Our Watchlist rankings have recently been updated and are available for your consideration in the sidebar. Read on for details of this week’s talking points, as Steve Bruce’s Sunderland emerge as an unlikely source of talent at both ends of the park…
Michel Vorm’s Anfield heroics see him restored to top spot in our goalkeeper rankings. While Man United visit the Liberty Stadium in gameweek 12, that’s the first of three home games in four for the Swans, with Villa and Fulham surrounding an away trip to Ewood Park. Still available for 4.5 and 10 points ahead of Pepe Reina at the top of the FPL scoring charts, the Dutchman remains strong value and is surely set to build on his 23% ownership over the international break.
While Swansea’s back four- having conceded just a single goal at home- continue to offer value, the Sunderland defence also has fixtures to make them an intriguing option. Kieren Westwood comes into our thinking now. With Simon Mignolet facing a lengthy spell out with a damaged eye socket, the former Coventry stopper will be between the sticks for three home encounters in four. The Black Cats provided a stubborn obstacle for United at Old Trafford and, with John O’Shea potentially returning to bolster Steve Bruce’s rearguard, the chances of a couple of clean sheets in the next month look good. Certainly at 4.4, Westwood offers value to rival Vorm.
Sunderland’s potential is represented by Wes Brown within our defender rankings – the former United man takes his place in our top five, sitting under Stoke’s Andy Wilkinson, with Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen and Leighton Baines of Everton. That pairing come from nowhere to top our rankings, with strong fixtures and a substantial attacking threat in their locker.
Vermaelen demonstrated his worth in the 3-0 win over West Brom at the weekend and, having netted 7 goals in the 2009/10 season, has the pedigree to notch strong returns now he’s back and available to Arsene Wenger.
As for Baines, his attacking threat is undoubted – both in terms of his supply of crosses from the left-flank and his quality at dead-ball situations. The emergence of Royston Drenthe may have reduced Baines’ influence from set-plays but he still remains the top attacking Fantasy defender. With four very strong home encounters to come in the next six Gameweeks, you have to feel that, if Baines is going to deliver this season, this forthcoming window could well be his time to shine.
The big movers in our midfield rankings are somewhat predictable. Bolton’s Chris Eagles has attracted big investment following his two-goal haul against Stoke at the weekend. Lower down the rankings, mid-price prospects Stephane Sessegnon and Anthony Pilkington also enjoy boosts following recent form, as does Joe Allen in the budget bracket.
We have Allen’s team-mate Scott Sinclair ranked above him and in our top five; with three home games in four and consecutive goals in his last three Liberty Stadium matches, we fancy Sinclair to go on delivering. Just below him, the aforementioned Royston Drenthe is an interesting differential, with just 1% ownership and the fixtures to bring the best out of his explosive talent.
The form of both Mikel Arteta and Frank Lampard is hard to ignore, despite their price tags, and while Aaron Ramsey is kept just outside our top five, he will surely prosper from Arsenal’s continued run of kind opponents going into December. It’s no surprise to see David Silva and Rafael Van der Vaart hold the top two spots.
Similarly, Robin Van Persie looks a permanent fixture on top of our forward rankings right now. With 10 goals in his last 6 gameweeks, there’s been no sign of the Dutchman letting up and, with strong fixtures in front of him, it could take an injury to derail the Arsenal skipper.
Van Persie’s rivals are struggling right now. Sergio Aguero has just a single goal and assist in his last five appearances for Man City, with team-mate Edin Dzeko now jumping above him in the FPL scoring charts. The Bosnian has two competitive matches before gameweek 12, keeping him below the Argentine in our rankings for now.
Wayne Rooney’s decline has been well documented on these pages and his potential remains limited by a new short-term role in the United midfield. Rooney may return to the forward line at Swansea but, even so, that’s a fixture that will prove tricky for a United side struggling for attacking fluency. Javier Hernandez is placed higher in our reckoning right now and, at 10.0 in the FPL, offers coverage in Sir Alex Ferguson’s lineup for those looking to invest in United’s favourable run of opponents.
Again, it’s Sunderland that provide perhaps the most interesting twist on things here. Nicklas Bendtner is widely criticised and has done little to justify his inflated self-belief. Even so, 3 assists, 2 goals and 5 bonus points has seen him make a decent start at the Stadium of Light and, with beatable opposition in front of him over the next four, he looks set to add to that tally.
