Fantasy premier league match analysis – GW9 Saturday part 1

Here’s the fantasy premier league analysis for Saturday part 1 with analysis of Man Utd v Stoke, Crystal Palace v Arsenal and Liverpool v WBA. I’m concentrating on line up issues and player analysis

Lineups and ratings from the Daily Mail

Man Utd 3 Stoke 2

MAN UTD: De Gea 6; Smalling 5 (Valencia 76, 6), Jones 5, Evans 5, Evra 7; Carrick 7, Cleverley 5 (Hernandez 68, 7); Nani 6 (Januzaj 58, 7), Rooney 8, Kagawa 6; Van Persie 7.
Subs: Rafael, Lindegaard, Young, Fellaini.
Scorers: Van Persie 43, Rooney 78, Hernandez 80
Booked: Hernandez, Valencia

STOKE: Begovic 6; Cameron 5, Shawcross 7, Huth 7, Pieters 7; Nzonzi 6, Palacios 5 (Whelan 70, 6); Walters 6, Ireland 6 (Adam 82), Arnautovic 7 (Wilson 49, 6); Crouch 6. Subs: Jones, Assaidi, Wilkinson, Sorenson.
Scorers: Crouch 4, Arnautovic 45
Booked: Shawcross, Crouch, Ireland, Palacios, Wilson, Huth
 Lineups  

Utd played Smalling at RB presumably for his height and Jones and Evans as CBs.  Nani and Kagawa made the flanks rather than Januzaj.  Cleverly started instead of Fellaini.

Stoke were fairly predicatble.  However, Crouch started up front with Arnautovic moving to the left with Etherington missing out.  Wilson again was on the bench and Ireland held his place behind the striker

The match

Last year United won the title through the poor performance of other teams and the ability of RVP and Rooney to outscore teams.  When the dry spells came the defence tightened up and clean sheets won the day.  How Utd won this game I don’t know apart from their strikers scoring when they needed.  Their strength in the last 15 after playing midweek was impressive

Player comments 

Defences

When Crouch looks impressive you know you’ve got defensive problems.  Bad as Evans in particular was at CB Smalling was worse as Arnautovic continually made a fool of him.  Moyes strangely picked players on the flanks in Nani and Kagawa who tuck in and don’t really defend against a team that rely’s on crossing from the flanks, This made the FBs job even more difficult and Arnautovic looked very impressive.  Not great defence or defensive stats from Utd at all.  Stokes weren’t too bad considering the fixture

Rooney

Was fantastic with a goal and an assist plus the best shooting stats and interestingly got touches to the penalty box more than than RVP.  Having Nani and Kagawa tuck in and try and play between the lines does mean Rooney plays more advanced.  the problem with this is that then you probably need a more creative player further back  such as Modric rather than Cleverly who is a presser with pretty poor passing skills

RVP

Relatively quiet and didn’t match Rooney in penalty area activity or shooting stats.  Is at least sharing the set pieces with Rooney and a corner gave him his first assists of the year.  Fulham next and then a big decision as to whether you sell before or after the Cardiff game if you’re deeming him non essential as i certainly are.

Januzaj  

After non playing midweek he was probably a favourite to start but was benched in favour of Kagawa.  Did give them width when he came on but was relatively quiet

Nani

Had a shocker but if you do own him remember its Fulham next

Arnautovic

Was a constant threat and scored with a great free kick, although  whether he will play against Smalling every week is doubtful.  Personally I just cant see Stoke scoring enough to warrant a flank player at £5.5m in my fantasy premier league squad although his set piece involvement is attractive.  Its still only a goal and assist in 5 games.  Went off for illness according to the Mirror so needs monitoring if you are thinking of it

Crouch

The fact he looked so good and scored plus had great shooting stats was more of an indictment of Evans in particular than any need to rush out and put him in our fantasy premier league teams

Liverpool 4 WBA 1

Liverpool: Mignolet 7, Toure 7, Skrtel 7, Sakho 6, Johnson 7 (Kelly 62, 6), Lucas 7, Gerrard 7 (Allen 86), Cissokho 7, Henderson 7, Sturridge 8, Suarez (Alberto 89) 9.
Subs not used: Brad Jones, Agger, Moses, Sterling.
Goals: Suarez 12, 17, 55, Sturridge 77.

