The whistle has blown on Sunday’s action, with a victory for Chelsea and a superb thriller at City. It’s time to “check the stock” as a result of the day’s events…
On The Up
Southampton
An outstanding display, showing courage and composure in the backyard of the Champions. Attacking with pace and craft – their performance was epitomised by Steven Davis’ goal on the counter. The fixture list may well have been against them but today’s showing will have put Fantasy managers on alert to the budget options within Nigel Adkins’ squad.
Rickie Lambert
The day started so badly when he was named on the Saints bench and yet last season’s Championship leading scorer took little time to announce himself when introduced. His assured curling finish got Southampton back into the game and will have earned admiring glances from Fantasy managers pondering their budget striker.
Eden Hazard
Two assists offered instant returns for those who chose to back the undoubted talent of Chelsea’s Belgian capture. His withdrawal after 65 minutes will have come as a frustration but should at least ensure that he takes the field for Chelsea’s second fixture against Reading on Wednesday.
Branislav Ivanovic
In Fantasy terms, Ivanovic justified his selection in the Scout Picks over John Terry and Ashley Cole with a first half strike from Hazard’s pass. The Serbian got forward with regularity for Chelsea and, with currently competition for the right-back role, he looks nailed-on in Roberto Di Matteo’s lineup.
Carlos Tevez
Sergio Aguero’s early injury surely now appears to cement his starting role, in the short-term at least. David Silva’s penalty miss could also assure that the Argentine is given spot kick duties if Mario Balotelli is off the pitch.
Samir Nasri
He continues to grow in a City shirt, contributing another goal and assist in today’s win and Fantasy managers will be beginning to ponder their first choice City cover in midfield. To compound matters, David Silva meanwhile, missed a spot-kick and returned a blank.
Going Down
Sergio Aguero
City’s hitman lasted just nine minutes of the encounter with Southampton before being stretchered down the tunnel with a knee injury. With over 30% ownership in both the Sky and FPL games, suddenly transfer plans for Gameweek 2 could well be revised. City are said to be optimistic on the prognosis, however.
Shaun Maloney
It took just 49 minutes for the Wigan playmaker’s propensity for injury to rear its head. Having played his part in orchestrating Wigan’s dominance in the first half, he was withdrawn with a knock to remind us why the former Celtic man is a Fantasy gamble, even in the budget bracket.
Fernando Torres
It’s perhaps harsh on the Spaniard, who hardly benefited from the most fluent Chelsea performance, but the reality is, with one match gone, he failed to deliver. It’s highly expected that we’ll see Torres sold for either Wayne Rooney or Robin Van Persie prior to Gameweek 2 and today’s events did little to persuade otherwise. Aguero’s injury could yet give Torres a stay of execution in some squads.
