Our Watchlist player rankings have been updated today, reflecting the forthcoming fixtures, current form and recent team selections. You’ll find these tables in your right sidebar on the frontpage.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that we’ve recently extended our season ticker to six fixtures and this has been reflected in the Watchlist – the next six opponents are now considered when putting these rankings together.
Joe Hart stays on the summit of the Goalkeeper rankings but only just. With three away fixtures in the next four and home games against Arsenal and United, he may need to rely on Save Points to fetch the returns. Newcastle’s Tim Krul offers a very viable and far cheaper alternative; with four home matches in the next six against Wigan, Sunderland, Blackburn and Fulham – the Newcastle stand-in looks to offer exceptional value going into November. Arsenal’s Lucasz Fabianski is a notable new entry, gate-crashing in fourth place in the rankings, the Pole may well be a short-term solution given that Manuel Almunia’s elbow is on the mend, but three “kind” home fixtures in the next four appears to offer strong value if you’re willing to trust a Gunners defence that’s likely to be without Thomas Vermaelen for the foreseeable.
John O’Shea benefits from the return of Rio Ferdinand and the solidity that this brings to Alex Ferguson’s rearguard – this has the Irishman climb to the top of our Defender rankings, surpassing Kolo Toure right now on fixtures with three home games in the next four Gameweeks. Everton’s Leighton Baines is the big climber – his fixtures improve slightly over the next six and he is already displaying form with two assists to his name so far. Newcastle’s Jose Enrique is a big climber just below the Everton left-back; more expensive than Mike Williamson and possibly more secure than the returning Danny Simpson, the Spaniard offers assist potential and a strong alternative to Krul in goal with four home matches in six. Notably climbers include Wigan’s Antolin Alcaraz and Sunderland’s Elmohamady who we feel will start delivery attacking points to supplement Sunderland’s defensive returns, despite a harsh run of fixtures to come.
Yet again the Midfield rankings remain pretty steady at the top – United’s Nani and Chelsea’s Florent Malouda holding on to the top two spots, with Fulham’s Clint Dempsey maintaining his position in third thanks to his goal at Upton Park and decent fixtures to come. Blackpool’s Charlie Adam is the big climber and even pips the “bandwagonesque” Rafael Van der Vaart of Spurs. With three home games in four, I feel that Adam offers potential stronger returns over that period as Van der Vaart embarks on away games at Fulham, United and Bolton.
Up front there is also little movement at the top. Dimitar Berbatov’s shock relegation to the bench doesn’t shake my confidence in him ahead of some strong home fixtures, while West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie remains solid in fourth with some decent opponents to come. Andy Carroll holds firm despite being benched at City – I have confidence that he will return to the starting lineup and exploit Newcastle’s kind run of opponents that follow. Bolton’s Johan Elmander and Arsenal’s Marouane Chamakh enjoy climbs with three attractive home games in four to come, despite the lack of form shown by Arsenal’s Moroccan striker.
As always there will be changes to the Watchlist as we near the next Gameweek deadline – Cesc Fabregas and Frank Lampard are almost certain to enter the rankings once we have confirmation of their expected returns. I’ll keep you posted on those and any other notable changes as and when they take place.
