Fantasy Football 247 team – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
We are delighted to announce that FF247 will be running a site team this year, which will be competing in the FF247 Classic and Manager of the Month Leagues as well as taking its bow in the Banterbury Leagues. The main objective of the team however is to give you all an insight into our thinking and planning, which we hope will not only help you with your teams but also prompt plenty of debate, banter and advice along the way. Clearly with over a fortnight still to go until the season kicks off, plenty can still happen with any of the players we have selected – injuries, new transfers in or out, hell we may even have the odd bite to contend with! Therefore please treat this very much as a provisional squad for now and allow us to talk you through it and the thinking behind what we have come up with thus far.
Goalkeepers:
Tim Krul – as soon as the visit of the Champions in GW1 is out of the way, Le Toon face a pretty attractive run of fixtures. We feel Pardew has actually spent wisely this window (that could come back to bite us) and with Captain Coloccini fit and seemingly happy, we believe Krul is great value at 4.5mln.
Vito Mannone – this is one we need to keep a close eye on due to the summer acquisition of Costel Pantilimon from City. Both Sunderland keepers are priced at 4.5mln and once we have determined who is the no.1 they will come in to rotate perfectly with Krul, with our two keepers costing a total outlay of just 9mln.
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Defenders:
Filipe Luis – but what about rotation, we hear you cry? And you’d be absolutely correct to bring it up. However, we feel Chelsea’s opening fixtures are too good to ignore, they have the strongest defence in the league and Jose will be gunning for the Premier League title that he will feel his team threw away last season, despite him maintaining all year that Chelsea couldn’t win it. Can’t fool us Jose! New recruit Felipe Luis is, alongside Cesar Azpilicueta, the cheapest of the mainstream defenders and we feel that they wouldn’t have forked out €16mln to leave Luis on the bench on a regular basis.
Luke Shaw – United’s new left back has been deployed by LVG in the left wingback role in the 3-5-2 formation that United look like they are deploying this season. Therefore, as he will be given licence to join in the attacks we feel that he could benefit from a few assists, maybe the odd goal and could be a contender for bonus points, similar to Leighton Baines. Not only that, but with LVG breathing fire into the United dressing room, we estimate that they will be a more competitive force this season and clean sheets aplenty should be forthcoming.
Rio Ferdinand – cheap, experienced defender, who alongside Steven Caulker should make the Rangers defence more solid. Some attractive looking early fixtures make Rio a good option for us.
Adrian Mariappa – Palace left back and the only likely starter priced at 4.5mln. We need to keep track of Palace’s pre-season friendlies to ensure he retains his place but given the solidity they showed under Pulis at the latter end of last season we feel they are a good bet to continue that trend.
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Midfielders:
Juan Mata – now being played in his preferred and most effective no.10 position. Sat behind Rooney and RvP and with a sumptuous list of opening fixtures, we feel we may just see the Mata of old. If we don’t then he’ll be out of there quicker than you can say Yaya Toure!
Gylfi Sigurdsson – another with potential to be fantasy gold, but with the added bonus of costing just 6mln. A return to Swansea will see increased game time and two goals on his debut makes him difficult to ignore. He showed enough on the rare occasions Spurs did venture to utilise him to suggest he’s still the player that graced the Liberty a few short seasons ago.
Alexis Sanchez – everyone loves an out-of-position fantasy prospect and Sanchez is just that. Capable of playing up top, just off the striker or on the wing we feel he is hard to ignore, despite his 10.5mln price tag. Arsenal’s opening fixtures are mixed and they do face City, Spurs and Chelsea in the first seven matches but we feel, with the Gunners attacking talent, they are more than capable of scoring in all those matches. Whether they win them or not, we don’t care!
Cesc Fabregas – another world class midfielder down at the Bridge. Can be deployed just behind the striker or even deeper but has the ability to get involved in attacks, provide assists, score and it looks like he’s on set pieces as well. At 9mln we feel he’s good value and has the advantage of not being involved much at the World Cup.
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Strikers
Wayne Rooney – seemingly happy with life under LVG at Old Trafford, we consider Rooney a must for our team. Has been in good scoring form on United’s tour of the US and LVG has already stated he sees Wazza as a no.9 or 10. With RvP having spent pre-season on the beach, we expect Rooney to hit the ground running in the league and like Mata and Shaw, will benefit from no European competition this season.
Diego Costa – Jose has been courting Costa for some time and sees the Brazilian Spaniard as the cure to his striking problem. With just Fernando “Row Z” Torres and Chelsea Pensioner Drogba as competition, Costa is the no.1 striker by a long way. With a supply line of Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Schurrle and Fabregas behind him, expect Costa to be one of the stars of the league. Now fit again and with an injury plagued World Cup behind him, Costa scored 27 times in 35 games for Atletico Madrid last season and will be eyeing a similar return this term.
Blanks!
