The Watchlist Updated – The Midfield

Having analysed The Defence in yesterday’s first instalment, we turn out attentions to the centre of the park. Swansea’s strong schedule is enough to help their misfiring Spaniard retain top spot, though a kind looking run of games for City sees their playmaker scramble up the pecking order in this week’s refresh:

Michu remains at the top of the Watchlist, despite a frustrating run of four league blanks. With a run of three games that includes trips to Cardiff and Fulham flanking the visit of a Stoke team struggling for shut outs, Fantasy managers may finally be rewarded for their patience with last term’s 18-goal hero.

David Silva climbs to second place as Manchester City face a vulnerable Norwich at the Etihad. An hour’s outing during the league cup is some concern, however, but with the Citizens keen to bring their title bid back on track we feel the Spaniard is far too instrumental to be rotated. A schedule that also includes trips to Sunderland and a home clash against Swansea in the next four looks profitable for managers who have opted for the playmaker over the more expensive Yaya Toure.

Eden Hazard remains in third place; rested for the Capital One Cup trip to Arsenal, the Belgian looks all but certain to start against a Newcastle side struggling for shut outs. An exceptional run that includes West Bromwich at home and trips to Sunderland and Stoke in the next six may prove ideal as the winger looks to continue the form that has harvested three goals and an assist in the last three – his recent form is enough to keep him ahead of Oscar in our thinking, then, with question marks still remaining over the Blues’ main forward, in spite of Fernando Torres’ last couple of displays.

Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey complete the top five. With little to choose between their points potential, the German drifts ahead of his budget-friendly team-mate due to a 30-minute midweek cameo, as opposed to Ramsey’s draining 80 minute performance against resolute opponents Chelsea. With the North Londoners keen to banish any talk of losing their nerve, Arsene Wenger will be relying on his two star midfielders to negotiate a tough sequence of opponents that include Liverpool, United and Southampton in the next three.

A fixture against bottom of the table Crystal Palace may be just the catalyst for Stephane Sessegnon’s revival. Subject of a Members Monitor article earlier this afternoon, the Benin international rises further up the pecking order with doubts remaining over Morgan Amalfitano for the Baggies. A price of 6.6 looking all the more appealing as West Bromwich face Aston Villa and Newcastle in the next four – with five home games in eight, Sessegnon could be worth consideration over the next couple of months.

Having accrued more points than any striker or midfielder in his team Adam Lallana’s attacking ability will be crucial to the Saints as they look to navigate a Jekyll and Hyde fixture list. A trip to a Stoke side that conceded four goals in the league cup is followed by a home clash against newly promoted Hull, before back to back trips to the capital to face Arsenal and Chelsea.

An obliging fixture list, beginning with welcoming Aston Villa, looks set to benefit budget option Ravel Morrison as West Ham attempt to return to winning ways. A trip to Norwich and home clash against strugglers Fulham in the next four look profitable for owners of the 4.6 priced former Manchester united man. A home fixture against Chelsea looks less than straightforward but, having masterminded a 3-0 away victory over Tottenham earlier in the season, returns may well be on the cards again.

Marko Arnautovic finally repaid the faith of differential-seeking managers with a well taken free-kick last time out, followed by a midweek cup goal away to Birmingham. Having deployed the volatile Austrian in a number of positions, manager Mark Hughes may have decided to settle on a role in “the hole” behind Peter Crouch. The visit of Sunderland in Gameweek 12 looks particularly appealing; with the Stoke defence still struggling, an attack-oriented approach may be the route to success as the Staffordshire outfit look to negotiate past Southampton, Swansea and Cardiff in the next four.

Budget options Robbie Brady and Andros Townsend round off the top ten, with the Hull winger’s certainty of starts and more pleasing fixture list running Tottenham’s 5.9 priced winger. Right now, however, the injury concerns linger for the Tigers man which has him on the decline, despite big FPL investment this week.

Robert Snodgrass falls just outside; despite impressive statistics backing his performances, the former Leeds man has failed to deliver points and remains a doubt in light of his head knock sustained against United in midweek. Peter Whittingham may be attractively priced at 5.1, but with a string of three blanks, may well be overlooked for alternatives in the same bracket – spot-kick duties and a share of set-pieces boosts his potential, though.

Questions marks over early season favourite Ross Barkley ’s game time reduce the Everton man’s appeal considerably, while a midweek start for fellow youngster Adnan Januzaj may result in bench role as United roll up to struggling Fulham. Finally, Hatem Ben Arfa may not have form on his side, but three home fixtures in four – including showdowns against Norwich and West Brom – for a struggling Newcastle side may be enough to jolt the mercurial Frenchman into action.