Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku continue to make persuasive cases for inclusion up front. United’s attack remains in flux, Southampton’s defence impress on the road again, whilst Gerard Deulofeu and Manuel Lanzini throw their names in the hat as possible Sergio Aguero enablers, with the City striker closing in on a comeback.
Vardy’s team-mates could carry him to the record…
As he closes in on Ruud van Nistelrooy’s ten-match scoring streak, the Leicester forward benefitted from an act of unselfishness from Riyad Mahrez. After winning a spot-kick award, Vardy was handed the chance to score for the ninth successive league outing after the Algerian – the Foxes first-choice taker – stepped aside. Whilst Mahrez’ 55% owners were left less than impressed, it’s clear that the Foxes are doing everything they can to ensure Vardy stands a chance of breaking records.
Van Gaal is still tinkering…
The United attack remains a work in progress after yet another tactical tweak by Louis van Gaal. Anthony Martial was finally named up front for the first time since Gameweek 8 as Wayne Rooney dropped deeper, resulting in a spot on the bench for Ander Herrera. With Jesse Lingard netting on his first start of the season, the Red Devils’ attack continues to prove difficult to predict as Van Gaal looks for a cutting edge up top.
Bournemouth are dead without a striker…
The Cherries spurned 20 scoring opportunities at home to Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime, with a fourth straight loss pushing Eddie Howe’s side into the drop zone. Since the loss of Callum Wilson, Bournemouth have scored just three times from 64 attempts in the last five Gameweeks – only basement-dwellers Villa boast a lower conversion rate over that period. Matt Ritchie sits joint-top for successful crosses (15) over that period but with no one capable of converting, his Fantasy relevance is also on the slide.
Swansea are in freefall…
It’s five goals and five points from the last eight Gameweeks for Garry Monk’s men after falling to a 1-0 loss at Norwich. Given that the Canaries had failed to keep a clean sheet before the weekend, hopes were high that the Swans could turn around their ailing season but yet again they disappointed. After scoring in each of the first four, Bafetimbi Gomis has drawn blanks in each of the subsequent eight, with Andre Ayew netting just twice over that period – up next is a run of four home matches in six that look crucial for Monk’s side as they attempt to claw themselves away from the relegation battle.
Southampton’s rearguard travel well…
A 1-0 win Sunderland continued the Saints’ fine away displays in Ronald Koeman’s second season at the helm. Southampton have already racked up three clean sheets on their travels – one less than they managed on the road over 2014/15 – with just four goals against and two big chances conceded so far. With the Dutchman tightening up away from St Mary’s, though, it’s come at a cost for Graziano Pelle – the Italian fires a shot every 17.3 minutes in front of their own fans but this drops to 46.3 on his travels as the Saints look to operate less offensively.
Lukaku might just be able to achieve some consistency….
The Toffees frontman seems to be stepping up in terms of reliability as the season unfolds. A frustrating Fantasy asset at the best of times, Lukaku’s points hauls have been notoriously difficult to predict but his recent output suggest there’s been a real improvement. After blanking in four of the first six, his goal at West Ham means that only United and Arsenal’s defences have kept him at bay in the subsequent six rounds of fixtures. With the schedule smiling kindly until Christmas, he looks poised to kick on and strengthen his claim for a role in our three-man frontlines.
Deulofeu could be an Aguero enabler…
It’s one goal and six assists in the last six Gameweeks for the Everton wide men, who is becoming increasingly influential thanks to a run of starts. Deulofeu was handed just 40 minutes in the first six Gameweeks but has since been named in the first XI on all but one occasion thanks to a series of eye-catching outings on the flank. Considering that Ross Barkley has produced just one goal over the same period, Deulofeu – at just 6.2 – looks a valid option as we look to free up cash for Sergio Aguero’s imminent return and also take advantage of Everton’s fine fixtures.
…and so could Lanzini…
The West Ham midfielder bagged a third strike of the season in Saturday’s home draw with the Toffees to maintain his fine recent form. Impressively, Lanzini has served up two goals and as many assists in the last five Gameweeks – that’s more than Dimitri Payet (two goals, one assist) has managed over the same time frame. With question marks hovering over Payet’s ankle injury, Lanzini – at a mere 5.3 – looks an intriguing option as a means for freeing up that Aguero cash.
Shawcross has reinforced the Potters…
It’s two successive clean sheets for Stoke after seeing off Chelsea 1-0 at the Britannia. Although this coincides with Ryan Shawcross’ return to the fold, it’s fair to say they impressed prior to their skipper’s recovery from injury – Mark Hughes’ men have now kept out their opponents in four of the last five. With Jack Butland also excelling between the posts, the Staffordshire outfit are starting to look a solid source of budget defensive points.
Garde will stand by Villa’s imports…
The new man in charge arrested a seven-match losing streak and put the brakes on City’s title tilt with a goalless draw yesterday. Garde was quick to reinstall new boys Jordan Amavi and Jordan Veretout after both fell out of favour in Tim Sherwood’s final fixtures, whilst Jordan Ayew was finally handed a central role up top after netting twice in as many matches. Having failed to produce a single shot on target, we’re not getting carried away by yesterday’s draw but it’s clear the new man in charge is determined to afford the batch of summer signings a chance to stake a claim once again.
Pellegrini will be tempted to fast-track Aguero….
The injury to Wilfried Bony saw City fail to find the net for the second time in three league outings as Manuel Pellegrini’s men were unable to take advantage of a defence that hadn’t kept a clean sheet since Gameweek 1. City look devoid of a cutting edge right now but with three home matches in four, the Etihad side will be looking to boost their bid for the crown. Ideally, Pellegrini would surely prefer to ease Sergio Aguero back into contention but if Bony is ruled out, the City boss will be tempted to bring the Argentine – should he prove his fitness- back early as he looks to address his side’s toils in attack.
Kane not Aguero, could yet be the option…
The Tottenham talisman continues to plunder the goals and is clearly determined to make up for lost time after netting just once in the first nine Gameweeks. Kane has now scored five times in the subsequent three and with a midweek strike against Anderlecht also thrown in, he’s returning to the form that made him a fixture-proof option in the campaign gone by. Spurs now have four home matches in six and for those reluctant to rip up their sides to make space for Aguero, Kane is starting to look a more than decent alternative.
Dann’s set-piece threat has more to give
The Palace centre-half has already matched his two-goal tally from 20141/5 by bagging the winner against childhood club Liverpool at Anfield yesterday. Alan Pardew’s ability to exploit set-piece situations looks tailor-made for Dann’s aerial ability in and around the box – despite earning just three clean sheets so far, the 5.1-priced centre-half has moved into fifth amongst FPL defenders. With the fixtures in Palace’s favour, Dann could be set to keep on delivering as the Eagles look to kick on from yesterday’s win over the Merseysiders.
The 4.0 keeper rotation is on…
Rob Elliot’s man-of-the-man performance against Bournemouth had Steve McClaren singing the stopper’s praises as Newcastle clambered out of the drop zone. With Tim Krul sidelined for the foreseeable future, Elliot – like Palace’s Wayne Hennessey – is now in pole position to offer us a 4.0-priced option in goal. Indeed, from Gameweek 14 onwards, that duo alternate home/away until Gameweek 27, offering us a cut-price pairing between the posts for those in need to free up funds.
