The Digest returns with a look at Everton’s goal machine, the flourishing form of Alan Pardew’s Newcastle and the troubles possibly plaguing Tottenham ahead of the crucial upcoming double Gameweek.
The Player
Nikica Jelavic chose the perfect platform to place himself in the Fantasy shop window ahead of double Gameweek 36. Bagging a brace in Everton’s superb comeback draw at Old Trafford, the Croatian has been the subject of heavy investment this week already – over 53,000 Fantasy managers have acquired his services, more than any other player thus far.
It’s little wonder. The January signing’s composure and clinical nature in front of goal seems to have added an extra dimension to the Toffees game – finally, David Moyes has a forward capable of sticking the ball in the back of the net with regularity. With Jelavic up front, the Toffees creative players are suddenly far more attractive propositions than in the first half of the campaign, with Steven Pienaar also picking up plenty of attention as a result of his own immediate impact upon his loan return to Merseyside.
Jelavic’s six goals in six starts sums up just what sort of player Moyes has acquired from Glasgow Rangers and, priced at a mere 6.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), with an ownership of less than 4%, he looks the ultimate mid-price differential ahead of an upcoming pair of fixtures which sees him host Fulham before travelling to Stoke.
With a trip to Wolves in Gameweek 37 followed by a home encounter against Newcastle to round the season off, Jelavic’s eye for goal could well return plenty more points before the campaign is out. Indeed, such is the belief in his potential, plenty are prepared to ship out Wayne Rooney or Robin Van Persie in light of Jelavic’s schedule. With the bandwagon rolling on relentlessly, he’ll be snapped up by plenty more Fantasy managers ahead of Saturday’s morning’s deadline – such is his current form, even handing him the armband looks a viable tactic in a Gameweek that could ultimately prove decisive in settling many a mini league.
The Team
Six back-to-back victories have propelled Newcastle into the race for the Champions League places ahead of their upcoming double Gameweek. A 3-0 win over Stoke at the weekend, coupled with Spurs’ Loftus Road defeat, puts Alan Pardew’s side three points clear of the north London outfit with just four matches remaining.
Papiss Cisse – yet again – provided another goal and, with an assist also thrown in for good measure, he has now played a part in 11 of his side’s 13 goals over that six-game streak. Cisse has also picked up 17 bonus points from a possible 18 over that run, averaging an incredible 11.6 points per game. With trips to Wigan and Chelsea on the horizon, he’s set to rival Jelavic for the captain’s armband, as the Magpies go looking for the points.
While Hatem Ben Arfa has dazzled on the right in recent Gameweeks, the Frenchman was kept firmly in the shade by compatriot Yohan Cabaye last Saturday. Cabaye is another player who is benefitting from a recent move to 4-3-3; the system he excelled in for French champions Lille last season. With Cheick Tiote back to anchor the Magpies central midfield, Cabaye continued his recent outstanding form and has now picked up 34 points over the last three Gameweeks. If he can overcome an ankle problem that forced him off just before the hour mark, Cabaye could be just as pivotal as Ben Arfa over the remaining four matches.
It’s perhaps been easy to overlook the Newcastle back-line, considering the displays of the aforementioned trio. Pardew’s defence, however, have been quietly accumulating the points of late – the clean sheet against Stoke was their fifth in the last six. While the return of Fabricio Coloccini has undoubtedly bolstered their potential, the likes of Danny Simpson and Mike Williamson – priced at a mere 4.2 – have proven to be an outstanding source of cut-price potential, with Tim Krul’s extra save points more than justifying his 5.0 price tag.
The Talking Point
Spurs’ 1-0 defeat at QPR last Saturday continued their recent run of woeful results and places huge question marks over investment in their Fantasy assets ahead of the double Gameweek. Only a few weeks ago, Fantasy managers would have been lining up in their droves ahead of a pair of fixtures which sees the north London outfit host Blackburn before travelling to Bolton but, as their form flounders amid rumours of dressing room discontent, there’s a reluctance to hop on board ‘Arry’s bandwagon.
Emmanuel Adebayor is apparently far from enamoured with Redknapp’s criticism of his recent displays – the pair have allegedly had a training ground row, with suggestions that the on-loan forward may not feature again this season. Aside from that, the Togo international missed out at Loftus Road due to a hamstring problem and is an injury doubt. As is Louis Saha – the former Everton man is sidelined with a groin problem – meaning that Redknapp may be approaching the weekend with just Jermaine Defoe as his only fit forward option.
At the back, Redknapp confirmed earlier this afternoon that both Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul could be sidelined for the season. The former’s loss is of particular interest to Fantasy managers but Redknapp is now left with a patched-up back-line ahead of Blackburn’s visit. Given his team needs the points in their battle for a Champions League slot, it’s likely that Danny Rose will be drafted in at left-back but the possibility of Gareth Bale even dropping back from his midfield berth, however remote, is enough to concern his owners.
Many will be thinking that a punt on Rafael Van der Vaart is perhaps the best way forward – he’d be on spot-kicks if Adebayor is out and, with two goals, an assist and five bonus points in his last five, is the only player showing any semblance of form. The Dutchman has a mere 6% ownership and could be a strong differential at this point. Given that his side have won a single game in the last nine and have failed to score on the road in five of their last six, however, the formbook suggests it wouldn’t be a major surprise if disappointment lay ahead.
