Tips + Guides
20 April 2016 1179 comments
Paul Paul
Share:

With just four rounds of fixtures left to plan and prepare for, we given our Watchlist rankings a final refresh for the 2015/16 season. There’s no surprise that double Gameweek 37 looms large in our thinking, with those players set for extra matches more prominent in the latest standings.

Goalkeepers

With a home match against Newcastle in Gameweek 35 and a double Gameweek 37 (WAT & CHE) to follow, Simon Mignolet (4.9) retains his spot at the summit. After being handed a rare rest at Bournemouth on Sunday, we reckon that the Belgian will be reinstalled to the first XI from this point onwards and with visits to Swansea and West Brom also to factor in, the Merseysiders will be looking to improve upon a poor record of just two clean sheets in 13.

Everton’s Joel Robles also stays in our thoughts. Owners will obviously have to bench him for a blank this weekend but the final three Gameweeks (BOU, lei & sun, NOR) could see him offer excellent value at just 4.3. With so many injury concerns at the back, though, there’s a concern that the Toffees could struggle for clean sheets, though it’s worth noting that Robles has earned at least one save point in each of his last three appearances.

David de Gea is another keeper with four fixtures in the final three Gameweeks. United, of course, have a blank this weekend but with home encounters against Leicester and Bournemouth sandwiching a pair of Gameweek 37 trips to Norwich and West Ham, his prospects of points look promising, aside from that Upton Park encounter. A price of 5.9 is somewhat prohibitive but he remains one of the few secure routes into Louis van Gaal’s backline.

Watford’s weekend hero Heurelho Gomes (5.0) has already served up 19 points in the first of his Gameweek 34 fixtures after saving two spot-kicks in the 1-0 win over West Brom. Second only to Toby Alderweireld (150 points to 162) amongst all keepers and defenders in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Gomes is also number one for saves (111) and has earned at least one save point in nine of his last ten appearances. With rest and rotation blighting the Hornets’ back-four, the Brazilian looks a very valid option for late wildcarders with three very kind fixtures (AVL, liv & nor, SUN) to follow his Gameweek 35 blank.

Sunderland’s Vito Mannone also moves up in our estimations. The Black Cats have defensive form on their side – with a single goal against in the last three – and, crucially, are one of only three teams, along with Chelsea and Liverpool, to have a fixture in Gameweek 35 and a double Gameweek 37. Granted, their schedule is somewhat mixed (ARS, sto, CHE & EVE, wat) but Big Sam’s side seem to be building up a head of steam after their 3-0 win over Norwich on Saturday. Priced at 4.3, Mannone also offers a steady source of save points, having earned at least one in seven of his last nine.

Defenders

In a similar situation to the keepers, our targets are chiefly focused on their players with a double Gameweek still up their sleeve.

Hector Bellerin and Toby Alderweireld are the main exceptions due to their explosive potential. The Arsenal right-back remains our number one option on the back of 38 points in his last five outings, which has seen him serve up one goal, three assists, eight bonus points and a couple of clean sheets. With clashes against three of the bottom four sides (sun, NOR, mci, AVL) the 6.5-priced Bellerin looks likely to keep on delivering.

With 43 points in his last six, Alderweireld (6.4) has burned many Fantasy managers who opted to sell due to the lack of a double Gameweek. Still owned by over 41% of FPL managers, his schedule is a little less appealing than Bellerin’s (WBA, che, SOU, new) but, as evidenced in recent weeks, he clearly has the form at both ends of the pitch to maintain his spot as the top-scoring defender in the game.

Patrick van Aanholt is a significant riser in light of Sunderland’s afore-mentioned schedule. Down to 4.7 in FPL, the Dutchman holds far more of an upside than team-mate Mannone and is joint-top for both goals (five) and attempts on goal (38) amongst defenders this season.

Aaron Cresswell took his tally to two goals and four assists for the season with a weekend strike at Leicester. West Ham face a blank this weekend but with trips to West Brom and Stoke on either side of a pair of home fixtures in Gameweek 37 against Swansea and United, they’ll fancy their chances of finishing the season strongly. Given that the pair of Upton Park clashes are the last time the Hammers will play at Upton Park, we can’t see much rest and rotation from Slaven Bilic.

Branislav Ivanovic (6.6) is our preferred route into a Chelsea defence that’s hit hard with injuries and suspension. Although the Blues have five fixtures in the final four Gameweeks (bou, TOT, sun & liv, LEI) their recent lack of resilience – just one clean sheet (against Villa) in the last nine – perhaps lessens the Serbian’s appeal. Would-be suitors should be aware that Ivanovic has managed just one effort on goal in the last three since being shifted to centre-half, though, and he could struggle for attacking returns unless Guus Hiddink unleashes him from right-back again.

