FAVOURABLE FIXTURES
Man City – Norwich (a), Sunderland (h), Stoke (h), blank GW28
Monday night’s loss at home to Chelsea will have surprised many and maybe even cause some doubts amongst the City players themselves, especially as they had looked so indestructible of late. But they do have three kind-looking fixtures to get back on track, starting on Saturday as they travel to Norwich. This game stinks of goals – there has been 32 in their last five meetings, with City scoring 23 of those, so holders of Yaya Toure, David Silva, Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko will be hoping that this theme continues. They then welcome Sunderland and Stoke to the Etihad and we all know what they can do to teams there. It’s important to bear in mind that City have a blank GW28 due to their involvement in the Capital One Cup final, so you will need to plan that into your strategy for the next few weeks.
Chelsea – Newcastle (h), WBA (a), Everton (h), Fulham (a)
The Jose mind games are well underway. Despite becoming the first team to take points off City at the Etihad, the Special One maintains that his team are only third favourites to win the league. Well, the next few GW’s should give us a better idea and with the Blues defence in stubborn form, six clean sheets in eight games tells its own story and it appears almost a necessity that a Chelsea defender should be present in your side. Ever-present John Terry is both the highest scorer and the most expensive at 6.7mln, more affordable options are Gary Cahill (5.8mln), Branislav Ivanovic (6mln) and the cheapest of the lot Cesar Azpilicueta at 5.3mln. They welcome both Newcastle and Everton to Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks, both of which have seen a downturn in scoring of late, while away trips to West Brom and Fulham would also appear to offer little threat. With Fernando Torres still a week or two away from a return Samuel Eto’o seems nailed on up front, while the form of Eden Hazard seems to be just getting better and better. New signing, midfielder Nemanja Matic , priced in FPL terms at just 6mln, impressed at City and could offer a cheeky cheap punt in your midfield.
Tottenham – Everton (h), Newcastle (a), Norwich (a), Cardiff (h)
Having been taken apart at home by City in GW23, Spurs salvaged a draw at Hull last time out and will now look to push on in their attempt to grab a Champions League place. They now enter a run of four fixtures, all of which they will see as winnable, beginning with the visit of Everton to White Hart Lane this week. Despite Romelu Lukaku not scoring since GW19, he was been a valuable front man in terms of holding and distributing the ball and bringing others into play and its noticeable that the Blues have missed his presence and they are more reliant on set pieces and Steven Naismith! The Blues have only kept one clean sheet in their last ten, offering Spurs plenty of encouragement. Tim Sherwood then takes his team to a stuttering Newcastle and then onto struggling Norwich before welcoming Cardiff in a depleted GW28. It is this final fixture which will prove of most interest to fantasy managers as they look to plan forward for a GW28 without their Man City, Man Utd and Sunderland representatives.
In that regard, we would expect the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Eriksen to be in particular focus, whilst at the back Michael Dawson, Kyle Walker and Jan Vertonghen will be popular additions, depending on your budget.
The Best of the Rest
Two other teams with decent looking fixtures include Southampton & Aston Villa. The Saints host Stoke this week, before taking trips to Hull and West Ham and then they host Liverpool in GW28. Plenty of opportunities for the likes of Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez to carry on their good form. Villa host West Ham this weekend and then travel to Cardiff and Newcastle – Paul Lambert’s men may be of interest to fantasy managers for GW28 in particular as they entertain Norwich. Could see a few one-week punts here – time for Christian Benteke to return to your team maybe, while the likes of Nathan Baker and Fabian Delph will continue to interest those bargain hunters.
LESS FAVOURABLE FIXTURES
Fulham – Man Utd (a), Liverpool (h), WBA (a), Chelsea (h)
Two points clear at the bottom of the table, most if not all fixtures would appear to be difficult at the moment. But chuck into the mix fixtures against Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea in the next four GWs may see the Cottagers cast further adrift before long. The visit to United this weekend is traumatic enough, but could be even more painful as the Reds look to hit back with a vengeance following their drab defeat at Stoke. And if that wasn’t bad enough Messrs Suarez and Sturridge are the visitors three days later. A trip to West Brom in GW27 could be the only saving grace for Rene Meulensteen, though that’s hardly a gimme before the Special One brings his title chasing outfit the mile or so to Craven Cottage.
