Fixtures: Double gameweeks and blanks.
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[/three_fourth]The key to a strong finish could easily come down to how well you plan ahead. In particular when you look ahead and see a couple of double game-weeks and blanks on the horizon. While everything is not set in stone at the time of writing this article, we feel we can make a very educated guess on what GWs you should be focusing on. This is the time of the season where the FA cup starts to really cause havoc. Coupled with the European tournaments and the inability of the FA to schedule replays at any old date, it certainly makes things very interesting. So let’s see if we can give you a better idea on how things are going to shake out, by breaking down the teams that are likely to be involved in some way or another.
[divider_1px]First let us get the easy ones out of the way. These Double game-weeks are already set and we don’t have to wait on any ruling from the FA or replay yet to be played.
Chelsea have a double in GW34 because of a prior fixture being moved.
[clear]What we know:
Double in game-week 34 which mean fixtures against Arsenal (A) & Leicester (A)
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Leicester have a double in GW34 because of a prior fixture being moved.
[clear]What we know:
Double in game-week 34 which mean fixtures against Burnley (A) & Chelsea (H)
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Now moving on to the more complicated ones that have several different possibilities.
Aston Villa will now have a blank in GW33 because of the FA cup semis. Their fixture with QPR on April 20th will now have to be moved. Therefore giving them a blank that GW.
[clear]Possible scenarios:
Double in game-week 31 which would mean fixtures against Man Utd. (A) & QPR (H)
Double in game-week 34 which would mean fixtures against Man City (A) & QPR (H)
Double in game-week 37 which would mean fixtures against Southampton (A) & QPR (H)
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QPR will now have a blank in GW33 because of the FA cup semi-final which Aston Villa are involved in. Their fixture on April 20th will now have to be moved. Therefore giving them a blank that GW.
[clear]Possible scenarios:
Double in game-week 31 which would mean fixtures against West Brom (A) & Aston Villa (A)
Double in game-week 34 which would mean fixtures against West Ham (H) & Aston Villa (A)
Double in game-week 37 which would mean fixtures against Newcastle (H) & Aston Villa (A)
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Arsenal will now have a blank in GW33 because of the FA cup semis. Their fixture on April 18th will now have to be moved. Therefore giving them a blank that GW.
[clear]Possible scenarios:
Double in game-week 31 which would mean fixtures against Liverpool (H) & Sunderland (H)
Double in game-week 34 which would mean fixtures against Chelsea (H) & Sunderland (H)
Double in game-week 37 which would mean fixtures against Man Utd. (A) & Sunderland (H)
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Sunderland will now have a blank in GW33 because of the FA cup semis that Arsenal are involved in. Their fixture on April 18th will now have to be moved. Therefore giving them a blank that GW.
[clear]Possible scenarios:
Double in game-week 31 which would mean fixtures against Newcastle (H) & Arsenal (A)
Double in game-week 34 which would mean fixtures against Stoke (A) & Arsenal (A)
Double in game-week 37 which would mean fixtures against Leicester (H) & Arsenal (A)
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Now onto the more complicated teams, as these still await a replay result before anything is possible.
Liverpool will partake in their replay on April 8th. If they win said replay, their fixture with Hull City on April 18th will have to be moved. This would mean that they will have a blank in GW33 Because of the date of the replay it rules out GW31 as a possible landing spot for a hypothetical Double.
[clear]Possible scenarios:
Double in game-week 34 which would mean fixtures against West Brom (A) & Hull City (A)
Double in game-week 37 which would mean fixtures against Crystal Palace (H) & Hull City (A)
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Hull City await to see the result of the Liverpool replay on April 8th. If Liverpool win said replay, the fixture with Hull on April 18th will have to be moved. This would mean that they will have a blank in GW33 Because of the date of the replay it rules out GW31 as a possible landing spot for a hypothetical Double.
[clear]Possible scenarios:
Double in game-week 34 which would mean fixtures against Crystal Palace (A) & Liverpool (H)
Double in game-week 37 which would mean fixtures against Spurs (A) & Liverpool (H)
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Game-week 28, 29, 32, 33, 35 and 36 are highly unlikely if not impossible to be used for Double game-weeks because of UEFA regulations preventing domestic games from clashing with Champions League and Europa League.
Game-week 30 can’t be used for a double because it will be International Break week.
This only leaves game-week 31, 34 and 37 for rescheduling any postponed games.
If you want to check out all the fixtures that include all EPL, FA, Champions League and Europa in one place, just check out this link –
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qjbVKMx4IhOcMb0isT1USnxvc5ldh1w5uOGwK2wjWro/edit?usp=sharing
We will do our best to keep it updated as the fixtures are announced.
