A new poll arrived smack in the middle of the frontpage earlier this week, as the first round of Gameweek 27 fixtures drew to a close. Even though we’re still knee-deep in the Gameweek’s double fixtures, it still helps to have a little foresight and plan ahead to our next, and perhaps even more crucial, set of fixtures. This latest poll taps into that, sampling your views on the players you will forced to ditch as a result of the treacherous blank fixtures in Gameweek 28.
By the time February 26 swings around we could very well be heading into a Gameweek with all of Birmingham, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea potentially missing a fixture. That scenario will be realised if Chelsea defeat Everton in their FA Cup fourth round replay this weekend. Arsenal and Spurs meanwhile have very limited time to reschedule their fixture and it looks very unlikely to drop within the Gameweek.
This is not new ground; we’ve had blank Gameweeks before and we may even see them again before the season is out, but the teams in question cause particular problems because of the weight of investment in Arsenal and Birmingham players in recent weeks, ahead of their Gameweek 27 double fixtures. Fantasy Managers now have tough choice of who to chop, with some scrambling (yours truly included) to put out 11 players.
For a minority there’s no issue – some may have a match fit starting XI in the bag, while others will have an easy choice to make. The two most expensive players in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game will end up with no fixture next Gameweek if Chelsea see off Everton. Anyone with Frank Lampard will surely offload him without a thought – the same goes for pricey team-mates like Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres. Look beyond Chelsea however and things get decidedly tricky.
Cesc Fabregas demands a similar Fantasy fee – a player with the highest calibre who is capable of explosive scoring and yet he is still not quite delivering on expectations. In private circles I’ve been whispering that we’re seeing the 07/08 version of Cesc Fabregas and that, in the light of Robin Van Persie’s consistent scoring, he could be disposable for a few Gameweeks at least. Then you look at Arsenal’s next four fixtures that follow Gameweek 28 (SUN, wba, BLA, bpl) and get palpitations at the idea of disowning the Gunners skipper. A tough call.
Exactly the same can be said then for his team-mate Theo Walcott who demands a far cheaper fee but boasts just as strong, if not stronger form. While Van Persie has found near-essential status with 63 points, 9 goals and 14 bonus points in his last five fixtures. Can you really banish this pair from your squad?
Tottenham’s assets pose similar issues; after Gameweek 28 their fixtures are little short of sublime. Wolves, West Ham, Wigan, Stoke and West Brom are all in their next six, handing Harry Redknapp’s side a run of games that will surely present a major concern for those contemplating shedding Rafael Van Der Vaart.
Birmingham are the last side – and the only so far confirmed to be without a fixture – who will offer up blank Gameweek issues. The twist here is that they have a double fixture in Gameweek 29 so clinging to the likes of Ben Foster, Roger Johnson and Craig Gardner looks a sure strategy.
There’s also the added variable surrounding Charlie Adam Gameweek 28 prospects. If he gets his tenth yellow card at home to Spurs next Tuesday, he will face a two-match ban counting him out of the equation – another potential gap in our squads.
It’s a major dilemma. Birmingham with their double, Arsenal and Spurs holding their great players with great fixtures and Chelsea in the mix too; where exactly do you wield the axe to get the team back into shape?
Hopefully our new poll can offer some guidance. You can select up to three choices for players that you’re planning to transfer out ahead of Gameweek 28. Currently Fabregas and Van der Vaart lead the way and look set for the scrapheap, at least temporarily. It will be interesting to see how this changes shape as we edge closer to the deadline date.
