Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 30 – The Strong

With the squad-stretching blanks of Gameweek 29 behind us, we take our regular look at the fixture landscape over the next four to six Gameweeks. First up, as always, are the teams with kind schedules. We see easy roads ahead for Fantasy mainstays Everton and Chelsea, whilst United’s upcoming matches offer David Moyes the chance to build up momentum over the season run-in:

Everton

A win over West Ham kept the Toffees’ season ticking over, though Roberto Martinez will be hopeful that he can use the forthcoming fixtures to kick-start an attack that has scored just one goal in three matches. With the porous defences of Cardiff and Swansea rolling up to Goodison Park and trips to Newcastle and Fulham also in the next four Gameweeks, Fantasy managers can be hopeful of goals and clean sheets to come, and having at least one Toffee-flavoured treat in your double Gameweek assortment seems advisable.

A defence that has conceded more than one goal to just one team in the last 20 Gameweeks (Liverpool, twice) is worthy of consideration. Seamus Coleman rapidly eclipsed Leighton Baines for attacking returns in the earlier part of the season, but the pendulum may be swinging back, while Sylvain Distin offers his customary value route into the outfit. In midfield, a start against Arsenal in the FA Cup suggests that Kevin Mirallas is still in favour, but with Catalan starlet Gerard Deulofeu snapping at his heels, it may well be that they have to share pitch-time, meaning the Belgian midfielder remains a risky option. Up front, Romelu Lukaku’s second goal in as many games since recovering from injury hints at a return to form and many are eyeing him up for this run of fixtures. Everton also have a yet-to-be scheduled home clash against Palace in their favour, too.

Swansea

The Swans have lost only one of their four Premier League games under new manager Garry Monk. They’re still just four points clear of the relegation zone, though, so with all to play for they enter a month of decent-looking fixtures. In the next four they have home games against West Brom and Norwich, which look good for points at both ends of the field, while a trip to Hull could be profitable in their current mood. Unfortunately the big turn-off is that their double Gameweek is a bit of a stinker, comprising trips to Everton and Arsenal.

Even so, for Fantasy managers in search of profit outside of Gameweek 31, these fixtures could bring Michel Vorm, Ashley Williams and Ben Davies into contention. In midfield, Jonathan De Guzman has picked up in form, returning points in four of his last six starts, but the big news is the possible return of last year’s Fantasy sensation, Michu. Up top, Wilfried Bony has scored six of his season’s ten goals in the last nine matches, suggesting that he really is finding his feet and may offer us a mid-price option for our three-man frontlines.

Sunderland

Gus Poyet’s team crashed out of the FA Cup with considerably less dignity than their previous week’s Capital One Cup final loss but with the focus now solely on their battle for survival, Fantasy managers can start to eye up a team that are set to play 12 times in the final nine Gameweeks. The first of their doubles (the only one yet confirmed) is away to both Norwich and Liverpool, which could be more appealing, but home games against Crystal Palace and West Ham on either side somewhat sweeten the deal.

Vito Mannone’s owners will be hoping for more of the double-figure hauls he has been serving up since taking over from Keiren Westwood. In defence, Phil Bardsley’s price has dropped to a very palatable 4.3 in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game and Marcus Alonso is a pricier (4.5) alternative with unproven potential for attacking returns. Further forward, Adam Johnson and Fabio Borini look the most likely to produce. The former has six goals and pair of assists in his last six league outings and has dropped down to 6.5 in FPL, whilst Borini has delivered three goals and an assist in recent weeks between cup and league matches – the downside is he cannot play against parent club Liverpool in the second fixture of double Gameweek 31.

Man United

David Moyes will be optimistic that his side have turned a corner after United responded to their season nadir in Olympiacos with a 3-0 drubbing of West Brom last Saturday. Certainly, the Red Devils have the fixtures on side to help them – home games against Liverpool and Man City are obviously huge tests, but the next six also contain a visit from Villa in addition to trips to West Ham and Newcastle. Their home clash with Hull has been postponed due to the Tigers’ FA Cup duties but this may yet remain within the confines of Gameweek 34 – a move to midweek, either Tuesday April 15 or Wednesday 16, would still not clash with any prospective Champions League dates if United manage to progress.

A third consecutive clean sheet, their sixth in ten games, brings Patrice Evra and David De Gea firmly into the reckoning, though Fantasy managers may fancy a punt on Phil Jones or Chris Smalling after their manager confirmed he plans to hand them increased game time for the run-in in light of Nemanja Vidic’s impending departure. Juan Mata’s unfavoured wing role is preventing him from providing value for money but Wayne Rooney’s recent display has brought him onto many radars ahead of the seemingly unhappy Robin van Persie.

ALSO CONSIDER

Chelsea
The Blues may not have a double Gameweek but their rock-solid form and decent fixtures make them very difficult to overlook. The best defence in the league served up a seventh clean sheet in ten games and, from the premium-priced John Terry to budget-friendly Cesar Azpilicueta, every one of their back four has something in their favour. Eden Hazard’s spot kick against Tottenham served as a cautionary tale for Fantasy managers who are tempted to liquidate their Belgian asset to fund double Gameweek acquisitions. Samuel Eto’o scored and assisted against Spurs but only played thanks to a last-minute injury to Fernando Torres – if the Spaniard’s groin problem keeps him out for long, Eto’o, with three sets of double figures in his last five at the Bridge, could yet become a truly viable option.

Norwich
Chris Hughton will be sorely disappointed to have picked up just a single point at home to Stoke after shutting out Tottenham and Man City so recently. The Canaries still have a couple of plum home fixtures (Sunderland and West Brom) left to get some points on the board before they brace themselves for an evil run-in. There are also trips to Southampton and Swansea that could be profitable for the likes of Martin Olsson and Robert Snodgrass – the latter’s form in particular is looking promising, with two goals and two assists in seven starts.

Newcastle
While Alan Pardew is set to serve a seven-match ban for the headbutt on David Meyler in Newcastle’s win over Hull, his team will be hoping that, with or without his touchline guidance, they can capitalise on a set of decent fixtures to cement a top half finish. A trip to Fulham is followed by one of the better double Gameweek fixture pairs (CRY, EVE), before trips to Southampton and Stoke fall on either side of a home game against United. With Fabricio Coloccini looking set to return to the fold, Mike Williamson is an excellent budget defender for these fixtures, while Mathieu Debuchy has shown plenty of attacking intent. In midfield, Moussa Sissoko’s brace at Hull brings him into consideration but the real goal threat is Loic Remy who has scored in each of his two games following suspension to present a genuine double Gameweek differential – the latter is currently being assessed after picking up an ankle injury on international duties last week but is expected to be ready in time for Saturday’s encounter at Craven Cottage.