Our Watchlist player rankings for the final three gameweeks of the season have now been updated and can be viewed in your right-hand sidebar as usual. Our analysis of the current standings is being split this week, to allow us more time to discuss the options available and the reasoning behind the new standings.
We begin by looking at the options available in goal and in the back four, and with clean sheets at a premium at this late stage, there’s clearly greater emphasis on supplementary points when it comes to assessing transfer targets. Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Save Points and Bonus come into play more than ever, while there’s never been a better time to invest in defenders who pose a precious goal threat. Finally of course, the double fixtures for both Man City and Spurs hand their players a short-term boost which promotes them in our thinking.
Joe Hart’s position at the top of the keeper rankings is safe and, despite his hefty Fantasy price tag, he is set to enjoy a renaissance when it comes to investment over the next few days. City’s four fixtures should return at least one clean sheet, while Hart’s propensity to earn Save Points is proven and should come into play for the crunch clash with Spurs.
Hart’s opposite number Heurelho Gomes is under fire following his Stamford Bridge calamity. It may seem folly to consider the error-strewn Brazilian but Harry Redknapp has stated that he will stand by him and, coupled with a double fixture and home matches against Blackpool and Birmingham, there’s enough to earn Gomes the second spot in our rankings. Available for 5.2 in the FPL, investment in the Spurs defence comes down to Gomes’ Save Point potential versus Michael Dawson’s goal threat and his chances of earning Bonus Points. With other targets available to us in defence, Gomes looks the better option for those who can’t find the funds for Hart.
While that pair are already the most “transferred in” keepers in the FPL this week, West Ham’s Robert Green, priced at 4.8 in the FPL, provides an option lower down our rankings for those searching for a mid-price solution. Again, Save Points are the draw here with the Hammers perhaps unlikely to earn shut-outs given their current form, despite facing decent fixtures over the run-in.
While the aforementioned Michael Dawson remains a tempting option for double gameweek investors, we’ve placed the centre-back in fifth spot in our defender rankings with the likes of David Luiz, Leighton Baines and Aleksandar Kolarov all better placed. Bolton’s Gary Cahill is also ranked above the Spurs man with fixtures that hand him opportunities to fetch at both ends of the field. We will bring you an in-depth look at Cahill’s potential over the remaining games later this week.
Kolarov’s position at the top of our rankings is perhaps controversial. There’s every chance that the Serb will fall victim to Roberto Mancini’s purported plans to rotate ahead of the weekend trip to Goodison but, with doubts still surrounding the availability of Micah Richards and Pablo Zabaleta, we’re expecting to see Kolarov make at least one appearance in the gameweek. There’s even a possibility that we’ll find him taking up a left-midfield role should Mancini look to strangle Tottenham’s threat on the flanks when they visit Eastlands. Above all, Kolarov’s booming left-foot and set-piece involvement is enough to keep him simmering above team-mate Joleon Lescott who himself, may get rotated when City visit his former club Everton at the weekend.
With attacking potential remaining key to our defensive targets, we’ve kept Robert Huth high in our rankings, despite the fact that clean sheets look very unlikely over Stoke’s daunting last three fixtures. Huth has home matches with Arsenal and Wigan and, given his goal output this season, it would be no surprise to see him notch another strike before the curtain falls.
Sunderland’s Nedum Onuoha is without doubt the most intriguing selection in our rankings. Steve Bruce pushed the big defender up front against Fulham on Saturday; desperate measures with the Black Cats trailing by a 3-0 deficit. Onuoha has experience in the striker role as a youngster and could well be called into service for Sunderland’s remaining fixtures given the lack of a physical presence available to lead the attack. Even if he starts in defence, there’s every chance that Onuoha will be thrown up front should the Black Cats need to chase games as they battle for every point.
It represents a big gamble given the porous state of Sunderland’s back four, but he would certainly offer a differential with perhaps more potential to deliver than the likes of Jose Enrique, Wayne Bridge and even the cheap option offered by Liverpool’s John Flanagan. If you’re in the market for an end of season minor miracle – Onuoha looks the most likely option amongst the defensive candidates available.
