The next five fixtures in your right hand menu have had their weekly update, along with the season ticker , presenting you with a season long view of fixtures to come.
One glance at these may well influence your next transfer moves so it’s worth taking them and considering your mid-term options. It’s clear that there a good few sides with a decent run of games to come…
A quick gander clearly shows that Arsenal, Villa, City and United appear to have the most favourable set of fixtures over the next 5+ gameweeks.
Arsenal get 3 home games in the next 5 against beatable opposition in Portsmouth, Bolton and West Ham. Away games to Hull and Everton are sandwiched in between – neither of those sides are currently enjoying strong home form. Expect goals from Van Persie and Adebayor then, while Denilson and Diaby are decent mid-price options.
Villa have 4 of the next 6 away from home but then O’Neill’s side are strong on their travels and trips to Hull, Sunderland, Portsmouth and Blackburn shouldn’t worry them too much. West Brom and Wigan provide home opposition during this period. Agbonlahor and Young should go on profiting then, particularly considering that Laursen’s absence may kill the clean sheets and push Villa for more goals.
Man City also face 3 of the next 5 away from home which will count against them. Hughes’ side are in no way as strong on their travels but they do have home games with Wigan, Newcastle and Boro which all look winnable. In a nutshell, Ireland is a must whatever the fixtures, while Robinho looks a strong option from gameweek 22 until gameweek 26 when City travel to Liverpool and things get a lot tougher for City.
As for United, they face Chelsea in the next 5 of course but do have a double fixture in that gameweek with a home game with Wigan. Going on from this, Ferguson’s men have a very strong run of fixtures, including another potential double fixture in gameweek 25. They face Bolton, West Brom and West Ham on their travels with home fixtures against Everton, Blackburn, Fulham and Portsmouth over the next couple of months. Get on their defence for all fixtures and their attack for home games.
Fulham, Newcastle and to a lesser extent, Spurs, also have decent runs to come. As for teams to avoid – Everton face an evil run from gameweek 22 -24 which will test their new defensive resolve. Chelsea also have a tough group of 5 fixtures with Fulham, United and Liverpool all away from home. As we know however, Chelsea are ridiculously strong on their travels. Hull’s recent form won’t be helped by Villa, Arsenal and Chelsea to come in the next 6 games, while Wigan have a tough run, albeit with a double fixture, with United, Liverpool and Villa in consecutive weeks.
Finally, those still pondering whether to hold onto Portsmouth players (I can’t imagine there’s too many of you) need only take a look at their forthcoming run which sees them face Arsenal, Spurs and Fulham away from home, with City, Villa and Liverpool next to come at Fratton Park – all in the space of the next six games. I fear for Tony Adams.