The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 17

Our weekly article focussing on player recommendations for the next four to six Gameweeks is rolled out this lunchtime. We list the main movers and shakers in this week’s update, with the full listings per classification available on the sidebar on your right:

The Defence

United pair David De Gea and Patrice Evra now sit in second spot for keepers and defenders respectively. A clean sheet at Villa last week bodes well for the champions and, with home games against West Ham, Spurs and Swansea, in addition to trips to Hull and Norwich over the next five, David Moyes’ side will be optimistic of further returns. Jonny Evans offers a cheaper route into the backline than Evra, though the Frenchman’s greater security of starts and attacking potential earns him the nod.

With three kind home games (NEW, NOR, STO) and a trip to Villa on the cards over the next six, Crystal Palace’s stock takes a rise. Julian Speroni (4.5) and Joel Ward (4.0) are our preferred route into a defence that has conceded a mere three goals in the last six Gameweeks.

Norwich’s fixtures continue to look prosperous, helping John Ruddy and Martin Olsson, at 4.9 and 4.2 respectively, to a climb up this week’s rankings. Chris Hughton’s side square up to all of the bottom three over the next four Gameweeks (sun, FUL, cpl) and also welcome Hull to Carrow Road in the upcoming six – two goals conceded in their last four at home highlight the Canaries’ resilience in front of their own fans.

The fixture list starts to look better for Sunderland as we approach the turn of the year. Gus Poyet’s side have started to tighten up at the back, too – three shut-outs in the previous six bodes well for the Black Cats ahead of home games against Norwich, Villa and Southampton and trips to Cardiff and Fulham over the next six Gameweeks. Phil Bardsley has scored twice over that run of fixtures and, priced at 4.4, looks the best shout for attacking potential amongst Poyet’s first-choice defenders. Vito Mannone also climbs but it’s still to be established whether he remains in pole position for the keeper’s jersey once Keiren Westwood returns to fitness.

Villa’s Brad Guzan has four very favourable fixtures (sto, CPL, SWA, sun) to take advantage of. The midlanders have conceded at least twice in each of their last three, though and, with captain Ron Vlaar still struggling to overcome a calf complaint, their prospects looks a little bleaker – Guzan’s save points could be crucial here, whilst Ciaran Clark (4.5) remains a budget option in defence for Paul Lambert’s side.

For now, we’ve drafted in Vincent Kompany as our City defender of choice until the situation regarding Pablo Zabaleta is clearer. The Argentine has produced an assist in three of the last four Gameweeks but limped off early in last night’s cup win over Leicester – if he’s ruled out for any length of time, we’ll be keeping an eye on Dedryck Boyata; with Micah Richards also injured, Boyata, at 4.2, could be handed the right-back role over the short-term and has Fulham, Palace and Cardiff in the next six. Manuel Pellegrini also has the option of playing James Milner there, though, making Kompany the most secure option.

A home game with City kills the immediate appeal of Maarten Stekelenburg but the following four Gameweeks (nor, hul, WHM, SUN) hands Rene Meulensteen a chance to steer his side further up the table. West Brom’s Ben Foster returned to reserve action earlier in the week but currently remains a doubt ahead of games against Hull, West Ham and Newcastle in the next four.

Chelsea are the main fallers this week. Petr Cech drops out altogether, whilst John Terry takes a tumble down the defender rankings after a 2-1 win over Palace took his defensive record to a single clean sheet in 11 Gameweeks. The Blues’ skipper remains a threat in the opposition penalty area but, with Arsenal and Liverpool in the next three, his chances of shut-outs look slim. Newcastle pair Tim Krul and Mike Williamson slip a little – imminent games with Palace and Stoke look profitable but Arsenal and City lie in wait for Alan Pardew’s side over the next five Gameweeks.

Midfield

Three sets of double figures in the last six ensures Chelsea’s Eden Hazard retains top spot. The Belgian is being chased down by Theo Walcott, though, after the latter bagged a brace at the Etihad on Saturday. The Arsenal wide man has been tentatively introduced back into the fold since undergoing abdominal surgery, but with his match sharpness finally up to speed, his eye for goal looks crucial for the Gunners right now at a time when Olivier Giroud continues to toil up top. With his 4% ownership making him ideal for those scouring the market for a differential, at 9.1  he’s also considerably cheaper than team-mate Mesut Ozil, who takes a tumble in our estimations.

