Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 2

Gameweek 1 is finally done and dusted as we look to the upcoming schedules and reassess our Fantasy options. With Chelsea and Reading both without a fixture in Gameweek 3, their prospects take a slight dip, though there are plenty of sides vying for our affections with a strong run of games on the horizon…

The Strong

Tottenham

Five home matches in the next seven Gameweeks is sure to see plenty of investment come Tottenham’s way. Andre Villas-Boas’ side play host to (WBA, NOR, QPR, AVL) between now and Gameweek 8 and with a trip to Reading also on the agenda, the potential for points is enticing.

Villas-Boas’ decision to omit Jan Vertonghen from his starting line-up at Newcastle suggests the full-backs may be the safest route into Spurs’ backline until a more settled pattern emerges, though there’s no denying the Belgian’s attacking threat when he nails down a regular role. In midfield, Gareth Bale is perhaps the most secure option. Gylfi Sigurdsson started at the expense of Rafael Van der Vaart last weekend but made way for the Dutchman midway through the second period, suggesting they are likely to prove detrimental to one another’s game time in “the hole”. Emmanuel Adebayor has just 2% ownership right now in FPL but with a lack of pre-season minutes under his belt, there are question marks as to whether he’ll be immediately thrust into the first XI, with Jermain Defoe set to profit if Villas-Boas eases the new boy back into the fold.

Swansea

Similar to Spurs, Swansea play in front of their own support five times in the next seven and their main attacking assets have already picked up major investment of the back of the 5-0 win at QPR. Michu has risen 0.2 in value and could well be set for another price hike before Saturday’s deadline – at 6.7 right now, he still looks strong value ahead of a schedule that sees (WHM, SUN, EVE, RDG, WIG) all arrive at the Liberty.

Nathan Dyer’s two-goal display at Loftus Road has helped him acquire plenty new investors and with Scott Sinclair edging his way towards the exit door, Dyer looks an assured starter under Michael Laudrup. Danny Graham, at 6.0, offers Fantasy managers a strong mid-price option over the next couple of months, while there are plenty of options at the back to consider. Michel Vorm’s save points will always come to the rescue should Swansea concede, while new boy Chico already looks a strong threat from Jonathan De Guzman’s set-pieces.

Man United

United’s prospects look strong in the short-term, though their fixtures do take a turn for the worse from Gameweek 5. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side face (FUL, sot, WIG) in their next three matches and seem set to benefit at both ends of the pitch as they look to immediately bounce back from Monday’s defeat at Everton.

David De Gea’s Goodison heroics is surely set to see him continue between the sticks – at 6.0 he looks an assured pick within the United defence, given the current injury situation. Nemanja Vidic, at 7.0, seems the only guaranteed starter in the back-four, with new boy Alexander Buttner pushing Patrice Evra for game time at left-back. Shinji Kagawa shone in his debut and was handed 90 minutes by Ferguson – a suggestion that the Japanese star’s role is key to their attacking ploys. The former Dortmund man could well be the safest option in the midfield at the moment, with Antonio Valencia starting the last game at right-back and Nani failing to sparkle at Goodison. Up front, Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie tussle for our affections; the potential for points for either or both is substantial over these next few matches.

Aston Villa

Paul Lambert has been handed three home games in the next five as he looks to banish last week’s defeat at West Ham to memory. Lambert’s Norwich offered us a strong source of goals last term and the prospects of his key attacking assets will be boosted by a schedule that see Villa entertain (EVE, SWA, WHM) between now and Gameweek 6.

Darren Bent is the obvious option – priced at 8.5 and with spot-kick duties in his locker, he could prove a decent differential, with just 2.5% ownership thus far. Charles N’Zogbia also comes into the equation; the 6.5 priced midfielder has been the main man for set-pieces and corners so far under Lambert and should thrive under the new manager’s more offensive tactics. Stephen Ireland’s role in “the hole” and 5.5 FPL price tag means he could be one to consider. At the back, while many will be reluctant to get on board due to Norwich’s poor defensive returns under Lambert in the previous campaign, Ciaran Clark’s aerial ability offers a strong goal threat from set-pieces – at 4.5 he could prove to be a decent shout.

