One of the factors to take into account in Sun Dream Team transfer window 1 is fixtures. We’ll look at again here on 3 levels. Which teams will play European games and therefore extra fixtures, and secondly which teams have the easiest premier league games to transfer window 2. The third part is the Capital One cup and any implications of that. This transfer window closes on the 13 September and the games that count are to the 2nd transfer closes on the 22 November. That’s where we’ll focus to. Remember you have 3 transfers and can change your transfers during the week if you change your mind.
Sun Dream Team transfer window 1 – teams with the best fixtures to the next transfer window
Which competitions involve which teams?
Up to transfer window 2 there are the following competitions ongoing:
1. The premier league
2. The Europa League ( Everton, Tottenham)
3. The Champions League (Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal)
4. The Capital One Cup. (All teams except Burnley, Leicester, Man Utd, West Ham, QPR and Villa all eliminated)
Just a reminder of the basics. Transfer Window 2 closes on November 22. However there are only 3 transfers for us to use in the transfer window 1 which closes on the 13 September. There’s also the new bonus transfer after September 15 and before Jan 1 2015. You may want to use the bonus transfer for an inury safeguard though
We’ll look at the competitions and teams in turn and how they affect the time up to transfer window 2
The premier league
Up to the closing of transfer window 2 includes 8 further premier league game weeks.
As I did prior to the beginning of the season, I’ll look to see who has the best fixtures of the Premier league games. I’ve looked at it in a very rough and ready way by picking what I think will be the worst 7 defensive teams in the league. I’ve then ranked the teams that play the most games against those teams whether they are home or away. It’s very subjective and simplistic but it gives a rough and ready guide. Remember it ranks the teams from an attacking point of view.
Here’s the 7 teams: C Palace, Villa, WBA, Newcastle, QPR, Burnley and Leicester
I’ve taken the 8 worst defensive teams from last season but omitted Sunderland as I think they will be ok defensively. I’ve added in Palace now that Pulis has quit. I’ve kept Villa in despite 2 clean sheets and a different defence. I’m a little sceptical they will continue being defensively strong
Below are the teams that played the most of these teams in the 8 premier league fixtures:
4 teams played: Everton, Liverpool, Man Utd, WBA
3 teams played: Burnley, Chelsea, Palace, Hull, Leicester, Southampton, Stoke, Spurs, West Ham,
2 teams played: Arsenal, Man City, Newcastle, Sunderland, Swansea,
1 team played: Villa, QPR
So the 2 Europa League teams of Spurs and Everton don’t do 2 badly in Premier league fixtures. Liverpool have the best fixtures of the Champions league 4 with Chelsea next. Arsenal and Man City don’t.
The Europa League
Player rotation is the killer for Sun Dream Team managers with the Europa League. Unfortunately rotation makes it difficult to get players who play in both the Premier league and the Europa. I’ll look at each team in depth but in short Spurs have such a large squad finding players who will play both premier league games and Europa League games won’t be easy. Everton don’t have the depth so easier but still not easy.
Tottenham and Everton will play 4 group games each
Tottenham play : Partizan Begrade A, Besiktas H, Asteras H, Asteras A
Everton play: Wolfsburg H, Krasnodar A, LOSC A, LOSC H,
So only 1 tricky fixture for each team really. You would think both teams will qualify from the Group to the knockouts making any players a longer investment than just to Tranfer window 2.
The Champions League:
As a general rule player rotation is less of an issue than the Europa due to the more difficult opposition.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea all will have 4 fixtures before the 2nd transfer window ends.
Liverpool 4 fixtures: Ludogtrets H, Basel A, Real Madrid H, Real Madrid A
Arsenal 4 fixtures: Dortmund A, Galatasary H, Anderlecht A, Anderlecht H
Man City 4 fixtures: Bayern A, Roma H, Moscow A, Moscow H
Chelsea 4 fixtures: Schalke H, Sporting A, Maribor H, Maribor A
4 fixtures on top of 8 premier league matches is a massive boost if you can pick players who are less likely to rotate. All the teams have some positives. Man City have the hardest Group but have 2 games against Moscow. 2 games against Maribor is a big boost for Chelsea. However the easier fixtures have more rotation potential. Arsenal have the best fixtures overall though.
The Capital One Cup
Player rotation in the earlier rounds especially is an issue for Sun Dream Team managers as it effects all the premier league teams. You’ll be lucky if the teams involved in European competition have 1 first team player in the line up. It’s the teams that won’t make Europe and won’t be worried about relegation that are the ones where you will get less rotation. Swansea, Stoke and maybe Southampton are initial thoughts. If you’re thinking about a non European player for your team you may want to have 1 eye on their Capital One prospects
Remember Burnley, Leicester, Man Utd, West Ham, QPR and Villa are all eliminated
There are 2 rounds before the end of transfer window 2. Here’s the fixtures for the first round.
Arsenal v Southampton
Liverpool v Middlesborough
Sunderland v Stoke
Swansea v Everton
WBA v Hull
Chelsea v Bolton
Man City v Sheffield Wed
Palace v Newcastle
Tottenham v Forest
So if you take Stoke and Swansea as 2 teams that may take the competition seriously neither have easy fixtures. Southampton even worse.
Summary
- Europa League teams of Spurs and Everton have good groups. Rotation is the risk.
- All the Champions league teams have good and bad parts of their group draw.
- The capital one cup will be loaded with player rotation. Stoke, Swansea and Southampton who may take it seriously have tough fixtures.
- In the premier league the European teams of Everton and Liverpool have the best fixtures. Arsenal and Man City the most difficult.
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Sun Dream Team transfer window 1
Sun Dream Team transfer window 1
