Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 25 – The Weak

Having assessed those boasting prime platforms for strong returns in the coming Gameweeks, we now turn to assess those on far more shaky foundations. The in-form Black Cats and Arsene Wenger’s title chasing charges feature amongst those blessed by few favours from the fixture computer.

Sunderland

The transformation under Gus Poyet has been remarkable: unbeaten in their last four, fresh from a 3-0 triumph at St James’ Park, Fantasy managers should be carefully running the rule over their mid-price assets. The fixture list strongly suggests we should cool our boots, however, with newly acquired prize possessions – Vito Manonne and Adam Johnson are perhaps set for a barren run as Poyet’s men come back down to earth with a proverbial bump.

The Gameweek 28 blank is the first consideration – around that we have three evil away fixtures at City, Arsenal and Liverpool. It’s hard to imagine the Black Cats’ rearguard standing up to that assault, making home matches with Hull and Palace precious intervals in what is a harrowing schedule. Johnson’s form could carry him through, although he will have to add the “fixture proof” attribute to his growing reputation as a Fantasy asset if he is to live up to his recent level of investment.

Arsenal

With the Gunners now firmly under threat from City and Chelsea in the title race, Arsene Wenger’s men are on the eve of their most testing run of fixtures with Liverpool, United and Spurs on the horizon in the next six. A trip to Stoke offers little respite, making the Emirates meetings with Sunderland and an off-colour Swansea all the more vital.

Fantasy managers are perhaps likely to hold firm in the hope that Wenger’s men can weather the approaching storm but, defensively, returns look unlikely beyond the two aforementioned home encounters. In attacking terms, there is still much to be optimistic about, with the Liverpool, United and City defences all having apparent cracks to expose.

Fulham

It seems highly unlikely that Fantasy managers would dare knock on the door at Craven Cottage, even to consider the newly acquired talents of Kostas Mitroglou. There’s little question that the form of Rene Meulensteen’s side is faltering badly, just in time to coincide with a run of opponents that will likely leave them rooted to the bottom of the table come mid-March. United, Liverpool and Chelsea loom in the next three, surely consigning Fulham to scrap for points in the away trips to West Brom and Cardiff.

Also be wary of…

Man United
The blank in Gameweek 28 already prompts the need for caution when considering United’s assets and form would suggest that they are unlikely to make light of a testing run of matches heading into March. Three away trips follow the Old Trafford encounter with Fulham, with Arsenal, Palace and West Brom amongst the most stubborn home defences in the league.

Crystal Palace
While Tony Pulis’ rearguard resources have served us well in recent weeks, they look set to be stretched by forthcoming encounters with Everton and United, while trips to Swansea and Sunderland, plus a Selhurst Park meeting with in-form Southampton, also suggest that clean sheets will be hard to come by.