Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 33 – The Strong

We turn our attentions to the upcoming schedules now, assessing those sides with reasons for optimism over the next four-to-six Gameweeks – given there are only six rounds of fixtures left, we’ve afforded a little more weight towards the next four. Everton seem well-placed for a strong finish, champions City will be optimistic of bouncing back from their Manchester derby mauling, whilst Chelsea and Leicester are also in contention with seven fixtures still to play.

Everton

After a torrid start to 2015, Roberto Martinez’s men have turned their fortunes around over the course of the previous four Gameweeks. The Toffees now face four home clashes in their final six fixtures, including showdowns with relegation battlers Burnley and Sunderland, whilst their remaining away days will also hold little fear (avl, whm).

A reprise in winning form has coincided with a renewed resilience in the Toffees’ backline, who have now conceded just twice in their last four outings and are finally looking more like the outfit who collected an impressive 13 clean sheets last term. Should they continue in that vein, Leighton Baines could well validate his hefty 7.0 price tag for the final run-in, though Seamus Coleman’s slightly leaner valuation and goal and assist performance in the victory over QPR in Gameweek 30 could sway some his way. Tim Howard and John Stones, who has started in all but one of Everton’s last 12 league outings, are the budget alternatives here.

Further up the pitch, Aaron Lennon has emerged as an intriguing differential in midfield in recent times after delivering returns in three of the previous four Gameweeks, and the on-loan Spurs winger could be set to profit further. Meanwhile, any Fantasy interest in the front line will be depend upon Romelu Lukaku’s return date from the hamstring injury that has forced him to sit out the last two rounds of fixtures; if, as expected, the Belgian returns for the weekend visit of Burnley, he may well propel himself back up our forwards Watchlist in the coming weeks.

LEICESTER

A smash-and-grab winner against West Brom on Saturday breathed new life into the Foxes survival bid and with a match in hand over many of their rivals, Nigel Pearson’s side should not be written off. The Midlanders welcome Swansea to the King Power Stadium this weekend, before taking on Burnley and Chelsea in a Gameweek 34 double-header, and with Newcastle, Sunderland and QPR also on the agenda, there’s now plenty to interest Fantasy managers.

One thing is for sure: Pearson has settled on attack as the best means to haul his side out of the drop-zone. Eight goals in the last three Gameweeks is testament to that, with the result being that managers are now offered a number of budget punts ahead of the double; the 4.7-rated Esteban Cambiasso looks the pick of the midfielders having returned a goal, an assist and four bonus points in his last two appearances. Up front, the 4.5-priced Jamie Vardy’s recent hot-streak has harvested an attention-grabbing two goals and four assists in the previous six Gameweeks.

The onus on attack is, however, taking its expected toll at the back, as those eight goals scored in the last three have been matched by seven conceded. Nonetheless, Kasper Schmeichel looks a good bet for save points during the double, whilst a half-time change of tactics allowed Jeffrey Schlupp to move to left wing-back in the Baggies win and bolster his out of position prospects. Wes Morgan and Robert Huth have both netted in the last three and have also offered plenty of threat from close-range, adding to the options available at the back here.

MAN CITY

A humiliating collapse at the home of their greatest rivals has heaped further pressure onto Manuel Pellegrini and brought into question City’s top four credentials for the first time this season. The blue side of Manchester can, however, take consolation in their remaining fixture list, with the next four looking particularly encouraging thanks to home clashes with West Ham, Aston Villa and QPR and trip to a tiring Tottenham.

That schedule should see Fantasy faith in the Citizens’ chief protagonists renewed, then, with Sergio Aguero in particular set for major investment after being sold on by thousands over the last few weeks. The Argentine was amidst a five-match goalless streak when he rolled up to Old Trafford – the longest he has gone without scoring this season – but marked his return to form with a brace.

David Silva is also riding high in our Watchlist right now, having notched four times in his last seven outings to move to 11 goals for the season – four more than he has ever managed before in the league. Meanwhile, interest in City’s rearguard will naturally be low after Saturday’s display, though with shut-outs in each of their last three home matches, it seems a bit rash to disregard them entirely, with Gael Clichy a mid-price option at 5.4.

