After Mark kindly stood in for me last week to give the fixtures a good old frisk, I’m back and fully match fit as I lead you along the schedules of the best and worst Fantasy prospects as we go headlong into Christmas…
The Highs…
Liverpool
Liverpool have a woeful away form, something which Roy Hodgson seems to have brought over from his Fulham days but, luckily, in their next six fixtures, the red side of the Mersey will be seeing much more action at Anfield. Only trips to Blackburn (meh) and Blackpool (goals) come in-between home games against Fulham, Wolves, Bolton and Everton. Liverpool have been much stronger at Anfield, with four wins in four and offer a variety of investment opportunities. Paul Konchesky and Sotirios Kyrgiakos (watch for Dan Agger’s status) offer cheap avenues into the defence (with Glen Johnson your premium outlet), Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerrard (whom we expect will return this weekend) and Fernando Torres all offer options at forefront of Liverpool, if not of the cheapest persuasion.
Blackburn Rovers
Like Liverpool, Rovers are considered to be a very strong side at home. Yesterday’s events which saw Sam Allardyce drive from Ewood Park for the last time has thrown us a curveball however, and while the formbook shouldn’t be thrown completely through the window, it should perhaps be left teetering on the sill until we assess how Rovers settle. They do have three promising home games (West Ham, Stoke and Liverpool) in their next five fixtures though, while their two away games at The Hawthorns and the Stadium of Light aren’t awful either. Most Fantasy Managers will be looking at the cavalcade of defensive options, with value and set-piece goal threat making pretty much any of Gael Givet, Phil Jones, Ryan Nelsen and Chris Samba all worthy of consideration; Paul Robinson is also a popular option in goal. For those daring to venture further forward it’s Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Dunn (while fit) who are worthy of the odd glance.
Sunderland
The Wearsiders have got four very appealing home fixtures (Bolton, Blackpool, Blackburn and Newcastle) in their next six fixtures and that’s enough to get them featured this week. Those four games are just the kind of fixture that Sunderland have been revelling in this season. The defence is as solid as it ever has been – even if Bramble and Turner are absent – so the likes of Nedum Onuoha and Phil Bardsley offer potential when looking to get in on the action. While the midfield continues to be a bit of a no go zone as Kieran Richardson and company fail to pull their Fantasy weight, strikers like Danny Welbeck (cheap at £5.1m), Asamoah Gyan (nicely priced at £7.1m) and Darren Bent (most expensive of all at £8.6m) all offer a real opportunity for goals. If the injuries keep racking up Ahmed Elmohammady may even come back into consideration.
Also to consider: West Brom – the Baggies continue their time on the periphery of the “highs” with a good, if not spectacular, array of opponents. Wigan – the Latics have some reasonable home encounters, and far from awful away fixtures going into 2011. Tottenham – Harry Redknapp’s men will be hoping for goals at Blackpool this weekend and follow that with home matches with Newcastle and Fulham Man City – three home games in their next four will see Mancini look to continue his assault on the top of the table; that could well ease them through a troubled period off the field if the Tevez saga rolls on.
The Lows…
Stoke
Tony Pulis’ side had been on a pretty good run of form up until their loss at home to Blackpool at the weekend, but their forthcoming fixtures (ars, bla, FUL, EVE, mun) will really test their powers of recovery. Stoke defenders – the major port of call for investment beyond Matty Etherington – will have a tough time of it when it comes to keeping their sheets clean over this festive period, so Fantasy Managers may be looking to make the switch to Sunderland’s assets, in a similar price bracket, over this period.
Aston Villa
Gerard Houllier’s men picked up a much needed victory at home to West Brom this weekend – they’ve not picked up many since he turned up at Villa Park – but now they’ll have a fight on their hands to continue to build on form. The Villans face four away trips in their next six fixtures, with matches in Manchester against both City and United in weeks 20 and 21 looking particularly menacing. Marc Albrighton at just £4.6m, will continue to be a valid part of the budget parade, but any expenditure beyond that particular option remains questionable.
Everton
Everton’s form has been a bit slack of late – no wins in their last seven games – so David Moyes could do with a lenient schedule to help them steady matters. Sadly, that’s not the case. Leighton Baines has been catching the eye of Fantasy Managers (and even the FPL judges recently) but he will be tested further in weeks to come as Everton travel away four times in their next six. Tim Cahill will require a countdown clock next to his name as we await his departure for the Asian Cup, while the strikers continue to offer little up front. Managers will be forced to consider their Toffees before purchase, a tin of Quality Street this Christmas looks a more prudent move.
Be wary of: Chelsea – Carlo Ancelotti thinks that his side are over their blip but the fixture list fails to hand them a leg-up to aid recovery. Shelve until Gamweek 20 Man United – Managers will need to keep an eye out for their double Gameweek coming down the line, but with some tough away games on their way, heavy investment might not be the best option just yet. Newcastle – the Toon Army got the best of Liverpool and pulled out a victory for Alan Pardew (or more likely Chris Hughton) but face four testing away games in their next six.
