Frisking the Fixtures – The Strong – Long-Term

After offering our analysis of the teams with the fixture schedules to provide returns on immediate investment,, our focus switches to the longer-term, with our assessment weighted towards a number of sides expected to participate in the yet-to-be-confirmed Double Gameweek 37.

Long-Term

Tottenham Hotspur (che stk MCI/bha blank WAT wba LEI)
There’s no question that the next three Gameweeks looks somewhat troublesome for Spurs with Sunday’s trip to Chelsea perhaps persuading managers to defer their Wildcard until Gameweek 33. While the Wembley meeting with Man City match forms part of a double in Gameweek 34, the combination with a blank a week later provides a downside.

But a home match-up with Newcastle is likely to be part of Double Gameweek 37 alongside a trip to West Brom, with Harry Kane surely destined to be a big contender for the Triple Captain chip at that point.

Jan Vertonghen, Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min remain the other key targets, with the latter in the top four for transfers in among midfielders ahead of Gameweek 32. Eriksen’s short-term appeal is lessened due to Son playing up front, though a quick return for Kane would force the South Korean back to the flank and elevate the Dane in our thinking.

Manchester United (SWA mci WBA/bou blank ARS bha WAT)
If Double Gameweek 37 transpires as we expect (bha/whu), then all four of Man United’s opponents in the doubles will be against bottom 11 sides.

Romelu Lukaku is the most popular transfer target this week, although Alexis Sanchez has far better underlying numbers since arriving at Old Trafford.

The appeal of Jesse Lingard has diminished somewhat given that he’s only started one of the last three league matches, although the risk look easier to absorb thanks to his 6.0 price tag. Get back on the scoresheet against Swansea in Gameweek 32 and suddenly Lingard would then become a key Double Gameweek target.

David De Gea is the safe route to defensive returns, which has kept a joint league-high 15 clean sheets. Elsewhere, Chris Smalling currently looks the best option from the defence given the value on offer, although a fit-again Phil Jones could be a factor by Gameweek 37.

Manchester City (eve MUN tot SWA whu HUD sot)
Along with Spurs, City look the outstanding candidates for Double Gameweek 37 if the fixtures (HUD/BHA) drop as expected.

Ultimately, their prospects will depend on their Champions League quarter-final clash with Liverpool, and how quickly they can wrap up the title.

If the league is won early, rotation is likely to be a major issue should they progress in Europe, providing managers with a tricky dilemma as we seek to pinpoint guaranteed starters.

A possible Champions League semi-final first leg would sit between a home fixture with Swansea and the Gameweek 36 trip to West Ham, with the second leg scheduled before the first match of the potential Gameweek 37 double against Huddersfield Town.

David Silva is the in-form attacker, but his ongoing personal issues mean that he is perhaps more susceptible to sit out league matches should City progress in Europe.

If they do get past Liverpool, and if Sergio Aguero is preferred to the 6.1%-owned Gabriel Jesus as the central striker over those two legs, then the Brazilian may be worth a gamble as a differential.

Newcastle United (HUD lei ARS eve WBA wat CHE)
Rafa Benitez’s side have only suffered two defeats from their last ten matches, and have the fixtures to cement their survival.

A probable Double Gameweek 37 would involve a trip to Spurs alongside a visit to Watford, which lessens their appeal somewhat.

Dwight Gayle, Martin Dubravka and Kenedy are all in good form, however, with the latter pair, in particular, providing strong budget options.

The Slovakian goalkeeper has two clean sheets, five save points and two bonus points from just four matches, while Kenedy plundered 16 points to produce the highest individual score of Gameweek 30.

Chelsea (TOT WHU sot/bur blank swa LIV new)
As already mentioned, the home encounter with Spurs could influence when some managers choose to play their Wildcards, with Gameweek 33 a tempting option for those wanting to invest heavily in Chelsea and Spurs assets.

If it drops, Double Gameweek 37 would involve a home clash with Liverpool and a home meeting with Huddersfield.

The value offered by Willian means the in-form Brazilian is likely to be the most popular acquisition for managers using their Wildcard either this week or next. Indeed, he is the third most bought midfielder in the Gameweek so far.

Over the last six matches, he compares very favourably to the more expensive Eden Hazard.

Willian has averaged a shot every 25.5 minutes, significantly superior to Hazard (47.3), and has totalled 35 points, just two less than the Belgian.

His stock is also boosted due to the uncertainty over Antonio Conte’s favoured front man, with Alvaro Morata, Olivier Giroud and potentially Hazard all possible starters in the lone striker role.

Meanwhile, at the back, we stand by Marcos Alonso as the weapon of choice. His price tag of 7.2 does provide a barrier, but César Azpilicueta is just 0.3 cheaper as an alternative but cannot rival his compatriot’s goal threat. Andreas Christensen – at just 5.3 – could be a risk worth taking, though his owners will face an anxious run-in given his record with injuries in recent times.