Southampton and Manchester United grind out a goalless draw at St Mary’s as Manolo Gabbiadini’s Fantasy misfortunes go from bad to worse in the penultimate match of double Gameweek 37.
On the Rise
Maya Yoshida, Jack Stephens
The only defender to survive Claude Puel’s double Gameweek tinkering, Yoshida retained his role to start for the nineteenth successive league outing in last night’s clash with Man United.
A total of nine points accrued across the pair of matches against Middlesbrough and United was more than any member of the Saints’ backline as the St Mary’s outfit collected a fifth clean sheet in 10 attempts.
Owned by a mere 5% of FPL managers, Yoshida has now delivered 33 points in his previous six home appearances. He looks a secure final-day pick at home to a Stoke City side that has failed to score in six of their previous seven on the road.
Stephens was rested for the first match of the double only to return to the Southampton XI last night and earn two bonus points.
The youngster’s ability to collect bonus is key here. He has earned 10 additional points over those five clean sheets, compared with Yoshida’s five bonus across the same fixtures – potentially a decisive factor for those currently holding both and mulling over which to bench for the Stoke match. Southampton now have three shut-outs in four with Stephens and Yoshida in the heart of defence.
Over 62,000 FPL managers owned both Yoshida and Stephens, benefiting from 17 points over the Gameweek 37 fixtures.
In Decline
Manolo Gabbiadini
Rested for the weekend win at Middlesbrough, the Italian returned to Puel’s starting XI against the Red Devils.
But as far as his loyal 8% owners are concerned, Gabbiadini may as well have warmed the bench for all the good he did.
Failing quite spectacularly as a double Gameweek asset, the winter signing stepped up to miss a penalty and deliver zero points over the Saints’ pair of fixtures before being hauled off just after the hour-mark to put his chastened ownership out of their misery.
Gabbiadini, essentially, provided a meagre four points across back-to-back doubles and now has just a single assist in his last seven league outings – a far cry from the form that harvested four goals in his first three Gameweek appearances.
Over 18,000 FPL managers have already sold him out ahead of the home encounter with Stoke – yes, he may well start, but judging by last night’s output that clearly guarantees little going on the striker’s current form.
David de Gea
United’s most popular FPL player and the third most-owned (33%) in the game, the Spaniard missed out altogether as his side chalked up a sixteenth clean sheet of the campaign – level with Chelsea and second only to Spurs’ 17.
Those still holding De Gea will now need to rely on their second keepers or dip into the market after Jose Mourinho confirmed that the Spaniard will play no further part in the season.
“David? I think the first match against LA Galaxy in pre-season in Los Angeles. I hope to play Joel Pereira against Crystal Palace, I hope to play Sergio in the final and hopefully, we don’t have problems with these two keepers”.
With Eric Bailly limping off last night and Mourinho revealing his intentions to field a number of youngsters in Sunday’s clash with Palace ahead of Wednesday’s Europa League final against Ajax, there’s no surprise to see owners of the likes of Antonio Valencia (14,000+) and Marcus Rashford (18,000+) already selling and seeking alternatives.
