Scouting the Doubles – Gameweek 34 – The Defence

In the first of two articles focusing on Gameweek 34, we assess the key targets in defence from the ten teams set to face a pair of fixtures apiece.

Our analysis also takes into consideration that half of those double Gameweek 34 sides – Crystal Palace, Everton, Man United, Watford, West Ham – are without a fixture the following week, which somewhat diminishes their short-term appeal. Those without Wildcards remaining must exercise a degree of caution, then, in order to avoid weakening their squads for Gameweek 35.

Of those five sides, United are clearly the standout options. Louis van Gaal’s men welcome Villa and Palace to Old Trafford next week and, having conceded just seven times in 15 outings in front of their own fans, boast the best home defensive record in the league. Villa pay visit on the back of eight straight losses, scoring three times over that period, while Palace have won a single match – against fellow strugglers Norwich last weekend – since Gameweek 17.

Although Marcos Rojo (5.0) has been named in the first XI in six successive league matches, a degree of risk still hovers over the Argentine’s pitch time, with Van Gaal hauling him off before the hour-mark on two of those occasions. Chris Smalling is the one guaranteed starter in defence, though a price of 6.5 for a player with a single assist may prove enough of a deterrent. If the centre-half is too pricey for your liking, number one David de Gea – at a cost of 5.8 – is our preferred option, though you’d need to pair him with a keeper who has a fixture in Gameweek 35.

Our recommendations overlook the other four sides with Gameweek 35 blanks. Palace (ars & mun) and Watford (wba & whm) hit the road on both occasions and have struggled for clean sheets over the last few months. Everton, meanwhile, face two of the top eight (SOU & liv), including a Merseyside derby trip to Anfield, and West Ham (lei & WAT) have to make their way to league leaders Leicester before hosting the Hornets.

The likes of Scott Dann, Seamus Coleman and Aaron Cresswell are all nailed-on for their respective sides, though they may need to rely on attacking output to justify their inclusion in our squads.

Certainly, with five strikes to his name, Dann (5.7) – joint-top for goals at the back along with Sunderland’s Patrick van Aanholt – offers a strong threat in the opposition box, though a lack of a double Gameweek 37 lessens his appeal.

Like Watford, Coleman (one goal and three assists) and Cresswell (one goal and four assists) play twice in the penultimate round of fixtures and could still be worth the acquisition for those with strong benches to cover their absence in Gameweek 35.

Of the five sides with a double Gameweek 34 and fixture the following week, Arsenal and Liverpool are the most eye-catching candidates.

Second only to United for goals conceded at home (ten), the Gunners entertain Palace and West Brom at the Emirates before paying visit to Sunderland in Gameweek 35. Frustratingly, Arsene Wenger’s decision to bench Petr Cech (5.8) in the last two since returning from injury makes opting for the keeper somewhat risky, though Saturday’s showing at West Ham suggests the former Chelsea man could well oust David Ospina again. Both Laurent Koscielny and Hector Bellerin offer a security of starts and are similarly-priced (6.2 to 6.4), though it’s the latter who has emerged as our favoured option. Boasting 26% ownership, the young Spaniard the most popular double Gameweek defender around and has racked up the points at both ends of the pitch in recent weeks.

Liverpool have the added bonus of a double Gameweek 37, which hands them seven matches in the final five rounds of fixtures – that’s more than any other side. Frustratingly, Jurgen Klopp’s team sheets against Stoke on Sunday, where he rested first-choice centre-halves Dejan Lovren (4.8) and Mamadou Sakho (4.7), is somewhat disconcerting for would-be suitors. Should the Reds progress past Dortmund in the Europa League on Thursday, we could see more of the same in terms of changes, which heightens the appeal of Simon Mignolet (4.9) as a “fire and forget” option between the posts. Jon Flanagan’s exclusion from the Reds’ Europa League squad could also see him earn more domestic minutes if Klopp’s side are triumphant later in the week. A home clash against Newcastle in Gameweek 35 also bodes well for the in-form Anfield outfit.

Rafa Benitez’ Newcastle are the only other side with a pair of home fixtures on their agenda, as Swansea and Man City make their way to St James’. With one clean sheet in 17 matches, though, can we really place our faith in the Tyneside team? Assessing the back-four, Daryl Janmaat (4.8) is currently a slight doubt after limping off against Southampton last week, though as evidenced by his one goal and three assists so far, is the one Magpies defender capable of delivering in the final third. At 3.9, Karl Darlow is the cheapest first-choice stopper in the FPL game and has earned a save point in each of his two appearances so far. The downside is that he has already conceded three times on both occasions and travels to Anfield in Gameweek 35.

Man City hit the road twice in Gameweek 34, with visits to Chelsea and Newcastle up next, before an enticing home encounter with Stoke in Gameweek 35. Manuel Pellegrini’s men approach their double in decent defensive form, with just two goals conceded in the last five Gameweeks – indeed, they’ve kept a clean sheet in each of their last two away matches. Vincent Kompany (6.3) is close to a comeback after returning to training earlier in the week places major doubts over Eliaquim Mangala’s (5.3) security of starts, though the Belgian’s patchy injury record means that Nicolas Otamendi (6.5) is the safest option here. As we saw at the weekend, Pellegrini’s penchant for rotation at full-back means it may be the safest tactic to steer away from the likes of Gael Clichy, Aleksandar Kolarov, Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna.

Whilst West Brom’s home match against goal-shy Watford looks promising, the Baggies then travel to Arsenal in the second match of their double. Tony Pulis’ troops follow that up with a trip to White Hart Lane in Gameweek 35, which negates their appeal somewhat. Ben Foster (4.9) may need to rely on save points, then, and whilst Craig Dawson’s (5.1) eye for goal could come to fruition, those two visits to north London suggests that defensive returns look very unlikely.

The Top Targets

Hector Bellerin – Arsenal’s in-form defender has racked up the points in recent weeks, with a goal, three assists and eight bonus points in his last three outings. With the Gunners braced for two very favourable home matches, Bellerin’s raids down the right look likely to benefit again.

David de Gea – The Red Devils have already chalked up ten clean sheets in 15 Old Trafford outings ahead of visits from Villa and Palace. With De Gea’s safe pair of hands in goal, there’s every chance that resilience will continue over the next week.

Chris Smalling – the centre-half offers the only reliable route into Louis van Gaal’s rearguard. Yet to find the net this season, Smalling’s four goals in 2014/15 serves a reminder of his threat in the opposition box.

The Differentials

Nicolas Otamendi – has started all but two league fixtures since being handed his City debut in Gameweek 6. Despite scoring just once this term, only four defenders have registered more shots inside the box than the summer signing from Valencia.

Dejan Lovren – looks to have cemented his role as a first-choice pick under Jurgen Klopp with a series of impressive displays. Should the Reds exit Europe tomorrow night, Lovren’s chances of rotation look far less likely over the domestic run-in.

Daryl Janmaat – given the lack of confidence on Tyneside, there’s no doubt the right-back is a risky acquisition. If he can prove his fitness in time for the weekend, though, a pair of home fixtures could yet prove pivotal to their survival bid.

Craig Dawson – with three goals to his name already, the Baggies right-back is the prime pick in Tony Pulis’ rearguard. Whilst the visit of Watford looks promising, Dawson may have to rely on attacking points for his pair of trips to north London in the next two Gameweeks.