Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 18 – The Strong

With three Gameweeks in the space of just under 10 days, we are about to enter a key part of the season, where mid-term planning can really pay off for Fantasy managers.

In terms of the upcoming fixtures, it’s the premium assets from Arsenal and Manchester United that look crucial to success over the festive period, while some bargain buys from Middlesbrough could also prove to be handy stocking fillers heading into the early 2017 programme.

Arsenal

(WBA, CPL, bou, swa, BUR, WAT)

With Arsene Wenger’s side playing four of their next six at the Emirates, and avoiding all of the current top seven, the Gunners look to have a superb opportunity to get back on track following back-to-back defeats.

The prospects for the Arsenal attack, in particular, appear very bright, given that they take on both Swansea City and Bournemouth, who have conceded the most goals over the last four Gameweeks with 11 and nine respectively.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, rank second for shots conceded inside the box over the same period with 42, while Burnley have shipped nine goals in their last four away matches.

Given West Bromwich Albion have only kept one clean sheet in their last 14 outings, and Watford have conceded eight goals in their last four, there is a strong case for rolling with two Arsenal attackers.

Theo Walcott appears the player to back in home matches, having scored in his last two appearances at the Emirates, while Alexis Sanchez continues to thrive on the road, registering a goal and assist in his last two away outings.

Watford and Burnley have only scored four goals apiece over the last four Gameweeks, so it’s those matches which stand out as strong possibilities for defensive returns.

Palace and Swansea have managed the fewest shots from inside the box among all 20 teams over the last four Gameweeks, though, while the West Brom and Bournemouth match-ups are also fairly favourable.

The fixtures suggest there should be clean sheets on offer over the next month, then, but having failed to manage one in their last eight, there is some doubt as to whether Arsenal’s premium assets will be able to live up to their price tags, at least until Shkodran Mustafi returns from a hamstring injury.

Manchester United

(SUN, MID, whm, LIV, sto, HUL)

Jose Mourinho’s men also face four of their next six at home, and having won their last three; United appear to have the perfect synergy of both form and fixtures.

Having managed two shut-outs over the last three Gameweeks, further defensive points look possible against Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hull City in particular, with those three clubs the lowest scoring teams so far this season.

The West Ham United and Stoke City match-ups are slightly trickier, though, while a clean sheet appears unlikely against Liverpool.

Phil Jones should continue to offer excellent value at just 4.8 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), then, and is the obvious target at the back.

At the other end of the pitch, the prospects are equally positive, given that West Ham and Stoke City both feature among the top four sides for allowing shots inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, along with Hull City.

Sunderland have improved at the back of late, but have still conceded five goals in their last two away matches. While ‘Boro are a solid defensive side, that still has to be viewed as a fairly favourable match-up.

Liverpool also have their vulnerabilities at the back, so it’s difficult to question Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s status as the current top transfer target. Meanwhile, Paul Pogba could prove a powerful differential option in midfield.

Middlesbrough

(bur, mun, LEI, wat, WHM, WBA)

‘Boro only face one team – Manchester United – that are currently placed in the top seven, suggesting that their players can provide solid value over the next six Gameweeks.

It’s in defence where investment appears most likely, with their opponents all offering opportunities for further returns.

Goals have been in short supply for Burnley and Watford over the last four Gameweeks, managing just four apiece, while West Brom have failed to score in two of their last three.

The Leicester City and West Ham match-ups also appear reasonably favourable, so while there may not be an obvious plum fixture among the next six, there should be some solid opportunities to add to their five clean sheets accumulated to this point.

Ben Gibson and Victor Valdes look the standout options, with George Friend a cheaper route into the ‘Boro rearguard if he replaces Fabio at left-back after returning from injury last weekend. Callum Chambers can provide an alternative cheap option while we wait for Friend’s situation to be resolved.

As already mentioned, ‘Boro have struggled for goals this season, but with Burnley, Leicester and West Ham all having conceded seven in their last four matches, those three fixtures show promise.

The Watford match-up is even more favourable given that the Hornets have conceded eight in their last four, while West Brom’s shortage of clean sheets mean we may see ‘Boro rack up goals, continuing the encouraging form shown in Gameweek 16’s 3-0 win over Swansea City.

Alvaro Negredo looks a viable cheap third forward option for the coming period, then, particularly with Karanka likely to rotate his attacking midfield players, lessening their appeal.

Also Consider

Southampton
Saints have four kind looking fixtures (WBA, bur, LEI, swa) in their next six, combined with two less appealing matches (TOT, eve) in the short-term.

Claude Puel’s side have struggled for goals this season, but the Burnley, Leicester City and Swansea City match-ups should provide plenty of opportunities to improve their record, while the West Brom and Everton clashes could also yield a goal or two.

Jay Rodriguez could provide us with an interesting differential in midfield, then, playing out of position as a central striker, although concerns over rotation certainly hinder the prospects of all Southampton attackers.

There may be no real plum fixture from a defensive point of view, but given the Saints’ strong defensive record, they look capable of registering a clean sheet in the majority of their next six matches, perhaps bringing Cedric Soares and the more expensive, but more secure, Virgil van Dijk onto our radars.

Crystal Palace
Alan Pardew’s men do face four of their next six (wat, ars, SWA, whm, EVE, bou) on the road, but only the Arsenal match-up looks particularly off-putting.

The fact Swansea are so porous on their travels, shipping 11 goals in their last three away matches, makes that match-up look hugely appealing for Christian Benteke’s prospects, although goals could be harder to come by at Arsenal, West Ham and Bournemouth.

Palace have recorded just one clean sheet so far this season, so while the clash against Swansea, and perhaps those at Watford and West Ham, could be deemed as being fairly kind, it’s unlikely many Fantasy managers will be looking to bring in Eagles defenders.

It should be noted that Palace’s fixtures remain kind beyond the Bournemouth game in Gameweek 24, right up until Gameweek 27.

Watford
The Hornets next five fixtures (CPL, TOT, sto, MID, bou) are generally promising, so those FPL bosses who still own the likes of Jose Holebas and Etienne Capoue should probably consider holding tight, directing transfers elsewhere.

There could be a clean sheet or two to be had in those matches, while with Capoue appearing assured of a starting role, he should be handy bench resource over a turbulent period for rotation.

While only the Palace match-up looks favourable for goals, Troy Deeney appears to have the fixtures in which to end his prolonged drought, having failed to score in his last 10 appearances. Elsewhere, Isaac Success, as a 5.7 midfield differential, could also be one to watch as he attempts to establish a starting role.