Fantasy Football Fixture Analysis Gameweek 37

Welcome to Fantasy Football 247 Fixtures Gameweek 37. I don’t write as often I would like these days (some may say that’s a good thing!), I spend the time chasing up other writers instead (they certainly won’t!) but one thing for sure is that I appreciate every single word they do write as I know what goes into writing an article. As a user of other websites I know that it’s simply ‘expected’ that the latest content / news / whatever will magically appear whenever we press that refresh button. As a fellow writer though I appreciate the time, effort and research that goes in behind the scenes to make said magic. A common theme whenever a ‘newbie’ steps forward for us is something along the lines of; ‘really enjoyed doing it but I didn’t realise how long it would take / how much research was needed’.

I’ve lost count of the amount of people who have contributed an article for us this season so I won’t bore you further by naming them all but suffice to say they know who they are and I doth my cap to each and every one of them. It doesn’t matter if it was one article or twenty, every piece makes up the jigsaw and we literally wouldn’t be here without you. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. :clap:

Anyway, enough with the glad-handing, you came here for some FPL advice, I believe. The fact is that there are only two game-weeks left so quite what you expect me to say I’m not sure but let’s give it a go regardless…. At least I didn’t get the GW38 Fixtures gig I suppose!

GW36 began with a good many site members posting scores by half-time in the first game that would actually represent a decent total GW score. Come full-time we were seeing scores that would represent a fantastic GW score and a good few eyeing a 100 even if nobody else got much more than appearance points for them.

Come half-time on Saturday afternoon we were seeing our first 100 club members emerge. By half-time on Saturday …. Let that sink in! Now of course this was in part down to many a TC chip being played but it was also down to Liverpool. And presumably a few of the usual suspects from Wolves and Bournemouth. Not from you Duffy, sit back down pal.

Our usual fixtures article picks out the wheat from the chaff and highlights both but the chaff is burnt by now and the wheat is obvious. The bits in-between the wheat and the chaff (technically there isn’t but go with us on the metaphor here!) may also still yield some fold. And some have other factors to consider, such as European imports. Or exports. As such, rather than the usual version we have decided to give you a quick run down on all 20 clubs, and we shall rate them fixture wise as we go with a score out of 10 and a traffic light warning system to boot, depending on their fixtures themselves and their chance of rotation. And some other stuff….

(I should preface this by saying that 7th place may or may not yet get a spot in the Europa League, it’s a bit bloody complicated and overall very comical, you can read why here if you can be bothered.)

Arsenal vs Brighton (H), Burnley (A)

Something to play for?
Absolutely; their Champions League lives. And of course the 4th Place Trophy. Not that you’d notice if you’d seen them play recently.

Europe?
Yes. Arsenal have at least 4 games left now, they play midweek this time prior to GW37 and again between 37 and 38.

Rotation risk?
Given the above it is strong. They need to win both but they have shown they are not afraid to rotate regardless.

Synopsis;
Arsenal are playing on both fronts, you should expect rotation as a result. Brighton at home should be a gimmee. It would be for most top 4 sides anyway. Burnley away is always difficult.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
7/10

Bournemouth v Spurs (H), Palace (A)

Something to play for?
No. They’re in the lower reaches of mid-table and that’s where they’ll stay.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Seems unlikely. Ryan Fraser was benched last week but Eddie saw the error in his ways quickly and he was on after just 23 minutes.

Synopsis;
These are two tough games but even with nothing left to play for we’d expect them to go full tilt.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
6/10

Brighton vs Arsenal (A), Man City (H)

Something to play for?
Brighton will probably need just a point to secure their top flight status. The only issue there is where that comes from.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Certainly none in the first game. If they are safe come GW38 then they may do but in the interests of integrity and the small matter of a league title possibly being decided then they will probably go full strength in that one too.

