Fixtures

Frisking the Fixtures – The Weak – Gameweek 18

Having analysed those sides with Strong schedules over the next three Gameweeks, we turn our attentions to those who could be set for a festive headache. The league leaders and a raft of mid-table teams find a Christmas present to forget in the form of some unwelcome fixtures:

Swansea

Defeat to Everton began a prolonged period of daunting ties for Michael Laudrup’s side, from which they will be lucky to emerge clear of relegation danger. A Boxing Day visit to Stamford Bridge is followed by a relative breather at Aston Villa before they’re back into the fray with a home tie with Man City – it arguably gets worse after that, too.

Owners of Chico Flores and the bonus point-hogging Ashley Williams will not be confident of many more points, especially with first choice stopper Michel Vorm now sidelined after surgery. Jonjo Shelvey briefly looked like providing a genuine differential but a formation change, coupled with the fixtures, dampens that hope greatly, whilst the other budget midfielders in the Swans’ outfit haven’t really convinced even against weaker opposition. Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony got his first start after returning from injury but has his work cut out to finally find his feet in the Premier League.

Liverpool

A convincing, if expected, win over Cardiff City to go top of the league will keep the Reds full of the required confidence ahead of what is arguably their most daunting fixture of the season – a trip to the Etihad. That’s followed by a visit to Stamford Bridge before the waters calm with home game against Hull.

Luis Suarez clearly won’t be leaving any Fantasy teams but he may lose a few Captain’s armbands. Investment elsewhere in Brendan Rodgers’ flourishing team may be best postponed, though. Injuries to teammates have handed Jordan Henderson a central role behind Suarez and, whilst Raheem Sterling has also impressed with three goals in five, now does not look like the time to jump on board. A defence that has shipped goals to all but two of their last 14 isn’t winning any Fantasy fans and these fixtures may be the last straw for many still holding the likes of Glen Johnson and Simon Mignolet. John Flanagan’s budget price may see him keep his place in Fantasy teams, providing he shrugs off the hamstring problem that forced him off against Cardiff last time around.

Stoke
Stoke are now unbeaten in four games and are just three points behind Southampton, for all the latter’s plaudits. However, Mark Hughes has a job on his hands to keep that momentum in the face of a difficult run of fixtures that starts with trips to Newcastle and Tottenham, followed by the visit of Everton. Such fixtures mean that it’s a little late to invest in a defence that has kept three clean sheets in six games and admirers of Marc Wilson and Erik Pieters may wish to wait until the January Wildcard to invest.

BE WARY OF

Southampton
A toxic blend of injuries and relentlessly diffilcult fixtures have seen the Saints drop from their lofty early-season position down to ninth. Whilst the injuries could be starting to clear, the fixtures remain unkind, with a trip to Everton and a game against Chelsea in the next three. Anyone still holding any defensive assets may be weighing up the options, with Southampton having failed to register a clean sheet in the last eight games. Adam Lallana’s goal and assist were a timely reminder of his capabilities but now may not be the right time to bring him in.

West Brom
It’s hard to find anyone outside the West Brom boardroom who agrees with the decision to sack Steve Clarke but it’s clear that interim boss Keith Downing has a tough job on his hands after ”stopping the rot” with a draw against Hull. A trip to Tottenham and the visit of in-form Newcastle look fairly unpromising for any Fantasy managers hoping to benefit from a resurgence of form under a new manager. After seven games without a clean sheet, investors in Liam Ridgewell or Gareth McAuley will be looking to move them on, whilst the return of Ben Foster signals the end of Boaz Myhill’s appeal. Stephane Sessegnon has disappointed many Fantasy managers and an upturn in returns looks unlikely in the short-term.

Hull City
Investors in Steve Bruce’s gritty defence were hoping for another clean sheet last weekend only to be denied by a late goal from the Baggies. The pickings now look slim over the holidays for the Tigers, with games against Man United and Liverpool straddling a home game against Fulham. Owners of Allan McGregor, James Chester and Curtis Davies are likely to hold with the Fulham game in mind, but new investment doesn’t look worth a transfer with just that solitary promising fixture. Robbie Brady’s patchy game time and lack of fitness had already put him at risk and the recent news that he is likely to miss the festive games puts the final nail in the coffin of his Fantasy appeal.

893 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FACUPARSE
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Lukaku will score 2 tomorrow.

    Bookmark

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    1. Nice to Finally Michu
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      own goals?

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      1. FACUPARSE
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        And 7 red cards

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  2. Captain Shirokov
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Can't wait for those cold, frosty morning matches to start back after Christmas.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHD22hqiDGU

    🙂

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  3. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Repost.

    Good to go?

    Ruddy
    Coleman Distin Debuchy
    Silva Hazard Ramsey Cabaye
    Suarez Rooney(c) Lukaku
    ------------------------------------------------
    Lewis Redmond Bardsley Chester

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    1. DF
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Hope you're not chasing

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    2. Total Foot 5 - romario 11
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      eden good team. just wandering how many transfers u've done so fa and what ORank ure in?

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      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        29 transfers(I go hit crazy sometimes), Rank-321000.

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        1. Total Foot 5 - romario 11
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          thats the thing, thats why i asked. u have every single player most want so u go and get hits. but your team suffers from that because hose -4 hits get u lower i or slowly but surely and it shows. your team if it had only 20 transfer would EASY be top 1,000.

