The Premier League have this evening confirmed a new date for Man City’s home clash with West Brom, which was originally scheduled for Gameweek 29. The fixture will now take place on Tuesday May 7, handing both clubs a double Gameweek 36 – Roberto Mancini’s side also travel to Swansea on Saturday May 4, while the Baggies entertain Wigan at the Hawthorns on the same day:
Under normal circumstances, today’s news would be ideal from a Fantasy perspective but for one small factor – the FA Cup Final. Mancini’s men go head-to-head with Wigan at Wembley on Saturday May 11, just four days after their league game with Steve Clarke’s side and with City desperate to end a disappointing season with some silverware, there’s a real fear that rest and rotation come into play and significantly hinder their double Gameweek options. While the attraction of David Silva and Sergio Aguero in midfield and up top is obvious, it may well transpire that Joe Hart is the only nailed-on asset, with Mancini confirming his intent to field Costel Pantilimon in goal for cup matches.
With City’s league game against Reading – previously scheduled for the day of the final – moved to Tuesday May 14, it leaves them with four fixtures in all competitions across 10 days. Given Mancini’s penchant for rotation, we can surely expect the Italian to utilise the depth of his squad as he keeps his key players fresh for the final. At the back, the likes of fit-again Micah Richards and Maicon, in addition to Aleksandar Kolarov, Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott, all afford Mancini plenty alternatives, while Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko will surely see further opportunity to impress, with even Scott Sinclair maybe coming in from the cold for a rare start.
Today’s news now means we have four teams to consider for the double, with Swansea and Wigan also handed a pair of fixtures apiece. With Fantasy managers still awaiting news of a rescheduled date for Chelsea’s home game with Tottenham, the bigger picture is yet to clear – though many will be prepared to gamble on Mancini’s main men, our optimism will be understandably tempered; in all likelihood, there’d be no surprise to see changes aplenty in his line-up as a result of the upcoming schedule.
