We assess the lessons learnt from Saturday and Sunday’s matches this afternoon. Diego Costa’s consistency, Christian Eriksen’s eye for a goal and Arsenal’s improvement at both ends of the pitch are amongst today’s topics.
Pardew’s Palace have the stomach for a battle…
After going 2-0 down at Burnley, the Eagles fought back superbly to clinch all three points at the weekend. Importantly for Alan Pardew, his side have shown the character and determination to chalk up back-to-back victories since he took the helm – on both occasions Palace have come from behind to prevail. Pardew’s attacking philosophy has seen Dwight Gayle and Jason Puncheon return four strikes and two assists already, and with Mile Jedinak and Yannick Bolasie still to return from international duties, there’s growing reason for optimism around Selhurst Park way.
Defoe’s arrival allows Poyet to tinker…
The new signing made an immediate impact on Gus Poyet’s tactics for Sunderland’s trip to Spurs. Handed his debut alongside Steven Fletcher as the Black Cats’ boss shifted from a 4-1-4-1 formation to 3-5-2; Defoe’s arrival suggests the Wearsiders are set to go on the offensive to secure their survival. Patrick van Aanholt and Billy Jones were utilised as wing-backs at the Lane and could benefit from a more attack-minded approach ahead of three very kind home matches in the next four (BUR, QPR, WBA), whilst Defoe’s debut assist perhaps hints at what’s to follow as Poyet tweaks his approach in a bid for goals.
Stoke are finding their stride…
As the season unfolds, Mark Hughes’ side are starting to string together a series of displays that could bring some real differential options onto our radars. A 1-0 win over Leicester earned Stoke a third clean sheet (and victory) in five, and with a home draw against United also amongst that run, only a chastening loss at Arsenal has slowed their recent momentum. Impressively, the weekend victory arrived without injured pair Ryan Shawcross and Erik Pieters at the back as the likes of Philipp Wollscheid and Mark Muniesa impressed, whilst Bojan’s third strike in seven also brings him into contention as a cut-price striker ahead of a superb run of matches that pits the Potters against just one of the top ten in the next eight Gameweeks.
You can’t put Eriksen in the corner…
Overshadowed by the displays of Harry Kane and Nacer Chadli in recent weeks, the Tottenham midfielder served a reminder of his abilities by firing a late winner against Sunderland at the Lane. There’s no question that Eriksen’s erratic displays have a tendency to frustrate – he’d played a part in just one of his side’s previous ten goals over six matches – yet Saturday’s strike not only took him past Chadli in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) midfield standings, it saw the Dane score for the eighth time this term, already more than his tally for the 2013/14 campaign. If it wasn’t for Kane, Eriksen – now up to fifth for FPL midfielders – would surely be in a lot more Wildcard teams.
United’s defence may be the safest answer..
A 2-0 win over QPR once again saw the Red Devils’ big hitters fail to perform. With Robin van Persie sidelined through injury, Wayne Rooney, Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria failed to find a breakthrough at Loftus Road and in the end, Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson were the unlikely heroes as United ended their hosts’ seven-match unbeaten streak. With three very promising home matches on the horizon (LEI, BUR, SUN) in the next five, Louis van Gaal’s side are sure to come under increased investment, but with their leading lights up front continuing to toil, it may prove a cannier tactic to turn to their backline instead. United have failed to concede more than a single goal since Gameweek 8 and David de Gea and co. look poised to earn the points over that enticing run of matches.
The Oscar option cannot be dismissed…
Whilst Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas managed an assist between them in the 5-0 win at Swansea, the Brazilian’s brace took his tally to three goals and two assists in his last trio of appearances. Chelsea’s dominance of the FPL game, sees Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry as the two top-scoring defenders, whilst Diego Costa tops the forward standings after his weekend showing. In midfield, all three of their main midfielders sit in the top six – the cheapest of the trio at 8.3, Oscar is owned by just 5% of managers but clearly has the form to justify taking up one of our three Chelsea slots. Those who decide to overlook Costa at Sergio Aguero’s expense and opt for Hazard and a Blues defender may well be tempted.
