fantasy premier league match analysis gameweek 7 – Saturday part 1

Here’s the fantasy premier league match analysis for gameweek 7 part 1 with Sunderland v Man Utd, Man City v Everton and Liverpool v Crystal Palace   I’ll be concentrating on line ups and player performance

Line ups and ratings are from the Daily Mail

Sunderland 1 Man Utd 2

Sunderland (4-5-1): Westwood 7; Celustka 6, O’Shea 7, Roberge 6, Colback 7; Giaccherini 7, Gardner 6 (Larsson 55, 6), Cattermole 7, Ki 5 (Wickham 74, 6), Johnson 6 (Ji 64, 5); Altidore 4.
Subs not used: Mannone, Cabral, Borini, Cuellar
Booked: Gardner, O’Shea
Goal: Gardner 5  Assist:  N/A

Manchester United (4-4-2): de Gea 6; Rafael 6 (Smalling 85), Jones 6, Vidic 6, Evra 7; Nani 6 (Welbeck 76), Cleverley 7, Carrick 7, Januzaj 8 (Valencia 76); Rooney 7, van Persie 6.
Subs not used: Lindergaard, Kagawa, Hernandez, Giggs
Booked: Rooney, Januzaj, Rafael, Vidic
Goals: Januzaj 55, 61  Assist:  Evra
Booked: Rooney, Vidic, Rafael

Sunderland lined up with 5 in midfield.  Celustka and Roberge filled the defensive positions which haven’t been consistently selected.  Gardner moved in to midfield and Giaccherini played in the advanced central role.

For United Rafael took the RB spot and Jones the CB spot after Ferdy’s injury/disastrous game against WBA.   Januzaj and Nani occupied the flanks. Rooney and RVP overcame fitness scares to start up front.

An interesting game where United struggled in the first half but the brilliance of the young 18 year old came to their rescue with 2 exceptional goals.

Janujaz and Nani gave creativity and the ability to create something by moving inside that Young and Valencia didn’t give to the team.  However Rooney played most of the first half on the shoulder of the defence replicating RVPs position and really meant that no one was operating in between the lines.  The so called structured attack of United deteriorated into aimless crosses in the box mainly from Evra.  The 2nd half was much better from a United perspective dropped to collect the ball and United managed to get the ball into the strikers feet.  However it was the 18 year old Belgian that turned the game.  Firstly with an excellent finish from probably the only cross Evra had done that hadn’t traveled 40 yards and secondly with a sweet volley.

Player comments 

Januzaj

Can’t really start anywhere else.  provided the spark and creativity in the midfield by moving inside repeatedly to collect the ball. Also has the ability to go past people which will assist in breaking down defences at home.  Had the best shooting stats although the only criticism was shooting from outside the box too much too ambitiously.  Only £4.6m and although United have Young, Nani, Valencia and Giggs as competition really looks a punt as it’s hard to see him not starting especially given the lack of creativity that young and Valencia especially have shown on the flanks.  I’m contemplating buying him myself early in the transfer window while I have the funds

Defences

The United defence was ok stats wise but did look uncomfortable and gave Sunderland a couple of good chances.  The Sunderland defence mainly through the screening of Cattermole especially did reasonably well.

RVP

A blank but if you  just look at the shooting stats they weren’t too horrendous.  Had 2 chances to score but you would expect more clear cut chances and shots in the box given the opposition.  Should have buried a one on one and that encapsulates his current malaise.  Will undoubtedly see mass sales over the international break and if you are sensitive to loss in value now is the time to sell.  There are 2 home games next, Saints and Stoke.  The first will be tricky as they are defending well but Stoke should give a chance for redemption.  The main problem was Rooney taking free kicks which diminishes RVPs assist chances.  He did take corners  but to be honest not with any pace or intensity.  This lack of free kicks is a problem as the assists topped up the returns from the odd scoring blips he had last year.  It was another game where he just didn’t create any chances for his team mates.  He also had a slight look of the “Torres” about him and by that I mean a slightly relaxed attitude to missing chances which makes me think if all is right with him and Moyes.  Having set out all that negativity I’m still not panicking myself.  The next 3 fixtures are good and lets not forget this is a man that has scored 56 goals and 28 assists in his last 2 fantasy premier league seasons.  That hasn’t gone overnight.  However 3 goals in 6 games and a 33% consistency rate is not good at all.  I definitely don’t have patience to wait longer than the next 3 absolutely maximum but aren’t panicking yet.

Rooney

Another blank and really I just find it difficult to have him in my side as today he only had 1 shot and didn’t create a single chance.  He really dented my perception of him as a creative player.  At the moment him taking a precious forward spot seems a bit too much.  Don’t get me wrong 3 goals and 2 assists in 6 games and a 66% consistency return rate is brilliant definitely but is it built on sand.  He doesn’t really need the shooting stats and last year got 12 goals and 10 assists on limited shooting stats but this is really stretching it even compared to last year.

