The Knee Jerk

The Knee Jerk – Sinful Saint

Last weekend it was Dimitar Berbatov, this evening it’s Rickie Lambert that will be wandering into our minds mid-conversation, over the Saturday evening tipple. Prompting nagging doubt, questioning our best-laid plans.

Lambert is the latest to cause cracks in our established Fantasy thinking. Like the Bulgarian, he arrives in a Gameweek where, once again, the likes of Eden Hazard and Michu – assets who were cemented in our squads – returned blanks. The foundations of the template team again come in question then, with Lambert joining the queue to find a place in our forward lines that looked so settled just a fortnight ago.

There’s little doubt that, as we suggested in the midweek Watchlist article, Lambert has emerged as the budget striker of choice. However, we also spent some time in said article pondering if he could be more than that. If he could displace the array of mid-price assets fighting for our attentions – Dimitar Berbatov, Steven Fletcher, Jermain Defoe. Tonight, I’m even wondering if he can threaten to break up the heavy-hitter pairings.

I’ll be watching Carlos Tevez carefully against Arsenal. While he’s flourished in the opening matches, Sergio Aguero’s return to fitness and Roberto Mancini’s “nine lives” approach to Mario Baltoelli raises a cause for concern. That’s before we consider that Eden Dzeko has, as he’s done so often, found the net when he’s given pitch time.

A Tevez blank or, worse still, an early withdrawal against Arsenal, could trigger a rethink. There’s little doubt that City have the fixtures to find goals in the coming weeks, but growing concerns about their defence and Mancini’s insistence that it must approve, has raised alarm bells for me.

I remember when City battened down the hatches, when they fought for 1-0 wins away from home. Should Mancini take that route again, we could see 4-5-1 with Yaya Toure behind Aguero away from home, something that would hurt Tevez’ scoring potential immeasurably. While Sir Alex appears to be going all out for goals, will Mancini dare to tweak his tactics to tighten up?

Such thoughts crop up before I even consider the merits of sticking with the ultra-expensive Robin Van Persie, under the threat of rotation and rest. I’m trying to fight those doubts off, however.

There is clearly a very attractive plan B forming. Lambert, like Berbatov, offers assured starts. He offers the “big fish in a small pond” scenario. He offers spot-kicks, assists and he faces a long line of fixtures that could bring further returns. The temptation to go with this option, even over the proven class of Tevez, does begin to mount when you consider that Mancini’s whims can waver and throw us the unexpected.

This kind of talk is almost sinful, “Knee Jerk” material of the highest order. We’re talking about supreme Fantasy assets here, while Lambert is perhaps just a noisy new arrival at the party. Four goals in five games is a decent entrance, however, and certainly Tevez will need to offer a reminder of his class on Sunday if tonight’s bout of puzzle-head isn’t to transform into a fully-fledged plan of action.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

3,040 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Just need something from Vertonghen to make this GW amazing.

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  2. Adriano
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Worth a 4 point hit or should I only do one?

    IN: Lambert, Baines
    OUT: Graham, Walker

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    1. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

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  3. Jimbo123
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Tevez!?

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  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    no bonus for nolan?

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  5. Captain Berbarossa - arrrrr…
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Name the players you want in your team but can't fit in somehow. Mine are Berbs, Fellaini, Podolski and Barfa.

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    1. Moontaka
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Fellaini, Vermaelen, Suarez, Fletcher

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    2. Well you know, Triffic
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Berbatov Nolan Baines, actually I can fit em in...but it'd cost me 12 points xD

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    3. Red5
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Caz, Verm. Pretty happy with the rest.

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  6. woodenarmadillo
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Odds on Fallani going up tonight?

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  7. czechmade
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    lol played Kacaniklicakcacic over YAYA , bad move 🙁 , played Berba(C) decent move,
    happy with 39 and verminator,cazorla,podolski,bale & barfa to play

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    1. heartsattack
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Good going this week. Well done.

