This Much We Know – Gameweek 26

Our Monday lunchtime assessment of the weekend action arrives once again. Chelsea’s toils up top, City’s flourishing form in the final third, Hull’s front two and the emergence of a new crop of budget midfielders are amongst today’s topics.

Chelsea are struggling to put matches to bed…
The return of Diego Costa failed to provide a much-needed spark as the Blues struggled to a home draw against Burnley. Worryingly for Jose Mourinho, his side have scored just five goals in the last four Gameweeks now and at a time when City are quickly building momentum, Fantasy managers may feel that the Blues’ blank this weekend may be the time to reconsider. It’s just one goal in six now for Eden Hazard, whilst Cesc Fabregas has two assists this calendar year as the returns start to dry up.

…but Ivanovic’s attacking instincts are sharp…
Whilst his team-mates toil in the final third, the Serbian has returned either a goal or assist in five of the last seven league matches. Ivanovic and John Terry continue to look the only untouchables in Mourinho’s back four as both Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta were rotated once again. Kurt Zouma has now started the last seven matches at Stamford Bridge in all competitions, though it’s worth bearing in mind that only three of Chelsea’s next seven league outings are in front of their own fans.

Silva is repaying the faith…
There’s no doubt that he’s one of the most frustrating Fantasy assets around but the City midfielder seems to have struck a strand of consistency that’s an improvement on seasons gone by. Silva bagged his biggest points haul of the campaign in the weekend demolition of Newcastle – his fourth double-figure score so far – and has now struck seven goals in his last ten league starts, earning four assists and 12 bonus points in this spell. Only Alexis Sanchez and Eden Hazard have better points per appearance than the City midfielder.

Dzeko is not rolling over…
Wilfried Bony’s arrival provided the catalyst for a convincing display and Dzeko’s second double-figure haul of the season. Granted, his strike against Newcastle was his first league goal since September but he has only started four league matches from that point on and Saturday’s outing was his first 90 minutes since Gameweek 6. The Bosnian’s display was a real show of intent and certainly staked a claim for more pitch time as Sergio Aguero’s strike partner, with Bony facing a tough task to immediately force his way up the pecking order.

This is a new Giroud…
Three goals and two assists in his last four Premier League starts underlines the Frenchman’s new-found consistency. The forward slots in out 15-man squads remain precious but, at 8.4, Giroud continues to look a powerful option. Yes, there is some rotation threat – evidenced as recently as Gameweek 25 at home to Leicester – but, by the week, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that Arsenal need him on the pitch. All the more when you consider than Alexis Sanchez has gone three league appearances without a goal or an assist for the first time this term.

Van Aanholt is the latest budget casualty…
Having lost Andre Wisdom, Marcin Wasilewski and Calum Chambers as budget options at the back in recent weeks, Patrick van Aanholt could be the latest to drop out of the picture. Surprisingly benched by Gus Poyet in the weekend goalless draw against West Brom, his absence saw the Black Cats earn their ninth clean sheet of the season. Worryingly for the Dutchman’s owners, Sunderland have six shut-outs in 11 matches without Van Aanholt in the XI – with him on board, they’ve kept out their opponents just three times in 15 fixtures.

N’Doye and Jelavic can save the Tigers…
The pair were on the scoresheet once again as Hull registered a second successive league win to climb up the table. N’Doye and Jelavic have netted their side’s last four goals and have hit the ground running as a partnership since Steve Bruce moved back to 3-5-2, and with showdowns against Stoke, Sunderland, Leicester and Swansea in the next five, the omens look good. With Harry Kane the number one budget forward of choice, though, their appeal remains limited.

Carver’s Honeymoon is over…
The problems keep coming for the under-fire Magpies. Saturday’s thrashing at City saw Jack Colback topple off the Suspension Tightrope, with the midfielder now banned for two matches. With Daryl Janmaat limping off and Paul Dummett already facing months out, the Newcastle defence is down to the bare bones. Considering they sit ten points clear of the drop zone, Carver’s side look unlikely relegation candidates but they’ll need to vastly improve if they are to prevent themselves becoming end-of-season whipping boys. Three home matches (AVL, MUN, ARS) in the next four look key to arresting their slump.

