This Much We Know – Gameweek 22

Sergio Aguero’s return to form has Fantasy managers scrambling for his services. Riyad Mahrez’ spot-kick duties could be in question, Newcastle’s Georginio Wijnaldum delivers at home once again, whilst a quartet of left-backs are all jostling for our attention in our lunchtime assessment of the weekend’s action.

Aguero’s chilling reminder is just a warning…
Neck and neck with Harry Kane in last week’s Captain Poll, the City striker served a timely reminder that you get what you pay for by racking up a 16-point haul at home to Palace. Whilst Kane still managed a healthy 10 points at home to Sunderland, those who placed the armband on Aguero were rewarded emphatically as he delivered two goals, an assist and the maximum bonus against the Eagles. Eased back into action by Manuel Pellegrini, Aguero finally looks back to full match sharpness and his weekend showing has already seen his price jump to 13.3, with over three times the number of new owners than any other forward as the bandwagon picks up momentum.

….as is Pellegrini’s decision to rest Toure….
City’s hectic schedule continues to have a significant effect on Pellegrini’s team sheet. With the club still battling for silverware on four fronts, the Chilean’s decision to rest Yaya Toure to the bench raised a few eyebrows, given that the Ivorian – who had netted in three of his previous five appearances – has mainly been rotation-proof during his tenure. In midweek, Aleksandar Kolarov dropped to the bench and this time round it was Bacary Sagna’s turn, as Pellegrini looks to utilise the depth of his squad over a tricky winter period.

Mahrez may have taken his last spot-kick…
A 1-1 draw at Villa dented the Foxes’ claim for a top-four finish, with just two goals scored in the last five Gameweeks highlighting their stuttering attack. Riyad Mahrez’ owners were again left frustrated after the Algerian fluffed his lines from the spot for the second time in three league matches, having also missed a penalty in a goalless home draw with Bournemouth. Claudio Ranieri has admitted he’s set to hold talks with the winger over his penalty duties and with Jamie Vardy having scored all three of his top-flight spot-kicks this season, the latter’s owners will be hoping he’s handed the next opportunity as he looks to improve a record that’s seen him score just once in the last eight Gameweeks.

Hennessey is on the brink…
Culpable for Villa’s midweek winner, the Welshman was again at fault on Saturday after allowing Fabian Delph’s long-range attempt to open the scoring in Palace’s Etihad hammering. Alan Pardew has been quick to criticise Hennessey but went on to suggest that, for now at least, the Welshman is still his number one. Another costly error over the next few fixtures, though, and the 4.1-priced stopper could be on bench-warming duties, depriving Fantasy managers of a cut-price option between the sticks.

…and Myhill is teetering too…
It’s a single clean sheet in 12 Gameweeks now for the Baggies, as they continue to look uncharacteristically porous under Tony Pulis. A 3-0 loss at St Mary’s continued a series of dire defensive displays that will surely have the West Brom boss reconsidering his options sometime soon. Myhill has played from start to finish in every league outing so far but with Ben Foster now fit and pushing for a return, it looks only a matter of time before last season’s number one is handed his chance between the posts.

Baines has blinked on the radar at the right time…
With his season curtailed by injury until last month, the Everton left-back has been far from Fantasy managers’ thoughts. Baines’ pair of assists at Stamford Bridge – allied with two clean sheets in his last four appearances – arrives at a time where the schedule smiles very kindly for the Toffees. Roberto Martinez’ men now have three very favourable home fixtures in four (SWA, NEW, WBA) and with a double Gameweek potentially on the horizon, depending on Capital One Cup results, the 3%-owned Baines is shaping up to be the handiest of differentials for the remainder of the campaign.

Daniels is a Cherry worth picking…
Bournemouth’s penalty-taking left-back staked a major claim for our consideration last weekend, courtesy of an 18-point home haul against Norwich. Daniels has now racked up two converted spot-kicks, an assist and three clean sheets in the last six Gameweeks alone, yet despite his budget-friendly price tag of 4.5, still remains in just 1% of FPL sides. With clashes against Sunderland, Palace, Stoke and Watford in the next five, though, the Daniels bandwagon is picking up pace: he leads the way for transfers in amongst defenders since the weekend, with over 23,000 FPL managers acquiring his services.

Targett could yet be a handy enabler…
Drafted in from the cold last midweek, the Southampton defender has more than vindicated Ronald Koeman’s decision to hand him a recall by serving up an assist in each of his subsequent two appearances. Now down to a mere 3.7 in FPL, Targett’s potential has been helped by an out-of-position berth – with Ryan Bertrand stationed at centre-half, the youngster has been utilised as a left wing-back in the Saints’ new 3-5-2 system. After serving up 12 and 11 points over those two fixtures, his performances have certainly strengthened his chances of retaining that starting berth under Koeman, thus handing us a very handy option for our five-man defences.

Van Aanholt has us considering a Sunderland defender…
The Dutchman delivered the attacking points once more last weekend and emerged from White Hart Lane with his Fantasy reputation enhanced, despite a 4-1 drubbing. Van Aanholt’s early strike against Mauricio Pochettino’s troops means he has now scored in three successive league outings, with an assist also thrown in during the midweek win over Swansea. Having served up just seven points in the opening ten Gameweeks, the 4.6-priced Van Aanholt has averaged five points per appearance under Big Sam – that’s despite earning just two clean sheets in his 11 outings with the new man in charge.

We need Wijnaldum for Gameweek 25…
Yet again, the Newcastle midfielder plundered the points in front of his own fans with a goal and assist in the weekend win over West Ham. Wijnaldum has now netted nine home goals – at least four more than any other midfielder – and has proven the man for the big occasion, with strikes against the likes of Southampton, Chelsea, Liverpool and United at St James’. Whilst back-to-back road trips may curtail his appeal – given he’s yet to score on the road – many will be pencilling him in for Gameweek 25, as Steven McClaren’s side welcome West Brom to Tyneside. Elsewhere for the Magpies, Aleksandar Mitrovic failed to get amongst the goals, yet the underlying stats suggest the Serbian remains one to watch. Although he’s scored just once over the last six Gameweeks, the summer signing has produced more shots inside the box (20) than any other player and looks equally crucial to their survival bid.