It may be early in the season to be looking for outside signs that a player can turn it around, but this week’s Carling Cup matches have allowed a few marquee Fantasy Premier League players to regain a bit of form after struggling through two weeks of Premier League fixtures.
Aston Villa 3-0 Tranmere
Delph 38′
Herd 66′
Bent 81′
We typically don’t think much of National Team strikers scoring goals against League One sides, but we’ll make an exception for Darren Bent. As we’ve previously noted, Bent does nothing for Fantasy Premier League managers but score goals. Over the last five season he has scored a goal every 172′ in the Barclays Premier League. That, rather obviously, amounts to one goal every other game. 19 goal seasons are nothing to scoff at, and managers investing in Bent know that 19 goals could be just the begining. His goal on Tuesday was just his first February. If this opens the floodgates, it would be a prime buying opportunity not only for Bent, but for the men who will provide the assists – Barry Bannan, Charles N’Zogbia and Stephen Ireland.
Aston Villa lineup
22 Guzan
29 Stevens (Holman – 67′)
30 Lichaj
32 Baker
34 Lowton
07 Ireland
16 Delph [yc]
25 Bannan [yc]
31 Herd (Burke – 76′)
09 Bent
26 Weimann (N’Zogbia – 71′)
Norwich 2-1 Scunthorpe
Lappin 32′
Hoolahan 56′ (pen)
Norwich did not show much of their attacking prowess in their game against League One side Scunthorpe. Chris Hughton’s side needed Wes Hoolahan to earn and convert a 56′ penalty to secure passage to the next round. For Hoolahan, it was a bit of good news. First, that he was able to earn the penalty – he needs to play in an advanced role to hold value in Fantasy Premier League. Second, Hoolahan both took and coverted the penalty. Norwich are typically the side conceding the spotkicks, but if they can earn and convert them (and if Hoolahan takes them over other options like Grant Holt) the two or three extra opportunities a season do make a significant difference for the £5.9m rated Fantasy Premier League midfielder. A year ago Hoolahan recorded four goals, seven assists in 2271′. A five or six goal season with 10 assists is not out outside his expected returns but the increased cost — Hoolahan finished 2011-12 £5.0, 104pts — means that Hoolahan needs to hit those marks to justify managers faith in him. We’re still not expecting much from this side until November, at best. With another fixture ending without a clean sheet, fantasy premier league managers with Caanries in their squad should carefully consider their upcoming schedule.
The Canaries next six EPL fixtures: Spurs(a), West Ham(h), Newcastle(a), Liverpool(h), Chelsea (a), Arsenal(h)
Norwich Lineup:
13 Rudd
06 Turner
23 Tierney
24 R Bennett
33 Francomb
11 Surman
14 Hoolahan
15 Fox
26 Lappin (Pilkington – 52′ )
16 Morison (Jackson – 80′ )
25 C Martin
Nottingham Forest 1-4 Wigan
Boselli 25′
Figueroa 35′
Gomez 44′
McManaman 90′
The squad selected by Roberto Martinez reflected the perceived difficulty of facing a Championship side without a loss this season. Nottingham Forest entered the game with a 2-2-0 record in August, but were easily overcome by a superior side on Tuesday. Interestingly, Jordi Gomez scored again. This is interesting because we’re unabashedly lobbying for Gomez to make the starting lineup on a regular basis. Following the departure of Victor Moses we would hope the £5.5m Fantasy Premier League midfielder could feature behind Di Santo and Koné. Gomez has only 67′ in the two Latics EPL fixtures this season. Last season he scored five goals, one assist, in 1788′.
26 Al Habsi
03 Alcaraz [yc 68'] [2nd yc 77']
21 Ramis
23 Stam
31 Figueroa
06 Jones
07 Crusat (Miyaichi – 80′)
08 Watson
14 Gomez (McManaman – 72′)
22 Beausejour
19 Boselli (Fyvie – 83′)
Remarkably, there was not much overlap between this Wigan side and the side Martinez fielded in the 25 August 0-2 victory at Southampton. The two lineup shared only Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Ramis and Figueroa. With Alcaraz now facing a suspension from the FA, we expect he will be missing an EPL fixture or two.
26 Al Habsi
05 Caldwell
21 Ramis
03 Alcaraz
31 Figueroa
17 Boyce
16 McArthur
04 McCarthy
10 Maloney
02 Koné
09 Di Santo
Everton 5-0 Leyton Orient
Mirallas 16′
Osman 22′
Mirallas 29′
Anichebe 35′
Gueye 67′
Kevin Mirallas, the Belgian International just in from Olympiacos, scored twice after being handed his first start by Blues manager David Moyes. Mirallas has 28 International caps for Balgium with five goals. The 24-year-old looked excellent, linking well with Steven Naismith to open scoring on 15′ and Gueye for his 28′ goal. He also assisted on Leon Osman’s 21′ goal, Osman’s first of the season, as well as Victor Anichebe’s 35′ goal which put the Toffees ahead 4-0. In short, it was a spectacular outing – the kind of outing which requires Fantasy Premier League managers to examine the £7.5m forward a bit more carefully. Certainly, this impact performance coming against a League One side should dampen expectations . But with the Blues firing on all cylinders and Tim Cahill’s centre-forward spot lying vacant, dreams of Mirallas and Jelaivc linking in front of Osmasn, Pienaar, Fellaini and Neville/Gibson will play out in many heads leading into GW3. We’re happier to see Leon Osman scoring. Osman scored four goals, with four assists, in 2369′ a year ago. While he may be the third, fourth, or fifth option in Moyes’ squad, and perhaps the sixth option for fantasy premier league managers, he is a vital piece of the attack and his high level of performance will directly contribute to all of the Toffees posting higher FPL point totals.
A quick note – both Baines and Jagielka were substituted at halftime and should remain fit and ready to face West Brom this weekend. Pienaar and Fellaini were not named in the squad while Howard and Jelavic were unused substitutes
01 Mucha
03 Baines (Duffy – 46′)
05 Heitinga
06 Jagielka (Garbutt – 46′)
18 Neville
23 Coleman
21 Osman (Barkley – 46′)
11 Mirallas
14 Naismith
19 Gueye
28 Anichebe