Quick out the blocks at the start of the season, Carlos Tevez had looked an irresistible Fantasy prospect. Slapped with an initial 9.0 price tag in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the Argentine rapidly rose in ownership after grabbing a goal or assist in seven of his first eight starts – with Sergio Aguero sidelined due to a knee complaint on the opening day of the new campaign, Fantasy managers made his team mate and compatriot a must-have for our three man frontlines:
Over the next few months, though, Tevez, like City, began to falter. Between Gameweeks 10 and 26, the Argentine found the net in just two of his 13 appearances as Roberto Mancini’s side failed to rediscover the attacking verve that had swept them to the title last time round. Aside from a stunning 19 point return in the Gameweek 12 home win over Villa – thanks to a brace, two assists and maximum bonus points – the winter period proved barren for Tevez but over the last few matches, he’s started to deliver the points once again.
Tevez has notched in four of the last seven Gameweeks for Mancini’s men – compare that to Edin Dzeko’s single assist and just one goal from Sergio Aguero over the same period and City’s recent reliance on Tevez is obvious. With a superb run of fixtures to finish the season (WHM, swa & WBA, rea, NOR) the potential for further Fantasy returns has already enticed 130,000 FPL managers to take the plunge this week, as owners of suspended pair Luis Suarez and Olivier Giroud turn to the City forward with double Gameweek 36 in mind.
The only real downside to Tevez’s acquisition could be Mancini’s penchant for rotation. With United wrestling the title back last Monday, the City boss is desperate to finish the campaign on a positive note and with an FA Cup Final against Wigan sandwiched in between the league games with West Brom and Reading, some have been deterred from snapping him up in fear of rest and rotation.
Although Mancini allayed fears of hamstring problems to Aguero and David Silva in this morning’s press conference, the pair’s recent lack of game time may see them eased back into action with their manager having one eye on next month’s final at Wembley. Tevez’s form and fitness, on the other hand, certainly looks key for Mancini over the run in, particularly with Dzeko’s recent ineffectual displays in mind. Climbing in price to 9.1 in FPL this weekend, he looks less of a gamble than any of his team mates over the remainder of the season, with spot-kicks also likely to be in his locker if Mancini decides to wrap Aguero in cotton wool over the last few league fixtures.
