Monday, August 17, 2009
Goal.com Competition
I posted a few days go that I have entered a competition over at Goal.com, to win an internship writing for the website. The voting is now open so I urge you to check out my article and if you like it head over to here and vote for me. Voting will remain open until August 23 and you must be a registered member to vote (but it only takes two minutes I promise).
Bye Week Blues
Six teams have a missing gameweek 2 due to the European fixtures being played by Arsenal, Villa and Everton. It was advisable to not load up on these players in your team, but of course it would be crazy to totally ignore players from top teams simply for this one off week. However, if you find yourself with more than 3 players away, who should you transfer out to hurt you least?
By looking at the fixtures following the bye week it gives an indication as who is the best player to move. Of the six teams with a bye, Arsenal have the worst fixtures in the weeks 3, 4 and 5 facing Portsmouth at home (1.68 GPG) and then tricky trips to Man Utd (0.58 GPG) and Man City (0.95 GPG). Equally, Villa face trips to Liverpool (0.63 GPG) and Birmingham as well as a home game against Fulham (1.05).
City on the other hand face Wolves and Arsenal (0.95 GPG) at home, as well as a trip to Portsmouth (1.63 GPG) which should allow Hughes' men to have some success immediately after their bye (although they don't actually have a week off as they face Barcelona in a friendly).
In short, with Villa's tough fixtures and shaky opening day form I would advise moving your Villains on rather than hold them on your bench if it means not fielding a full strength side. I would even go so far as to say suggest selling one of your Arsenal boys for the next four weeks as three of these look like being low scoring weeks, with only the Portsmouth game likely to bear fruit.
City players however will cost you two transfers as you will want them immediately back before the promising games against Wolves and Portsmouth come around. Everton, West Ham and Bolton have mixed bags of fixtures so ideally you would save your transfers for a more pressing need, though losing Everton defenders at this point would be a good idea regardless of the fixture list.
Do not panic over the gameweek, but also be cautious to not pay too high a price to hold your Arsenal stars as however well they play against Portsmouth (even scoring 6 again) they are unlikely to generate enough points as someone who plays 4 easy teams in the coming weeks. I wouldn't pay four points to move these players on, but you don't want to be sat with the same look as Arsene above as your multi million pound players sit idly on the bench.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Weekend Roundup
There were eight games yesterday and two today, in what was one of the best opening weekends in recent memory. Unfortunately I was moving home so I didn't get too see much live, hence the lack of updates throughout the day. Hopefully, I will be around for some live diaries in the coming weeks. Below are a few thoughts and observations on the weekend's games as well as the fantasy impact they will have:
Chelsea 2-1 Hull
I did manage to see this one and Hull were unlucky to miss out on any of the spoils. It did have a sense of inevitability about it though and Drogba, who had lots of chances throughout got the winner and his second of the game. I have said before that I like the Chelsea target man and I think he could be in for a big season. His picked up all 3 bonus points along with his two goals, giving him a 12 point haul for the day. Lampard didn't look overly threatening at the head of the diamond and he will have more success in the future for sure. Mikel started in the holding role but struggled and was replaced by Ballack at half time, pushing Essien back into a defensive position. I think this will the most used team and Mikel's value looks gone now, and Essien's is diminished.
Stephen Hunt's debut goal showed that he might have a better eye for goal than I had predicted and might be worth monitoring in the coming games.
Aston Villa 0-2 Wigan
I didn't have high expectations for Villa but they were awful in this game, with the talented pair of Young and Agbonlahor being all but non-existent. The defense looked all over the show and the loss of Laursen looks like a real blow for O'Neil's side. Young and Agbonlahor will bounce back but I would avoid the Villa defense for now until it is either strengthened or they can demonstrate they can get organised.
Wigan on the other hand look like a very useful unit and kept possession well throughout the game. N'Zogbia (5.5m) played quite well forward and enjoyed a good game, getting an assist for Koumas' goal. Koumas himself looked very useful and due to the fact he seems to take all corners and free kicks might be one for the shortlist. Rodallega grabbed the headlines with his excellent goal, and was a threat throughout. For anyone employing a rotation based attacking line, he should definitely be in consideration based on his matchup.
Blackburn 0-2 Man City
Mark Hughes couldn't have wished for a better start to his City career, getting a solid victory in week one, over his former team as an added bonus. New arrival Adebayor grabbed the three bonus points but as usual I though that Ireland was the pick of the midfielders and he confirmed my thoughts that even at 9m, he is a bargain. Shaun Wright Phillips, who I personally did not think would play, looked very good and grabbed both assists. Gareth Barry played the holding role I had expected De Jong or Kompany to occupy thus limiting his value as a fantasy player. The defense looked pretty shaky and was lucky to walk away with a clean sheet, with Dunne looking particularly troubled. City get a bye in week 2 and then face Wolves and Portsmouth so are worth holding for now. The next four of Arsenal, United, West Ham and Villa look a bit tougher so I wouldn't go all out and grab three City players just yet.
Blackburn looked okay but were quite blunt up front and need new arrival Kalinic to get fit as soon as possible in order for them to threaten any of the tougher teams. Warnock, who is a potential midfielder-listed-as-a-defender played in the back line and was limited in attacking options. This may change when captain Nelsen returns and Givet can shift to left back.
Bolton 0-1 Sunderland
Bent (aka the truth) grabbed the headlines here wit his debut goal, but it was strike partner Kenwyne Jones who was awarded the 3 bonus points. The midfield pairing of Malbranque and Richardson looked very threatening, with Malbranque getting the assist from a free kick for the first goal. On this performance, I would happily field Bent or Jones up front as well as Malbranque or Richardson. The defence also looked pretty solid limiting an anemic Bolton side to just a couple of shots.
Bolton offered very little of fantasy interest, though Ricketts get the start at right back may provide a good 4m option for future weeks.
Portsmouth 0-1 Fulham
There were no Pompey players I liked before kick off, and not much has changed. New arrival Piquionne had a decent game and might still warrant rotation consideration but until he can prove to be a Premier League scorer I will personally stay away. Kranjcar was very quiet and is overpriced at 7m right now.
Fulham didn't play all that well either, but showed that their defence is still one to reckoned with and Murphy (despite only picking up 1 bonus point) showed that he is the conductor in this team and is worth everyweek starter status for a bargain price. Zamora was given the 3 points probably as the pundits saw that he scored the winner, and Hangeland was given 2 probably because, if Arsenal are interested he must be good.
Stoke 2-0 Burnley
Bit gutted on this one, as I had Shawcross in the team up until 11am on Saturday morning then cut him for Scharner at the last minute. Anyway, Stoke's defense is for real and Sorensen could be the most undervalued player in the game right now. The fact that Shawcross was given the bonus points suggests he could be the darling of the Stoke line, given the points for a clean sheet in the same way that Vidic and Terry always get them for their respective teams. At 4.5m he is a real bargain and bench worthy in any team. Liam Lawrence took all free kicks and corners, while Delap's throw ins caused problems once more. I don't think either player is great value but if the matchup is right they might have value. Beattie was quiet on Saturday and we must monitor his form to check he can continue the kind of goalscoring he demonstrated last term.
I fear for Burnley this season and I am struggling to find a bright spot in this side. No one justifies fantasy consideration right now.
Wolves 0-2 West Ham
Much like Martinez is trying to do in Wigan, Zola has transformed the mentality of this team, who now look like a really good unit who can threaten the upper half of the league. My favourite arrival Jimenez picked up a single bonus point, while Noble's cracking goal, assist and 3 bonus points made him the player of the game. Cole looked good again and has really turned into a class act in the last 18 months. He is very good value at 7m as he looks to improve on his goalscoring and approach 15 goals for the year.
Wolves looked alot better than Burnley and threatened the West Ham goal for decent periods of the game. Milijas as the focal point of this and he tested Green with 3 decent efforts in the game. He also slipped in Ebanks-Blake (who was very quiet) but the young striker could not finish with any precision.
Everton 1-6 Arsenal
Really disappointed I missed this one, as Arsenal in full flow are a total joy to behold. Fabregas reminded us that he should be included in the discussion of the top fantasy players, adding a mammoth 22 points this week (2 goals, 2 assists, 3 bonus). Eduardo, Denilson, Gallas and Vermaelen all added goals while my favourite breakout player Arshavin added an assist and a bonus point. The defense looked decent and should be good for a few clean sheets in the coming weeks while all attacking options aside from Bendtner were able to contribute to your score this week. After week 5, Arsenal have a GREAT fixture list and it may be worth getting at least 2 gunners in your side from that period until week 14 when they next play a red light game.
Everton are in a bit of turmoil, with the Lescott saga clearing having an effect on the team (as well as injuries to Jagielka, Arteta and Yakubu). I wouldn't abandon them just yet as the fixtures are still good after the week 2 bye, but it might be worth removing the Everton defence from the top echelon of fantasy teams.
Man Utd 1-0 Birmingham
Fabio got the surprise start at right back today, who at 5m is an absolute steal if he continues to get minutes. Ferdinand looks set to miss a couple of games, so Evans might be a good play over the next few weeks. Foster took his place in goal and should continue to deputise for the injured van der Sar and is therefore great value for now. The midfield was solid but unspectacular and no one has even begun to challenge for Ronaldo's crown yet. Rooney added a goal and 3 bonus points and might be worth a look though I still rate Torres and Drogba as better value.
Birmingham defended solidly but never threatened the United goal and look set to struggle to find the net this year. They should keep some clean sheets against lesser team though and Stephen Carr at 4m looks to be a good bench man.
Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool
A great strike from Assou Ekotto and a debut header from Bassong gave Spurs a great opening day win. Modric played fairly well, picking up an assist and should still be considered an undervalued midfielder for now. Up front Defoe looked lively though Keane and Crouch both failed to have a significant impact on the game. Spurs should keep plenty of clean sheets again this year and for 5m, their defenders look to be good value.
Liverpool really struggled without Xabi, with Mascherano andLucas lacking the passing skills required to free up Gerrard to push forward. Gerrard therefore kept coming short, leaving Torres stranded at times. Benayoun filled that void somewhat and I can see him becoming the first choice midfield/forward over Babel in the coming weeks. Torres himself did okay, while Gerrard converted his penalty to edge Lampard in the early quest to be fantasy king. Check back in a couple of days for the injury status of Skrtel, who went off with a head injury (sadly after both goals were conceded).
Overall it was a great weekend, with no draws and plenty of goals. The team selections were largely in line with expectations, though I will comment on the success of my predictions vs The Guardian and Telegraph in a couple of days. Hope your teams had good opening days and that you aren't in a hole already. I got 45 points which is average so I'm not too down (for now).
Congrats to Rodi O'Leart who top scored in the blog league this week with a very impressive 75, after captaining Drogba and scoring solid points throughout his team.
Chelsea 2-1 HullI did manage to see this one and Hull were unlucky to miss out on any of the spoils. It did have a sense of inevitability about it though and Drogba, who had lots of chances throughout got the winner and his second of the game. I have said before that I like the Chelsea target man and I think he could be in for a big season. His picked up all 3 bonus points along with his two goals, giving him a 12 point haul for the day. Lampard didn't look overly threatening at the head of the diamond and he will have more success in the future for sure. Mikel started in the holding role but struggled and was replaced by Ballack at half time, pushing Essien back into a defensive position. I think this will the most used team and Mikel's value looks gone now, and Essien's is diminished.
