Wayne Rooney’s acrobatics light up the Gameweek and confirms the title race as a two horse affair. The hopes of that second runner continue to gather pace thanks to the efforts of Robin Van Persie as he maintained his incredible run of scoring by slaying United conquerors Wolves at the Emirates. Elsewhere, there were mixed results from the double Gameweek experiment with the half-way point now reached. Here’s the notes on Saturday’s events…
Alex Ferguson looked to combat City’s preference for a five-man midfield by benching Dimitar Berbatov and handing Wayne Rooney the lone striker role. Significantly Rafael was also left amongst the subs, with John O’Shea taking the right-back berth. O’Shea’s big match experience and some extra height in defence were perhaps the deciding factors for giving him the nod – indication that some confidence in Rafael may been lost since the red card at Spurs in Gameweek 24.
While Berbatov was dropped to the bench against City, he looks very likely to return to the lineup for United’s trip to Wigan. Indeed, Ferguson has followed up yesterday’s games with comments stressing the need for the Bulgarian, along with Rooney, to dominate games for United away from Old Trafford.
Nani’s strike for his ninth league goal means that he’s returned a goal or an assist in 5 of his last 7 starts in a United shirt – emphasising his level and consistency and fully justifying his run as our top ranked midfielder in the Watchlist. Regardless of fixtures, Nani has produced for Alex Ferguson’s side and is assured of his place in the Fantasy team of the season and could still end up the leading points scorer in the FPL. Nani capped the goal with the cross for Wayne Rooney’s incredible winner – that took him to 13 assists for the season.
Roberto Mancini again went with Aleksandar Kolarov in the left-flank role which meant that Edin Dzeko again had to be content with a start on the bench. Kolarov was replaced early in the second-half as City chased and equaliser and will now go into Gameweek 28 with his starting role far from secure.
There’s every possibility that the Serb could return to a full-back role as Mancini would seem likely to revert to a 4-4-2 with Dzeko perhaps given a run of games with City facing three of the next four at Eastlands. Carlos Tevez and David Silva will both be fancied for that run and the latter looked particularly influential in the defeat at Old Trafford. Defensively Vincent Kompany was dominant but, as a midfielder in the Fantasy Premier League game, he remains a non-option. Around Kompany, there continues to be little security in the City back four for Fantasy Managers. Mancini is still prone to heavy rotation in this area – the Italian highlighted this again by drafting in Joleon Lescott and dropping Kolo Toure to his bench for Saturday’s game.
Alex McLeish gave an immediate debut to Obefemi Martins in the Birmingham lineup with Cameron Jerome dropping to the bench to make way. Martins looked lively before being replaced on 75 minutes. It was this week’s Fantasy Island Risk, Nikola Zigic, who emerged as the match winner with his third goal in as many league starts. Barry Ferguson again earned the maximum 3 Bonus Points for the home side in the 1-0 win.
Tony Pulis made two changes at full-back for the trip to Birmingham with Andy Wilkinson and Danny Higginbotham dropping to the bench to make way for Danny Pugh and Marc Wilson to come in. Matt Etherington missed out through a hamstring injury with Pulis deciding not to risk him with the FA Cup tie with Brighton and the trip to Arsenal to come.
Kenny Dalglish ditched his 3-5-2 formation with Dan Agger dropping to the bench – Martin Skrtel partnered Jamie Carragher in the centre of a defence that included Martin Kelly who shrugged off an ankle injury to start. Luis Suarez benefited from the change in formation – he was handed his first start up front, while Fabio Aurelio came in to plug the gap left by Steven Gerrard who failed to overcome a groin injury that saw him miss England’s trip to Denmark in midweek.
Raul Meireles scored his fifth goal in 6 league starts – an incredible run of form that belies his 7.1 FPL price tag. Many Fantasy Managers will surely have been wondering if they’d missed the bus with the Portuguese midfielder but, as he keeps on notching goals, he will surely go on earning more investors. He was worryingly replaced on 54 minutes but Dalglish confirmed after the game that this was due to sickness rather than injury.
Luis Suarez was heavily involved in Liverpool’s play and was unfortunate not to register a second goal in Liverpool colours having struck the woodwork twice in the game. His involvement in Liverpool direct free-kicks in Gerrard’s absence and his 2 Bonus Points earned here, indicates the Suarez could have several strings to his bow when it comes to Fantasy scoring. With a price tag of 9.0 in the FPL, his progress requires monitoring.
Steve Gohouri’s equaliser silenced the Anfield faithful and ended Liverpool’s run of 4 consecutive clean sheets. Martin Kelly was culpable for the goal as he was caught napping and allowed the Wigan centre back to convert, although the goal did also appear to be offside. The point for Wigan follows the 4-3 win over Blackburn and Roberto Martinez’ side will have some confidence going into their Gameweek 28 clash with United at the DW.
Gerrard Houllier has begun to rotate his resources at Villa Park – just in time for their run of favourable fixtures. He chose to rest both James Collins and Stylian Petrov to the bench, drafting in Carlos Cuellar and Nigel Reo-Coker to take their starting roles. Cuellar later picked up an injury and was replaced by Collins on 27 minutes – he now faces at least 3 weeks out.
