Here’s my GW3 fantasy premier league analysis for the GW3 games of Newcastle v Fulham, Norwich v Southampton and West Ham v Stoke. 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.
Newcastle 1 Fulham 0
Lineups and ratings from the Daily Mail
Newcastle: Krul 7, Debuchy 7, Yanga-Mbiwa 6, Coloccini 7, Santon 6, Ben Arfa 8, Sissoko 7, Anita 5 (Cabaye 65, 6), Marveaux 5 (Remy 74, 7), Shola Ameobi 6 (Gouffran 65), Cisse 5.
Subs not used: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett.
Goal: Ben Arfa (86) Assist: Remy
Fulham: Stockdale 6, Riether 6 (Briggs 79, 6) , Hangeland 6, Hughes 7, Riise 7, Kacaniklic 5, Sidwell 6 (Rodallega 89), Parker 7, Ruiz 5, Berbatov 6, Bent 5 (Taarabt 82)
Subs not used: Karagounis, Duff, Boateng, Etheridge.
Newcastle: Cabaye and Remy started on the bench. Anita and Ameobi started
Fulham: Berba behind Bent up front. Ruiz and Kacaniklic on the flanks. Taarabt and Duff benched
The match
Total Newcastle one way traffic. They were in control in attack and defence and should have won by far more. Fulham defended poorly had no structured attack with Berba misplacing passes all over the place. The counter attack looked like a bunch of rheumatic old ladies.
The winners
HBA
Showed real attacking intent getting in to the box shooting and creating chances. fantastic goal. A little pricey at £7.0m and needs to be looked against proper opposition but worth monitoring
The Newcastle defence
2 clean sheets in a row. I’m still not convinced that the same awful defence of last year has changed but a step in the right direction.
The losers
the Fulham defence
Absolutely terrible and its really a sell after WBA in GW4 if there’s no clean sheet if you’re unlucky enough to own any assets
Berba and Bent
Both did nothing. It maybe too early to ditch hope for bent but Berba if he doesn’t return in GW4 home to WBA should definitely be ditched after 1 assist in his first 3 games and playing in a withdrawn role.
Norwich 1 Southampton 0
Lineups and ratings from the Daily Mail
Norwich: Ruddy 7; Whittaker 6, Bassong 7, Turner 6, Garrido 6; Snodgrass 7, Fer 7, Johnson 6, Redmond 8; Elmander 7 (Howson 76), van Wolfswinkel 6 Subs not used: Bunn, Martin, Tettey, Pilkington, Hoolahan, Becchio.
Goal: Redmond 68.
Southampton: Boruc 7, Chambers 5, Fonte 5, Lovren 6, Fox 6; Wanyama 6, Schneiderlin 6 (S Davis 72 – 6; Ward-Prowse 6, Lallana 7 (Ramirez 62 – 6), Osvaldo 6 (Rodriguez 78); Lambert 6 Subs not used: K Davis, Clyne, Yoshida, Shaw.
Norwich: Cheapie RB Whittaker kept his place and surprisingly it was Martin who was benched. Elmanader debuted up front with RVW
Southampton:Chambers and Fox were the FBs with surprisingly Clyne and Shaw on the bench. Cheapie JWP held his place.
The match
The Norwich 8 clean sheet home defence of last year returned this week and although they were behind in possession and shots still produced a gritty performance to win
The winners
Fer
My man of the match with an assist and great shooting and creating chances stats in a real box to box performance of note. GW4 is away to Spurs so too early to transfer in but GW5 home to Villa maybe worth considering. A little expensive at 6.0m
The Norwich defence
Can Bassong make that much difference? Anyway a great defensive performance. interesting that it was Bassong who got the bonus of 2. for me the cheaper option of Turner at £4.5m still remains the best bet although 1 swallow doesnt make a summer for me yet.
The losers
Lambert
Never the one to have a load of shots but this time nothing. no chances created, virtually no pen box touches. Nothing to back it up with. a last minute penalty in 3 games isn’t inspiring confidence. I’d hold for home to west ham but GW5 away to Liverpool maybe a good time to sell if no return in that game.
The Southampton defence
I’m its biggest fan but this wasn’t a great day. Why Shaw and Clyne were benched is beyond me. A clean sheet home to West Ham in GW4 is required to restore confidence
West Ham 0 Stoke 1
Lineups and ratings from the Daily Mail
West Ham (4-1-4-1): Jaaskelainen 8, Demel 6, Collins 7, Reid 6, O’Brien 7, Noble 6 (Collison 83), Diame 6 (Lee 86), Downing 6 (Morrison 63), Nolan 6, Jarvis 6, Maiga 5. Subs not used: Tomkins, Rat, Adrian, Taylor.
Cautioned: Reid, Collins.
Stoke (4-5-1): Begovic 6, Cameron 7, Shawcross 7, Huth 6, Pieters 7, Walters 6, N’Zonzi 8, Adam 7 (Whelan 75), Wilson 7, Etherington 6 (Pennant 75), Jones 7. Subs not used: Muniess, Assaidi, Crouch, Sorensen, Jerome.
Goals: Pennant 82 Assist: Whelan
Cautioned: Cameron.
West Ham: As expected
Stoke: Jones comes in for Crouch
The match:
A tight game with very few chances. West Ham desperately need Carroll back as evidenced by a header missed by Maiga that Carroll would have had for breakfast.
The winners
K Jones
Good all round performance and good stats even if didn’t return. At £4.9m he could be another cheapie striker option. No need to consider until GW6 after man city and Arsenal are opponents.
The Stoke defence
Finally a good performance although again no need to look at it with the next 2 fixtures. Wilson at £4.5m who plays in midfield is the best option.
The losers
Nolan
Game was made for him but did nothing. His partner in crime Carroll could return after the International break but fixtures arent easy with GW4 away to Saints. personally I wouldn’t be holding
Thats it. Sunday games next
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