Stephen Hunt's debut goal showed that he might have a better eye for goal than I had predicted and might be worth monitoring in the coming games.
Aston Villa 0-2 Wigan
I didn't have high expectations for Villa but they were awful in this game, with the talented pair of Young and Agbonlahor being all but non-existent. The defense looked all over the show and the loss of Laursen looks like a real blow for O'Neil's side. Young and Agbonlahor will bounce back but I would avoid the Villa defense for now until it is either strengthened or they can demonstrate they can get organised.
Wigan on the other hand look like a very useful unit and kept possession well throughout the game. N'Zogbia (5.5m) played quite well forward and enjoyed a good game, getting an assist for Koumas' goal. Koumas himself looked very useful and due to the fact he seems to take all corners and free kicks might be one for the shortlist. Rodallega grabbed the headlines with his excellent goal, and was a threat throughout. For anyone employing a rotation based attacking line, he should definitely be in consideration based on his matchup.
Blackburn 0-2 Man CityMark Hughes couldn't have wished for a better start to his City career, getting a solid victory in week one, over his former team as an added bonus. New arrival Adebayor grabbed the three bonus points but as usual I though that Ireland was the pick of the midfielders and he confirmed my thoughts that even at 9m, he is a bargain. Shaun Wright Phillips, who I personally did not think would play, looked very good and grabbed both assists. Gareth Barry played the holding role I had expected De Jong or Kompany to occupy thus limiting his value as a fantasy player. The defense looked pretty shaky and was lucky to walk away with a clean sheet, with Dunne looking particularly troubled. City get a bye in week 2 and then face Wolves and Portsmouth so are worth holding for now. The next four of Arsenal, United, West Ham and Villa look a bit tougher so I wouldn't go all out and grab three City players just yet.
Blackburn looked okay but were quite blunt up front and need new arrival Kalinic to get fit as soon as possible in order for them to threaten any of the tougher teams. Warnock, who is a potential midfielder-listed-as-a-defender played in the back line and was limited in attacking options. This may change when captain Nelsen returns and Givet can shift to left back.
Bolton 0-1 SunderlandBent (aka the truth) grabbed the headlines here wit his debut goal, but it was strike partner Kenwyne Jones who was awarded the 3 bonus points. The midfield pairing of Malbranque and Richardson looked very threatening, with Malbranque getting the assist from a free kick for the first goal. On this performance, I would happily field Bent or Jones up front as well as Malbranque or Richardson. The defence also looked pretty solid limiting an anemic Bolton side to just a couple of shots.
Bolton offered very little of fantasy interest, though Ricketts get the start at right back may provide a good 4m option for future weeks.
Portsmouth 0-1 Fulham
There were no Pompey players I liked before kick off, and not much has changed. New arrival Piquionne had a decent game and might still warrant rotation consideration but until he can prove to be a Premier League scorer I will personally stay away. Kranjcar was very quiet and is overpriced at 7m right now.
Fulham didn't play all that well either, but showed that their defence is still one to reckoned with and Murphy (despite only picking up 1 bonus point) showed that he is the conductor in this team and is worth everyweek starter status for a bargain price. Zamora was given the 3 points probably as the pundits saw that he scored the winner, and Hangeland was given 2 probably because, if Arsenal are interested he must be good.
Stoke 2-0 BurnleyBit gutted on this one, as I had Shawcross in the team up until 11am on Saturday morning then cut him for Scharner at the last minute. Anyway, Stoke's defense is for real and Sorensen could be the most undervalued player in the game right now. The fact that Shawcross was given the bonus points suggests he could be the darling of the Stoke line, given the points for a clean sheet in the same way that Vidic and Terry always get them for their respective teams. At 4.5m he is a real bargain and bench worthy in any team. Liam Lawrence took all free kicks and corners, while Delap's throw ins caused problems once more. I don't think either player is great value but if the matchup is right they might have value. Beattie was quiet on Saturday and we must monitor his form to check he can continue the kind of goalscoring he demonstrated last term.
I fear for Burnley this season and I am struggling to find a bright spot in this side. No one justifies fantasy consideration right now.
Wolves 0-2 West Ham
Much like Martinez is trying to do in Wigan, Zola has transformed the mentality of this team, who now look like a really good unit who can threaten the upper half of the league. My favourite arrival Jimenez picked up a single bonus point, while Noble's cracking goal, assist and 3 bonus points made him the player of the game. Cole looked good again and has really turned into a class act in the last 18 months. He is very good value at 7m as he looks to improve on his goalscoring and approach 15 goals for the year.
Wolves looked alot better than Burnley and threatened the West Ham goal for decent periods of the game. Milijas as the focal point of this and he tested Green with 3 decent efforts in the game. He also slipped in Ebanks-Blake (who was very quiet) but the young striker could not finish with any precision.
Everton 1-6 ArsenalReally disappointed I missed this one, as Arsenal in full flow are a total joy to behold. Fabregas reminded us that he should be included in the discussion of the top fantasy players, adding a mammoth 22 points this week (2 goals, 2 assists, 3 bonus). Eduardo, Denilson, Gallas and Vermaelen all added goals while my favourite breakout player Arshavin added an assist and a bonus point. The defense looked decent and should be good for a few clean sheets in the coming weeks while all attacking options aside from Bendtner were able to contribute to your score this week. After week 5, Arsenal have a GREAT fixture list and it may be worth getting at least 2 gunners in your side from that period until week 14 when they next play a red light game.
Everton are in a bit of turmoil, with the Lescott saga clearing having an effect on the team (as well as injuries to Jagielka, Arteta and Yakubu). I wouldn't abandon them just yet as the fixtures are still good after the week 2 bye, but it might be worth removing the Everton defence from the top echelon of fantasy teams.
Man Utd 1-0 Birmingham
Fabio got the surprise start at right back today, who at 5m is an absolute steal if he continues to get minutes. Ferdinand looks set to miss a couple of games, so Evans might be a good play over the next few weeks. Foster took his place in goal and should continue to deputise for the injured van der Sar and is therefore great value for now. The midfield was solid but unspectacular and no one has even begun to challenge for Ronaldo's crown yet. Rooney added a goal and 3 bonus points and might be worth a look though I still rate Torres and Drogba as better value.
Birmingham defended solidly but never threatened the United goal and look set to struggle to find the net this year. They should keep some clean sheets against lesser team though and Stephen Carr at 4m looks to be a good bench man.
Tottenham 2-1 LiverpoolA great strike from Assou Ekotto and a debut header from Bassong gave Spurs a great opening day win. Modric played fairly well, picking up an assist and should still be considered an undervalued midfielder for now. Up front Defoe looked lively though Keane and Crouch both failed to have a significant impact on the game. Spurs should keep plenty of clean sheets again this year and for 5m, their defenders look to be good value.
Liverpool really struggled without Xabi, with Mascherano andLucas lacking the passing skills required to free up Gerrard to push forward. Gerrard therefore kept coming short, leaving Torres stranded at times. Benayoun filled that void somewhat and I can see him becoming the first choice midfield/forward over Babel in the coming weeks. Torres himself did okay, while Gerrard converted his penalty to edge Lampard in the early quest to be fantasy king. Check back in a couple of days for the injury status of Skrtel, who went off with a head injury (sadly after both goals were conceded).
Overall it was a great weekend, with no draws and plenty of goals. The team selections were largely in line with expectations, though I will comment on the success of my predictions vs The Guardian and Telegraph in a couple of days. Hope your teams had good opening days and that you aren't in a hole already. I got 45 points which is average so I'm not too down (for now).
Congrats to Rodi O'Leart who top scored in the blog league this week with a very impressive 75, after captaining Drogba and scoring solid points throughout his team.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Last minute news
Arsenal
Probable team: Almunia, Clichy, Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, Song, Denilson, Fabregas, Arshavin, Van Persie, Eduardo
Its a full strength team (if not squad) for Arsene to pick from, including new boy Vermaelen having shaken off a hamstring problem. Wenger should deploy his new 4-3-3 system which will trouble any team, even the stout Everton defense. Should be a good game here, with plenty of fantasy talent to scout, most notably Arshavin who I have tipped to join Lampard and Gerrard in the new holy trinity of fantasy football.
Everton scored a healthy 24 on the road last year, though Arsenal conceded just 16 so a clean sheet is definately a possibility, especially with Arteta and Yakubu out. Of the big four though they have the third best fixture and with the week 2 bye, I wouldn't be too high on the Gunner defenders. The offense looks good though and with Jagielka out and Lescott's mind elsehwere (Eastlands? the bank?) Arsenal should be good for a goal or two.
Aston Villa
Probable Team: Friedel, Shorey, Cuellar, Davies, Beye, Young, Sidwell, Petrov, Milner, Carew, Agbonlahor
Luke Young and Wilifred Bouma look set to miss a couple more weeks, allowing new arrival Beye and last season's bust Shorey to take the full back positions on opening day without much competition. Sky Sports says that Petrov will start, though Physio Room still have him listed as very doubtful. I'd go ahead and plug him in as if he doesn't start he will likely not feature at all and you're sub will drop in anyway. If he doesn't go then boy wonder Delph could start in his place.
Villa players are a good play this week as Wigan were poor on the road last year and O'Neill knows that with increased competition from City and Spurs, his side must hit the ground running.
Birmingham City
Probable Team: Hart, Queudrue, Vignal, Johnson, Carr, Carsley, Ferguson, Johnson, McFadden, Larsson, Jerome
Big time worries for McLeish making this trip to Old Trafford all the more daunting. Espinoza, Taylor, Ridgewell, Murphy and Dann are all out according to the Guardian, leaving paper thin depth at the back. The Telegraph echo this point, though they suggest Bowyer will play which is tough for any player serving a three game suspension. Aside from Bowyer, the midfield is pretty much full strength, allowing McLeish to name a sufficiently gritty side to try and disrupt United's play. Blog favourite Jerome looks set to start up front with the Guardian and Telegraph in agreement he will lead the line in a 4-5-1.
Blackburn Rovers
Probable Team: Robinson, Givet, Nelsen, Samba, Jacobsen, Warnock, Andrews, Dunn, Diouf, Roberts, McCarthy
BBC report that new stiker Kalinic is short of match fitness and will not play for a 'couple of weeks. This sentiment is echoed by the player himself who concedes he needs "time to get in good shape". BBC also report that Ryan Nelsen (a blog tip) faces the dreaded 'late fitness test' and his status won't be known until closer to kick off. The Guardian are more bullish and have included the Kiwi in their predicted lineup. With City coming to town looking to prove a point it wouldn't be the worse idea to bench the lad anyway and focus your attention elsewhere as even kicking lumps out of them will surely only slow down Hughes' dynamic attacking side.
Warnock is a potentially nice play, so long as he holds off Pedersen on the left side of midfield. The former Liverpool man is classified as defender in the game and is one to watch in the coming weeks.
