Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 2 – The Weak

After taking a detailed look at the sides with the strongest fixtures over the next six Gameweeks yesterday, our focus now turns to the teams who could struggle in the coming weeks. Chelsea’s premium assets may find it difficult to justify their lofty price tags, while Everton’s unconvincing showing against Watford, in addition to a tough upcoming schedule, means their Fantasy assets should probably be avoided for the time being.

CHELSEA

The Blues’ performance against Swansea on Saturday was very uncharacteristic, with the defence, in particular, looking very vulnerable. Thibaut Courtois will miss Sunday’s trip to Manchester City because of his red card against the Swans, so Jose Mourinho will be counting on Asmir Begovic to step up to the plate. The Portuguese boss will probably approach the match with a counter-attacking gameplan, and Chelsea’s recent record at the Etihad, where they’ve conceded just once on their last two league visits, suggests the likes of Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta could manage to provide some defensive returns.

With further tricky fixtures (wba, CPL, eve, ARS) on the horizon, Chelsea’s attacking assets hardly look “essential” for the coming period. Eden Hazard was slightly subdued against Swansea, and looks expensive at 11.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) if you don’t intend to hand the Belgian the captain’s armband over the next five Gameweeks. Oscar did score on Saturday, and stole some set-piece duties off Cesc Fabregas. Priced at 8.5 in FPL, he offers a cheaper route into the Blues attack, but Mourinho’s selection in big matches last year suggests he could find himself among the substitutes on Sunday, with Kurt Zouma or Ramires coming in alongside Nemanja Matic, with Fabregas moved forward into the “number ten” role.

Diego Costa completed 90 minutes in the season opener, and showed no ill effects of his hamstring problems. The burly striker was generally well marshalled by the Swansea defence, and like Hazard, looks pricey at 11.0 in FPL. While few of the “big hitting” forwards impressed in the opening Gameweek, the upcoming schedule doesn’t really encourage any further investment in the former Atletico Madrid forward.

EVERTON

With the Toffees now facing five of last season’s top eight (sot, MCI, tot, CHE, swa) in their next five matches, it’s hard to press the claims of any of their Fantasy assets. This particularly looks to be the case regarding their backline, after conceding twice at home to Watford in the season opener. Chelsea target John Stones (5.5) made some uncharacteristic mistakes, and like the other members of the Everton defence, look too expensive to consider given the difficulty of the upcoming schedule. Brendan Galloway (4.5) did start at left-back in the absence of Leighton Baines, but clean sheets appear unlikely in the coming weeks, meaning it’s probably not worth using a transfer to bring in the young defender.

In midfield, Ross Barkley (6.5) did complete the full 90 minutes on Saturday and found the back of the net in a nine-point haul. With the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Andre Ayew facing much more favourable schedules, it doesn’t look worth backing the England man at this point in time. Kevin Mirallas is perhaps the only other Everton midfielder likely to be considered by Fantasy managers, but he’s a doubt for the trip to St Mary’s with an ankle injury.

Romelu Lukaku did pick up an assist against the Hornets, but many of his 8.5% ownership will probably be looking to replace the Belgian given the difficult fixtures ahead. Arouna Kone was amazingly the highest scoring forward in Gameweek 1, with 11 points in just 33 minutes of playing time, but with Roberto Martinez’s men taking on so many of the top sides in the next few weeks, he’s unlikely to get the pitch time or the number of chances to warrant any consideration.

CRYSTAL PALACE

There’s no doubt Alan Pardew’s side will provide us with several viable options over the course of this season, but with home matches against Arsenal and Man City and trips to Chelsea and Tottenham in the next five Gameweeks, now doesn’t look the time to invest in any Eagles assets.

Under the former Newcastle boss, Palace have only kept two clean sheets in 19 league matches, so investment in their backline doesn’t seem a wise move, even with Alex McCarthy, priced at 4.0 in FPL, the starter in goal, at least until Julian Speroni recovers from a hand injury towards the end of the month. Likewise, Scott Dann’s threat from set-plays doesn’t seem to justify his 5.0 price tag given the Eagles appear unlikely to register shut-outs.

Further forward, Yohan Cabaye, Jason Puncheon, Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha have the ability to register attacking returns against any opposition, but the chances of them keeping up with the aforementioned Mahrez and Ayew over the forthcoming period seem unlikely. Uncertainty over the situation regarding the forwards at Selhurst Park, with Glenn Murray subject of interest from Premier League new boys Bournemouth means, along with the unfavourable fixture list, it’s best to avoid their forward line.

NEWCASTLE

The Steve McClaren era at St James’ Park may have got off to a fairly positive start with a 2-2 draw to Southampton, but with matches against three of last season’s top four (mun, ARS, CHE), along with tricky trips to Swansea and West Ham in the next six, now isn’t the time to be investing in Newcastle assets.

Tim Krul and Daryl Janmaat are currently the most popular Newcastle players in FPL, with 7.4% and 7.2% ownership respectively. While Janmaat could prove to be a source of attacking returns, the fact that clean sheets appear unlikely, given the difficulty of upcoming opposition, means their potential is very limited for the next six Gameweeks.

Georginio Wijnaldum (7.0) had a dream debut for the Magpies, scoring a wonderful header, but fellow Premier League debutant Dimitri Payet was just as impressive for West Ham, and while he will cost an extra 0.5 in FPL, the Hammers favourable schedule means he should comfortably outscore the former PSV midfielder over the next six Gameweeks. Likewise, Papiss Cisse will probably be eclipsed by Diafra Sakho and Bafetimbi Gomis over the same period. It’s perhaps best revisiting the Tyneside team in Gameweek 9, when the schedule takes a significant turn for the better.

BE WARY OF…

Watford
The Hornets surprised many observers by picking up a point at Goodison Park on Saturday, but with their next four matches (WBA, SOT, mci, SWA) against four of the strongest defences from last season, it could be tough for Troy Deeney to add to the assist he managed against the Toffees.

The Watford rearguard didn’t look particularly watertight on Saturday either, so while Miguel Layun offers some out-of-position potential in the short-term at a bargain price (4.5), backing Quique Sanchez Flores’ side to keep clean sheets over the coming weeks doesn’t appear a wise move.

West Brom
Tony Pulis admitted he got his tactics wrong against City on Monday night when he started with a 4-4-2, though the Baggies boss is still expected to opt for two up top against less dominant opposition. The weekend visit of Watford now looks a big match for the Baggies, with their three matches after the trip to Vicarage Road (CHE, sto, SOT) very difficult. Saido Berahino’s future at the club is in some doubt following the club-record signing of Salomon Rondon, but it would be a surprise if any of the West Brom forwards manage to bag many attacking points from the upcoming matches.

The midlands outfit will have put in plenty of defensive work on the training pitch after conceding three times at home to City, and with the Baggies backline handing us great budget options after Pulis’ appointment last season, it’s perhaps too early to be writing them off yet. It’s only from Gameweek 6 onwards when the fixtures ease that further investment looks likely, though.

Norwich
After Saturday’s disappointing 3-1 home reverse to Palace, Alex Neil’s side now only have two home matches in their next six. This weekend’s trip to Sunderland and a home clash to Bournemouth mean the likes of John Ruddy, Russell Martin and Nathan Redmond, should he force his way into the starting XI after scoring as a substitute, are probably worth persevering with.

Trips to Southampton, Liverpool and West Ham could be pretty treacherous for the Canaries, though, so while their Fantasy assets are generally pretty cheap on the budget and handy enablers, we shouldn’t be expecting too much from them over the next six Gameweeks.