Tuesday’s double Gameweek announcements plays a major part in our assessment of the weekend’s fixtures as Fantasy managers start to plan for their wildcards. Arsenal and City’s midfields, Guus Hiddink and Jurgen Klopp’s teamsheets, Jamie Vardy’s stuttering form and West Ham’s options up top all find their way onto our Thursday lunchtime menu.
Sanchez’ form ahead of the double…
A goal and assist in in his last two league outings suggests that the Chilean may yet have a part to play in our Fantasy seasons. As Arsenal lick their wounds following last night’s Champions League exit, Sanchez now heads to an Everton outfit that have conceded 26 times in front of their own fans – more than any other side. With Arsenal’s kind schedule including two home fixtures in double Gameweek 34, those planning to wield their wildcards may well consider a gamble is worthwhile if the former Barcelona man can find his form again.
…and Yaya’s…
With injuries and rotation blighting the City defence ahead of their double, many Fantasy managers will be happy to focus solely on Manuel Pellegrini’s attack. Given that Kevin de Bruyne will step up his fitness drive over the international break, the competition for our wildcard attention soon looks set to intensify as the Belgian returns to battle it out with Yaya Toure and David Silva. At a cost of 8.5, Toure is priced far kinder than both De Bruyne (10.3) and Silva (9.9) and a return to form for the Ivorian could prove very handy as we look to balance our wildcard budgets.
Hiddink’s team sheet with only pride to play for…
Out of all cup competitions and comfortably ensconced in the security of mid-table, Chelsea welcome West Ham to Stamford Bridge with doubts over Eden Hazard’s fitness and Diego Costa suspended. With Guus Hiddink set to leave over the summer, will he afford some youngsters more pitch time over the run-in? The likes of Bertrand Traore, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kenedy have all earned minutes over the same two Gameweeks, with the former starting on both occasions. Given his classification as a midfielder and price of 5.4, Traore’s pitch time will be eagerly monitored as we consider our wildcards for the doubles.
Sakho’s minutes for the Hammers…
Handed a 30-minute cameo off the bench against Everton in the previous Gameweek, the Senegal striker helped spark a dramatic comeback by bagging a goal and assist in a 3-2 win. With Emmanuel Emenike yet to score in five league appearances and Andy Carroll netting twice in his last 14, the Hammers are in desperate need for a more consistent striker in their bid for a top-four finish. With three home matches over double Gameweeks 34 and 37, a fully-fit Sakho – priced at just 6.2 – could rival Dimitri Payet and Michail Antonio for our wildcard attentions.
Vardy’s place in our forward lines…
Whilst Leicester’s bid for the title has maintained momentum, the same can’t be said for their top scorer. Vardy has now served up a single goal in the last six Gameweeks and bearing in mind that the Foxes don’t have any doubles, many are earmarking him as the man to make way for Romelu Lukaku in our three-man frontlines. Up next, though is a trip to a Palace side that’s lost five on the spin at Selhurst Park before three home clashes and a trip to Sunderland in the subsequent four. Given he’s the most popular forward in FPL, with over 54% ownership, a big display against the Eagles may well persuade some to think twice over selling.
The Hornets front two…
With a single goal in his last ten league appearances, Odion Ighalo has been subject to a major exodus and dropped in price from 6.4 to 5.9 in FPL. Ighalo’s weekend opener in the 2-1 FA Cup win at Arsenal will have given his confidence a shot in the arm, though, and with Troy Deeney bagging two assists against the Gunners, the Watford attack could be back in form as they brace themselves for a pair of doubles. Given that Quique Sanchez Flores’ men have failed to score in seven of the last nine, though, we’ll need a lot of convincing before reconsidering in their goal-getters.
Rondon’s chance to stake a claim…
Four goals and an assist in his last six appearances underlines the West Brom frontman’s remarkable turnaround in form. With Saido Berahino back on board up top, Rondon has flourished as part of a front two and notched against the likes of Everton, Leicester and United over that recent run. With back-to-back clashes against Norwich and Sunderland, the Venezuelan has the chance to continue his momentum as we size up our options up front.
Siggy against Villa’s defence…
In three of the last four Gameweeks, Villa’s backline has been more than obliging for those looking to invest in their respective opponents. Marko Arnautovic, Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane have all delivered double-figure hauls against Remi Garde’s doomed outfit over that period and with a trip to Swansea up next, Gylfi Sigurdsson sits second only to Kane in this week’s Captain Poll. The Icelandic international is looking to bag his third double-figure return in four home appearances and may well be the next to benefit from the tactic of backing whoever plays Villa next.
Rafa’s Newcastle…
The Spaniard was unable to halt the Leicester juggernaut last Monday as Newcastle fell to defeat in his first match in charge. Benitez will take solace in the fact that the Magpies restricted the league leaders to a single shot on target, though, ahead of a vital six-pointer with Sunderland. Given that a win over their rivals would take the Tyneside team out of the bottom three and above Big Sam’s men, we’re looking for Benitez’ main protagonists to step up as we assess their form ahead of double Gameweek 34.
Klopp’s teamsheet…
As the only team currently set to play two double Gameweeks and also to feature in Gameweek 35, Liverpool look primed for wildcard investment. With one eye on the Europa League, Klopp has relied heavily on rotation and has started Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge in just one of the last three, leaving Roberto Firmino as our chief target amongst the Merseysiders’ attackers. With this evening’s clash against United preceding a trip to St Mary’s, will the German continue to chop and change up top again? We also have one eye on the Liverpool defence, with the fit-again Jon Flanagan now placing question marks over the pitch time of Klopp’s full-backs.
Bournemouth’s form against the fixtures…
Having racked up three wins and a draw in the last four, the Cherries are very much a team in form as they look to seal their survival. A weekend trip to Spurs, however, kick-starts a dire run of fixtures that may well persuade Charlie Daniels owners to part company and keep our interest in their flourishing midfield to a minimum. With City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton, West Brom and United also still to follow, it leaves just one kind remaining fixture – a Gameweek 33 trip to Villa. Can Eddie Howe’s side prevail at the Lane or it is time to looks elsewhere?
