Chelsea square up to a schedule that could potentially resurrect their early season form. Villa and Sunderland meanwhile, can look to their forthcoming run of opponents for consolation as they look to halt a slippery slide into a relegation dogfight. A host of other sides aren’t so lucky, facing a fixtures that curdles the milk in the half-time cuppa.
Set your Season Tickers to stun as we “Frisk the Fixtures” one more time…
The Highs…
Chelsea
If Chelsea’s next three gameweeks were a department store they’d be Harrods (minus any Michael Jackson effigies). Quite simply, they are a top of the range selection, reminiscent of the kind of run they enjoyed to open their season; we all know how that turned out (pretty darn well).
With consecutive home games against Wigan, Birmingham (this game tied to a double-gameweek trip to West Brom) and West Ham approaching, Fantasy investment in the Chelsea squad is surely going to gather pace.
Frank Lampard is probably over-priced in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) at 12.9 but takes penalties and is the only heavyweight who can be relied upon to start all those matches. Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres and even Salomon Kalou are scrapping for the striking positions; take a gamble on one of those and it may well come up trumps, but it would certainly be a risk. At the back meanwhile, David Luiz will continue to rocket in price given that he is ineligible for European matches. He looks the most assured defensive choice, despite his showing at the Britannia, with a little Brazilian flair thrown in.
Sunderland
Sunderland are a bit of an enigma right now – they’ve not scored a goal in over 400 minutes, they may have lost their best defender (no really) for the rest of the season and are a point or two from the safety of the Premier League middle ground.
The fixtures, however, could not have fallen better for them. The next six games [WBA, bir, WIG, FUL, bol, WLV] look very appetising and, in ordinary circumstances, promise returns at both ends of the field. Steve Bruce’s side will need to regain a semblance of form before we can invest with any real confidence however – without that, the Black Cats are a risk.
The loss of Titus Bramble will dent credentials in the clean sheet department but the likes of John Mensah, Phil Bardsley and recent Watchlist candidate Simon Mignolet will still be contenders to consider here.
The strike pairing of penalty-taking enigma Asamoah Gyan and bargain basement loanee Danny Welbeck, are perhaps more likely to attract immediate interest – particularly if there are shoots of recovery on show against the Baggies at he weekend.
Aston Villa
Gerard Houllier’s side stick around then – still boasting a fixture list that promises to deliver an end of season sting. Their next five games [NEW, whm, STK, wba, WIG] have to be classified as one of the best run of opponents around, keeping their squad assets firmly in our mind, despite Villa’s current flirtation with relegation.
The 2-2 draw with Everton had more than a few talking points but most encouragingly for Fantasy Managers, we saw key Villa investments play their part. Darren Bent bagged both goals to flash back up on radars, while Stewart Downing and Ashley Young took it in turns to play provider. Those willing to back a defensive recovery meanwhile can of course also consider Kyle Walker – shaky on Saturday, the raiding right-back remains a steal in Fantasy terms.
Also to consider: Birmingham – a couple of moderate fixtures surround a double, followed by strong run-in to come. Blackburn – the draw at Arsenal was a much-needed boost and now the horizon looks promising; Junior Hoillett certainly presents a decent option. Blackpool – four crucial consecutive home matches will surely decide the fate of Ian Holloway’s side.
The Lows…
West Ham
The Hammers had been on the road to recovery but the nature of the 4-2 defeat to United on Saturday is a concern. The second-half collapse may well have knocked the veritable stuffing out of a West Ham side that continues to face few favours from the fixture list.
Trips to Bolton, Chelsea and Man City in the next four weeks present very sizable obstacles which will require the Hammers to regain defensive steel and for Demba Ba and Thomas Hitzlsperger to provide the quality in attacking terms. Fantasy Managers seem unlikely to throw their support behind the cause.
Stoke
The temptation with Stoke is to sit on the likes of Robert Huth and Matt Etherington for the next couple of gameweeks, with a double fixture in gameweek 34 looming. A trip to Spurs comes next, followed by a gameweek 33 blank. The double header with Villa and Wolves is the key however, and Huth owners may well hold firm with more pressing transfers required elsewhere.
The problem here is that, following the double fixture, Stoke’s prospects remain pretty glum. With Arsenal and City up next, clean sheets look unlikely and Huth will likely be required to add to his already impressive goal tally if he is to offer value. Stoke continue to impress at home and, in these games, we may see some continued attacking profit, but there appears to be far stronger potential to be found elsewhere.
Liverpool
Kenny Dalglish’s men have a faint hope of stealing fifth place and will equally do their utmost to hold off Everton’s charge up the table. The red side of Merseyside face an uneasy run-in however, and will need to maintain results in the face of some testing fixtures.
Two gameweeks at home to Birmingham and Newcastle in the middle of this period might be considered respite, but the four games around them in particular (MCY, ars, ful, TOT) are far from kind to Liverpool’s top five prospects.
Andy Caroll has gained over 160,000 new owners in recent weeks, Fantasy Managers who are clearly tipping the big centre-forward to recapture his consistent form in black and white stripes. Those considering the Geordie striker, and his supremely talented striker partner Luis Suarez, may wish to mull over the fixture list a little more before preparing investment.
Be wary of: Newcastle – Alan Pardew’s side look safe but with United at home and trips to Liverpool and Chelsea to come, the Magpies may struggle to continue their table climb. Man City – two potentially troubling away games sandwiching a blank fixture means lifeboats are being manned for a short-term Fantasy exodus.
