With the start of the 2015/16 season only a few days away, we’ve formulated our initial Watchlist rankings, which offer player recommendations for the next four-to-six rounds of fixtures. Sunderland’s number one leads the way, though the Saints and Leicester are in hot pursuit in light of the opening schedule.
After emerging as one of the strongest budget goalkeepers last season, and with an obliging looking start to the new campaign (lei, NOR, SWA, avl, TOT, bou), Costel Pantilimon stands at the summit of our initial keeper rankings. The Sunderland stopper will set us back 5.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and, having registered four shut-outs in eight appearances under Dick Advocaat last season, the duel potential of returns from save points and clean sheets earns the Romania international the top spot. The changes to the BPS, which will boost Pantilimon’s potential due to saves, also plays a part in our thinking, bearing in mind he averaged 4.4 points per appearance last season.
Despite plenty of changes in personnel, the Southampton defence has been one of the strongest units in the Premier League in recent times, keeping 15 clean sheets in each of the last two seasons. With Fraser Forster out with a long-term knee injury, Dutch international Maarten Stekelenburg will be the first-choice for the Saints, and while he may not possess the quality of the former Celtic keeper, his 5.0 price tag offers us a relatively budget friendly route into the Southampton backline, while the early schedule (new, EVE, wat, NOR, wba, MUN) is pretty favourable.
Like with Pantilimon, Kasper Schmeichel enters this season having ended last term strongly, keeping five clean sheets in his final seven outings. Unlike the Black Cats keeper, however, Schmeichel will be playing for a new manager this season, with Claudio Ranieri taking the reigns at the King Power Stadium. Uncertainty over how that will effect the Foxes has slightly dampened enthusiasm for Leicester assets as we formulate our 15-man squads, but the friendly opening schedule (SUN, whm, TOT, bou, AVL, sto) and the Dane’s price tag of 4.5 mean he should still attract plenty of suitors. For anyone looking for a rotation partner for Schmeichel, Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski offers a strong choice.
Talking of goalkeepers that rotate well, Norwich’s John Ruddy and Stoke’s Jack Butland look strong contenders for the best 9.0 pairing to start the season. The duo would provide a raft of favourable fixtures (CPL, sun, nor, WBA, BOU, LEI, BOU, LEI, new, WAT) over the opening 10 Gameweeks, although ongoing concerns over Ryan Shawcross’ back injury should be monitored given his importance to the Stoke rearguard. Again, the BPS changes play a part here – Ruddy sat third for saves (128) in his previous season (2013/14) in the top-flight.
Now the clear first choice at Villa Park following Shay Given’s move to Stoke, Brad Guzan (4.5) gets the nod for a place on our Watchlist thanks to Villa’s generous looking opening fixtures (bou, MUN, cpl, SUN, lei, WBA). The Villans did concede 2.1 goals per match under the attack-minded Tim Sherwood, however, although the additions of left-back Jordan Amavi and Micah Richards in particular could see an improved defensive showing from Villa this season. Certainly, Guzan – who averaged 3.3 points per appearance last year – can be expected to be kept busy between the sticks.
According to our Season Ticker, Bournemouth have the most favourable fixtures (AVL, liv, whm, LEI, nor, SUN) over the first six Gameweeks, bringing the 4.5-priced Artur Boruc into our thoughts. The Cherries kept 19 shout-outs, more than any other side, as they won the Championship last season, and the Poland international will know what it’s all about in the top-flight, having made 49 Premier League appearances for Southampton. Available at 4.5 in FPL, Boruc could be combined in a rotation pairing with Watford’s Heurelho Gomes, who comes in at the same price. The former Tottenham keeper is slightly lower in our rankings because of the Hornets tougher start, but the combination would provide these (AVL, WBA, SOT, LEI, SWA, SUN, CPL, WAT) home matches over the opening eight Gameweeks. While the two should rack up plenty of save points, it could be a risk to carry goalkeepers from two newly promoted sides, given the gulf in class between the two divisions.
Petr Cech lands slightly lower than perhaps many would expect in our opening rankings, but the difficult fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea in the first six are heavily factored in. Valued at 5.5, he is likely to be right up there when it comes to the highest scoring keepers in FPL this term, and if the Gunners’ pre-season is anything to go by, Cech’s arrival has afforded his defence an air of calm, strengthening their chances of improving upon last year’s 13 shut-outs.
With West Ham’s early fixtures very friendly at home (LEI, BOU, NEW, NOR) and pretty treacherous on the road (ars, liv, mci), Adrian (5.0) looks a prime contender for a rotation pairing, bearing in mind the Hammers managed two clean sheets on their travels last season. The aforementioned Schmeichel and Guzan look the most suitable candidates, with either combination setting us back 9.5 in FPL. West Ham’s involvement in the qualifying stages of the Europa League could be a slight concern for their defensive prospects, should Slaven Bilic look to rotate.
Manchester City are actually the highest placed of last season’s top four on our ticker for the opening six Gameweeks (wba, CHE, eve, WAT, cpl, WHM), but with so much value among the goalkeepers, the 5.5-priced Joe Hart only finds a place towards the bottom of our rankings. The England international was awarded the Golden Glove award last year after he kept 14 clean sheets, but with injuries or Copa America duties placing question marks over so many of City’s regulars, his stock at this point isn’t particularly high right now.
Chelsea’s start to the season involves head-to-heads with two of their main rivals for the title (mci, ARS), so Thibaut Courtois is another big name who finds himself well down our rankings. The other four fixtures (SWA, wba, CPL, eve) are against sides likely to be strong mid-table teams, and bearing in mind the attacking potential of the likes of Branislav Ivanovic, and the strong value of Cesar Azpilicueta (6.0), the 5.5-valued Belgian may not be the best route into the champions’ backline.
