The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 27

Our weekly refresh of the Watchlist rankings is rolled out once again: the form of a certain Welshman plays a major part in shake-up, while Chelsea and United’s defences receive our backing ahead of their respective schedules. As always, the updated rankings can be found in the right sidebar; read on for the reasoning behind our current thinking…

Goalkeepers

Sunderland’s Simon Mignolet has climbed back to the top of the keeper standings ahead of a run of four favourable fixtures. The Black Cats’ stopper now squares up to West Brom, Fulham, QPR and Norwich – he has averaged six points per home game over the last six at the Stadium of Light and continues to look the most secure route into Martin O’Neill’s backline, though Carlos Cuellar is edging towards an injury return and is now down to 4.4 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), a full 1.0 less than the Belgian.

Asmir Begovic retains his spot in second despite a run of eight games without a clean sheet. The upcoming schedule continues to smile kindly on the Potters, with three particularly strong home games (WHM, WBA, AVL) in addition to a trip to Fulham offering hope for the Bosnian’s 25% owners. Newcastle’s Tim Krul rises in our estimations and is likely to be around for some time, given his fixtures to follow. The Magpies number one has four kind home games in the next seven (SOT, STO, FUL, SUN) and also makes his way to Swansea and Wigan between now and Gameweek 33. He rotates perfectly, home and away, with Mignolet, of course.

Four clean sheets in six keep Julio Cesar on the radar ahead of an eye-catching run of matches, once QPR’s home clash with United is out the way, while Norwich’s Mark Bunn offers a budget option at 4.2. The Canaries keeper has conceded once in his last three at home and welcomes Everton, Southampton and Swansea to Carrow Road next.

Elsewhere, a quintet of heavy hitters are also worth consideration in light of their respective schedules. Manchester duo David De Gea and Joe Hart both appear, while Wojciech Szczesny, Petr Cech and Pepe Reina may also hold appeal for those with budget to spare at the back.

Defenders

United’s Patrice Evra climbs to the top of the defenders standings after this week’s reshuffle. With four goals and six assists to his name already, the left-back is in the Fantasy form of his life and at 7.2 in FPL, offers a consistency of selection that has been unmatched at the back for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. The Frenchman squares up to QPR, Norwich, West Ham, Reading and Sunderland in the next five and looks set to maintain the superb form that has harvested more points than all but Robin Van Persie for the league leaders thus far. Further down, Jonny Evans offers perhaps the best alternative option for United. The centre-half has matched Evra’s 4.8 points per game and, having recently recovered from a hamstring injury, offers a cheaper route at 5.6 in the FPL.

News of a return to reserve action earlier this week brings Marc Wilson instantly onto the radar. The left-back could well come into contention for Stoke’s trip to Fulham a week on Saturday and offers a real cut-price route into Tony Pulis’ backline – he has dropped as low as 3.9 in the FPL valuations.

Pablo Zabaleta continues to accumulate the points and remains firmly on our radar. The Argentine provided an assist in last weekend’s disappointing defeat at Southampton and offers far greater potential for points at both ends of the pitch than any City defender – he has now scored, assisted or returned a clean sheet in eight of the last 11 Gameweeks.

Chelsea duo Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz both feature. After a tricky trip to City, the Blues then welcome West Brom, West Ham and Sunderland to the Bridge and also travel to Fulham and Southampton. While rest and rotation may occasionally blight their prospects, the pair offer greater attacking potential than any of Rafa Benitez’s defensive options – Azpilicueta’s six assists so far and Luiz’s occasional midfield role and share of set-pieces affect our thinking here. Both are subject to rotation, with the Spaniard perhhaps marginally the more secure – he is also 0.8 cheaper in the FPL pricing.

Leighton Baines stays in the mix, though there’s no doubt his fixtures are far from enticing. With Arsenal, City and Spurs in the next six, many will be looking for alternatives, though the Everton man has shown time and again it’s never wise to write him off. Elsewhere on Merseyside, Glen Johnson takes a drop due to next weekend’s blank but Liverpool have some strong fixtures to follow – those who acquired him for the double may choose to hold in light of his run-in schedule.

Further down, Carlos Cuellar comes into consideration in light of Sunderland’s fixtures. He was an unused sub last time out, though, suggesting Martin O’Neill is not prepared to rush his hamstring comeback. Reading’s Ian Harte remains in our thoughts – he has a couple of decent home games on the horizon, though trips to Everton, United and Arsenal in the next five are less than promising. Harte may have to continue his recent run of attacking returns, although with a 3.9 price tag, he will surely remain an excellent bench defender regardless.

