Fantasy premier league – GW2 match analysis – Saturday Part 1

Here’s my GW2 fantasy premier league round up for Saturdays matches 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.  Games covered Fulham v Arsenal, Villa v Liverpool and Everton v WBA

Fulham 1 Arsenal 3

Fulham: Stockdale 5, Riether 5, Hughes 5, Hangeland 6, Riise 5, Duff 5 (Bent 59 – 6), Parker 6, Sidwell 6 (Karagounis 75), Taarabt 6 (Kacaniklic 62 – 6), Kasami 6, Berbatov 5
Subs not used: Ruiz, Briggs, Boateng, Etheridge
Goal: Bent 77  Assist: Berba
Booked: Parker, Kasami
Arsenal: Szczesny 6, Jenkinson 7, Sagna 7, Mertesacker 7, Gibbs 7, Ramsey 8, Rosicky 7 (Wilshere 70), Cazorla 7, Podolski 8 (Sanogo 81), Walcott 8, Giroud 7 (Monreal 72)
Subs not used: Fabianski, Frimpong, Gnabry, Zelalem
Goals: Giroud 14, Podolski 41, 68   Assists:  Walcott Ramsey Cazorla

Fulham:   One of the harder teams to pick the line up of  apart from the defence which was predictable except Riise starting instead of potential cheapie Briggs.  Parker and Sidwell got the nod in the 2 CDM positions with Taarabt and Duff on the flanks.  Berba led the line with last weeks goal scorer Kasami behind him.  Ruiz surprisingly left out.  Bent started on the bench.

Arsenal:  Playing 4-2-3-1, rested Jack Wilshere in the double pivot dropping back Rosicky with Ramsey.  Cazorla played centrally of the 3 with Podolski left.  Giroud led the line.  Sagna went to CB and cheapie Jenkinson started although be warned Koscileny should be back next week.

Arsenal controlled the game from the outset keeping possession while Fulham sat back and didn’t get anywhere near the pressing intensity of the young Villa team.    After scoring Arsenal picked off Fulham on the break at will.  It was a great result but against a very compliant opposition.

Winners:

The Arsenal defence:  Despite the goal and the hysterics of various pundits around the country the Arsenal defensive stats were excellent.  Were undone by Jenkinson’s positioning a few times but still played well.  A defence that only had less clean sheets last year than Liverpool and Man City is not bad overnight.

Walcott:  My attacking man of the match even with Podolski getting 2.  Most shots in the box, most touches in the final third, most pen box touches, 2nd in creating chances only to Cazorla.  Average position higher up the pitch than everyone.  Phenomenal leading the counter and continually chose the right options.  Was unlucky to only get the 1 assist.  Needed to redeem himself and definitely did so.  Heavy set piece involvement as well.  Helped by Jol picking 2 terrible defensive left sided players in Riise and Taarabt

Giroud:  Scored again and this time didn’t need 50 shots to do it.  Cheaper than Walcott and with pen duties a viable alternative once the window is closed

Podolski: Did very little except score,  but that is the objective.  Lethal finishing

The losers:

The whole Fulham team:  Were absolutely abysmal.  Defence were all over the place, no pressing the ball whatsover, no cover on the counter .  Going forward they didn’t have a clue in any form of structured attack, apart from shooting from distance, all of which was done at a snails pace.

Other comments:

Cazorla:  Lead the chances created column and deserved the assist.  Played centrally and expect good things from him.

Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 1

Aston Villa: Guzan 6, Lowton 5, (El Ahmadi 65, 6) Okore 6, Vlaar 6, Luna 7; Westwood 7, (Helenius 83) Delph 8, Bacuna 5; Agbonlahor 6, Benteke 6, Weimann 5. (Tonev 73, 5).
Subs: Clark, Steer, Herd, Sylla.
Booked: Luna, Delph, Lowton, Lucas
Liverpool: Mignolet 7, Johnson 6, Toure 7, Agger 7, Enrique 6; Gerrard 7, Lucas 6; Henderson 6, Aspas 6, (Cissokho 68, 6) Coutinho 7; (Allen 83) Sturridge 8.
Subs: Brad Jones, Alberto, Borini, Sterling, Wisdom.
Booked: Johnson, Aspas
Goal: Sturridge 21  Assist:  Enrique

For Villa, in 4-3-3, Okore lined up instead of Clark at CB and the midfield 3 was refreshed with Bacuna coming in for ElAhmadi.  Liverpool were unchanged from last week.

I was a game of 2 halves to say the least.  Liverpool controlled the game with over 60% possession in the first half.  Villa came and pressed more in the 2nd half and were unlucky not to score.

The winners:

The Villa defence:  Another excellent performance here with Liverpool restricted to very few good chances.  Baker, if he can get back in, is the value  at £4.0m otherwise you have to step up to £4.5m Vlaar where you’re competing against Clyne and Collins

Benteke:  Another tough defence, another excellent performance, despite no goal.  Had the best shooting stats and also created chances

The losers:

Coutinho:  Alot of involvement and a high average position but didn’t get into the box, only 1 shot and didn’t create a single chance for a team mate. No returns in 2 games against good opposition so questions are rightly being asked.

Other comments:  

While Sturridge is now 2 games 2 goals, this game was 1 shot for Sturridge 1 goal which is worth noting

Everton 0 WBA 0

Everton: Howard 7, Baines 5, Jagielka 7, Distin 6, Coleman 7, Osman 6, Fellaini 5, Pienaar 7, Barkley 7, Mirallas 7 (Naismith 72, 6), Jelavic 5 (Kone 72, 6).
Subs not used: Joel, Heitinga, Deulofeu, Stones, Anichebe.
Booked: Barkley
West Brom: Foster 8 (Daniels 78, 6) B Jones 6, McAuley 7, Olsson 7, Ridgewell 6; Mulumbu 7, Yacob 6, Rosenberg 5 (Vydra 67, 6), Morrison 7, Dorrans 6; Long 6 (Brunt 81).
Subs not used: Popov, Sinclair, Lugano, Berahino.
Booked: Mulumbu
Man of the match: Ben Foster

Everton:  With Gibson still not fit, cheapie mid Barkley started.

WBA:  Rosenberg started with Anelka on compassionate leave.  New boys Lugano, Vyddra and  Sinclair were all on the bench

A game the Everton should have won comfortably as they had loads of chances

The winners:

The Everton defence:  Another great defensive set of stats and although the 2 games were Norwich and a Lukaku and Anelka less WBA I’m ready to say that I would back the Everton defence at the right price.  Coleman was especially strong but has risen £0.2m and now starts to get closer to City and Arsenal options at £5.5m.  Distin is still £5.0m but at the moment I would play the little bit extra for Coleman

Fellaini:  Best shooting stats of the game and showed that even from the deep positions he has the guile to drift into scoring positions.  Should have scored.  £8.5m is too expensive for me though.

Barkley:  excellent forward central position and had good shooting and creating chances stats.  A little free on the shooting from distance was the only criticism.  Did holding his place chances good.

The losers:

No one really, Jelavic was a little quiet and may feel the heat from Kone who also was quiet for his 20 minute appearance.

Other comment:

Mirallas:   No returns in 2 games a right hand side position and 2 70 minute substitutions.  Still reasonable stats in both games and no need to panic just yet

That’s it, the remaining games will be in a separate post

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