As we build towards Gameweek 31, our Watchlist rankings have enjoyed their usual weekly refresh and can now be viewed in the right sidebar.
This week is notable for movement in the Newcastle and Everton ranks – both providing key assets to accompany the heavyweights in our squad. While the Magpies’ back four takes a dent with the injury to Fabricio Coloccini, their attacking potential leaps with the form on display in the win at West Brom. Everton, meanwhile, appear to offer options at both ends of the field as a Fantasy mainstay, as a new arrival make claims for investment…
Goalkeepers
The goalkeeping position remains problematic with Michel Vorm holding the top spot by default – with little or no opposition emerging. The combination with second placed Asmir Begovic looks a good ploy, although the Stoke keeper potentially lost his Gameweek 34 fixture with Everton due to the Toffees’ FA Cup progress last night.
Brad Friedel is the most significant climber in our rankings – providing an alternative route to the Spurs back four for potential defensive returns. Again, Begovic works well in rotation here, although both currently miss Gameweek 34.
Arsenal’s Wojciech Szczesny and Everton’s Tim Howard are both mid-price climbers who afford a way into the Arsenal and Everton defences respectively, although there are arguably better alternatives available within either sides’ back fours.
Defenders
Jonny Evans has surely reached essential status, having returned his third consecutive clean sheet, in addition to a goal and assist in the last two Gameweeks.
In contrast to the value offered by Evans, Everton’s Leighton Baines is an expensive proposition but nonetheless an asset with form and the potential to fetch double figure returns. The Toffees’ defensive resolve has been proven in recent weeks with three clean sheets in six, while Baines’ goal at Swansea was his fourth of the season and offered a reminder as to his attacking worth. With around 7% ownership, Baines is a differential who could really make a “difference” should he fulfill potential over the forthcoming run of obliging fixtures.
Third placed Thomas Vermaelen sits in the same bracket as Baines – another costly defensive asset with attacking potential in his locker. One or both of these players will likely restrict investment elsewhere but the duo have the ability to return profit at either end of the field.
Lower down the rankings we see climbs for Stoke’s Andy Wilkinson, with the Potters now facing up to a decent run of fixtures over the next four Gameweeks. Chelsea’s Gary Cahill is another viable option who sneaks up the rankings, while Tottenham’s Benoit Assou-Ekotto has the fixtures to earn him renewed interest.
Swansea’s Steve Caulker takes a dip due to his absence from the weekend fixture with Spurs, while Newcastle’s defensive assets continue to slide. Danny Simpson is in decline, with question marks over Alan Pardew’s backline as the Magpies go into the home clash with Liverpool without the influence of the injured Coloccini. Ryan Taylor could return to balance defensive frailty with attacking potential – his start at the weekend is still uncertain, however.
Midfielders
Gareth Bale’s strike in Tottenham’s FA Cup win over Bolton provided a timely reminder of his goal threat. We keep the faith with the Welshman on top of our the midfield rankings, then – we’ll be breaking down the reasons why in a Members Monitor article later this week.
Antonio Valencia’s form, value and fixtures push him into second spot – the United man is starting to look irresistible as an option for the third United spot, with Evans and Wayne Rooney filling the other positions. Valencia’s all-round game make him favourite to start on the right flank away from home, with Ashley Young and Nani set to compete for starts on the opposite flank.
Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson has the fixtures to reward his recent spurt of investment, while Theo Walcott continues to show consistent returns at the Emirates, pushing him up to fourth in our rankings. Returns on the road could see the Arsenal man progress further.
Fulham’s Clint Dempsey has the home clash with Norwich this weekend and will be expected to return profit accordingly. Should he fail, then the likes of Yaya Toure and Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa are challenging hard for the fifth midfielder slot. Sunderland’s James McClean is another player enjoying a revival – his stock climbed with a goal and assist return in the win over QPR, although the fixture list is against McClean and his Sunderland team-mates.
Forwards
The top two pairing of Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney look rock solid as their form is maintained, with favourable fixtures to come. Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse is now sitting in the third striker spot, having notched his fifth goal in six starts with a brace at the Hawthorns. Cisse has the blank in Gameweek 34 and, with Chelsea’s progress in the Champions League looking a possibility, there’s every chance that Newcastle’s clash with the Blues will be forced into a double Gameweek slot. That will be a short-term concern, although a possible double Gameweek will surely see investment rocket, should progress to the semi-finals on April 17/18 be confirmed.
Emmanuel Adebayor is the other major contender for the third striker spot – while his streaky form is a worry, the forthcoming fixtures grant him every opportunity to add to his 11 goals and 12 assists tally, as Spurs look to revive their challenge for a third place finish. They also face a blank in Gameweek 34, although their league fixture at Bolton could easily slot into midweek and be restored.
Options below the top four in our rankings look more risky – Fulham’s Pavel Pogrebnyak has gone off the boil after an explosive start to his career at the Cottage, while West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie has stalled through recent injury. Both have decent short-term fixtures and remain viable as low-to-mid price options.
Everton’s Nikaca Jelavic is rapidly emerging as the most attractive alternative, however. His FA Cup goal at Sunderland was his third in Everton colours, providing more evidence that the Croatian has settled on Merseyside. With a modest price tag and obliging fixtures to come, Jelavic provides a tempting differential to sit alongside Rooney and Van Persie in our squads.
