New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2016/17. Leicester
Regardless of who else they sign this summer the current champions arguably made their most important signing already by convincing Jamie Vardy to pen a new deal with them, snub Arsenal and spearhead not only an unlikely title defence but also their great European adventure as they seek to rock the Champions League world, much as they did ours last season. And good on the lad too. In this age of instant gratification, easy money, fame and fortune there’s something almost wholesome and just plain fundamentally good about this decision. If Graziano Pelle and his Chinese money move tells you everything you need to know about the modern football mercenary then Vardy staying put tells you everything you need to know about a player who is almost an 80’s throwback. Don’t get us wrong, he didn’t re-sign for a pittance, of course, but more importantly it may well have a galvanising effect and an influence on any of their other players who were suddenly thinking about bigger and better things outside of Leicester. Apart from Kante, obviously. And maybe Mahrez, although he’s rumoured to be re-signing as we speak. Screw it, you’re getting relegated Jamie. On your own.
One thing is for sure though they need extra bodies this season as they will suddenly have to cope with two games a week at times, as is the rigour of being in the elite bracket, and Claudio has wasted no time bringing in the reinforcements. And money isn’t an issue it seems as they have managed to break their transfer record fee twice in the space of one week! No sooner was £13m midfielder Nampalys Mendy introduced as their record signing then £16m striker Ahmed Musa was likewise. Joining them so far are goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler and central defender Luis Hernandez. For the purposes of this article we are just going to look at the two more forward players simply because Ron-Robert is surely just back up unless Schmeichel junior suddenly ups and leaves, and as highly rated as Hernandez is, then he may have to wait his turn as Ranieri will surely keep faith with Huth and Morgan, at least to begin with. Pre-season may well reveal more.
For Leicesters pre-season games, line-ups and general musings here is their link on the Pre-season hub we have created Leicester Pre-season info
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Nampalys Mendy (£4.5m)
A quick glance at his career stats would suggest that Mr Mendy won’t be making his way easily into anybody’s fantasy team! That’s unless they change the scoring drastically and award more points for defensive play, tackles, blocks etc. His attacking career stats so far looks like this – 213 games…. and 1 goal. He’s basically your archetypal defensive midfielder. So much so in fact that he’s been referred to as a ‘carbon copy’ of Claude Makelele. The best we can offer on him then really is that should he secure a DM spot alongside Kante, and that’s if Kante stays, then he may well simply allow Kante even more freedom to get up and down as a box to box midfielder. So in short we’ve basically written this bit just to warn you not to bother with him!
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Ahmed Musa (£7.5m)
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If our first guy was a waste of fantasy money and time then our next guy could very well be the exact opposite. The Nigerian international has plied his trade in Russia with CSKA for the past 5 seasons making 164 appearances for them and scoring 54 goals in the process, last season being his best so far with a near 1 goal in every 2 games ratio with 44 appearances and 18 goals, along with 6 assists. He’s no stranger to title winning teams either having done so three times already with CSKA. He’s lightning quick and will fit in perfectly with Leicester’s counter attacking style. He usually plays on the wing for Nigeria for whom he’s scored 11 goals in 58 games which includes a famous double against Argentina at the World Cup in 2014. Just as a side note to those concerned about the ACON particpants – Nigeria haven’t qualified.
Much will depend on his FPL classification and price. If he’s a reasonably priced midfielder then add him to your watch list immediately. If he is, as is more likely, a mid priced forward then maybe wait and see where exactly Claudio intends to use him. The ideal combo is that he’s classed as a mid and Leicester pair him up top with Vardy in a devastatingly fast paced attack duo.
Fixture Tracker – the first 6 games
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That Southampton team today is interesting. Looks like their best players available. With Austin and Hojberg on bench
Here it is
Are you watching? If yes just give briefing on perfomances of Redmon, Long and Austin (if he comes on)
Nah not watching so not sure. Though Hojberg and Austin came on at HT for Long and Tadic
Smash
Fonte and Davis still to come in to that
Yeah and Cedric and Bertrand. But none of them were in squad
If Martina and Yoshida are amongst their best, they are doomed. 😉
afternoon all, finally got round to doing a first draft, what does everyone to this lot. Cheers
heaton foster
morgan shaw friend pieters smith
hazard mahrez bolasie deulofeu hojberg
zlatan aguero gray
Looks pretty much identical to my current team
Tnx Init, awesome article. Staying away from Leicester this season though, with Europe and everything. Plus, all the teams will be that much more motivated to beat them. I fear last season was a 1 off.
Darnit, fearing that ManU might have actually bought the championship this season, they have a good chance, that’s for sure.
Fairplay and respect my ass though.
And still I need to start with building a team. >.<
This season I will suck or be super lucky. One or the either.
Once you get a team you will be alright
Here ya go. 😉 Made this one the day FPL opened.
6 from Manchester but that could work. I expect both to do well this year
Mainly 6 from Manchester because they have the best fixtures, at the start.
Gray hattrick. Everyone aboard!
It’s the f-cking Rangers they are playing. He should have scored 3 hattricks by now.
First 10 fixtures Burnley face Pool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton and ManU. Call me crazy but I don’t see a lot of hatty’s there. 😉
I’ll settle for a brace in each then.
Oi Raz you cheeky git.
In fairness yeah he is looking good. Watching him live here.
Shrugs, we all know the Scottisch competition got killed a few seasons back. And I think Celtic let it happen? Anyway, it is sad. I always liked the competition. Are you saying the Rangers are already back on the old level? Which still wasn’t close to the level they were at back in the days.
Omg, I said Scottisch in half Dutch and half English.
And I did it again. Wow.
Kidding Raz.
Gray was very good today but he was up against Clint Hill so …….
Haha, have been on board for a while already. Not a premium forward in good team obviously, but I have a hunch he’ll shock some folks on here (who said Mahrez too??) :popcorn:
Also have Aguero and Lukaku as my other forwards. Aguero I’m settled on (for obvious reasons), but the erratic Kaku, I honestly don’t know still.
My MID goes:
Ayew Hazard Townsend Mickie Hojberg
Any ideas guys??
Cheers!
Sounds spot on to me mate
Already on it!!
Nope
emilio nsue or friend?
Flip a coin?
Gents,
Which team do you prefer out of this lot?
And this one
Tough I like the first one but feel you will need at least one 4.5 defender especially with Gabriel. Last one has Zlats in it though
Last 1 but xhaka needs upgrading somehow.
Mahrez to Firmino, xhaka to townsend???
+1, was gonna same the same.
Well, not those changes, but I agree Xhaka needs to be changed. Mahrez is a must, for me.
Last one Sir. how about Xhaka to Albrighton? Rest is spot on
Last one. Without Xhaka Khan
Cheers guys!!
Zlatan just scored! Had him at 4/1
Was really, really hoping they’d keep him under wraps!
Great goal
Team sorted me thinks!!
I love that team
Gab to Baines and it’s a deal!
Cheers smash!
Init – I don’t have enough to get baines in mate
Think I like the second one more and the first one after that (double Man U defence could be profitable if clean sheets are abundant).
Not a huge fan of Arsenal’s first few GWs but I’m thinking you just want to beat Gabriel price hikes ahead of GW 3 onwards. Could help you out or backfire though.
Think the last one is too imbalanced for me, especially with the midfield. But then again, having Ibra and Kun in the same team was always gonna be a tough task.
Cheers Mitro!