The second part of our Watchlist review finds us switching attention to the attacking assets on offer over the final three fixtures. While the lack of clean sheets threaten our defensive returns, our biggest enemy in the attacking positions is without doubt the threat of rotation caused by diminishing motivation in the league, as the title race draws to a close and Cup Finals loom. Once again however, the two fixtures for Spurs and City in gameweek 36 play a major part in our short-term considerations…
The double gameweek targets are obvious. Rafael Van der Vaart chipped in with a clever assist for Sandro’s goal at Stamford Bridge and will go into games against Blackpool and City as a key player and the major attacking threat in Harry Redknapp’s ranks. Luka Modric will also be fancied, but while the Dutchman claims top spot in our rankings, the Croatian trickster is kept outside of the top five. Bonus Points are always on the menu with Modric, but direct returns from goals and assists have proved harder to come by – Van der Vaart clearly has the edge.
City’s midfield pairing of Yaya Toure and David Silva both rank above the Tottenham playmaker. However, we go into the double gameweek with Roberto Mancini providing an early warning of rotation; both Toure and Silva could be victims with the latter perhaps the most likely to sit out. Given his form, we should perhaps expect two starts for Silva, but much depends on how the weekend results pan out. Should City earn three points at Everton, then fourth spot would be secured and that would surely see Mancini shuffle his pack against Spurs prior to the FA Cup Final with Stoke just four days later. Toure and particularly Silva, would then both appear to be vulnerable.
Heavy investment in City’s double gameweek prospects could go largely unrewarded then, and that switches our focus to some prime candidates facing just one fixture in the gameweek.
Thomas Hitzlsperger was the subject of last week’s Watchlist article in anticipation of his climb up the rankings for the final three fixtures. The German has maintained his form throughout a disastrous spell of results for the Hammers and, with Avram Grant’s side now facing a make or break run of games against beatable opponents, the onus will be on him to drag his side to safety. Hitzlsperger boasts both creativity and goal threat in the West Ham midfield and with Scott Parker still an injury doubt, the German would be a key candidate for Bonus should the Hammers earn the results they so badly need.
Jamie O’Hara failed to reward double gameweek investment over Wolves’ recent spell but remains a target given his run of opponents over the final three. Like West Ham, Mick McCarthy’s side have their Premier League fate in their own hands and, like Hitzlsperger, should Wolves get the results they need, then O’Hara looks likely to reward any Fantasy investment.
Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt suffers a drop in the rankings, despite an incredible run of form. Andy Carroll’s return to fitness is likely to see the toiling Dutchman shift to a right midfield role. Kuyt will remain on spot-kicks but, with Liverpool also facing two away trips in the next three, his stock takes a dent.
Two good home fixtures keep the Newcastle pairing Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton on the simmer, while Clint Dempsey’s form is strong enough to maintain a high ranking despite two very tough home matches against Liverpool and Arsenal. Dempsey has the talent and threat to add to his impressive season goal tally, even against such stern opponents. As for Arsenal’s midfield talent – we have injury doubts surrounding both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and, with testing visits to Stoke and Fulham to come, holding Arsenal midfielders along with Robin Van Persie is perhaps overkill. Theo Walcott is our highest placed option amongst Arsene Wenger’s squad – he is a possible differential for those who take a punt over the final three matches.
Further down the rankings you’ll find Charles N’Zogbia who is currently an injury doubt for Wigan’s weekend trip to Villa; the Latics set to assess his condition later this week. That doubt keeps the Frenchman out of the upper echelons of our rankings but, if the prognosis on the injury is favourable, we can expect N’Zogbia to climb our rankings for the final three. Along with Hitzlsperger, the Wigan winger is a potentially powerful differential.
The forward rankings show very little movement with West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie still clear in front as a key Fantasy target with form and fixtures falling his way. Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie continues to maintain his goal fetching form to retain his high placing, despite difficult away trips to come. Liverpool’s Luis Suarez completes our top three strikers, although his placing is boosted by the current injury doubt surrounding Bolton’s Daniel Sturridge. If we’ve evidence of his availability at Blackburn this weekend, then the Chelsea loanee will likely climb back to third spot given his final three fixtures.
Below this pack the likes of Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Mario Balotelli are all threatened by possible rotation over the final three matches. While City have a Cup Final with Stoke to come, United seem set to progress to the Champions League final this evening and could claim the title in gameweek 37 which would likely see Rooney sit out at least part of the final day against Blackpool. The same could apply to Hernandez, with both Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen available as rotation options – something we’re likely to see in evidence against Schalke this evening.
Didier Drogba and Demba Ba are perhaps your differentials at both ends of the budget spectrum. Drogba’s form looks set to keep him in the Chelsea lineup to the final gamweek with Fernando Torres rotated around him. Should Chelsea remain in the title race until the end, Drogba would seem likely to offer returns throughout having rediscovered something like his early season form. Ba meanwhile, has the fixtures to thrive but doubts over his fitness remain. If West Ham are to survive in the Premier League, Ba’s form will be a vital component of the great escape.
