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.
Evening guys, how is everyone?
What’s up FH? Got your team set for the weekend? Still contemplating taking a hit, feel like I need a City striker with those fixtures coming up. I anticipate City will have a thirst for blood after the 0 vs CFC.
Evening Mito, not fully sorted. Looking for a 3.9 defender… Parr, john and baker all being looked at???
I can understand why you want some city striker but I just don’t feel right unless it’s Aguero. None of the others really fill me with the same confidence.
Evening fh, I’m looking for 5.9 mid now shelvey is injured
Hi gp, who is on your watch list? Fancy a punt on Zaha?
There’s nobody outstanding fh, may see how zaha goes
Puncheon or Snodgrass gp, either would do.
Off the top of my head there isn’t a great deal of outstanding picks… Perhaps Snodgrass?
Flingy beat me to the Snodgrass idea lol damn
Couple of good ideas, cheers guys
Sometimes think I’ve to much upfront but ss been getting me my points n rvp is my cash league differential if he’s starts scoring big time
gpriley22 – Zaha or Puncheon for me,Snodgrass has been awful this season.
GP; RvP could prove to be a brilliant differential to most peoples teams. I do have concern over United’s general form but still reckon Rvp will score well
I am not enthused by either Dzeko or Negredo but with those fixtures it would not be shocking to see them score over 10 goals. That’s what worries me about them and not having a striker from them.
They may get goals but prob dzeco 1, neg 1 the others Silva rvp yaya etc
Totally get your thinking mito. On paper they could run riot.
FH – Howdy! I’d say Parr is your man,fixtures are a tad iffy though.
Hey NIN that’s my big worry but chances are I would only play him this week and bench him next so Parr looks a good pick.
How’s things?
FH – All is well thanks for asking,and yourself? Things have been hectic recently so i haven’t had much time to be on here unfortunately,i’m hoping things will ease up a bit soon
I don’t get on here as much either but am enjoying fpl this year, hoping to finish strongly.
FH – Yeah same here,i’ve made a few stupid mistakes recently but i’m happy with my squad now,a 50k or better finish would satisfy me
NIN, I’m sure you will get that. I still want to make top 10k. Was my target at the start and still feel it’s achievable.
Yeah Fergie,same here,i’m not sure if i’ll get there though,top 50k will do me i think, have you decided on a captain pick yet?
Yes I have NIN. RvP for me this week.
Haha,the old faithful!!
Lol definitely have high hopes for him this week. I’ll catch you soon NIN. Must be off. Have a good evening
Yep,we better get a bloody result,and a convincing one at that.You’re already ahead of me mate haha,i’m just about in the top 100k,take care dude.
I just had a look at the fixtures for GW29.
West Brom v Man Utd & Norwich v Stoke are the only fixtures that are definitely safe.
Yep, we have to wait on the FA cup 5th round and after that we can let panic overtake us.
Any thoughts on my post #42
Left you a reply
Any update on Jonny Evans yet?
EBC – ‘Tips & News’ at the top of the page has an injury section for all injured players mate.
Hi all,
Could I get some team advice? My current team is:
Mannone (Marshall)
Fonte/ Coleman/ Ward (sagna/ C Davies)
Hazard/ Gerrard/ Yaya/ Lallana (huddlestone)
Suarez/ sturridge/ adebayor
1ft & 3.1m in the bank
Money in the bank is because I transferred out aguero last week. Thinking I should get rid of Gerrard as he is playing deeper now, thought maybe Mata is it worth it with the blank wk28 coming up? I also need to upgrade huddlestone for wk28. Buying mata will also give me headaches when I try and get aguero back in. Any thoughts/advice? I am really going round in circles on this one
Seren
Mata, Silva or Navas would be decent alternatives to Gerrard for next three weeks. As long as you have 2FT in four weeks time you should be able to bring back Aguero by downgrading whichever one you go for without a points hit.
I like your team a lot.
GP,
Silva & Navas are good shouts thank you, 2 to consider. My first season playing fpl, I am enjoying it but sometimes it really hurts my head
.
I’m having a very similar headache, I really don’t want to mess up cup run and good form. I’m tempted to just go all out and bring RVP into the fold, have a feeling about United this weekend.
Rvp out of my reach funds wise, something I looked at trying to do (as it would have protected my aguero fund too)
serendipity – How about another City player? They have a shockingly handy run ahead (one which will see them pull away,in my opinion),Silva,Kolarov or Zabaleta would be good additions.
Thanks NIN,
I will look into to it, Silva could be a good option for Gerrard (usually nervous of doubling up) but I could always transfer out before GW 28 (depending on injuries!).
You could go mata if you have faith in his new role in united. He’s scoring about the same as Stevie g. But more expensive.
Though, tbh, gerrard is doing fine. 5th mid on form. Still on set pieces. Cheap.
Should have had another load of points in the Everton game, but generously have the pen to sturridge (who blew it).
He’s still averaging 50% more than silva.
Up to you of course.
So how’s the contract killing business?
Packed it in to make chocolate, less dangerous
Ahh so confused now. I like Gerrard but I am trying to be logical on this one, the city fixtures do look good though. Well it is only Wednesday so I can think about it a bit more.
Last week was disappointing average due to taking a 4pt hit, really want a good week this week.
Thoughts on City strikers…. not must haves. Every 5 or 6 nil drubbing City have handed out the goals and assists are v evenly spread around the whole team. Only Aguero, maybe Tourd edged out infront with 2 or 3 goals/assists.
So.. I have no fear in not having Dzeko or Negredo. They will score / assist, but so will other strikers in other teams, and I’m always thinking differential. If you’ve got Toure (maybe even Silva) I’d not feel compelled to go negredo or Dzeko. To be honest I’m more concerned about not having RVP when my closest mini league rival has…
Titleastic
Very hard to pick a reliable City striker in the absence of Aguero. I have silva but considering Navas in for Eriksen for next three games.