Giaccherini

Probably the Sunderland player to emerge with the most credit.  Playing in a slightly  advanced central position and 2 goals in 6 appearances isnt too bad.  Reasonable fixtures next with SWA A,   NEW H,   HULL A but at £6.7m in a pretty poor team its a step too far for me

Man City 3 Everton 1

LIVERPOOL (3-4-1-2): Mignolet 7: Toure 7, Skrtel 7, Sakho 7 (Agger 66mins): Sterling 6, Gerrard 7, Henderson 7, Enrique 7: Moses 6 (Alberto 66mins): Suarez 8, Sturridge 8 (Aspas 88mins).
Subs not used: Jones, Ilori, Wisdom, Ibe
Booked: Sterling, Iago Aspas
Goals: Suarez 13, Sturridge 17, Gerrard 38 (PEN)  Assists:  Enrique Sterling

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-4-2): Speroni 7: Ward 6, Mariappa 5, Delaney 5, Moxey 5: Puncheon 6, O’Keefe 5, Jedinak 6, Kebe 5: Chamakh 5 (Bolasie 68mins 5), Jerome 5 (Gayle 46mins 7)
Subs not used: Price, Guedioura, Inniss, Phillips
Booked: O’Keefe
Goals: Gayle 76  Campana

Liverpool featured the strange site of Sterling as a RWB in their line up which had Moses behind Suarez and Sturridge.

Delaney did indeed start for Palace.  OKeefe came in for the injured Dikagcoi and Kebe also came in on the right flank

The first half was a bit of a siege although Palace created the odd chance.  The 2nd half Palace came into it far more and it was no surprise that they scored

 Player comments

Suarez

Scored but interestingly didn’t have nearly the goal threat of Sturridge although did create more chances. The new formation does suit him as a front 2 though and expect big returns for last years no 2 striker.  Interestingly had the highest average position and by far the most pen box touches which all bodes well for the future

Sturridge

Also scored and was a constant threat.  Fantastic shooting stats. Didn’t create chances but this was a very productive day all round

Defences

Palaces 2nd half revival meant the stats didn’t look too bad especially considering the first half siege.  Liverpools were pretty good but they just gave away too many chances to score.

Moses

There has been some fantasy premier league trend towards him but despite playing as the advanced midfielder this was a day of very little actual or underlying output and really questions his involvement in any fantasy premier league team.  Having said that he missed a sitter from 2 yards out.  Much better on the flank cutting in.

Chamakh

Another game with little attacking output.  Budget strikers are not for this season so far.

Man City 3 Everton 1

MANCHESTER CITY: (4-2-3-1) Hart 6; Zabaleta 7, Kompany 6 (Nastasic 35mins 7), Lescott 6, Kolarov 6 (Clichy 58mins 6); Toure 7, Fernandhino 6; Milner 6, Negredo 7, Silva 8; Aguero 7 (Nasri 78mins 6)
Subs not used: Richards, Dzeko, Navas,Pantilimon
Booked: Kompany, Milner, Silva, Zabaleta, Fernandinho
Scorer: Negredo, Aguero, Howard (og)  Assists:  Silva YYT Aguero

EVERTON: (4-4-1-1) Howard 6; Coleman 6, Jagielka 6, Distin 6, Baines 6; Mirallas 6 (Deulofeu 62mins 6), McCarthy 7, Naismith 7, Osman 7 (Gibson 62mins 6); Barkley 6; Lukaku 7 (Kone 82mins)
Subs not used: Robles , Heitinga, Jelavic, Stones
Booked: Distin, Howard, Coleman
Scorer: Lukaku  Assist:  Jagielka

Lescott started instead of Nastasic.  Kolarov held his place at LB.  Milner instead of Navas and Silva instead of Nasri.

Everton were fairly close to prediction except Osman was the CDM instead of Gibson.

Everton competed well in the first half but fell away in the 2nd half and City cruised home in the end.

Player comments 

Defences

Citys defences was strong generally apart from the Lukaku goal and even after Kompany went off.  Evertons has fallen away in the last 3 weeks with 7 goals conceded in the last 3 games

YYT

Returned again with a neat assist.  Barely had any shooting threat but did create chances.  Its now 4 goals and an assist with a 5/7  (71%) consistency return rate.  The whole of last year was 6 goals and 6 assists.  Can he keep going at this pace?

Aguero

Undoubtedly the star of the show.  4 goals and 3 assists in the first 7 games and 5 starts plus 1 a sub.  Doesn’t it matter if he is rotated and who the opposition is.  So far this year the answer is no.  Underlying shooting stats were fantastic and really played as far up as Negredo rather than a number 10 which is also good news.  He will be rotated though with the champions league also being a priority.

Silva

An assist just coming back from injury.  No shooting stats to speak of but was creating chances all over the shop and getting into the penalty area.  Now that returned straight into the team even after Nasris good performances has to be considered as a midfield option

Barkley 

No attacking output today but you have to remember the opposition.  Maintained his position as the CAM which was the main thing.

Lukaku

Scored in all 3 games since joining Everton and although the stats weren’t at their usual mind boggling level they were good for the opposition.  will continue to put them away not matter what the opposition in my mind

That’s it on to the next 3

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