Bolton Wanderers
Probable Team: Jaaskelainen, Robinson, Cahill, Knight, Steinsson, Taylor, Muamba, McCann, Davis, Davies, Elmander
Andy O'Brien and Gavin McCann are both listed as doubtful at the Physio Room, though with no natural replacement available I think McCann will hold his place in the side. The Bolton Evening News suggests that McCann will be ready to go if selected. More important for fantasy purposes is the back four, which I believe will feature two new arrivals, but not Ricketts who should not be picked ahead of the impressive Steinsson. Cahill is the only man to be guaranteed a place here though and my be your best bet in the short term. New signing Chung Yong Lee is said to have received sufficient clearance to make the bench, and the exciting South Korean might be one to monitor in the coming weeks. One player who is gauranteed a place is young Muamba who I really like this year, especially in light of Megson suggesting a more advanced role for the young Englishman.
With so a few new faces at Sunderland needing time to gel Bolton players as a whole could be good bargain plays in this one and there is some chance of a clean sheet to replicate the achievement in last year's corresponding fixture.
Burnley
Probable Team: Jensen, Kalvenes, Jordan, Carlisle, Alexander, Blake, McCann, Gudjonssen, Eagles, Paterson, Fletcher
Caldwell is out for Owen Coyle's side in case his dad is reading this, who is presumably his only owner. We will need to see at least 3 - 5 games before you either consider picking any of these boys to start and my advice is to stay well away for now.
Chelsea
Probable Team: Cech, Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Bosingwa, Essien, Malouda, Ballack, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba
Zhirkov and Cole will both miss out, making Malouda the default choice on the left, while a desire to be attacking at home should see Essien in the holding role allowing Ballack to take up arms on the right. Ivanovic had a bit of a nightmare at the weekend and so Bosingwa should be reinstated at right back, though I have mentioned before that he is a very risky pick or 7.5m based on the potential for totation. Anelka and Drogba are both great options this week, as is (of course) Frank Lampard. I'd probably tip Drogba as my captain if you have him but Lampard will also make a good chief for the week.
Everton
Probable Team: Howard, Baines, Lescott, Yobo, Hibbert, Pienaar, Fellaini, Neville, Osman, Cahill, Saha
Three big names are missing for Everton, with Jagielka, Arteta and Yakubu all missing out on opening day. Cahill should have added responsibility and becomes great value at 8.5m and is now worth consideration even in light on their gameweek 2 bye. The defense looks a risky play against Arsenal who scored an incredible 37 goals on the road last year so I'd stay away. Saha is not a long term option and with the bye next week I'd hold off.
Fulham
Probable Team: Schwarzer, Koncesky, Hangeland, Hughes, Paintsil, Gera, Etuhu, Murphy, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora
The only worry for Hodgson is Simon Davies who looks set to miss the first couple of games, with Etuhu the likely candidate to deputise. Fulham are a good defensive and offensive play and they are one of the best clean sheet picks of the week.
Hull City
Probable Team: Myhill, Dawson, Zayatte, Turner, Mendy, Olafajana, Boateng, Hunt, Marney, Geovanni, Altidore
Although fit, the back five is a terrible play this week so leave well alone. The midfield is also uninspiring despite the arrival of Stephen Hunt (5m) from Reading. You all know how much I love Altidore but even if he starts this looks like a tough opening fixture so he might be worth sitting for now. Sorry Phil Brown [please don't yell at me in front of the away fans].
Liverpool
Probable Team: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Kuyt, Torres
With Riera listed as doubtful at the Physio Room and in the Guardian, I have gone with Benayoun upfront alongside Torres and Kuyt. Skrtel came through a behind closed doors friendly this week and looks ready to line up alongside Carragher, with Agger out of contention until the end of the month. With Aquilani out, Lucas should get an extended run in the side and hence looks decent value at 5m. Insua and Skrtel at 6m also look good value, at least until Aurelio and Agger return.
Manchester City
Probable Team: Given, Bridge, Dunne, Toure, Richards, De Jong, Barry, Ireland, Robinho, Tevez, Adebayor
Unsurprisingly there is much debate as to who will play for City and indeed what formation Hughes will start with. The main arguments seem to be with Richards/Zabaleta at right back and Tevez/Wright Phillips up front/on the wing. I have gone 4-3-3 as I can't see how Hughes can keep his forwards happy all year when only playing two per week. Physio Room, the BBC and the Guardian all list Adebayor as doubtful, though I am still leaning towards Hughes throwing him out there in week one. At the back I think Richards is the long term solution at right back and Hughes will choose the English man over Zabaleta, though I would avoid both these players for now, instead choosing Bridge as the safer option.
Manchester United
Probable Team: Foster, Evra, Brown, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Valencia, Berbatov, Rooney
Van der Sar, Vidic, Neville and Rafael all look set to miss out which would allow Foster, Brown (himself a slight doubt) and O'Shea to take their positions at the back. The Guardian suggests that Brown is out, and it is in fact Evans who will partner Ferdinand at the back, while the BBC say Brown has shaken off his thigh problem and is fit to start for Ferguson's side. It seems that whatever happens, O'Shea will play this week and looks great value again at 5.5m. The midfield and up front are both full strength save for the perma-injured Hargreaves, with Anderson missing out in my predicted lineup due to the steel likely to be put out by Birmingham as they look to rattle the Champions. Needless to say Berbatov and Rooney are both quality starts this week, and both worthy of captaincy consideration.
Portsmouth
Probable Team: James, Belhadj, Kaboul, Distin, Vanden Borre, Mullins, Mokoena, Diop, Kranjcar, Utaka, Piquionne
Hreidarsson and Finnan are both said to be out until the end of the month with the Guardian predicting the voids to be filled by new arrival Vanden Borre and Belhadj. The Telegraph suggests the Kaboul will get the call at right back with youngster Wilson slotting in alongside Distin. Wilson would be a nice pick for 4m as would Mullins for 4.5m. Up front new boy Piquionne has little competition and is worth a punt at 5.5m if you're looking for someone different.
Stoke City
Probable Team: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Faye, Shawcross, Shotton, Etherington, Delap, Whitehead, Lawrence, Beattie, Fuller
No real worries for Stoke here with the big question being who will start at right back. The Guardian have gone with the young Shotton, as have the BBC. The Telegraph meanwhile have played it safe with Wilkinson. Shotton is not available in the game yet so those wanting a 4m player would have to risk rolling the dice with Wilkinson. As this is probably the best shot at clean sheet all season, its probably worth spending the extra 0.5m to get Higginbotham, Faye or Shawcross, with Shawcross and Faye carrying the added bonus of being decent goal threats.
Beattie, Fuller and Etherington are also good plays this week and worth rotating in off the bench if you were planning on stashing them there.
Sunderland
Probable Team: Fulop, McCartney, Ferdinand, Collins, Bardsley, Richardson, Cana, Cattermole, Malbranque, Jones, Bent
Bardsley is listed as a slight doubt by Sporting Life, but neither the Physio Room or the Guardian predict the ex-United trainee missing any time. I think Jones and Bent will be preferred to Campbell and both are decent option this week though I don't see a goal fest at the Reebok (last season this game was 0-0). The back four looks pretty settled and there isn't much controversy in my suggested lineup.
Tottenham
Probable Team: Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, King, Bassong, Corluka, Modric, Palacios, Huddlestone, Lennon, Crouch, Defoe
Redknapp's defensive woes have been lightened by the introduction of Bassing but they are still without Woodgate, Dawson and Bale, while King remains a doubt. In midfield Jenas is out with Huddlestone or perhaps O'Hara the likely replacements. Its a tough game for the defense anyway so I would try and stay away for now, despite Spurs' excellent home record last year. Likewise the forward players are risky against a stout Scouse defense, but Modric, Crouch and Defoe are still viable options.
West Ham United
Probable Team: Green, Ilunga, Upson, Collins, Spector, Noble, Kovac, Collison, Dyer, Jimenez, Cole
Ashton, Behrami and Boa Morte are all long term casualties, but otherwise Zola has a fit squad to choose from. Aside from Jimenez it isn't clear who will feature in midfield and despite the attraction of playing a newly promoted side, these picks might be too risky right now. Cole is a great play up front, as is the defense with Collins looking the best pick at just 4.5m.
Wigan
Probable Team: Kirkland, Figueroa, Bramble, Scharner, Melchiot, N'Zogbia, Brown, Gomez, Koumas, Scotland, Rodallega
Only Kapo is out for the Latics so Martinez has a full squad to choose from. Some sources, including the Guardian think he will go 4-3-3, where as Sky Sports suggest he will stick with the 4-4-2. The fact I am backing Sky is probably a bad sign but I think Martinez signals his intentions with an attacking lineup.
Wigan players aren't a great play this week, as they face a tough trip to the Midlands and the added pressure of it being the new boss's first competitive game in charge. They might get a goal but I can't see much joy for the defense here.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Probable Team: Hennessey, Ward, Mancienne, Zubar, Foley, Jarvis, Surman, Milijas, Henry, Halford, Ebanks-Blake
Berra and Kightly will both mis out according to the Guardian and Physio Room, while Doyle is also a doubt and will at best make the bench. I personally am not that confident in who will play and aside from Milijas and Ebanks-Blake would not bet on anyone being a guaranteed starter. Therefore steer clear of all but Ebanks-Blake this week until the situation clears up and the fixtures get a bit easier.
Probable team: Almunia, Clichy, Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, Song, Denilson, Fabregas, Arshavin, Van Persie, Eduardo
Its a full strength team (if not squad) for Arsene to pick from, including new boy Vermaelen having shaken off a hamstring problem. Wenger should deploy his new 4-3-3 system which will trouble any team, even the stout Everton defense. Should be a good game here, with plenty of fantasy talent to scout, most notably Arshavin who I have tipped to join Lampard and Gerrard in the new holy trinity of fantasy football.
Everton scored a healthy 24 on the road last year, though Arsenal conceded just 16 so a clean sheet is definately a possibility, especially with Arteta and Yakubu out. Of the big four though they have the third best fixture and with the week 2 bye, I wouldn't be too high on the Gunner defenders. The offense looks good though and with Jagielka out and Lescott's mind elsehwere (Eastlands? the bank?) Arsenal should be good for a goal or two.
Aston Villa
Probable Team: Friedel, Shorey, Cuellar, Davies, Beye, Young, Sidwell, Petrov, Milner, Carew, Agbonlahor
Luke Young and Wilifred Bouma look set to miss a couple more weeks, allowing new arrival Beye and last season's bust Shorey to take the full back positions on opening day without much competition. Sky Sports says that Petrov will start, though Physio Room still have him listed as very doubtful. I'd go ahead and plug him in as if he doesn't start he will likely not feature at all and you're sub will drop in anyway. If he doesn't go then boy wonder Delph could start in his place.
Villa players are a good play this week as Wigan were poor on the road last year and O'Neill knows that with increased competition from City and Spurs, his side must hit the ground running.
Birmingham City
Probable Team: Hart, Queudrue, Vignal, Johnson, Carr, Carsley, Ferguson, Johnson, McFadden, Larsson, Jerome
Big time worries for McLeish making this trip to Old Trafford all the more daunting. Espinoza, Taylor, Ridgewell, Murphy and Dann are all out according to the Guardian, leaving paper thin depth at the back. The Telegraph echo this point, though they suggest Bowyer will play which is tough for any player serving a three game suspension. Aside from Bowyer, the midfield is pretty much full strength, allowing McLeish to name a sufficiently gritty side to try and disrupt United's play. Blog favourite Jerome looks set to start up front with the Guardian and Telegraph in agreement he will lead the line in a 4-5-1.
