Man United and Wayne Rooney are doing a superb job of convincing us Fantasy managers that the fixture list can be disposed of as a guide to Fantasy potential. On paper, Arsenal at home and Bolton away were games that may have stretched United – in practice they were simply devastating, with Rooney the chief tormentor.
Can Rooney and United maintain this kind of form regardless of the opposition put in front of them? There will certainly be plenty praying that Chelsea can start applying the brakes to United and Rooney’s charge this weekend.
As for our regular analysis of the fixtures – that goes on regardless – delivered to your Monday menu as usual.
The Highs
West Brom
Three points at Carrow Road, Peter Odemwingie back amongst the goals and on form and a run of fixtures that appears to give Roy Hodgson’s side a springboard – things look good for the Baggies.
We mentioned last time out that the defence could be worth a gamble and Sunday’s clean sheet could be the first of several in the coming weeks with Swansea, Fulham, Sunderland and Wolves their next four opponents. Goals would also seem likely if West Brom can take confidence from Sunday’s victory. Odemwingie is worthy of attention amongst the big scoring heavyweight options up front, while Shane Long’s potential also shouldn’t be forgotten as a cheaper alternative.
Arsenal
Arsene’s new broom failed to ignite the Gunners against Swansea but the three points did at least get the ball rolling. A strong run of fixtures over the next four Gameweeks should help build confidence further, particularly if Arsenal can find their away form at struggling Blackburn next weekend.
Emirates clashes with Bolton and Sunderland then follow – both sides are conceding goals readily and should give Robin Van Persie, Mikel Arteta and the returning Gervinho opportunity to build their Fantasy reputations after a stalled start.
Aston Villa
To this point, we have to admit that Villa have disappointed. We’ve yet to see Darren Bent provide real value up front, while Shay Given has kept one clean sheet in three to bely his pre-season hype. The fixture list suggests that the situation could improve in the coming weeks, however.
Home games with Newcastle, Wigan and West Brom look crucial and potentially profitable, while trips to QPR and Sunderland in the next six Gameweeks could also offer returns. Villa’s assets still appear to have value in them, then, particularly in defence where Alan Hutton can now be acquired to offer an expected attacking threat from right-back.
Swansea
The promoted Welshman have so far failed to muster a single goal in the top flight with the Fantasy focus on their cheap defensive options to this point. That could change over the coming weeks and those who have given up hope on both Scott Sinclair and Danny Graham as cheap investments, could well come to regret selling on.
Liberty Stadium meetings with West Brom, Stoke and Bolton will be key in a vital stage in Swansea’s season. None of those sides will make things easy but, with trips to Norwich and Wolves also lying in wait over the next six Gameweeks, we will surely start to see Swansea register some goals.
Sinclair has hit the bar twice, while Graham has missed a hatful of chances. That situation has got to turn soon and the fixture list is doing all it can to help out.
Also consider…
QPR – Win tonight against Newcastle and Neil Warnock’s side will face a handsome run over the next four which could see them cement a comfortable mid-table position.
Sunderland – Steve Bruce’s side are struggling badly at both ends but do at least have a run of three matches that could provide a platform for recovery.
Newcastle – get the trip to Villa out of the way next weekend and the Magpies will surface a decent run of opponents which should see Fantasy interest in their squad increase.
The Lows
Man United
Alex Ferguson’s side may well be steamrolling over every opponent in their path but there’s still no denying that their forthcoming fixture list remains tough.
The next five Gameweeks will be crucial and, while those who have benefited from Wayne Rooney’s explosive form will insist on their man being fixture-proof, those who have missed his two consecutive hat-tricks will be hoping that his rate of scoring takes a significant dip in the coming weeks.
Certainly Chelsea on Sunday, following a Champions League tie in midweek, will provide a test for Rooney and his team-mates. A trip to face the sternest defence in the league then follows – Stoke’s start to the season in the face of stiff opposition has been commendable and they will surely pose a significant barrier in Gameweek six. Liverpool and City then lie in wait following the potentially profitable home clash with Norwich and, with European dates scattered around this, there will be concern that United’s boiling pot could be reduced to a simmer. Few will be selling on, but potential investors might, just might, be that little bit hesitant having missed the huge hauls to this point.
Everton
Leighton Baines demonstrated his value to Fantasy managers in the 2-2 draw with Villa with a goal from the spot and a performance that rightly earned him FPL bonus recognition. Baines was by far Everton’s most creative outlet and will likely go on being a key figure throughout the season. His forthcoming spell of fixtures however, is a horror show.
Following this weekend’s home clash with Wigan, Baines and Everton face City, Liverpool and Chelsea in consecutive matches, with a trip to Fulham up next before a Goodison clash with United. Clean sheets look very unlikely meaning that Baines will require further attacking returns to justify his current price tag.
Liverpool
With Luis Suarez drawing two consecutive blanks against a back drop of hat-tricks elsewhere, you can perhaps appreciate why we’re seeing sales of the Uruguayan. In all honesty, the short-term fixture list isn’t providing any assistance to argue against such a move. Trips to Spurs and Everton won’t be easy and, with a Gameweek 8 fixture with United to come, the home tie with Wolves in Gameweek 6 looks vital to Suarez owners.
With the Liverpool back-four to be tested in the weeks to come, then, those keeping the faith will be hoping that this will draw the sting from Suarez and his attacking comrades. It’s been working for Rooney at United and Suarez undoubtedly has the class to follow suit if Liverpool can start taking their chances.
Be wary of…
Tottenham – Emmanuel Adebayor announced himself with a goal in the 2-0 win at Molineux and already Fantasy managers are queuing to capitalise on his apparently modest price tag. Spurs face Liverpool, Arsenal and a trip to Newcastle in the next four though – three defences that should put up real resistance to his new striking partnership with Jermain Defoe.
