Fixtures

Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 21 – The Weak

Having analysed those sides with Strong schedules over the next four to six Gameweeks, our second instalment takes a look at those for whom the fixture list is not smiling so kindly. Thankfully for Fantasy managers, very few teams of Fantasy relevance are adversely affected, with only one of our featured six currently residing in the top half of the Premier League table:

Aston Villa

villa21

Earning three points at the expense of Sunderland could prove absolutely crucial to Paul Lambert’s embattled team. After failing to fully capitalise on a relatively kind festive fixture list, the Villains now have a storm to weather as they face Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton in the next four Gameweeks. The visit of West Brom should provide some relief but neither league nor Fantasy points look immediately forthcoming from the Midlands outfit.

In the short term, then, investment in a defence that has just one clean sheet in the last seven games doesn’t look well advised and owners of Nathan Baker and Brad Guzan might want to consider their options. Christian Benteke’s woeful form has looked to be a key factor in Villa’s plight and these fixtures won’t help him get back on track. Similarly, Gabby Agbonlahor’s winning strike against Sunderland might have earned him some early wildcard suitors if it weren’t for these fixtures. It is worth noting, however, that the picture brightens considerably around Gameweek 23, just in time for a late wildcard.

Swansea

swansea21

Michael Laudrup’s side put up a spirited fight against Man City on New Year’s Day and used their momentum to knock Man United out of the FA Cup. Unfortunately, the Swans face a further two consecutive tests of character in the form of another trip to Old Trafford and home game against Tottenham – fixtures which should be enough to delay any investment.

Swansea defenders have been something of a disappointment this time round and any remaining owners of the likes of Ashley Williams and Chico Flores may decide to cut their losses. The Swans’ attacking assets have not really earned themselves any fans over the last few months but Wilfried Bony’s brace against Man City and last-minute winner in the Cup showed some of the promise he showed during his wonder season in the Eredivisie and has brought him onto a few radars. The good news for suitors of the Ivorian is that, as with Villa, Swansea’s fixtures pick up considerably around Gameweek 23, making him a better call for a late wildcard than an early one.

Fulham

fulham21

Rene Meulensteen now has an unenviable job on his hands. Having steadied Martin Jol’s sinking ship with two wins from the last three, the Cottagers boss has a home game against Sunderland before the fixtures turn ugly, with Arsenal, Man United, Southampton and Liverpool in the following five. Fulham’s fixtures shine a cold light on an already unpopular source of Fantasy players.

Anyone who thought that Meulensteen’s arrival might bring a budget defence to the table may want to wait for a while before assessing the likes of Sascha Riether and Fernando Amorebieta. Steve Sidwell’s fourth goal of the season could have made him an unlikely budget prospect but not, surely, with these fixtures. With a goal in each of his last three games, it would appear that the new coach has indeed resurrected the dormant form of Dimitar Berbatov but, again, the schedule counsels against investment.

BE WARY OF

Newcastle
A spate of injuries and suspensions could hardly have come at a worse time as the Magpies brace themselves for the arrival of Man City next week. With games against Chelsea and Tottenham also in the next six, Fantasy investment in Alan Pardew’s side looks set to be slow. Clean sheets in particular look scarce on Tyneside in the short-term with Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul injured and Mathieu Debuchy suspended. Yohan Cabaye is also an injury doubt after missing the FA Cup loss to Cardiff – frustrating, given his consistent production – while Loic Remy’s stuttering winter form hardly fills his owners with optimism for the forthcoming fixtures.

West Bromwich Albion
Still without a permanent manager since sacking Steve Clarke, the Baggies are a little rudderless now. Not an ideal situation considering that the next six Gameweeks contain games against Southampton, Everton, Liverpool and Chelsea. Such a schedule should deter investment in a defence that has  kept just one clean sheet in ten games. Recent goals from Saido Berahino and Nicolas Anelka have registered their names on a few Fantasy radars, for use in a 3-5-2 formation, but caretaker manager Keith Downing continues to tinker with both team shape and player personnel, allowing us to steer clear until the schedule clears a little.

