Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 30

The FA Cup schedule has again wreaked havoc with Fantasy managers’ plans, with Gameweek 33 the latest to feel the effect of fixture cancellation after City and Wigan progressed to the Semi-Finals. Arsenal’s upcoming double plays a significant part in our assessment as we narrow down our targets a little and focus on the upcoming four Gameweeks, with the short-term future looking a little rosier for four of the bottom five.

The Strong

Arsenal

The Gunners have trips to Swansea and West Brom, with a home clash against Reading in between, before Norwich and Everton roll up to the Emirates for double Gameweek 33. While Jack Wilshere’s ankle injury is expected to be short-term, it may well afford Lukas Podolski the chance to cement a role on the left once again – Santi Cazorla should return to the role in “the hole” after impressing from the flank in recent weeks.

The returns offered up by Arsenal in double Gameweek 23 will have many mulling over Cazorla and Theo Walcott, after both produced double figures over their pair of fixtures. A quick return for Wilshere could scupper plans for Podolski’s transfer in, while Olivier Giroud’s lack of form remains a worry. At the back, two clean sheets in 10 suggests Arsenal will need to go on the attack if they are to get their bid for a fourth place finish back on track.

Liverpool

The Red’s chances of a top six finish is bolstered by an eye-catching quartet of fixtures which is sure to see investment in their main Fantasy assets continue. Brendan Rodgers’ side travel to three of the current bottom five (sou, avl, rdg) and also play host to a West Ham side that have scored just nine times on their travels this term. Luis Suarez’s ownership continues to rise after yet another scintillating display last weekend – a goal, assist and maximum bonus against Spurs helped the Uruguayan to his third successive double figure points haul as his season goes from strength to strength.

Daniel Sturridge offers an obvious and far cheaper alternative to Suarez – although he’s produced returns in five of his six appearances, he offers a far less explosive alternative and with concerns over his ongoing thigh problem, his appeal has lessened of late. Steven Gerrard’s spot-kick duties helped him back into the top five FPL midfielders last weekend, though Philippe Coutinho and Stewart Downing have both produced in recent weeks; their mid-price appeal could sway Fantasy managers looking for a route into a side that has scored 28 goals in the last 10 Gameweeks. At the back, Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson both offer plenty promise, though the Spaniard has now produced more goals and assists, despite playing almost 1,000 minutes less than the right-back.

Aston Villa

Having climbed out the drop zone with a vital victory at Reading last Saturday, Paul Lambert’s side are now handed three home games in four to continue their ascent up the table. QPR, Liverpool and Fulham all roll up to Villa Park between now and Gameweek 33, while a trip to Stoke should hold little fear for Christian Benteke. Seven goals, an assist and 10 bonus points in his last nine appearances sums up the Belgian’s form right now but he looks the only real option worth considering amongst Lambert’s charges. Although Charles N’Zogbia had started to impress in “the hole” with attacking returns in four of his last six starts, he was dropped to the bench at the Madejski, while a defence that has failed to keep out their opponents since Gameweek 16 holds no appeal at present.

Chelsea

Rafa Benitez’s side also have three home games in the next four, though their busy schedule looks a worry. With an FA Cup replay against United yet to be scheduled and the possibility of progress in the Europa League should they overturn a 1-0 deficit against Steaua Bucharest this Thursday, the threat of rest and rotation is an obvious concern. The visits of West Ham and Sunderland look particularly enticing and while Tottenham’s trip to the Bridge in Gameweek 33 looks testing, the Blues also make their way to Southampton in the next four matches, affording plenty reason for optimism. It’s worth noting that should Chelsea overcome United in the replay, that game with Spurs may even be moved to another Gameweek, depending on their European situation.

Nevertheless, such a schedule is likely to persuade many a Fantasy manager to eye up their Blues options. Juan Mata looks the obvious target, though he has been poor in home matches under Benitez – over eight appearances, he has produced one goal and an assist. Eden Hazard and Frank Lampard also look solid midfield options, while Oscar has impressed without quite picking up the points in recent weeks. At the back, Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic seem the most secure, though David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta offer extra attacking intent, should they be given the game time. Up top, the situation remains a conundrum – Demba Ba has started three of the last four as he is ineligible to play in Europe; an exit on Thursday could muddy the waters further here.

Also Consider

Newcastle – Alan Pardew’s side travel to Wigan this weekend and also have a couple of promising home games in their upcoming agenda, with both Fulham and Sunderland making their way to St James’ Park. The Magpies are still far from safety, with just 33 points on the board, but four wins in the last six is indicative of the impact made by Moussa Sissoko in his role in “the hole”, while Yohan Cabaye has also been key in midfield of late. Mathieu Debuchy’s forward forages from right-back have impressed of late, while Papiss Cisse is starting to pick up in form and has scored in each of his last two at home.

