What a great way to spend Monday night, fantastic game.  Here’s the fantasy premier league immediate reaction.

Line ups

Everton

Everton lined up in 4-4-1-1.  Hibbert lined up at RB and the injury to Gibson seems to have settled Neville in to midfield giving him seemingly no competition for the RB spot until Gibsons back on October 6.  Neville then has the potential to go to RB.  Distin seems to have claimed the CB spot next to Jagielka so you have 2 players with some security at £5.5m if you dont want to pay the £6.1m for Jagielka or the £7.1m for the attacking returns and bonus magnet that is Leighton Baines who lined up as usual at LB/winger.

The Midfield was as expected except for Mirallas who replaced Naismith as the RM.  Neville was the def mid and Osman CM with Pienaar the LM. Pienaar  tends to drift in allowing the LB/winger  Baines to get forward and cross the ball.

Up front Fellaini owners will be pleased that Mirallas is accommodated in midfield and Fellaini keeps his place as the most froward midfield.  Jelvaic was up top

Newcastle

Newcastle played a 4-3-3 with the defence suffering from a number of injuries.  Harper was in for the excellent Krul.  Perch was in for Simpson and Willimason in for Colocinni.  Santon was at LB.

The midfield 3 consisted of Anita in for the injured Tiote plus Jonas and Cabaye.  The front 3 consisted of the lone striker Cisse being flanked by cheapie Marveaux and Ben Arfa.  Marveaux was in the team surprisingly at the expense of Demba Ba.  Pardew being the defensive manager he is seemed to put him in to try and cover the left side of the Everton where Pienaar and Baines have excelled in recent weeks

The match

A real game of 2 halves.  Everton dominated the first half with a terrific pace and were able to thwart Newcastles intention of pressing high up the pitch.  Marveaux and co could not stop Pienaar and Baines and the Baines goal was the result of excellent work between them around the 15th minute.  The first half continued like this and it was a surprise that everton didn’t get more although the injury to Jelavic didnt help as he wasnt as mobile as normal.

The 2nd half was completely different.  Pardew realised that there was no point in continuing to try and defend and put on Ba for Marveux going to a traditional 4-4-2.  Anita also moved to RB and Perch in to midfield which was also important as Perch was excellent.  The game almost instantly changed and Newcastle suddenly showed why they finished so high last year.  Everton should have won it with 2 legitimate goals disallowed (1 assist from pienaar to me as well!).  In the end we had a grandstand finish with 2 goals in the last minutes and the game ended 2-2

Player analysis

The Everton defence

Only 1 clean sheet is disappointing when you consider the cheapest asset is £5.5m.  The fixtures are good though so I wouldnt be rushing to sell.  Hibbert and Distin are the cheapest at that price with Distin probably the securer of the 2 but he offers little attacking potential.  If youve got money sloshing around Baines over the next few weeks is really worth it.  Everton were one of the best defences last year and Baines work with Pienaar suggests more attacking returns.  As I said its like having a midfielder or winger with clean sheet potential

Pienaar

Was excellent  and lead the chances created column. He’s not really my ideal player being assist based  but is curremtly in excellent form.  I would be a little worried if Jelavic was injured badly though as despite Anichebes goal and Mirallas I’m not sure they are the finishers that Jelavic is

Osman

Looked like scoring and wanting to shoot last night.  At £6.4m vs £6.6m for Pienaar,  I’m not sure the gap makes it worth investing in him over Pienaar given Pienaars current form

Jelavic

Owned by 9.1% of fantasy premier league managers he  had a frustrating night with a goal ruled out and then subbed at half time with an injury.  Here’s the word from David Moyes in tribal football

“He banged the side of his knee against the post,” explained Moyes. “I’ve not had the outcome – hopefully we’ll get that tomorrow – but I don’t think it’s too severe.” 

Mirallas

Was a revelation on the right and had the most shots in the game.  Expensive at £7.4m and I wouldnt be investing in someone at this price who is classified as a striker but plays in midfield

Anichebe

Cheap at £5.3m but would need to have Jelavic injured more seriously and Mirralas not replace him as a striker to even be considered so I would stay away

The Newcastle defence

The injuries to Colocinni and Simpson don’t seem long term so I wouldnt be jumping on the bargains of Perch or Williamson.  Tiote is also back soon so again Perch in to midfield doesnt seem a likely option for any material time

Cabaye

Got an assist and not to expensive at £6.9m.  Personally I think there are better options than this assist based player until Newcastles fixtures improve

Ben Arfa

A real talent who can produce goals and assists in any game but £7.7m without the fixtures is a bit rich.  Although if youre only looking short term its Norwich H and RDG A in the next 2.

Ba and Cisse

I have to say and site visitors will back me up, I’ve always preffered Ba to Cisse.  I think Cisse overperformed his underlying stats last year.  At £7.7m compared to Cisses £9.3m Ba looks great value and this performance will put him in the frame for the next 2 games which.   However, these are followed by more difficult ones but in the short term could really see some returns.

Fellaini

Much quieter despite having a legitimate goal disallowed.  Seems he will hold his place behind the striker so worth investing and definitely don’t sell with the fixtures

Thats it , on to GW5.