For the gamblers are amongst us, new signing Kostas Mitroglou may prove to be the buy of the season and score the goals that will keep Fulham in the Premier League. Haha who am I trying to kid! Clint Dempsey hasn’t done anything, Lewis Holtby at 6.2mln looks overpriced in a poor side. Oh well, there’s always Steve Sidwell – 82 fantasy points already this season including five goals.
Sunderland – Hull (h), Man City (a), Arsenal (a), blank GW28
Just as everyone who hasn’t got Vito Mannone, Phil Bardsley and Adam Johnson looks at the fixtures and sees Hull at home for the Black Cats, then the fantasy football devil works his nastiest magic and gives them trips to City and Arsenal followed by a blank game-week!! How’s your luck? That’s not to say that Gus Poyet’s men can’t get anything from these fixtures, after all they’ve already beaten City this season, but it may well be that your Sunderland boys may be best on your bench for three weeks or so. Hull at home should be straightforward enough though.
What you do with your Sunderland players is obviously up to you, but with a blank game-week on the horizon it may well be you’ll see some value lost if you choose to bench rather than sell them. But confidence in football is a great thing and you wouldn’t put it past Johnson to knock one in at the Etihad against his old club or indeed at the Emirates, while keeper Mannone should continue to pick up valuable save points.
Stoke – Southampton (a), Swansea (h), Man City (a), Arsenal (h)
A much needed win over Man Utd last game-week propelled Stoke back up to halfway, but they will need to build on that result if they are to stay there as the next few weeks produces some tough matches. First up is a trip to an improving Southampton side who are unbeaten in four and looked classy for long periods in dismissing Fulham. The Potters then host a struggling and newly managerless Swansea side and Mark Hughes will be desperate to win this one as they then face matches at Man City and then at home to Arsenal in GWs 27 & 28.
Charlie Adam continues to produce the goods for Stoke, while new signing, striker Peter Odemwingie, will be keen to cement his place in the team with a few goals. Captain Robert Huth should be back from injury soon and his price has dropped to 5.2mln, offering a small discount to partner Ryan Shawcross.
Be wary of…
It’s also worth mentioning Norwich face a few tough GWs with trips to West Ham and Aston Villa, while they also welcome Man City to Carrow Road. Despite outplaying Cardiff for long periods at the weekend, another defeat increases the pressure on Chris Hughton, who could well find his team back in the bottom three come the end of GW25. Scoreless in seven games, the Canaries will be desperate for striker Gary Hooper to get back on the goal trail sooner rather than later.
FIXTURE FUN
Please note that after this weekend we have another midweek game-week in GW26, with the deadline being 19.30 on Tuesday 11 February. This will give us all opportunities to see the team sheets revealed for the following matches: Cardiff vs Aston Villa, Hull vs Southampton, West Ham vs Norwich and WBA vs Chelsea. Following GW26, there is then a 10-day break from FPL due to the FA Cup Fifth round which will involve Sunderland, Southampton, Cardiff, Man City, Chelsea, Everton, Swansea, Arsenal and Liverpool.
**Buyer Beware!** GW28 and GW29
It is worth us pointing out at this stage that GW28 and also GW29 will need careful planning for. GW28 sees Man City, Man Utd, Sunderland and West Brom all without a fixture.
The sleeper on the horizon however is GW29 which clashes with the FA Cup Sixth Round. Depending on the outcome of the Fifth Round ties then this could potentially mean a blank game-week for the following teams as well as obviously their respective opponents for GW29 – Arsenal, Cardiff, Chelsea, Everton, Hull, Liverpool, Man City, Southampton, Sunderland and Swansea! It will of course not be all of these as some face each other but the worst case scenario given the draw is that six of them will progress and we are guaranteed at least four of them will at this point.
