Strikes from reliable goal machines – Romelu Lukaku and Odion Ighalo – provided the cheer on a day devoid of big Fantasy returns. Indeed, the absence of Kevin de Bruyne and Aleks Kolarov from the Man City teamsheet was arguably the major talking point of a Saturday that produced just ten goals. Here’s the notes from the day’s events…
Lukaku & Deulofeu Combine to Down Canaries
Everton were held to a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road, having failed to capitalise on their dominance in the first period. Romelu Lukaku came up trumps for the Toffees once again, etching his name into the history books as the first Everton player to net in six consecutive Premier League ties. Given that the Merseysiders close out the year with a trio of fixtures (LEI, new, STO) that look conducive to attacking returns, Lukaku is afforded a great opportunity to prolong his head-turning streak.
Gerard Deulofeu supplied the cross for the visitors’ opener, boosting his assist tally to eight for the campaign. Incidentally, no player has assisted as many goals for a teammate than the Spaniard has for Lukaku (six), underlining the blossoming relationship between the duo. Deulofeu has either scored or assisted 42% of Evertons’ goals when on the pitch this season.
Ross Barkley clings to his status as the prime pick among the Toffees’ midfield contingent by virtue of his superior goal threat (three goals in four), yet Deulofeu has established himself as a viable alternative at the 6.4 mark and the decision between the pair is becoming more fuzzy by the Gameweek.
Cabaye On the Mark As Eagles Hold Out
Yohan Cabaye bagged his first goal in seven matches to grant Crystal Palace successive home wins. Yannick Bolasie notched his maiden assist in the process, meaning he’s delivered attacking returns in three of his previous five starts. Both men will fancy their chances of tallying further points across the Eagles’ upcoming trio of fixtures (sto, bou, SWA). Although the Potters have proven a tough nut to crack, Bournemouth (30) and Swansea (24) rank joint-top and joint-sixth, respectively, for goals conceded this term.
Palace’s meeting with Saints also yielded their third clean sheet in six matches. In fact, only four teams have conceded fewer goals (15) than Alan Pardew’s troops throughout the entire season, illustrating their newfound defensive resolve. Considering that Stoke (13) and Swansea (15) both rank in the bottom four with regards to goals scored, the Eagles could continue to string together a series of shut-outs.
Scott Dann is the key target on offer in their rearguard given his proven attacking threat from set-pieces – no player claimed more owners in the FPL overnight than the Palace defender.
Saints’ Slide Continues
Southampton stretched their winless run out to four outings with defeat at Selhurst Park. In the absence of Graziano Pelle – who was kept on the bench due to an ongoing knee problem – Saints mustered 15 attempts against the Londoners but tested Wayne Hennessey on just three occasions. Said Mane continued his decline as a Fantasy asset: the Senegalese attacker has now gathered just a single assist in his last six league appearances.
While Pelle sat things out, Ronald Koeman was also missing keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who was absent due to a toe injury sustained in training on Thursday. Paulo Gazzaniga stepped in and impressed throughout, putting some doubt on Stekelenburg’s instant return should he be fit for the Gameweek 17 meeting with Spurs. Both are now likely to present short term options given that Frazer Forster is now confirmed as back in light training and is perhaps just a month away from a return.
Forster’s recovery will be much anticipated by Koeman who has seen his defence falter in the last two months. The Saints have recorded just two clean sheets in their previous 11 match-ups and face tough opposition over the next three Gameweeks (TOT, ARS, why). Subsequently, owners of Jose Fonte and Virgil van Dijk will be considering their options.
City Leave It Late
Manchester City recorded a 2-1 win over Swansea City by way of Kelechi Iheanacho’s fortunate 92nd-minute winner. Yaya Toure earned the assist for the Nigerian’s decisive goal as his effort deflected off the striker, while Jesus Navas teed up Wilfried Bony in the 26th minute. The real talking point, however, stemmed from Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to rest the heavily backed Kevin De Bruyne (29% ownership) and Aleksandar Kolarov (35%).
The Chilean boss expressed his desire to rest De Bruyne earlier in the week. The Belgian had started the previous nine matches in all competitions prior to Saturday’s encounter, having been withdrawn just after the hour-mark in the midweek Champions League tie. De Bruyne will surely start at Arsenal in Gameweek 17 and his owners will have to hope that the rest against Swansea will be his only spell of unforced absence over the Christmas spell.
Kolarov’s benching is perhaps more concerning in the mid-term – coupled with Gael Clichy’s return to full fitness – it confirms doubts over his security of start over the Christmas period. The Serb has been rested in three of the last six in all competitions but this was his first absence in the league since Gameweek 9 which he missed with a hamstring injury.
Regardless of Kolarov’s security, the value of Sky Blues defenders has depreciated in the absence of Vincent Kompany, considering that they’ve now chalked up just two clean sheets in 11 matches. With testing trips to Arsenal and Leicester on the horizon for Man City, Kolarov owners may well be content to reinvest the funds.
Brave Swans Denied
Bafetimbi Gomis emerged from the bench and netted for the first time in 836 minutes to set up a frenetic finish at the Etihad. The former Lyon frontman had to settle for a cameo role, with caretaker boss Alan Curtis electing to deploy Wayne Routledge as his central attacker for much of the game, with Andre Ayew positioned largely on the right flank.
