Zlatan’s time is now and perhaps forever, while Mkhitaryan’s moment approaches. Lallana is slowly putting the Liverpool midfield argument to rest, while a pragmatic Ronald Koeman may just have delivered a new budget solution at the back. Here’s our lessons learned from Gameweek 18 so far…
Ibrahimovic can be a season keeper…
A 15 point-haul against Sunderland was not just his biggest tally of the season; it also meant that Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the first player to record three successive double-figure returns in the campaign.
Backed by more than 25% of FPL managers with the captaincy, this new level of consistent heavy scoring has us look on the Manchester United striker with new eyes.
Regardless of our decision on Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero, it appears we can turn to Ibrahimovic for assured returns – not just in the short-term but perhaps over the season as a whole.
His influence in Jose Mourinho’s side arguably outweighs even that of Costa for Chelsea and Aguero for Pep Guardiola’s men.
United build around Ibrahimovic. His ability to drop deep and play in midfield runners, as well as being a target for crosses from the flank, appears to dictate their attacking ploys. He’s also on penalties and direct free-kicks. In short, he is the United attack.
Both Chelsea and City have won Premier League matches when devoid of their principal strikers. United failed to do that without Ibrahimovic and, according to Mourinho’s recent comments, they may never have to try a second time.
The Mkhitaryan option is close…
While Ibrahimovic is constant, along with Paul Pogba, there appears to be a shifting cast of attacking assets deployed by Mourinho.
But Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s time is surely imminent.
His goal against Sunderland, a second in as many Premier League appearances, demonstrated a rare talent that surely Mourinho can only keep shackled for so long.
Still priced at 8.9, Mkhitaryan constitutes a gamble for Fantasy managers, at least until we can be close to certain on regular starts.
There’s no guarantee that the gifted Armenian will ever achieve that, which could still consign him to a role of short-term differential.
However, once installed, Mkhitaryan clearly has the ability to make it difficult for Mourinho to go on juggling his resources. We watch and wait.
Lallana’s progress will calm interest in a fit-again Coutinho…
A seventh goal of the season, coupled with six assists, has put some distance between Adam Lallana and an absent Philippe Coutinho.
Boasting almost identical Fantasy Premier League points per match statistics, Lallana’s price tag of 7.5 threatens to keep Coutinho in the shade even on his return to fitness.
The Brazilian seems likely to be back in the frame for the visit to Old Trafford for Gameweek 21, by which point the difference in price between the two Liverpool assets could be far narrower than the current 0.7 gap.
However, Lallana’s 19.2% ownership will surely continue to grow with his new suitors perhaps unlikely to trade unless Coutinho can begin to significantly outstrip his team-mate.
On the evidence so far, Lallana is equipped to see off such a challenge and perhaps put the debate on the Liverpool midfield to rest.
Conte doesn’t see Batshuayi as an option…
When Antonio Conte discussed alternative plans in Thursday’s press conference, turning down the opportunity to boost the confidence of striker Michy Batshuayi, it became clear that the Belgian was unlikely to be his choice to fill the void left by Diego Costa’s suspension.
Restricted to a final-minute appearance, ironically replacing Eden Hazard, the man earmarked for the central attacking role; it is now obvious that Conte does not consider the Batshuayi as a viable “plan B”.
Should Costa face any further forced periods of absence through injury or suspension, we can, therefore, presume that the Chelsea boss will again look to his midfield for a solution, deploying a fluid front trio with Hazard and Pedro tasked with providing a cutting edge.
Pedro won’t be put in the corner…
The Spaniard’s double-figure haul, his third of the season, demonstrated again that he has the potential to break up our preferred template of Chelsea assets.
There can be little argument that three Blues assets are deserving of slots in our squads but, as it stands, there is much debate about the optimum configuration.
Pedro remains another variable to consider in this argument. Priced at just 7.0, he arguably presents outstanding value as a fourth midfield option or even a fifth for those deploying a 3-5-2 set-up.
Certainly, given his performance against Bournemouth, he seems likely to oust Willian back to the bench for the Gameweek 20 meeting with Spurs once his one-match suspension against Stoke has been served.
….but Giroud seems resigned to it….
Arsene Wenger also has a selection headache, although the Gunners boss appears to have few concerns on revealing his thinking with regards to Olivier Giroud’s position in the pecking order.
Despite his decisive goal against West Brom, the French striker would seem likely to be back on the bench for the visit of Crystal Palace – particularly if Theo Walcott is fit to return.
Encouragingly for owners of Alexis Sanchez, Giroud’s first start in the central striker role did little to douse the Chilean’s fire. He mustered nine attempts on goal, six from inside the box – in both cases more than any other player in Gameweek 19 so far.
Even so, Sanchez will likely need to deliver on New Year’s Day to calm the possibility of FPL sales. Giroud may well play his part in that by reclaiming a role on the bench.
Koeman may just be prioritising clean sheets…
We saw Ronald Koeman arrest a slide while at Southampton with a shift to a three-man defence. That stifled their goal threat but got them points on the board and a sustained run of clean sheets.
Now, having suffered a similar malaise at Everton, the Dutchman appears to be considering the same approach.
A three-man defence was deployed in the 2-0 win over Leicester City, as Koeman’s rearguard kept just a fourth shut-out of the campaign.
Everton conceded just a single attempt from inside their own box in Monday’s clash. Damning evidence of the Foxes’ own demise but perhaps also indication that Koeman’s system tweak had an affect. The 3-4-2-1 may well remain, then, certainly while Idrissa Gueye is absent at the Africa Cup of Nations.
If that means regular starts for Mason Holgate (4.0) and Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines as wing-backs, then we won’t be complaining.
There’s still life left in Lukaku…
But a more pragmatic approach from Koeman may just stifle Romelu Lukaku’s potential over the forthcoming spell.
It hardly held him back at the King Power: the Belgian’s goal was a superb example of the striker at his best, using strength, speed and composure to put the game to bed.
That goal was not the product of a striker out of form, or low on confidence. It was an indication that, in Fantasy terms, we cannot write off Lukaku amidst the scramble for Costa and Aguero.
Everton’s fixtures are about to turn in their favour, providing a platform for Lukaku to deliver. At 9.4, he could still be a value proposition if the Toffees can start playing with confidence and if Koeman’s tactical tweak can feed the striker.
Payet will struggle to compete with value Hammers…
While we sit and wait for Dimitri Payet to finally make his move, both Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll continue to re-build their reputations as mid-price Fantasy assets.
Antonio now appears to have resorted to scoring goals with his feet, leaving others to provide the aerial threat on the end of Payet’s deliveries.
His goal in the 4-1 rout of Swansea City was an eighth of a campaign that stalled with West Ham’s diminishing form and a change of position.
Now back on the right wing, Antonio is busily reviving his stock and attracting new suitors.
Meanwhile, Carroll’s own campaign for inclusion in our squads is picking up pace. A second goal in five appearances was the highlight of a performance against the Swans that bristled with menace typical of the muscular target man.
Carroll will trouble any defence and, at just 6.2, has to be an option to consider provided we’re willing to risk another breakdown.