Synopsis;
Arsenal are a different team at home and will need to win whilst the other game speaks for itself. We’d avoid Brighton at all costs here.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
1/10

Burnley vs Everton (A), Arsenal (H)

Something to play for?
Pride only. They’re safe from relegation but anyone who knows or indeed has ever even glanced at Sean Dyche will know that pride and standards are his buzz words. Expect a resilient fight until the bitter end.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Such fancy foreign words probably don’t translate well into Gruff. Or whatever language it is he speaks.

Synopsis;
Given that Burnley aren’t a top 6 team Everton are unlikely to bother turning up and Arsenal at home is about the best fixture you could ask for right now.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
7/10

Cardiff vs Palace (H), Man United (A)

Something to play for?
Cardiff realistically need to win both of their remaining games to have any hope of staying up and even then that depends on what Brighton do.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
They will be full strength in the first game. Lose that and get relegated and it’s anybody’s guess who will appear at Old Trafford.

Synopsis;
Outlook is bleak, not that you’d willingly own any of their players anyway.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
1/10

Chelsea vs Watford (H), Leicester (A)

Something to play for?
Right in the thick of a battle for Champions League places.

Europe?
Europa League semis on Thursday and then again the following week.

Rotation risk?
You’d have to imagine so. Sarri has got this far in the Europa by playing a ‘weakened’ team (some may argue a better team!) but given as he’s at the semi stage and that he’s never actually won a major trophy himself you’d expect a full tilt at it.

Synopsis;
You just don’t know what to expect from Chelsea. Either game could conceivably be a 3-0 win or a 2-1 defeat.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
6/10

Crystal Palace vs Cardiff (A), Bournemouth (H)

Something to play for?
Not really, although there are probably a few still playing for their places ahead of next season. Namely the centre forwards. All of them.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
We’d expect the core to maintain their places.

Synopsis;
The Cardiff game will be toughly contested for the reasons mentioned above, the Bournemouth one feels like it could be your archetypal last day free for all.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
7/10

Everton vs Burnley (H), Spurs (A)

Something to play for?
7th spot could get them a place in the Europa. They may well throw the last two games then! (note from lawyer: they won’t, it was a joke).

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Highly unlikely. Silva probably bought himself a lot of time with some recent high profile wins but he won’t want to go in to the summer on the back of any bad, albeit experimental, losses.

Synopsis;
A mixed bag and much like Chelsea you wouldn’t be overly surprised if they won or lost both.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
6/10

Fulham vs Wolves (A), Newcastle (H)

Something to play for?
You’d think so the way they’ve gone at the last 3 games since being relegated! Maybe Scotty’s messages have got through, maybe they’re just playing sans pressure

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Doesn’t seem apparent. There may be one or two experiments ahead of next season but you’d expect the main guys to be featuring (Mitrovic, basically!).

Synopsis;
Two tough games, Wolves may want that Europa spot and Newcastle don’t appear to letting up either just yet.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
6/10

Huddersfield vs Man United (H), Southampton (A)

Something to play for?
Simply building for next season.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Siewert has been quite open about looking towards next season so anything is possible really.

Synopsis;
Man United need to win so forget that one, maybe there will be a free for all at Saints. But probably for Saints!

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
3/10

Leicester vs Man City (A), Chelsea (H)

Something to play for?
Faint hopes of snatching 7th and a possible Europa spot.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Brendan has been fairly consistent thus far and we’d expect that to continue.

Synopsis;
Two tough games against two teams with a lot to play for but Brendan will be all out for scalps given his love of an ego massage.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
6/10

Liverpool vs Newcastle (A), Wolves (H)

Something to play for?
Obviously!

Europe?
Just the small matter of Barcelona twice in a week in-between must win league games.

Rotation risk?
As much as they would like to they can’t afford to.

Synopsis;
We fully expect Liverpool to go all out and simply win both games and then see where that takes them. But neither will be a given, especially not if Wolves want that 7th spot.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
8/10

Man City vs Leicester (H), Brighton (A)

Something to play for?
Ditto.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Normally we’d say yes, just because it’s Pep, but he’s unlikely to field anything other than his strongest team in these final two games. Whatever that is!

