We roll out our player recommendations for the next four-to-six Gameweeks this lunchtime by starting with the men at the back. Liverpool and Chelsea’s fixtures bode well for a return to resilient ways, while Villa and the Hammers are afforded further opportunity to pick up the defensive returns:
Goalkeepers
Simon Mignolet climbs to the summit in spite of a run which has failed to produce a clean sheet since Gameweek 3. With Brendan Rodgers moving to a 4-4-2 after the break at Arsenal, there’s a little uncertainty over the centre-back situation, making the Belgian’s security a crucial factor – home games against Fulham, Norwich and West Ham and a trip to Hull in the next five look particularly prosperous.
Petr Cech rises in our estimations ahead of Chelsea’s kind schedule. Jose Mourinho’s side have been uncharacteristically porous at the back of late and have conceded in each of the last five but the stopper’s security of starts, allied with a run that reads (WBA, whm, SOU, sun, sto, CPL) over the next six offers a chance to rack up the defensive points – with attacking potential in the Blues back-four, though, Cech is likely to remain off Fantasy radars.
Three clean sheets in six highlight Villa’s increased resilience. Brad Guzan now has Cardiff, West Brom, Sunderland, Southampton and Fulham up next – at 5.0 he may be pricier than his defensive team-mates but the American has now established a 12-point lead over any Villa defender due to save points.
Wojciech Szczesny is another climber this week. Granted, a trip to Old Trafford is hardly enticing but following that, Arsenal have three home games in four to continue the form that has seen them register back-to-back clean sheets. Jussi Jaaskelainen has been beaten in only one of the last four league fixtures – he has Norwich, Fulham and Palace in the next four, though there are cheaper options in the West Ham backline worth consideration.
Costel Pantilimon makes his Watchlist debut after ousting Joe Hart as City’s number one. It remains to be seen just how long he’ll keep his berth but at 4.9 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), he offers undoubted appeal as Manuel Pellegrini’s side gear up for a run which sees them pay visit to Sunderland and West Brom in the next four, in addition to home games with goal-shy Spurs and Swansea.
Southampton’s tough schedule forces Artur Boruc down the pecking order this week. The Saints will be confident of a clean sheet against Hull this Saturday but with Arsenal, Chelsea and City in the subsequent four, Mauricio Pochettino’s side may struggle to replicate their incredible run of defensive returns.
A trip to Swansea, followed by three home games in four, is enough to keep Asmir Begovic in consideration, though with cheaper alternatives at full-back and the aerial threat of Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth available, he may find it difficult to pick up many new owners in spite of his new-found goal threat.
Saturday’s 7-0 mauling at the Etihad hardly inspires confidence yet John Ruddy will be confident of keeping out West Ham and Palace at Carrow Road in the next three, while Tim Krul climbs on the back of last week’s clean sheet at home to Chelsea – the Magpies host Norwich and West Brom and travel to Swansea in the next four.
Defenders
John Terry makes his way to the top of the defender rankings and finally ousts Branislav Ivanovic as our Chelsea backline option. Over the last six Gameweeks, the Blues skipper has registered more attempts inside the box than any team-mate and more than double the right-back’s tally; a suggestion he could he poised to add to his goal and assist from the back so far.
We keep faith in Glen Johnson for Liverpool’s above-mentioned schedule. Expected to recover from illness for Saturday’s visit of Fulham, Johnson is arguably the most secure starter in Brendan Rodgers’ defence – even if the Reds boss reverts to a back-four from 3-4-1-2, there’s no doubt over the 5.7 priced defender’s regular role, whereas a 4-4-2 would leave four centre-halves battling it out for two places in the middle.
Ashley Williams suffers a slight drop. With Michel Vorm suspended for the trip to Stoke, Swansea’s clean sheet chances may suffer a little but with a visit to Fulham and home games against Newcastle and Hull in the next five, the Swans skipper, at 4.8, is very much still in the frame.
The cut-price Razvan Rat remains in our top five. At 4.5, the West Ham left-back offers the cheapest route into a defence with three clean sheets in four, while James Tomkins (4.7) has now established himself ahead of James Collins for Sam Allardyce’s side. Coming in at 4.4, Villa skipper Ron Vlaaris the most secure of Paul Lambert’s defenders as he moves between 4-3-3 and 3-5-2 – Vlaar has averaged an extra two bonus points per clean sheet, though Nathan Baker, at a mere 3.9, has started three of the last four for the midlands outfit.
Per Mertesacker gets the nod as our Arsenal defender of choice. With a goal and seven bonus points already accrued, the German holds a 10-point gap over any of his defensive team-mates and looks the likeliest to benefit from the upcoming schedule. Matija Nastasic seems to have established himself as a regular under Manuel Pellegrini – the youngster has started seven of the last eight and grabbed his first goal of the season last weekend. Nastasic has delivered five bonus points over City’s last two clean sheets and, at 5.5, is expected to retain his place when Vincent Kompany returns from another groin injury setback.
Premium-priced pair Jan Vertonghen and Leighton Baines have some tricky fixtures on their short-term schedules. With showdowns against City and United in the next three, the Spurs defender may struggle to replicate the form which has harvested 27 points in the last three league games and taken him to the top of the FPL defender standings. Baines has Liverpool, United and Arsenal in the next five, though both have shown time and again they’re more than capable of atoning for tricky schedules by delivering attacking returns.
Nathaniel Clyne is also set for a tough run of games – the visit of Hull and Villa offers hope, though, ahead of showdowns with Arsenal, Chelsea and City in the next five. Robert Huth remains steady in this week’s refresh. The 5.5 priced Stoke defender has yet to open his account for the season but has offered plenty goal threat without quite reaping reward thus far – he remains a decent differential at 2% owned for Mark Hughes’ side.
We were set to hand Mathieu Debuchy a spot in this week’s Watchlist but the Frenchman’s weekend booking against Chelsea means he is just a single caution from a one-match ban – with uncertainty over the central position, we opt for fellow Magpies full-back Davide Santon. Michael Turner gets the nod as the most secure of Chris Hughton’s cut-price defenders, though Martin Olsson (4.2) has now started each of the last five – a run which, in spite of their drubbing at City, has nonetheless seen the Canaries pick up two clean sheets.
The goal threat of Gareth McAuley keeps the Baggies centre-half in consideration, though with Chelsea and City in the next four, his chances of defensive returns are looking a little slim, while Curtis Davies looks the most enticing option amongst Hull’s defence. The centre-half has picked up bonus points for clean sheets on three occasions and has also found the net- he welcomes Palace and Stoke to the KC in the next six as Steve Bruce’s side look to maintain a superb run which has seen them concede just once in five home matches.
