Fantasy premier league – 10 things we learnt from GW29

I’ve had a few people ask me for the gameweek review articles to be reinstated.  In the full they are very time consuming so I thought I would put a few key thoughts down.

1.  Moyes actually gets it right

I’ve been shocked a few times with the United team sheet this year and none more so than yesterday when he actually put out the midfield and attack I thought he should.  The formation gets the best out of Rooney playing centrally behind RVP and the crossing, passing and dribbling ability of Januzaj is used.  Mata also is able to contribute. Moyes even put RVP on a few set pieces and not surprisingly reaped the rewards.  RVP may look about as happy as Pardew at David Meylers birthday party but he can finish even though he may find his current role a tad restrictive.  Unfortunately I can’t see it being repeated next week at home to Liverpool. I think Moyes will set up more defensively.  Januzaj for all his good qualities isn’t the most pro-active defensive player and it will be interesting to see if he starts.  Rooney with a goal and assist looks a viable option again in this position.  Especially with good attacking DGW31 fixtures and good fixtures all round.  The defence looked a little shaky yesterday and with United seeming like they want to adjust to life after Vidic that may not improve.  However you can’t knock 3 clean sheets in a row.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Liverpool (H)
West Ham (A)  DGW31
Man City (H)  DGW31
Aston Villa (H)
Newcastle (A)
Hull City (H)

2.  Caulker is a set piece threat

We knew this already I guess.  2 goals against Fulham takes his total to 4 for the season.  £5.2m though for a defender within a team that has conceded 50 goals and only WBA and Fulham have less clean sheets?  There’s no doubt that attacking returns are a handy sudden addition to your fantasy premier league points but for £5.0m you can get Kolarov, £5.6m Azpilicueta and £5.4m Lovren.  2 tough fixtures before you even need to think about it though.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Everton (A)
Liverpool (H)
West Brom (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Southampton (A)
Stoke City (H)

3.  The Chelsea defence performs again

I have to take some credit for long lauding the Chelsea defence and at the moment they look impenetrable.  Helped alot by the excellent CDM Matic. 9 clean sheets in their last 12 games says it all.  Interestingly all the back 4 got 1 bonus point except Azpilicueta.  Good fixtures could even warrant doubling up.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Aston Villa (A)
Arsenal (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Stoke City (H)
Swansea (A)
Sunderland (H)

4.  Hazard is phenomenal

He may have been fortuitous to get any returns given that he got a pen courtesy of Lamps being off the pitch but he was a constant menace in the 2nd half once the Walker Naughton double team had been disbanded.  If you have a WC and intend to use it for DGW31 dare you bench him even against Arsenal?

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Aston Villa (A)
Arsenal (H)
Crystal Palace (A)
Stoke City (H)
Swansea (A)
Sunderland (H)

5.  Who knows what team Fulham will put out

Do fantasy premier league managers who aren’t fans care?  How do you give 2 debut starts to 2 strikers in the most important game of the season knowing that the opposition are bound to score so you’re going to have to as well?  4 changes from last week (2 enforced granted).  Holtby brought back ( I’m not sure why he was dropped) and scored.   Riise starting?

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Newcastle (H)
Man City (A)
Everton (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Norwich (H)
Tottenham (A)

6.  Cheapie Mutch is back

The £4.4m cheapie mid got 2 assists for a 10 point haul in the 3-1 win against Fulham.  After injuries and tinkering from OGS meaning he had not started a game in the 4 before this.  A constant threat in the box with his forward positioning does this mean he is now a cheapie filler option for fantasy premier league managers.  The good news is there are 2 more tricky games before we need to assess whether he can be our bench filler.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Everton (A)
Liverpool (H)
West Brom (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Southampton (A)
Stoke City (H)

7.  Ince is sidelined

It seems his substitution at Swansea wasn’t just a one off tactical decision as he got less than 30 minutes yesterday against Southampton.  A real letdown after such a promising start against WBA when he started behind the striker and scored a goal and got an assist.  Really needs a some time to think before he’s considered as a cheapie option again.  Good fixtures in 3 games.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Sunderland (A)
Newcastle (A)
Chelsea (H)
Cardiff City (A)
Aston Villa (H)
West Ham (A)

8.  The Saints defence looks back

4 clean sheets in the last 9 and 2 in the last 4 games plus the fitness of Lovren makes it look like that you can safely invest in the Southampton defence again.  The benching of RB Chambers questions the £3.9m  route into the Saints defence though.  Shaw at £5.0m is now the cheapest route. The RB position will be looked at carefully next week when the Saints team sheet is out

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Norwich (H)
Tottenham (A)
Newcastle (H)
Man City (A)
Cardiff City (H)
Aston Villa (A)

9  Snodgrass returns again

The differential of 2 weeks ago shook off his wrist injury and he did his best Steven Gerrard impression with an assist from a free kick and 1 bonus point to follow.  A great delivery and good fixtures to follow.   The lack of a DGW means he wont see many purchasing but this may cause people to put him lower on the sell list before hand.  Especially with excellent fixtures after Saints away

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Southampton (A)
Sunderland (H)
Swansea (A)
West Brom (H)
Fulham (A)
Liverpool (H)

10.  Rodriguez puts the dry spell behind him

4 games without a return were put behind him albeit rather fortuitously against the Palace defence.  Since getting into the side he hadn’t gone more than 3 games without returning prior to that dry spell and even the most enthusiastic DGWers will be reluctant to sell with Norwich at home next.  Interestingly it’s only 1 return in his last 6 home games but there has been some reasonable opposition within that so I’m not reading too much into it.

Next 6 fantasy premier league fixtures:

Norwich (H)
Tottenham (A)
Newcastle (H)
Man City (A)
Cardiff City (H)
Aston Villa (A)

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