With the FA Cup and International’s intervening, March is light on Premier League action and opportunities for Fantasy Managers to scratch the itch. Gameweek 30 is a shimmering oasis on the skyline however, and reason enough for us to rekindle our fixture analysis flame to shed light on those teams to embrace and avoid over the coming weeks….
The Highs…
Tottenham
Harry Redknapp’s men are buoyant right now following their unprecedented passage to the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League. There is however, still a lot of work to be done on the home front to ensure that this season’s adventure isn’t a one off. The tussle for a top four spot will now intensify and, fortunately for Harry Redknapp, his side look set to embark on an array of obliging fixtures that could see them lay some firm foundations for the run-in.
Starting this weekend, Spurs will have four home games in their next five gameweeks (West Ham, Stoke, Arsenal and West Brom) before they face up to a crucial trip to Stamford Bridge. Rotation of prime assets – Rafael Van der Vaart and Gareth Bale – will be a concern, but Fantasy Managers will be banking on Redknapp prioritising the harsh realities of the Premier League before daydreaming of European exploits.
Aston Villa
Villa’s dream passage to the finishing line continues, ensuring that Gerard Houllier’s outfit are still worthy of their inclusion here, despite the recent setback at the Reebok. This coming gameweek Villa will play host to Wolves which remains a positive fixture regardless of the recent revival from Mick McCarthy’s men. Villa then have a trip to fellow relegation scrappers West Ham, as well as home games with Newcastle and Stoke. Inconsistent at the back but potentially explosive going forward – the likes of Darren Bent, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing have to remain high on our Watchlists.
Chelsea
A home game against Man City might not be the most dazzling start but, beyond that, things pick up in a pretty big way. From gameweek 32 through to 35, Chelsea have a run of fixtures that includes four home matches in five. Carlo Ancelotti’s side will host Wigan, Birmingham, West Ham and Spurs over that spell, with a trip to West Brom thrown in to complete a double fixture in gameweek 33.
While the situation with Ancelotti’s strikers remains cloudy, interest in Frank Lampard is surely set to ramp up while, at the back, David Luiz is ineligible for Champions League football and therefore seemingly immune to the threat of rotation in the league ; that could well be a big positive and see further investment head in his direction.
Everton
David Moyes’ men continue to enjoy a pleasant run of opponents [FUL, AVL, wlv, BLA] that will undoubtedly keep the keen eyed Fantasy Manager focused on the potential on offer. Everton’s main problem however is that a lot of their quality rests in the hands of the Goodison physios. With Marouane Fellaini out for the season, Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta currently on the treatment table and Louis Saha often an accident waiting to happen, Fantasy Managers need to call on some imagination and gamble on a few leftfield selections to exploit the opportunity. With an apparent lack of creativity and continued instability at the back, you can argue that this particular “opportunity” is not that appealing.
Also consider: Man United – a blank in gameweek 33 is countered by a string of decent opponents with the next three Old Trafford encounters looking particularly profitable Arsenal – a couple of promising away days, a potentially rewarding Emirates date with Blackburn and a double gameweek provides ample reason to sift through the injuries and hop back on board with Arsene Wenger’s assets.
The Lows…
West Ham
Demba Ba and Thomas Hitzlsperger have come into the ranks at West Ham and have clearly provided a cutting edge around the battling qualities of Scott Parker and Mark Noble. Hopes of survival have been raised considerably, but Avram Grant’s side have still got a massive task ahead, with appalling fixtures on the horizon. Their next six sees trips to Spurs, Bolton, Chelsea and City, while United are due at Upton Park in gameweek 31. A home clash with Aston Villa provides perhaps the greatest opportunity for points and Fantasy returns in the weeks to come, but even Gerard Houllier’s side can prove a dangerous opponent.
West Brom
The Baggies are facing a similarly daunting month. They too have enjoyed a recent upturn under Roy Hodgson, but now face a horrible run of opponents that could leave them teetering on the edge of the Premier League drop. Like West Ham, you can argue that their best fixture in the next six is a home meeting with Villa. Around that they have trips to Sunderland and Spurs, with Hawthorns encounters with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea to come. Ouch.
Man City
Investors in Aleksandar Kolarov may well have identified the underlying fantasy potential, but given the lack of security surrounding his starting role and pitch time, they must be wondering whether selling him on would ease the blood pressure. City’s fixtures now bring that situation to a head and present perhaps the best window to offload the frustrating Serb, as well the other Citizens lingering in our squads.
Mancini’s men have three challenging away days (Chelsea, Liverpool and Blackburn) one blank gameweek (33) and one promising fixture (Sunderland at home) in their next five. Now may even be the time to consider hopping off the Carlos Tevez Express; a former runaway train that has been prone to delay and even cancellation of late.
Be wary of: Bolton – United and Arsenal loom, with a blank in gameweek 33. Wigan – Mess up their home tie Birmingham this weekend they put themselves in real danger of being cut loose from the survival race with Spurs and Chelsea to follow. Liverpool – featured in full in last week’s article, their fixtures remain an unkind bunch – taunting Kenny Dalglish with three away trips in four and City and Arsenal in the mix.