Blackburn Rovers
Probable Team: Robinson, Givet, Nelsen, Samba, Jacobsen, Warnock, Andrews, Dunn, Diouf, Roberts, McCarthy
BBC report that new stiker Kalinic is short of match fitness and will not play for a 'couple of weeks. This sentiment is echoed by the player himself who concedes he needs "time to get in good shape". BBC also report that Ryan Nelsen (a blog tip) faces the dreaded 'late fitness test' and his status won't be known until closer to kick off. The Guardian are more bullish and have included the Kiwi in their predicted lineup. With City coming to town looking to prove a point it wouldn't be the worse idea to bench the lad anyway and focus your attention elsewhere as even kicking lumps out of them will surely only slow down Hughes' dynamic attacking side.
Warnock is a potentially nice play, so long as he holds off Pedersen on the left side of midfield. The former Liverpool man is classified as defender in the game and is one to watch in the coming weeks.
Bolton Wanderers
Probable Team: Jaaskelainen, Robinson, Cahill, Knight, Steinsson, Taylor, Muamba, McCann, Davis, Davies, Elmander
Andy O'Brien and Gavin McCann are both listed as doubtful at the Physio Room, though with no natural replacement available I think McCann will hold his place in the side. The Bolton Evening News suggests that McCann will be ready to go if selected. More important for fantasy purposes is the back four, which I believe will feature two new arrivals, but not Ricketts who should not be picked ahead of the impressive Steinsson. Cahill is the only man to be guaranteed a place here though and my be your best bet in the short term. New signing Chung Yong Lee is said to have received sufficient clearance to make the bench, and the exciting South Korean might be one to monitor in the coming weeks. One player who is gauranteed a place is young Muamba who I really like this year, especially in light of Megson suggesting a more advanced role for the young Englishman.
With so a few new faces at Sunderland needing time to gel Bolton players as a whole could be good bargain plays in this one and there is some chance of a clean sheet to replicate the achievement in last year's corresponding fixture.
Burnley
Probable Team: Jensen, Kalvenes, Jordan, Carlisle, Alexander, Blake, McCann, Gudjonssen, Eagles, Paterson, Fletcher
Caldwell is out for Owen Coyle's side in case his dad is reading this, who is presumably his only owner. We will need to see at least 3 - 5 games before you either consider picking any of these boys to start and my advice is to stay well away for now.
Chelsea
Probable Team: Cech, Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Bosingwa, Essien, Malouda, Ballack, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba
Zhirkov and Cole will both miss out, making Malouda the default choice on the left, while a desire to be attacking at home should see Essien in the holding role allowing Ballack to take up arms on the right. Ivanovic had a bit of a nightmare at the weekend and so Bosingwa should be reinstated at right back, though I have mentioned before that he is a very risky pick or 7.5m based on the potential for totation. Anelka and Drogba are both great options this week, as is (of course) Frank Lampard. I'd probably tip Drogba as my captain if you have him but Lampard will also make a good chief for the week.
Everton
Probable Team: Howard, Baines, Lescott, Yobo, Hibbert, Pienaar, Fellaini, Neville, Osman, Cahill, Saha
Three big names are missing for Everton, with Jagielka, Arteta and Yakubu all missing out on opening day. Cahill should have added responsibility and becomes great value at 8.5m and is now worth consideration even in light on their gameweek 2 bye. The defense looks a risky play against Arsenal who scored an incredible 37 goals on the road last year so I'd stay away. Saha is not a long term option and with the bye next week I'd hold off.
Fulham
Probable Team: Schwarzer, Koncesky, Hangeland, Hughes, Paintsil, Gera, Etuhu, Murphy, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora
The only worry for Hodgson is Simon Davies who looks set to miss the first couple of games, with Etuhu the likely candidate to deputise. Fulham are a good defensive and offensive play and they are one of the best clean sheet picks of the week.
Hull City
Probable Team: Myhill, Dawson, Zayatte, Turner, Mendy, Olafajana, Boateng, Hunt, Marney, Geovanni, Altidore
Although fit, the back five is a terrible play this week so leave well alone. The midfield is also uninspiring despite the arrival of Stephen Hunt (5m) from Reading. You all know how much I love Altidore but even if he starts this looks like a tough opening fixture so he might be worth sitting for now. Sorry Phil Brown [please don't yell at me in front of the away fans].
Liverpool
Probable Team: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Kuyt, Torres
With Riera listed as doubtful at the Physio Room and in the Guardian, I have gone with Benayoun upfront alongside Torres and Kuyt. Skrtel came through a behind closed doors friendly this week and looks ready to line up alongside Carragher, with Agger out of contention until the end of the month. With Aquilani out, Lucas should get an extended run in the side and hence looks decent value at 5m. Insua and Skrtel at 6m also look good value, at least until Aurelio and Agger return.
Manchester City
Probable Team: Given, Bridge, Dunne, Toure, Richards, De Jong, Barry, Ireland, Robinho, Tevez, Adebayor
Unsurprisingly there is much debate as to who will play for City and indeed what formation Hughes will start with. The main arguments seem to be with Richards/Zabaleta at right back and Tevez/Wright Phillips up front/on the wing. I have gone 4-3-3 as I can't see how Hughes can keep his forwards happy all year when only playing two per week. Physio Room, the BBC and the Guardian all list Adebayor as doubtful, though I am still leaning towards Hughes throwing him out there in week one. At the back I think Richards is the long term solution at right back and Hughes will choose the English man over Zabaleta, though I would avoid both these players for now, instead choosing Bridge as the safer option.
Manchester United
Probable Team: Foster, Evra, Brown, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Park, Fletcher, Carrick, Valencia, Berbatov, Rooney
Van der Sar, Vidic, Neville and Rafael all look set to miss out which would allow Foster, Brown (himself a slight doubt) and O'Shea to take their positions at the back. The Guardian suggests that Brown is out, and it is in fact Evans who will partner Ferdinand at the back, while the BBC say Brown has shaken off his thigh problem and is fit to start for Ferguson's side. It seems that whatever happens, O'Shea will play this week and looks great value again at 5.5m. The midfield and up front are both full strength save for the perma-injured Hargreaves, with Anderson missing out in my predicted lineup due to the steel likely to be put out by Birmingham as they look to rattle the Champions. Needless to say Berbatov and Rooney are both quality starts this week, and both worthy of captaincy consideration.
Portsmouth
Probable Team: James, Belhadj, Kaboul, Distin, Vanden Borre, Mullins, Mokoena, Diop, Kranjcar, Utaka, Piquionne
Hreidarsson and Finnan are both said to be out until the end of the month with the Guardian predicting the voids to be filled by new arrival Vanden Borre and Belhadj. The Telegraph suggests the Kaboul will get the call at right back with youngster Wilson slotting in alongside Distin. Wilson would be a nice pick for 4m as would Mullins for 4.5m. Up front new boy Piquionne has little competition and is worth a punt at 5.5m if you're looking for someone different.
Stoke City
Probable Team: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Faye, Shawcross, Shotton, Etherington, Delap, Whitehead, Lawrence, Beattie, Fuller
No real worries for Stoke here with the big question being who will start at right back. The Guardian have gone with the young Shotton, as have the BBC. The Telegraph meanwhile have played it safe with Wilkinson. Shotton is not available in the game yet so those wanting a 4m player would have to risk rolling the dice with Wilkinson. As this is probably the best shot at clean sheet all season, its probably worth spending the extra 0.5m to get Higginbotham, Faye or Shawcross, with Shawcross and Faye carrying the added bonus of being decent goal threats.
Beattie, Fuller and Etherington are also good plays this week and worth rotating in off the bench if you were planning on stashing them there.
Sunderland
Probable Team: Fulop, McCartney, Ferdinand, Collins, Bardsley, Richardson, Cana, Cattermole, Malbranque, Jones, Bent
Bardsley is listed as a slight doubt by Sporting Life, but neither the Physio Room or the Guardian predict the ex-United trainee missing any time. I think Jones and Bent will be preferred to Campbell and both are decent option this week though I don't see a goal fest at the Reebok (last season this game was 0-0). The back four looks pretty settled and there isn't much controversy in my suggested lineup.
Tottenham
Probable Team: Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, King, Bassong, Corluka, Modric, Palacios, Huddlestone, Lennon, Crouch, Defoe
Redknapp's defensive woes have been lightened by the introduction of Bassing but they are still without Woodgate, Dawson and Bale, while King remains a doubt. In midfield Jenas is out with Huddlestone or perhaps O'Hara the likely replacements. Its a tough game for the defense anyway so I would try and stay away for now, despite Spurs' excellent home record last year. Likewise the forward players are risky against a stout Scouse defense, but Modric, Crouch and Defoe are still viable options.
West Ham United
Probable Team: Green, Ilunga, Upson, Collins, Spector, Noble, Kovac, Collison, Dyer, Jimenez, Cole
Ashton, Behrami and Boa Morte are all long term casualties, but otherwise Zola has a fit squad to choose from. Aside from Jimenez it isn't clear who will feature in midfield and despite the attraction of playing a newly promoted side, these picks might be too risky right now. Cole is a great play up front, as is the defense with Collins looking the best pick at just 4.5m.
Wigan
Probable Team: Kirkland, Figueroa, Bramble, Scharner, Melchiot, N'Zogbia, Brown, Gomez, Koumas, Scotland, Rodallega
Only Kapo is out for the Latics so Martinez has a full squad to choose from. Some sources, including the Guardian think he will go 4-3-3, where as Sky Sports suggest he will stick with the 4-4-2. The fact I am backing Sky is probably a bad sign but I think Martinez signals his intentions with an attacking lineup.
Wigan players aren't a great play this week, as they face a tough trip to the Midlands and the added pressure of it being the new boss's first competitive game in charge. They might get a goal but I can't see much joy for the defense here.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Probable Team: Hennessey, Ward, Mancienne, Zubar, Foley, Jarvis, Surman, Milijas, Henry, Halford, Ebanks-Blake
Berra and Kightly will both mis out according to the Guardian and Physio Room, while Doyle is also a doubt and will at best make the bench. I personally am not that confident in who will play and aside from Milijas and Ebanks-Blake would not bet on anyone being a guaranteed starter. Therefore steer clear of all but Ebanks-Blake this week until the situation clears up and the fixtures get a bit easier.
Goal.com Competition - A request to you the reader
I'm not sure if anyone is aware of the competition they are running over at Goal.com, but the basic idea is that you can enter a football related story under 500 words and the readers can vote on the best. The winner gets a shot at an internship at goal.com.
I have entered and I'd be honoured if you guys would check out my entry, and if you like it, register and give it some 'Kudos'. If you think its worthy then please forward it on to anyone you think might be interested. If you don't then let me know why so I can learn for the future.
Thanks
Chris
I have entered and I'd be honoured if you guys would check out my entry, and if you like it, register and give it some 'Kudos'. If you think its worthy then please forward it on to anyone you think might be interested. If you don't then let me know why so I can learn for the future.
