Having analysed those teams with Strong schedules over the next four-to-six Gameweeks late last week, the second part concentrates on the less fortunate sides. Two of the top-flight’s tightest defences face their sternest test yet, while a couple of the bottom three look set for further troubles ahead:
Everton
Roberto Martinez’s men seem to have taken their foot off the gas at just the wrong time. A hugely disappointing stalemate at Crystal Palace last time out was the product of deeper systemic troubles as Everton struggle to rediscover a cutting edge. With the home leg of the Merseyside derby and trips to United and Arsenal in the next four, they can ill-afford to let this rut deepen.
A recent spate of clean sheets to atone for the lack of goals has seen the likes of Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka hoover up bonus points but these fixtures don’t bode well for a continuation – however, it is a relatively short-term storm that many managers will be minded to ride out. The Toffees’ poor goalscoring form is more troubling, though – they have netted just twice in the last three weeks – and these fixtures may be the last straw for some owners of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas. With Ross Barkley’s recently-curtailed game time causing concern, the time may be right to scour the market for a budget midfield alternative.
Tottenham
Defeat at home to Newcastle was not totally without its upside – Spurs were only kept at bay by an extraordinary goalkeeping performance from Tim Krul and their sustained assault on the Newcastle goal offers some crumb of comfort for Andre Villas-Boas. The bad news is that they are staring down the barrel of their hardest stretch of fixtures of the season so far. With a trip to the Etihad next, followed by a home game against Man United and Liverpool three weeks later, anyone hoping to invest in the league’s tightest defence may wish to wait out this upcoming spell.
Kyle Walker has declared himself fit for international duty tonight but he and Jan Vertonghen may be relying on attacking threat to supplement slim pickings from clean sheets. With just nine goals in 11 games, Fantasy interest in Spurs’ attacking assets has waned. These fixtures give us a chance to monitor for signs of life, and also perhaps to glean answers to a few questions .Vlad Chiriches has started the last four games but the jury’s out on who will partner Vertonghen in the middle when Danny Rose returns from injury to re-claim his left-back spot. Likewise, Erik Lamela’s long-awaited start could be of interest if he finds his form – the Argentine offers an option in “the hole†if Christian Eriksen is ruled out with an ankle injury sustained on international duty; reports earlier today suggest the Dane could be sidelined until February with the problem.
Southampton
This season’s outstanding budget defence, you won’t find many successful Fantasy teams without at least one of the Saints’ backline in their ranks. Those managers face a conundrum now – the next six Gameweeks include trips to Arsenal and Chelsea and home games against Man City and Tottenham, though showdowns with Villa and Newcastle potentially offer respite.
The second most owned keeper in the FPL game, Artur Boruc will likely be relying on save points, whilst the hugely popular Saints back-four may struggle to add to their current haul of six clean sheets. Adam Lallana is in fine form, with an England call-up to reward his league exploits but these opponents could slow down the pace of his points. With two double figure hauls in three weeks, Rickie Lambert seems to have finally got his season into gear but these fixtures surely dampen any enthusiasm. Managers may wish to monitor Mauricio Pochettino’s men until Gameweek 18 when a more enticing set of fixtures heaves into view.
BE WARY OF
Sunderland
Gus Poyet may have breathed new life into the Wearsiders with a win over City but the schedule remains rather uninviting. Back-to-back away games at Stoke and Villa, followed by home games against Chelsea and Tottenham in the next four may curtail Sunderland’s upturn in form. The fixtures do pick up after that, though, and if the Uruguayan can continue the Black Cats’ progress, cut-price defenders such as Phil Bardsley or even Wes Brown could be worth a look. Up front, Steven Fletcher will be hoping to regain his clinical form of early last season, while Emanuel Giaccherini’s mid-price appeal may persuade those on the lookout for a midfield differential.
Cardiff City
Power tussles behind the scenes are the last thing the Bluebirds need ahead of a schedule containing United, Arsenal and Liverpool in the next six. Such fixtures will delay any potential investment in a defence that had produced a brace of clean sheets prior to the previous Gameweek’s loss at Villa. Managers may use this period to monitor the performances of their budget options in the shape of David Marshall, Ben Turner and Peter Whittingham, while club record signing Andreas Cornelius is also expected to return from an ankle injury in the next couple of weeks.
Fulham
Newly- appointed coach Rene Meulensteen has his work cut out as he attempts to work with manager Martin Jol to rescue the Cottagers from a dire run of form. Games against Swansea at home and West Ham away precede showdowns with Tottenham, Everton and Man City, a schedule that could see them sink further into the mire. Top of the agenda for Jol and Meulensteen will be to resurrect their dormant Bulgarian genius and coax out the goals in Dimitar Berbatov. If they can emerge from these fixtures with form intact, then defensive assets such as Sascha Riether and Brede Hangeland could also be worth investing in, while Patjim Kasami has the potential to be a very useful midfield budget enabler; at just 4.5, he’s started 10 of the first 11 Gameweeks.