This article was written by Mito21
FF Fix is telling me to sell Wolfschied for Zouma, thereby doubling up on Chelsea defence. I had been thinking of bringing in Alderweireld now he’s fit. I’m tempted. What do you all think?
Swiss
If you go Zouma it means you have to juggle a bit to get in Fabregas/Oscar or Costa in future weeks.
I would be very happy with Alderweireld once he’s back. Not sure on Wollschied injury yet though so I wouldn’t rush it.
Cheers GP. That foresight about getting the best Chelsea coverage for the buck is valuable. I do have my WC available for the future DGWs. I’ll wait for the pressers before pushing any buttons.
Swiss
Well done on still having the WC. Excellent restraint there. Could be invaluable to you.
Best of luck.
Good morning all!
Have just small dilemma who to start in defence.
Please comment.
Pantimilion (AVL home)
Terry (SOU home) / Bellerin (WHU home) / ???
The third one – McShane (LEI away) – Rose (MUN away) or Fonte (CHE away)
So who will I start?
Thanks a lot.
Respect,
Best chance of a CS is McShane so I think it would be him.
I have him there already 😉 thanks GP 😉
Hey guys,
So I made my transfers already – I didn’t want to lose too much value on Di Maria so kind of jumped the gun, brought in Ivan – he will stay until end of the season. And Ki is my sub Midfielder.
I am not sure WHO to start.
Rose or Austin? Crystal Palace away is a tough one for QPR but Austin has been showing form.
United away should be tough but I have a feeling TOT will breeze past and Rose is on form.
Otherwise could drop Clyne to the bench.
TORN between my defenders…
Also any advise on the BLANK and DGW coming up. Thinking of not making my transfer next week in order to save them up for the DGW and/or blanks?
PS for the OCD people I tried lining up the players with their team mates and relative positions lol.
Hi Terry, got to play Austin to my mind really. He could very well have had a couple against both Arsenal and Spurs and just looked generally lively and dangerous. As for who to drop I’d actually play Bellerin over either of the other 2. Yeah I reckon Spurs may win that one too but they’ll more than likely concede in the process.
I agree. I think Austin and Bellerin on for Rose and Clyne.
Indeed. Rose & Clyne -> Austin & Bellend.
Great article Mito,much appreciated,really helps with the planning for the next few weeks.Some tricky navigation gonna be needed me thinks !!!
Morning all. Thoughts on this lot? I’m considering selling Hamer for Ospina so i don’t have to play Forster this week while at the same time planning for Arsenal’s DGW. Thoughts? 1 FT, 2.1m in the kitty.
Get back to work! But yeah that seems sensible enough and you can play Forster v Stoke for Arsenal’s blank in 33.
Indeed. There are also a few GW’s where i could play Ospina ahead of Forster as the fixtures favor Arsenal. Cant remember which GW’s they are, but there are a few.
NIN
Also like this move mate. Planning for the future begins today (oh I like that
)
Has to be done mate 😉 I can recoup the money spent later in the season by selling Forster, if needs be. How are you fixed?
NIN,
Yeah I was thinking of banking my FT this week OR brining in Coutinho but I think with the upheaval ahead in terms of BGWs and DGWs, then I may carry over a FT as long as I can so maybe bank this week and only one alteration next and then carry over again.
All injury dependent of course.
Solid thinking. 2 FT’s around these mayhem weeks could prove essential. I may look to bank one after this week too.
Great article Mito, now just give me the rest of the day to wade through it!
Any ideas for my 1 FT this week? 2.6 itb. Do I make a move for a defender or bring in Silva somehow?
Foster
Terry, Clyne, Wollsch
Haz, Sanchez, Cazorla, Punch
Aguero, Kane, Austin
(Krul, PVA, Baird, Bentaleb)
Hi Colriles. Cazorla -> Silva looks the banker move to me. I would also bench Clyne for van Aanholt, for sure.
Cheers NIN, thanks for the thoughts as always. Am I the only one thinking Caz may outscore Sanchez the rest of the way? Along those lines, I had toyed with the idea of Sanchez > Silva and Punch to Coutinho over the next 2 week…. bad idea?
Colriles, I don’t think Caz will outscore Sanchez but I think the difference in points shouldn’t pay off for the price difference.
Albertini – I agree – before Feb you just had to have Sanchez, and he was worth every penny, but now he’s not giving returns that deserve being almost £3m more than Cazorla. I had both and recently got rid of Sanchez.
I would suggest Sanchez –> Silva