The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 5 – The Defence

With the first international break of the season upon us, we’ve already updated our Watchlist rankings, which offer player recommendations for the next four-to-six Gameweeks, ahead of next weekend’s fixtures. With two clean sheets so far this season, and with a favourable upcoming schedule, West Brom’s defensive assets are on the rise, while Hector Bellerin is included for the first time this season after registering back-to-back shut-outs.

GOALKEEPERS

Although Stoke’s Jack Butland is yet to keep a clean sheet, the Potters favourable fixtures after the Gameweek 5 clash at Arsenal (LEI, BOU, avl, swa, WAT) mean he keeps his place on top of our ladder for the time being. The 4.5-priced keeper was slightly unfortunate on Saturday, with Mark Hughes’ side being reduced to nine men in the first-half against West Brom.

After joining West Brom yesterday, Anders Lindegaard (4.5) zooms straight up to second in our rankings. We reckon the former United man looks set to replace Boaz Myhill, also 4.5, as the first choice at the Hawthorns in Ben Foster’s absence, and have placed our faith in the Denmark international for the time being. The fixtures (SOT, avl, EVE, cpl, SUN, nor) for the Baggies mean whoever plays in goal should certainly provide some defensive returns over the next month or so.

Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski moves up a couple of places in our latest refresh, with the Welsh outfit facing a fairly favourable fixture list (wat, EVE, sot, TOT, STO, avl) over the next six Gameweeks. Garry Monk’s side have conceded the second fewest shots from inside the box (18), so the Poland international, available at 5.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), looks a great option between the sticks.

While Simon Mignolet will have disappointed his 10% ownership after conceding three goals against West Ham on Saturday, with favourable home matches against Norwich and Aston Villa in the next three, it probably isn’t time to give up on the Belgian quite yet. Individual errors cost the Reds on the weekend, but after looking very solid in the first three Gameweeks, keeping three clean sheets, the 5.1-priced keeper should be able to pick up further defensive returns if normal service is resumed in front of him.

Artur Boruc keeps his place around halfway up our ladder, although the 4.5-rated stopper has yet to keep a clean sheet this season. The Cherries have further favourable matches to come (nor, SUN, sto, WAT), and having conceded exactly one goal in three of their four matches, a first shut-out shouldn’t be too far away for Eddie Howe’s men.

Although Joe Hart kept his 100% clean sheet record in Manchester City’s 2-0 win against Watford, the ankle injury that has ruled Gael Clichy out for the next six-to-seven weeks has really cemented Aleksandar Kolarov as the most optimal way to cover the City backline. Hart, valued at 5.6, is only 0.2 cheaper than the Serbian left-back, and with possible save points not matching the attacking potential of Kolarov, the England international looks something of a waste of a City spot, with David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero also very desirable over the forthcoming period.

With Southampton’s fixtures among the least favourable over the next six Gameweeks (wba, MUN, SWA, che, LEI, liv) Maarten Stekelenburg drops a couple of places this week despite registering back-to-back shut-outs. The Dutch international does look good value at 5.0 in FPL, but this doesn’t seem the time for any further investment in the former Ajax keeper.

Hopes were high for Costel Pantilimon at the start of the season, but after conceding 10 goals in his first four outings, confidence in the Black Cats backline isn’t particularly high at this point. There’s no doubt the fixture list (TOT, bou, mun, WHM, wba, NEW) is largely in favour of Dick Advocaat’s side, though, so the Romania international, now down to 4.9 in FPL, may start to return to the form which saw him become a Fantasy favourite last time around.

Norwich’s John Ruddy stays in our thoughts, despite having yet to register a shut-out this term from some fairly favourable fixtures. The schedule still looks pretty kind for the Canaries (BOU, liv, whm, LEI, new, WBA), so those who have kept faith in the 4.5-priced keeper should probably do so for a little while longer.

One keeper who does have a clean sheet to his name this season is Brad Guzan, and the Aston Villa stopper clings onto a place on our ladder by virtue of three decent home match-ups (WBA, STO, SWA) over the next six Gameweeks. With away trips to Leicester, Liverpool and Chelsea also on the horizon, there are certainly stronger options than the 4.5-valued USA international right now.

DEFENDERS

Aleksandar Kolarov remains at the summit this week, having averaged 9.25 points per appearance so far this term. City’s upcoming schedule (cpl, WHM, tot, NEW, BOU, mun) further adds to the appeal of the now 5.8-priced left-back, while the afore-mentioned injury to Clichy means he now has little competition for his starting spot. The Serbian has, along with Cedric Soares, created the most chances this season among defenders (eight), while he has also registered seven goal attempts.

Another defender who possesses a decent attacking threat is Swansea’s Kyle Naughton. The former Tottenham full-back has created seven chances so far, and bagged an assist in the 1-1 draw against Sunderland in Gameweek 3. With the aforementioned defensive statistics suggesting the Swans backline is limiting their opponents’ chances particularly well, the 5.0-rated Naughton should see his meagre 0.9% ownership increase over the coming weeks.

