A New Year, an old favourite. With the fixture list now settled into a regular routine, it’s high time we gave it a thorough frisk to assess the “strength of schedule” as the title race and relegation scrap warm up…

The Strong

QPR

A narrow defeat at Newcastle gave Mark Hughes some positives and, with a slew of transfers already mooted, it’s clear that Rangers are set to undergo a mini transformation in the coming weeks.

Intriguingly, QPR also have a run of fixtures that appear to offer them the opportunity to climb out of the relegation places, if Hughes can instill new confidence to accompany the new faces. Home games with Wigan, Wolves, Fulham and Everton in the next six Gameweeks look key; trips to Villa, Blackburn and Bolton could also provide league points and Fantasy profit.

Joey Barton and Heidar Helguson look to be the most popular Fantasy targets right now, with Anton Ferdinand and Danny Gabbidon drawing interest in the defence. With new acquisitions looking inevitable, however, it seems wise to sit back and assess Hughes’ squad as a moveable feast, paying visit again at the end of the month.

Wolves

Mick McCarthy’s Wolves have so far been unable to string a run of results together to establish a mid-table foothold, with four draws in their last five. The well-deserved point at White Hart Lane on Saturday did, however, hint at a revival in fortunes, with McCarthy adamant that his side have not yet earned the results their performances have merited.

Steven Fletcher is undoubtedly a key transfer target for Fantasy managers following strong goalscoring form. His stock will surely continue to rise ahead of a run of opponents that appear to provide a platform for continued returns. Wolves have scored at least once in each of their last eight league matches – Fletcher has scored six times in the process.

Three home matches in four bring Villa, Liverpool and West Brom to Molineux and, although two of those games are potentially fiery local derbies, Fletcher’s potential remains strong. Aside from McCarthy’s centre-forward, Jamie O’Hara could come back on the radar with his injury now cleared, while Roger Johnson and Wayne Hennessey offer budget options in defence.

Fulham

Martin Jol’s side continue to frustrate as they struggle to maintain any kind of consistency which would clear the way for confident Fantasy investment. It’s a shame – the talent is clearly present, with differentials such as Bryan Ruiz, Moussa Dembele and Danny Murphy all recording outstanding performance statistics but failing to translate these into Fantasy returns.

Clint Dempsey is the exception and, with strong fixtures to come, right up until Gameweek 29, the American looks set to fetch continued investment.

Home matches with Newcastle, West Brom, Stoke and Wolves appear to give the Cottagers the opportunity to establish a run of form – if they can exploit it, then Dempsey, along with the likes of John Arne Riise, Brede Hangeland, Bobby Zamora and budget options like Stephen Kelly and Phillipe Senderos, could emerge as strong mid-season options.

Sunderland

Martin O’Neill’s side squandered chance after chance at Stamford Bridge, a game that really should maintained the Black Cat’s revival under their new boss. O’Neill can at least take some comfort from a fixture list, which, in the short-term, hands them ample opportunity to climb further up the table.

Three home games in four has them face newly promoted Swansea and Norwich, while Arsenal will provide the opposition at the Stadium of Light in Gameweek 25. Arsene Wenger surely won’t be relishing the prospect of the Wearside trip, as O’Neil continues to build Sunderland into a side that threatens a top eight finish.

Stephane Sessegnon has now emerged from the shadow of Seb Larsson as the key Fantasy target, while James McClean has also arrived on the scene as a serious budget consideration in midfield. One of those two look wise acquisitions for the next few weeks.

Stoke

Tony Pulis’ side battled to a point at Anfield, drawing a change of tactics from Kenny Dalglish – indication at the respect they demand from opponents. While that away point will have been welcomed, it’s the matches at the Britannia that remain the key to Stoke’s league fortunes and the potential of their Fantasy talent. With four home games in the next six, Stoke are about to embark on a run that will surely tempt investment from Fantasy managers.

Jon Walters remains the key attacking talent – his goalscoring form is reserved almost exclusively for home matches and, as a mid-price midfield option, he will surely continue to prove popular in the coming weeks. Elsewhere, Robert Huth is long overdue attacking returns to accompany any clean sheets, whilst behind him, Thomas Sorensen remains a strong budget option in goal. There are differentials all over the Stoke team-sheet, with Ryan Shotton and Peter Crouch offering further alternatives for those looking to take a punt.