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    2. Captain Berbarossa - arrrrr…
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      I don't think anyone can fathom that move 😉

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      1. czechmade
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        i can 🙂

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  8. The Chosen One
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Badly need pieneer to get back his assist and clark og to be removed + kag and tevez to get some points

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  9. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    bonus added! great

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  10. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Well, just done zab & mcclean to Baines & Scholes, i'm happy with that.

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    1. The Chosen One
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Scholes???

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      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        yep, plays a part in every game and he grabs a goal occasionally, preferred him to say, maloney or kaca or someone, i like the punt 🙂

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  11. Malcolm Tucker for England …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Everton have looked very good against teams with no plan b. Moyes is superb at setting the tactics to beat one dimensional teams, but as the change in the newcastle game showed we can be caught out when teams mix it up. I would fancy Everton to get something out of each of sot, Wigan and reading

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  12. Mílanista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    It seems like Nolan's game isn't suited to the baps system. Just 2 baps for him and both came in the 1-0 win against Villa and he scored the goal. 0 baps against Fulham and Sunderland despite scoring in both.

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    1. Corrigan
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      mmm interesting Milan. I think I shall still include him
      on my WC, though.

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    2. Jimbo123
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      It's just because the rest of the team have been so impressive also.... haha 😉

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  13. Deicide
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Help?

    27 (31-4 because transfers) with Robin, Tevez, Yay yay and lescott to play. I really really hope that Lescott doesn’t play because I have Clyne as first sub

    So tell me

    Ridgwell, Gibbs, Cashley or someone else instead Lescott?

    I’ll use the free transfer.

    Thanks in advance.

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  14. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Got Jagielka in defence so Dyer and Kagawa out for:

    A) Fellaini and Pienaar + 0.7
    B) Michu and Pienaar + 0.2

    Both -4 points
    ???

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    1. rsleeds
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      pienaar and fellaini for me

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  15. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    http://www.tvcatchup.com/

    That's what I use for live TV.

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    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Reply fail but somehow posted before 1966.

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      1. 1966 was a great year for E…
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks mate.

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  16. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Wow! Flether 3 baps with 1 shot

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    1. Well you know, Triffic
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      100% accuracy 😉

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  17. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    On Wildcarding:

    The way I'm looking at it at the moment, I started out the season with a dodgy team and I've done suitably average so far. Doubling up on Wham was fun while it lasted and double Wigan worked out well one week, but now I think my defence is AWFUL and one of them is injured. I've lost about a good bit of value on underperforming players too.

    I don't mind my attack: Kagawa, Pienaar HBA Hazard Tevez Ba

    But not Wildcarding means 8 point hit followed by more 4 point hits before I can even begin to have a team I'm happy with going forward. The problem I have is I thought I might be ok if I did well this week but it hasn't gone well. My concern is I'm wildcarding merely to tweak things a little bit but not DRASTICALLY changing my attack. This makes me slightly wary of it. But then I also have the issue of a truly pathetic Team Value.

    I may really regret not Wildcarding in a few weeks when I've lost too much ground.

    Please advise me in any way you can, thanks for your thoughts!

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    1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      This comment is a bit late so you may never see it, but I would say that your reasons for WCing are good, and I think a WC would be justified, but I am concerned that the next week or two will tell you whether Hazard, Teves, and maybe even Kagawa should remain in your team. It's a bad time to make those decisions now, so you could end up with a wildcard team that needs biggish changes soon. That might always be the case, but I think the other shoe definitely has not dropped on Tevez and Hazard.

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  18. Gavin - Gers in turmoil!!!
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    I quit!!!!!!

    Used my transfer this week for a sideways Fellaini to Pienaar move and absolutely raging gggggrrrrrrrr

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    1. The Chosen One
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      ?What did you expect from sideways move?

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    2. Jimbo123
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Redonkulous move. Were you pissed!?

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      1. Gavin - Gers in turmoil!!!
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Just checked and was made at midday so not drunk< i need another excuse

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      2. Gavin - Gers in turmoil!!!
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        I might well have been, Been off on holiday this week and not exactly sure when I did it

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    3. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Just swap back. The when Pienaar outscores Fellaini next week, swap back again...

