After a long anxious summer away, our regular scan of the fixture list makes a return.
If you’re new to these parts or if perhaps all the sun and sangria have gone to your head, then, in a nutshell, this regular Monday article examines the fixtures and presents our view on those teams with favourable runs or absolute horror shows. We even tease you with a few player recommendations.
Introductions over then, let’s fill our boots with the opening gameweeks.
The Highs…
QPR
Very few are backing QPR to make an impact on their return to the top flight. Neil Warnock’s men however have one big factor in their favour – the opening set of fixtures could hardly have fallen better for them.
Our “Next Six Fixture Ticker” (in your sidebar) displays a sea of blue with no real intimidating opponent on the horizon; there’s room for a degree of confidence in Rangers, then.
While the purse strings have limited Warnock’s summer pickings to humble captures such as Jay Bothroyd, Danny Gabbidon and DJ Campbell, by sealing the future of the Adel Taarabt, Rangers have assured at least some interest from Fantasy managers this season. Taarabt, with set-piece dominance and goals and assists dripping from him, will surely tempt early investment for what is an undeniably favourable opening to the season.
Aston Villa
While both Ashley Young and Stewart Downing have departed, Villa have drafted in Fantasy favourite Charles N’Zogbia to fill the void and turn the heads of Fantasy managers. Darren Bent remains the key figure on the teamsheet, however, and it’s his prospects over the opening spell of the season that look the most intriguing.
Certainly the fixture list suggests that Bent and Villa could start strongly. Indeed, in the mid-term Villa have good fixtures for a considerable time and could prove strong value for several months.
While a trip to the Cottage is far from easy on opening day, Villa’s upcoming encounters with Blackburn, Wolves and Newcastle -all notoriously bad travellers- in the opening five gameweeks should give Alex McLeish every chance of winning over the Villa faithful. Bent, N’Zogbia and a supporting cast that could include a back four reinforced by the arrival of Shay Given and McLeish’s own stoic defensive outlook, all look tempting.
Fulham
Martin Jol is another manager faced with winning over a new set of fans – like McLeish, though, he has been given an relatively easy ride in the opening month.
The opener with Villa looks winnable, as does the second home clash with Blackburn in Gameweek 4. Sandwiched in between Fulham have trips to Wolves and Newcastle – stubborn opponents but fixtures that are amongst the best away games in the division.
While Brede Hangeland, John Arne Riise and Clint Dempsey (6.5, 6.0 and 8.5 in the FPL) have been given fairly hefty price tags, there is still value in Jols’s squad that could come to fruition early on.
Bobby Zamora and Aaron Hughes offer assured mid-price cover at both ends of the field with Damien Duff offering midfield promise for those who baulk at the prospect of shelling out for Dempsey’s goal threat.
Chelsea
Chelsea had the most astounding of opening fixtures last season and duly delivered major Fantasy hauls with Florent Malouda and Didider Drogba both ablaze. While things don’t fall quite so nicely for them this time around, they’re still presented with three very favourable Stamford Bridge encounters which appear to offer strong returns all round.
West Brom, Norwich and Swansea are the first three opponents facing Andre Villas-Boas in front of the Chelsea supporters. Those matches balance out a couple of testing away trips – the opener at Stoke and the Gameweek 5 visit to Old Trafford.
Frank Lampard has the pedigree to provide but Fantasy managers are still showing caution given his changing role in the Chelsea midfield. Malouda perhaps offers greater potential – particularly given that his start should be more assured with pre-season starlet Daniel Sturridge sidelined through suspension for the first three fixtures.
Also Consider…
Newcastle – there’s a whole lot going on at Newcastle that may cause you to err on the side of caution – but the fixtures fall nicely with a strong run to follow the opener against Arsenal.
Everton – the Premier League’s most famous false starters are handed a rather peachy spell between Gameweek’s 2-5 including some strong Goodison fixtures.
Wigan – Forget last year’s Mauro Boselli debacle and the day one spanking to Blackpool – take a look at the first three games and think again.
The Lows…
Man United
United’s impressive comeback in yesterday’s Community Shield will doubtless see their Fantasy assets earn renewed consideration – Nani in particular. The fixture list certainly offers food for thought however, with Alex Ferguson handed an evil opening to the season that will immediately test the credentials.
A trip to the Hawthorns to meet a Baggies side masterminded by the canny Roy Hodgson isn’t easy – home games against Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea then follow, with a tricky encounter at the Reebok in between. Clean sheets look unlikely, perhaps, but such opponents may just draw the sting from United’s attacking players, providing every incentive for Wayne Rooney, Nani and company to produce the kind of goalscoring display shown at Wembley on Sunday.
Bolton
There is an early cloud of concern gathered over the Reebok stadium. The Trotters have lost two of last season’s most potent goal threats – Daniel Sturridge and Johan Elmander – whilst they’ve been cruelly robbed of Chung Yong-Lee’s trickery by a pre-season leg-break.
Owen Coyle could do with a friendly fixture list to start off with, then, but he’s unfortunately been handed an evil array of opponents. Fixtures against four of last year’s top five in their opening spell will surely postpone any initial Fantasy interest in the Trotters squad.
Stoke
Stoke City’s strength is at the Britannia – that’s where they often seal the precious points that push them up amongst the higher echelons of the table. Sadly for Tony Pulis’ side, their opening set of fixtures hands them three of the most difficult home games over the first five Gamweeks. Chelsea get matters rolling on Sunday, with Liverpool and United also due at the Britannia by the end of September. Trips to Norwich, West Brom and Sunderland could offer returns but Fantasy managers need to be wary of Stoke’s away form – they’ve previously struggled badly for returns on the road.
Be Wary of…
Swansea – three “mission impossible” away trips balance out a set of Liberty Stadium clashes to provide a topsy-turvy start to life in the Premier League.
Tottenham – United, City, Liverpool and Arsenal all lie in wait in the opening six Gameweeks. Spurs will likely need to capitalise on away trips to Wolves and Wigan if they are to keep in touch with the top six early on.
