chances of rest and rotation would surely be eased.
Carroll Steps Up Hammers Recovery
The West Ham frontman managed the full 60 minutes of a behind-closed-doors friendly against Southend yesterday afternoon. Sam Allardyce handed the likes of Joey O’Brien, Matt Jarvis, Kevin Nolan and Ricardo Vaz Te pitch time after all four have fallen down the first-team pecking order in recent weeks.
The Scout Says: As mentioned in yesterday’s Say What, Big Sam already has one eye on the upcoming winter schedule as he looks to utilise the strength and depth of his squad. Certainly, Carroll’s imminent return will, to a certain extent, worry owners of the likes of Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia if their manager intends to integrate Carroll back into his starting XI, though with nine goals in 40 appearances for the club (compared to Sakho’s seven strikes in eight appearances) it remains to be seen just how he will fit into the Hammers more dynamic, attacking approach. Given the success of his current tactics, then, it would be a unnecessarily risky move for Allardyce to alter an approach which has elevated his side to fifth place after ten rounds of fixtures – Carroll may well have to settle for bench-warming duties unless injuries hit the Hammers hard and force his manager’s hand.
Delany Returns for Eagles
The centre-half is available for selection once again after recovering from the illness that forced him out of Monday’s home loss to Sunderland. Palace boss Neil Warnock explained:
“On Friday he was sent home with a bug or something, then Alex Manos (first team physio) said I couldn’t use him on Saturday. He’ll come back into the squad for this weekend.”
The Scout Says: Having served a one-match suspension in Gameweek 9, Delaney was expected to return to the starting XI last time around but Warnock opted for Brede Hangeland alongside fit-again Scott Dann in his absence. Hangeland has now started the last three but may well be demoted to the bench as the Palace boss returns to the Dann-Delany partnership at the heart of his back-four – with encounters also against Liverpool, Swansea and Spurs in the next five, however, defensive returns look few and far between. Joel Ward (3%) is the only Palace defender with an ownership in excess of 1% after his side conceded at least twice in eight of the first ten Gameweeks and that tough schedule will surely persuade those still holding the versatile defender that it’s time to look elsewhere.
Martinez Confirms Alcaraz Absence
As expected, the Everton is set for an extended period on the sidelines after being forced off with a shoulder injury during the weekend draw against Swansea. Toffees boss Roberto Martinez rolled out an update during his pre-Europa League press conference:
“He has dislocated the AC joint in his shoulder and is going to be out or a while, so it’s another opportunity for another player. The decision now is if he needs surgery or not. That’s a decision we’re going to measure well and make the right call. It could take six to 12 weeks depending on the route we take.”
The Scout Says: Frustratingly for Fantasy managers, Alcaraz had just cemented a starting role over the last three Gameweeks as a result of John Stones’ ankle injury. The Toffees have conceded just a single goal over that period, with Martinez looking increasingly unconvinced by Sylvain Distin’s displays – the Frenchman wasn’t even on the bench at the weekend but looks set benefit from Alcaraz’ absence ahead of a run which pits his side against Sunderland, West Ham, Hull and QPR in the next six. Whilst Alcaraz’ cost of 4.3 heightened his appeal, Distin is almost on a par with Phil Jagielka (5.3 to 5.6) – sitting sixth in the FPL defender standings, the latter could yet tempt those investors who are unable to afford Leighton Baines.