There’s still nothing doing at United…
Angel di Maria’s stream of assists are papering over the cracks, with Louis van Gaal’s side offering us very little in terms of viable Fantasy contenders. With 12 matches remaining, the United boss still seems no nearer to working out his preferred formation or attack and with Robin van Persie potentially sidelined, Wayne Rooney may well be finally poised for a run up front after replacing Radamel Falcao at the weekend. Whilst the frontmen frustrate, one clean sheet in seven also highlights our lack of options at the other end of the pitch.

Moses and Sinclair might just be options…
Both wide men threw their hat in the ring as budget midfield options with a goal apiece in Saturday’s Villa Park showdown. Moses won and subsequently converted the decisive penalty with Jon Walters on the pitch and now has three home matches in four (HUL, EVE, wba, CPL) to strengthen his case for our consideration at a cost of just 5.2. The similarly priced Sinclair has flourished since Paul Lambert’s departure and scored in each of the last two – new boss Tim Sherwood handed him a start in his first match in charge and clearly sees the former City man as a creator and scorer of goals as the midlands side attempt to scramble up the top.

….and Phillips could just be the new Boyd…
The subject or recent praise from new boss Chris Ramsey, Phillips has wasted no time in nailing down a right wing berth for the R’s. His cross for Charlie Austin’s goal in the 2-1 loss at Hull means it’s three assists in two now for the midfielder and, at 4.6, he’s showing signs that he could well rival Burnley’s George Boyd for the role of our fifth midfielder. He doesn’t offer the same level of security but, with the double Gameweek to come, he’s a new temptation.

Sturridge is still not ready…
Having started against Besiktas in the Europa League last Thursday, the Reds’ fit-again frontman dropped to the bench for yesterday’s trip to Southampton. After months on the sidelines, it’s clear that Sturridge is still being eased back into the fray by Brendan Rodgers, who decided against naming him in his first XI for the third time in eight days. Given that Liverpool are battling on two cup fronts, then, Sturridge’s security of starts remains an issue and whilst he can still do the business off the bench, yesterday’s team sheet will be a real deterrent for most Fantasy managers.

..but Ibe just might be…
Many expected the youngster to be replaced by Lazar Markovic on the right after the latter had sat out Thursday’s Europa League match through suspension. Instead, Brendan Rodgers surprisingly dropped Alberto Moreno for the first time since Gameweek 18 in order to field Markovic out left at St Mary’s – a clear sign of how quickly Ibe has risen in the first-team reckoning. Ibe has now started each of the last three and at a price of 4.4 is starting to appear on our radars, though with Markovic still banned in Europe for another three matches, there’s still the fear that he may succumb to his manager’s rotation.

Mane needs a new alarm clock…
Dropped to the bench as a result of arriving late for yesterday’s clash with Liverpool, the Saints winger was afforded just over half an hour’s pitch time in the 2-0 home defeat. Given that Graziano Pelle has now scored just twice in his last 18 league starts, Ronald Koeman clearly needs Mane on board in order to bolster his side’s flagging bid for a top four finish. Southampton have now found the net just once in the last four Gameweeks and – providing he remains punctual – the Senegal international still looks too crucial for Koeman to omit again.

Eriksen won’t be rested again in a hurry…
Having been named in the first XI in each of the previous 34 league matches, the Dane was the one Spurs player we could rely upon for starts. With next weekend’s Capital One Cup Final in mind, Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to bench Eriksen almost proved disastrous – instead of chalking up a morale-boosting win against Big Sam’s side, the hosts had to rely on Harry Kane’s last-ditch penalty rebound to save a precious point. With European duties also to consider, Pochettino is clearly keen to rest and rotate to protect his players but on yesterday’s showing, Spurs can ill-afford to leave their playmaker warming the bench if they are to prosper.