Once again the “Frisking” of the fixture list signals the start of the countdown towards another gameweek. The brief is simple – we take the fixtures, block off a month or so, and then tell you the teams with the strongest and weakest schedule in front of them. Newcastle and Demba Ba then proves us all wrong.
The Strong
Arsenal
Robin Van Persie is ablaze, Theo Walcott is hinting at consistency, Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta are providing the creative spark. In attacking terms, things couldn’t be much better for Arsene Wenger’s side. Fantasy managers surely need to get on board with at least one of these assets, as the fixture list suggests that the goals will go on flowing.
West Brom pay visit to the Emirates this weekend having looked wholly unconvincing against Liverpool on Saturday. The Gunners seem an obvious source of returns this weekend, and with Norwich, Fulham and Wigan to come after that, it’s hard to deny Van Persie’s recent claims that he feels he will score in every game. After last season’s run of goals – he has the pedigree to go on delivering and the fixtures to assist him.
Stoke
Monday night’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle will serve as a setback but there’s no denying that Tony Pulis’ side have the fixtures in front of them to prompt a rapid recovery.
A trip to Bolton shouldn’t carry any fear for the Potters. Even with a questionable attacking threat away from home, they will fancy themselves against the obliging Bolton defence. Following that, both QPR and Blackburn visit the Britannia for matches that offer real promise for goals and clean sheets.
While Jon Walters continues to earn interest having been assigned spot-kick duties, it’s the defensive prospects that are likely to tempt Fantasy managers. Asmir Begovic and Ryan Shawcross have obvious appeal, although the sight of skipper Shawcross limping from the field early on in last night’s game will cause concern for Pulis and his Fantasy owners alike. We’re still waiting on news from the Stoke camp on that – we know it’s a muscle injury, but little else.
With Shawcross perhaps looking at a spell on the sidelines and Marc Wilson also nursing a knock from the Newcastle defeat, there is a need for caution. Stoke’s defence could be facing upheaval for the trip to Bolton, although the international break will then hopefully give Pulis the opportunity to nurse back his injury doubts.
Andy Wilkinson could benefit from the casualties; he seems to have cemented the right-back role and with Robert Huth perhaps needed to fill in alongside Jonathan Woodgate or Matt Upson, his start looks secure.
Everton
Leighton Baines is back in the game. Having promised so much going into the season and, having seen the departure of Mikel Arteta’s craft at set-pieces boost his Fantasy appeal, the fixture list has denied him the opportunity for big returns. This is now about to change with Everton set to embark on a kind run of opponents that must surely bring the foraging full-back to our attention.
A price drop to 7.8 in the Fantasy Premier League game will make him slightly more palatable, but it’s the fixtures that do most to convince. Once the Toffees get this weekend’s trip to Newcastle out of the way, they have four home matches in six with Wolves, Stoke, Norwich and Swansea all visiting Goodison.
Fleet-footed winger Royston Drenthe will also require monitoring over that spell as Everton at last come alive as a Fantasy prospect, having spent weeks off the radar.
Tottenham
Six wins in seven for Tottenham – like their North London rivals, the form is outstanding right now. Similarly, the fixture list suggests that there’s every chance for continued returns.
Those Fantasy managers mulling over whether to chase Rafael Van der Vaart’s recent avalanche of points should consider the cost of further hesitation. Short of injury, it’s difficult to conceive that the Dutchman, like Van Persie, will fail to continue delivering consistent returns in the month ahead.
Aston Villa, Bolton and Sunderland are the next three sides at White Hart Lane, whilst Harry Redknapp will take promising away form to West Brom and Norwich before gameweek 19. An away trip to Stoke in gameweek 15 looks tough but even the home encounter with Chelsea in gameweek 17 appears to promise attacking returns.
Also Consider…
Sunderland – Ignore the trip to Old Trafford this weekend and the Black Cats have a rather enviable little schedule in front of them, which should see Steve Bruce improve on their current league position. Three home games in four, with Fulham, Wigan and Blackburn at the Stadium of Light, will likely find them amongst our “Strong” selection next week as plans for investment are hatched.
Bolton – Owen Coyle’s side are floundering but the Trotters’ boss can at least take comfort from the upcoming fixture list and start plotting a route to mid-table. Three Reebok encounters in the next five bring Stoke, Everton and Villa to their door – all matches that could fetch goals to boost the Fantasy reputation of Martin Petrov and Chris Eagles that little bit more.
Man United – While Fantasy managers start to fidget uncomfortably at the prospect of further blanks from Wayne Rooney and Nani, the fixture list presents a reason to show patience. Three Old Trafford encounters in the next five offer Alex Ferguson’s men the opportunity to build on the 1-0 win at Goodison. It might just be worth holding tight to their big assets and assess them again following the weekend clash with Sunderland.
The Weak
Newcastle
Monday’s superb victory at Stoke offered good indication of just how far Newcastle have come. The Magpies are in dreamland, sitting snugly on the tail of the Manchester clubs, with Alan Pardew fighting to stave off talk of European football. However, while the form and league placing is outstanding, we’ve every reason to show caution for the month ahead given Newcastle’s schedule.
As we stressed in last week’s “Frisking”, we have our doubts that the Magpies can carry resolute defensive form into November. Everton will test the St James’ Park rearguard this weekend and, after the break, Pardew takes his side to City and United, before a home clash with Chelsea – clean sheets look very unlikely on that run.
As for Demba Ba, there’s little doubt that he presents outstanding value but, following the Everton game, he will surely find it difficult to further his reputation given the opposition in front of him. It’s another classic form versus fixtures scenario.
Fulham
Martin Jol’s side continue to frustrate. There’s Fantasy talent in their ranks but, so far, only Clint Dempsey has even hinted at delivering consistent returns. The 2-0 win at Wigan last time out may give Jol something to build upon but the Dutchman now takes his side into a tricky four-game run, starting with the visit of in-form Tottenham this weekend.
Trips to Sunderland and Arsenal then follow – neither of which appear to offer too much promise. That is then followed by a home encounter with Liverpool to kick off December. All in all, the prospects of Fulham actually stringing together some positive results and decent Fantasy returns remain fairly bleak.
Also be wary of…
Liverpool – Jose Enrique is picking up investment this week but, in the short-term, his potential may be limited to attacking thrusts. Fail to keep a clean sheet against the Swans and we don’t see defensive returns for a while with Chelsea, City and a trip to Fulham to follow.
Norwich – Fantasy managers clinging to cheap defensive options within Paul Lambert’s squad have little cause for optimism in the coming weeks. The gameweek 13 home clash with QPR looks the best prospect, but trips to Villa Park and City, with Arsenal at Carrow Road in gameweek 12, creates a testing schedule.
Swansea – The Swans rely on home displays to maintain their form and league placing but, with United at the Liberty next, this could be a difficult month for Brendan Rodgers’s side. Trips to Liverpool this weekend, and Blackburn in gameweek 14, will likely mean that Swansea will need to find rewards from the gameweek 13 home clash with Villa.
Aston Villa – Alex McLeish’s outfit also have a daunting November ahead of them. This weekend’s visit of Norwich looks vital; slip up there and Villa then have testing trips to Tottenham and Swansea, followed by a home clash with United.
