The international break grants Sun Dream Team managers another chance to make three changes to our lineups. Transfer Window 2 is now open and we have until kick-off at Goodison for the Merseyside derby on November 23 to make our fixes.
In this latest Dream Team feature, we offer an in-depth look at the fixtures at play between now and the next Transfer Window in January and identify some of the key targets when deciding on your three trades.
Transfer Window 2 – Dates and Fixtures
As always, our three transfers are available on a “use them or lose ‘em” basis so, even if you’re lineup looks settled, it’s well worth running the rule over the fixture list in an attempt to maximise returns.
This takes some close examination of the schedule between this window and Transfer Window 3 – the next opportunity we’ll get to tweak our teams – which arrives on January 21 and closes on February 1.
When we look at this in terms of traditional Gameweeks, we can see that we’re dealing with 11 Premier League fixtures, falling between Gameweek 12 to 22. Our members can immediately turn to their Season Tickers and begin to consider how this will influence their decisions. On the members’ ticker you can narrow the selection to Gameweeks 12-22 and simply sort by difficulty – they can also apply the “Attacking” and “Clean Sheet” filters to get a view on potential goals and shut-outs for each team.
In addition to league matches, Dream Team managers also have to take in cup competitions.
Here’s a breakdown of the extra fixtures that fall between Transfer Windows 2 and 3.
Capital One Cup
Fifth Round
FA Cup
Third Round
Europa League
Matchdays 5 & 6
Champions League
Matchdays 5 & 6
While all Premier League sides will be active in the FA Cup, the other cup tournaments create a clear division to give us the following distribution of fixtures in this Window:
16 Fixtures (11 PL, 1 FAC, 2 CL/EL, 1 C1C) – Man City, Man United, Tottenham, Chelsea
15 Fixtures (11 PL, 1 FAC, 2 CL/EL) – Arsenal, Swansea
13 Fixtures (11 PL, 1 C1C, 1 FAC) – Stoke, Sunderland, West Ham
12 Fixtures (11 PL and 1 FAC) – Aston Villa, Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Liverpool, Newcastle, Norwich, Southampton, West Brom
As we can see above, those teams with European commitments still have the advantage of additional fixtures, although we must consider that we’re now dealing with the final matches of the group stages, with Matchday 6 perhaps primed for heavy rotation – particularly for those teams who manage to seal qualification prior to those ties.
Manchester City have qualified for the knock-out rounds already, which could see Manuel Pellegrini rest key players in their remaining ties. Both United and Chelsea could ensure their qualification in Matchday 5, with Arsenal perhaps the most likely to go into the final group match still uncertain of their fate; Napoli and Dortmund seem set to push them all the way.
As for the Europa League, Tottenham look certain to win their group and have already qualified so it’s only Swansea’s fate that’s uncertain. We can expect continued rotation from Andre Villas-Boas, then, with Michael Laudrup perhaps more likely to field a strong starting XI for the Swans’ remaining ties.
The Players
With four teams destined for 16 matches between now and Transfer Window 3, we need to make their players our priority, assessing how rotation will make an impact and targeting those most likely to profit from the extra fixtures.
Both City and United present us with issues. It seems unlikely that Sergio Aguero (£7.0m) will see action in all four of their cup ties but, with David Silva’s (£5.5m) fitness currently a concern, the Argentine still looks by far the strongest attacking option on offer in the City ranks along with Yaya Toure (£6.0m). The Ivorian is currently tucked in behind Aaron Ramsey in the Dream Team midfield rankings, while Aguero is topping the striker table with 108 points.
While that pair will be prime targets in this window, defensively, City are a no-go. They don’t have a single defender in the top 20 Dream Team rankings, whilst Joe Hart’s (£6.0m) start looks far from assured, having recently lost the jersey to Costel Pantilimon.
On the other side of Manchester, both Wayne Rooney (£7.0m) and Robin van Persie (£8.0m) offer obvious appeal – Rooney has 7 goals from 15 appearances, with the Dutchman firing 8 from 13. Rooney has 5 Star Man awards to his name, however, a stat that has kept him simmering above Van Persie. Meanwhile, the gulf in ownership is huge – Rooney is present in just 2% of Dream Team lineups, while his strike partner is still owned by over 63% of Dream Team managers. There’s a clear differential on offer, then, for those brave enough to back Rooney to go on keeping pace.
Aside from the two strikers, there is little on offer from United in attacking quarters, although their defence may be worth considering in anticipation of David Moyes’ side stiffening up as the title race intensifies. Phil Jones, priced at just £4.0 million, could be an intriguing option given that he looks set to deputise in midfield for the injured Michael Carrick until the New Year. Jones is already the top scoring United Dream Team defender on 49 points.
Tottenham have let us down badly when it comes to goals, with new signings Christian Eriksen (£4.0m), Erik Lamela (£4.0m) and Roberto Soldado (£4.5m) failing to live up to pre-season hype. All three are likely to shipped out in big numbers over this window, with the Spurs defence earning far greater interest, having earned 11 clean sheets to this point. Hugo Lloris tops the keeper rankings, with Jan Vertonghen the current standout Dream Team defender. Caution is perhaps required, however, with Andre Villas-Boas’ side facing up to United twice in the league, along with City and Liverpool prior to Transfer Window 3.
