With a morale-boosting away win at Fulham leading them into a strong run of home fixtures, Sunderland’s attacking assets take a climb in the Watchlist rankings. Southampton’s main protagonists also rise in our estimations, with three St Mary’s showdowns in the following four, while Marouane Fellaini gets de-railed by suspension, opening the way for Juan Mata and Michu to steal his thunder for this week at least…
Goalkeepers
Once again the goalkeeping situation is troublesome. While Simon Mignolet offers an obvious “Plan A”, the options below him are limited, with injuries and uncertainty rife throughout this position.
Below the Black Cats’ stopper, we still have time for Stoke’s Asmir Begovic, given that Tony Pulis’ side are always likely to rely on a resolute defence to earn results. Immediate home games with Fulham and Newcastle look favourable for the Bosnian.
With the keeper situations at Reading, Southampton and Swansea still in flux, with first-choice options perhaps nearing returns, we’re restricted in the budget and mid-price markets. This is not helped by the fixtures in front of Jussi Jaaskelainen, which continue to dent his prospects, despite recent shut-outs. Ben Foster’s current groin injury is also a real frustration – he has Stoke, West Ham and Norwich to come at home in the next six and rotates well with Mignolet but Steve Clarke has yet to give us an update on his availability.
Those factors afford an opportunity for both John Ruddy. His fixtures may be tough in the short-term, but Chris Hughton’s side are overcoming the odds to return clean sheets and Ruddy appears to be the best route to covering recent form that has seen him concede just a single goal in five league outings.
Defenders
With no clean sheet in seven, it’s getting harder by the week to justify Leighton Baines as the definitive defensive selection – although the lack of viable heavy-hitting alternatives offers little competition. Clearly there is a pull towards a mid-price/budget defensive unit, but we’re still keeping faith with the Everton man on the basis that the potential for attacking returns remains strong.
United’s Rafael is another name suffering from recent defensive lapses: it’s five without a shut-out for him. Fixtures remain in his favour, however, and his partnership with Antonio Valencia continues to offer a vibrant attacking option for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men down the flank. The return to fitness of both Phil Jones and Chris Smalling is a mild concern – certainly it’s a situation worth monitoring but, for now, Rafael looks to have cemented his starting role at right-back.
Carlos Cuellar climbed to third in the rankings last time out and notched an unlikely goal at the Cottage to keep that status this week. His fixtures are outstanding, with a double Gameweek 16 looming to promise that extra pay-off.
There’s little movement immediately below this, although both Javier Garrido, Andre Wisdom and Jose Enrique make climbs off the back of recent form. Enrique is an intriguing option – it’s questionable as to whether the Spaniard will remain in this advanced position but, in the short-term, it’s clear that he presents a handy differential with the potential for strong returns. Wisdom is no less a risk, although his modest price tag makes him an attractive option, particularly once Liverpool’s next two away trips are disposed of.
As for Garrido, his rank takes a slight dent due to the appeal of Ruddy as a coverage option of the Norwich defence but, while the likes of Michael Turner are available in Chris Hughton’s back four, Garrido looks to have some attacking intent down the Norwich left and a good understanding with Anthony Pilkington, which has already brought recent returns.
Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne has the fixtures and some attacking qualities to deliver value for his price tag in the coming weeks, while Reading’s Nicky Shorey replaces Kaspar Gorkss as our nominated Royals defender off the back of recent performances and his continued supply of crosses from the left.
Both Liam Ridgewell and Ciaran Clark are sneaking back into the rankings as their fixtures show signs of improvement – like so many defenders in our list, potential attacking returns remain central to their appeal.
Midfielders
The midfield is a troubled area right now with Marouane Fellaini toppled by his suspension for this weekend. That’s seen us promote Juan Mata to the top of the rankings, although this morning’s departure of Roberto Di Matteo perhaps puts a question mark over the merits of Chelsea investment right now.
Michu is the big climber. Now ranked second, ahead of Fellaini for this week at least, the Swansea marksman scored his seventh of the season at Newcastle and now faces up to three home matches in four to offer him the perfect opportunity to boost his goal tally further. Dangling on the suspension tightrope, Michu can still be regarded as hot property with his goalscoring prowess and pivotal role in Michael Laudrup’s side truly confirmed.
Raheem Sterling remains in our top five off the back of his double assist in the win over Wigan on Saturday – if you don’t acquire Luis Suarez up front, the case for Sterling looks strong.
There’s little to choose between the likes of Santi Cazorla, Antonio Valencia and David Silva below him. The three playmakers are similarly priced and look set for profit in the coming weeks – the Arsenal man just sneaks it; his goal and assist returns against Spurs offering recent confirmation of his talent and continued potential.
Southampton’s Jason Puncheon crashes in to replace team-mate Adam Lallana in the rankings following an outstanding showing in the 3-1 win at Loftus Road. His budget price tag appears to offer incredible value if he can maintain his run of starts over the Saints’ three home matches in four. Having previously lost his start thanks to a fickle Nigel Adkins, we do need to stay wary, however.
Sunderland’s Stephane Sessegnon is definitely a punt. He crashed home his first goal of the season in the win at Fulham and undoubtedly has the fixtures to thrive over the next month. Acquisition will take investment and comes at a risk. Arguably, Adam Johnson or Seb Larsson offer cheaper, albeit less explosive alternatives in the Sunderland midfield.
Forwards
He may have drawn a blank at Norwich but Robin Van Persie remains top of the pile with fixtures blossoming in the coming weeks. It’s hard to imagine too many repeats of Saturday’s frustration with home matches with QPR, West Ham and a trip to Reading to come in the next three.
Luis Suarez also holds firm with form that has now seen him return in every one of his last six league outings. While Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero both outscored him at the weekend, Suarez remains an untouchable in the Liverpool side, threatened only by an inevitable one-match ban which will come once the next yellow card is fluttered in the Uruguayan’s direction.
The City pairing remain prone to rotation as the schedule nears the busy period and sit mid-table in our rankings, partly due to the increased appeal of David Silva in midfield. His acquisition would allow us to free up spots up front for the likes of Steven Fletcher and Rickie Lambert, who both climb with form and fixtures in their favour – they are strong contenders for the third striker spot for the month ahead.
Both Demba Ba and Olivier Giroud are also making decent cases for a squad place, while Villa’s Christian Benteke is a new name to consider as a differential: he climbs into the lower reaches of the rankings with fixtures begin to arrange themselves nicely for the Belgian.
