Here’s the fantasy premier league immediate reaction to the game week 8 Saturday games

Chelsea 4  Norwich 1

Chelsea lined up in their normal 4-2-3-1 with Ramires getting a rest and Lampard coming in

Norwich made a number of changes after the shambles of last week.  Bassong came in for Turner.  Tetty, a £4.5m cheapie, and Bennett started in midfield and Holt and Hoolahan were the front 2 in 4-4-1-1.

The game was pretty much a Chelsea procession with 58% 0f possession and shots being 20/13 and 7/4 to Chelsea. Torres could have had a bundle.  Norwich didn’t press and were too deep and their ability to defend, which to be fair has shown up in some games, was non existent here.  Thye have this ability to be really thrashed and with Reading QPR and Saints must be in the minds of all fantasy premier league managers when looking at next fixtures.

Hazard led the shooting stats followed by Torres.  Holt was the Norwich threat.  Hazard monstered the chances created column.

Wigan 2  Everton 2

Wigan lined up in 3-4-1-2 with no surprises.  Alacarz didn’t make it and Di Santo came in for Gomez after injury

Everton played the same team as they did against Saints

It was a very open game and either team could have won it.  Everton had 54% possession and 17 shots to 10.    Moyes will have to re think his defence because Coleman and Heitinga struggled and the midfield didn’t close down Kone at all who drifted off the play.  Normally such a tight unit the goals they are scoring this season seems to have opened them up.  seemed Mirralas had the most chances but just couldn’t finish although you would have said that Jelavic and Di Santo had the best shooting stats.   Fellaini was very quiet without a shot on goal.  His average position was disturbingly deep with Mirralas, Piennaar and even Baines with a higher average position.  Baines was terrific and I always say if Everton have good fixtures Baines will get you returns.

WBA 3 QPR 2

West Brom lined up in 4-2-3-1 with Tamas and Popov coming in for the injured Ridgewell and Jones.  Gera made the front midfield 3 instead of Brunt.  Odemwingie returned and long was the lone striker

Boswinga and Ferdinand  returned for QPR although Hill stayed at LB. Faurlin missed out as Taarbt and Mbia moved in to midfield.  Zamora was the lone striker.

The QPR defence was terrible and if this is it with only 1 player missing then they’re in real trouble. Possession was fairly even as were shots but WBA really had so many god chances assisted by the QPR defence

Taarabt and Gera had the best shooting stats.  Granero chances created.

West Ham 1 Arsenal 3

West Ham lined up in 4-2-3-1 with McCartney coming in for the injured O’Brien. The rest of the team was predictable with Carroll starting and Jarvis holding his place.

Arsenal also played 4-2-3-1 with Mertesacker coming in for Koscielny to combat Carroll.  Ramsey started ahead of Coquelin which was a surprise to me and as luck would have it after I transferred him in, Giroud started and Gervinho moved to the flank.

Giroud was absolutely fantastic showed what a good finisher he is and cleaned up the shooting stats. Cazorla scored with a wonder strike but it was about time with the number of shots he takes from outside the box.  Podolski led the chances created column.   Carroll had the best shooting stats for West Ham although Nolan had a couple of great chances. Arsenal led the shots 21-9 and 60% possession and were deserved winners.

Man City 3 Sunderland 0

Mancini totally changed the defence with Kompany and Nastasic injured.  Kolarov was at LB and Richards CB with Lescott and Zabaleta holding on to the RB spot.  Interestingly he went for 4-2-3-1 with Barry and Milner screening with Silva Ballotelli and YYT as the advanced 3 and Tevez surprisingly up front.

The Sunderland team was as predicted with teachers pet Cuellar making it back instead of Titus Bramble.

At last a clean sheet for City and Zabaleta played.  2 things I was worried would never happen.  Kolarov was fantastic and Aguero when he came on showed what a lethal finisher he is.  Tevez had enough shots and was unlucky with one that went inches wide.  He just couldnt get anything on target and those who kept faith will be disappointed with only an assist.  Interestingly Richards looked a threat on set pieces.  He’s cheap at £5.8m but is a big gamble.  YYT’s advanced position didn’t lead to any improvement in chances and I wouldn’t use this as the stampede at the moment.

City are a tricky phenomenon  at the moment and difficult to predict with his substitutions making it even harder.  61% possession and 26 shots to 10 said it all.

Swansea 2 Reading 2

Swansea lined up as expected.  Ki and Britton screened and the only surprise being Routledge taking the place of Pablo

For Reading the defence lined up as last week.  £4.3m cheapie Tabb started for Leigertwood who was injured.  There was no place for Guthrie and Karacan was CM with Kebe and McAnuff on flanks. McDermott chose to attack with Pogrebnyak and hunt up front.

This was a game that Swansea should have won.  60% possession and 25 shots to 8 says alot.

Moore (with Routledge)who must start next week to the dismay of fantasy premier league managers who have Graham who again returned nothing actual or underlying stats wise. Routledge at £5.1m is good value and should hold his place after this performance but with the fixtures crumbling after the GW8 game home to Wigan nows not the time

That’s it now just have to hope that Bale can keep his run going