Fantasy Football Fixture Analysis Gameweek 10

Welcome to Fantasy Football Fixture Analysis Gameweek 10. Has anyone seen FPL? You know, the game we all love and hate in equal measures, the high scores, dramatic shifts in ranks, mega captain hauls etc. Sure, pre-deadline it still feels like FPL, captain procrastination, mulling over that -4 you know won’t pay off, but no sooner has the deadline passed the imposter who bears all the signs of the game we know (and love) rears it’s head once more. Sub 40pts game week averages, captain fails, rest, rotation you name it, they all combine to provide a user experience that can at best be described as ‘meh’. GW8 was a miserable letdown, ‘it’s a one-off’ and ‘these game weeks happen’ we proclaimed, of course, normal service will be resumed in GW9 right? Well no, it was like Groundhog Day, just without Bill Murray and none of us is walking away having learned to play the piano.

So we go again? Well of course we do. Did you see Jamie Vardy lay down and cry whilst his Mrs was vilified by the masses for selling her mate down the river (allegedly of course)? No way. So if Jamie can stand up and be counted when it matters, then you’re damn sure we can. So forget GW9 (and 8), check out the fixtures below and let’s spend the week dreaming all over again.

Favourable Fixtures

West Ham – Sheffield United (H), Newcastle (H), Burnley (A)

West Ham begins a trio of winnable fixtures starting with two at home. Prior to GW8 things were looking up at the London Stadium, their opening day capitulation to Champions Manchester City was but a distant memory, 2-0 wins over Norwich and Manchester United followed and it seemed likely visitors Crystal Palace would be put to the sword (hammer). That 1-2 defeat has certainly given me pause for thought made worse by defeat at Goodison at the weekend, but I’m still confident they will pick up points over their next three fixtures.

First up, we have the visit of the Blades. Chris Wilder’s team have shown themselves to be adept away from Bramall Lane this season. They are yet to taste defeat and whilst they don’t score many (5) they concede even less (3). This does not bode well for Manuel Pellegrini’s team given that they have the second-lowest goal attempts (40) at home.

Another away game, another defeat at the weekend for Toon boss Steve Bruce. West Ham away used to be the kind of away game I’d have seen as winnable in days gone by, now I expect defeat and anything less than that is a bonus. A dip into the stats bin does nothing but further my concerns. Away from St. James, Newcastle have conceded 12 goals, only Watford have fared worse (13), we’re also the second-worst for crosses conceded on both sides and at the other end, we’ve scored a pitiful 3 time. In short, we’re there for the taking.

West Ham conclude their trio with a trip to Turf Moor to face-off against a Burnley side with an enviable home record (at least from a defensive point of view). The Clarets have 3 clean sheets this season, all of which have come on home ‘turf’ where they have won 3 and just the GW4 defeat to Liverpool (0-3) spoiling an otherwise flawless home record. Whilst the Hammers will have to bring their A-game if they’re to break down Burnley’s backline, they will be encouraged by the stats that show Sean Dyche’s team sit bottom of the pile for goal attempts (39) and have scored just 5 times at Turf Moor. Stick a 0-0 down in Harry and Lloyd’s predictions for this one then.

Man United – Norwich (A), Bournemouth (A), Brighton (H)

When we played Man United in GW8 it was a strange experience and not just because we won. I haven’t seen a Manchester United that was so poor, and whilst the game should not be all about the ‘big names’ it was bizarre to see a Red Devil side so devoid of any real star talent. A draw at home to Liverpool at the weekend may have stopped the rot, but if manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær is to turn things around then his next three fixtures are as good a place as any to start.

The early season promise shown by Daniel Farke’s team has waned somewhat in recent weeks. Injuries have shown their lack of strength in depth and they’ve become the whipping boys many expected them to be this season. They sit second from bottom having won just twice and have already lost 6 times in their opening 9 fixtures conceding 21 goals (the worst in the league) along the way.

At home, they are yet to keep a clean sheet and the 11 goals they’ve conceded at Carrow Road is again the worst in the league. They have also conceded 82 shots which you’ve guessed it, is the worst in the league.

It’s another away day for the Red Devils in GW11 as they head to the South Coast to face Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth. Whilst defensively Manchester United have looked more than capable (only Liverpool and Sheffield have conceded less than their 8 goals) its at the other end of the pitch where they have been found wanting. They are yet to win away from Old Trafford and have scored just twice. However, if they failed to capitalize in GW10, then GW11 offers another perfect opportunity as the Cherries sit second only to Norwich for shots conceded (67) and have kept just a solitary clean sheet in their 5 fixtures at the Vitality stadium.

GW12 sees Graham Potter take his Brighton side to Old Trafford having not won on the road since the opening day of the season (Watford 0-3). The Seagulls have only scored 4 goals away from the Amex and 3 of those 4 came in the aforementioned GW1 victory. In contrast, United have conceded just 4 goals and have 2 clean sheets in their 5 fixtures at home. If you’re going to invest in the Red Devils then you could do a lot worse than looking to their defence, let’s face it, you certainly won’t be looking at their attack.

Chelsea – Burnley (A), Watford (A), Crystal Palace (H)

If you’re reading this in order (and why wouldn’t you be?) then there is no reason to roll-out those Burnley stats all over again. However, unlike the Hammers, the Blues have shown no lack of composure in front of goal either home or away this season. Whilst West Ham (54) sit just one place behind second-placed Chelsea (69) for goal attempts in away fixtures, it’s Frank’s ‘boys’ who have proved more clinical with 12 goals (second only to City) to West Ham’s 6.

If someone has a game against Watford in their next three it dramatically improves their chances of appearing in this article. The Hornets are yet to win at Vicarage Road (2 draws 2 defeats) where they have conceded 8 and scored just 3. Have they been unlucky? Perhaps. The 37 shots they have conceded isn’t too bad (Norwich, by comparison, are on 82) and at the other end of the pitch, their 73 goal attempts are only bettered by 3 other sides.

Palace are the visitors in GW12. You don’t have to go too far back (well, the 2015/16 season) for the last time Palace took all three points in this fixture, but that seems a long time ago and unlikely to be repeated any time soon. The Eagles have shown mixed form away from Selhurst Park; whilst they took all three points at Old Trafford in GW3, they were roundly spanked 4-0 when they made the trip to The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium just two weeks later. From a stats perspective, only Sheffield United have had fewer goal attempts than the Woys boys (29) which does not bode well against a Blues side who have shown themselves to be defensively resolute and top the table for the fewest goals shots conceded over the last four matches (29).

Unfavourable Fixtures

Villa – Man City (A), Liverpool (H), Wolves (A)

The Villains have been playing well, they have players worthy of inclusion in our FPL teams but sadly their fixtures are something of a horror show. City away in GW10 is quickly followed by the visit of Liverpool in GW11 and then its another away day to face a Wolves side who are starting to show the form that had us all clamouring for their players in the 2018/19 season. I’d give their assets a wide berth for the foreseeable.

Palace – Arsenal (A), Leicester (H), Chelsea (A)

There hasn’t been a whole lot of love for Palace players this season and this is unlikely to change over the next three. Arsenal and Chelsea away sandwich the visit of the Foxes in GW11 and like Villa I can’t see them picking up too many points in the next three.

Good luck next week, let’s hope good old FPL proper returns to bless us all!

Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Fixture Analysis Gameweek 10. This article was written by Rosco.

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