Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 7

We roll out our midweek regular once again, analysing the strength of schedules over the next four to six Gameweeks. Man City, Spurs and the Merseyside duo look appealing, while Chelsea and United’s upcoming fixtures continue to look tricky…

The Strong

Man City

The schedule ahead looks particularly kind for the champions, offering a platform to build on last week’s win at Fulham. Roberto Mancini’s side now have four home fixtures in the next six (SUN, SWA, TOT, AVL) in addition to trips to West Brom and West Ham. Bearing in mind they dropped just two points at home all last season, that quartet of Etihad fixtures look particularly enticing, with plenty of Fantasy investment expected.

Sergio Aguero’s return will surely see him snapped up by many managers – he looks a strong captaincy option for all those home fixtures. While there are doubts over Carlos Tevez’s starts after Mancini’s recent criticism of his fitness, his compatriot seems a certain starter – Tevez continues to drop in ownership now that Aguero is back in business. Crucially for City, David Silva seems to be returning to form and fitness ahead of their kind run of fixtures – he has now produced attacking returns in his last two, while Yaya Toure offers a security of starts that is rare amongst Mancini’s squad. If City can find some semblance of defensive solidity, Vincent Kompany could also come to the fore once again.

Tottenham

A win at United last weekend was their third victory in succession as Spurs begin to click under Andre Villas-Boas. With three home fixtures in the next four (AVL, CHE, WIG) and a trip to Southampton also on the cards, the Londoners are offered plenty opportunity to pick up Fantasy returns. Gareth Bale has provided 35 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points in the last three Gameweeks as his form goes from strength to strength – the Welshman looks a tempting armband option, while Clint Dempsey could be a decent differential if he keeps the role in “the hole” that produced his first goal of the season at Old Trafford.

Moussa Dembele has fetched a goal and assist in four matches since moving across town from Fulham, while Jermain Defoe remains in the driving seat up front, with Emmanuel Adebayor still bothered by a hamstring problem. At the back, Jan Vertonghen’s eye for goal saw him find the net for the first time this season, despite a shift to left-back against United. Steven Caulker could be a differential to watch out for at the back if can nail down a starting role – he has played every minute since coming on as a second-half sub in the Gameweek 5 win over QPR.

Fulham

The Cottagers are handed three home matches in the next six (AVL, EVE, SUN) as they look to get back to winning ways after losing out to City last weekend. Martin Jol’s side also face trips to Southampton and Reading in this spell – both games will hold little fear for Fulham. Dimitar Berbatov is the obvious option, though whether he recovers from thigh and hip problems for this Saturday’s trip to Southampton is perhaps debatable.

It’s worth noting that Jol’s side have averaged three goals per home game without Berbatov in their ranks, though; Hugo Rodallega seems the safest bet if the Bulgarian fails to make it. Damien Duff has excelled this season so far and has already beaten his goal haul for last term – he looks a strong mid-price option, while the goal threat of Brede Hangeland and John Arne-Riise from the back could come to fruition.

Everton

Sitting second in the table, David Moyes’ side look set to be offered further opportunity to continue their recent impressive showings. The Toffees hit the road four times in the next six Gameweeks but with visits to Wigan, QPR and Reading amongst their schedule, the Merseysiders will hold little fear. A couple of Goodison encounters against Liverpool and Sunderland also look prosperous for a side that have dropped just two points at home this term.

Leighton Baines, Steven Pienaar, Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic are the usual suspects and offer the potential of points right across the classifications, while Kevin Mirallas has produced returns in each of the last two matches and could present an intriguing alternative.

Liverpool

Buoyed by the 5-2 thrashing of Norwich, Brendan Rodgers’ side are now handed four home games in the next six as they attempt to scramble up the table. The Reds welcome Stoke, Reading, Newcastle and Wigan to Anfield, with all four of those games looking winnable. Luis Suarez has already picked up plenty new owners on the back of his sensational display at Carrow Road, though it’s worth noting he’s only three points ahead of Steven Gerrard in the FPL game.

Nuri Sahin could be a decent differential if he nails down a starting berth – the Turkish midfielder racked up 15 FPL points in his second start of the season last weekend. Raheem Sterling offers the security of starts and his cut-price appeal across the Fantasy games looks tempting, while at the back, Glen Johnson has threatened to pick up the points without quite delivering as of yet.