CHELSEA

The Champions-elect kept their cool at Loftus Road to record a third successive victory, and with a match in hand over the chasing pack, the Blues are in a strong position to clinch their fourth Premiership title. A clash with a red-hot Man United side this weekend could be something of a stumbling block, however, and with a cross-London treck to the Emirates then to follow, Jose Mourinho won’t be counting his chickens quite yet. From a Fantasy perspective, though, there’s plenty to get excited about, courtesy of a double Gameweek 34 that sees the Blues travel to Leicester three days after their showdown with Arsenal, and home meetings with Palace and Sunderland and a trip to West Brom all then lying in wait before the season’s end.

Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry are set to go head-to-head for our investment, with the former’s tally of four goals and five assists thus far justifying his luxury price tag, but the Blues skipper a more than worthy deputy for those unable to find the extra budget. Indeed, a double up on both could be a valid tactic, given the problems up front.

Going forward, Eden Hazard presents managers with a combination of fixtures of the form that just can’t be ignored; three goals and as many assists in his last six outings makes him near-essential, and we can expect to see a wave of non-owners scramble for his services over the course of the next week. Many are understandably keen to max out on Chelsea faces before the Gameweek 34 deadline, but with Diego Costa sidelined and the extent of fellow striker Loic Remy’s muscle injury currently a mystery, our interests seem fated to avoid the forward position. Midfielder Cesc Fabregas now looks the main contender for that third spot; the 9.2-valued Spaniard has earned returns in each of his last three outings – the first time he has achieved this feat since Gameweek 10 – and could well slot in next to Hazard in many a side going into the double.

Also Consider…

Southampton
The Saints collected a fifteenth clean sheet of the season on their way to a 2-0 victory over Hull at the weekend but, with only four shut-outs on the road, and four away fixtures in the final six, they’ll need to improve their displays outside of St Mary’s.

A trip to Stoke is on the cards this weekend before a home meeting with a Spurs side who have now failed to find the net in three of their last four league outings, and with a trio of promising fixtures then to follow (sun, lei, AVL), owners of Ryan Bertrand will just be hoping he doesn’t suffer the same fate as fellow full-back Nathaniel Clyne, who was rested at the weekend by Ronald Koeman. Budget keeper Kelvin Davis offers an alternative route into the league’s most resilient rearguard at just 4.4 and may even persuade some to double up. Meanwhile, Saido Mane has now gone three appearances without any returns and will be eyeing up those fixtures to get himself back on our radars, whilst Graziano Pelle will be eager to press ahead after scoring for the first time in the league since December against the Tigers.

West Ham
With their campaign hitting the brakes over the past couple of months, Sam Allardyce’s charges will now be pleased to see a kind run of fixtures draw things to a close. A trip to Man City this weekend will be far from straightforward, with the Citizens set to rally after their defeat to United, but beyond that a sea of blue awaits the Hammers with their remaining opponents all currently in the bottom half of the table (qpr, BUR, avl, EVE, new). Aaron Cresswell reminded us of his attacking potential with a superbly struck free-kick in the draw with Stoke and could be a valid option the final run-in. With Diafra Sakho now sidelined with a thigh strain, Enner Valencia looks set to lead the line for his side so long as he can overcome the minor foot problem incurred against the Potters, though it is unlikely the Ecuadorian will garner too much attention with the impending doubles determining much of our frontline movements.

Burnley
A single point collected in the last three Gameweeks bodes poorly for the Clarets’ survival hopes, though with a hellish schedule now behind them, their fortunes could be due to take a turn for the better. Indeed, Sean Dyche’s handed are now handed an encouraging run-in, with home encounters against Leicester and Stoke and trips to Hull and Aston Villa perhaps set to offer them a lifeline out of the drop zone. Having conceded just three goals in their last four outings, the Clarets’ rearguard have kicked into gear at just the right time, and the likes of Tom Heaton and Kieran Trippier – who has created more chances than any other defender over the course of the previous six Gameweeks – are now back on our radar. In attack, however, things have dried up, with just a single goal to show in the last six, and any hopes of avoiding the drop will rely on Danny Ings and George Boyd rediscovering their scoring touch pronto.

Newcastle
Last night’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool was the Magpies fifth consecutive loss, with their lack of attacking output costing them dearly. John Carver is at least blessed with a decent schedule which could spark a turnaround, as the Tynesiders are handed four home fixtures in their final six as well as favourable away days at Leicester and QPR. Daryl Janmaat, whose tally of seven assists is only bettered by Leighton Baines amongst defenders, could well come back into contention, whilst Ayoze Perez, now available for just 4.3, will be optimistic that he can find the net for the first time since Gameweek 10 before Papiss Cisse returns from suspension.