Here’s my view of the teams with the best fixtures for Sun Dream Team over the period up to the end of transfer window 2 ie November 23rd for your teams. With Sun Dream Team counting the plenty of European games and domestic cup games coming up, the fixture difficulty and number of games will be crucial in our Sun Dream Team transfer window 1 decisions. By the way Internationals dont count.
Competitions ongoing
From September 14 to November 23rd there are 8 gameweeks in the premier league for Sun Dream Team players. In addition there are 4 European rounds of the Champions League and the Europa League. Added to that there are 2 rounds of the Capital One Cup. So some teams in this period could play 14 games games as compared to others who will play 8 or 9. Unfortunately for Sun Dream Team managers, rotation in all competitions is the curse of getting the benefit of these games. Below I’m going to rank all the teams in order of the best fixtures. I’m not going to try and assess the best players from each team at this stage. That will be the next article. This will just help you assess which teams to pick players from.
Teams ranked by fixtures
1. Spurs – Europa league
Good fixtures with premier League home games against Norwich, Hull, West Ham and Newcastle over the period. They have an additional 4 games in their Europa league group which includes such footballing giants as Tromso, Tiraspol, and the fire sale that is Anzhi. The problem is that Spurs have a big squad now and have at least top 4 ambitions. The fact that this competition last year cost them a top 4 place due to lack of rotation by AVB probably means we will see alot at this stage. Unfortunately in all the attacking areas they have alot of cover and rotation will be strong. Probably at FB and GK is where they have the least cover. Getting maximum fixtures from Spurs will be difficult. Difficult Capital One cup game away to Villa
2. Swansea – Europa league
Good fixtures over the period in the premier league and although their Group contains a difficult fixture in Valencia, it also has good fixtures against St Gallen and Kuban. Swansea have bought alot of players in to give cover over the Europa league games and in particular the midfield looks well covered. Defence looks the area where there is less cover and attack is a bit thin although Michu has covered striker and attacking midfield. Capital One cup game away to Birmigham will see a strong team to defend their titale
3. Manchester United – Champions league
4 additional games in their champions league group which involves Leverkusen, Donetsk and Sociedad. Teams which are easy enough to beat but difficult enough so mass rotation wont be possible. Difficult Capital One cup game at home to Liverpool but they do have good fixtures over the premier league such as home to Crystal Palace
4. Arsenal – Champions League
Tough Champions League Group involves Dortmund, Marseille and Napoli certainly wont be good for the defence. Tricky Capital One Cup tie away to WBA
Home to Stole and Norwich and away to Palace in the Premier League though. Will be difficult to rotate in the Champions League and they have very little striking options other than Giroud
5. Chelsea – Champions League
Reasonable champions league Group with Steaua, Schalke and Basel. Capital One Cup draw is a good one away to Swindon but should be discounted as will probably involve a reserve team. Premier league fixtures are a bit mixed but are home to Fulham, Cardiff and WBA
6. Man City – Champions league
Surprisingly good champions league group. Has Bayern but CSKA and Plzen are good teams to have in your group considering City’s seeding. Pellegrini is difficult to predict though and has a large squad. Home to Wigan in the Capital One will be taken seriously though. Premier league games aren’t easy and this ranking is due to the number of games rather than their ease. Only real diamond game is home to Norwich.
7. Southampton
West Ham, Palace, Fulham and Hull all come to St Andrews plus a home game to Bristol City in the Capital One make Saints an attractive proposition over this period.
8. Liverpool
No European competition this year plus a difficult Capital One Cup draw away to Manchester United are countered by excellent league fixtures including home games against Southampton, Palace, WBA and Fulham .
9. Hull
Cardiff, West Ham, Villa and Sunderland all travel to Hull and apart from Villa give them a good chance for a clean sheet. I suspect the game at home to Huddersfield in the Capital One though will be forsaken for premier league security
10. Cardiff
A general run of reasonable fixtures in the premier league although the only home game of ease is home to Newcastle. Difficult Capital One Cup game away to West Ham
11. Fulham
Mixed Premier League fixtures with home games against WBA, Cardiff and Stoke mixed in with games against Chelsea, United and Liverpool. Difficult Capital One cup game home to Everton
12. Aston Villa
Mixed premier league fixtures. Newcastle and Cardiff are at home but so are Man City and Spurs. Capital One cup game is home to Spurs as well.
13. Everton
Newcastle and Hull at home plus Palace away are good fixtures in the premier league but also play Chelsea, Spurs and Man City. Capital One is away to Fulham
14. Newcastle
Not great fixtures at all in the Premier league. Liverpool, Chelsea ad Spurs are all fixtures plus away to Everton. Capital One could be worse but could be better home to Leeds
15. Stoke
Norwich, WBA and Saints are the highlight home games in the premier league but difficult games against Man City, Arsenal and Man Utd are in the mix. Away game to Tranmere in the Capital one cup is a bonus tough
16. West Ham
Generally a fairly tricky bunch of fixtures in the premier league plus a home game to Cardiff in the Capital One. Could be better but could be worse.
17. Norwich
Villa, Cardiff and West Ham at home are mixed in with games against Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City. Tricky Capital One cup game away to Watford
18. Sunderland
Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd and City in the Premier League. Peterborough in the Capital one Cup is the only good news
19. Crystal Palace
Tricky fixtures all over the place with visits to United and Liverpool and a game at home to Arsenal. Fulham at home is the only ray of sunshine. Out of the Capital one cup
20. WBA
Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are all opponents and Arsenal again in the Capital One. Couldn’t be much more tricky
That’s it. Hope it gives you some information and a pointTomorrow I’ll publish who i think are the best picks for your Sun Dream Team
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