Also Consider

Sunderland – having ground out a gritty, if somewhat fortuitous, goalless draw at Arsenal, Martin O’Neill’s men now play three times at the Stadium of Light in the next five Gameweeks. Carlos Cuellar, at 4.5 in FPL, affords the cheapest route into the Black Cats’ backline, while Simon Mignolet should offer save points if they concede while playing host to (RDG, LIV, WIG). With trips to Swansea and West Ham also on the horizon, James McClean is a strong midfield option and if the mooted move for Steven Fletcher comes through, the assist potential of Seb Larsson and Stephane Sessegnon is set to be boosted.

West Ham – with a clean sheet and a Kevin Nolan goal in their first match, the Hammers will tempt plenty more managers with a strong upcoming run of fixtures. The likes of Jussi Jaaskelainen and Guy Demel, priced at 4.5 and 4.0 respectively, welcome Fulham and Sunderland to Upton Park in the next five, while trips to Swansea, Norwich and QPR may see Nolan benefit once again.

Everton – Buoyed by their win over United, David Moyes’ men will hold little fear despite playing in front of their home support just twice in the next seven. The Toffees pay visit to (avl, wba, swa, wig, qpr) and with Goodison clashes against Newcastle and Southampton, we could see the likes of Leighton Baines, Marouane Fellaini, Steven Pienaar and Nikica Jelavic all amongst the points.

West Brom – Steve Clarke’s side welcome (EVE, RDG, QPR) to the Hawthorns in the next six Gameweeks, offering Liam Ridgewell and co further chance of clean sheets. With trips to Fulham and Villa factored in, the likes of Peter Odemwingie could be set to prosper, while Zoltan Gera (5.0) looks a possible cut-price midfield differential with just 0.9% ownership.

The Weak

Stoke

Having earned a point at Reading in their opener, Tony Pulis’ side are bracing themselves for a run of games that is likely to give Potters fans little to celebrate. The next seven Gameweeks sees Stoke take on Arsenal, City, Chelsea, Liverpool and United, with games against Wigan and Swansea offering crumbs of comfort in what is a cruel and unrelenting schedule. Ryan Shawcross and Jon Walters, with 24% and 8.5% ownership in FPL, look unlikely to justify the show of faith over these next couple of months.

Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers’ side will need to quickly pick themselves up from last week’s hammering at the Hawthorns ahead of a difficult next few Gameweeks. While three home matches in four is usually the catalyst for significant Fantasy investment, Liverpool‘s upcoming schedule, which sees City, Arsenal and United all roll up to Anfield between Gameweeks 2-5, is enough to deter the vast majority of backers from getting involved. With a trip to Sunderland also factored in, FPL returns could be hard to come by for owners of Martin Skrtel (9%), Joe Allen (24%) and Luis Suarez (15%).

Norwich

Chris Hughton will be looking to bounce back from a miserable display at Fulham in Gameweek 1 and, while home clashes against QPR and West Ham offer potential, the Canaries face five of last season’s top eight in their next seven matches. Trips to (tot, new, che) look highly unlikely to produce the Fantasy points, while Carrow Road showdowns against Liverpool and Arsenal are anything but straightforward – FPL owners of Grant Holt (8%) and John Ruddy (13%) will have every reason to be worried.

QPR

Mark Hughes has little to smile about after the weekend’s home mauling at the hands of Swansea and, in the short-term at least, the QPR boss won’t have too much cause for optimism. The R’s head to Carrow Road this weekend then follow that up with consecutive clashes against three of last term’s top five (mci, CHE, tot), suggesting the likes of Adel Taarabt and Djibril Cisse could struggle to produce until the fixture list smiles a little kinder.

Also Be Wary Of..

Arsenal – Arsene Wenger’s side have three tricky looking away matches in the next four Gameweeks which may dent how we view their short-term prospects. The Gunners travel to (sto, liv, mci) and while a Gameweek 4 home clash against Southampton looks prosperous, they then welcome Chelsea to the Emirates a couple of weeks later, suggesting that Lukas Podolski and Thomas Vermaelen, with 16.4% and 12.3% ownership respectively, may struggle to produce the goods.

Reading -Brian McDermott’s men have just two home fixtures in the next six but, bearing in mind they are against Spurs and Newcastle, it’s far from plain sailing for the Royals. Factor in a blank Gameweek 3 and a trio of road trips (sun, wba, swa) and Pavel Pogrebnyak’s 17% Fantasy owners may not be quite so optimistic, despite his superb header at Chelsea on Wednesday evening.