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The Fantasy Football Suffix - Gameweek 30 (Sunday)

22 March 2015

As the dust settled overnight, those managers who had put the FPL armband on Harry Kane popped the champagne corks and partied in the street. For everyone else, it was a period to lick our wounds and contemplate what might have been. But with three games still to come, maybe there was still time for redemption? Let's see how the afternoon unfolded...

LIV v MUN
Billed as the biggest rivalry in the English game, as usual the overhype surrounding this fixture had hit hysteria level by the time the team sheets were announced. No real surprises from Liverpool, whereas opinion was that Van Gaal had possibly stumbled upon his best XI by complete chance.

United started the stronger, and just before the quarter hour point Ander Herrera found Juan Mata on the right who placed the ball back across Mignolet in the Liverpool score to make it 1-0. The visitors were bossing the midfield, with Fellaini and Herrera the pick of the bunch. Brendan Rodgers is not a manager who is afraid to make changes and no doubt recognised this, opting to shake things up at half time by introducing Gerrard in place of Lallana.
It took me about 45 seconds to write that last sentence (ok, I'm slow!) which is the length of time Gerrard lasted on the pitch in his last Derby game. A naughty stamp on Herrera's ankle saw a straight red card and having not even broken a sweat, the Liverpool captain wouldn't have even needed a bath.

The second goal for United was also scored by Juan Mata, and it as a peach. A perfectly executed left footed scissor kick with the assist provided by Angel Di Maria. 11 assists now this season for the “poor” Di Maria, putting him second in the table only to Fabregas.

Balotelli was introduced on 66 minutes and immediately tried to “do a Gerrard” with a bad foul, but in a reflection of his Reds career, fell short. Liverpool did score a few minutes later with Daniel Sturridge slotting home following a ball from Coutinho. United could - and should - have extended their lead late on after a penalty was awarded for Can's foul on Blind. Instead ofMata being allowed to complete his hat trick, Wayne Rooney stepped up and saw Mignolet save hi poor effort. An unlikely 8 points for Mignolet owners, who continues to have a decent second half of the season, repaying the faith 4.8% of managers have in him.

Mata - 3pts
Mignolet - 2pts
Sturridge - 1pt


QPR v EVE
After a particularly poor showing in the Europa League, Everton would have wanted to put on a show in West London. There are rumblings of discontent amongst the Goodison faithful, which may have led to further protests if they don't improve their league form between now and the end of the season. QPR boss Chris Ramsey left out Wright-Phillips, Taarabt and Henry (not that many FPL managers would have been bothered by that!) Stones returned for Everton at the expense of Alcaraz.

It was Everton who seized the opportunity to open the scoring, Seamus Coleman's superb effort going in off the post following a ball from Leon Osman. This was Coleman's third goal of the season, so he is halfway to matching his total from last year when he was an FPL must-have.

Immediately after the break Junior Hoillet nearly put the hosts level, but his rocket shot hit the cross bar. QPR bided their time and eventually got their reward after 65 minutes when substitute Eduardo Vargas picked up the ball from Charlie Austin and fired home. With a double gameweek up next, Austin's ownership percentage is sure to be on the up again.
QPR are not in the business of hanging on to anything in general this season, and there was almost an air of inevitability when Seamus Coleman's cross was only half cleared and the ball fell to Aaron Lennon who cooly finished for his first Everton goal since his move from Spurs. 1-2 the final score. QPR still have a shout at clambering out of the bottom three, but they will need to win their game in hand in DGW31. Is it worth loading up on their players? Er...no.

Lennon - 3pts
Coleman - 2pts
Isla - 1pt

HUL v CHE
Jelavic's injury meant a rare start upfront for Abel Hernández to partner Dame N'Doye. Huddletone was also missing as Steve Bruce shuffled his pack. For Chelsea, Azpilicueta and Oscar were replaced by Filipe Luis and Ramires. It didn't take long for Chelsea to demonstrate the gulf in class between the two teams as Eden Hazard collected the ball from Costa and unleashed a shot from the edge of the penalty box.

The game was over as a contest on 9 minutes when Diego Costa produced a sublime finish to make it 2-0 with Fàbregas claiming his 16th assist of the campaign. Or was it? Hull had evidently not read the script and decided not to dance to Mourinho's tune. Andrew Robertson sent in a superb cross for Elmohamady to tap in at the far post to make it 2-1. Just over a minute later following the restart a mix up in the Chelsea defence saw the ball go straight to Hernández who gobbled up the gift. 74 seconds had elapsed between the two goals, a new record this season.
It's fair to say Chelsea's defence was at sixes and sevens all afternoon, and the Blues were lucky to not go behind midway through the second half. A superb triple save from Courtois saved his side, but maybe he should have smothered the first effort and not tried to be so clever?
As with any side at the top of the league, luck tends to be on their side, and a minute after being introduced as a sub, Loïc Remy saw his first touch squirm under the body of Allan McGregor in the Hull goal. The assist was provided by Willian. Another 3 points for Chelsea, who with the form of some of the teams around them, need to make sure they keep their buffer intact.

Costa - 3pts
Remy & Hazard - 2pts

There we go then. Gameweek 30, done. Reports of a fair few managers breaking the 100 point barrier by virtue of captaining Kane and holding some of the other star name performers. Following the International break QPR and Villa play twice and sandwiched in between their two fixtures are some tantalising match ups. Can Agüero rediscover his scoring touch away at Palace? Will Giroud keep up his goal a game record at home to Liverpool? Join me on April 4th for the next edition of the Suffix.

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