Having cast an eye over the sides with strong upcoming schedules yesterday evening, we now assess those who are poised for a tough final five Gameweeks. West Brom look hard pushed to pick up the points, whilst Palace and Spurs also have little reason for optimism over the run-in.
West Brom
The Baggies ended a miserable run of form with a crucial 2-0 victory at Selhurst Park that took them eight points clear of the drop zone. However, one look at the remaining fixture list suggests there’s a strong probability that the chasing pack could soon make up that ground. Indeed, the Midlanders face four of the current top five (LIV, mnu, CHE, ars) in the run-in, with a Gameweek 36 trip to a lethargic Newcastle side the only bright spot on the horizon.
Tony Pulis’ rearguard had conceded 10 times in three outings prior to last weekend, and now look for an equally torrid time over the run-in. Boaz Myhill’s save points could yet make him a valuable asset, though owners of the likes of Joleon Lescott and Craig Dawson are likely to be scouring the market for alternatives with the Baggies’ chances of adding to their 13 clean sheets very slim indeed. In midfield, Craig Gardner has bagged goals in the last pair of Gameweeks whilst Chris Brunt has supplied three assists in that time, and had the schedule been kinder, both would have appealed as late-season midfield differentials. Meanwhile, those still possessing Saido Berahino have been rewarded with just a single assist in his previous five showings, and are surely due to move the youngster on.
Crystal Palace
Alan Pardew’s men had been climbing the table and our Watchlists over the past month courtesy of a four-match winning streak but Saturday’s surprise 2-0 defeat to the Baggies saw that run grind to a halt. Whilst a home meeting with Hull this weekend promises to get them back on track, a horrendous trio of fixtures between Gameweeks 35-37 that pits them against Chelsea, Man United and Liverpool should see investment in the Eagles’ main assets begin to wane.
There’s certainly no reason to expect a late-season turnaround in their defensive output, then, with the Londoners having managed just a single clean sheet since Gameweek 21, and even Scott Dann’s attacking threat looks unlikely to appeal at this point. Further forward, Yannick Bolasie’s whopping 24-point haul against Sunderland two weekends ago convinced over 200,000 managers to scoop him up prior to last Saturday’s deadline. Having returned a meagre one point against West Brom, however, the majority of those new owners are unlikely to keep the faith if he fails to deliver against the Tigers. Glenn Murray has already proven his fixture-proof capabilities with a recent double-figure haul at home to City and strike against Arsenal back in Gameweek 26, though he’ll certainly have his work cut out to maintain his current form as he comes up against three of the staunchest backlines in the league in his next four.
Tottenham
With little to play for, Spurs are stuttering their way towards the finish line and it’s no surprise to find that managers are keeping their distance from the north Londoner’s assets right now. To compound matters, Mauricio Pochettino’s men now face a tough final run-in, with three tough away dates (sou, sto, eve) and home encounter with Man City before the campaign comes to a close.
Harry Kane’s late strike against Newcastle on Sunday, his first in three appearances, seems to have been enough to convince his 50% ownership to hold for the time being, with limited options up front amongst the double Gameweek candidates. Christian Eriksen also found himself amongst the goals at St James’ Park with his first strike since Gameweek 23, though with the midfields of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea presenting managers with numerous premium options for their impending doubles, the Dane has already dropped in price as his owners leave en masse. At the back, Spurs have accumulated one shut-out in their last ten efforts in the league, and with Danny Rose currently nursing a hamstring complaint, there’s next to no reason to be eyeing up their rearguard.
Be Wary Of…
Swansea
It’s been another successful campaign for the south Wales outfit, though the remaining schedule suggests they will have a tough time ending it on a high, with Stoke, Arsenal and Man City still yet to play and a trip to Palace rounding things off. Lukasz Fabianski and Ashley Williams will be hard pressed to add to their 11 clean sheets, then, whilst Bafetimbi Gomis’ enforced absence up top is set to spell an end to our interest in the Swans’ attack, with his replacement last weekend, January loan signing Nelson Oliveira, yet to get off the mark this season. Gylfi Sigurdsson’s potential has been all but nullified by his recent position in a midfield diamond behind a front two.
QPR
The odds look stacked against Chris Ramsey’s side avoiding the drop this season. Trips to Liverpool and Man City in their next three are unlikely to help the R’s cause and with last week’s blank sparking a mass exodus for Charlie Austin’s owners, few are now likely to reinstate the striker in their frontlines. Matty Phillips, who has delivered returns in three of his last five appearances, still looks worth considering as a midfield enabler, though is sure to be consigned to the bench for those two upcoming thorny fixtures.
Sunderland
It’s been a topsy-turvy time of late for the Black Cats, who seemed to have turned things round with a priceless 1-0 victory in the Wear-Tyne derby before being thrashed 4-1 by Palace in their last league outing. A double Gameweek 37 now lies on the horizon, though with two challenging away dates (sto, eve) and home meeting with top four contenders Southampton to come beforehand, few are likely to be scrambling for their assets just yet. The likes of Costel Pantilimon and Patrick Van Aanholt will certainly be hard tasked to sell themselves prior to the double, whilst those contemplating Jermain Defoe, who has plummeted to a price of 5.1, are best advised to hold off until we get closer to the penultimate Gameweek.
