Our Watchlist rankings, listing player recommendations for the next three-to-four Gameweeks, have now been updated ahead of Gameweek 10 and are available in the sidebar as always. Read on for a summary of this week’s significant gains and losses.
As anticipated in last week’s Watchlist update, Stoke’s Asmir Begovic climbs to the top of the goalkeeper rankings with three home fixtures in four to come. In truth, Begovic has very little opposition, with Wigan’s Ali Al Habsi the only low-to-mid price option facing up to favourable fixtures over the next month. City’s Joe Hart ranks second, offering a route to City clean sheets without a real threat of rotation. Further down, Sunderland’s Simon Mignolet offers an alternative value proposition with his three Stadium of Light encounters in the next four Gameweeks.
The defender rankings have shifted markedly since last week, with Newcastle’s assets now omitted from our thinking, ahead of their punishing schedule. Both Liverpool’s Jose Enrique and Chelsea’s Jose Boswingwa suffer drops in the rankings, allowing City’s Vincent Kompany to claim top spot with his stronger fixtures. Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross and Tottenham’s Kyle Walker climb into the top three for very different reasons- the pair have good schedules ahead of them, although while Shawcross offers clean sheet potential, Walker’s appeal is definitely in attacking quarters, having proved an effective weapon down Harry Redknapp’s right-flank.
United’s Phil Jones holds his position, although there is some doubt over his starting role having been dropped to the bench against City. Should he edge his way back into Alex Ferguson’s plans, we can expect a climb in our rankings with strong United fixtures to come. Other candidates in Ferguson’s rearguard may also feature, although right now, with Everton away next, the likes of Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic represent expensive gambles.
Budget options such as Sunderland’s Wes Brown, Norwich’s Leon Barnett and Bolton’s Dedryck Boyata are all prospects to consider, as we look to clear funds out of our defences. Stoke’s Andy Wilkinson is perhaps the most intriguing option in this price bracket however – he looks to have cemented the right-back role and should start again when Newcastle visit the Britannia on Monday. Tonight’s Carling Cup team-sheet from Tony Pulis should offer some further clues on that.
Rafael Van der Vaart climbs to the top of the most wanted list in our midfield rankings with strong form and fixtures to come. His ascent coincides with United’s slip in form, which has seen Nani fall out of favour with some Fantasy managers. In second spot, the threat of rotation hangs over the sublime David Silva, as he goes into the weekend clash with Wolves ahead of the Champions League tie in Villareal next week.
Below the United and City heavyweights, the likes of Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, Stoke’s Jon Walters and Sunderland’s Stephane Sessegnon all offer good mid-price options. Everton’s Royston Drenthe, so devastating at the Cottage on Sunday, makes his first appearance in the rankings and is another intriguing alternative as David Moyes’s side embark on a kind run of opponents.
With Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Juan Mata and Clint Dempsey all facing up to tougher schedules in the coming weeks, their prices see them drop in our reckoning. Below them, a second tier of mid-price offerings stack up, headed by West Brom’s skipper Chris Brunt.
The forward rankings include familiar names as always and, at the top, it’s no surprise to see Robin Van Persie hold firm. A trip to Stamford Bridge could put the buffers on his recent charge, although fixtures to follow that should see him recover fully in the month ahead.
Wayne Rooney should slip back into vogue as his fixtures improve considerably once the trip to Goodison has passed this weekend. The United man is favoured to Sergio Aguero this week, purely due to the questions mark surrounding the Argentine’s start against Wolves.
Emmanuel Adebayor is the big climber – he shifts above the misfiring Luis Suarez, with the Tottenham striker enjoying strong mid-term fixtures. Suarez owners will hope for returns against West Brom and then Swansea in Gameweek 11 – beyond that, things stiffen up for Liverpool and the Uruguayan.
Nicklas Bendtner is another striker enjoying a boost in the rankings – his three home fixtures arrive on the back of some very strong form since he snuggled back under the wing of Steve Bruce. The Dane arguably offers greater security than City’s Mario Balotelli, as uncertainty in Roberto Mancini’s front line continues to dent the potential of both Balotelli and Edin Dzeko.
Fernando Torres is one notable omission, we will wait on his display against Arsenal this weekend, although with Daniel Sturridge offering a route to the Chelsea attack at a far cheaper price, the Spaniard looks hard to justify ahead of the likes of Rooney, Van Persie and Aguero.
