Our Watchlist rankings have now been updated and are available in the right-menu bar. City take a tumble as Liverpool’s assets are boosted by their impending double fixtures, sending Roberto Mancini’s expensive heavyweights – fresh from warming the bench on Saturday – down the rankings. United’s obliging schedule also plays its part, as we assess the champions’ burgeoning potential at both ends of the pitch and switch our allegiance to the red side of Manchester…
Goalkeepers
The goalkeeper ratings are as volatile as ever. The movement sees Bolton’s Adam Bogdan emerge as an unlikely source of Fantasy interest, as the Trotters enter a prolonged phase of favourable opponents. At just 4.0, Bogdan is the cheapest active keeper available and he’s also in strong form, having made a string of saves in his last two games at Chelsea and Man City. Given his price, form and fixtures, Bogdan looks to be a strong asset to free up funds for investment elsewhere in our squads and can feasibly be fielded for the next five matches. If you don’t trust Bolton on their travels, Bogdan rotates nicely with Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer, who will entertain Norwich and Swansea in the Gameweeks that find the Trotters man on his travels.
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop, then United’s David De Gea offers an alternative route to a run of matches that will surely see continued defensive returns. The Spaniard has found some form of late and with Anders Lindegaard still sidelined, he looks clear to start through till Easter. Jonny Evans is still the preferred option in Sir Alex Ferguson’s rearguard, but De Gea offers a secure double-up option.
Defenders
Jonny Evans topples Vincent Kompany at the top of the defender ranks, despite Roberto Mancini’s side achieving a superb run of six clean sheets in eight league games. Fixtures now stiffen for Kompany and his defence and, feasibly, we could now see them struggle for Fantasy returns. There’s also the issue of the blank fixture, currently looming in Gameweek 29. Certainly we’d expect to see a dip in profit – enough to allow Evans to surpass Kompany as the preferred defensive option. United’s fixtures are amongst the strongest around over the next month, with the trip to City the only major test of Ferguson’s backline, right up to the end of the season.
It’s no surprise to see both Martin Skrtel and Jose Enrique fare well. The double fixture plays its part – a trip to Sunderland without the pace and trickery of Stephane Sessegnon offers immediate clean sheet potential, while even a highly fuelled Merseyside derby could see profit for Skrtel and co at Anfield. There’s little argument to carry both into the Gameweek – with strong fixtures to follow, there will be no hurry to rid yourself of Liverpool’s defensive assets, although we would all feel more comfortable had Dan Agger been fit to partner the Slovakian in the heart of the back four over this spell.
The Tottenham defence is another worthy option, with strong home fixtures against Stoke, Swansea and Norwich to come in the next five. Benoit Assou-Ekotto is the weapon of choice here – he enjoys a climb this week and could rank higher once Saturday’s trip to Everton is out of the way.
With United and Liverpool and possibly Spurs, looking the most likely options from now until the end of the season at the back, and with City’s defensive record a factor, it could be that we have only a couple of spots to fill in our defence. Budget options, with Swansea’s Steven Caulker, Stoke’s Andy Wilkinson, West Brom’s Gareth McAuley and Fulham’s Aaron Hughes, could well be the order of the day then. The latter benefits from Stephen Kelly’s thigh injury that finds him still a doubt for a recall when the Cottagers travel to Aston Villa this weekend. Hughes may well have cemented a starting role, having featured ahead of Philippe Senderos for the previous two, before shifting to right-back to cover for Kelly against Wolves. We need to monitor that situation, with the Fulham defence still amongst the best mid-to-low bracket punts on offer.
Midfielders
Gareth Bale’s position at the top of the midfielder rankings is certainly in question following absence through injury and illness but strong fixtures for Spurs maintain him for now. Sessegnon falls from grace from our top five, while Clint Dempsey only strengthens his hold following his brace against Wolves – fixtures remain favourable for the American.
It’s the United duo of Ashley Young and Nani that enjoy the biggest climbs to factor amongst our top selections. While Nani is still struggling for consistency following his recent spell on the sidelines, Young’s form is flourishing on his return to the United starting lineup. Antonio Valencia will muddy the waters once he’s fit and available but, there’s little doubt that Fantasy managers need to consider one of the trio of United midfield options, given the menu of fixtures in front of them.
David Silva, with tougher opponents on the horizon, suffers a dip then, as does Sunderland’s James McClean who may struggle for output in Sessegnon’s absence. That leaves the door open for climbers such as Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson with strong form and Bolton’s prospect Ryo Miyaichi, with outstanding fixtures. We’ve more on him to come.
Forwards
While Robin Van Persie won’t be shifted at the top of the rankings, Wayne Rooney is pushing him hard with a favourable run of opponents that will surely see him gain steady profit over the final months. His ascent and the double Gameweek for Luis Suarez has Sergio Aguero and Demba Ba falling down our list – both have tougher fixtures in front of them and are under serious threat from the outstanding value offered by Fulham’s Pavel Pogrebnyak. The Russian has attracted huge investment this week as Fantasy managers look to ride his form, although, even at 6.2, it’s hard to justify his inclusion ahead of our top three given their schedules, particularly if Dempsey is settled in your midfield.
Mario Balotelli could be the one to watch lower down the rankings – he’s scored in both league games for City since returning from suspension. Although Suarez has strong fixtures in front of him, should the Uruguayan fail to return of the double Gameweek, Balotelli would offer a straight swap and a route in to City’s attacking potential with change to spare for investment elsewhere. Right now, that looks an attractive option if we can be sure that the Italian will get regular minutes in Mancini’s lineup. Given Saturday’s experience, that’s not something we can take for granted.
