Our regular look at the upcoming fixtures will come in two parts from now on. In today’s first installment, we analyse those teams with favourable schedules and their respective likely protagonists – a run of three home games in four hand a certain Argentine the chance to wreak further havoc on opposition backlines, whilst Villa’s Belgian battering ram will be optimistic of returning to scoring form.
Man City
Defensive wobbles aside, Manuel Pellegrini’s team are on song right now, scoring with wild abandon – 13 goals in their last five Premier League games tells its own story. With an entertaining Stamford Bridge showdown behind them, City have the fixtures to continue that goalscoring form and perhaps even improve upon a lack of defensive resolve that has seen them concede in each of their last five. Three home games in the next four, plus trips to Sunderland and West Brom make an eloquent case for investment.
Top of the agenda for Fantasy managers at the moment, Sergio Agüero is in the form of his Premier League career with six goals and two assists in his last four league appearances. In midfield, David Silva looks to be a better prospect than last season, with a goal and two assists in the three games since returning from injury, while Yaya Toure’s displays have earned him second spot in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) midfield rankings so far. With faith in Manuel Pellegrini’s backline at a low ebb and rotation biting even Pablo Zabaleta, these fixtures may struggle to tempt investment – the potential return of Vincent Kompany should tighten things up, though, while Costel Pantilimon may present up with a tempting option between the sticks if he can oust the off-form Joe Hart.
Aston Villa
Goalless against Everton, Villa continued their recent struggles in attack, even with Christian Benteke back from injury. Paul Lambert could hardly wish for a better set of fixtures to turn that tide, though; the next six games see them face only one team – Southampton – from the top half of the table. Home games against Cardiff and Sunderland look prosperous, while away dates with West Ham, West Brom and struggling Fulham should also give Villa every opportunity to get back to goalscoring ways.
As ever, Benteke is head and shoulders above his midland peers as Fantasy asset of choice from the Villa Park menu. Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann briefly looked like viable differentials earlier in the season but haven’t delivered on that promise. Having kept just two clean sheets so far, Fantasy managers may understandably be looking for a little more evidence of points potential before investing in a backline that has now seen only Ron Vlaar play 90 minutes of every game – keeper Brad Guzan remains the standout defensive option and has racked up 11 points more than any defender.
Swansea
Following their 4-0 drubbing of Sunderland with a drab goalless draw against West Ham, Swansea aren’t quite firing as consistently as we would have like. Perhaps, as predicted by many, Europa League duties have taken their toll on squad fatigue but Michael Laudrup certainly has the fixture list on his side to turn that around. Cardiff, Stoke and Fulham in the next three could be lucrative and, after a stern test at the Etihad in Gameweek 13, home games against Newcastle and Hull signal a return to smooth sailing.
Another blank for Michu has set a few nerves jangling but there’s no doubting that he’s a strong option for the upcoming schedule. Pablo Hernandez looks a decent mid-price alternative – he began his comeback from injury with 30 minutes last weekend and should soon become a first team regular. Back-to-back clean sheets make a case for the Swans’ defence, especially with the return of Ashley Williams alongside Chico Flores. Angel Rangel has shown plenty of attacking intent whilst Michel Vorm remains a strong option between the sticks.
Chelsea
A win over City may prove to be the perfect springboard for an assault on the summit at the expense of lower placed teams. The Blues have just two games at home (West Brom and Southampton) in the next six but their away fixtures (new, whm, sun, sto) are nevertheless enticing. Fantasy managers will be confident of returns at both ends of the pitch and many will be focusing on Chelsea coverage.
John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic look the most secure backline options – their attacking potential is key, given that Chelsea haven’t kept a clean sheet since Gameweek 5. In midfield, the dilemma over Oscar and Eden Hazard was taken no further forward by their blanks against City but Andre Schürrle’s goal ensured his differential stock took a rise. Fernando Torres’s apparent resurgence in form would be seized upon by more Fantasy managers if it wasn’t for the embarrassment of riches we already have up top.
ALSO CONSIDER
Liverpool
Maintaining their form to overturn “bogey team” West Brom, Brendan Rodgers’ men face Arsenal next but the following five Gameweeks include home games against Fulham, Norwich and West Ham as well as trips to Hull and Everton – fixtures that will see the armband fixed permanently to a certain Uruguayan for many managers. Despite being overshadowed by his team-mate, Daniel Sturridge is still scoring goals at an incredibly consistent rate and the imminent return from injury of Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho may improve his chances further. Sticking with a three-at-the-back formation ensures that Glen Johnson, deployed as a wingback, remains the most promising of Liverpool’s defenders.
West Ham
The Hammers’ season has been something of a tale of two teams so far – a resilient defence that has conceded just one goal away from home and a stuttering attack that has scored just eight times. The upcoming five fixtures (AVL, nor, CHE, FUL, cpl) looks profitable for the likes of centre-halves James Tomkins and Winston Reid, while pre-season bandwagon Razvan Rat is also in our considerations at 4.5. Ravel Morrison remains in our thinking at just 4.6 in midfield but is just one caution away from a single-match ban.
Hull City
Having tasted defeat at the Lane due to a contentious spot-kick award, Steve Bruce’s disciplined crew look appealing for the same reasons as Sam Allardyce’s – a few plum fixtures and the defensive resilience to earn Fantasy points. While trips to Arsenal and Southampton don’t hold much promise, home games against Sunderland and Crystal Palace afford the chance to extend a record which has seen the Tigers concede just once in four games in front of their own fans. Allan McGregor’s injury makes Steve Harper (4.0) a decent budget second goalkeeper, though Curtis Davies offers a security of starts in the heart of defence. Robbie Brady will be hopeful of continuing his early season form and remains strong value at 5.2.
