Another big double-gameweek is always a favourite of this scribe so is the opportune time to get back in the saddle and giving the fixtures what for once more as we look into who’s upcoming games scream in vestment and who’s upcoming games just leave you waking up screaming. It’s not all about double-gameweeks by any means though, pick up your Season Tickers and forage through the schedules as we “Frisk the Fixtures” for you again…
The Highs…
Everton
Their run of fixtures got good last week (evidently so as the Toffees managed to bag themselves five goals at home to Blackpool with Louis Saha king for the day, no iron mask for him) but it continues on for plenty of time to come yet. From gameweeks 28 through 31 in particular we’ll see David Moyes’ men have four consecutive home games in a row (SUN, BIR, FUL, AVL) as well as a double gameweek (Everton travel to Newcastle in the week they host Birmingham). This is more than enough to catch the eye of Fantasy Managers far and wide.
Leighton Baines is one of the hottest assist providers in the league this season and will have ample opportunity to go with his ample price and ample abilities over these next games. Those looking for a more budget defender will have surely heard of Seamus Coleman by now and his “out of position” exploits on the right wing will fit in nicely. Tim Cahill returns from Qatar and will be looking to not another goal or twelve while the aforementioned Louis Saha (provided he stays fit, a major if) offers a real alternative for those not feeling their identikit strike-forces.
Aston Villa
The regular frisk of the fixtures often takes a relatively mid-term look at which teams have a nice month or so coming up – Aston Villa have that. What they also have in abundance is long-term investment potential as the Villa fixtures top the polls for the remainder of the season – get on them now and stick until the end. In the heres and in the now we see that Houllier’s men have got three winnable home games (Blackburn, Wolves and Newcastle) on the horizon as well as kicking off this week with a trip to Ian Holloway’s faltering Blackpool side. Visits to Bolton and Everton in amongst those aren’t exactly amazing, but Everton’s defence certainly hasn’t been the rock it could be this season and the likes of Ashley Young have good records there.
The aforementioned support striker (as he is now being played) is a key contender for investment in the Villa ranks – an £8.1m midfielder at the heart of attacking movements. Keeping hold of penalty duties since the arrival of Darren Bent also boosts affairs. While it may diminish the potential before the new striker, he’s still worth considering as the man at the forefront of the team’s play. The Villa defence hasn’t been the steadiest ship there ever was (one clean sheet in the last 3 months) but luckily they have two bargain options to countenance those wanting aboard. Ciaran Clark is just £4.4m in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and seems to have been granted the role of left-back – just be warned as he’s nearing the suspensions tightrope on 8 yellow cards. Even cheaper at £4.0m sees loanee Kyle Walker set to impress with his speed and guile which saw him score this week as well as get a phone call from Don Fabio.
Birmingham
If you can get through gameweek 28 without too much of a struggle (Birmingham have no fixture as they’ll be busy facing Arsenal at Wembley) then Birmingham clearly have a nice spell of fixtures that calls out for investment. A spell that happens to start with two gameweeks and pretty much runs it’s course all the way until season’s end – but on a more short term basis, everything is still coming up trumps as those double headers (STK/NEW) and (WBA/eve) are followed by trips to Wigan and a homer versus Bolton.
Craig Gardner is the new confirmed Birmingham penalty taker so his exploits on the field are now only boosted and come priced at a relatively meagre £4.8m in FPL with David Bentley providing a more expensive flourish a home ground bonus hog Barry Ferguson the tight-wad alternative. Up front? Not so much, but the defence equally offers varying prices and calibres with Stephen Carr, Roger Johnson and Liam Ridgewell all holding merit.
Also to consider: Arsenal – at this point, ahead of a very tasty double (WLV/STK) most will have a gunner or three in their ranks. The good news is beyond that the fixtures continue to appeal. Blackburn – they have a new attacking verve and have three nice home games to go with it. It also helps you need not break the bank for the likes of £4m FPL bargain Junior Hoillett. Newcastle – they’ve got a double this week (though in fairness, it’s not the best) followed by some promising to good games. If they can cope without Carroll, and now Ameobi, there might be room for a member of the Toon Army or two.
The Lows…
United
Manchester United have finally lost their first game of the season (equaling a club record in the process) and to bounce back they would hope they might get a nice Mulligan like Blackburn at home to see them back on course. Unfortunately the reality is anything but close to this. As things currently stand United will need to get back on the saddle in the immediate future with games against City, Liverpool and Chelsea over the next three weeks – their biggest rivals and biggest foes.
If they can get through this they will pretty much have one and a half hands on this years title, but it’s not a black and white case and the fixtures demand consideration. Perhaps only the foolish (I count myself among thee) would consider selling their United wares but the bold have the fixtures -if not everything else- to fall back on as a countenance for bartering with other members of the fantasy domain.
Wigan
Wigan have one of the most impotent strike-forces in the Premier League this season (though four goals this week helps boost the numbers somewhat) and now head into a set of fixtures that would put fear into the eyes of the bravest Fantasy Manager – one can only wonder what state of mind Roberto Martinez will soon enough be in; rocking back and forth in the corner of a darkened room come Thursday I imagine.
The latics have to face trips to Liverpool, City and Chelsea as well as hosting United, Spurs and Birmingham. This is not exactly the kind of fixture fodder they will have been requesting as the club tries to pull away from the relegation zone, getting pulled right back into the mire seems almost inevitable and those with Wigan defenders will need to prepare their benches for weeks to come while the likes of N’Zogbia and Rodallega will probably find it even harder than normal to be difference-makers.
Sunderland
Tottenham. Everton. Arsenal. Liverpool. Man City. Take out the reigning and prospective champions and that could arguably be conceived as the five teams a side would least want to face in the Premier League. Steve Bruce is in luck then, because he has to face all five in order over the coming gameweeks. This is a run as hard as it comes and stockpiling your squad with Wearsiders might only lead you down a dark path – one with few clean sheets and less chances at goal than normal.
Be wary of: Fulham – trips to City, Everton and United as well as home games against free-scoring Chelsea, Blackpool and Blackburn (they do that now) means Fulham have a task ahead of them. Chelsea – in the immediate, Carlo’s fixtures aren’t looking so good. Besides a trip to Bloomfield the Blues might face a few challenges. Blackpool – they’ve got some poor form (one win in their last eight) and now face some tough games ahead, double or no double.
