Alexis Sanchez’ importance to Arsenal, Sergio Aguero’s ominous early-season form, Wayne Rooney’s toils up top and Chelsea’s out-of-sorts displays are all amongst this afternoon’s topics. Here are some of the lessons learned from Gameweek 2…
Rooney is playing his way out of our plans…
Much was expected of the United skipper after Louis van Gaal handed him the lone striker role this season. Instead, Rooney has offered little to suggest he will thrive in a 4-3-3 – he failed to produce a single effort against Villa on Friday evening and has already been sold by over 100,000 FPL managers as we look for a way to accommodate Sergio Aguero up top. Rooney may be the first name on his manager’s teamsheet but failure to deliver at home to Newcastle this weekend will ensure the exodus picks up pace as our Fantasy faith in Van Gaal’s “philosophy” quickly dwindles.
Southampton need to opt out of Europe…
As we saw in Everton’s case last year, battling on both domestic and European fronts can be detrimental to a team’s Fantasy prospects. Ronald Koeman’s side are offering little to suggest they can replicate last term’s heroics – five goals against after two matches, with Saturday’s home mauling at the hands of the Toffees a far cry from the form that saw them concede 13 goals at St Mary’s across 2014/15. A less hectic schedule may help and many will be hoping they fail to overcome Danish outfit FC Midtjylland in the final qualifying stage of the Europa League in order to keep Graziano Pelle, Sadio Mane and the Saints defence at the forefront of our Fantasy thinking.
Barkley is tempting us once again…
Everton’s opening schedule had deterred most from considering their main men but Ross Barkley’s opening displays have persuaded some to think again. The Toffees playmaker has thrived in a central role behind Romelu Lukaku and has already equalled last season’s two-goal haul, netting against Watford and Southampton, in addition to supplying an assist. At a price of just 6.5, Barkley certainly looks less prone to rotation this term due to a lack of European duties, though the next Gameweeks (MCI, tot, CHE, swa, wba, LIV, MUN, ars) look a real test of the Merseysiders’ mettle.
It’s difficult to question the Mahrez bandwagon…
Three goals against Sunderland and West Ham have earned the Leicester winger an almighty bandwagon, with Mahrez the first player to rise 0.2 in price this season. Still only setting us back 5.7 and with spot-kick duties looking likely as a result of Leonardo Ulloa’s drop to the bench, the case for his inclusion could barely be stronger; with seven of his ten shots arriving inside the box and six chances created in two matches, the Algerian’s underlying stats suggest he’s a perfect “Moneyball” example. Mahrez looks an ideal cut-price candidate for those needing to raise funds to accommodate Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez in our 15-man squads.
Payet has hit the ground running…
An assist for the Hammers’ opener at Arsenal was followed by their only goal at home to Leicester as the Frenchman wasted no time in settling into life in the top flight. Whilst Diafra Sakho has huffed and puffed without success up front, Payet has so far lived up to his reputation and with a central role in Slaven Bilic’s attack-minded 4-3-1-2 set-up; his set-piece duties and promptings in the middle of the park look vital to their prospects ahead of three very enticing home fixtures (BOU, NEW, NOR) in the next five.
Montero is suddenly unstoppable…
Restricted to just 15 starts last year due to hamstring concerns, the injury-free Swansea winger has finally been able to shown his true capabilities in the first two Gameweeks. With Garry Monk looking to go on the attack this season, Montero has produced 19 dribbles already – more than any other player – and, having tormented Branislav Ivanovic in Gameweek 1, his displays drew two yellows from Newcastle’s Daryl Janmaat as the Magpies were reduced to ten men at the Liberty on Saturday. Having earned eight assists despite limited pitch time last term, Monk will be hoping the South American can steer clear of the treatment room as the Swans momentum builds.
…which can only help Gomis and Ayew…
With Montero running riot down the left and the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jonjo Shelvey offering a steady supply of key passes from the centre of the park, it’s fair to say that Swansea have surpassed our expectations so far. Monk’s side sat second-bottom for shots inside the box in 2014/15 – only Sunderland managed less than their total of 224 – but they so far sit joint-top for both big chances (seven) and efforts on target (15). Having scored in each of their first two outings, Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook in the mid-price bracket as the Welsh club build on their impressive opening day showing at the Bridge.
Sunderland are the whipping boys…
Three clean sheets in the final four fixtures of 2014/15 suggested Sunderland would offer us a viable source of defensive returns after Dick Advocaat reversed his decision to leave the Wearsiders over the summer. After seeing his side concede seven goals in the first two Gameweeks, the Dutchman must be having second thoughts over his stay at the Stadium of Light, though. As expected, Costel Pantilimon has been kept busy between the posts but even the Romanian’s save point heroics look unlikely to persuade many to hold on their Black Cats backline assets, with Advocaat’s side looking in freefall right now.
Walcott will struggle to displace Giroud…
After keeping his place for the trip to Palace, Olivier Giroud answered his critics in emphatic fashion with a superb opener in the 2-1 Selhurst Park win. Theo Walcott looks resigned to bench-warming duties once again and despite his heroics in the final match of 2014/15 and the FA Cup Final, the England international looks firmly behind the Frenchman for the lone striker role. With Aaron Ramsey taking over the right flank berth from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, there’s too much uncertainty surrounding Walcott’s minutes to be patient for any longer.
Sanchez is the untouchable…
Despite a late return to pre-season, the Chilean is simply too crucial to be eased back into action for Arsenal. Sanchez’ impressive cameo off the bench last week persuaded his manager he’s ready to start and Wenger reshuffled his side to accommodate the former Barcelona man for the trip to Selhurst Park. Given that Sanchez leads the way amongst midfielders for touches in the box, shots and attempts inside the area, despite being handed 104 minutes so far, many Fantasy managers will be following Wenger’s lead and doing all they can to bring him on board.
An almost fit Aguero is still too much to handle…
Unleashed from the start against Chelsea, the Argentine tormented the champions for 82 minutes before being replaced by Wilfried Bony late on. He may not be 100% match sharp but Aguero had more than enough in the tank to terrorise the Blues defence and rocket onto our Fantasy radars ahead of an outstanding run of fixtures for Manuel Pellegrini’s men. Snapped up by over 116,000 FPL managers already this week, his ownership now sits at 19% and is climbing fast as many look to hand him the armband for the foreseeable future.
Chelsea’s tough start suddenly looks tougher…
The Blues march to last season’s title was based on a resilience that saw them grind out more clean sheets (17) and concede fewer goals (32) than any other side. After two Gameweeks of the new campaign, Jose Mourinho’s men have already shipped five goals and afforded their opponents eight big chances – at least three more than any other side. Last week’s issues with the medical staff and John Terry’s half-time withdrawal at the Etihad may have hogged the headlines but they aren’t papering over the cracks. Something seems amiss at the Bridge right now and with little form at either end of the pitch, the exodus is picking up pace as the Blues prepare for this weekend’s trip to the Hawthorns.
