They didn’t look like they had a future at Old Trafford last summer and now they’re driving the United revival.
Gameweek 32 review
The average score in Gameweek 32 was a fairly mediocre 46 points but if you played your cards right there were serious points on offer.
The trump card proved to be Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolasie, who accounted for over one-fifth of his entire points tally this season in the weekend’s victory over Sunderland.
Bolasie’s hat-trick, combined with an assist and the maximum bonus points tally, gave him 24 points this week, a massive ten points ahead of his nearest challengers, teammate Glenn Murray and Ashley Young.
Despite being on the end of a chastening defeat at Old Trafford, Sergio Aguero was next best with 12 points ahead of a trio of midfielders on 11 points, Cesc Fabregas, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen.
At the back, meanwhile, there were four players on nine points, with Aston Villa’s Brad Guzan in goals behind Aaron Cresswell, Dejan Lovren and Toby Alderweireld.
J-League
It was solid rather than spectacular stuff from the leading pack in the J-League this week, with only two members of the top five exceeding 60 points.
As a result, the top three remains the same with Sean Kelly’s The Honey Badgers 22 points ahead of Michael Ward’s I Gotze no idea and Garry Doran’s What’s Love Gotze do in joint-second place.
Michael Crawford’s James&SalahSandwich made the most significant jump after an impressive 63 points, which was enough to put them a single point clear of Joe O’Neill’s Dr. Neo Cortex in fifth place.
J-League Top 5
1. The Honey Badgers – Sean Kelly: 1,975 points
2. I Gotze no idea – Michael Ward: 1,953 points
3. What’s Love Gotze do – Garry Doran: 1,953 points
4. James&SalahSandwich – Michael Crawford: 1,943 points
5. Dr. Neo Cortex – Joe O’Neill: 1,942 points
The unlikely lads driving the United revival
Even during their lowest moments this season, there remained a suspicion that Louis van Gaal would eventually turn things around at Manchester United.
Back when they were losing at Swansea and struggling to defeat lower-league opposition in the FA Cup, however, there was never a suspicion that the architects of that revival would be Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini.
The future of both players was very much under threat when LVG arrived at Old Trafford last summer, but because of accident more so than design, the duo have been crucial to the Red Devils’ terrific run of form of late.
Although Young has played pretty well all season and was deservedly keeping Angel di Maria out of the side, it is only in recent weeks that he has started converting that good form into points.
Against City he was responsible for a goal and two assists and a tally of 14 points; before that he had only managed one of each all season.
Fellaini, meanwhile, did score a couple of goals earlier in the campaign but again it is only in United’s recent run that he has really been making his presence felt. In the last four games, he’s grabbed two goals, an assist and a couple of bonus points, averaging just over six points per game.
Not spectacular, but not bad for £6.4 million either.
Despite his recent good form, Young is still available for a measly £4.9 million and even though United’s run from now to the end of the season is by no means easy, their form and the importance of mometum cannot be discounted.
With 30 points in his last three games, Juan Mata (£8.5 million) is a safer if more expensive bet and with 40 points in his last seven games, his compatriot Ander Herrera (£7.2 million) is certainly worth a look too.
Goals and assists from midfield has become something of a problem at Old Trafford in recent seasons, but the men in the middle have certainly been pulling their weight as this campaign comes to a close.
Keep this up and they’ll make a lot of Fantasy Football managers very happy in the final few weeks too.
N.B. Bear in mind folks that the FA Cup semi-finals will rob managers of players from six teams this weekend: Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Hull City, Sunderland and QPR.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that both Hull and Liverpool will have double Gameweeks in Gameweek 34, as well as Chelsea and Leicester City.
JOE’s Fantasy Football Picks
Top Dollar: Eden Hazard (£11.2 million). Only twice in the last nine games has Hazard failed to produce a goal or an assist and even up against an in-form United, you’d still fancy him to produce a moment of magic.
Mid-Range: Juan Mata (£8.5 million). Jose Mourinho will have plans in place to stop the visitors at Stamford Bridge, but with two goals, two assists and 30 points in his last three games, the Spaniard will be hard to keep down on his old stomping ground.
Bargain Basement: Ashley Young (£4.9 million). Considering his recent form, it’s hard to believe he’s available at such a knockdown price, which is so low he can hardly be considered a gamble at this late stage.
Irish Pick: Seamus Coleman (£6.8 million). Last weekend wasn’t a great one for the Irish right-back, but in the three games before that, he managed a goal, an assist and three clean sheets. Against Burnley at home, he’ll be hoping for more of the same.
Captain’s Pick: Sergio Aguero (£12.5 million). We’re convinced that Man City are going to wake out of their slumber sooner rather than later and after a double against Manchester United, no better man to bring them back to life than the deadly Argentine.
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