Thanks
Chris
Team Summaries 2009-10 Part 4 of 4
So here is the final team previews, brought to you just one day before the start of the new season (apologies for cutting things a bit close). I will post later tonight a review of all the last minute injury news, as well as tweeting them tomorrow morning before the 11:30 deadline. Today's previews lack the star power of yesterday but plenty of bargains can be found, and each team has something to offer
Sunderland
Projected Team: Fulop, McCartney, Collins, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Richardson, Cattermole, Cana, Malbranque, Bent, Jones
After being given a substantial war chest by the board, Steve Bruce has spent very well on Weirside and his team look stronger than they ever have. It would not be surprising at all to see Sunderland pushing Fulham and West Ham for top half spots rather than scrapping at the wrong end of the table.
At the back the team is largely unchanged, which is disappointing for a team who ranked just 13th in total defense (16th home, 12th away) last season. Paolo de Silva (4.5m) should feature when he gains match fitness, having been granted a work permit yesterday. The Paraguyan captain should feature at centre back, presumably alongside Anton Ferdinand (4.5m) both of whom look like decent bench players.
The midfield looks much improved with the added steel of Cattermole (5m) and Cana (5m) giving Malbranque (6m) and Richardson (6m) more flexibility to play in advanced roles. Cattermole is in the same bracket as Mascherano, Mikel and Neville as a consistent defensive player who may get the odd goal or assist but should largely be considered as a good reliable bench option. Cana, however, has the potential to be more that this as I doubt the aforementioned players can do this. His cool finishing will also be familiar to Liverpool fans, thanks to his goal in the Champions League last season. Do not expect a prolific goalscorer but for 5m you are getting the new club captain who will play every week and has shown that he can score when presented with the chance. I would probably rank him behind Jimenez as the 2nd best 5m prospect right now (until Anderson proves he is a starter). Malbranque and Richardson are both solid attacking options with Malbranque looking like the pick of the pair. While Richardson scored 4 goals to Malbranque's 1, Malbranque added 9 assists and 20 bonus points and would have exceeded 140 points if he had played 34 games.
Up front, Sunderland have three legitimate options with Jones (7m), Bent (7m) and Campbell (6m) all capable of scoring goals in the top flight. Due to the big money paid, we would expect Bent to partner Jones up front, which limits the value of Frazier Campbell for now. On last year's pace, Bent would exceed 150 points if he played 34 games while Jones would chip in with around 135. Bent has the higher ceiling but is somewhat of a loose cannon, and cannot always be counted on to reliably contribute every week. That being said, his goal scoring record in the Premier League is impressive and there aren't many 7m strikers who could approach 15-18 goals a season. He isn't my favourite player for now, but weeks 3 through 7 are favourable and it might be worth jumping on his bandwagon is he shows he can settle in quickly.
Recommendation: Lorik Cana looks like a bargain at 5m, as he provides more attacking flare than fellow-5m players. He won't strike double digits but he could be a great rotation/bench option. Darren Bent also has the potential to be great value if he finds his shooting boots early.
Tottenham
Projected Team: Gomes, Assou Ekotto, Woodgate, Bassong, Corluka, Modric, Palacios, Jenas, Lennon, Defoe, Crouch
Redknapp has not overhauled his team with only a couple of additions likely to trouble the first team, though the depth has been much improved. Spurs' home defence led the league last year and the additions of Bassong, and Naughton should only help this unit. Going forward, Bent has been replaced by Crouch while the midfield is pretty much as you were.
Bassong, Assou-Ekotto and Woodgate all cost 5m and look to be good value, though at 5.5m Corluka looks expensive as there is no real reason to value him above his teammates. With Woodgate's injuries I would favour new arrival Bassong, who is a very impressive prospect and managed to score 2 bonus points playing in Newcastle's shambolic defence last year.
Modric (7.5m) appears to be great value as I believe the young Croation is set for a breakout year in the Premier League. Modric averaged better than a goal every 4 games before arriving at White Hart Lane and I expect him to at least double his 3 goal tally from last year. Lennon (7.5m) is also good value if you want someone to differentiate your side and he should be good for another 130 point season.
Up front I was disappointed to see Keane fall back down the pecking order as I rate him highly in both real and fantasy football. That being said, Crouch and Defoe is a formidable partnership and at Portsmouth one of the paid scored in almost every game. Defoe (8.5m) looks a tad overpriced to me though he does have the talent to top 15 goals with ease. Crouch (7.5m) won't get quite as many goals but his assists and bonus points should be high and he looks decent value for 7.5m. This year I think the premium (10m+) strikers are a cut above the rest and I would prefer to save money elsewhere and grab one of these, but I would not judge anyone who felt Defoe is worth the gamble.
Recommendation: Luka Modric is the focal point of one of the league's better teams and his value compares favourably to similar players like Young, Ireland and Arteta/Cahill.
West Ham
Projected Team: Green, Ilunga, Upson, Tomkins, Faubert, Noble, Parker, Collison, Stanislas, Jimenez, Cole
Gianfranco Zola is said to want play a 4-3-3 and the desire to sell Ashton suggests this will be made up of Cole along with 2 attacking midfielder types (Jimenez, Stanislas, Savio). The defense remains unchanged, having surprisingly ranked 7th in total defense last year.
If Tomkins (4.5m) can hold down a regular spot he looks great value although Upson (5.5m) looks overpriced and should probably be avoided.
The midfield looks pretty uninspiring in fantasy terms with no 100 point players from last year. However, the arrival of Luis Jimenez (5m) has gotten me very excited as the on-loan Inter player has genuine class and could pull the strings in this side, as well chipping in with goals, assists and bonus points. The Chilean playmaker has not been a prolific scorer in his career, but being deployed behind Cole should help, and I can see 5 goals being a reachable target. For 5m there isn't a better player available and come midseason I would not be at all surprised to see his value pass 6m.
Up front starts and ends with Carlton Cole (7m), who of the bargains of last year. Still only 25, Cole seems to have been around forever but it was only last season that he showed the ability we all knew he had, earning himself an England call in the process. 10 goals was a very good return in 26 games and he should get closer to 15 if he can stay fit all year. He will therefore be solid value for 7m and is an ideal candidate for players looking to select three mid-level strikers to rotate.
Recommendation: Luis Jimenez has the ability and low value to become a 'must own' and I see big things for the playmaker.
Wigan Athletic
Projected Team: Kirkland, Figueroa, Bramble, Sharner, Melchiot, N'Zogbia, Brown, Koumas, Gomez, Scotland, Rodallega
Wigan have lost some serious talent over the last 6 months or so - Palacios, Valencia, Zaki, Cattermole - but the team still looks solid enough to compete in the division. The arrival of Roberto Martinez has brought excitement to the JJB, sorry 'DW stadium', along with a couple of his former Swansea players who have a mammoth task on their hands in trying to step up into a Premier League team. Wigan had the joint 7th best defense last year and with no significant changes to the back line we can expect another solid performance, although the loss of Cattermole who protected them so well last year will definitely hurt. Martinez has a reputation for employing an attacking team so the defense may also get a bit more exposed, perhaps relegating the defenders to rotation/bench guys rather than every week starters. All four starters are 4.5m so attacking points must come into play when selecting your back. Bramble's 17 bonus points look attractive as does Scharner's ability to play further upfield (especially in light of Cattermole's departure). Therefore one of this pair looks to offer the best value.
With Valencia trying to replace Ronaldo at Old Trafford, the talent in Wigan's midfield does not look great with former Magpie Charles N'Zogbia (5.5m) looking the best bet, though the fact he can be deployed at left back and has never played more than 27 games in a season both worry me. I think Michael Brown (4.5m) might be the direct replacement for Cattermole, and if so, is decent bench value as an every week starter.
Jason Scotland (6m) and Hugo Rodallega (6.5m) are both big, strong, powerful forwards with the potential to cause opposition defences some matchup issues. However, at those prices I need more than players with either 9 or 0 Premier League games to their name and therefore cannot endorse either of them, even though Rodallega managed 3 goals in that brief period.
Recommendation: Paul Scharner (4.5m) had a monster 2007/08 with 135, scoring 4 goals and adding 15 bonus points. The Wigan defense has improved since then, so with even half that offensive production he could be a nice 4.5m addition, especially considering the time he may get playing in midfield.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Projected Team: Hennessey, Zubar, Craddock, Mancienne, Elokobi, Milijas, Kightly, Henry, Surman, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake
Wolves team looks fairly soft on paper and you fear for their ability to keep top sides at bay with a weak looking defense. There's no doubting that the other side of the ball is improved though with Doyle and Milijas looking like solid captures.
Wolves have no less than 12 fantasy listed defenders and it is not exactly clear which of them will feature on a weekly basis. Mancienne (5m) has joined from Chelsea and carries with him a stellar reputation, but he also brings with him a West London price tag and is therefore no worth considering. Two from Zubar, Craddock and Berra (all 4m) should get plenty of chances to play and whoever gets the first team nod (I am leaving Berra out for now due to injury) could be bench worthy. Alot of attention will be given to Halford (4.5m) due to his classification as a defendger despite sometimes featuring in midfield, but I can't see a regular spot for him in the first team and until he can prove that he isn't worth consideration.
I was excited to consider Milijas (6m) based on his reputation but his price tag has scared me off a little. In 2008/09 he scored 22 goals to lead the Serbian league, as well as being named MVP. However, 6m puts him alongside Premier league veterans like Steed Malbranque, Geovanni and Stilian Petrov which is a big risk to take for a unproven player. Wolves have been gifted a pretty nice fixture list to open the season so my advice would be to monitor Milijas in the first three games with an eye to bringing him in before the home game against Hull if he impresses. No other play in the Wolves midfield excites me at this point.
Up front Wolves have put together a decent strikeforce of two goalscorers who are proven in England, though not necessarily in the Premier League. Doyle had a decent record for reading with 19 in 62 games and looks like a decent rotation candidate for 5.5m, having added 23 in all competitions last year. Ebanks-Blake (5.5m) struck 25 in the league and has the skills to take the next step with double digits well within his range. I like this pair as rotation/low end starters and if the matchup is right I'd feel comfortable lining either up each week. Doyle is more proven but Ebanks-Blake has a higher ceiling so I'd pick which one I want based on the consistency of the rest of my team.
Recommendation: Sylvain Ebanks-Blake has 15 goal potential which can't be said for many, if any, sub 6m strikers. I probably wouldn't build my team with the idea of starting him for 38 straight weeks as many talented Championship strikers have failed in the big leagues, but he is definitely a nice option to paid with say Jozy Altidore or James Beattie alongside a premium talent.
SunderlandProjected Team: Fulop, McCartney, Collins, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Richardson, Cattermole, Cana, Malbranque, Bent, Jones
After being given a substantial war chest by the board, Steve Bruce has spent very well on Weirside and his team look stronger than they ever have. It would not be surprising at all to see Sunderland pushing Fulham and West Ham for top half spots rather than scrapping at the wrong end of the table.
At the back the team is largely unchanged, which is disappointing for a team who ranked just 13th in total defense (16th home, 12th away) last season. Paolo de Silva (4.5m) should feature when he gains match fitness, having been granted a work permit yesterday. The Paraguyan captain should feature at centre back, presumably alongside Anton Ferdinand (4.5m) both of whom look like decent bench players.
