Our Monday lunchtime look at the weekend’s matches arrives once again. Sadio Mane’s eye for goal, Palace’s midfield quandary, Robert Huth’s impact on the Leicester defence and Villa’s lack of defensive solifity under Tim Sherwood’s are amongst today’s topics.
The Saints are lethal on their dayโฆ
After an indifferent run of form, Ronald Koemanโs side signed off at St Maryโs in style with a 6-1 hammering of Villa. Having thrashed Sunderland 8-0 earlier in the season, the Saints have shown they are capable of racking up the Fantasy returns, though having scored just six times in their previous six, itโs also clear that they need to find more consistency under the Dutchmanโs guidance. Despite the fact that Graziano Pelle embarked on a 14-match goalless spree between Gameweek 18-31, Southampton still sit sixth for goals scored this season; with four strikes in his final three at St Maryโs, the Italian late rally suggests heโs belatedly starting to find his feet in the English top-flight.
Mane will be on next seasonโs radarโฆ
The Southampton wide man served up a statement of intent with a stunning 23-point haul at home to Villa. Mane took his tally to 11 strikes this term โ thatโs just one less than Graziano Pelle despite playing over 1,000 minutes less than the Italian โ and with his first full season now behind him, weโll be expecting big things from the Senegal international when 2015/16 gets underway in early August. Indeed, given his goal-getting abilities, will Koeman be tempted to field Mane up top on occasion in the new campaign?
Puncheon vs Bolasie continues to pose a problemโฆ
Alan Pardewโs arrival has left us with a real conundrum in the Palace midfield next season. Puncheon grabbed the Eaglesโ opener and Bolasie chipped in with a pair of assists in the 3-1 win at Anfield and whilst the formerโs set-piece duties heighten his appeal, Bolasieโs role up front alongside Marouane Chamakh wasnโt the first time that Pardew has utilised the DR Congo international as a striker. Puncheon has now scored in five separate matches under Pardew whereas Bolasie, somewhat surprisingly, has netted in just one of his 13 appearances since Neil Warnock departed โ a three-goal haul and assist against Sunderland, helping him to a 24-point return, suggest Bolasieโs explosive potential may give him the edge over his team-mate.
Huthโs acquisition has boosted the Foxes defence โฆ
A goalless draw at Sunderland helped Leicester to a fifth clean sheet in the last six outings, with only champions Chelsea breaching Nigel Pearsonโs defence. Leicesterโs stunning end of season turnaround has helped clinch survival thanks to a series of resilient displays that has coincided with Robert Huthโs arrival on loan โ with the big German in their XI, the Foxes managed six clean sheets in 13 league matches, compared to four shut-outs in 25 prior to his acquisition. Persuading Huth to sign on permanently at the King Power should be a priority for Pearson as he looks to build on his sideโs great escape.
Villa can always capitulate under Sherwood โฆ
Given that their quest for survival was very much on the line, Villaโs extraordinary St Maryโs loss highlights that thereโs plenty of work still to be done. Results elsewhere on Saturday ensured that Tim Sherwoodโs side are safe for another year but the 6-1 loss was the fourth time in the last seven Gameweeks that Villa have conceded at least three goals. The new managerโs arrival may have boosted their attack but Sherwoodโs approach will afford plenty of opponents the opportunity to thrive in the final third.
Phillips and not Austin, could be the QPR asset to trackโฆ
Charlie Austin may only have an assist to his name over the last five matches but with 17 goals and eight assists in his debut Premier League campaign, the suitors will still be circling over the close-season. Whilst Austinโs season has tailed off, Matty Phillips has turned in a series of displays to suggest he, too, will find his way onto summer shopping lists. A goal and assist in the 2-1 win over Newcastle took the wingerโs tally to three goals and eight assists in 14 matches under Ramsey โ essentially, he has played a part in 11 of QPRโs 17 goals since being installed in the first XI in Gameweek 24. Given that no other midfielder has managed more assists this calendar year than Phillips, his possible return to the Premier League could bring him back onto our radars.
Butland looks a safe pair of handsโฆ
A goalless draw against Burnley took the Stoke stopperโs tally to two clean sheets in three appearances since stepping in for Asmir Begovic. Despite recovering from minor surgery, the Bosnian only made the bench as Mark Hughes kept faith in Butland for the Turf Moor trip and the Potters boss took time out to praise the youngsterโs performance post-match. With his contract set to expire in 12 monthsโ time, reports are building that Begovic could be set for a move away from the Britannia over the summer โ such a scenario could immediately bring Butland onto our radars for the upcoming campaign.
Kane needs a restโฆ
As his debut season comes to a halt, the Tottenham frontman has faltered badly as a Fantasy prospect. Kaneโs blank at home to Hull means heโs managed just one goal and a single assist in his previous seven appearances as the heavy schedule takes its toll โ heโs now played 50 matches for Mauricio Pochettinoโs side in all competitions this term. With an Under 21 European Championship tournament also to contend with over the summer, the risk of burn-out already looks likely and may persuade Pochettino to ease Kane into the new season.
Bacunaโs classification needs monitoring โฆ
The Dutchman earned his fifth assist in nine outings at right-back under Sherwood after supplying the ball for Christian Bentekeโs consolation at St Mary’s. Frustratingly listed as a midfielder across the Fantasy games, Bacuna has been utilised as a full-back or wing-back by Paul Lambert and successor Sherwood this season and could be set for a change in classification for next term. Given his impact going forward under Sherwood, heโs another to keep an eye on.
Silva is in a punishing frame of mind โฆ
Subject to heavy sales ahead of Chelseaโs double Gameweek 34, the City midfielder has since delivered 33 points in the following three rounds of fixtures, courtesy of a goal and five assists. Silva has now chalked up his FPL highest haul since arriving on these shores and with a home clash against Southampton up next, nobody would back against him continuing that run on the final day. Having stepped up his scoring form this season, Silva has served up double-figures for goals and assists for the first time at City โ his displays will pose a real dilemma for next term, with Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez already looking nailed-on for many in the midfield area.
Ashley Young has played his way onto our pre-season Watchlist..
Having seen off the challenge of Angel di Maria for a starting berth, the United winger has chalked up two goals and five assists in the last ten Gameweeks with a series of impressive displays. Whilst new boy Memphis Depay looks set to threaten Young’s pitch time on the left, Louis van Gaal has shown he wonโt be swayed by big-money buys when it comes to team selection and the former Villa man could still be in the picture when the new campaign gets underway in early August.