West Brom’s Craig Dawson (5.0) is another riser in our latest update, with the Baggies upcoming schedule (SOT, avl, EVE, cpl, SUN, nor) the most favourable according to our Season Ticker. Tony Pulis’ men have registered two clean sheets so far this term, and should be further strengthened at the back by the arrival of Jonny Evans. The former Man United defender is kinder on the budget at 4.8 in FPL, with very little to choose between the two, though Dawson has registered four goal attempts this season, and does offer a decent attacking threat from right-back. We’ll be monitoring Evans closely and lining him up as the potential preferred option once he’s settled.

The theme of attacking full-backs on the Watchlist continues in the form of Bournemouth’s Simon Francis. The 4.5-priced defender has created six chances so far this term, and provided an assist in the 4-3 win at West Ham. As already mentioned, the Cherries favourable start to the season continues for some time yet, so Francis remains the pick of the options available at 4.5 in FPL.

We’re keeping our faith in Stoke’s Marc Muniesa, despite the 4.5-valued defender only returning six points in FPL over the course of the first four Gameweeks. The fixtures (ars, LEI, BOU, avl, swa, WAT) are still fairly favourable for the Spaniard, although attacking returns appear very unlikely, given he has registered just one touch in the penalty box, and has yet to manage an attempt on goal.

Following the calamitous 3-0 home defeat to West Ham, Martin Skrtel drops a few places this week. Home matches against Norwich and Aston Villa should earn the 5.5-rated defender a stay of execution in the short-term, but having managed just one goal attempt so far this season, his apparent lack of threat from set-pieces is a slight concern.

Aaron Cresswell followed up a defensive horror show against Bournemouth with a sublime attacking performance against Liverpool, registering two shots from inside the box and creating two chances, one of which provided the assist for Manuel Lanzini’s opener. The Hammers face favourable home match-ups against Newcastle and Norwich in the next three, although they have failed to produce the goods so far this season in front of their own fans.

Norwich’s Russell Martin remains around halfway up our ladder, although clean sheets are proving hard to come by for Alex Neil’s men. The Canaries upcoming schedule offers hope that first shut-out may not be too far away, while the 4.5-priced Scotland international has already illustrated his threat from set-plays with two goals this term.

Having created eight chances this season, Southampton’s Cedric Soares offers very good value for Fantasy managers at 5.0 in FPL. The big negative for his prospects over the coming period is Saints’ schedule (wba, MUN, SWA, che, LEI, liv), with defensive returns to add to the two clean sheets already accrued appearing less likely. The Portuguese right-back has also been substituted twice already this season, which is certainly something to keep an eye on.

The Chelsea defence has clearly underperformed so far this season, with the Blues alarmingly allowing 40 goal attempts from inside the box, the third highest total in the top flight. The international break has probably come at a good time for the champions to take stock of their campaign so far, so Cesar Azpilicueta (6.0) keeps his place towards the bottom of our rankings, although their upcoming fixtures still look pretty testing (eve, ARS, new, SOT, AVL, whm).

With Gabriel’s impressive performances in the last two weeks perhaps meaning he may earn some further game time alongside Laurent Koscielny, hindering the prospects of Per Mertesacker, we’ve opted for Hector Bellerin as our preferred Arsenal option at the back. The Spaniard looks the clear first choice at right-back ahead of Mathieu Debuchy, and while he may miss the odd match due to rotation, his attacking potential, with three chances created in as many outings, earns the 5.5-pried defender a spot towards the bottom of our rankings, with the fixtures (STO, che, lei, MUN, wat, EVE) fairly mixed for the Gunners.

The Man United rearguard was finally breached at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, but there’s no doubt they look one of the stronger defensive units this year, with the two central midfield players offering plenty of protection in front of the back four. Matteo Darmian (5.7) remains in our thoughts then, although there’s no doubt the upcoming schedule (LIV, sot, SUN, ars, eve, MCI) is not favourable for Louis van Gaal’s side.

With two favourable home fixtures (WAT, NOR) in the next six, along with reasonable away trips to West Ham and Sunderland, Newcastle’s Daryl Janmaat makes his first appearance of the season on our Watchlist. The Dutch international is now available at 4.9 in FPL, and after racking up eight assists last season, should be able to return to his best form in the coming period after a difficult start to the campaign, following his sending off at Swansea.

Aston Villa’s Micah Richards has seen plenty of investment after registering eight points in Gameweek 1, with over 130,000 FPL bosses drafting him in. After managing just four points in his last three matches, though, his stock has taken a fall. Reasonably strong home fixtures (WBA, STO, SWA) are combined with difficult away clashes (lei, liv, che) over the next six Gameweeks, so the 4.6-rated