Week 1 - Fixtures

Those of you who have been readers of the blog for the past two seasons will know I begin my analysis of the forthcoming fantasy week by going through the Premier League fixtures (usually within my Player Picks post). Unfortunately a 2010 ruling meant that if I wanted to list the fixtures on this blog I would have to pay a licence fee to the Premier League (I'm sure they really need the money) which would add up to hundreds of pounds per season.

I can't afford to do this as I spend all my spare money on beer - but I can link to the information, so click here to view Week 1's fixtures. Of course they also appear in the bottom right of Yahoo's 'Team Manager' page, which is handy as you can refer to them as you select your players. As you will see, Week 1 is a single week for all teams.

So you know how this works - before looking at any of the players I look at the stand-out fixtures for the week. It's difficult to know what's going to happen on the first weekend as we don't have any form to refer to and this is not helped by the fact that there are quite a few evenly matched teams squaring up next weekend. However, there is one fixture that leaps off the page...

Man City at home to Swansea. The richest club in the league, full of investment and ready for a title challenge, against a newly promoted club - I'll certainly be adding a few City players to my Week 1 line-up, both defending and attacking. Another side who look like good value are Liverpool, one of the summer's biggest spenders, against Sunderland. Jordan Henderson faces his old club straight away and adding Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Andy Carroll and Luiz Suarez (plus the Anfield crowd) to the mix makes the home side strong favourites.

The Hawthorns isn't always an easy place to go but you have to fancy current champions Manchester United having strengthened further over the summer, and I'm tipping them for 3 points over West Brom. One game that really has my attention is at Craven Cottage, where Martin Jol's Fulham side well in to their stride (having started their Europa League campaign in June) meet Aston Villa. If this was a month or so in to the season I'd probably go for a draw, but the added match fitness/sharpness of the Fulham players should give them edge and a home win.

Newcastle v Arsenal was the scene of that incredible 4-4 draw last season and there will be a few demons in the back of some Gunners' minds. The Geordie faithful will be in full-voice but Arsenal should have too much attacking quality and an away win seem likely, I can't see it being as straightforward for Chelsea as they travel to last season's FA Cup finalists Stoke on the opening weekend. The Potters are no mugs, especially at the Britannia, so I see them giving Chelsea a tough time and wouldn't be surprised if it ended in a draw. Don't get me wrong, there will be value in picking Chelsea attacking players, I'm just not confident it'll be a comfortable afternoon for them.

The bookies have Tottenham as favourites against Everton but I'm not so sure - for me it looks like a score draw at White Hart Lane. Wigan face newly promoted Norwich at home, but having lost N'Zogbia - and remembering their 0-4 defeat against Blackpool on the opening day of last season - I can't tip them to win that one. QPR vs Bolton is a difficult match to predict but a draw seems a fair guess and I'll probably be avoiding Blackburn v Wolves altogether as it's sure to be a hotly contested battle with tough tackles and cards aplenty.

So to clarify...

Stand-Out
MAN CITY v Swansea

Should Win
LIVERPOOL v Sunderland
MANCHESTER UNITED @ West Brom
FULHAM v Aston Villa
ARSENAL @ Newcastle

Could Win
CHELSEA @ Stoke

Draws
Tottenham v Everton
Wigan v Norwich
QPR v Bolton

Avoid
Blackburn v Wolves

So those are my opinions on the Week 1 Fixtures and I'll work with this info to assemble my Week 1 Player Picks post towards the end of next week. You can probably tell already that it's likely to be dominated by City player with some Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal & Fulham players thrown in and I won't ignore some of the value players from other teams. It's possible we'll see additional signings before August 13th, with these players likely to cost no more than 6ish. There's always a chance Yahoo fail to add them to the game before the first deadline, but they already seem better organised this season, so I have faith!

Here's a look at my very early team:

De Gea, Gibbs, Riise, Vermaelen, McEachran, Silva, Taarabt, Young, Aguero, Suarez, Van Persie

That's it - I'll be back with the Week 1 Player Picks in the middle of next week. For now I'd love to hear your opinions on the opening weekend's fixtures and any players you're considering bringing in. Which of the new signings/promoted players have caught your eye? Are you taking any gambles?

...and are you getting excited?

Cheers,
AM