The midfield looks much improved with the added steel of Cattermole (5m) and Cana (5m) giving Malbranque (6m) and Richardson (6m) more flexibility to play in advanced roles. Cattermole is in the same bracket as Mascherano, Mikel and Neville as a consistent defensive player who may get the odd goal or assist but should largely be considered as a good reliable bench option. Cana, however, has the potential to be more that this as I doubt the aforementioned players can do this. His cool finishing will also be familiar to Liverpool fans, thanks to his goal in the Champions League last season. Do not expect a prolific goalscorer but for 5m you are getting the new club captain who will play every week and has shown that he can score when presented with the chance. I would probably rank him behind Jimenez as the 2nd best 5m prospect right now (until Anderson proves he is a starter). Malbranque and Richardson are both solid attacking options with Malbranque looking like the pick of the pair. While Richardson scored 4 goals to Malbranque's 1, Malbranque added 9 assists and 20 bonus points and would have exceeded 140 points if he had played 34 games.
Up front, Sunderland have three legitimate options with Jones (7m), Bent (7m) and Campbell (6m) all capable of scoring goals in the top flight. Due to the big money paid, we would expect Bent to partner Jones up front, which limits the value of Frazier Campbell for now. On last year's pace, Bent would exceed 150 points if he played 34 games while Jones would chip in with around 135. Bent has the higher ceiling but is somewhat of a loose cannon, and cannot always be counted on to reliably contribute every week. That being said, his goal scoring record in the Premier League is impressive and there aren't many 7m strikers who could approach 15-18 goals a season. He isn't my favourite player for now, but weeks 3 through 7 are favourable and it might be worth jumping on his bandwagon is he shows he can settle in quickly.
Recommendation: Lorik Cana looks like a bargain at 5m, as he provides more attacking flare than fellow-5m players. He won't strike double digits but he could be a great rotation/bench option. Darren Bent also has the potential to be great value if he finds his shooting boots early.
Tottenham
Projected Team: Gomes, Assou Ekotto, Woodgate, Bassong, Corluka, Modric, Palacios, Jenas, Lennon, Defoe, Crouch
Redknapp has not overhauled his team with only a couple of additions likely to trouble the first team, though the depth has been much improved. Spurs' home defence led the league last year and the additions of Bassong, and Naughton should only help this unit. Going forward, Bent has been replaced by Crouch while the midfield is pretty much as you were.
Bassong, Assou-Ekotto and Woodgate all cost 5m and look to be good value, though at 5.5m Corluka looks expensive as there is no real reason to value him above his teammates. With Woodgate's injuries I would favour new arrival Bassong, who is a very impressive prospect and managed to score 2 bonus points playing in Newcastle's shambolic defence last year.
Modric (7.5m) appears to be great value as I believe the young Croation is set for a breakout year in the Premier League. Modric averaged better than a goal every 4 games before arriving at White Hart Lane and I expect him to at least double his 3 goal tally from last year. Lennon (7.5m) is also good value if you want someone to differentiate your side and he should be good for another 130 point season.
Up front I was disappointed to see Keane fall back down the pecking order as I rate him highly in both real and fantasy football. That being said, Crouch and Defoe is a formidable partnership and at Portsmouth one of the paid scored in almost every game. Defoe (8.5m) looks a tad overpriced to me though he does have the talent to top 15 goals with ease. Crouch (7.5m) won't get quite as many goals but his assists and bonus points should be high and he looks decent value for 7.5m. This year I think the premium (10m+) strikers are a cut above the rest and I would prefer to save money elsewhere and grab one of these, but I would not judge anyone who felt Defoe is worth the gamble.
Recommendation: Luka Modric is the focal point of one of the league's better teams and his value compares favourably to similar players like Young, Ireland and Arteta/Cahill.
West HamProjected Team: Green, Ilunga, Upson, Tomkins, Faubert, Noble, Parker, Collison, Stanislas, Jimenez, Cole
Gianfranco Zola is said to want play a 4-3-3 and the desire to sell Ashton suggests this will be made up of Cole along with 2 attacking midfielder types (Jimenez, Stanislas, Savio). The defense remains unchanged, having surprisingly ranked 7th in total defense last year.
If Tomkins (4.5m) can hold down a regular spot he looks great value although Upson (5.5m) looks overpriced and should probably be avoided.
The midfield looks pretty uninspiring in fantasy terms with no 100 point players from last year. However, the arrival of Luis Jimenez (5m) has gotten me very excited as the on-loan Inter player has genuine class and could pull the strings in this side, as well chipping in with goals, assists and bonus points. The Chilean playmaker has not been a prolific scorer in his career, but being deployed behind Cole should help, and I can see 5 goals being a reachable target. For 5m there isn't a better player available and come midseason I would not be at all surprised to see his value pass 6m.
Up front starts and ends with Carlton Cole (7m), who of the bargains of last year. Still only 25, Cole seems to have been around forever but it was only last season that he showed the ability we all knew he had, earning himself an England call in the process. 10 goals was a very good return in 26 games and he should get closer to 15 if he can stay fit all year. He will therefore be solid value for 7m and is an ideal candidate for players looking to select three mid-level strikers to rotate.
Recommendation: Luis Jimenez has the ability and low value to become a 'must own' and I see big things for the playmaker.
Wigan Athletic
Projected Team: Kirkland, Figueroa, Bramble, Sharner, Melchiot, N'Zogbia, Brown, Koumas, Gomez, Scotland, Rodallega
Wigan have lost some serious talent over the last 6 months or so - Palacios, Valencia, Zaki, Cattermole - but the team still looks solid enough to compete in the division. The arrival of Roberto Martinez has brought excitement to the JJB, sorry 'DW stadium', along with a couple of his former Swansea players who have a mammoth task on their hands in trying to step up into a Premier League team. Wigan had the joint 7th best defense last year and with no significant changes to the back line we can expect another solid performance, although the loss of Cattermole who protected them so well last year will definitely hurt. Martinez has a reputation for employing an attacking team so the defense may also get a bit more exposed, perhaps relegating the defenders to rotation/bench guys rather than every week starters. All four starters are 4.5m so attacking points must come into play when selecting your back. Bramble's 17 bonus points look attractive as does Scharner's ability to play further upfield (especially in light of Cattermole's departure). Therefore one of this pair looks to offer the best value.
With Valencia trying to replace Ronaldo at Old Trafford, the talent in Wigan's midfield does not look great with former Magpie Charles N'Zogbia (5.5m) looking the best bet, though the fact he can be deployed at left back and has never played more than 27 games in a season both worry me. I think Michael Brown (4.5m) might be the direct replacement for Cattermole, and if so, is decent bench value as an every week starter.
Jason Scotland (6m) and Hugo Rodallega (6.5m) are both big, strong, powerful forwards with the potential to cause opposition defences some matchup issues. However, at those prices I need more than players with either 9 or 0 Premier League games to their name and therefore cannot endorse either of them, even though Rodallega managed 3 goals in that brief period.
Recommendation: Paul Scharner (4.5m) had a monster 2007/08 with 135, scoring 4 goals and adding 15 bonus points. The Wigan defense has improved since then, so with even half that offensive production he could be a nice 4.5m addition, especially considering the time he may get playing in midfield.
Wolverhampton WanderersProjected Team: Hennessey, Zubar, Craddock, Mancienne, Elokobi, Milijas, Kightly, Henry, Surman, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake
Wolves team looks fairly soft on paper and you fear for their ability to keep top sides at bay with a weak looking defense. There's no doubting that the other side of the ball is improved though with Doyle and Milijas looking like solid captures.
Wolves have no less than 12 fantasy listed defenders and it is not exactly clear which of them will feature on a weekly basis. Mancienne (5m) has joined from Chelsea and carries with him a stellar reputation, but he also brings with him a West London price tag and is therefore no worth considering. Two from Zubar, Craddock and Berra (all 4m) should get plenty of chances to play and whoever gets the first team nod (I am leaving Berra out for now due to injury) could be bench worthy. Alot of attention will be given to Halford (4.5m) due to his classification as a defendger despite sometimes featuring in midfield, but I can't see a regular spot for him in the first team and until he can prove that he isn't worth consideration.
I was excited to consider Milijas (6m) based on his reputation but his price tag has scared me off a little. In 2008/09 he scored 22 goals to lead the Serbian league, as well as being named MVP. However, 6m puts him alongside Premier league veterans like Steed Malbranque, Geovanni and Stilian Petrov which is a big risk to take for a unproven player. Wolves have been gifted a pretty nice fixture list to open the season so my advice would be to monitor Milijas in the first three games with an eye to bringing him in before the home game against Hull if he impresses. No other play in the Wolves midfield excites me at this point.
Up front Wolves have put together a decent strikeforce of two goalscorers who are proven in England, though not necessarily in the Premier League. Doyle had a decent record for reading with 19 in 62 games and looks like a decent rotation candidate for 5.5m, having added 23 in all competitions last year. Ebanks-Blake (5.5m) struck 25 in the league and has the skills to take the next step with double digits well within his range. I like this pair as rotation/low end starters and if the matchup is right I'd feel comfortable lining either up each week. Doyle is more proven but Ebanks-Blake has a higher ceiling so I'd pick which one I want based on the consistency of the rest of my team.
Recommendation: Sylvain Ebanks-Blake has 15 goal potential which can't be said for many, if any, sub 6m strikers. I probably wouldn't build my team with the idea of starting him for 38 straight weeks as many talented Championship strikers have failed in the big leagues, but he is definitely a nice option to paid with say Jozy Altidore or James Beattie alongside a premium talent.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Team Summaries 2009-10 Part 3 of 4
It's risky to write this article before the almost inevitable rash of international fixture injuries occur but we will have to deal with those on Friday evening before we lock in opening day teams for good. So with that in mind, here are the next 5 previews for the new season, including three teams in the so called big five:
Liverpool
Projected Team: Reina, Insua (Auerlio), Skrtel, Carragher, Johnson, Mascherano, Lucas (Aquilani), Riera, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres
Liverpool came close to great things last year and fairly argue that they might have snatched the title had Torres (11.5m) played the whole season. However Benitez hasn't really built on this success with major squad improvements with Johnson for Arbeloa and Aquilani for Xabi looking like maintaining the status quo (at best). In fantasy terms we can expect similar levels of performance to last year, with Gerrard (12.5m) and Torres the undoubted stars, surrounded by a few others who can contribute on a weekly basis.
At the back the value pick looks likely to be Martin Skrtel (6m) provided he shakes off injuries and the competition from Daniel Agger (6.5m). Insua (6m) also looks to be good value, though it is likely that Fabio Aurelio will regain his spot at left back when fit, despite the impressive showings of the young Argentine. Johnson (7.5m) will be a popular selection based on the assumption that anyone who can score 115 points on a poor Pompey team can top 150 in a solid Liverpool side, but the caveat here is that Benitez will restrain the English fullback somewhat and his freedom to roam the wings will be limited. Expect therefore an increase in defensive points to be offset by a decline in offensive scoring, resulting in a smaller net increase than one would think.
