The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 29

With Gameweek 29 blurring our short-term view somewhat, we see a boost for assets from the likes of Norwich, QPR and Villa. The heavy-hitting talent remains dominant in attacking areas, though, with the midfield five remaining difficult to penetrate and the Liverpool duo, together with Robin Van Persie, continuing to lead the way up front.

Our Watchlist rankings, offering a view on player recommendations for the next four to six weeks, have been updated and are available in your right sidebars. Read on for the justification behind the recent changes…

Goalkeepers

Once again, the situation with keepers is thrown into flux by a series of key injuries that create uncertainty. Both Julio Cesar of QPR and Tim Krul of Newcastle would be high in our rankings were it not for recent setbacks that cast doubt over their participation in the short and mid-term, while Reading’s Adam Federici is another keeper cursed with a recent injury, taking him out of the equation.

Cesar, in particular, is a big loss given his forthcoming schedule – he could make a return for the weekend visit of Sunderland to Loftus Road but, at this point in time, we have to remove him from our thinking. As for Krul, we’ve taken a chance on Rob Elliot in the budget bracket, tentatively ranking him low in anticipation that his tenure in the Magpies goal will be short lived.

This all means that Norwich City’s Mark Bunn, ironically a player to gain from injury this season with John Ruddy still sidelined, climbs to the top of our rankings. Bunn looks assured of starts in the mid-term with Ruddy still battling back to fitness and, with a hugely attractive price tag and schedule, looks to be the top target for those shopping for a stopper right now.

Below this, we’ve a slew of heavy-hitter options who are currently combining form and fixtures to restrict the mid-price offerings on show. Chelsea’s Petr Cech and United’s David De Gea look to be amongst the most secure defensive options on show in their respective sides and, despite the Gameweek 29 blank, look worthy investments given the fixtures in front of them once this weekend is shelved.

If you’re looking to avoid the blank and are against the Bunn option, then Jose Reina seems to present the best option, although his potential is dented by the availability of both Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique as extremely viable defensive acquisitions.

Asmir Begovic’s form remains a concern with no clean sheet in 10 and, with Marc Wilson now settled back in the Stoke defence and available at 3.9, it’s hard to justify the outlay on the Bosnian. Instead, Wigan’s Ali Al-Habsi and even Villa’s Brad Guzan may tempt investment for those who are happy to rely on save points and the remote chance of clean sheets – certainly the fixture list is kind to this pair. Indeed, a Bunn/Guzan or Bunn/Al Habsi pairing look to have a decent rotation of fixtures from now until the season climax. Bunn also offers a strong pairing with Southampton stopper Artur Boruc for those on a budget.

Defenders

Like Bunn in goal, Norwich City’s Seb Bassong enjoys a big climb with strong mid-term fixtures and a favourable run-in for the season. His potential at both ends of the park perhaps justifies the outlay, although team-mate Russell Martin is clearly another consideration here for those playing with pennies.

Despite Bassong’s charge, we keep Glen Johnson at the top of our rankings. Buoyed by his smart assist at Wigan last time out, we’re predicting further attacking returns as the season draws to a close and, with a schedule that looks kind and strong defensive form from Brendan Rodgers’ side, Johnson should offer steady profit. As mentioned earlier, Jose Enrique is, of course, a very good alternative here.

With Cesar out of the picture in goal, Chris Samba enjoys a boost as the luxury item in a QPR defence that looks to have a vital batch of fixtures in the coming weeks. With goal threat to couple clean sheet potential, Samba looks a good option, although, again, there’s a budget route on offer in the form of Clint Hill. It’s also worth considering that, if Everton get past Wigan in the FA Cup this weekend, QPR will lose their Gameweek 33 trip to Goodison.

Like Samba, Newcastle’s Mathieu Debuchy benefits from the lack of a goalkeeping option to enjoy a climb. There is much debate on the best candidate in Alan Pardew’s back four, with Davide Santon another route to explore. Like the Johnson vs Enrique situation, however, we’re currently backing the Frenchman to come good over the remainder of the campaign with improved attacking returns.

With a blank this weekend, both Pablo Zabaleta and Rafael lose their shine somewhat but are undoubtedly outstanding defensive acquisitions who will likely climb into our top five once Gameweek 29 has passed. Below them, Wigan’s Emmerson Boyce is a playful option with strong fixtures and some attacking promise from his right wing-back role. Tottenham’s Michael Dawson has been offering outstanding value of late but has a schedule of fixtures that looks punishing, while the same can be said of Sunderland’s Titus Bramble.

