Fulham 2-0 Aston Villa
The lunch time kick-off saw Fulham face Aston Villa, who had Christian Benteke back in their starting eleven. After a recent poor run of form Dimitar Berbatov had a point to prove to his doubters and Fulham’s new Boss Rene Meulensteen was looking to put an end to a run of six straight losses for “The Lilywhites”. Both sides came out in attacking mode and Villa’s goalkeeper, Brad Guzan, was forced into action early, producing a fine save from a Berbatov header who then had a penalty appeal turned down following a weak challenge from Ciaran Clark. Not to be outdone, Benteke, who looked desperate for a goal, forced Maarten Stekelenberg to parry an effort away. The deadlock was broken in the 21st minute when former Villain Steve Sidwell squeezed in a fine effort following good work from Ashkan Dejagah. Fulham were now full of confidence and continued to press forward and the lead was doubled on 30 minutes when Alex Kacaniklic was brought down by Leandro Bacuna and the resulting penalty was nonchalantly dispatched by Berbatov. Following the re-start, Villa brought on Aleksandar Tonev for the disappointing Karim El Ahmadi, but Fulham continued to dominate the play with John-Arne Riise, Philippe Senderos and Scott Parker all stepping up to the plate and Riise was only denied when he sent a header crashing off the bar. Villa’s Chris Herd let the dominance of Fulham get to him with a reckless challenge that earned him a yellow card and manager Paul Lambert replaced him shortly afterwards, but Villa could just not break Fulham down and when the home supporters started chanting “How bad must you be, were winning at home” he knew it wasn’t going to be Villas day.
So this was a first win for Meulensteen, who was hugely respected when he was a member of the coaching staff at Old Trafford under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson and judging by today’s result, he might just be the man to turn Fulham’s season around. Todays result showed what confidence can do to a side – Fulham bossed the play but on the flip side Aston Villa looked devoid of ideas, hitting long balls to the out of sorts Benteke.
Bonus points: Sidwell (3) Riether (2) Berbatov & Senderos (1)
Arsenal 1-1 Everton
Next up was a trip to The Emirates as the league leaders entertained an Everton side who have been playing well under Roberto Martinez. Both sides had their young England midfield stars on display, namely Jack Wilshere and Ross Barkley and both sets of players set about with a determination to take the three points. The first half was a frantic, high tempo battle. The Toffees started at pace with attacking moves down each flank with Seamus Coleman and Brian Oviedo testing the Gunners defence. Arsenal were sharp with their passing, aware that a win would take them seven points clear of their rivals. To their credit Everton were not in awe of their opponents and Kevin Mirallas fired high after great work from Barkley. It was Arsenal though that had some of the best chances of the half, Santi Cazorla played in a lovely driven cross for Kieran Gibbs which the Arsenal man just failed to connect with and Tim Howard produced two great saves at the feet of Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey. The second half was a feisty affair and Referee Howard Webb had to be on his toes. Everton’s James McCarthy went into the book following a high challenge on Ramsey and will miss GW16 through suspension. Arsene Wenger decided to ring in the changes on 67 minutes in an effort to win the game, when a triple substitution saw the arrival of Mathieu Flamini, Thomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott for Cazorla, Ramsey and Wilshere. Everton responded with the arrival of Leon Osman for Steven Pienaar and Gerard Deulofeu for Miralles. It was the Gunners though that struck first in the 80th minute when Mesut Ozil converted a Walcott assist, but just four minutes later Romelu Lukaku was adjudged to have got the slightest touch to an Oviedo cross and the ball ran onto Deulofeu, who was on hand to smash it into the net. The final few minutes were frantic and Olivier Giroud nearly won it for the Gunners with a rasping 30 yard effort that had Tim Howard well beaten, but not the crossbar. All in all this was a fantastic game of football and both sides will surely look back at it and agree that a draw was a fair result.
Predicted Bonus points: Ozil (3) Deulofeu (2) Jagielka (1), Distin (1), Oviedo (1)
This article was written by Eddy
To All the team at FF 247…
Now this is a very serious question for you all.
You know who you are.
Since FF 247 was launched and with all the fine work you do behind the scene’s that makes this site No 1 in Pottys eyes.
Has your own Fantasy Football Team suffered?
As in lack of form or maybe neglect?
Please answer in a true manner.
Thanks.
Potty
Potty.
My team is always pants pre- Xmas and picks up the pace after it for whatever reason so no excuses here! You are doing great and you are in the top 5k. I am languishing about 70k now but there are only 60 odd points in it which is nothing and that gives me heart.
I’ve definitely had less time to do the usual research on player prices and trends but that’s no excuse. I expect to finish top 10k minimum every year and I think I will this year as well.
Good answer!
Mitos points per places analysis is very interesting in this respect James. Case in point is my main mini-league (Bag-O-Tell Prem, its a mates one and the reason I play FF at all) – I was 50 points off the leader last weekend. He didn’t have or captain Suarez in midweek. I overtook him in one week. Albeit only into second place but you get my point.
At the start of the season, the points were coming in slow. But as soon as i played WC, my team has done really well and has averaged 68 points per GW since then, which is not bad.
In top 40K right now, but main focus is to win private leagues of college and friends, and the Fulham global league as well, where im in top 100
Scrap that Potty – The B’s beating me – I give up!!! :noshake:
Only joking B. Great scoring. My WC is in a vault B)
yes mine has , to busy trying to sort score and such , a player has gone up 0.1mil and player gone done the same . your all bar stools
bench
that’s me off with my paddle down the creek that’s my life ! laters all
Bryan Munich! MLS LEGEND!
Well done Bryan – brilliant stuff in MLS. Bry finished in 38th overall and was top scorer in the entire game this week :worthy:
Well done, Bryan! And cheers Eddy. Great work on the article !
I rounded off my very first Mls season in a h2h with Japanese Bryan Munich also known as Star Spangled Banner in the Mls World.
He beat me 75 – 50.
But to lose to someone who finished in 38th spot overall in this yank game well…..
Congratulations mate,a great effort by you indeed.
Potty
So Potty, listen in! I gather your fantasy teams do not travel well?
FPL – amazing. Champions League – average. MLS – less said the better!
I fear for your World Cup one! :satansmoking:
Aw, thanks guys! I’m at work so can’t stick around, but really enjoyed the MLS banter with y’all. Especially during the summer. I’d like to thank God, my agent, my fans….
Oh, better get back to ‘work’. This sashimi won’t cut itself y’know. 😉
I’m in Hawaii. The time difference is ridiculous. Hahaha. Someone tell me how was the gunners toffees game?
Nice M&B!
Now I only saw the last 20 but from what Kop tells me we were very impressive and I was seeing stats on the beeb site that we were massively out passing Arsenal which is some feat!!!
Exciting times. Helps that Martinez is so likeable as well. Agent Moyes is doing his job as well!
Arsenal were good for short periods, where they applied a lot of pressure and took shots, but were mostly being outplayed. People doubting arsenal’s title credentials might look back to this, as an example of how arsenal can’t hang on to a lead for 10 minutes.
It’s a good point Veer. They are still a team in transition though in that respect and will only learn. Hopefully. They should have shut up shop and seen it out though but fair play to Martinez for getting his subs spot on and changing the game.
Benteke has now gone 8 games without a goal!
And yet 10.5% of teams still have faith in him.
I guess he is due though to say the least!
This dry spell is testing his character. Class players recover from dry spells like this
He is a talent that’s for sure. However I just don’t know with him. When is he off form, he seems rather.. Like he would rather coast..