This Much We Know – Gameweek 19

With Liverpool and Swansea set to play out the Gameweek later this evening, we’ve plenty to mull over from the nine matches on Sunday’s agenda. Eden Hazard’s improving away form, Man City without Yaya Toure, Charlie Austin’s worth to QPR and the impact of Andy Carroll on Diafra Sakho’s Fantasy fortunes are all amongst this lunchtime’s topics.

City will miss Yaya Toure…
The recent loss of all three strikers to injury had failed to stop City’s winning streak as Manuel Pellegrini’s false nine system swept aside opponents. With the Ivorian stuck on the sidelines with a groin problem, however, the champions’ inability to see out a two-goal lead at home to Burnley cost them the chance to haul in Chelsea at the summit. It may be mere coincidence – indeed, Pellegrini laid the blame on his players’ complacency as the reason behind yesterday’s capitulation – but with Toure set to imminently depart for the Africa Cup of Nations, his manager may need to tinker with his tactics once again in order to cope without Toure’s steadying influence in the centre of the park.

Hazard’s becoming a home and away asset…
It took until the fifth month of the season but the Chelsea wide man finally broke his away duck with yesterday’s equaliser at St Mary’s. So far, Hazard’s contribution has been focused almost exclusively on home matches – he’s managed just one goal and three assists on his travels, yet sits only two points off the midfielders’ summit after serving up six goals and two assists at the Bridge. With returns in each of his last two on the road now, the Belgian is finally casting aside those accusations of inconsistency and becoming more crucial than ever to Chelsea’s title bid and our Fantasy campaigns alike.

Mane has timed his run of form badly…
Just as he’s finally starting to settle at Southampton, the summer signing is preparing to fly off for international duties. Mane arrived with a superb scoring record at previous club Red Bull Salzburg but had struggled to replicate that form – a moved to the centre earned him a goal and assist at Palace last Friday, and with his confidence on the rise, he breached the resilient Chelsea backline in yesterday’s stalemate at St Mary’s. With Graziano Pelle scoring twice in the last 12 and Dusan Tadic subbed off early as he recovers from injury, Ronald Koeman will be ruing the impending loss of the Senegal wide man, who is becoming increasingly influential as the season unfolds.

Stop Austin, stop QPR…
Let’s face it, it’s a rarity for a QPR player to top our Captain Poll. The collective show of faith in Charlie Austin for yesterday’s home clash with managerless Palace was justified, though – six goals and two assists in his previous four at Loftus Road underlined his thriving form. The Eagles’ caretaker manager Keith Millen is a canny character, though, and helped steady the ship last year when Ian Holloway bit the bullet – his three-man frontline put Harry Redknapp’s side on the back foot and ended a run which had seen the R’s score at least twice in each of their last seven home encounters. QPR have scored 21 this term, and with 12 strikes and three assists, Austin has played a part in 15 of those goals – if Redknapp’s side are to prevail, though, their supporting cast needs to step up quickly.

Carroll has killed Sakho’s potential…
With the big Geordie stuck on the sidelines, the Hammers’ summer signing made an instant impact upon his arrival to the Premier League. Partnered by the pacey Enner Valencia up top, Sakho thrived as his side’s main man and racked up five goals and two assists in his first seven starts, blanking only once over that period. Since then, his stock has slumped significantly as Sam Allardyce relies on fit-again Carroll’s physical presence up top to unsettle opponents. Sakho has managed a goal and assist in five appearances alongside the former Newcastle man and was subbed off on the hour mark at home to Arsenal, despite the fact that Carroll was on a yellow card. Providing Carroll stays fit, Sakho’s Fantasy fortunes look debatable – last week’s revelation by West Ham co-owner David Sullivan that Allardyce had to be forced into acquiring Sakho on the final day of the transfer window perhaps says it all.

Boyd and Burnley can spoil a party…
Two-nil down away to a City side that had conceded just twice in their previous six, Burnley could be forgiven for thinking “Game Over”. Instead, budget favourite George Boyd and in-form Ashley Barnes – scoring for the third time in four Gameweeks – showed that the Clarets have the armoury to upset even the most seemingly secure clean sheets. Boyd continues to underline his worth as a budget asset and is up to three goals for the campaign – with the fixtures smiling kindly on Sean Dyche’s side, though, his owners now must decide whether benching him for showdowns with Newcastle, QPR, Palace, Sunderland and West Brom is the wisest move.

Hull’s Black Cats win was a temporary blip of form…
A 3-1 triumph at Sunderland handed Hull the perfect chance to register back-to-back victories for the first time this term as Leicester rolled up to the KC. Instead, Steve Bruce’s side fluffed their lines as the Foxes plundered the points to drag their hosts back into the relegation dogfight by bagging their first win since Gameweek 5. The fixtures remain in the Tigers’ favour but Bruce’s bloated first-team squad has led to constant tinkering, and with a lack of consistency in his starting XI, their place in the top flight looks under real threat.

Garbutt’s potential could allow Martinez to shift Baines…
Enough was enough for many Fantasy managers after the premium-priced left-back served up a run of six successive blanks prior to yesterday’s trip to Newcastle. Whilst the Toffees’ defence capitulated yet again, as the Magpies scored three goals for only the second time this season, Baines’ move to the left of midfield may persuade his remaining owners to hold firm for now. Roberto Martinez’ decision to field Luke Garbutt at left-back allowed Baines to earn his seventh assist of the campaign – only twice has he managed more – and with Hull, West Brom and Palace in the next four, there still remains reason for optimism.

Villa’s temperament will cost them…
The red cards keep coming for Paul Lambert’s side, who are now without Fabian Delph for the next three matches after a shocking tackle on Sunderland’s Jordi Gomez. Over the last few weeks, Aston Villa have lost the likes of Christian Benteke, Alan Hutton, Kieran Richardson and Gabby Agbonlahor to suspension and simply don’t have the strength in depth to deal with their lack of discipline. Whilst Lambert found solace in his side’s ability to earn a point with 10 men against the Black Cats, Villa are doing themselves no favours by pressing the self-destruct button time and again. The short-term schedule remains kind but, having scored once in four now, Villa need 11 men on the pitch to stand a chance of prevailing.