Scout Mission – Gameweek 35

As always, there’s much to consider for the Gameweek ahead in our Thursday afternoon regular. Villa’s differential options, Arsene Wenger’s team sheet, Garry Monk’s tactics, Connor Wickham’s form ahead of Sunderland’s double and Sunday afternoon’s shootout between Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero at the Lane are all on our lunchtime menu.

Villa’s differentials….
With a blank Gameweek 33 and trip to City out of the way, Villa are now poised for three home fixtures (EVE, WHU, BUR) in the final four which look pivotal to their prospects of staying in the top-flight. Christian Benteke has eight goals in his previous seven and served up two sets of double-figures (12, 17) in the last trio of matches in front of his own fans – with just 3% ownership in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), he clearly has the form to prove a deadly differential from here on in. Young Jack Grealish has started each of the last three in the support berth behind the Belgian and has convinced Tim Sherwood he’s worthy of a role in the Villa XI. At 4.3, his trickery posed City plenty of problems last weekend and he’s also one to monitor for the midlands outfit.

Liverpool’s response to their disastrous double….
Failing to score in either of their matches against West Brom and Hull, Brendan Rodgers’ side served up one of the most disappointing double Gameweek displays in memory. Owners who loaded up on the Reds’ main men will take a crumb of comfort in the fact that they now entertain QPR – the side with the most away goals conceded – at Anfield this weekend, giving Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson a final chance to convince us they are worth keeping. With a trip to Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 36, many are already looking to ditch their Liverpool assets as Rodgers’ outfit limps over the finishing line.

Wickham’s momentum against the Saints….
Having fired the opener in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Stoke, the striker took his tally to two goals in as many matches for Dick Advocaat’s side. Wickham has previous when it comes to delivering at this time of year. His five strikes and assist in the final six matches of 2013/14 kept the Black Cats in the top-flight and with a double Gameweek 37 just around the corner, he has the platform to follow in the footsteps of Christian Benteke, Charlie Austin and Dame N’Doye as the relegation battle heats up.

Kane versus Aguero at the Lane….
As the battle for places in our three-man frontlines heats up, some are mulling over a transfer out for one, or even both, of the popular pair. Kane has a goal and assist in four now and is struggling for form, though Aguero has four strikes in three since City switched back to a lone striker system and has already served up 19 points against Spurs earlier in the season. With Benteke’s form and fixtures strengthening his case for inclusion, though, and with a double Gameweek 37 on the horizon, can Kane and Aguero convince us to hold for the remainder of the season?

Van Persie’s pitch time….
With Wayne Rooney still a doubt due to the knee problem that forced him off against Everton, the Dutchman may be fast-tracked to the starting XI after stepping up his fitness in midweek. Handed just three minutes at Goodison, Van Persie staked a claim for inclusion after netting twice for the club’s reserves in a 4-1 win at Fulham on Tuesday evening and looks favourite to get the nod ahead of Radamel Falcao if Rooney is indeed ruled out. Given that United have racked up 18 goals in their last six home fixtures compared to five strikes in their previous six on the road, visitors West Brom will need to be at their resilient best as Louis van Gaal’s side look to bounce back from their Goodison humbling.

..and De Jong’s….
Replacing Remy Cabella as a sub with just over quarter of an hour remaining, the Dutchman needed just 13 minutes to get amongst the goals in the weekend home loss to Swansea. After months on the sidelines, De Jong continued his comeback with a 90-minute run-out for the reserves on Tuesday to edge nearer his first start since Gameweek 3. John Carver is adamant the former Ajax man is not yet ready to start in the league but will surely be set to grant him greater pitch time for the crucial trip to Leicester this weekend. With West Brom, QPR and West Ham still to follow, De Jong could be set to make a late run as a real differential contender as the Magpies’ beleaguered manager attempts to stave off the growing threat of Championship football.

Monk’s tactics after Siggy’s return to form….
Garry Monk’s decision to rip up his midfield diamond and revert to 4-2-3-1 saw Gylfi Sigurdsson serve up a 13-point return courtesy of a goal, assist and maximum bonus in the 3-2 win over Newcastle – his highest haul since Gameweek 1. The Swans boss has since conceded that his hand was somewhat forced last weekend after Wayne Routledge was ruled out for the season and Ki Sung-Yeung deemed fit enough only for the bench. Monk reckons that opting for width afforded his side “the element of surprise”, though from a Fantasy perspective, it reignited Sigurdsson’s potential after a bleak last few months deployed in a more withdrawn role. With Ki now fit to start again, and Jefferson Montero still doubtful with a thigh problem, Monk faces a real tactical dilemma as Stoke roll up to the Liberty.

Austin and Ings as the trap door edges closer ….
Although QPR and Burnley both look increasingly likely to succumb to relegation, their star strikers are playing for their own top-flight careers from here on in. Austin has managed just two goals in the last seven yet still remains the fifth most popular forward in the FPL game, with an ownership in excess of 19% ahead of the trip to Liverpool. The R’s forward has already dropped in price this week and looks set for a significant exodus if he fails to produce at Anfield, bearing in mind he has a trip to the Etihad in Gameweek 36. Ings, meanwhile, has blanked in each of the last nine but with the likes of Liverpool and United amongst a number of reported suitors, has the chance to earn himself a summer move out of Turf Moor. Of the two, he certainly has the better schedule – with West Ham, Hull, Stoke and Villa still to follow, he may yet have a say in our Fantasy plans for the final four fixtures.

Wenger’s team sheet for the KC visit….
After Liverpool and Chelsea’s big-hitting midfielders let us down over the double, Arsenal’s main men are already on our radars ahead of their pair of fixtures in Gameweek 37. With an FA Cup final against Villa on May 30 to consider, some feel that Arsene Wenger may utilise a degree of rotation over the Gunners’ final fixtures in order to clinch second spot and maintain his players’ match sharpness for the Wembley showdown. We need some assurance that Wenger will stick to his tried and trusted regulars for the run-in and a settled team sheet at Hull on Monday night will go some way to allaying any concerns before many look to invest from Gameweek 36 onwards.