Here’s my GW2 fantasy premier league analysis for the GW2 game Cardiff v Man City.  I’ll be giving views from a fantasy premier league perspective on the lineups, the game itself and the “winners and losers” in terms of players from the game.

Cardiff 3 v Man City 2

Lineups

Line ups from the Daily Mail (including their ratings)

Cardiff City: Marshall 6; Connolly 6, Caulker 7, Turner 7, Taylor 6; Bellamy 6 (Cowie,83mins), Gunnarsson 7, Kim 7 (Mutch, 90mins), Medel 7, Whittingham 6; Campbell 8 (Cornelius, 90mins)
Subs not used: Lewis, Hudson, Noone, Maynard
Goals: Gunnarsson 60, Campbell 79, 87  Assists: Whittingham Cowie Campbell
Manchester City: Hart 7; Zabaleta 4, Garcia 4, Lescott 5, Clichy 6; Navas 6 (Nasri, 55mins 5), Fernandinho 6 (Milner, 77mins 5), Toure 6, Silva 7; Aguero 6, Dzeko 7 (Negredo, 69mins 6)
Subs not used: Pantilimon, Kolarov, Nastasic, Rodwell
Goals: Dzeko 52, Negredo 90  Assists:  Aguero Silva

Cardiff:  Taylor returned after suspension.  Cornelius started on the bench.  Cambell started as the central striker.

Manchester City:  Garcia was the CB with Lescott.  Apart from that as per GW1

The Match

The match started off with City keeping possession but hounded by a Cardiff team that was determined to press without respite for 90 minutes.  City lacked the fluidity that resulted from a compliant Newcastle team in GW1 but they still controlled the game in the first half.

The 2nd half started with Dzeko scoring a fantastic goal in the 52nd minute but then it all started to unravel.  Cardiff continued to press the ball without any slowing down and concentrated on the centre of the pitch to try and force City out wide.  In addition and already before the roof fell in, Garcia and Lescott had been having trouble with the pace of Campbell plus the high defensive line played.  An untouched dribble from Kim leading to  a cross, Campbell shot and  Gunnarson goal from the rebound levelled the score.  City then drifted back to pre Kompany days when set pieces involving the crossed ball were a major problem for them and Campbell scored twice with negligible pressure from the City defence and Hart

Winners

Campbell

I had dismissed Campbell due to the perception that the purchase of  of Cornelius would lead to a flank role that would put him on the periphery of the team.  There also seemed little point in paying £5.5m for someone who would play a wide role when you could purchase the, at the time, record transfer fee CF in Cornelius at the same price.

However, Cornelius picked up an ankle injury and was not fit yesterday and the rest is history.  Fantastic shooting stats from Campbell who’s pace and then heading ability terrified the City defence.  I cant remember the last time someone had so many shots in the box against the City defence and Campbell was easily the stat leader.  What of the future for Campbell though?   Will he stay central and Cornelius go to the flank.  I can’t see that suiting the 6 foot 4 inch forward.  So does Cornelius drop to the bench or does MacKay play 4-4-2.  Again I think the lone striker pressing style will be his preference after the success of the this game.

Silva

The only City starter to emerge with any credit in my mind   It was a sorry indictment that he had the near best shooting and creating chances stats out of the city team. Also had the biggest game involvement as well as the highest average midfield position.  Looks to be nailed on for future contribution.

Negredo

Had an immediate impact in his 28 minutes and scored.  May be in the box seat for the juicy home game to Hull if Pellegrini looks to make changes

Losers

The City defence

Cardiff hadn’t really troubled West ham in the opening game and without their new signing Cornelius its was expected that the City defence would be able to cope with the attacking threat of Cardiff.  However Joe Hart and Zabaleta both were at fault for the 2 Campbell set piece goals and the CB partnership was all over the place.  City have Hull City at home and then Stoke away.  These are  2 of the least effective attacking sides but Stoke especially will be licking their lips at the City set piece vulnerability.  I would expect a signing before the window closes which will definitely bring in to question Lescott’s game time and in the longer term Nastasic’s.

Other comments

YYT

Owned by 15% of fantasy premier league managers.  A pretty unproductive day with minimal shooting and chance creating output.  The going forward duties between him and Fernandino are fairly evenly shared and if anything Fernandino  had the higher average position.  At £8.6m you should be splashing out the extra £0.5m for Silva  for your City coverage.

Navas

Did have a high average position, but far too wide to be a fantasy premier league player.  Nil shooting output looks like it will be  a regular feature and this week he didn’t even do much on the crossing or creating chances front.  If you’re one of the 6% who own him you should definitely sell him with him being virtually the same price as Silva

Dzeko

Obviously liked by Pellegrini but it was a fairly thin shotting contribution from someone who had the luxury of being able to stand in a central position and supposedly finish off the chances that come his way.  Negredo’s goal and shooting output matched Dzekos in half the pitch time,  albeit when City were throwing the kitchen sink at Cardiff.  Still a bargain price even if rotation does take hold and with the fixtures coming I would be holding on.

Aguero 

With Jovetic still out Aguero is the only option to play behind the striker and drift back to pick up the ball and turn at defences.  Shooting output was a bit thin but created chances for others including the assist.  At the moment he’s a worthwhile investment unless rotation comes as at  that price you want him for virtually all fantasy premier league games

Whittingham and Kim

After Campbells performace you would think that one of these players would be the sacrifice if Cornelius is to come in to the team.  Whittingham had a lot of set piece involvement and Kim had his moments so at the moment I cant pick who will stay in the team.  Whittingham was dropped from the team at the end of the Championship campaign remember but has come back ino the team in this campaign.  It would be a wait and see for me before investing in either

That’s it.  Looking forward to the United v Chelsea game where I will also wrap up the Spurs v Swansea game

Follow us on twitter @fantasyfoot20 or facebook at www.facebook.com/fantasyfootballgeek.co.uk