The international break beckons, the Fantasy Premier League wildcards will be fluttering and after today’s games, there’s little doubt where you can find the first profit-making bandwagon.
Rafael Van der Vaart’s two goals against Villa at the Lane today won the game and will surely fetch him his second maximum FPL Bonus Point haul of the season. The Dutchman has arrived in the Premier League, hit the ground running and has established himself as not only a creative force but also a direct and devastating threat on the oppositions goal.
So the Van der Vaart “transfer in” is a no brainer. Well not quite. Gareth Bale appears to have hogged the limelight around here in the last 24 hours and he suddenly becomes a consideration again when it comes to coveting his influential team-mate.
Can any Fantasy lineup afford to have two Tottenham players, let alone two of their midfield? Those Fantasy Managers who have resisted the charms of Bale or even shipped out the Welshman over the frustration of his ever-changing role, can turn to Van der Vaart without hesitation. Bale owners however have a conundrum to consider.
During a kind run of fixtures having two Spurs players would be palatable but Redknapp’s side face three away games in the next four, one of which is at Old Trafford. Their home fixture meanwhile has them facing Everton – a side who have conceded just two goals in four away games and who sealed the season-starting win today at Birmingham. That won’t be easy.
Between these four fixtures, Spurs will face a Champions League tie at Inter for undoubtedly their biggest European tie so far. The fixture falls after Gameweek 8’s trip to Fulham and before the home game with Everton. Even if we felt that Van der Vaart was a rotation risk (it doesn’t look that way), he is suspended for the San Siro visit after his red against FC Twente in midweek. That will surely mean that the Dutchman is protected from being rested for both the Fulham and Everton games. The same perhaps can’t be said for Bale, who could either be rested at Fulham, or find himself at left-back once again away from home.
Is this enough to seal the fate for the 50% Bale and see thousands make the switch to jump aboard the Van dar Vaart bandwagon? Bale’s 1 point return today and his failure to notch a goal or an assist in his last five league starts, isn’t a statistic that helps his cause.
This is the knee jerk – so in-depth thinking isn’t allowed. For now there’s no doubt that Van der Vaart has become a hugely influential figure for Redknapp’s side, who having started four out of four league games since his arrival, looks to have his role well and truly cemented. Right now that role appears to allow him license to support a lone striker and provide a constant menace to opponents.
Van der Vaart will surely play the next two matches at Fulham and against Everton. Based on showings so far, he will take free-kicks, he will notch around 10 efforts on goal, he will earn Bonus Points if Spurs can win those matches. With an international break now beckoning, he will surely rise in price at least twice between now and Gameweek 8. It’s hard to deny the Dutchman’s draw.