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          1. EmreCan Hustle
            • 11 Years
            10 years, 3 months ago

            You're right and I don't support hits, but I was away a few games so need to play catch and build TV...should get back on track post WC. Cheers.

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  4. sinik
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    lost on last page:

    when it comes to Southampton's GK situation is Gazza first choice while Boruc is out or he just first choice because Davis is injured as well?

    and any soft indication as to when Boruc might return?

    Merry/Happy Christmas!

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    1. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Boruc return roughly 3 weeks I heard

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      1. sinik
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        and re: Gazzaniga? defo first choice in the meantime or only because Davis is out?

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        1. MattysFantasyFooty
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          I actually don't really know I reckon Gazzaniga would be first choice but don't quote me on that

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      2. sinik
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        thanks by the way 🙂

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    2. DF
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      2nd choice.

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      1. DF
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Davis back in training for ten days now. Will start soon, poss tomorrow but cert new year.

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        1. sinik
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          awesome, thanks

          so FPL just slow on the uptake (25% chance)? once Davis plays a full 90, worth it to bring him in until Boruc is back?

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  5. Park the bus
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Nasri to Silva seem ok?

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  6. Harvey Specter
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Hello everyone!
    Need some good tips for my squad, so i'd appreciate some help 🙂

    Boruc - Gazzaniga
    Baker - Brayford - Olsson(Norwich) - Coleman - Terry
    Ozil - JWP - Barkley - Ravel - Ramsey
    Lukaku - Rooney - Suarez

    I have 3.3 in the bank and 1 FT.
    Please help!

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    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Ozil>Walcott and Ravel/JWP>Silva

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    2. olidooley
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Get Silva in for Man City coverage or Ozil, who will be rested, for Walcott

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  7. AK ⭐
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Anything on Vlaar? Will he be playing tomorrow?

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    1. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Possibility he could play tomorrow as totalfpl says he's out one more day

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  8. Judas
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    Sorry i'm a little late.

    BUT, Merry Christmas guys!

    Hope you are having a good day and i'll be speaking to y'all tomorrow, cant wait!

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  9. Total Foot 5 - romario 11
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    pik to play: thx

    1--fonte car
    2--ravel ARS

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  10. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    expected points over these games:

    mannone: eve car ful......i am expecting 1 6 2 = 9 points ( one cs in three away games)
    marshall: SOT SUN WHM...i am expecting 6 6 6 = 18 ( 3 cs with good home games)

    based on above, would you recommend a hit to do myhill >> marshall so i can get a mannone/marshall combo?

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    1. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      You're extremely over exaggerating the points Marshall will get almost certain Southampton will score against them

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      1. UnitednationsXI
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        hmmmm thanks, i had a feeling that might be the case...

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        1. Carrick Doesn't Deserv…
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 3 months ago

          sunderland and west ham deffo won't score. Southampton will struggle. look like they are fading fast

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  11. MattysFantasyFooty
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 3 months ago

    SORRY REPOST: SOME STATS AND MY OPINIONS ON CAPTAIN CHOICES FOR TOMORROW!!

    Lukaku- He is out of form after not scoring for 4, and has 3 assists to them 4 games and is playing the bottom team Sunderland which are without Brown and O'shea.

    Rooney- He has had a good run of form of late getting 3 assists in two matches, Could it be his time to score who knows? With Man UTD playing away to Hull their home record is very good due to only conceding 3 at home all season.

    Suarez- Safe option as he is reliable and any goal Liverpool score at the moment it seems he is involved, Away to Man City this week could be tough but Arsenal did manage to score 3 their and if anyone will score he will be the man.

    Walcott- Though many people have not got him in yet currently 4.9% He could be a very good alternative option as it looks like Ozil is getting rested and he could steal the limelight with Podolski maybe making a return he could be a option for assisting goals to him but to give credit to West Ham they are a tough team to get past at home.

    Adebayor- Though it was his first game back from 4 weeks off and that being his only other appearance this season he managed to score two goals against a tough Southampton side, He is a very good alternative to any other striker and could go crazy against a poor West Brom side of late with the new position of Sherwood he could run rampant if he finds any of his form from the 11/12 season.

    Negredo- Man City home this week to Liverpool with a very good strike force at home for city scoring 35 and letting in 5 there will be goals scored. A down flaw with putting the armband on Negredo is that he is yet to score a brace in the premier league but this could be the time with Silva back and Aguero out he is the man that needs to step up for Aguero.

    Hope this helped some of you guys!

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  12. JT's Dog
      10 years, 3 months ago

      New post

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    • Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Looks like Aguero is dropping to 12.0 tonight... How cool would it be if he kept dropping all the way back to 11.0 🙂

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      1. XecutionerX
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        dont think that will be the case.. his ownership over the days has come down from 40% to 10%
        it's gonna halt probably at 11.7

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    • maxi - REAL ENGLISH FAN
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Got to say

      This site is the best

      Now back to my booze

      Cheers everyone

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    • David silva
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      Worth taking a hit to trade Williams to Gibbs/Sagna? if not I will have to play Gabbidon

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    • Revsfc2013
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 3 months ago

      HEY FFS, YOU MAY BE PROUD TO READ THAT THE SOLID BOLD, UNEXPECTED COMMENTARY ON STOKE GENUINELY FRIGHTENED ME.
      Once I read it I found it quite insightful. Thanks.

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      1. Biggerlips
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 3 months ago

        Easily spooked then.

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