Also consider…

Man City – While the other two title contenders face a stiff run through until March (see below), City have an comparatively easy through February, which promises to establish the likes of Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero in our squads.

Aston Villa – like Fulham, Villa are a side blessed with Fantasy talent but with an inconsistent streak that has rendered them an unreliable source of returns. The coming weeks have them face Newcastle and City as their sternest tests in eight Gameweeks. Darrren Bent and perhaps Stephen Ireland, could emerge as worthy considerations if Alex McLeish’s side can exploit their other six fixtures.

The Weak

Man United

While City can bask in the comfort of some reassuring fixtures in February, United face their most challenging spell of the season with games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs all to come in the next six. Having lost two of their last three in the league, United start at the Emirates with their title challenge in the balance. Suffer a couple of damaging defeats during this six game spell, and City may well establish an unassailable lead.

In Fantasy terms, confidence has also been dented. Nani has drawn blanks in four consecutive Gameweeks, Wayne Rooney has returned just Saturday’s rather dubious assists in the same spell. Overall, United’s attacking assets have stumbled and, with fixtures against them, it seems unlikely that we’ll see investment pick up. On the flipside, there’s a school of thought that will claim that the big games could bring the best from United’s attacking talent; the sting may well be drawn by shipping goals to opponents.

Indeed, in defence, United have kept four clean sheets in their last six prior to the Blackburn home defeat, but with Phil Jones still picking up niggles and knocks, his ownership has diminished. Johnny Evans – at just 4.5, currently looks the best option for those confident that United can claim defensive returns against such stiff opposition.

Tottenham

Harry Redknapp may insist that the title tilt is still on target after dropping points at home to Wolves but, realistically, his side will need to come out of the trip to the Etihad unscathed and then muster results against the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and United in the next six. Drop more points over the next month and City may just pull away.

With five goals in the last four games, Tottenham’s attacking output has slowed markedly and, following heavy investment over the double fixtures in Gameweek 20, we’re now seeing confidence in the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael Van der Vaart decline. Gareth Bale is likely to remain a constant – assists against West Brom and Everton have kept him ticking over and, not surprisingly, he seems set to survive a Wildcard cull.

There could also be some faith shown in Redknapp’s back four, given they have conceded just three goals in their last seven league outings. Benoit Assou-Ekotto looks set to dine off that 30-yard effort against Everton for several Gameweeks, while Michael Dawson’s return adds a formidable barrier in front of the dependable Brad Friedel. Even so, as a unit, they will be severely tested by the fixtures in front of them – a clean sheet at home to Wigan looks the only bankable return in the next six Gameweeks.

Norwich

Paul Lambert’s side are in fine form, with confidence flowing through the squad. The expected scrap against relegation looks to be a world away right now, with just one defeat in the Canaries’ seven outings.

While the defence has failed to keep a clean sheet all season, and Lambert’s midfield continues to rotate with abandon, we’ve never had more confidence in Steve Morison as an option up front. Right now, we’re seeing heavy interest in the striker, who remains priced at a lowly 5.2 in the FPL. However, while Norwich can be expected to notch regardless of the opposition, the fixture list does demand that we exercise some caution in the coming weeks.

Morison will travel to Sunderland, Swansea and Stoke in the next six – all opponents who will provide substantial resistance on their home turf. Equally, both Chelsea and United come to Carrow Road, leaving just a home clash with Bolton in Gameweek 24 as a fixture that offers high potential for attacking returns.

Be wary of…

Liverpool – Four goals in five games, with blanks in three of those matches – Liverpool’s attacking form is faltering badly, passing a heavy burden on the defence to hold firm. With Spurs, United, Everton and Arsenal on the horizon, trips to Wolves and Bolton up next look vital and clean sheets look hard to come by.

Everton – David Moyes’ side have managed just six goals in their last nine and, like Liverpool, have relied on a resilient back four to help them scrape points. With City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs to come in the next six, they will surely need to find goals, with the back line looking likely to concede.

Chelsea – Purely a short-term concern, Chelsea will travel to Norwich, Swansea and Everton in the next four, with United at Old Trafford. Whilst goals at Carrow Road look on the agenda, Andre Villas Boas’ side will be tested against those three other defences – all well capable of shutting them out.