Here’s the fantasy premier league match analysis for GW1 Chelsea 2 Aston Villa 1

Chelsea 2 Aston Villa 1

Goals:  Luna OG Ivanovic  Assists Lampard Hazard  Goal Benteke Agbonlahoe

Lineups

Plus Daily Mail ratings

Chelsea: Cech 7, Ivanovic 6, Cahill 7, Terry 8, Cole 6, Ramires 6, Lampard 6, Oscar 6 (Van Ginkel 84min), Mata 6 (Schurrle 65), Hazard 7, Ba 4 (Lukaku 65).
Subs: Mikel, De Bruyne, Schwarzer, Azpilicueta.
Booked: IvanovicGoal: Luna (og) 7, Ivanovic 73.
Aston Villa: Guza  n 6, Lowton 6, Vlaar 7, Clark 6 (Okore 43), Luna 7, El Ahmadi 7 (Tonev 82), Westwood 7, Delph 7, Weimann 6, Benteke 7, Agbonlahor 7.
Subs: Bennt, Bacuna, Helenius, Steer, Sylla.
Booked: El Ahmadi, Westwood, Benteke  Goal: Benteke 45

Amazingly only De Bruyne and Torres from the Hull game didn’t start with Mata and Ba coming in.   This meant that the team that started was all at the club last year.  I can only assume Mourinho was spooked by the Arsenal v Villa game and decided that he couldn’t take any chances with mass rotation which was very much a vogue subject of his in the lead up to GW1.  I can see pretty much the same team starting at United except maybe Lukaku coming in.

Lambert started with the same team that started against arsenal aprt from Clark coming in for the injured Baker

The game was a struggle for Chelsea and really The referee was very lenient on Chelsea and could have easily sent off Ivanovic and given a penalty against Terry towards the end.  Chelsea played a 4-2-3-1 with Ba up front and the attacking midfield 3 rotating position constantly.  Until Schurrle came on they were a little narrow but the fullbacks who should have given width were pushed back by Weiman and Agbonlahor which helped Villa defend.  The amount of shots in the box they had and clear cu chances created was very poor.  Villa showed they could attack in a structured way as well as counter attack with Benteke able to win long balls , hold the ball up and also play on the shoulder of people.  Weimann and especially Agbonlahors pace always gives them a chance to go past people to create openings.

Player Analysis

The defences

Both defences were pretty tight and Villas defence particularly  kept Chelsea to shots outside the box.  Despite there being no clean sheets both sides had good defensive stats and more of this and I may need to re-appraise my view of Villas defence.  I do need to hold my hands up on the Baker position.  I think when he returns he will be the CB partner for Vlaar and fantasy premier league managers should monitor his and Villa’s defensive  position until he does return.  Neither Chelsea and Villa have great fixtures though and a blank in GW3.  Ivanovic showed his ability to score and with him being a similar price to everyone else if you’re going for the Chelsea defence he’s probably as good a bet as anyone else given he can play RB and CB.  Its a difficult decision about where to sell if youre ditching the the Chelsea defence at the moment.  City have good fixtures but key injuries especially to Kompany, United have a big rotation policy and tricky fixtures.  Arsenal have a number of injuries which bring s doubt on their defensive ability.  However Spurs have excellent value in Dawson and Liverpool in Toure.

Weimann

No returns but the best shooting stats.  I’ve not looked at Weimann because I’ve avoided wide men as they tend to create chances which are difficult to convert and don’t shoot much (the Navas conundrum if you like).  Weimann did get chances here so worth monitoring as in this price range there isn’t too much to look at.

Hazard

2 90 minute games.  Who would have thought?  Only 1 assist to show  for it for a man who specialises in destroying teams at Stamford Bridge.  Still the best option and the player with the best overall underlying stats.  Chelsea have a GW3 blank and at the moment its a question over whether you trade him in for player with better fixtures such as Coutinho, Walcott or Silva.   At the moment its an open question for me but I’m disappointed wit his returns and underlying stats for 2 such easy games he played 90 minutes in.

Lukaku

Did more in 30 minutes than Ba or Torres did in 60 and 75 respectively.  Head and shoulders the best of the 3 and will become the number 1 in my view.  I’m biased though as have been a big fan since he first started with WBA.  If you’ve got him I would keep the faith as I feel he will have to start against United.

Benteke

It was 1 shot 1 goal tonight but showed the other side to his game by creating chances for others.  Looks the real deal and able to score against anyone plus ut assists to his game as well.  Pens are also a great help with players the pace of Agbonlahor and Weimann who are real penalty threats.

Agbonlahor

2 games and 2 assists but for me there’s very little behind it in creating chances and nothing in terms of shots on goal.  I maybe harsh given the opposition but for me its a monitor at best

Ba

I’m a big fan but did very little apart from getting caught offside.  With the rotation that will happen at striker he’s a no for me unless things turn around very quickly

Mata

wow 65 minutes no shots no chances created.  How can this be for the most consistent returning mdfielder in fantasy premier league.  Add all that to the theories of him not being suitable for Mourinho’s style and he suddenly becomes a worry.  I certainly wouldn’t buy him at the moment but would be very tempted to sell although maybe before the GW3 blank.   However after this I couldn’t even be certain he will start GW2

Lampard

Living on set pieces and penalties with no underlying shooting or chance creating stats in this game although he ran riot in the Hull game.  However, a goal and assist in 2 games despite the double pivot deep position says a lot.  However, the deep lying position and the rotation means these 2 games  still aren’t enough to tempt me.

Thats it.  I’ll be picking players for GW2 next.

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