Wigan – the fixture schedule is somewhat cloudier for the Latics. Roberto Martinez’s side have two games yet to be given new dates – a trip to Man City and home game with Swansea, originally set for Gameweek 29 and 33 respectively, were cancelled due to FA Cup commitments. Nevertheless, the next three fixtures look key for Wigan and if they can replicate the form that swept aside Everton in the cup last Saturday, they could well be set to flourish. Back-to-back home games with Newcastle and Norwich, followed by a trip to QPR could afford Arouna Kone the platform to flourish and bolster his side’s bid for survival, while Shaun Maloney’s spot-kick duties and Emmerson Boyce’s out of position berth could appeal to those eyeing up cut-price options in midfield and defence respectively.

Southampton – a single win in seven under new boss Mauricio Pochettino highlights the Saints lack of form, though the fact that victory came against City will offer hope of an upturn on fortunes. Three home fixtures in four also help, with Liverpool, Chelsea and West Ham making their way to St Mary’s, in addition to a trip to Reading, the Argentine will be optimistic of steering his side to safety. From a Fantasy perspective, aside from Rickie Lambert’s security of minutes, Pochettino’s tinkering is a worry –Jason Puncheon has featured in the first-team just once in the last three, while Gaston Ramirez and Adam Lallana continue to see their game time affected by the manager’s second-half substitutions.

QPR – the R’s hit the road three times in the next four but will remain optimistic after registering back-to-back wins for the first time this term. Harry Redknapp takes his side to Villa, Fulham and also entertain Wigan in a trio of games that could prove crucial to their survival bid. Three goals in four starts highlight the importance of Loic Remy, while Junior Hoilett and Andros Townsend are looking instrumental on the flanks. At the back, Chris Samba remains the best bet for points at both ends of the pitch, with Clint Hill the cut-price alternative.

The Weak

Swansea

With their Gameweek 33 trip to Wigan waiting to be rescheduled, the Capital One Cup winners currently have just three games on their agenda. Michael Laudrup’s side entertain north London duo Arsenal and Tottenham at the Liberty in back-to-back Gameweeks before travelling to Norwich – a side that have registered seven home clean sheets already this season. One clean sheet in five is a concern for owners of Ben Davies and Angel Rangel, while Michu’s 50% owners will be hoping a recent return to a role in “the hole” can remedy his lack of goals, with the Spaniard notching in just one of his last nine league appearances.

Man City

Roberto Mancini’s side are also without a Gameweek 33 fixture right now after progressing to the FA Cup Semi-Finals last weekend. While this may heighten their appeal further down the line – with home games against Wigan and West Brom still to be rescheduled – City’s short-term schedule is hardly the most appealing. Trips to Everton and United, with a home showdown against in-form Newcastle sandwiched in between will be a real test of their title credentials and may well be enough to deter would-be investors. A run of six clean sheets in eight looks likely to be put firmly to the test and with doubts still remaining over Sergio Aguero’s knee injury, Carlos Tevez’s recent return to form will be crucial if Mancini’s side are to stay on United’s heels.

West Brom

Steve Clarke’s side are a fixture down after the Gameweek 33 trip to City was called off. It leaves the Baggies with three matches – trips to Stoke and West Ham and a home showdown with Arsenal – before their blank. With Stoke and West Ham still battling to pick up points in their respective quests for safety, the next couple will be far from straightforward, while Arsenal’s arrival at the Hawthorns is likely to pose problems for a defence that have registered a single clean sheet in 12. Romelu Lukaku’s barnstorming form up front is likely to boost their chances of points, though, with the Belgian looking capable of scoring against anyone right now.

Be Wary Of

Sunderland – with one point and no clean sheets from their last five, Martin O’Neill’s side approach a tricky run of games in poor form. The Black Cats entertain a Norwich side with three clean sheets in five, though, then square up to United and Chelsea before travelling to St James’ Park for a Tyne-Wear derby; with Newcastle impressing at home, they could well struggle to get a result. Simon Mignolet’s save points are likely to come to his rescue but elsewhere, Stephane Sessegnon and Steven Fletcher may struggle for attacking returns as Sunderland slide closer to the bottom three.

Reading – with Brian McDermott gone, the Royals now brace themselves for a series of fixtures which are likely to pile on the misery. Up next for the managerless club are trips to United and Arsenal, while the visit of Luis Suarez and Liverpool in Gameweek 33 is likely to pose as many problems – this leaves the visit of Southampton as their one crumb of comfort. Having lost each of their last four and failed to keep out any opponent since Gameweek 20, Fantasy managers will be happy to give Reading a wide berth, with question marks perhaps now hanging over the likes of Ian Harte at left-back in light of McDermott’s departure.

West Ham – the upcoming fixture list is far from kind on the Hammers, with three away trips in the next four Gameweeks. Sam Allardyce’s side make their way to Chelsea, Liverpool and Southampton and with Kevin Nolan, Joe Cole and Mark Noble still struggling to recover from injuries, their chances of bettering a paltry record of nine goals scored on the road has hardly been helped. While a 1-0 win at Stoke last time out will afford a degree of optimism, the Hammers have conceded at least twice in each of the four away games prior to the Britannia match.