Chelsea have issued an angry statement against the Premier League after their fixture with Everton was moved forward from April 19 to Thursday April 17. It means that Grant’s side must now face Wigan at home on the Monday April 14 and then travel to Goodison for a massive banana skin fixture just three days later. The fixture has been rescheduled to fit with TV schedules. Everton meanwhile, have it considerably easier with a trip to Birmingham on the Saturday preceding the rearranged game.

This is significant news for fantasy managers on two fronts. Firstly it increases the chances of massive rotation in Grant’s side against Wigan. Secondly, and rather bizarrely, right now it appears that FPL managers will have to contend with a Thursday deadline in Gameweek 35.

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I’ve updated the forthcoming fixtures table in the right-hand menu to reflect the next five weeks of Premiership games.

A couple of teams to note straight away - Chelsea and Spurs both have six games with a double fixture in gameweek 30 in the FPL so their players are likely to appear in decent positions in the player rankings later today.

In contrast both Bolton and United are due to miss gameweek 29 due to FA Cup and UEFA Cup commitments.

As for clubs with favourable fixtures - Everton have a decent four games before taking on Liverpool at Anfield. Current form suggests that Moyes side could string four positive results together against Portsmouth, Sunderland, Fulham and West Ham. Blackburn also have fairly kind opponents over the next five - they have three away from home but two of these see them visit Newcastle and Reading which should promise goals. Their home games meanwhile have them play Fulham and Wigan, which again, should bring their players some decent returns.

Again, I’ll be updating the player rankings for the next five games later today.

Four of the teams affected by the FA Cup Quarter Finals on the weekend of March 8 have had their fixtures rearranged.

The Portsmouth vs Birmingham City game and the Chelsea vs Derby fixture will now be played on Wednesday March 12.

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The fixture between Tottenham and Chelsea, originally scheduled for February 23 but postponed due to the two teams meeting in the Carling Cup Final, will now be played on Wednesday March 19.

In the Fantasy Premier League game that hands both teams a double fixture in gameweek 30. Chelsea have another away game at Sunderland on the Saturday before the midweek game, while Spurs are also away at Man City on the Sunday.

That’s likely to see a scramble for the likes of Anelka, Drogba, Berbatov and Keane around that time. Prior to that gameweek, Chelsea host Derby while Spurs have West Ham at home. It looks a decent bet to get on the Chelsea/Spurs bandwagon a week early for gameweek 29 then, however, bear in mind that Chelsea host Olympiakos the Wednesday before the Derby game, so could rest players for the visit of the side bottom of the Premiership come the Saturday.

The Chelsea vs Spurs Premiership clash on Monday January 14 has been moved forward to this coming Saturday, with Spurs reportedly due to replay their FA Cup tie with Reading on Tuesday January 15 [source].

That move might be significant for Chelsea when it comes to the return to fitness of Cech, Makelele and Shevchenko who will all be required by Grant. It could also limit the possibility of signing Anelka in time for this gameweek.

Blackburn’s successful passage into the UEFA Cup has meant that their game against Villa on Wednesday week, has been postponed. Blackburn and Villa now join a host of teams who will miss that midweek fixture and play one less game in August. These include Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle and West Ham. Those managers now considering the likes of Bentley, Gamst-Pedersen, and McCarthy - and that’s probably quite a few, may want to hold fire on snapping them up, at least until we’re on to the August 18 fixtures.

As you’ve probably noticed, the Premiership fixtures were published today and while I’m not going to risk the wrath of the Premier League by listing them here, they do serve up an interesting dilemma very early on. The second set of fixtures, scheduled for August 14 and 15 respectively find Liverpool facing West Ham at Anfield while Arsenal are due to travel to face Newcastle. However, both these games are to be postponed as they clash with the first leg of the third round of the Champions League qualifier. This is compounded by the fact that Liverpool then face Chelsea on the Saturday while the Gunners visit Blackburn - both very tough games. This stuttered, rather difficult start for both Liverpool and Arsenal should certainly be considered by Fantasy Managers looking to invest early on in the likes of Henry, Fabregas, Gerrard and indeed the Liverpool defence.

Having had just a quick glance around the fixtures it’s Boro who look to have the best start. In their first 5 games they start with Blackburn at the Riverside before travelling to Wigan and Fulham followed by Newcastle and Birmingham at home. A very reasonable set of fixtures, avoiding all of the big hitters, which makes Boro players worth considering for the first month or so if pre-season form shows promise.

Here’s another interesting City-related snippet - the blue side of Manchester have apparently turned down United’s appearl to move their Premiership match back 24-hours. United are due to visit City on May 5 giving them just 48 hours to “recover” from their Champions League second leg in Milan. Perhaps not surprisingly, City have insisted that the fixture remains intact as a 12.45 kick off on May 5.

Unless Chelsea somehow conspire to lose to an injury-ravaged Bolton at the weekend, the derby clash with City will remain a must-win game for United. Clearly Sir Alex has concerns over his squad’s fitness and fatigue and Fantasy Managers should therefore brace themselves. If United don’t put the tie out of AC’s reach tonight, United could well be forced to rest a good few players for the City game if injuries permit, particular when you consider that they face the Chelsea showdown 4 days later.

Those Fantasy Managers playing the Fantasy Premier League game have had another fixture removed from gameweek 33. The Spurs vs Blackburn game is the latest game to move to May and gameweek 37.

This now means that Fantasy Managers must go into gameweek 33, beginning on April 9, without players from 8 clubs : Tottenham, Blackburn, Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Sheff Utd and West Ham. Successful negotiation through this gameweek is likely to be the deciding factor in many private leagues in this game.

All quiet again today, in fact, only the Semi-Final draw livened things up and even that turned out to have a ring of innevitability about it. Yes, United avoided Chelsea, so we’re all set up for the showpiece final, if only both Spurs, Boro, Watford and Blackburn can see their way clear to bowing to the requirements of the TV stations and the new Wembley PR machine. Alternatively we could be watching Robbie Savage and Gavin Mahon ripping divots out of the Wembley baize come May. Stick to the script though lads, eh?

Here’s formal bit…
Blackburn vs Chelsea or Tottenham
Watford vs Middlesbrough or Manchester United

Aside from Wigan snapping up Nash from Preston, it’s all a bit quiet today, so thank god for El Tel, Steve McClaren and a velvet bag for brightening things up. Venables even had the decency to draw his two old clubs for what appears, on paper at least, the plumb tie of the round.

Yep, Chelsea will play Spurs in an all London affair at Stamford Bridge, while Arsenal will take on Manchester City, should they get past the stubborn obstacle that is Blackburn. Man United meanwhile have a tricky away tie at either Boro or West Brom if Ferguson’s side can overcome Reading. Finally Ian Holloway’s Plymouth is rewarded for their progress with a tie against Watford, the very side that broke their hearts in the 1984 semi-final. Ah, George Reilly - now he was a proper centre forward.

Arsenal’s game with Manchester City on February 28 has slipped from this gameweek’s programme of fixtures due to maintenance work at Arsenal’s tube station. The Arsenal vs City game will now be rescheduled for a date to be decided. Managers with Arsenal and City players in their lineup need not panic too much as both sides have a double header in the following gameweek. The fixture change has however, forced me to reasses my picks and shortlist for a week in which Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City and Aston Villa now sit out.