There may be one more match left in the Gameweek but we’ve plenty to mull over after the weekend’s nine fixtures. Harry Kane’s slump in form, Sergio Aguero’s brace in City’s derby defeat, the United and Palace midfields, Villa’s talisman and Leicester’s attacking impetus are on today’s menu.
Benteke will be difficult to ignore for the run-in…
A winner away to Tottenham took the big Belgian’s tally to eight goals (or 58 FPL points) in his last six outings as he single-handedly fires Villa up the table. With a blank fixture this weekend preceding a double Gameweek 34 for the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, Benteke – who, incidentally that weekend, faces a trip to a City side that have chalked up three successive home clean sheets – will temporarily stay off our radars for now. Come Gameweek 35, though, Villa are handed a run of three home fixtures (EVE, WHM, BUR) in four that could see him deliver again. Owned by just 3% heading into his blank, he’s warming up to be a perfect differential as Tim Sherwood continues to go on the attack to secure his side’s safety.
..as will Ramsey…
Similar to the Villa striker, a blank Gameweek 33, followed by a difficult fixture the following week (at home to Chelsea) indicates the Welshman will be pencilled into our plans from Gameweek 35 onwards. Unlike Benteke, Ramsey also boasts the advantage of a double Gameweek 37 to follow and, having now played a part in five of the Gunners’ last ten league goals after firing the winner at Burnley, is looking vital to his side’s chances of a top two finish. Arsenal’s schedule includes three home matches (SWA, SUN, WBA) and a trip to Hull in the final four Gameweeks which looks conducive to attacking returns and whilst Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud are nailed-on for many, Ramsey’s claim for that third Gunners slot is becoming stronger with every passing match.
We have trust issues with Harry…
A third blank in four from the Tottenham forward not only raises question marks over Harry Kane’s status as a captain candidate, there are rumblings that he no longer demands a guaranteed place in our three-man FPL attacks. For so long, Kane’s relentless consistency has made him an obvious armband option but with Tottenham out of the running for a top four spot and looking devoid of motivation, we certainly have to consider other options in and around the double Gameweeks. The fact that Kane had blanked just three times in 13 matches prior to the last four fixtures says everything about his dramatic decline. We’ve never been able to trust Spurs. Now we’re forced to question Kane’s reliability.
Palace won’t be taking their foot off the gas…
A 4-1 hammering of Sunderland was the Eagles’ fourth successive victory as Alan Pardew’s side continued their superb end to the season. Palace may be safely ensconced in the security of mid-table but are showing no mercy to top-flight backlines, with Yannick Bolasie – thriving in a new central role behind Glenn Murray – bagging a hat-trick to move ahead of Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha as many Fantasy managers’ preferred option. Murray’s 14-point return, his third successive double-figure haul, took his tally to an incredible six goals and four assists in his last six outings and with back-to-back home clashes with West Brom and Hull, Pardew’s side offer us a short-term solution to the weekend blanks before the schedule turns nasty.
Leicester could be worth a double Gameweek punt…
A 3-2 victory at West Brom means Nigel Pearson’s side have now scored eight goals in the last three rounds of fixtures – the same number as they managed over Gameweeks 19-29. The Foxes dramatic turnaround is promising news for Fantasy managers as they prepare for a run that hands them five home fixtures and trips to Burnley and Sunderland in the final six Gameweeks of the season. It’s perhaps telling that Pearson’s decision to switch to a three-man backline during matches has led to victories in each of the last two – clean sheets may look debatable but the likes of Jamie Vardy, with two goals and a pair of assists in the last three, is looking increasingly influential to his side’s survival bid.
Koeman’s willing to risk a shuffle…
Despite being devoid of the injured Fraser Forster, Ronald Koeman had the cheek to bench Nathaniel Clyne for the visit of Hull and hauled off Victor Wanyama at the break after the Kenyan earned his tenth caution of the season. The decision to “rest” Clyne came as a bitter blow to his Fantasy owners who were predictably deprived of a fifteenth clean sheet of the campaign – the eleventh in front of the St Mary’s faithful. While we can surely expect Clyne to return at Stoke, we have to be wary that Koeman clearly feels he can afford to shuffle his pack for the season run-in and with Toby Alderweireld and Maya Yoshida offering some versatility, there could be further tinkering to come.
Mourinho will be happy to grind out results…
Chelsea’s first clean sheet for five Gameweeks came at a cost as the Blues struggled for a cutting edge – Cesc Fabregas’ winner was their only shot on target all afternoon at QPR. Seven points clear of the chasing pack with a match in hand, Jose Mourinho’s side certainly don’t need to over-exert themselves and chase matches at a time where both Diego Costa and Loic Remy are stuck on the sidelines through injury. It’s perhaps telling that Chelsea have now failed to win a league encounter by more than a single goal since Gameweek 22. Mourinho’s reliance on his defence to close out matches and edge nearer the title could well persuade Fantasy managers to invest in his rearguard for the double and beyond.
We can’t write Aguero off…
In spite of City’s capitulation at Old Trafford, their star forward still managed to end his five-match goalless streak with a brace in the 4-2 defeat. Sold by over 100,000+ FPL managers in each of the last two Gameweeks, Aguero’s return to scoring form arrives at a time when a handful of in-form forwards are without a fixture – with three home clashes in the following four now (WH, AVL, QPR), yesterday’s display suggests many will be climbing back on board. Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to switch to a lone striker system paid off for Aguero owners at least, though he may well look to alter approach after yesterday’s abject display.
Lennon seems tailor-made for the Toffees…
A bit-part player at parent club Tottenham, the winger continued his recent resurgence with the opener in Everton’s draw at Swansea. Having nailed down a regular role on the right under Roberto Martinez, Lennon has played a pivotal part in a run that’s harvested three wins and a draw in the last four – with two goals, an assist and four bonus points, he’s blanked just once over that period. Showdowns against Burnley, Villa and Sunderland in the next four offer Martinez’ troops – and the 6.2-priced Lennon – the perfect platform to maintain their momentum.
The options grow in United’s midfield …
Ashley Young became the fourth United midfielder to register a double-figure haul in the last four Gameweeks with a 14-point return against City, courtesy of a goal and two assists. With Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini also grabbing a goal apiece yesterday, and Ander Herrera netting twice last week, Louis van Gaal’s side are offering us options aplenty right now – a welcome change from recent seasons when the Old Trafford midfield have failed us badly as Fantasy candidates. At a price of 4.9, Young – who has started the last six now – is the cheapest route into Van Gaal’s flourishing midfield and looks an ideal option for those needing to free up cash to splash up front as the doubles approach.
Burnley need to release the handbrake…
While many of their relegation rivals have racked up the goals in recent weeks, Sean Dyche’s side seem to be reading from a different script. Granted, Burnley’s decision to tighten up defensively has resulted in an improvement at the back – the 1-0 home loss to Arsenal means they’ve conceded just once in the last three at Turf Moor – but their attack has all but dried up in recent outings. It’s just a single goal in six league outings now for the Lancashire outfit but with their six remaining clashes against teams in the bottom 12, Dyche surely needs to start taking risks to keep the Clarets in with a chance of survival. A similar cavalier approach to Leicester and Villa would at least bring Danny Ings back into the reckoning – right now, with no goals in seven – he’s faded into obscurity.
