Bournemouth’s attackers are starting to settle. West Ham’s dodgy defence goes from bad to worse, United’s toils up top continue, Palace’s dead-ball duties are paying off, whilst City’s left-back maintains a strong case for our consideration. Here’s some of the lessons learned from the Gameweek’s nine fixtures so far…
Bournemouth have a top flight goalscorer…
Despite netting 98 times in the Championship last year, there was a growing concern that the step up to the top-flight could trouble Eddie Howe’s side after they failed to score in the first two Gameweeks. Saturday’s 4-3 win at West Ham silenced the doubters emphatically, with Callum Wilson’s hat-trick firing the Cherries to their first ever Premier League win. With his confidence on the up, Wilson has the form and fixtures to strengthen his case as this year’s Charlie Austin – at a price of 5.5, he now has home clashes against Leicester, Sunderland and Watford in the next five to get amongst the points.
It just might be Gradel over Ritchie in midfield…
Having played a part in 32 (15 goals, 17 assists) of his side’s 98 strikes in 2014/15, Matt Ritchie looked the likeliest source of points from the Bournemouth midfield. The Scot has been quickly usurped by new boy Max Gradel, though, and after failing to contribute to any of the weekend strikes, many will be having second thoughts. Gradel, on the other hand, provided a pair of assists and looks bang in form ahead of those above-mentioned fixtures.
The Hammers are in a state…
It’s all gone rapidly downhill since that Gameweek 1 win at Arsenal. West Ham seem incapable of keeping their discipline, with Carl Jenkinson’s sending off their fifth red card in nine competitive matches under Slaven Bilic. With the new system putting pressure on the full-backs to supply width from deep and new boy Angelo Ogbonna hauled off midway through the first-half, the Hammers look a shadow of the side that exited the Emirates with a 2-0 victory earlier this month. Jenkinson now joins Adrian on the sidelines through suspension and with Bilic’s men now rolling up to Anfield this weekend, those holding Liverpool’s main men will be licking their lips in anticipation.
Van Gaal may need to call for “Little Pea”…
As United’s skipper, Wayne Rooney looks assured of a starting berth under Louis van Gaal but the Dutchman will be reassessing his options up front after Saturday’s ineffectual showing against Newcastle. Rooney has now gone ten matches without finding the net for the Red Devils and, having introduced Javier Hernandez off the bench against the Magpies, the United boss may well be considering shifting his captain into the central support role as he continues to look for an effective combination up front.
…and will certainly welcome Fellaini return…
Van Gaal also has a “Plan B” option in the form of the giant Belgian, though. Having sat out the first three Gameweeks due to suspension, Fellaini is back in the mix ahead of this weekend’s trip to in-form Swansea and his return may well see Adnan Januzaj’s brief first-team spell come to an end. Granted, Fellaini is hardly on a par with Juan Mata and Memphis Depay when it comes to silky skills and deft touches in and around the box but his aerial ability and physical presence in the final third may well be called upon in light of United’s two goals in the first three matches.
Palace keep producing at set-pieces…
From the point of Alan Pardew’s arrival in Gameweek 21 last year, Palace registered more attempts (89) and were joint-top with West Brom for goals scored (12) from set-piece situations. As we saw on Saturday, with Scott Dann’s opener from a Jason Puncheon corner, the Eagles continue to prove reliable from dead-ball situations and the delivery of Puncheon and Yohan Cabaye look key weapons for the Selhurst Park side this term.
Mahrez is a no-brainer…
Still owned by only 27% of FPL managers, the Leicester wide man is the gift that keeps on giving after netting for the fourth time in three appearances. With the bandwagon picking up speed, acquiring Mahrez now looks a priority transfer for many – still only 5.9 and with spot-kick duties, there may not be a better value enabler on offer this season.
Shaqiri and Pedro are ready-made options….
There looks to be no settling-in period required after both produced the goods on their Premier League debuts to instantly stake a claim for consideration. Pedro offers a cheaper alternative to those Eden Hazard owners looking to free up cash to strengthen elsewhere, whilst Shaqiri’s schedule could barely be more enticing as he looks to rival the likes of Andre Ayew and Dimitri Payet as a viable mid-price contender.
Pulis is looking for answers at the back…
Having shipped six goals in their first two home fixtures, the Baggies look a pale imitation of the side that served up the defensive returns under Tony Pulis last season. The Welshman may be having second thoughts over keeping new boy James Chester and Joleon Lescott on the bench and, having opened talks with Tottenham’s Federico Fazio last week, it’s clear the West Brom defence is very much a work in progress for the time being.
Kolarov is becoming key…
Could this finally be his season? City’s focus on attack has seen Kolarov thrive down the left hand side in tandem with Raheem Sterling, with the latter’s pace allowing the Serbian plenty of room to bomb forward and contribute in the final third. Arguably, he looks more important than ever to the Etihad side and Fantasy managers alike right now – having netted the opener against Everton yesterday, he’ll surely be unleashed at home to Watford again as Maneul Pellegrini attempts to maintain his side’s early momentum.
Koeman is seeking clean sheets as a priority…
Yesterday’s shift to 3-5-2 helped steady the ship after the Saints conceded five times in the first two fixtures. With the likes of Ryan Bertrand and Jordy Clasie still injured, Ronald Koeman is clearly determined to look for alternative solutions in an attempt to keep opponents at bay. It’s uncertain how long the Dutchman will continue with his new set-up but the clean sheet perhaps suggests the likes of Maya Yoshida shouldn’t be written off just yet.