We will focus on the implications of this in much more detail in our next Fixtures Article once we know the outcome of these ties.
This article was written by Cookie.
Nice article Cookie.Gw 28 was going to be tricky enough to navigate but Gw 29 is going to be a bleeding nightmare !! Looking forward to the next fixtures article already !!!!
Just a quick look at my personal picks for the coming weeks, I basically do this for myself so I figure it’s no hassle to write it up here quickly in the hope it benefits anybody else on here. Last 5 game-weeks of data.
Mirallas – 22 shots (low accuracy of 18.2%), but has got 3 goals although just one from a ‘big’ chance. Also created 13 chances for teammates. Central for Everton *watch McGeady*, looks to continue form.
Snodgrass – 18 shots and 13 from within the area, possibly leading to average accuracy of 22.2%. 1 goal from 2 big chances, created 12 chances and gotten 1 assist. Could be picking up form with improving Norwich.
Puncheon* – 16 shots with 11 from in the box, accuracy of 37.5% (expect to regress) but has had 3 big chances and scored 3 goals. *Been on watchlist since before Christmas, still impressing.
Coutinho – 16 shots, just 8 in box. Created just 6 chances but has 2 assists from 2 big chances (0 goals). Shot accuracy of 31.3%, could regress but been good all season. Unlucky?
Dzeko – 24 shots, 21 in box. 4 big chances, 3 goals. 25% shot accuracy, expect to continue form.
Remy* – 19 shots, 11 in box. Has 1 goal but shot accuracy of 31.6%, created 6 chances and had 2 big chances. *Suspended, watch for new transfer + life without Cabaye.
Rodriguez – 18 shots, 11 in box. Accuracy of 35.3%, 2 goals from 0 big chances, expect to carry on form.
Sturridge – 7 big chances and 5 goals. Just 13 shots but 61.5% shot accuracy (all 7 shots in box have been big chances). Expect to continue form.
Nice flingy, thanks. What are you thoughts on Dzeko, I brought him in last week for augero because of his stats but you read a lot about him being lazy (plus rotation risk!) but he seems to be scoring!?
Evening NZ – A lot of people keep saying he’s lazy and I would tend to agree, but he’s always in the box looking for an opportunity to shoot, a far cry from the lazy Berbatov.
To put it in to perspective, he’s taken 21 shots from in the box in the last 5 game-weeks. Only Mirallas(22) has taken more shots overall, and only 9 of his were from in the area. Dzeko has had 24 in total.
I’m looking at bringing him in this week for Negredo, with the added benefit of a few more £m to play around with.
Good to know flingy mate. Yer I choose him over Neg for the same reason, giving me about £5mil to go crazy with! Then I have to calm myself and remember I will want to bring Augero back in so need some money in the bank, such a shame he has glass legs! What are your thoughts on Cesar AZ or Ivan or big Gary C or even old floppy hair Luiz?!
Thanks flingy, much appreciated.
I see you also have JRod, can’t decide if I should keep him or sell him for Dzeko next week bringing in Lallana for AJohnson. Can I have your thoughts on these moves?
Evening all. Done my transfers and now just needing to look who to bench. Bit if a headache with my front 7! Am inclined towards maybe Adebayor, Kos and Chester at the mo…?
Mannone, Harper
Ward, Gabbidon, Kos, Bruce, Chester
Mata, Hazard, Toure, Mirallas, Cazorla
Adebayor, Suarez, Benteke
@Titleastic, that is the problem with a strong front 8 sometimes, that it can cause selection headaches. Really not sure who I would sit, probably Caz but I would not feel sure about it. That is a very tough decision you got there.
Hi guys
Mannone Adrian
Coleman Kolorov Maraippa Bennett Chambers
Mata Hazard Yaya Noone Johnson
Suarez Sturridge AGUERO
Who should I bring in for Aguero? Got 0.3 in bank
Please help??
Be bold of you’re chasing! I went for Tekkers….