In appreciation of the fact that the Swans more than held their own against Man City – recording 47% possession, an equal number of attempts (13) and two more accurate shots (seven to five) – a similar tactic could be employed during their back-to-back home ties (WHU, WBA).
Gylfi Sigurdsson was another beneficiary of Curtis’ fresh approach. The Iceland international turned out an impressive display at the number-ten berth, ranking-joint top among midfielders for attempts (five) and top for shots on target (four). Sigurdsson has accrued just two goals and one assist this season but harbours the potential to emerge as an intriguing differential should the Swans revive themselves going into 2016.
Ighalo The Difference For The Hornets
Odion Ighalo’s fourth-minute strike at the Stadium of Light inspired Watford to a 1-0 victory over Sunderland. The Nigerian international became the top-scoring Hornets player in Premier League history, notching his tenth goal in 15 top-flight outings. Although his 28% ownership will be loath to cash in on the 5.9-priced marksman, prospective investors might be deterred by Watford’s unforgiving schedule (LIV, che, TOT, MCI) through to Gameweek 20.
Allan Nyom graced the scoreboard for the first time this term, claiming the assist for Ighalo’s goal. Priced at 4.6, the Cameroonian full-back charts eighth among his counterparts for total score (4.6), having enjoyed four clean sheets in the last seven Gameweeks. However, the Hornets’ above-mentioned run of fixtures calls for caution when considering investment.
Hammers Blank Again
Without an array of attacking talent Slaven Bilic’s side were again unable to register a goal and were forced to settle for a 0-0 stalemate with in-form Stoke. The Hammers have now scored just three in their last six league outings.
The loss of Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Victor Moses to injury was clearly felt against the Potters and will continue to limit Bilic’s side over the Christmas spell. The Hammers boss hopes to have Lanzini back for the Gameweek 17 trip to Swansea, but may be forced to continue to rely on his defence to earn them points through this testing period.
Michail Antonio’s (5.2 in the FPL) first league start did at least offer some semblance of an attacking threat as the former Forest winger registered five efforts on goal – three from inside the box. His display and progress should be noted, although he will need to produce an end product if he is to claim a starting berth going into 2016.
The back four recorded consecutive clean sheets for the second time this season and have conceded just once in the last three. Notwithstanding the Irons’ recent diligence at the back and relatively agreeable run of fixtures (swa, avl, SOU, LIV, bou, new), there are arguably more alluring alternatives than their defensive starters around the 5.0 mark – particularly when the Hammers are without the influence of Winston Reid who is currently sidelined with a hamstring complaint.
Unbeatable Butland Stands Firm
The fact that Xherdan Shaqiri was unavailable due to a hamstring strain weakened the Potters’ attacking options at Upton Park, engendering their fourth blank in seven matches. On the flip side, Jack Butland’s 16% ownership profited from Stoke’s fifth shut-out in six Gameweeks. The 4.9-priced shot-stopper boasts the best saves-to-shots ratio (82.5%) among any of his counterparts and will be targeting further clean sheets across the next five Gameweeks (CRY, MUN, eve, wba, NOR).
Significantly, Mark Hughes’ men are yet to concede a goal with Ryan Shawcross on the pitch. The Potters skipper was sent off in the 2-0 defeat to Sunderland in Gameweek 14, with both goals scored with him back in the dressing room.
Cherries’ Budget Midfield Delivers
Bournemouth claimed their second big scalp in succession with a deserved 2-1 home win over Manchester United. Junior Stanislas broke the deadlock directly from a corner and has now bagged three goals in as many outings. Valued at 4.2, the ex-Burnley recruit is presenting a strong case to be considered as the premier budget midfielder. Indeed, no midfielder priced 5.0 or below can better Stanislas’ goal output – even though he’s made just six league starts.
Joshua King (4.6) also got in on the act once again. Deployed as the central striker but is classified as a midfielder, King netted his second goal in four appearances to fire the hosts back into the lead after 54 minutes. Like Stanislas, he has been a key component in Bournemouth’s recent revival and has returned points in three of his last four outings.
Matt Ritchie (5.5) chipped in with his second assist in four starts against United but continues to be put in the shade in terms of Fantasy potential and value by Bournemouth’s two goalscorers on the day.
United Extend Winless Run
In the wake of their loss at the Vitality Stadium, the Red Devils are winless in three league matches for the first time this season.
Defensively, it came as little surprise that Man United were unable to keep a clean sheet – given that Louis van Gaal was forced to field three inexperienced defenders – but their lack of quality in the final third will be a primary concern for the manager. Marouane Fellaini restored parity with his first goal this season, but Anthony Martial again flattered to deceive as the lone striker, failing to find the target with his two attempts.
While United now have three of the next four league outings at Old Trafford (NOR stk CHE SWA), confidence in their Fantasy assets continues to wane.
Smalling’s recovery for the Gameweek 17 encounter with Norwich will no doubt keep him simmering in squads. Smalling and David de Gea aside, there is little on offer within United’s squad to tempt interest. Even their appeal has to be called into question, at least until Van Gaal can reinstall something that resembles a first-choice and settled rearguard.
