Heres the fantasy premier league immediate reaction to the Spurs v QPR game and Newcastle v Norwich with line up, match and player analysis
Spurs V QPR
Line ups
Oh come on now AVB, Gareth Bale at LB. Is that really your answer of how to fit your attacking assets in to the team? Im going to start thinking like that bastion of reasonableness Adrian Durham and start spouting measured analysis like “worst appointment in premier league history” I know Naughton and BAE are injured but surely one of your CBs are flExible enough to play at LB, one of them even played for Ajax the masters of position interchange. Anyway , rant over. Spurs lined up in 4-2-3-1 with the defence as predicted apart from Bale. Dembele and Sandro screened behind Siggy as the central attacking mid, flanked by Dempsey making his first start on the left and Lennon on the right. Defoe started again.
QPR lined up in 4-4-2 with Hoilett getting the start against up front next to Zamora. Onouha and Hill came in for the injured Ferdinand and Traore/Fabio in the back 4. Granero and Faurlin were the CM’s with SWP and Park on the flanks.
The Match
QPR controlled the match in the first half with good possession play. Dyer came in for the injured Boswinga after 3 minutes and was particularly impressive on the right flank. Spurs werent really in the game.
AVB then made the crucial change which turned the match around. Seeing the futility of having one of your most potent attackers at LB, Caulker came on for Siggy who was quiet and Bale moved in to the LM of a 4-4-2. Spurs were transformed although it took an unlucky own goal to kick off the revival. The rest of the game was QPR pressing for an equaliser with Spurs counter attacking
Player analysis
Defoe
The master poacher did what he did does best, score. Topped the shooting stats. Totally repaid those fantasy premier league managers who gave him the captains armband. At £7.7m and Adebayor not even on the bench plus good fixtures, he is a steal.
Bale
4-4-2 bought out the best in him. Shooting stats were only bettered by Defoe and showed up on the counter attack. Also lead the chances created column. Class is permanent etc. Question is whether AVB can get the best out of him. However Defoe much better value.
Dempsey
Started his first game and really had his shooting boots on, shooting on sight. Too high a percentage outside the box at the moment but for a first game you cant quibble at his desire. An encouraging start although Defoe looks the value option at the moment
Hoilett
The best of the QPR shooting stats. With Johnson out for the season and Cisse persona non grata, then Hoilett, if he can hold this position, looks an intriguing option. QPR dont have the fixtures at the moment but worth keeping an eye on it.
Newcastle v Norwich
Line ups
Newcastle line up as expected with no surprises.
Norwich, however dropped Grant Holt for Morison. Pilkington went to the bench and Hoolahan went in behind Morison in 4-4-1-1 with Snodgrass to the RM.
The match
The match followed a typical Newcastle pattern at home. Newcastle were quite conservative on attack knowing that in Ben Arfa and Ba they have players who can score out of nothing and dont really need to commit huge numbers to attack. Thats exactly what happened with Ben Arfas fantastic ball to Ba followed by a clinical finish.
Norwich pressed for an equaliser without that cutting edge and Newcastle sat deep and counter attacked and could have had more. Cisse missed a pen. Fantasy premier league owners of Ben Arfa who have been holding their heads in despair as Cisse blazed it over the bar.
Statistically the numbers were all Newcastle with 57% possession and shots 16/8 to 8/3
Player analysis
Ba
Didnt really shoot that much, with Cisse having the better chances. Showed a lethal finish though. Fixtures could be better but at £7.8m very good value especially compared to the misfiring Cisse.
Ben Arfa
A great ball for the goal but statistically still shoots outside the box too much and not really that often. Also apart from the pass for goal didnt show up that highly in the chances created column.
Surman
Led the way in the Norwich shooting stats and has always been impressive when playing. Norwichs fixtures dont get the hands rubbing in anticipation but at £4.7m maybe an option to consider as a cheapie if he holds his place and when fixtures get better. At the moment though Kacaniklic and Sterling plus Guthrie look the better options.
The Norwich defence
Allowed a lot of chances in this game and made worse by an ordinary game from cheapie Barnett. Fixtures are not great but still worth a home and away rotation punt.
On to game week 6.