Synopsis;
As per Liverpool really, all guns blazing and probably two victories. And maybe a big one on the final day if Brighton are already safe. Brendan may put up a bit of a fight for his old club in the first.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
8/10

Man United vs Huddersfield (A), Cardiff (H)

Something to play for?
Champions League, pride, Ole and probably a place in the latter’s plans next season.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Only so far as normal team changes go, we won’t suddenly be seeing youth team players.

Synopsis;
Qualify for the Champions League and attracting new recruits becomes a whole lot easier. If you could hand pick two opponents for the task then it’d be these two.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
9/10

Newcastle vs Liverpool (H), Fulham (A)

Something to play for?
Not on the face of it but they don’t seem like they are ready for the beach just yet. Or indeed Vegas, but that’s another story…

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Doesn’t seem apparent, looks like they are going to the end.

Synopsis;
If Rafa’s heart had it’s way there’d be a red carpet laid out, a full U18’s team on the pitch and he’d emerge from the tunnel wearing a Liverpool shirt. (note from lawyer: he won’t, it was a joke). Fulham away could be easier and fun.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
6.5/10

Southampton vs West Ham (A), Huddersfield (H)

Something to play for?
Not intrinsically, as they are now safe.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Difficult to tell as they have only just secured said safety.

Synopsis;
This could go either way now. Shackles could be off or they could have been celebrating all week. Both games involve 4 teams without a care in the world. Huddersfield at home could be a party.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
8/10

Spurs vs Bournemouth (A), Everton (H)

Something to play for?
Win the first game and a top 4 spot is theirs.

Europe?
Very much so, Ajax twice in 8 days in-between their final 2 league games.

Rotation risk?
It’s difficult to say as their squad was small to begin with and is currently thread-bare due to injuries.

Synopsis;
They’ll probably have to go all out against Bournemouth. If that proves fruitful and the Ajax ties go their way it’s anybody’s guess how many youngsters you’ve never even heard of face Everton in 38!

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
7/10

Watford vs Chelsea (A), West Ham (H)

Something to play for?
Sort of. They’ve got an outside chance of 7th spot. Perhaps more tellingly though they have an FA Cup final to prepare for.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
They haven’t done so yet but the nearer said Cup Final gets the more you may see some.

Synopsis;
The fixtures aren’t really the issue here, the Cup Final probably is. They’ll probably go strong vs Chelsea but perhaps expect a more half-hearted approach vs West Ham, be that via the line-up or just from the players having an eye on what may be the biggest game of their lives.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
5.5/10

West Ham vs Southampton (H), Watford (A)

Something to play for?
About as mid-table as you can get!

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Probably not, they haven’t really shown signs of it so far but who knows.

Synopsis;
I’m struggling to get myself up for writing about them at this point and they probably all feel the same about actually playing. There’s literally nothing riding on either game so we could conceivably range from lacklustre 0-0’s to exhilarating 5-5’s.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
7/10

Wolves vs Fulham (H), Liverpool (A)

Something to play for?
7th spot and possibly a Europa spot. You’d think they’d want it too. And are acting as if they do.

Europe?
No.

Rotation risk?
Probably not.

Synopsis;
Nuno is running a good ship and it looks like he is embracing the chance to ‘go Europa’ so we expect they will continue forth in their quest. Fulham at home may be their best bet to do so though as Liverpool away could be tricky if that title hasn’t already slipped from their grasp.

Last 2 fixture rating, all things considered…
7/10

Bonus Section – Champions League Fantasy Football

As if you didn’t have enough to contend with the Champions League returns again tomorrow.

This section is simply a reminder that you need to make your changes and of a few key points;

• The deadline is Tuesday 30th April at 8pm
• You have 5 free transfers ahead of the deadline. And another 3 ahead of next week’s 2nd legs.

The fixtures this week are as follows;

FPL FIXTURE TRACKER

FIXTURE TRACKER LINK

FIXTURE TRACKER 2018/19