With Phil Jagielka and Seamus Coleman’s hamstrings causing concern, Ramiro Funes Mori has emerged as our favoured Everton defender. Dropped for John Stones in Gameweek 32-33, the Argentine recently returned to the fold due to Jagielka’s injury and netted his fourth goal in 26 appearances against Southampton on Saturday. If Jagielka remains out, or is utilised at right-back should Coleman stay sidelined, Funes Mori’s (5.5) eye for goal could flourish as the Merseysiders prepare for four fixtures in the final three Gameweeks.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

  1. Vedas
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Finally all my players start 🙂

    1. Vedas
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      First top of the page too, things are looking good!

  2. BDMC5
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Damn Hennessy dropped for speroni? Really needed those extra few points for my H2H

  3. Boo Ya Ka Sha
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Now I'm feeling a little more optimistic about the Sakho Firmino and Coutinho triple up 😛

    1. Boo Ya Ka Sha
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      BOOYAKASHA!!

  4. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    8 starters tonight xx

    1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      7 points at the end of the night 😉

  5. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Delaney --> Fosu Mensah for (-4) didn't go how I had hoped

    1. ARKANOIIDE
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I did Darmian>Fosu (-4) ;(

    2. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Jagielka > FM, and Lennon > Lanzini, and it all rides on Lanzini.

  6. Bouncebackability
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    So pleased I didn't bench boost and used the triple armband instead..

    Even my keepers would have only played two games between them!

  7. melvinmbabazi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    United: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Lingard, Schneiderlin, Mata, Rooney, Martial, Rashford #mufc

    #mufc subs: Romero, Fosu-Mensah, Rojo, Young, Fellaini, Herrera, Memphis

  8. cruzex
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    F**CK MENSAH, F**CK!!!

  9. twoplustwo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Knew it would be a tough ask for sturridge to start. Luka and sakho in at least!

    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    So its Valencia's who's on to be the 20 point defender nobody owns 😀

    1. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Go Bobby.

  10. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Have De Gea, Martial, Sakho, Firmino, Coutinho and Lukaku today, time for them to pay back!

  11. Viper
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Darmian -> TFM is going to work out just as well as my Bolasie -> Lanzini hit I bet.

  12. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    All six of mine starting, good.

  13. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Milner was in my GW 1 team. Ofcourse he'll disappoint me like my gw 1 team 🙁

  14. Pierce34
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    So where is Rooney playing? Central midfield alongside Schneiderlin?

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Either that or Mata's beside Schneiderlin and Rooneys in the hole

    2. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Oh wait forgot to factor in LVGness.. Darmian beside schneiderlin, rooney at left back

      1. Pierce34
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Haha

  15. Wimmer winner chicken dinne…
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Robles, lovren, milner, coutinho, martial! Come on!

  16. DGWjegy
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    9 startes + fuso on bench , would take that before todays matches

  17. JayBomb
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    All my players start fingeres crossed now I get some returns from them???

  18. Jazz!
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    FIRMINOOOOOO © 😎

    1. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Good luck Jazzi!

    2. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Depending on the score I think he's got 70 mins tops I reckon

  19. Elijah's Wood
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Mignolet Robles
    Smalling
    Payet Lingard - Check!

    Sturridge vs tired Everton legs - Check!

  20. Zoostation
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Seems like Rashford instead of Defoe for 37 may be a real possibility.

  21. Essrick
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Clyne, Sakho, Cathcart, Coutinho, Barkley, Lennon and Lukaku all start!

    Bolasie I knew was out but bit disappointed in Hennessey being dropped...

    1. twoplustwo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Same for me 🙁

  22. Rake
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Payet, Lanzini, Martial, Darmian, DDG, Cout, Milner, Sakho - Phew!

    All non starters last match started this week. At least it's a good sign from this horror of a dgw.

  23. Would an idiot do that?
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Who's been on pens and freekicks for Liverpool lately?

      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      MILLLLLNEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Milner

    2. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Milner.

    3. Evs
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      No Couthino on direct FKs?

  24. DLL18
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    9/9 starters, wouldn't have thought I'd be saying that on Saturday afternoon.

  25. The 12th Man
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    No Niasse!

    Nice. Waste of £13.5m.

  26. Bedknobs and Boomsticks
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    LVG doubling up at right back and trebling up at No 10 there I see. Cunning!

    1. Bazzalona
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Odd looking line up isn't it.
      Specially as my two players are flipping subs......

  27. Obi-1 Kenobi-0
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Lanzini, Payet, Mignolet, Clyne, Rashford, Smalling... check.

    Sturridge brace off the bench... possible?

  28. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    8 starters and Firmino captain. I get the feeling that tonight's gonna' be a good night 😉

    1. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      You deserve it.

    2. Jazz!
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      7 starters and Firmino © here 😎

    3. KingNidge
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Me too mate good luck

      1. KingNidge
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Just to confirm i mean in FPL

        Naturally i hope Liverpool get tanked lol

        1. Davido989
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          looool

  29. Bazzalona
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    6 players. 3 start 3 don't.
    2 of them would get me points off the bench if they don't play - of course they start!
    Beware the myth of the dgw

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      The lesson to be learned from this is to not put all your eggs in the dgw basket.