With the new season finally underway, we take our regular look at the upcoming fixture list over the forthcoming four to six Gameweeks. First up, we turn our attentions to those with the most favourable schedules and see that Louis van Gaal is given the best possible platform for improvement, while a selection of last season’s mid-table finishers get off to a kind start.
Man United
Louis van Gaal’s start at Old Trafford didn’t go quite to plan as his new side were embarrassed by Swansea in a questionable display. The fiery Dutchman’s team appears to be a work in progress but he still has a fabulously kind set of fixtures with which to make amends – trips to Sunderland, Burnley and Leicester as well as home matches against QPR, West Ham and Everton mean that Fantasy investment in the Red Devils still looks advisable.
With Jonny Evans fighting for fitness, Phil Jones appears to be the best of the defensive assets, and for the same price, David De Gea is a fire-and-forget option between the sticks. But the defensive frailties in evidence on Saturday may encourage many to steer clear of the Old Trafford club’s defence in favour of attacking options. In midfield, a pre-season Ashley Young bandwagon suffered a stall as his uninspiring performance earned him few Fantasy friends – Van Gaal’s decision to switch to a four-man backline saw Young fielded at left-back.
Juan Mata still looks well placed to capitalize on United’s fixtures, though over 21,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game owners have already parted company after last weekend’s blank. Up front, Wayne Rooney is the most owned striker in FPL and rewarded his legion of owners with a goal and a bonus point, but the imminent return of Robin van Persie could shake things up.
Hull City
A solid victory over QPR suggested Steve Bruce’s side could turn around last season’s poor away form. Hull have an excellent set of fixtures on the way, which should help to ease the demands of their first foray into Europe as well as tempt Fantasy managers into investment. The next six Gameweeks include home clashes with Stoke, West Ham and Crystal Palace as well as trips to Aston Villa and Newcastle; the visit of Man City in Gameweek 6 is troublesome but the stage is otherwise set for a strong start to the season.
Hull are more favoured for their defensive appeal and James Chester looks like a bargain even if he doesn’t repeat his goal-scoring heroics, while Allan McGregor could justify his price in nets with these fixtures. Tom Ince was fielded alongside Nikica Jelavic last weekend and fired three shots on target – at 5.5 he could be a decent budget option if he retains that advanced berth.
Southampton
In some matches, defeat seems less important than the manner in which it occurs. Ronald Koeman’s new-look Saints were widely adjudged to have defied the prophets of doom with an impressive performance against Liverpool that could easily have earned them a point. A selection of wonderful-looking fixtures hand Koeman the best possible chance to build on the Anfield performance and present Fantasy managers with the prospect of points from all over the pitch. The next six Gameweeks comprise home encounters against West Brom, Newcastle and QPR plus trips to West Ham and Swansea – food for thought in light of Sunday’s performance.
New signing Fraser Forster came straight into the side ahead of last season’s Fantasy darling Artur Boruc and may be an option, but for the same price, one can have the services of Nathaniel Clyne, whose bonus-point-friendly attacking intent was underlined by his goal against Liverpool. In midfield, a raft of prospects suggest themselves for the enterprising manager; Dusan Tadic impressed in spells (and picked up an assist), while James Ward-Prowse – fielded on the right of the front three – showed a great deal of promise for a mere 5.0 in FPL. Up front, Graziano Pelle may take a little longer to settle but did show some signs he could soon be on our radars.
Newcastle
Expected by some to be slow out of the blocks after two seasons of relative decline and a summer of re-building, Alan Pardew’s side came out fighting and gave a decent account of themselves against last season’s champions. Despite slipping to defeat, the Magpies were in the ascendancy for sustained periods and many are now cautiously adding Newcastle players to their Watchlists in light of a set of fixtures that look mostly blue on our ticker. Home showdowns with Crystal Palace and Hull invite investment as, to a lesser extent, do their away games (avl, sot, sto, swa).
In goal, Tim Krul has saves and possibly clean sheets in his locker, while at the back, Paul Dummett is an interesting bargain-basement option if he can hold onto his left-back berth. In midfield, Remy Cabella impressed, though perhaps needs more work, and in any case, Fantasy managers are likely waiting to assess Siem De Jong, who the Magpies hope to be fit for the trip to Villa. Likewise, Emmanuele Riviere looks like one to monitor up top.
Also Consider
Crystal Palace
The eleventh-hour departure of Tony Pulis provided the media with a circus of speculation, but it was much less welcomed among Fantasy fans – the former manager is credited with the remarkable turnaround in the Eagles’ defence and subsequent budget-priced clean sheets. Pulis’ exit places large question marks over the continuation of that defensive goldmine, which is a shame because their fixtures make for very easy reading – West Ham, Leicester and Burnley all at home as well as trips to Newcastle and Hull meant the Eagles’ back-line looked primed for investment.
If Palace can retain the steely resilience instilled by their former manager, Joel Ward and Brede Hangeland appear to be the best defensive options at 5.0, though Martin Kelly, at 4.5, offers a cheaper option if he continues at right-back. Further up the field, Jason Puncheon is suspended for Gameweek 2 but could be a good mid-price option when he returns.
Tottenham
A last-gasp goal against West Ham ensured a positive start for Mauricio Pochettino’s side and the new manager has the fixtures on side to ensure that form continues. The next four fixtures include home clashes against QPR and West Brom plus a trip to Sunderland, with just the visit of Liverpool spoiling the view. Frustratingly, uncertainty reigns supreme over the defence; we need more time to ascertain the first-choice back-four, with only Jan Vertonghen a definite when fit. In midfield, the battle for affections between Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen came no closer to a conclusion but Emmanuel Adebayor has at least emerged (as expected) as the first-choice striker and may be worth investment given the fixtures.
Swansea
Triumph at Old Trafford was not in the script but the Swans proved their doubters wrong. The Gylfi Sigurdsson bandwagon gets underway a week earlier than expected ahead of a delightful set of fixtures (BUR, WBA, che, SOT, sun, NEW) that are marred only by a visit to Chelsea in Gameweek 5. Outside of the Icelandic sensation, Fantasy investment could head the way of Wilfried Bony – if Garry Monk can hold onto his services, he’ll be hoping to improve on his debut showing of 17 goals. At the other end of the pitch, Jordi Amat looks likely to lose his place to imminent new signing Federico Fernandez, leaving Neil Taylor the cheapest regular, though given he was hooked shortly after half time against United, there’s some concern over his pitch time.
