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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Vote on our Captain Poll Now
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Thanks for reading FPL Fixtures Analysis Gameweek 4 2016-17. This article was written by LawDogg
Follow @LawDogg
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Wildcard Team:
Heaton
Williams-Valencia-McAuley
Sterling-Ozil-Hazard-Antonio
Ibra-Lukaku-Benteke
Subs: Foster-Capoue-Collins-Kingsley
Money in the bank: 0.2m
Sterling is my City coverage until Kun returns and my Coutinho placeholder for when the fixtures improve.
Thanks
I like the squad. It’s clearly been thought out well throughout. I can see the justification for it all really.
Only one question and it’s not a criticism at all – What are you planning when Kun is back Rip?
2FT and a hit or two
Lukaku will become Kun
Benteke Downgrade
Antonio Downgrade
Just playing the fixtures in the meantime. I may not bring him back until GW7
I may even go without him or use Ibra as my enabler. I have a few options but will see how the next few weeks play out.
Amy news on Gray yet?
Nope!
Hey guys, I have this burning itch (I should probably see the doctor about that) to get Payet in and make him captain. Is this insanity?
GP’s been banging on about him all day and when he does this he’s often right so I wouldn’t say it’s insanity at all. Not sure on captaining him but it’s an odd week for captains so I wouldn’t say no to anything really. Well not in the Keith Vaz sense but you know what I mean.
You’re almost certainly right about the captain bit. Hazard or Ozil would be safer options. I just love a punt tho!
Hey Rick
Maybe not so much the captaincy, probably go Hazard, but going by what his manager said this week, I think he’s a sure fire transfer in for me.
Thanks GP. I think I’ll go with him and probably cover off Hazard as captain as I imagine that will be a popular choice.
Do you think there is any danger Lukaku gets reduced minutes? Away to Sunders would traditionally be a fixture you might rest a player on. Better side this year mind you.
Rick
Init may pick up on this being our resident Toffee. I haven’t looked at Everton much so I’m not entirely sure.
He won’t be rested. The time to do that if it was happening was 3 weeks ago and even though he (and Koeman) admitted (lied!) that he wasn’t fit, it didn’t happen.
Quick poll: Are people spending their Kun money or saving it?
I might not even bring him back,
Planning on saving it Matt, but haven’t even settled on a replacement yet! And planning and doing are two very different things!
Spending it but then also bringing him back. As per this mornings team post I put up. Odd one for me as I can do both with having 3 expensive strikers already.
I’m still unsure how the heck you managed that plan this morning but it seems like a very good way to go.
I’m buying a cheap striker to reinvest twice in the mid and then swapping a more expensive one for Kun as and when. It’s a bit arse over tit but most are starting with a cheap one already whereas I’m not, as it goes. Just a situational thing.
Ah right. If it works who cares how awkward it sounds
Init,
Maybe anticipating a (good) problem, but if Gray gets his hearing next week, and plays this weekend, I expect to have over 3 million itb. Would you spend it elsewhere?
The problem I see is finding Gray suspended late-dunno when-but 1FT, and needing 2FT to bring Aguero back for gw6. I’m trying to turn a new leaf, and go without -4s as long as possible.
Hi Ki, I’m sorry I’ve not quite followed that. I did to a point but then you lost me I think
Are you assuming to keep Gray now and address next week? But then finding yourself using the FT next week when you’d want to save in order to fund Kun the week after with no hit?
Init,
Exactly. Costa comes in before any more price rises/declines for Aguero. Then I have 3+ million, most likely for Lukaku. I guess I have to take a hit if Gray is suspended this week-but the talk seems to be going to a hearing next week. I guess I have to hold the money itb for Lukaku, but I’d need 2FTs if Gray only gets suspended for gw5 (LC away looks bad). Maybe a -4 in gw6 to save a WC for the IB/gw7? (This IB, with both Aguero and Gray, has really sucked).
Hmm interesting. I’m still unsure what’s best to do. Saving it seems like the safe option but I think people in my ML will spend it and that could screw me over.
Spending it and bring him back in with the Wildcard.
spending it on Redmond to Ozil.
just could stand looking at all that cash in the bank
Hey guys.Any help with this squad??Aguero to who lukaku/costa and what should i do with the other transfer??
Shane
In your case (with no Arsenal coverage) I would consider Giroud as well. Maybe Giroud, Costa then Lukaku in that order.
Thanks GP.But what about the new guy Perez won’t he play upfront for arsenal now??
Shane
I think this new guy will be introduced gradually and Giroud is still the main No. 9.
GP,
Arsenal coverage yea, but not Giroud. He’s out of shape, and played the donkey against Belarus.
KI
Didn’t see any of it tonight but that was his first game back so I’d expect that in all honesty.
The fixtures for Arsenal look well selected for him to get back amongst the goals.
Just a suggestion any way.
GP,
Sorry, no offence meant. I was obliquely trying to remind Mitro that another North London team would trade Giroud for Kane, in a heartbeat. Not possible, tho.
Kun to Costa and save the other FT. If you really want to use the other one though the only move I’d do is Jaku to Pickford but really there’s not much point it’s not like you will ever need a backup GK.
Maybe get in ozil for some arsenal coverage for townsend/redmond with the other move??
That would mean spending your Kun cash and that makes it harder to bring him back in.
Re: Andre Gray. His hearing & decision need to be heard BEFORE next Prem Game according to FA Rules. Too many clubs used it as a tactic to keep important players for key games in the past. I think around 6pm Thursday we will know the result.
Oh hello! How’s things Mr Zorro?! Don’t tell me you’ve been banished from your usual site please?
Hope you are well Sir.
Cheeky bugger. Servers crashed matey. I often have a little lurk over here, I’ve become an MLS addict, so between our Ivan & Mito, doing well, and the articles here, read as much as I can. I’m still laughing at the MLS podcast when they said ‘Those English Bastards over there’. when Mito & Ivan are #1/#2 in the MLS Experts mini-league, Mito originates from Colombia & Ivan’s Bulgarian, too funny. All is well chez toi?
PS Innit, I didn”t mean to be rude or anything but I know the FA Rules about disciplinary matters, so I just thought I’d add my 2 cents. You can blame Mutley, he put me on the right track, way back in the day.