Chelsea coach Antonio Conte makes some big decisions that cause Fantasy grief for many in a narrow win over struggling Swansea City.
Second only to the benching of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Leroy Sane’s absence came the news that Conte was resting both Eden Hazard and, most surprisingly of all, Cesar Azpilicueta.
The Belgian’s brilliant recent form – three goals and two assists from his last four starts – had finally persuaded Fantasy Premier League managers back into the fold, with 210,000 new owners heading into Gameweek 14’s visit from Swansea City.
Some 185,000 of his 9.1% ownership handed him the armband as well, a decision that backfired horribly when he produced just a single point from a nine-minute appearance from the bench.
On the bright side, Hazard will now be refreshed for Saturday lunchtime’s home match with a Newcastle side that’s shipped nine goals in their last four road trips.
In the absence of Hazard, striker Alvaro Morata was given the full 90 minutes to shine in attack.
The Spaniard had been signed by 382,495 for the Gameweek and captained by 629,107 (11.7%), including 28 of the top 100 managers.
Like Hazard, he managed just the one point, picking up a booking that means he is now just one caution away from a one-match ban.
With Michy Batshuayi still sidelined, a suspension for Morata will be a concern for Conte, with Hazard as a false nine his only likely solution – yet more good news, potentially at least, for the Belgian’s owners.
Despite Morata’s blank, he was heavily involved on the night. His six shots on goal spoke of a player with form and confidence and, in truth, only Lukasz Fabianski’s brilliance denied him a ninth goal of the season.
As a result, he’s still a major player in the market, with the 47,000+ signings so far making him the fifth most purchased asset ahead of Gameweek 15.
Blues backline prospers without Azpilicueta
Azpilicueta’s rest was the first time in 74 top-flight matches that he’d not played the full 90 minutes for Chelsea.
It was a sensible move by Conte – the Blues weren’t expected to be tested by a notoriously shot-shy Swansea – but a bitter pill to swallow for the 21.9% of managers with FPL’s top scoring defender in their teams.
Sure enough, Paul Clement’s men mustered just two shots on goal – the fewest of the Gameweek – to hand Andreas Christensen a third clean sheet from his fourth straight start.
The Dane could well extend that run in the side with David Luiz currently struggling with a knee issue and, at 5.4, he is the cheapest way, alongside keeper Thibaut Courtois, into a defence that is looking by far the strongest among the big-ticket sides at present.
Chelsea have now kept four of their seven clean sheets for the season over the past five Gameweeks – a timely return to old obdurate ways as their schedule is now superb all the way through to the New Year.
Courtois might be tempting, but he’s provided save points in less than half of his 14 matches to date, whereas Christensen’s potential to pick up bonus points gives him an edge.
And there’s always Marcos Alonso (6.9) for those with the budget to spare, the Spaniard underlining his attacking threat with five shots against Swansea last night.
The market, however, is leaning towards Azpilicueta, who has close to 22,000 new owners already heading into Gameweek 15, with Christensen and Alonso hovering around the 16,000 mark.
Fabianski fulfils autosub role
The surprise benching of Newcastle stopper Rob Elliot meant many a team had Fabianski (7.9%) in as an auto-sub.
And what a move that turned out to be.
The Polish keeper was the stand-out performer for the visitors, making nine saves to bring in three additional points.
That was his highest save tally of the season, beating the eight he made at Wembley Stadium against Spurs in Gameweek 5, and he now has 60 for the season – 15 more than any other keeper.
Things further forward remain bleak, however, with the mercurial Renato Sanches hooked at half-time to spare him further embarrassment and pundit criticism.
But at least another young prodigy, the 11.8%-owned Tammy Abraham, will return for Saturday’s visit to Stoke City, having sat out the midweek match against his parent club.