Stoke’s Marc Wilson continues to stand-out as a budget route, despite Stoke’s form, although the aforementioned Martin of Norwich and Hill of QPR are better options, with Reading’s Ian Harte, Villa’s Ciaran Clark and Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne also worthy of consideration.

Midfielders

There’s no budging Gareth Bale from he top of our rankings – his supremely impressive form will be tested at Anfield this weekend but he goes on looking unstoppable after returning seven goals in his last five league outings.

We’ve raised Theo Walcott in our thinking – going against the popular trend that has seen the Emirates flyer sold on with his Gameweek 29 blank – we’re looking more long-term with the Gunners facing a confirmed Gameweek 33 double. Similarly, we’re holding firm on Juan Mata on the promise that he will emerge from his recent slumber to exploit strong fixtures once this weekend’s blank has passed. Eden Hazard and Oscar are your differentials on offer amongst the Chelsea midfield as always, with Oscar recently emerging with some strong numbers in his favour.

Both Michu and Moussa Sissoko hold in our top five and have fixtures this weekend to promote their stock further. Norwich City’s Robert Snodgrass and Sunderland’s Stephane Sessegnon are the climbers that are threatening our top five. They also have Gameweek 29 fixtures to add to their appeal, with Sessegnon in strong form and Snodgrass boasting an obliging run-in that should see his profits rise if Chris Hughton’s side can start finding the net.

Everton’s Marouane Fellaini enjoys a rise after his goal and assist return against Reading – his schedule is tough but he has proved himself fairly fixture proof in the past and may yet have a double Gameweek to come in the next five, should the Toffees falter against Wigan in the cup.

Villa’s Charles N’Zogbia is another Gameweek 29 punt with a trip to Reading and good short-term fixtures, Wigan’s Shaun Maloney is a strong budget consideration once the weekend blank has passed.

City’s continual battle to find goals and creativity is reflected by drops to both David Silva and Yaya Toure, who remain little more than differentials. That’s not an issue for Liverpool, although Steven Gerrard suffers from the availability of both Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge as options up top. Philippe Coutinho is also on the radar now – it remains to be seen how Brendan Rodgers incorporates him into his lineup on Sturridge’s return and this could be another factor to dent Gerrard’s appeal as a midfield option.

Forwards

With the hat-trick at Wigan in addition to Daniel Sturridge’s fitness issues, Luis Suarez has to be our top ranked forward right now. Sturridge remains in our thinking and is expected to return for the weekend clash with Spurs. Clearly, he is a viable alternative and the knocks are a concern but, if fit, it remains to be seen if the inclusion of Sturridge in the Liverpool starting lineup will temper Suarez’s output and see Sturridge emerge as the better option based on his value.

United’s Robin Van Persie remains high ranked. Last night’s Champions League exit could well lessen the chances of future rotation and we now have to wonder just how many starts the Dutchman will be given, even if the title is won, in order to compete for the Golden Boot with Suarez.

With Gameweek 29 in mind, both Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke make huge strides in our reckoning and look prime acquisitions in the short-term. Benteke has stronger fixtures but Lukaku’s form is such, he will be backed for returns against all opposition, provided he continues to be given starts by Steve Clarke.

QPR’s Loic Remy and Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse are further intriguing options further down our rankings. Remy is battling back to match fitness and fired his second goal for Harry Redknapp at Southampton last time out. Fixtures are unquestionably in his favour and, if QPR can get Bobby Zamora fit, we may see a sudden increase in profit from the West London outfit as they attempt to shift from the trapdoor. Remy looks a prime candidate to prosper.

Cisse is out of Newcastle’s Europa League tie in Russia, apparently through illness so he will go into the weekend clash with Stoke as a slight doubt but with clear potential to return should he start. The offer of Moussa Sissoko in midfield continues to dent his appeal, however.

For further differentials at the lower end of the bracket, Wigan’s Arouna Kone continues to warrant attention, whilst Everton’s Kevin Mirallas is emerging to overshadow the struggling Nikica Jelavic and may offer a Toffees alternative for those shedding Marouane Fellaini from their midfields.