West Bromwich: West Brom: Myhill 7, Billy Jones 6, McAuley 6, Olsson 6, Ridgewell 5, Yacob 6 (Brunt 69, 5), Mulumbu 6, Amalfitano 6 (Morrison 45, 5), Anelka (Long 69) 5, Sessegnon 5, Anichebe 5.
Subs not used: Lugano, Luke Daniels, Vydra, Berahino.
Goals: Morrison (pen) 66.

Lineup comment

Liverpools only surprise was Lucas coming in for Moses meaning there was no real number 10 in the lineup

WBA’s surprise was playing both Anelka and Anichebe plus Sessegnon which meant a very attacking line up and leaving Berahino on the bench

Match comments

A game of great goals from Suarez and Sturridge is all you need to say for this game.

Player coments

Defences

Hardly surprising WBAs stats were ordinary given the fixture and their attacking set up but Liverpools were shockingly bad despite the score and really you have to wonder if there is any merit in their fantasy premier league manager investment.  Its now 6 games without a clean sheet

Suarez

The number one forward in my “ones to watch” articles came through with a fantastic hat trick .  The comparison with Sturridge was interesting as Suarez had 3 times as many pen box touches twice as many shots in the box and 5 times as many shots on target plus a higher average position.  When he picks it up and runs at defenders it’s frightening.  A world class act

Sturridge  

Scored again despite not having the most amazing shooting stats.  You cant argue with his consistency though and was unlucky not to get a 2nd..

Amalfitano

Another midfield cheapie at £5.2m was forced off with a knee injury after 44 minutes.  Waiting for an assessment. Did nothing in the 44 minutes he was on but should have been on your fantasy premier league bench anyway.

Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2

Crystal Palace: (4-5-1): Speroni 6; Ward 6, Delaney 6, Gabbidon 6, Moxey 6; Jedinak 7, Dikgacoi 7, Bannan 6 (Gayle 77), Thomas 6 (Bolasie 58, 6), Guedioura 6 (Kebe 72); Chamakh 6.
Subs not used: Mariappa, O’Keefe, Puncheon, Price.

Arsenal: (4-3-2-1): Szczesny 8; Sagna 7, Mertesacker 8, Koscielny 8, Gibbs 7; Arteta 6, Flamini 5 (Gnabry 7, 6 (Wilshere 69); Ramsey 7; Ozil 7, Cazorla 6 (Monreal 72); Giroud 7.
Subs not used: Vermaelen, Rosicky, Fabianski, Bendtner.
Goals: Arteta (pen) 47, Giroud 87.
Sent off: Arteta.

lineups comment

Crystal Palace;  Gabbidon was favoured over Mariappa.  It was a pretty defensive midfield with no Campana or Puncheon.

Arsenal:  No real surprises but the double pivot was Arteta and Flamini rather than Ramsey where he seems to get his best returns

Match comments

Palace defended well against Arsenals dominant possession until Guediroura’s rash challenge gave away a penalty.

Player comments 

defence

Arsenals defensive stats were ok and finally get the clean sheet the defence deserved.  Palace’s were ok.

Ramsey

A quiet stat game but still an assist.  Its 5 goals and 4 assists and returns in 6/9 games.  Makes no fantasy premier league historic sense but you’ve just got to go with it with those returns. The easier games are over now and 3 tricky ones next so if you don’t own him now’s the time not to buy him.

Ozil 

After this blank, 1 assist the only return now in 4 away games.  Is this a pattern?  Did get in the penalty area alot but very little attacking output.

Giroud 

The attacking start of the show by some distance.  Made a mockery of no bonus.  Best shooting stats by some distance.  Its 11 goals and 4 assists in 9 games, unbelievable.

That’s it.

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