Premier fantasy managers had to endure a Premier-less weekend; however, the results of the FA Cup matches may portend fantasy implications when Premier play resumes on Saturday.

Players who have moved their game to a higher level included Everton’s Royston Drenthe and Denis Stracqualursi. Also Seamus Coleman, injured for much of the season seems back in form and ready to deliver the points he produced last year. And how can Marovane Fellaini possibly miss four open shots in one game again? Granted the opposition was a not-ready-for-prime-time Blackpool team, but David Moyes lads, even with Luis Saha and Landon Donvan gone look like they are ready to turn on the offense. Unfortunately, Everton is not playing on Saturday.

Bolton, as bad a team there is may offer fantasy bargain hunters a find in Arsenal on-loan midfielder Ryo Miyaichi. He looked very comfortable with the Wanderers and delivered a delightful goal in Bolton’s FA Cup advance. Wenger likely is wondering why he let him be checked out of the Gooner’s library.

Chelsea with its serious case of rot must return Didier Drogba to his rightful role up front (even if his stay at Stamford Bridge will likely end this season) along with Daniel Sturridge. AVB is a deer in Abromavich’s headlights and his request for a public vote of confidence from management and declaration he has a three-year plan are laughable. As for Fernando Torres, he is likely to be in the padded seats, if not a padded cell for much of the remaining season. The Spaniard had a chance to do something while Drogba was in Africa and was miserable. Solomon Kalou, also back from the Africa tournament could be given more playing time while Juan Mata, perhaps trying to carry too much of the burden has had his production fall off.

Sunderland’s Sephane Sessegnon is a fantasy point-producing machine. The Black Cats did an FA Cup number on Arsenal and are a team full of confidence and swagger with Kieran Richardson doing a Karaoke number on the corner flag after his rocket goal.

Arsen Wenger is watching his team’s season go down the silver-plated drain. RvP’s body language in the last two games was screaming, “I want out of here!” The Gooner’s midfield is incapable of getting the ball to the Dutchie. Theo Walcott, brought in as a sub against Sunderland was much like wallpaper in the loo, looking pretty but just hanging around. Better news comes with Gervinho who has his African adventure behind him and may be ready to post some fantasy points.

Spurs, Liverpool and Stoke all played on Sunday although Tottenham seemed to be going through the motions in their goalless draw against League One Stevenage. Spurs have many injuries to key players notably VdV and Adebayor. Stoke, playing with ten men most of the match showed grit in getting by League Two Crawley while Liverpool (that also does not play on Saturday) made a mess of Championship Brighton. On the other hand, Brighton’s hat trick of Own Goals was almost as ugly as Luis Suerez’s missed penalty kick.