FPL Fixtures Analysis Gameweek 4 2016-17
Welcome to FPL Fixtures Analysis Gameweek 4 2016-17. Welcome, welcome, welcome to our fixture analysis for the week! The first three weeks of the season are in the books and the transfer window has slammed shut until January. All was right in the world, and then… the first of many annoying international breaks. Surely planned for no purpose other than to simply to frustrate us. The footballers themselves seem to enjoy it but to the clubs, their fans and, most importantly, the fantasy football managers these matches are nothing but a chance for their players to get injured and suffer jetlag ahead of week 4.
Did your players survive? Did you survive? For many of us this international lull has been a time of fantasy introspection. ‘To wildcard or not to wildcard’ as the Bard once famously put it. Some of us planned our teams for the first three weeks and hit the wildcard button just as planned and full of confidence, while others have tossed and turned through the night debating the choice.
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Fixture Tracker – the next 6 games
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FAVOURABLE FIXTURES
Everton – Sunderland (a), Middlesbrough (h), Bournemouth (a)
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[/three_fourth]Transfer deadline day came and went and Everton managed to ward off interest in Romelu Lukaku.
They also addressed their most pressing need: a viable backup for the streaky Lukaku. The arrival of Enner Valencia will not set the league on fire but it will give Ronald Koeman options when Lukaku enters one of his inevitable goal droughts.
The league bestowed on Everton a kind set of opening fixtures and they have certainly taken advantage. The Toffees look poised to continue their hot start with three very winnable fixtures on the horizon. A trip to Sunderland (one point from three) could well be their most difficult test over the next month. Last season was a rollercoaster affair, with the teams combining to net 11 goals the two times they met.
Their next foe, newly promoted Middlesbrough, will likely park the bus and play for a point at Goodison Park as they attempt to survive their first season back in the big time. Relegation fodder Bournemouth are likely to employ the same strategy, but we fancy Everton have enough class to overcome both teams. Adding Lukaku, Ross Barkley or Leighton Baines could pay dividends over the next several weeks.
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Arsenal – Southampton (h), Hull (a), Chelsea (h)
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[/three_fourth]Stop the press! Arsenal finally bought the striker and central defender they have needed for the last three seasons. You can debate whether the players are a perfect fit for Arsene Wenger’s system, or whether they are a notable upgrade from the players already on the roster, but they finally have the depth that would have seen them mount a legitimate challenge for the title last season. Better late than never, we guess.
The arrival of Lucas Perez will push Olivier Giroud and means Sanchez can return out wide where his game is better, and the arrival of defender Shkodran Mustafi means Arsenal now have a player whose name will never be spelled correctly. One can only hope Arsenal fans will serenade him with The Circle of Life when he opens his Arsenal account.
Looking at their upcoming fixtures the Chelsea game looms on the horizon, but facing Burnley and Swansea in the following weeks make Arsenal a team you should invest in over the next five weeks. Alexis Sanchez is the obvious attacking choice, but a punt on Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla or even Theo Walcott could see you climb in the rankings.
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Tottenham – Stoke (a), Sunderland (h), Middlesbrough (a)
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[/three_fourth]Tottenham have negotiated a tricky opening trio of games and have five points to show for it. Fans should be satisfied with draws against Everton and Liverpool, and a hard fought victory over Crystal Palace. Most importantly, they sit one point ahead of Arsenal. For now.
The deadline day acquisitions of midfielders Moussa Sissoko and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou beef up Spurs strength in depth, while an early season goal from Erik Lamela has reminded people that he plays for Spurs. With the defence fit, boss Samwise Gamgee’s most pressing issue now is figuring out why his striker seems to have lost his nose for scoring. Speaking of slow starts, Pochewotsit’s have failed to find the back of the net in the first-half this season.
Their next three matches should see that change though. A trip to Orc Arena could prove challenging as Stoke attempt to avoid relegation but Spurs are talented enough to overcome such thuggery. Sunderland and Middlesbrough are likely to pose much less of a threat. The problem with exploiting their fixtures is figuring out who will score their goals.
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WORTH A LOOK…
Crystal Palace – Middlesbrough (a), Stoke (h), Sunderland (a)
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[/three_fourth]Continuing the trend of picking teams that play Middlesbrough, Stoke and/or Sunderland, we present to you Crystal Palace for your consideration. The arrival of strikers Loic Remy and Christian Benteke finally give the Eagles legitimate scoring options, and keeping hold of Wilfried Zaha has shown that the owners are keen to improve on last season’s 15th place finish.
Despite a rough start that has seen them drop two of their opening three fixtures, Alan Pardew’s men will fancy their prospects for points in the next month. The Middlesbrough-Stoke-Sunderland axis has surrendered a total of 13 goals thus far. Just what the doctor ordered. It may take him a bit to acclimatise himself but we think Palace’s next three opponents make Benteke one to watch in the coming weeks.
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BE WARY OF…
Swansea – Chelsea (h), Southampton (a), Manchester City (h)
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[/three_fourth]We realize you likely do not have any Swansea coverage in your team, but our job is to make sure of that. It isn’t that Swansea are that bad, they just have a brutal schedule over the next month. And they are just bad. A quick check of their roster confirms Gylfi Sigurdsson does still play for the team. Unfortunately, no one else of note does. Poor Siggy. Where is Michu when you need him?