Yaya Toure and David Silva feature in the top five. The Ivorian looks set to be handed spot-kicks in light of Sergio Aguero’s absence and, with a goal or assist in 10 of his 16 appearances, there’s no disputing the consistency of the “casuals choice”. Silva has notched back-to-back goals against Bayern and Arsenal since recovering from a calf complaint and, like Walcott, affords us an in-form, premium-priced contender with just 4% ownership. Ahead of the above-mentioned run of fixtures, the Spaniard’s average of 6.2 points per game is indicative of his form under Manuel Pellegrini’s guidance.

Kevin Mirallas arrives back on the radar due to Gerard Deulofeu’s unfortunate hamstring injury. The Belgian climbed off the bench to replace the stricken youngster and grabbed a late goal in Everton’s weekend demolition of Fulham. He’s now scored or assisted in four of the last six home games and, at 7.2, with a 5% ownership, is an appealing option for the Toffees schedule, with starts looking secure once again.

Elsewhere on Merseyside, Jordan Henderson benefitted from a move an advanced central role in a 4-3-3 for Liverpool and bagged a 13-point haul away to Spurs on Sunday. Coming in at just 5.9, Henderson’s goal and assist at the Lane bodes well ahead of a run which hands him three favourable home games (CAR, HUL, AVL) and a trip to Stoke in the next six. Staying in the sub 6.0 bracket, Cardiff’s Peter Whittingham (5.1) also registered his first set of double figures last weekend. The Bluebirds playmaker has played every minute of the season so far and has three kind home fixtures (SOU, SUN, WHM) in the upcoming five Gameweeks to continue his ascent up the rankings.

Michu’s return to action has failed to spark a return to the form which harvested 18 goals in his debut season for Swansea. Nonetheless, his role as the lone forward keeps him in the mix – with showdowns against five of the current top seven in the next six, though, the fixtures are also firmly against him. Sunderland’s Ki Sung-Yeung makes an entrance in the lower echelons. Gus Poyet’s decision to introduce Lee Cattermole to the midfield allowed the former Celtic man the chance to move into an advanced berth against West Ham last weekend – at 4.8, he’s a budget option to consider for those expecting the Wearsiders to prosper over the upcoming schedule.

Forwards

Big-hitters Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney lead the way, with Romelu Lukaku sandwiched in between in light of Everton’s outstanding schedule. With Sergio Aguero dropping out of the picture due to a calf complaint, Alvaro Negredo is the main climber up front – the Spaniard looks the most secure forward right now under Manuel Pellegrini but, whilst his Etihad displays have been consistent, the summer signing’s away form is somewhat concerning. Negredo has proved a frustrating option on the road and has just a single goal to his name (back in Gameweek 2) in seven away appearances so far.

Loic Remy will be confident of ending a four-game drought as he prepares to face Palace, Stoke and West Brom in the next four, whilst Olivier Giroud remains in the mix purely as he has no real competition as Arsenal’s lone forward. After the weekend clash against Chelsea, Arsene Wenger’s side have West Ham, Cardiff, Villa and Fulham in the following five as Giroud looks to remedy a run that has harvested two goals from open play from Gameweek 5 onwards.

Having scored in six of the last 10 Gameweeks, Jay Rodriguez has the form, though the fixtures are still stacked against the 5.9-priced Southampton striker – he has Spurs, Everton and Chelsea in the following four. On the other hand, Norwich forward Gary Hooper looks the perfect combination of form and fixtures. The former Celtic man has notched in four of the previous six and is full of confidence ahead of showdowns with Sunderland, Palace, Fulham and Hull in the next six.

Managerial changes have reignited the Fantasy prospects of Marouane Chamakh and Dimitar Berbatov. The former has now scored in each of the last three for Palace under Tony Pulis and, at 4.8, has fixtures on his side, as mentioned above. Berbatov has also turned his season around thanks to new Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen – two goals, an assist and a couple of bonus points in the last three bode well for the Bulgarian’s would-be suitors ahead of a tempting run (nor, hul, WHM, SUN) from Gameweek 18-21. Coming in at 7.0 and with an ownership of 3%, he’s another to consider for Aguero owners who remain unconvinced over Negredo’s potential.