Chris Samba and Seb Bassong offer routes into the QPR and Norwich defences – while both have a greater goal potential than their defensive team-mates, there are cheaper options on offer at their respective clubs – namely Clint Hill, Russell Martin and Michael Turner. Nathaniel Clyne affords a cut-price route into Southampton’s defence, while Gareth McAuley and Mathieu Debuchy blink further down on the radar around the 5.0 mark. We currently prefer the Frenchman over Davide Santon, despite the Italian’s recent assist returns: Steven Taylor, cheaper than both full-backs, is also on offer at 4.6.

Midfielders

We keep faith with Juan Mata at the top of the midfield rankings, despite a drop to the bench last time round. Indeed, if anything, this suggests he’s less prone to rotation over the next few and with Chelsea’s superb schedule just around the corner, Mata looks set to extend his lead at the top of the FPL midfield standings. A run of eight goals in nine starts brings Frank Lampard into the reckoning – he offers a cheaper route into the Blues’ XI than Mata and has the safety net of spot-kicks to also fall back on. With so much uncertainty over the lone forward role, investment in Chelsea’s midfield looks a key ploy over the next few matches.

Gareth Bale’s recent run of form sees the Tottenham man take second in our weekly refresh. With four goals in his last three, the Welshman has shifted up a gear and is hitting his best form of the season, perhaps even his career – whether on the flank or through the middle, he looks unstoppable right now.

A goal or assist in nine of his last 10 would normally be enough to earn The Walcott top spot – an indication of the flourishing form offered by many midfielders in the current landscape. Walcott’s consistency remains the most reliable route into Arsene Wenger’s attacking options, with the likes of Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla both dropping out of the first XI in recent matches.

Michu’s 18 point haul against QPR served notice of a return to form after a six-match barren streak. The Spaniard continues to be fielded as the lone forward by Michael Laudrup and despite a blank Gameweek 27, three home games in the following four look likely to bring further returns. Marouane Fellaini keeps his place in the top five, despite scoring just once in his last eight; if he fails to notch against Norwich and Reading in the next two, many may be eying up a transfer out, though.

Adel Taarabt and Moussa Sissoko both offer Fantasy managers strong mid-price options over the next few Gameweeks. Priced at 5.8 and 6.0 in FPL respectively, their roles in “the hole” for QPR and Newcastle could prove pivotal in light of some strong fixtures; Sissoko, with returns in each of his three appearances, looks in irresistible form right now and has the fixtures to flourish over the run-in.

Jon Walters and Robert Snodgrass offer alternatives in the mid-price bracket, while Villa’s Charles N’Zogbia appear on the radar after racking up returns in three of his last four. Elsewhere, Jimmy Kebe, Jason Puncheon and Shaun Maloney continue to stake a claim as the best budget options around.

Forwards

The immovable object that is Robin Van Persie holds still at the summit, after a return to form against Everton last weekend helped extend his lead at the top of the Fantasy standings. Wayne Rooney remains in our top five despite a move to the left against his former club on Sunday – he continues to afford a cheaper, differential option, with many even considering snapping up both in light of United’s fixtures.

Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez separate the United pairing, with the former’s comparatively cheaper price tag seeing him edge part his team mate into second by the smallest of margins. Sturridge is expected to return for Liverpool’s clash with Swansea this weekend – attacking returns in each of his first four appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ side highlight his potential as the lone striker, with many happy to hold despite the Gameweek 27 blank. Suarez has blanked in the last two and is expected to be shifted to a role on the left flank on Sunday.

Having moved up to third in the FPL forward standings last weekend, Rickie Lambert’s mid-price appeal is sure to sway many over the new few Gameweeks, while Sunderland’s Steven Fletcher remains in contention in light of his upcoming run of four fixtures.

Sergio Aguero still looks the most likely starter up front under Roberto Mancini and is our highest ranked City option, though there’s no doubt Edin Dzeko is the form player. The Bosnian has started six of the last seven and has produced returns in all of those first XI appearances, with six goals and two assists accrued– at 7.5, he’s far more budget friendly than any City frontman.

Newcastle’s upcoming schedule keeps Papiss Cisse in the reckoning. Granted, at 8.8, there’s better value in Alan Pardew’s side, though Cisse looks a real differential option, with a central role in a 4-2-3-1 looking guaranteed now that Demba Ba is out the picture. Elsewhere, the form of midlands-based duo Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku continues to offer superb value in the mid-price bracket. Benteke has netted in five of his last six for Villa, while his fellow Belgian has scored or assisted in five of the last six for West Brom – at 6.8 and 6.5 respectively, both have made a persuasive case for inclusion in recent matches.