The festive schedule is now well and truly over. Done. Finito. So with that, we welcome back an old regular which has been tucked up indoors enjoying the feast of fixtures. A few pounds heavier following the Christmas smorgasbord, our Season Tickers are dusted off once more for a right old Fixture Frisking to identify the teams back and sack in the coming weeks…
The Highs…
Blackpool
It’s not very often you’ll see Ian Holloway’s side as the top mention in this article, but by merit of the December freeze, they’ve walked into a peachy run of fixtures (wba, SUN/MUN, WHM, eve, AVL/TOT, wol) which sees them encounter two double Gameweeks, together with opponents who should also offer them profits.
Charlie Adam, the undoubted beneficiary of countless Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Bonus Points in the first half of the season, will be the main target that Fantasy Managers consider. Most will have snagged him for Blackpool’s Gameweek 22 double – if you missed out then, he still looks the most likely to fetch handsome returns. Luke Varney and DJ Campbell (who is finally getting a semblance of form and edging towards our 10 goal projection) provide options for those looking at forwards. Defensively there is perhaps less on offer – Ian Evatt and Stephen Crainey will likely need some attacking points to fully justify investment.
Arsenal
The Gunners hit a run of favourable fixtures just in time to give their title tilt some momentum. You can rely on Wenger’s men to entertain and score goals; quite often a fair few of them, so hopes will be high when it comes to their attacking talent. Arsenal face a trip to Upton Park next, followed by home games against Wigan and Everton before they travel north to St. James’ Park. They then round out their next five with a double Gameweek of home fixtures against Wolves and Stoke – a very tempting scenario.
Robin Van Persie is building up game time and has made a few starts and claimed his first goal of the season at Birmingham; he offers comparatively cheap (£9.5m) entry to Arsenal’s potential but would occupy a valuable slot in our forward lines. Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri need no introduction in midfield and one or even both, surely warrant consideration. Meanwhile at the back, if he can keep up his performances, we might see Johan Djourou offer the best value; an FPL price of just £4.2m is tagged on the back of the Swiss centre-back who has looked solid while those around him have faltered. He has returned 4 Bonus Points in his last two starts with clean sheets in each. Watch for Wenger’s activity in the transfer market before banking on his potential though.
Liverpool
Much like Blackpool before them, Liverpool are half way through a double Gameweek with the tie between the two set to take place on Tuesday – weather permitting. Many Fantasy Managers may well have stocked up on the wares already then and will doubtless be wondering quite why they did so. Despite a nightmarish defeat at Blackburn however, we’re here to tell you that they’re probably well worth sticking with, not least because they have another attractive double fixture (against Wolves and Fulham) coming up in Gameweek 24.
Besides a trip to Chelsea, Liverpool have fixtures that should, in theory, present potential returns. Investment in Fernando Torres with four home games in five (he remains prolific at Anfield) will turn heads, as will the prospects of skipper Steven Gerrard behind him. Rest and rotation with those two is a threat but, while Hodgson’s job remains in the balance – he’d be taking a huge gamble to follow through on that.
Those looking to cut costs may want to look to the defence with Paul Konchesky, if he can keep Fabio Aurelio at bay, an option. Glen Johnson provides your expensive alternative on the other flank. Defensively however, Liverpool looked hopelessly fragile at Ewood Park last night.
West Brom
West Brom sneak in with the last full-sized mention, their merits almost entirely based on a run of forthcoming home fixtures. The Baggies are set to welcome Blackpool, Wigan and a double header versus West Ham and Wolves (can’t get much better than that) to The Hawthorns in their next five – that’s a favourable run.
West Brom’s Fantasy potential is certainly goals rather than clean sheets (they’ve only had one of those way back in Gameweek 2). With that in mind, Peter Odemwingie is the stand-out option up front at just £5.1m in FPL – his form will surely return soon enough. The midfield offers a little more variety and Chris Brunt presents a solid player who provides plenty of assists and set-piece potential. Graham Dorrans is even cheaper; a man so vital to the Baggies promotion last year, he has started more regularly of late but has yet to return the goals or assists his talent promises.
Also to consider: Man City – besides a Manchester derby, in which anything can happen, City have the best fixtures of any side without a double Gameweek. Man United – United have a double very soon, as well as potential for another provided no FA Cup replays are required in Gameweek 28. Wigan – Roberto Martinez’ men have a strong next four (FUL, ars/AVL, wba, BLA). Room for opportunity, and perhaps an invite will be extended to Charles N’Zogbia to return to a few squads following suspension.
The Lows…
Newcastle
If I sort by difficulty on my new completely customisable Members ticker, I see that Alan Pardew’s men are rooted in 20th place without an inkling of an “easy blue” opponent in sight. Even if you disagree with my homebrew of rankings, there is no denying trips to some of the stronger home defences (Sunderland, Fulham, Blackburn/Birmingham) and St James’ Park encounters against title contenders Spurs and Arsenal, are not a next five the Geordies will relish. Even their double fixture in Gameweek 27 looks pretty rough. Newcastle will surely need Andy Carroll back to help them navigate this spell and, despite last night’s showing from Leon Best, Kevin Nolan et al, Newcastle’s assets should be approached with caution.
Wolves
Wolves will be buoyed by last night’s superb victory against Chelsea, but Mick McCarthy will be under no illusion that the challenge in the coming weeks remains anything but tough. Wolves have a horror run (mcy, LIV, bol, MUN, ars/wba, BPL, TOT) that doesn’t show signs of dissipating until mid-march. In all honesty, unless Wolves continue to achieve the unexpected, I might have a cheeky fiver on McCarthy no longer being in the Molineux hot seat following that run of games – drastic measures may well be required in a month’s time. I’m probably not your best gambling tipster by any stretch. What I can say with some certainty is this: steer well clear of Wolves, things look set to get rocky.
Sunderland
Steve Bruce is doing a grand job in his second season up on Wearside as Sunderland start to push on and fight with Owen Coyle’s Bolton (more on them shortly) as the new breed threatening the top six. The path ahead looks tough though, and this will be where Sunderland perhaps prove their credentials in the fight for a Europa League spot. A home game against rivals Newcastle, followed by a trip to Broomfield Road, ease them in, but things dip as Chelsea and Spurs soon follow to give them three potentially difficult home fixtures. Trips to Goodison and the Britannia are also in the mix to complete a truly testing schedule. The Sunderland defence has been resolute but will be severely tested over this spell. The midfield and attack will also be stretched, particularly with the likes of Lee Cattermole, David Meyler and perhaps Danny Welbeck, sitting out with injuries.
Bolton
Bolton are far from blessed with fixtures when it comes to boosting their own Europa League aspirations. Trips to Stoke, Spurs and Newcastle certainly will provide testing affairs for the Trotters – the visit of Chelsea and Everton to the Reebok equally so. A home clash with Wolves in-between perhaps offers the one opportunity for a little respite. Bolton have proved that they can score goals with greater ease than previous seasons, so their relatively cheap strikers – Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander might avoid the cull. Anyone with Gary Cahill or Jussi Jääskeläinen in particular, will surely be casting their gaze elsewhere.
Be wary of: Spurs – Redknapp’s men avoid a more in-depth examination here courtesy of a nice double Gameweek further down the line. Beyond that, the surrounding fixtures will be challenging as they continue their Champions League push. Chelsea – a home game against Blackburn in their next outings promises hope for that turnaround, but Chelsea’s fixtures on the whole aren’t great and their form is bordering on awful.