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      1. Gavin - Gers in turmoil!!!
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        This could be my weekly free transfer all season, Bound to pay off at some point

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        1. 1966 was a great year for E…
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          😀

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  19. 1966 was a great year for E…
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Can you watch MOTD live on BBC i-Player? I know you can't watch it afterwards, but live?

    Got the soon-to-be-in-laws round and they're watching some weird Italian cop show on BBC4 🙁

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    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      You can watch it on the BBC Sport website

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    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Inspector Montalbano?

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      1. 1966 was a great year for E…
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Yes! It looks OK actually, but I'm taping The Thick of It and need to watch MOTD!

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    3. COMH
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Inspector Montalbano! Piece of nonsense.

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    4. COMH
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Not sure about i-player but BBC Football shows it.

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    5. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Turn the lights off and stand by the door with their coats. Normally works a treat

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      1. 1966 was a great year for E…
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        They're staying over...

        And future mother-in-law always falls asleep on the sofa, no 1966-time 🙁

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        1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          🙁

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          1. 1966 was a great year for E…
            • 14 Years
            12 years, 1 month ago

            Seriously, I stomp around, drop heavy things on the floor, cough as unsublty as possible but nothing works 🙂

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    6. heartsattack
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Romanzie Criminale? It's meant to be good.

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      1. 1966 was a great year for E…
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Ha, no, I watch that myself, it's great.

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    7. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers fellas, looks like my Saturday night is not completely destroyed 😀

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  20. COMH
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Is it worth downgrading Maloney to Puncheon, Sterling or Kacaniklic?

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    1. McDog
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Do you need the money? I would keep Maloney if you don't, he looks great value at 5.0. The 3 you mentioned also have question marks over gametime.

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      1. COMH
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah they are all 50-60 minute merchants. I can afford to keep Maloney so I think I will do.

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    2. Chris_White
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Not for me. He is on set pieces too. Sterling could be worth it if he keeps it going, though.

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      1. COMH
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks mate

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  21. Timmy Cahill Rules
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    first to 3

    obrien or davis as 5th defender

    cheers lads

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    1. McDog
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Davies.

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  22. Moves Like Agger
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Evenin’ all, would apprecaite your input. Which transfer looks better.

    (A) Colocinni to Baines (already have Pienaar)
    (B) Ireland to Ben Arfa (no newcastle attacking players) 🙂

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    1. McDog
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      I'd probably do both, but Colocinni to Baines first.

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  23. Blando
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Chances of my one week, one day team making the top spot?

    http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/1444863/event-history/5/

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      How, you have nobody left to play?!

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      1. Blando
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Only going for 24 hours of e-glory. Hence the one day. 🙂

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        1. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          But you asked for chances of making top spot. Maybe the other team gets disqualified?

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  24. McDog
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    I have 2 free transfers this week, what do you think of these moves?

    Rangel + Cuellar > Gibbs and Davies

    Need to shift Cuellar if he's injured and I can't see any great options at < 4.5 other than Davies, and he looks better value than Rangel.

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  25. EoinM
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Evening, making my Wc after two stink weeks 😛 who are the neccesities to have at this point? cheers/

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Nobody

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    2. Moontaka
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      To be honest, nobody is essential at this point.

      Closest to essential status is Baines.

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      1. EoinM
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Alright cheers lads...

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  26. Adam Lallana makes Messi lo…
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    What would you do with this team?

    Foster

    Demes /ivanivonic /McAually

    Michu /hazard /Nolan /Fellini

    RVP /tevez /fletcher

    Davis / jenkinson/ Reid / Morrison

    2FT what should I do.

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  27. SC not pearls before swine
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Well, now that the bonus points are in I guess I have to abandon any hope that Clark's own goal wouldn't be coming off my bench. Bummer.

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  28. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    For once Villa are on first, but this is what I have to endure...

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  29. COMH
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    2 bps for Clyne 🙂

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      On my bench. 🙁

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  30. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Quality finish by Lambert!

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    1. heartsattack
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      It was. Villa are gonna struggle big time this year,

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    2. Crouch Potato!
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Yup, excellent pen too.

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