The roundabout otherwise known as “Frisking the Fixtures” is rocking once more as teams go hopping on and off at fantasy manager’s excitement and/or peril. It’s up to us to keep up to speed with all these comings and goings and raise a flag of awareness for the good and the bad, so let’s take a peek at what gameweek ten (and onwards) is telling us…
The Highs…
Everton
David Moyes’ men get their first favourable frisking of the season, and boy it’s a good one. After their usual ploddy start to the season the Everton train has started to pick up pace over recent weeks and the fixtures that coincide (clicking sort by difficulty on your next six ticker will show you they are top dogs) with the form spell excellence with a capital E. The Toffees are set to stay close to home over November as they have four home games in the next six, and they’re quite attractive too (STK, BOL, ARS, WBA); plenty of potential for the forwards in particular, and not so bad for defenders either. Midfielders Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta should expect to see bumper investment in the coming time, as should ultimate “out of position” candidate Seamus Coleman and the not quite so bargain Leighton Baines from defence.
Bolton
Bolton join the budget parade when it comes to favourable fixtures as they too are about to be sticking close to home a lot over the coming month. Bolton have only lost once so far this term, and that was at Arsenal with ten men, so now the games on their horizon shine brightly the results, in theory, will only improve, and aligned rightly could see a Trotters investment provide hearty returns. Johan Elmander will hopefully bring his away form to the Reebok Stadium and slots alongside Kevin Davies as a potential new striker. Martin Petrov and Chung Yong Lee will provide viable midfield variants and Gary Cahill and Zat Knight will provide your medium and low price defensive options.
Arsenal
Arsenal get drafted back into the considerations with a strong leaning on their fixtures in the next two weeks (WHM, NEW). When it comes to home sides, The Gunners are ones you want to be looking for without question or doubt, so two home fixtures against two of the weaker sides – and reasonable, if not stellar fixtures to follow – in the Premier League sounds a few sirens. Star captain Cesc Fabregas is likely to see a renewed vigour of investment from the fantasy crowd as he provides the answer to the all important captain’s conumdrum for the next two weeks, as well as players like Samir Nasri, Theo Walcott and Marouanne Chamakh all offering an opening at a price not quite as demanding on the budget.
Also to consider: West Ham (but maybe not this week in particular), Man United (with four nice home fixtures and a derby game in six), West Brom (for the long haul) and Blackpool (with a home fixture against the Baggies that looks like it has goals in it).
The Lows…
Blackburn
A simple continuation of the theme from the week previous, Blackburn’s fixtures are not good and investment in their wares carries a great deal of caution with it. Investors in their midfield and attack (anyone?) will be pretty sparse and those with a defender or two in their unit – which will be many people – may need to hunker down and expect clean sheets to be a bit of a commodity over the next month or so.
Birmingham
In two weeks time Birmingham have a pretty nice fixture (at home to West Ham), but other than that everything is most definitely not peachy on the home front, on the away front – on any front. A local derby against Aston Villa this week might appeal but is a fixture that can throw up just as much surprise, but certainly poses a threat – as with the above Blackburn – those who use their Birmingham quota to bolster their defensive unit. Throw in some fixtures with Spurs, Man City and Chelsea not soon after and the bigger picture begins to take shape. Foster, Dann, Ridgewell and co might be expecting to see some of their owners turn heels and run.
Wigan
As an opposite to those clubs highlighted as fixture angels, Wigan join the club of fixture demons with the fact they will be playing away from home four times in November a key contributing factor. Three of those long bus rides aren’t exactly the easiest places to go to either (Craven Cottage, Ewood Park and Old Trafford), which only compounds the fact investors may see trouble ahead, particular with some stern defences in the sight-lines. Rodallega and N’Zogbia are going to have an uphill challenge to get the kind of scores managers will be wanting following their recent uptick in performances.
Be wary of: Wolves (who’s fixtures are still very rough), Sunderland (with three away games in four for the poor travelers) and Spurs (with a mish mash of so-so fixtures).