Costa won’t make the move to Aguero an easy one…
For many, the Chelsea striker has been a convenient place holder in our front three as we awaited Sergio Aguero’s return to form and fitness. Costa’s 16-point return at Swansea, courtesy of two goals and an assist, may force many a Wildcard plan to be scrapped as he steps up his consistency in the final few months of the season. In a week where many of the budget forwards failed us, Costa reminded us that you get what you pay for – granted, his inability to earn bonus from a single goal remains a sticking point, but with an ownership of 59% in FPL, he has the ability to severely punish those who choose to ignore him. After their Stamford Bridge head-to-head, the fixtures look tailor-made for both and Costa certainly has the form and match sharpness to sit alongside Aguero, rather than make way for the Argentine.
and nor will City…
As we mentioned in Scout Notes earlier today, the champions have played four league matches without Yaya Toure and failed to win any of them. Given that three of those occasions have arrived in the last four Gameweeks, with the champions drawing against Burnley and Everton prior to yesterday’s home capitulation to the Gunners, Manuel Pellegrini’s troops are looking a pale imitation of the side that swept to the title last season. With Toure potentially away on international duties until Gameweek 26, it remains to be seen if Aguero can offer us the same sort of explosive potential without the Ivorian on board – given that they now travel to Stamford Bridge, the bandwagon looks set to slow in light of yesterday’s blank.
Wenger can’t think about dropping Cazorla…
Emerging from the Etihad with a 2-0 victory, Arsenal seem to have found their form just as the fixtures take a turn for the better. A 4-1-4-1 formation, with Cazorla partnered by Aaron Ramsey in the centre of the park and Francis Coquelin sitting in front of the back four, looks to have finally solved Arsene Wenger’s tactical dilemma and allowed Cazorla the chance to step up as the Gunners’ chief playmaker. With Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain offering plenty of pace and industry out wide, the little Spaniard has to be fielded through the middle to get the best out of his talents – quite where that leaves Mesut Ozil in the pecking order is another matter altogether, with the German looking surplus to first-team requirements right now.
Bellerin and Ospina have great timing…
Both have emerged as potential Wildcard targets after Wenger’s side notched back-to-back clean sheets against Stoke and City. Priced at just 4.8, Ospina seems to have surged ahead of Wojciech Szczesny in the pecking order in goal, whilst Bellerin – at a mere 4.4 – looks the likeliest to benefit from Mathieu Debuchy’s shoulder injury absence, with Calum Chambers back on bench-warming duties. Having emerged from the Etihad unscathed, faith in Arsenal’s defence is on the up as the kind upcoming schedule offers the perfect marriage of form and fixtures for the north London outfit.
Nigel Pearson should never go to Ghana…
After ruling Jeffrey Schlupp out of the Africa Cup of Nations due to injury, the Leicester boss promptly stuck the Ghana international in Saturday’s starting XI to face Stoke. With Riyad Mahrez already appearing for Algeria in the tournament, the Foxes boss has clearly decided he cannot be deprived of both his first-choice wingers at a time where the fixtures turn nasty for the King Power side. Classified as a defender in the FPL game, Schlupp’s out-of-position appeal looks diluted by a run of matches that sees Leicester square up to United, Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea and City in the next six Gameweeks alone.
Elia’s emergence sets up Mane battle…
The Dutchman’s double in Saturday evening’s 2-1 win over Newcastle suggests Ronald Koeman has another fine acquisition on his hands. Elia’s pace and trickery look an ideal fit for Southampton’s system, and with the fixtures turning kind, he has the chance to cement a place in our Wildcard plans at 5.5 and stake a claim for a regular role at St Mary’s with Sadio Mane off on international duties. A fourth assist in five for James Ward-Prowse also brings the youngster into consideration at just 4.8 as the Saints show little sign of falling off the pace in the hunt for a top-four finish.
Monk has a task on his hands…
Such was the meek manner of his side’s weekend surrender, the Swans boss apologised to Jose Mourinho after a 5-0 home battering by the league leaders. Monk has more problems brewing on the horizon – with Wilfried Bony now gone, we’d hoped that Bafetimbi Gomis would offer us a mid-price option up top but the Frenchman’s subsequent talk of broken promises suggests all is not well at the Liberty. With Palace reportedly eyeing up a bid for Neil Taylor and Jonjo Shelvey’s discipline also an issue, the signs look a little ominous for a side that has scored more than a single goal in just one of their last 11 league outings.