Hmmm I thought of him along with Jrod, Dzeko, Rooney
Hey lads, great site! First post for me. It’s my first season, so any advice will do! Thanks in advance.
Speroni | Boruc
Terry | Kos | Ward (Shaw, Chester)
Silva | Hazard | Lallana | Mata | Cazorla
Dzeko | Suarez (Chamakh)
0.1 in the bank … no FT.
Welcome to the site mate
Your team is solid like the defence and the mid is strong. Maybe if you downgrade someone in midfield lets say cazorla you could then upgrade dzeko as he does nothing. But as you have no ft I would leave this team for the weekend and take the moves above in to consideration for Tuesdays deadline.
Team looks good mate – I’m toying with the idea of chamakh in the future as well as it happens. Anyway I would honestly keep your FT and have the benefit of 2 FT next week
Thanks am4r77 and Titlastic. I just switched to 3-5-2, trying something different in order to play catch-up. Dzeko does bother me, but will see what he does over the next 2 games.
I want to captain someone other than Suarez, any thoughts?
I’d captain Mata out of your team. Personally I’m torn between Mata and Toure
Oh right yeah 0FT. Well definitely no more changes then! I’d hate to break up that stellar midfield to upgrade Dzeko so how about Terry to Azpi (or even cheaper defender) and seeing what you options might be then? Not a lot looks tempting for strikers at around 8 / 8.5.
It sounds crazy but I am honestly keeping an open mind to changing Suarez to Sturridge. I’m just not ire if Suarez return will be that much higher to warrant the extra cost
Interesting on Suarez to Sturridge … it just might be “the” key differential. And thanks, I will most likely at some point upgrade Dzeko soon, so Terry to Azpi is the way.
@Shrizzine, I think your team is fine for this GW, the biggest dilemma you face is whether to double up with Palace or Saints in the back or simply play one from each. I honestly be tempted to double up on Saints and play Ward over Kos. Arsenal might win, but just can’t see them keeping a clean sheet. But I would not mind having your team this GW at all.
Welcome to the site, I hope you stick around and please have a look through the site, if you have any questions please ask away.
Thanks Mito! And yes, Saints or Palace is the question. I like your idea of benching Kos and playing Ward. Liverpool will find a way to score. I’ve had a look through the site and love it. Great articles too, BTW!
Now, to harness all this site’s magic and use it to win my mini-league here in Toronto, Canada. Yes, the same Toronto that landed Jermaine Defoe! 😉
I still can’t believe you guys have a MLS team. BTW we play fantasy MLS also, so if you are interested stay tuned.
Mito
I’m tuned too.
Expecting a big announcement regarding MLS!
Gallant we have to keep the pressure on Init, hopefully we can do a couple of leagues and possibly some articles? Not sure about that last part, but this will be my first time participating and I am hoping for some help!!
Mito
New rules scoring etc. you apparently pick a squad of 18 this year!!! That could be troublesome. The bonus points are a lot better, you can make subs during the gameweek and change your captain.
I’ll look out for Init tonight to see if he’s noticed the new season MLS fantasy is now live.
@Gallant, I will let him know right now.
Mito
Good stuff. Hopefully Resurrect last years classic and head 2 head leagues.
MLS Fantasy? Sounds great. Will keep an eye out for that.
Well, we have every other major sporting team (NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL on its way too) so MLS is a must! Bloody great atmosphere, although the quality is average. Good still to see players like Henry every now and again. Beckham is apparently bringing an MLS team to Miami, wanting to raid Europe of its talent to build a squad. We’ll see!
Boruc, Mannone
Chester, Shaw, Koscielny, Ivanovic, Ward
Livermore, Silva, Mata, Hazard, Noone
Sturridge, RVP, Suarez
1 FT.
0.2 in bank.
I think i don’t need to make any transfer this week but what about:
Chester out – Fabio in ?
Thanks
I’d look at west ham, Collins is cheapest Reid is most nailed on
Jolaks…. Collins of west ham I looks great value at 4.1