If the prospects of Chelsea and City are not enough to scare you off, they face Liverpool and Arsenal after that. It realistically could be the end of October before Swansea win another match. Stay far away until then.
Well that is it for me this week lads and lasses. As always, I enjoyed out time together and appreciate your reading this article. Best of luck to you all in the coming weeks. Cheers!
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Thanks for reading FPL Fixtures Analysis Gameweek 4 2016-17. This article was written by LawDogg
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Sighs, guess I have to watch the Dutch see their asses getting handed out towards them again tonight versus Sweden. Pretty sure we will lose. From top to down it is bad. Now Advocaat en van Basten also let their friend Danny Blind down and left the building for selfish reasons, plus a few other material people. Used to be bad blood in the group, but now everything outside is corrupted from top to down. It sucks.
Hope I am wrong but I don’t see us competing at the next worldcup. Would be a surprise.
Watching it just now Raz
Don’t look all too bad. Very keen to attack.
Gents,
How does this sound; Kun to Costa this week and then upgrade Redmond to either Payet (if fit), silva or sterling?
Sounds good MItro
Mitro
Sounds decent enough to me pal. I fancy Payet will be in my WC side by Saturday.
Evening all,
Bony or Benteke? I put them about even and whilst Benteke has great fixtures in the next 3 they dry up a bit after that. Bony has a better midfield supply and a good stretch of games for the next 10 weeks
Hey SAF, I’m currently thinking that as well but I’ve gone with Bony for now.
SAF
I’d maybe go with the more reliable Defoe if you can. Benteke and Bony both have to settle first before they become fantasy options for me.
Okay guys I think I’ll make my transfers tonight so which of these options are the better one?
1) For a – 4 hit, Mahrez, Gray and Kun to Ozil, Bony/Defoe and Costa. Which leaves me with Townsend and Redmond and 2.5 itb
2) For a -8 hit, Mahrez, Gray, Kun and Redmond to Ozil, Bony/Defoe, Costa and Mason. Which leaves Townsend and 3.6 itb
3) For a -8 hit, Mahrez, Gray, Kun and Townsend to Ozil, Bony/Defoe, Costa and 5.9 (thinking Snoddy or even Wilshere). Which leaves me Redmond and around 3 mil itb
What do you think?
Matt – my reply is below
Matt
A with Ozil, Defoe and Costa.
Cheers GP.
A for me Matt. Although you could still just keep Grey for now. In fact I would given his fixture! That’s unless I missed an announcement in the past few hours?
Nope mate, nothing announced as yet
Thanks, so why not just keep him?
Yeah might hold off then as I was going to keep him until this meeting but I have a feeling he will miss this weekend. I doubt the FA will want to drag this out even longer it’s been nearly a month since these comments came to light.
It’s been just over 2 weeks Matt, but 4 years since he said then so what’s a few days! It won’t happen before the weekend now. They can’t call a meeting tomorrow for Friday and expect him to drop everything. It’ll be next week. After he’s scored 2 against Hull…
Yeah it was the 21st when the comments came to light so just over 2 weeks feels like more with the IB dragging on. Might just leave him then and just do Kun and Mahrez out save the dosh.
Don’t see the point in either B or C. Is it just to raise funds from selling Redmond? If that’s the case I’d prefer option A
What do you mean? Basically I am fed up with Townsend and Redmond as they have done nothing so I’m thinking of selling one but I’m not sure which one and because I want to bring Kun back for the Swans game I’m leaving the money I get from downgrading him in my bank.
I wouldn’t take a point hit just to leave money in the bank. If you don’t intend to play them then don’t bother. Kun could be injured or anything else to prevent him playing so I’d leave getting the cash to buy him until later
So you think I should spend the money instead of leaving it in the bank?
I think the transfers you said for A are fine. I’d leave it at that at sort Kun out later
Matt – Redmond cost you 6.0 and has already scored a goal + bps giving you a 10 pts haul with 3 weeks In. How’s that nothing?
Hey DMC, how are you mate? I seen Portugal lost tonight were they poor or were the Swiss really good??
As for Redmond all those points came in the first game and it was a last minute goal. Apart from that he has only got 3 points in the last 2 weeks so not even the full 4 which should be expected.
Will be keeping him this week anyway so he’s got another chance to prove anything even an assist would do.
Lukaku now has 2
Oh good
I was just slagging him off last night and he goes and bangs in 2! Costa or lukaku that will be my Friday night problem!!
That’s my shortlist too, just for the 2 games we’re without Kun. Pretty sure I’m going to go lukaku, mainly based on fixtures, but also costa’s temperament.
Against Cyprus….
A goal is a goal! Could do wonders for his confidence!
Or he will fuck us over and we will have been lukaku’d again!
True enough. He just annoyed me when he said he wasn’t fit. He had 2 weeks off! What the hell was he up to in that two weeks that made him go from a super fit athlete to a supposed fat out of shape slug which he basically claimed? I’ve just had two weeks sat around a pool drinking and eating everything under the sun. Two gym sessions and a game of footy and I’m back where I was!
Init – the difference between you and him is that you are a machine!! 😉
And about £100k a week 😉
In favour of who, Init?
He wishes!