You will have noticed that we have left three spaces blank – one defender, one midfielder and one striker. This is where you, our community, come in. We have 14.5mln left in the bank to fill these spots and would appreciate your thoughts and ideas as to who should be added to the FF247 squad. Do we fill them according to what we have left as of now or do we sacrifice a big name elsewhere to provide more balance? These are the questions we will be asking ourselves over the coming days and weeks ahead of the season and hope you will help us decide as you continue to discuss your own teams on the boards too.
Jovetic score again !
whats the story with Aguero?
Not sure what you mean Dreamers. If you’re asking why he hasnt played in pre-season yet, then that’s because he’s still on vacation.
ya thought that. WIth him you never know. Might have sprained a finger or something opening a tin of beans
Jeet, that mans on fire!!! What do we all think, will he start!?
With his form he should ! Could be the best differential player this season
I think it kills his confidence if he doesnt
Hazard and 5m striker
OR
Eriksen and Jovetic
Eriksen & Jovetic For Me ! Both in Great Form in preseason.
I’m just scared that if Hazard has a blinder then I wont be able to afford him
The fixtures of both teams are also turn offs.
Burnsy – whats the rest of your team?
This, I’ve currently gone with Eriksen and Jovetic but you can Imagine the team with hazard and the 5m striker.
Take 2 – Shaw not playing tonight – might mean nothing
With Jovetic on fire, Dzeko not as secure as before
TheDreamers- do you really see Jovetic and Dzeko in competition? They’re very complementary players I feel- surely they’d be partners up front til Aguero is fit enough to be rotated with Jovetic / Negredo rotates with Dzeko?
Either way thanks for the help, Out of my team the only weak link is really Siggy but i’d rather not have him to spend a FT on getting him in on Gameweek2. Any 6m suggestions who have strong opening fixtures?
Siggy really not that weak of a link mate. I think he will do very will this season.
Hmm I agree, but I was hoping to have a very strong gwk1 side and he goes against my three united players.
isnt Ageuro just been given a break rather than not being fit enough? That said, not nuts that Aguero comes off bench first few weeks. In medium term, its still likely Ageuro with one other.
I do know that Pelegrini previously considered Jovetic as a link man ie alternative to Nasri or Silva
Please can you rate my team?
Thanks!
Hi adz, super looking team that I think. Is Rosenior still nailed on given Hull new recruits and keep an eye on Dzeko as I think Jovetic has scored again tonight would be my only suggestions.
Van Gaal said he was starting with his strongest 11 today. Shaw not playing. 😉
Raz he’ll be in and you know it!
United looking sharp against Real. The better team. But they’re a week ahead fitness wise. Weird defense, lol. Still, with van Gaal you can expect anything…
1-0. Supergoal United. Perfect team goal. Brilliant.
Young goal and I think Welbeck assist… 😛
Garteth Bales scores 1-1. Penalty goal. Error by the young United defender Keane.
2-1 United. Lucky Young goal, I think ROoney didn’t touch it. Deserved.
Wellbeck off, I hope it’s nothing serious. Zaha on. Zaha might actually get a chance this season.
lvg told him its striker or nothing. that he couldnt play wingback
Aaah ok, he might be lucky with Welbeck injured. He def. doesn’t look as good as Wellbeck. Zaha had a great chance, one Robben would score 99 out of the 100 times and he failed. Failing is not a problem but I had the feeling he would miss that one 99 out of the 100 times, that’s bad.
3-1 United. Chicha goal, Kagawa assist.
How are they shaping up at the back Raz? After last season’s defensive frailty’s and having not picked up any decent options in the transfer market + what looks like a change in formation, do you think the Man Utd defenders are worth taking up at 5.5 to begin the season with this year?
I was burned by the Man Utd back line on a few occasions last season and I’m after a bit of convincing before diving straight back on it, or should I give them a couple of GW’s before having a better look.
Jones and Evans are looking good. In all honesty, Young looks much better than Shaw, HAHA. Valencia average but plays on the right side. Today Smalling was missing, young lads got the chance, think Keane made 2 terrible mistakes against Bale and 1 resulted in a goal. First half Real had nothing on United though.
Second half Real dominated the first 25 minutes, United made too many changes and were back peddling. Anyway, with this new system United won’t concede as much goals. They do however need another defender like Hummels.
End of first half. Best United I’ve seen so far.
Shamrock 0-4 QPR
0-1 – J.Hoilett – No Assist
0-2 – C.Austin – Assist – J.Barton
0-3 – J.Hoilett – No Assist
0-4 – C.Austin – Assist – Caulker
Rob Green started between the sticks while Nedum Onuoha, Richard Dunne and Steven Caulker made up the back three, with Danny Simpson and Armand Traore playing wide right and left.
This really makes me want to get Austin as I fancy him to have a good season but he doesn’t fit my plans.
Evening all, we all liking the new pics upload facility and is it working ok for everyone?
it works….???
Go ahead. You know you want to do it. Don’t be afraid.