In midfield, all things start with Gerrard, especially after the departure of Xabi to Real Madrid. While I prefer Lampard, there would be no arguments heard against taking Gerrard over his English colleague as they represent positions 1a and 1b at the top of the fantasy charts. Alongside him is a bit unclear, and only really Kuyt (9.5m) is guaranteed consistent minutes on a weekly basis. I like Riera (7m) to have a bit of a breakout year, coming in around the 140 point mark with around 5 goals and 8+ assists. Mascherano (5m) could be the best bench player around as he is guaranteed to play every minute when fit (assuming he doesn't move to the Camp Nou) and should chip in with the odd goal or assist as well as plenty of clean sheet points. He may be allowed more freedom when partnered with Lucas (5m) than when Aquilani (7.5m) steps into the team, if he ever recovers from what appears to have been a 2 year injury. The former Roma is just too unknown and injury prone to warrant consideration for now.
Up front for the Reds starts and ends with Torres, who is really Liverpool's only Premier League quality striker. I like the Spaniard to top the scoring charts this year and can see him eclipsing the 24 he scored in his debut season in 2007/08 (on his way to a 193 point season). Yes he is expensive but I think the only player with this much potential for less money is Drogba (10.5m) and the question marks surrounding him are much greater than El Nino. He did pick up a knock against former team Athletico last week, but Benitez has urged Spain to wrap him in cotton wool and we can expect him fit for the opening game at Spurs for now.
Recommendation: Obviously, Gerrard is a great pick but better value can possibly be had with Fernando Torres. With 36.5% of all players selecting him, he might just be the new Ronaldo in that you simply have to have him.
Man City
Projected Team: Given, Richards, Dunne, Toure, Bridge, De Jong, Barry, Ireland, Robinho, Adebayor, Tevez
Of all the team previews, this projected team is probably the hardest as I am not even sure what formation Hughes will go with. One assumes he will deploy the 4-3-3 based on his excellent strike force but recent friendlies against Celtic and Rangers have seen them start 4-4-2. Come kick off on Saturday I think Hughes will be unable to resist deploying three of his 'big four' with Santa Cruz the odd one out due to injury.
At the back City look set to improve on last year based on the capture of Toure and the potential arrival of Lescott. Even without the Everton back, the defence looks solid and should build on the decent total of 10 clean sheets from last term. Although Dunne (5m) is the cheapest of the bunch, I think his time in the first team is limited and he will be replaced soon either by a new signing (Lescott, Upson etc) or even youngster Onuoha. The pick I like best is therefore Wayne Bridge (5.5m) who has little competition at left back and should contribute the odd assist (as he did against Celtic last weekend) to his defensive total.
City's midfield looks very appealing with Ireland (9m), Barry (8m) and De Jong (5m) all having potential fantasy value. Despite his meteoric rise in price, Ireland still looks like he has room to grow, as he looks to play the Iniesta role if City deploy the 4-3-3. After the new big three of Lampard, Gerrard and Arshavin, Ireland is by far the next best option, even ahead of Fabregas who I am a huge admirer of. The protection afforded by Barry and De Jong/Kompany will allow Ireland to pull the strings behind perhaps the best strikeforce around and 180 points isn't out of the question. Barry (8m) has a lower ceiling but should continue along the same lines of the past 3 seasons with 150 or so points. The danger is that he will lose out on penalty and free kick duties which has been the life blood of his points whilst at Villa. De Jong (5m) and Kompany (5m) are comparable to Mascherano, Mikel and Neville who if played every week will provide a good source of 3 and 4 point weeks.
Up front is really where the action happens, with perhaps the best strikeforce in the Premier League. Adebayor (10m) should play the most minutes and has the highest ceiling of all City players, as highlighted by his 24 goals, 200 point 2007/08 season. However, his temperament is questionable at best and if things don't go well early well, expect the former Arsenal man to start sulking once more. Robinho (9.5m) is unlikely to bag 20 goals but his 14 goal tally from last year was impressive and he could certainly replicate that total again, along with a few more assists and bonuses. Tevez (8.5m) looks too likely to be rotated to be a fantasy starter right now.
Recommendation: Stephen Ireland's value has increased by 4.5m from last year but he still looks good value and the only way is up for the Irishman.
Man United
Projected Team: Van der Sar, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Brown, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Rooney, Berbatov
For such a good team there are relatively few fantasy studs here, largely due to the depth of the squad which makes all but a select few likely to suffer from rotation all season.
The back four looks the most settled with only the right back slot (and a temporary goalkeeper spot) up for grabs. I have put Brown (6m) in for now but O'Shea (5.5m) looks set to start the season in his absence and could well end up with the most minutes come season end. Vidic (8m) is held by some 16% of all fantasy players but I think he is slightly overvalued as 27 of his points last year were 'non defensive'. Without those he scored just 5 points more than Jamie Carragher who can be had for a whole 1m less. You are effectively therefore betting 1m every week that Vidic will either score or win bonus points or else you are not getting the best value for money. I do not like to count on my defenders for anything but clean sheets so I will be staying away for now.
The midfield is a fantasy mess though a potential star is Carrick (7.5m) who has not yet had the 'wow' season where he pulls it all together. Limited to just 24 appearances last term, the former Hammer still managed 4 goals, 8 assists and 21 bonus points, which over a 35+ appearance translates to 183 points (.698 PPMS). With Ronaldo gone, even more of the play will flow through Carrick and he could take the next step to being considered a great, rather than a good player. Valencia's (8.5m) good off season was brought down to earth by the fact he started on the bench against Chelsea, though Nani's injury will at least ensure the ex-Wigan winger gets a few chances to impress early on. Unless he starts taking a significant amount of set pieces I think better values lies with a player that is the focal point of a team, such as Ireland, Arteta or Modric. Anderson (5m) has the highest room for value, though with just 11 games last year and zero goals (he broke his United duck in pre-season) it is hard to back the youngster just yet.
Up front, many are talking about Owen (8.5m) but better value might be found in Berbatov (10m) whose extra minutes might justify the extra 1.5m. Ferguson has been singing the Bulgarian's praises of late and a 15-18 goal season is not out of the question. With that should come 160+ points, considering that Ronaldo's almost inevitable 3 bonus points are now up for grabs. The main beneficiary of those however could be Rooney (11m) who the pundits simply can't get enough of. Rooney's goalscoring has been consistent (12, 12, 14, 16, 11) whilst at Old Trafford but 11m is a steep price for a player who has topped 25 appearances and 12 goals once in the past three years. Yes he will improve from last year, but for 0.5m more you could have Torres, and for 0.5m less you could have Drogba so for me Rooney owners are paying the Englishman premium so often suffered by real life managers.
Recommendation: I would love to say Anderson here but I think he may still be a season away from greatness. Therefore its all about Michael Carrick who could develop into the puppet master for this team and a real fantasy bargain over the coming weeks and months.
Portsmouth
Projected Team: James, Hreidarsson, Campbell, Distin, Kaboul, Belhadj, Kranjcar, Mullins, Vanden Borre , Nugent, Piquionne
On paper, Pompey's squad looks quite weak, but the team has enough ability to cause team's problems and if Paul Hart can get them to gel, they should do okay this year. With the financial future of the club looking uncertain, Hart has made the best of it and despite the losses of Johnson, Crouch and Davis, the team is still made up up 10 internationals, with only Mullins yet to get a cap for his national team.
The defence was pretty poor last year, shipping 57 goals, 5th worst in the league. No improvements have been made and Johnson is now playing his trade in Liverpool. However, if the group can stay fit they should be better, but probably not enough to be fantasy starters. The arrival of former Liverpool fan Steve Finnan (4.5m) could be interesting if he can force his way into the side as is the arrival of the much heralded Anthony Vanden Borre, who is yet to be added to the game but could be useful is classified as a defender. If a sub-5m player can force his way in then consider him for bench, if not then look elsewhere until Hart can prove he has better control of his ageing backs.
The midfield talent starts and ends with Niko Kranjcar (7m), who is valued at 2m more than his teammates. Kranjcar has already stated that he is leaving the club, which does not put him on a great footing for the start of the season. He has the talent but has never delivered, with his best season coming in 2007/08 when he scored 4 goals and added 4 assist for a solid but uninspiring 118 points. At 7m he is grossly overvalued compared with the likes of Carrick and Modric and I would advise all to stay away for now.
One week ago I would have concluded in one line that Pompey have no strikers worth considering (sorry Nugent, I'm not convinced). However, one debut and two goals later, Frederic Piquionne (5.5m) looks like he deserves at least some investigation. The Frenchman has not been prolific in his career, scoring 14 goals in 65 games whilst at Monaco and Lyon in the last 2 years, so we shouldn't expect too much too soon. However, for a player with little competition , he should play every week and 8-10 goals is a reasonable expectation. I personally prefer Ebanks-Blake (5.5m) but Piquionne may be worth a look if your bench needs a cheap striker.
Recommendation: If Vanden Borre is classed as a defender he could get enough midfield appearances to be good value. If not, then there isn't too much here to recommend so I'll go with new boy Piquionne to be a decent sub option.
Stoke City
Projected Team: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Etherington, Delap, Whitehead, Lawrence, Fuller, Beattie
Stoke had a wonderful season last year, with their home form good enough to keep them up. The team is largely unchanged though the depth is much improved and should allow for better consistency this year. The attacking quality in midfield is still lacking a bit and the Potters might slip down the league a bit, but they should have enough to remain in the top flight this year.
I don't normally highlight 'keepers but at 4m Sorensen is a absolute steal and is a no brainer to have on the bench or in a rotation strategy. So long as Wilkinson (4m) holds off the challenge of Andy Griffin (4.5m) he will also be a great option for your bench and should warrant starting consideration when Stoke are at home against a weaker side.
The midfield depth has been improved but still lacks sufficient quality to warrant fantasy consideration. Etherington's (5.5m) 2 goals and 4 assists in 20 games look promising though I feel better options are available at this price. Delap (5.5m) gets alot of attention for his long throws, which do cause havoc, but he is often not credited with an assist as the ball cannons around, and he notched a decent 6 last year on his way to 106 points. Again, better options can be found elsewhere.
Up front Stoke have an underrated strikeforce as both Beattie (6m) and Fuller (6m) know where the net is and both could score in double digits this year. I like Beattie more due to his consistency and bonus point potential (12 in 16 games last season) though Fuller is also worth looking at. For 6m, Beattie is the safest bet around who should reach double digits providing he gets enough games (he has reached double digits in every season he has played more than 18 games).
Recommendation: James Beattie is the pick of this side, with the potential to outscore anyone available for under 8m. Green light games in weeks 3, 5 and 7 make the journeyman a good addition to open the season with.
LiverpoolProjected Team: Reina, Insua (Auerlio), Skrtel, Carragher, Johnson, Mascherano, Lucas (Aquilani), Riera, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres
Liverpool came close to great things last year and fairly argue that they might have snatched the title had Torres (11.5m) played the whole season. However Benitez hasn't really built on this success with major squad improvements with Johnson for Arbeloa and Aquilani for Xabi looking like maintaining the status quo (at best). In fantasy terms we can expect similar levels of performance to last year, with Gerrard (12.5m) and Torres the undoubted stars, surrounded by a few others who can contribute on a weekly basis.