Also Consider

Southampton
Nigel Adkins’ side have a decent opportunity to recover from a tough opening schedule that has seen them claim just three points from their opening six Gameweeks. The Saints play host to Fulham, Tottenham and Swansea in the next six, while trips to West Ham, West Brom and QPR are the type of games they will need to start producing the goods in if they are to avoid the drop. Rickie Lambert is the obvious option as he looks to add to his tally of four goals and an assist, while Gaston Ramirez and Adam Lallana have both produced attacking returns in each of the last two Gameweeks from midfield.

Arsenal
Having tasted defeat for the first time this term, Arsene Wenger’s side now have three home games in the next six (QPR, FUL, TOT) with which to bounce back. The Gunners also make their way to West Ham and Norwich – a run of games which could harvest points for the likes of Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski, while Gervinho offers an alternative if he continues to be fielded as the lone forward. At the back, Thomas Vermaelen is the expensive option and Kieran Gibbs’ kinder price may sway investment the left-back’s way.

West Brom
With wins and clean sheets in their first three games at the Hawthorns, Steve Clarke’s side look primed for further investment ahead of a run of three home games in the next four. The Baggies entertain QPR, Man City and Southampton and could be in line for further returns if they maintain their current form. Ben Foster offers the security of save points if his side concede, while owners of Gareth McAuley and Liam Ridgewell will be hoping the pair are fit and available – McAuley picked up a knock at the end of the draw at Villa, while Ridgewell missed out with a calf problem. Further up the field, James Morrison and Shane Long seem the likeliest to deliver – the latter has produced attacking returns in all three of his Hawthorns appearances so far.

The Weak

Aston Villa

Having failed to take advantage of a kind opening run of matches, the midlanders now face a difficult time ahead. Paul Lambert’s side have just one favourable fixture in the next six Gameweeks, as his former club Norwich roll up to Villa Park, but aside from the Canaries encounter, it’s not looking good for Villa.

It would be little surprise if Lambert’s outfit failed to pick up any points from their trips to Spurs, Fulham, Sunderland and City and with a home showdown against United also on the horizon, it’s difficult to be optimistic for the midlanders. The likes of Darren Bent, Ciaran Clark and Barry Bannan look steeled for a tricky time ahead, with plenty prepared to sell on Lambert’s assets.

Norwich

Battered at home by Liverpool and without a single win under their belt this term, Chris Hughton’s side don’t have it easy. Norwich square up to Chelsea, Arsenal and United in the next six Gameweeks and also make their way to Villa and Reading. The absence of Seb Bassong has been a significant blow – the Canaries had shipped just three goals in the four games he has featured in, compared to 10 goals conceded in the other two. Sales of Grant Holt will continue to gather pace – he has now failed to start the last two, while John Ruddy looks set to be a busy man between the sticks in light of the upcoming run of games.

Man United

With Newcastle, Chelsea and Arsenal as three of their next four opponents, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side face a tricky time of it. Granted, the home clash with Stoke in Gameweek 8 looks potentially prosperous but Robin Van Persie owners may be thinking twice over handing him the armband in the other trio of matches, with so many other alternatives available. A single clean sheet all season has hardly boosted the appeal of the backline that has already conceded nine times – two more than Chelsea and Arsenal combined, for example. Shinji Kagawa owners will also be worried over his game time now that Wayne Rooney is back on the scene.

Also Be Wary Of…

Sunderland – Martin O’Neill’s unbeaten side are set for a real test of their mettle over the next few weeks. The Black Cats hit the road four times (mci, sto, eve, ful) and with all of those matches looking likely to cause them plenty of problems, Steven Fletcher’s incredible scoring run may finally come to an end. With neighbours Newcastle rolling up to the Stadium of Light, the likes of James McClean and Simon Mignolet face a tough task to maintain their decent starts to the Fantasy season.

Chelsea – the league leaders are picking up plenty investment ahead of a home clash with Norwich this weekend but the fixture list then stiffens for Roberto Di Matteo’s side. The following five then sees Chelsea face trips to Spurs, Swansea and West Brom and entertain United and Liverpool – while last weekend’s win at Arsenal highlights their capabilities, faith in the likes of Eden Hazard, Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres could be dented, with plenty of alternatives elsewhere to freshen up our squads.