There may be just four gameweeks remaining on our low-fat Season Tickers but that’s more than enough calories to power another quick “Frisk” of the match-ups remaining.
Difficulty Ratings for all teams have been updated this morning, changing the complexion of the Members and Non-Members tickers slightly, so sort your columns and read on for our take on the teams offering Fantasy feast or famine for the season climax.
The Highs
Man City
Roberto Mancini’s men travel to Ewood tonight for a likely war of attrition with Blackburn. Following that however, the City squad looks ripe for Fantasy investment. Their double fixture in gameweek 36 appears tough (eve TOT) but, around this, City have home fixtures with West Ham (next) and Stoke that should certainly bring goals and could also return clean sheets.
Expect City’s assets to climb further in our Watchlist rankings tomorrow then, with Yaya Toure, Adam Johnson and David Silva all earning interest in midfield. Two rather more risky acquisitions – the explosive Mario Balotelli and the much-maligned Aleksandar Kolarov, cover the potential up front and at the back.
West Brom
The recent defeat to Chelsea was their only slip in the last 8 matches and that had more to do with the Londoner’s rise than any dip from Roy Hodgson’s side. Form is strong then and the Baggies should be be able to harness that over a final run of four matches (AVL wol EVE new) which really should enable them to continue to win friends and climb the table.
Two local derbies with Villa and at Wolves could be hard to call but, on a run of 4 goals in his last 5 league starts, Peter Odemwingie looks difficult to ignore right now. His captain Chris Brunt meanwhile, continues to pull the strings and could well bring his left-peg to bear in the remaining gameweeks.
Wolves
Mick McCarthy’s side are scrapping for every point and have the unenviable trip to the Britannia in midweek before they embark on their final quartet of games. Those four matches offer a superb opportunity for Wolves to play themselves out of trouble (bir WBA sun BLA) and will provide some comfort for those Fantasy Managers who invested in the likes of Jamie O’Hara and Matt Jarvis for gameweek 34.
Eleven goals in their last 8 matches is a statistic that indicates that Wolves should find the net over the remaining gameweeks. Fantasy Managers could do a lot worse than look to Molineux for answers in the budget bracket.
Bolton
Having banished the 5-0 FA Cup humiliation with the late win over Arsenal, Owen Coyle’s men have the opportunity to end the season on a high. They face a second gameweek fixture at Fulham in midweek – a tough prospect given the Cottagers home form and Bolton’s current trend of away results. Don’t let a slip there put you off Bolton’s assets however – trips to Blackburn and Blackpool with a home encounter with Sunderland in between, offer great opportunities for goals and even defensive returns. As last week’s Watchlist update indicated – Daniel Sturridge (if he shakes off his ankle injury) and Gary Cahill, look very attractive end of season prospects.
Also consider: Birmingham – Two strong hope matches could offer returns at both ends of the field. Sunderland – It’s getting tough to find targets for investment, but there’s little doubt that Saturday’s win should boost the Black Cats over what is a comfortable run-in.
The Lows
Arsenal
With the title challenge de-railed by the Reebok defeat on Sunday, Fantasy Managers now have a conundrum when it comes to the Emirates assets in their squad.
The Gunners certainly don’t have the fixtures to cushion their fall from grace – even the prospects of Robin Van Persie have to be assessed given that he will come up against United next, with the Stoke and Fulham home defences to follow. Only the home fixture with Villa appears to offer hope of strong attacking returns and, with Arsenal’s current form at the Emirates showing just 4 goals in the last 5 matches, you have to question whether that match-up will be exploited to the full.
Newcastle
Alan Pardew’s side have that tricky combination of two in-form sides away from home, with home clashes against teams battling for survival. Trips to Anfield (next) and Stamford Bridge really do promise little, while the home match-ups with Birmingham and West Brom will test the Magpies’ battling qualities.
Fantasy Managers may look to keep faith with Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan but, realistically, Newcastle will need to maximise returns for their two home games if the pair are present any further profits this season.
Fulham
Mark Hughes’ side are in a similar predicament – except their toughest opponents both fall in home matches. While Fulham’s form at the Cottage is strong, should they fail to offer returns against either Liverpool or Arsenal, profits look destined to be pretty scarce given their away form and trips to Sunderland and Fulham – both sides who will be fighting for their lives.
Those who invested in the likes of Bobby Zamora, Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland for the double gameweek 34 fixtures, may well need to assess an exit plan following the midweek clash with Bolton.
Also be wary of: Chelsea – form is very much on their side but investment in the charge on the title may well be tempered by two tough away days at Old Trafford and Goodison. Aston Villa – a local derby at the Hawthorns this weekend, followed by a home clash with Wigan looks ok, but Villa end the season at the Emirates and against a rejuvenated Liverpool.