Similarly, Chelsea’s defence has some tricky encounters ahead, including Arsenal, United and Liverpool in the league. Form is a bigger concern, however. The Blues are without a clean sheet in the league for six matches, although they have kept three consecutive shutouts in Europe. That’s meant that John Terry (£5.0m) is bubbling under in the Dream Team Defender rankings – he currently sits fourth overall and is Chelsea’s top defender by 14 points ahead of Gary Cahill (£4.5m). Petr Cech remains the other main option when considering Jose Mourinho’s rearguard – he has twice made way to Mark Schwarzer in the Capital One Cup but looks assured of starts in both the league and in Europe.
Chelsea remain a lottery in attack with the midfield remaining the only viable source of regular starts. Eden Hazard (£6.5m) and Oscar (£4.5m) are their top ranked attacking players, with the Brazilian offering stronger value, having apparently cemented the number ten role. The threat from Juan Mata could become more of a factor over the busy Christmas period, however, with Hazard perhaps emerging as the more secure option in Mourinho’s attacking midfield trio.
By contrast, Arsenal’s appeal currently runs from back to front. While Aaron Ramsey’s (£2.5m) remarkable form has him established as the highest scoring Dream Team player, Mesut Ozil (£5.5m) and the returning Theo Walcott (£5.5m) also look set for recognition in this window. The latter, in particular, looks a wildcard option having largely missed out through injury to this point. Walcott fired 21 goals in the last campaign and was ranked fourth for midfielders overall. Those stats saw him command a place in 31% of Dream Team squads at the start of the season – it will be interesting to see how many of that number hold firm, given Walcott’s possible return against Southampton.
While Olivier Giroud’s legs appear to be buckling under the continuous run of matches, his record of 8 goals from 18 appearances has no doubt surprised critics. It’s debatable whether he’ll be backed in this window, however, given the fierce competition for a place in our front lines and the impending arrival of a new Arsenal striker in the January window.
Arsenal’s defence is certainly worthy of consideration – Wojciech Szczesny (£4.0m) has crept up to second in the keeper rankings having earned 7 clean sheets from 17 appearances and it’s worth noting that Arsene Wenger’s defence has only conceded two or more goals in just a pair of those matches – on the opening day against Villa and in the Champions League in the home defeat to Dortmund. There’s value to be found in the Gunners back four, then, with Bacary Sagna’s £3.5 million price tag looking particularly tempting. The Frenchman is currently ranked second to Vertonghen in the defender listings and turned out in 16 of Arsenal’s 18 matches thus far.
Swansea are the final club with European football to consider, although neither the stricken Michu (£4.5m) or the inconsistent starts of Wilfred Bony (£3.5m) are likely to tempt investment. Michael Laudrup’s side have been a stronger proposition at the back, where the likes of Ashley Williams (£3.5m) and Chico (£2.5m) still offer some appeal. Williams went into the season as the top owned defender in the game (31% ownership) and, having recovered from injury, is worth holding if you have priorities elsewhere in your lineup. Swansea’s fixture list and erratic form suggest that we’ll see little recruitment in this window, however.
Liverpool are far more likely to draw our attention. Despite the lack of European fixtures, Luis Suarez (£7.5m) is firmly on course to challenge at the very top of the Dream Team rankings and looks an almost essential purchase in this window. Eight goals and a pair of Star Man awards in just seven starts leaves us in no doubt that he’s an asset that will continue to harvest points at pace.
Having returned from injury to earn a first start against Fulham, Philippe Coutinho is another of Brendan Rodgers attacking charges who warrants our interest – for £4.0 million, the Brazilian promises to share goals and Star Man awards with Suarez. Meanwhile, the back four have a run of fixtures that could see them improve on a modest clean sheet tally to this point. Simon Mignolet (£3.0m) will likely be retained in goal having earned a 34% ownership, while Glen Johnson (£5.0m) looks the most secure asset available for those looking to invest in some extra attacking intent.
There’s always a risk in dropping our sights to assess the talent available outside of the European sides and title challengers. However, just as Southampton rewarded us when we earmarked them in our last Transfer Window analysis, we should perhaps expect improved runs from both West Brom and Norwich – both of whom are treated to a strong run of fixtures between now and Transfer Window 3. In Stephane Sessegnon (£3.5m) and Robert Snodgrass (£3.0m) we’re presented with a pair of mid-price midfield assets who should kick-on in this spell. Similarly, Gareth McAuley (£2.5m) could be worth a passing glance at the back with his set-piece goal threat always a factor.
Ironically, those holding Southampton’s defensive assets should perhaps contemplate a exit route. While their reliance is not under question, a fixture list that presents matches against Arsenal, Chelsea (twice), City and Spurs, all before Transfer Window 3, will surely put that to the test.
Finally, if you’re looking for an “enabler”, West Ham’s Ravel Morrison is ready-made for the role. Priced at just £1.0 million, he’s ranked fifth in the current midfield rankings and only Aaron Ramsey can match his points per million tally to this point. Owned by less than 1% of Dream Team managers, that stat is likely to change in this window as we swoop for the Hammers starlet in order to free up funds for big money moves elsewhere.
Once you’ve decided on your trades, head over to Dream Team and start tinkering.
The Sun Dream Team Scout League
A reminder that we also have our own Fantasy Football Scout League with a £1,000 top prize on offer to the winner.
Simply use the following PIN and password to enter your teams into the running:
League Name: Fantasy Football Scout
Password: ReWOZhn1T1
PIN: 8061654