At the back the value pick looks likely to be Martin Skrtel (6m) provided he shakes off injuries and the competition from Daniel Agger (6.5m). Insua (6m) also looks to be good value, though it is likely that Fabio Aurelio will regain his spot at left back when fit, despite the impressive showings of the young Argentine. Johnson (7.5m) will be a popular selection based on the assumption that anyone who can score 115 points on a poor Pompey team can top 150 in a solid Liverpool side, but the caveat here is that Benitez will restrain the English fullback somewhat and his freedom to roam the wings will be limited. Expect therefore an increase in defensive points to be offset by a decline in offensive scoring, resulting in a smaller net increase than one would think.
In midfield, all things start with Gerrard, especially after the departure of Xabi to Real Madrid. While I prefer Lampard, there would be no arguments heard against taking Gerrard over his English colleague as they represent positions 1a and 1b at the top of the fantasy charts. Alongside him is a bit unclear, and only really Kuyt (9.5m) is guaranteed consistent minutes on a weekly basis. I like Riera (7m) to have a bit of a breakout year, coming in around the 140 point mark with around 5 goals and 8+ assists. Mascherano (5m) could be the best bench player around as he is guaranteed to play every minute when fit (assuming he doesn't move to the Camp Nou) and should chip in with the odd goal or assist as well as plenty of clean sheet points. He may be allowed more freedom when partnered with Lucas (5m) than when Aquilani (7.5m) steps into the team, if he ever recovers from what appears to have been a 2 year injury. The former Roma is just too unknown and injury prone to warrant consideration for now.
Up front for the Reds starts and ends with Torres, who is really Liverpool's only Premier League quality striker. I like the Spaniard to top the scoring charts this year and can see him eclipsing the 24 he scored in his debut season in 2007/08 (on his way to a 193 point season). Yes he is expensive but I think the only player with this much potential for less money is Drogba (10.5m) and the question marks surrounding him are much greater than El Nino. He did pick up a knock against former team Athletico last week, but Benitez has urged Spain to wrap him in cotton wool and we can expect him fit for the opening game at Spurs for now.
Recommendation: Obviously, Gerrard is a great pick but better value can possibly be had with Fernando Torres. With 36.5% of all players selecting him, he might just be the new Ronaldo in that you simply have to have him.
Man City
Projected Team: Given, Richards, Dunne, Toure, Bridge, De Jong, Barry, Ireland, Robinho, Adebayor, Tevez
Of all the team previews, this projected team is probably the hardest as I am not even sure what formation Hughes will go with. One assumes he will deploy the 4-3-3 based on his excellent strike force but recent friendlies against Celtic and Rangers have seen them start 4-4-2. Come kick off on Saturday I think Hughes will be unable to resist deploying three of his 'big four' with Santa Cruz the odd one out due to injury.
At the back City look set to improve on last year based on the capture of Toure and the potential arrival of Lescott. Even without the Everton back, the defence looks solid and should build on the decent total of 10 clean sheets from last term. Although Dunne (5m) is the cheapest of the bunch, I think his time in the first team is limited and he will be replaced soon either by a new signing (Lescott, Upson etc) or even youngster Onuoha. The pick I like best is therefore Wayne Bridge (5.5m) who has little competition at left back and should contribute the odd assist (as he did against Celtic last weekend) to his defensive total.
City's midfield looks very appealing with Ireland (9m), Barry (8m) and De Jong (5m) all having potential fantasy value. Despite his meteoric rise in price, Ireland still looks like he has room to grow, as he looks to play the Iniesta role if City deploy the 4-3-3. After the new big three of Lampard, Gerrard and Arshavin, Ireland is by far the next best option, even ahead of Fabregas who I am a huge admirer of. The protection afforded by Barry and De Jong/Kompany will allow Ireland to pull the strings behind perhaps the best strikeforce around and 180 points isn't out of the question. Barry (8m) has a lower ceiling but should continue along the same lines of the past 3 seasons with 150 or so points. The danger is that he will lose out on penalty and free kick duties which has been the life blood of his points whilst at Villa. De Jong (5m) and Kompany (5m) are comparable to Mascherano, Mikel and Neville who if played every week will provide a good source of 3 and 4 point weeks.
Up front is really where the action happens, with perhaps the best strikeforce in the Premier League. Adebayor (10m) should play the most minutes and has the highest ceiling of all City players, as highlighted by his 24 goals, 200 point 2007/08 season. However, his temperament is questionable at best and if things don't go well early well, expect the former Arsenal man to start sulking once more. Robinho (9.5m) is unlikely to bag 20 goals but his 14 goal tally from last year was impressive and he could certainly replicate that total again, along with a few more assists and bonuses. Tevez (8.5m) looks too likely to be rotated to be a fantasy starter right now.
Recommendation: Stephen Ireland's value has increased by 4.5m from last year but he still looks good value and the only way is up for the Irishman.
Man UnitedProjected Team: Van der Sar, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Brown, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Rooney, Berbatov
For such a good team there are relatively few fantasy studs here, largely due to the depth of the squad which makes all but a select few likely to suffer from rotation all season.
The back four looks the most settled with only the right back slot (and a temporary goalkeeper spot) up for grabs. I have put Brown (6m) in for now but O'Shea (5.5m) looks set to start the season in his absence and could well end up with the most minutes come season end. Vidic (8m) is held by some 16% of all fantasy players but I think he is slightly overvalued as 27 of his points last year were 'non defensive'. Without those he scored just 5 points more than Jamie Carragher who can be had for a whole 1m less. You are effectively therefore betting 1m every week that Vidic will either score or win bonus points or else you are not getting the best value for money. I do not like to count on my defenders for anything but clean sheets so I will be staying away for now.
The midfield is a fantasy mess though a potential star is Carrick (7.5m) who has not yet had the 'wow' season where he pulls it all together. Limited to just 24 appearances last term, the former Hammer still managed 4 goals, 8 assists and 21 bonus points, which over a 35+ appearance translates to 183 points (.698 PPMS). With Ronaldo gone, even more of the play will flow through Carrick and he could take the next step to being considered a great, rather than a good player. Valencia's (8.5m) good off season was brought down to earth by the fact he started on the bench against Chelsea, though Nani's injury will at least ensure the ex-Wigan winger gets a few chances to impress early on. Unless he starts taking a significant amount of set pieces I think better values lies with a player that is the focal point of a team, such as Ireland, Arteta or Modric. Anderson (5m) has the highest room for value, though with just 11 games last year and zero goals (he broke his United duck in pre-season) it is hard to back the youngster just yet.
Up front, many are talking about Owen (8.5m) but better value might be found in Berbatov (10m) whose extra minutes might justify the extra 1.5m. Ferguson has been singing the Bulgarian's praises of late and a 15-18 goal season is not out of the question. With that should come 160+ points, considering that Ronaldo's almost inevitable 3 bonus points are now up for grabs. The main beneficiary of those however could be Rooney (11m) who the pundits simply can't get enough of. Rooney's goalscoring has been consistent (12, 12, 14, 16, 11) whilst at Old Trafford but 11m is a steep price for a player who has topped 25 appearances and 12 goals once in the past three years. Yes he will improve from last year, but for 0.5m more you could have Torres, and for 0.5m less you could have Drogba so for me Rooney owners are paying the Englishman premium so often suffered by real life managers.
Recommendation: I would love to say Anderson here but I think he may still be a season away from greatness. Therefore its all about Michael Carrick who could develop into the puppet master for this team and a real fantasy bargain over the coming weeks and months.
Portsmouth
Projected Team: James, Hreidarsson, Campbell, Distin, Kaboul, Belhadj, Kranjcar, Mullins, Vanden Borre , Nugent, Piquionne
On paper, Pompey's squad looks quite weak, but the team has enough ability to cause team's problems and if Paul Hart can get them to gel, they should do okay this year. With the financial future of the club looking uncertain, Hart has made the best of it and despite the losses of Johnson, Crouch and Davis, the team is still made up up 10 internationals, with only Mullins yet to get a cap for his national team.
The defence was pretty poor last year, shipping 57 goals, 5th worst in the league. No improvements have been made and Johnson is now playing his trade in Liverpool. However, if the group can stay fit they should be better, but probably not enough to be fantasy starters. The arrival of former Liverpool fan Steve Finnan (4.5m) could be interesting if he can force his way into the side as is the arrival of the much heralded Anthony Vanden Borre, who is yet to be added to the game but could be useful is classified as a defender. If a sub-5m player can force his way in then consider him for bench, if not then look elsewhere until Hart can prove he has better control of his ageing backs.
The midfield talent starts and ends with Niko Kranjcar (7m), who is valued at 2m more than his teammates. Kranjcar has already stated that he is leaving the club, which does not put him on a great footing for the start of the season. He has the talent but has never delivered, with his best season coming in 2007/08 when he scored 4 goals and added 4 assist for a solid but uninspiring 118 points. At 7m he is grossly overvalued compared with the likes of Carrick and Modric and I would advise all to stay away for now.
One week ago I would have concluded in one line that Pompey have no strikers worth considering (sorry Nugent, I'm not convinced). However, one debut and two goals later, Frederic Piquionne (5.5m) looks like he deserves at least some investigation. The Frenchman has not been prolific in his career, scoring 14 goals in 65 games whilst at Monaco and Lyon in the last 2 years, so we shouldn't expect too much too soon. However, for a player with little competition , he should play every week and 8-10 goals is a reasonable expectation. I personally prefer Ebanks-Blake (5.5m) but Piquionne may be worth a look if your bench needs a cheap striker.
Recommendation: If Vanden Borre is classed as a defender he could get enough midfield appearances to be good value. If not, then there isn't too much here to recommend so I'll go with new boy Piquionne to be a decent sub option.
Stoke CityProjected Team: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Etherington, Delap, Whitehead, Lawrence, Fuller, Beattie
Stoke had a wonderful season last year, with their home form good enough to keep them up. The team is largely unchanged though the depth is much improved and should allow for better consistency this year. The attacking quality in midfield is still lacking a bit and the Potters might slip down the league a bit, but they should have enough to remain in the top flight this year.
I don't normally highlight 'keepers but at 4m Sorensen is a absolute steal and is a no brainer to have on the bench or in a rotation strategy. So long as Wilkinson (4m) holds off the challenge of Andy Griffin (4.5m) he will also be a great option for your bench and should warrant starting consideration when Stoke are at home against a weaker side.
The midfield depth has been improved but still lacks sufficient quality to warrant fantasy consideration. Etherington's (5.5m) 2 goals and 4 assists in 20 games look promising though I feel better options are available at this price. Delap (5.5m) gets alot of attention for his long throws, which do cause havoc, but he is often not credited with an assist as the ball cannons around, and he notched a decent 6 last year on his way to 106 points. Again, better options can be found elsewhere.
Up front Stoke have an underrated strikeforce as both Beattie (6m) and Fuller (6m) know where the net is and both could score in double digits this year. I like Beattie more due to his consistency and bonus point potential (12 in 16 games last season) though Fuller is also worth looking at. For 6m, Beattie is the safest bet around who should reach double digits providing he gets enough games (he has reached double digits in every season he has played more than 18 games).
Recommendation: James Beattie is the pick of this side, with the potential to outscore anyone available for under 8m. Green light games in weeks 3, 5 and 7 make the journeyman a good addition to open the season with.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)