And breathe. With the dust settling on tonight’s tumultuous showdown at White Hart Lane, it’s high time that we pointed out that our Watchlist player rankings have been updated (viewable in your right-hand menu). We’ve already begun rolling out the associated articles with our earlier focus on City’s Yaya Toure.
Indeed, Roberto Mancini’s City outfit, fresh from dumping rivals United in Sunday’s FA Cup semi, could well end the season on a real high. The Wembley final date with Stoke will be circled in red on Mancini’s calendar but, as we revealed in Monday’s “Frisking the Fixtures”, City have a run-in that should give them every opportunity to seal a top four finish with plentiful Fantasy returns thrown in.
City’s Fantasy assets all make significant climbs in our rankings then and only the absence of Carlos Tevez through injury prevents them from dominating matters across the board.
Joe Hart is the first beneficiary, climbing back to the top of the goalkeeper rankings, a position he held for many weeks earlier in the season. City are one of the few sides who seem likely to keep clean sheets over the final gameweeks and Hart offers the ultimate security within Mancini’s back four – admittedly with a steep price tag to match.
Like Hart, Pepe Reina presents assured starts in the Liverpool defence – another side who appear to have a run of fixtures that favours defensive returns. Three Anfield encounters in the next four has them well placed for clean sheets and Sunday’s stubborn display at the Emirates certainly bodes well for those looking to invest in the Dalglish rearguard.
Bolton’s Jussi Jaaskaleinen is without doubt the most interesting prospect in our end of season standings. The Trotters have a reasonable run-in ahead of them, including a double fixture in the forthcoming gameweek. Jaaskaleinen may have earned just 5 clean sheets all season but 3 of those have come in the last 8 gameweeks and, in terms of Save Points in the Fantasy Premier League game, he offers potential which, for a fee of just 4.6, warrants attention. The Trotters stopper has delivered Save Points in 4 of his last 5 matches.
Joe Hart’s progress is mirrored by a major climb in our defender rankings for the much-maligned Aleksandar Kolarov. Say what you like about the Serbian’s defending, there’s little doubt that he continues to offer a strong influence on City’s attacking ploys. Prominent at set-plays and constantly raiding down the left-flank, Kolarov may come under threat of rotation now that Micah Richards is set to return to boost Mancini’s options, but if he retains the left-back role over Pablo Zabaleta, Kolarov offers clear potential at both ends of the field for the City run-in.
Elsewhere, the forthcoming double gameweek hands short-term boosts to the likes of Robert Huth, Gary Cahill and Brede Hangeland – all three earning high rankings with strong goal threat over their remaining fixtures. With clean sheets likely to remain at a premium with so much at stake at both ends of the table – their potential to nick goals and FPL Bonus Points only improves their stock.
While that trio are in the ascendancy, Everton’s Leighton Baines takes a tumble down the rankings as his fixtures stiffen and the impending return of Mikel Arteta relieves him of spot-kick duties that have earned him 2 goals in the last 3 gameweeks. Seamus Coleman is also back on the menu as a cheaper, out-of-position option for those looking to keep faith with the in-form Toffees.
Liverpool’s John Flanagan is perhaps the most notable addition to our rankings – the young 4.5 FPL prospect looks set to continue at right-back given the casualty list at Anfield and, having excelled in his previous two starts, he should be in line to figure in Liverpool’s three home matches in the next four.
Despite a disappointing return in tonight’s 3-1 win over Birmingham, Frank Lampard’s strike in the similar win at West Brom, coupled with his three Stamford Bridge clashes in the next four, keeps the Chelsea midfielder atop our rankings. The double gameweek candidates are breathing down his neck however. A collective of Clint Dempsey, Matt Etherington and Jon Walters all gain huge boosts from their double fixtures, the latter perhaps providing a real differential to consider. We will bring you more on Stoke’s out-of-position prospect later this week.
Yaya Toure, subject of our earlier article, is City’s representative in the upper tier or our rankings, with team-mates David Silva and Adam Johnson also present and on our radars for City’s run-in. On the red side of Manchester, Nani’s decline from top spot to a mid-table position was worsened by last night’s showing at Newcastle. The prospect of a rest at the weekend ahead of United’s Champions League semi-final adds a further dent to his stock. Another former favourite, Charlie Adam, suffers a slight slip as injury doubts linger ahead of his home fixture with the Geordies this weekend. Adam should be revived in our thinking once we get further news on his prognosis.
Talking of revivals, both Rafael Van der Vaart and Florent Malouda enjoyed late boosts following their goals tonight – the pair also earned maximum FPL Bonus and will go into their remaining matches with confidence flowing. Having sparkled at various points in the season – they could yet tempt new Fantasy investment in the closing weeks.
While tough fixtures cause Arsenal’s midfield talent takes a dive in our rankings, Robin Van Persie holds the top spot up front with Villa’s Darren Bent showing enough form to climb above Wayne Rooney who drops to fifth. The United man drew a blank at St James’ Park last night and suffers from a run of tough fixtures over the next three.
Double gameweek treats are offered up by Bolton’s red-hot Daniel Sturridge and Fulham’s Bobby Zamora – they climb above Rooney and both look well positioned to add to their goal tallies in the gameweek, while Sturridge appears to have a run of fixtures that should see his returns continue to the season end.
Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll sit still in mid-table, strong form keep them simmering, despite a tough run of opponents to come. Wigan’s Hugo Rodallega makes good progress following his record-breaking strike at Blackpool – his schedule should bring further returns if Wigan can maintain confidence and form. Those three look the strongest options for those considering a differential outside of the double gameweek options – unless you have the cash to throw at Didier Drogba’s form after his impressive gameweek 33 haul.
We will be discussing the prospect of these players and more in tomorrow night’s Scoutcast which was recorded earlier today. Big Dunc will also follow Friday’s Scout Picks with his usual smattering of “Differentials” before the bell tolls on another gameweek on Saturday.