Houlier’s options in midfield will also be cut for the next three matches – Jean Makoun’s straight red will see him face a suspension that will rule him out of matches against Blackburn and Bolton in the league and the FA Cup tie at Notts County.
Gabby Agbonlahor struck only his second goal of the season to give Villa a lead. Darren Bent earned the assist for that goal but suffered from his outing with England in midweek as he failed to ignite and was eventually hauled off by Houllier on 57 minutes showing signs of fatigue; Heskey taking his place. Kyle Walker looks perhaps the best proposition for Villa’s run of kind opponents to come – he was again impressive at right-back making countless bursts in tandem with Stewart Downing.
Any fears we had over the risk of rest and rotation in Arsene Wenger’s lineup were quelled by the starting lineup for the clash with Wolves. Wenger went with his strongest side, bringing back Alex Song to his midfield for the suspended Abou Diaby. His lineup can perhaps be taken as reassurance that Wenger is happy to prioritise the league over Champions League ambitions. It remains to be seen if the same policy is applied before the second leg with Barcelona on March 8. That game follows the Gameweek 29 home fixture with Sunderland by three days.
Robin Van Persie scored his ninth and tenth goals in his last 7 league starts – an incredible run that has seemingly made him an almost essential Fantasy purchase for Arsenal’s run-in. The Dutchman has also scored maximum FPL Bonus in 4 of his last 5 starts, giving him double figure hauls in all those Gameweeks. We are likely to see his relentless price increase curbed by a blank in Gameweek 28 but, following that, on his current form you would expect Van Persie to go on earning goals and Fantasy suitors. A knee injury sustained in yesterday’s game did provide some concern – although Wenger has offered us reassurance that this is insignificant with Van Persie in line to take his place in the side for the Barcelona clash on Wednesday.
Samir Nasri could also be in the frame for the Barcelona clash with Wenger refusing to rule out the Frenchman following a hamstring injury. Nasri’s price in the FPL has dropped to 8.2 following the spell on the sidelines and his re-introduction would certainly shake up a few Fantasy squads if he can prove his fitness.
Senegalese striker Demba Ba made a dream full debut for West Ham as they clawed back a 3-0 half-time deficit at the Hawthorns. Ba struck twice in an extraordinary second-half as the Hammers reeled in West Brom and could have returned to East London with all three points.
While Ba claimed the goals, Freddie Piquionne’s arrival from the bench just before the hour mark was the catalyst for the West Ham revival – emphasising Avram Grant’s options up front. It was Scott Parker who gained the maximum 3 FPL Bonus from the match however – his inspiration in midfield was again a factor. Parker has now had his most profitable Fantasy season with 4 goals, 3 assists and 21 Bonus to his name. More will surely follow if West Ham are to produce the performances that will see them escape relegation.
West Brom’s defence will surely be the focus for new manager Roy Hodgson. In attacking terms the Baggies again demonstrated verve with Graham Dorrans emerging as an unlikely hero by registering his first goal of the campaign. He is also provided an assist for the third strike and overall stole the thunder from Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwingie, who were both heavily backed going into the Gameweek. West Brom lose influential holding midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu to a hamstring injury which was sustained whilst on international – he was replaced by James Morrison early on. Mulumbu is expected to return for the second fixture of the Gameweek against Wolves.
Niko Kranjcar was again the Spurs hero as Harry Redknapp prepared his side for their Champions League trip to the San Siro with another 3 points in the league. Kranjcar provided the spark it what was generally a listless performance from the visitors as they continued to go without the talents of Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Rafeal Van der Vaart. The latter is due to make his return for the Milan tie on Tuesday according to the Spurs boss, with Bale still short following a spell on the sidelines with a back injury. Van der Vaart should play some part in the Gameweek then with Spurs set to play their second fixture at Blackpool a week on Tuesday. Aaron Lennon was left on the bench at the Stadium of Light, eventually replacing Piennar on 78 minutes, with some sources suggesting that Lennon was carrying a knock – he will also be expected to return on Tuesday.
The 2-1 home defeat for Sunderland has meant that they have now failed to return a clean sheet in 5 league matches. Phil Bardsley’s stock and that of Craig Gordon in goal have declined markedly then and the Black Cats’ fixture list offers little reassurance that matters will improve in this area.
In attacking terms however, Sunderland’s Kieran Richardson and Asamoah Gyan continue to produce. Gyan’s goal, from a Richardson assists was his ninth of the season, his fourth in his last 7 league starts. Richardson meanwhile has scored or assisted in his last four. Three away games in four now lie in wait for the Black Cats and that is likely to provide a stern test of both their attacking and defensive qualities.
Joes Enrique was the outstanding player on show in a 0-0 stalemate at Ewood Park. Newcastle’s Spanish left-back came out of the game with a deserved 3 Bonus Points, while Joey Barton’s efforts also saw Bonus rewards. This was Newcastle’s first clean sheet in five matches and the second home match running that Steve Kean’s Blackburn have failed to score having lost 1-0 to Spurs last time out. That will be a concern ahead of the trip to Villa up next, while Newcastle now go to take on Birmingham in the second fixture of the Gameweek. A second 0-0 there would certainly suit most Fantasy Managers.
Blackburn have a couple of injury scares following yesterday’s game with Roque Santa Cruz replaced in the second-half feelign the effects of his groin injury, while Junior Hoilett reportedly tweaked a hamstring.