Cardiff
A triumphant FA Cup victory over Newcastle heralded the arrival of the Bluebirds’ new gaffer Ole Gunnar Solskjær. He has been handed a bit of tough task in the league, though, given that, while home games against West Ham and Norwich look eminently winnable, those fixtures come either side of back-to-back visits to the two Manchester teams. With Cardiff’s assets hitherto attractive primarily for defensive rotation, this schedule looks manageable but there’s a word of warning that Solskjær’s offensive-minded style could compromise the defensive solidity that his predecessor brought to the team. The flip side of that is that players such as Peter Whittingham and even Craig Noone could become more attractive, but it might be best to use these games to monitor the impact of the new regime.

3,399 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Wingate
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    City are by far the most attacking team and when KUN is back will be mostly full strength.... if we can safely say that YAYA, SILVA and KUN are all V good options then why not go with all 3!?

    I think I will with my WC... anyone else?

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    1. Wavey Wambz
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Me!

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    2. Coaly
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      nasty silva kun for me

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  2. Wavey Wambz
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Yaya Toure or Silva?

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    1. Wingate
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Ive gone YAYA... hes nailed on... less injury prone... and 2nd hghest scoring midfielder.

      I will keep him until Silva makes me wish I had him.....

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      1. Wingate
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Or go all 3 as above 🙂

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      2. Wavey Wambz
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Silva is injury prone?

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        1. Coaly
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          yeah he'll definitely get injured this week or next, they don't call it 'spanish season' in hospitals in january for nothing

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

    Guys, need your help!
    Like everybody I recieved my Wildcard for the second part of the season, but what does this statement means: you can use your January Wildcard after Gameweek 21 starts until Gameweek 24 ends? So there are only 3 weeks to use my wildcard? And what will happen if I don’t use it till the end of 24th Gamweek? And how some of my friends have already used it?
    Thank you

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    1. Homo Neanderthalensis
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      You can use your wildcard up until the end of gameweek 24.

      When you make your transfers, if you go over your free transfer limit, the play wildcard button with come to life.

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    2. Magico
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Received! simples!

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  4. Met Eish
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    I cant reply on the new post ;(

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  5. Wavey Wambz
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on Cazorla?

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    1. The Regular
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I think he's a bit of a fatty.

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    2. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Will be more active (touches, shots, assists, goals) now that Theo's out. Should produce.

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

      reasonable punt

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  6. lappingitup
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    So, I had 2 FT which I've used, I've also just done Theo to Lallana.
    If i WC, will I get my 2 FT back?

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    1. Coaly
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      no

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  7. PurpleWave
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Marshall, Mannone
    Coleman, Chester, Kos, Ward, Turner
    Eriken, Hazard, Yaya, lallana, Barkely
    Jrod, Ade, Suarz

    Save???

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    1. Chuckie
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Yes.

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    2. Coaly
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      what are you even considering? no need for a change there

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  8. Colonel Klink
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Mesut, come on dude. Just a wee bit more and you're over the finish line.

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  9. FishFingers
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Quick pick for the below:

    Ozil + Januzaj

    OR

    Erkisen + Lallana or Gerrard

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  10. urosz
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    I f***** up all in 1st half of the season and I need to renew whole team (on low budget). I used WC. Can you help me with some tips? This is my current team:

    http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/3342/1mzc.png

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    1. Gabantoya
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      that looked incredibly awful. no suarez nor aguero nor yaya. differential all the way. if your bank isn't helping alot, switch to all cheap (but one) defence.

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      1. urosz
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        well more 60% of my league have Suarez in the team so he's not the player that can help me climb the table. and Aguero is injured. I had Yaya in but replaced him with Silva becouse I think Silva will get more points from now on.

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  11. Gooner97
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Should I keep Boruc or sell him for a £3.9 goalkeeper to save money in the bank?

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    1. Coaly
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      keep

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  12. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Is it worth a hit to bring Koscielny in for Distin (10-14 days out)?

    Currently have Gabbidon (tot) in my starting xi, and Rav first sub if Rooney doesn't play ...

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  13. money face bandwagon
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    hows this wc team?

    mcgregor

    brown baines kos

    silva hazard ozil eriksen

    jrod suarez negredo

    bench: davis yaya chester ward 0.0 itb

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