Life After Southampton – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
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[/three_fourth]We start this week with a tip ‘o the cap to Mito (give him a follow: @TheLegendMito21) for picking up the slack last week when the regular bloke was gallivanting about in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in absurdly cold weather to watch, of all things, an American football game. Thanks mate, job well done.
And with that business out of the way, we now return to our regularly scheduled programme…
It has been a fun ride but we all knew this day would come. After a dream start to the season Southampton’s run of good fixtures had to end eventually, and we have reached that point. With tricky matchups in seven of their next nine fixtures, it may be time to look for replacements for your Soton players. We are here to examine your Southampton players, discuss their prospects going forward and offer similarly-priced alternatives should you fancy a change during Soton’s rough spell.
GOALKEEPER
With seven clean sheets in his side’s first eleven matches, we find it hard to believe we are thinking about ditching La Gran Muralla, but we are. In his next nine, Forster plays Arsenal and Manchester United twice and, say what you will about those sides, there’s no denying they score their share of goals. Add to that the likes of Manchester City, Everton and Chelsea, and we do not believe the future looks tough for the former Celtic keeper.
LUKASZ FABIANSKI, Swansea
Once (affectionately named) dubbed “Flappyhandski” by Arsenal fans, Fabianski has proven his doubters wrong after a strong start this season. While Southampton get battered about by the league’s elite, Swansea has a relatively easy set of fixtures ahead. After keeping five clean sheets out of eleven, we see no reason why the Pole in the Goal will not continue to rack up the points.
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DEFENCE
Oh how we have enjoyed the clean sheets! Thanks to a strong start, three of Southampton’s regular back four have enjoyed hefty price rises. The value in Soton’s defence is their ability to keep clean sheets, not scoring… though Bertrand and Clyne did provide their owners nice parting gifts on Monday. With a tricky fixture list until mid-January it is time to look elsewhere. It’s time to cash in and enjoy the extra spending money.
Depending on when you hopped aboard the Soton defender bandwagon, and if you wisely chose to double up, will determine how much cash you have to spend on replacements. We think these defenders can step in and do a job for your team for the right price.
NEIL TAYLOR, Swansea
Still somehow priced under £5.0, Neil Taylor represents both great value and great points potential. Swansea’s defensive discipline, paired with an in-form Fabianski, suggest a string of clean sheets could be on the horizon. Are Swansea the new Southampton? We are not ready to go that far, but we think having a few Swans in your side going forward could pay big dividends.
CESAR AZPILICUETA, Chelsea
Affectionately known as “Azpi” in the FF247 world (primarily because no one can work out how to spell his name), the cheapest starting Chelsea defender is another we recommend. With a friendly fixture list extending into January we think Azpi will keep enough clean sheets to make you forget about the Soton defender you gave up to get him. If you have the little bit extra in Ye Olde Bank Account, we think him a fine investment for the future.
PHIL JAGIELKA, Everton
With the exception of a trip to play Manchester City in two weeks, Everton’s fixture list does not look difficult until after the turn of the New Year. Jagielka offers the same prospect of clean sheets as your Southampton defenders, and will chip in with the odd bonus point as well. After collecting a career-best 19 bonus points in 2012/13, Jagielka already sits on nine and we think it a safe bet he will eclipse that total this season.
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MIDFIELD
Whether you are a Dusan Tadic man or a Morgan Schneiderlin gal, the time has arrived for you to jettison Southampton midfield coverage you have. We will, however, offer an exception in the case of Victor Wanyama. At his price point we think he still has value as a cheap rotating fourth midfielder or a fifth midfielder to man your bench in case of injury. Here are some similarly-priced alternatives:
GYLFI SIGURDSSON, Swansea
If you are one of those that sold Siggy (tisk, tisk) due to injury fears or a difficult stretch of fixtures, it is time to bring him back into your team. In their next eight, Swansea only face one team not currently in the bottom ten in the league. With Wilfried Bony starting to find form, we believe the Siggy-Bony relationship will be a productive one in the weeks to come.
NACER CHADLI, Spurs
A trip to Chelsea aside, Chadli has a friendly set of fixtures until Christmas and we think that will see him continue his good run in the coming weeks. Given Spurs’ lack of viable striker options, Chadli is given the freedom to drift inside which has seen him snipe the kind of goals Aaron Ramsey did last year.
*Caveat Emptor*: at the time of writing, Chadli is yellow-flagged with a 75% chance of playing. If you are considering Chadli, keep an eye on his injury status before transferring him in.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN, Spurs
The Danish midfielder has struggled since joining Spurs from Ajax but we think (Samwise Gamgee) Mauricio Pochettino has finally figured out how and where to deploy the team’s best player. With the emergence of Harry Kane and Nacer Chadli, we think Eriksen capable of filling the void left by your departing Soton players.
OSCAR, Chelsea
The young Brazilian has flourished this season under the tutelage of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and, if he continues to be deployed in the attacking midfielder role, we think this Oscar’s no grouch. With Chelsea’s friendly Christmas programme we expect Oscar to add to his three goals and three assists. A bit pricier than the other options but, if you can spare the funds, we think you will be happy with the results.
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FORWARD
We struggled for quite some time figuring out what to do with GRAZIANO PELLE, and there are two schools of thought of what to do with the talented Italian.
One camp thinks keeping him makes since – Southampton are still going to score during their rough stretch and odds are Don Pelle will be involved more often than not. That makes sense to us, and we think the Italian will continue to reward owners who keep him albeit at a lesser pace.
The other group thinks this is the perfect time to sell high and try to get whichever premium striker (Costa/Aguero) you do not have in your side. With the well-chronicled number of cheap striking options, a Costa-Aguero partnership up top is viable without sacrificing the rest of your team.
Can I get your thoughts on 2 ideas:
1) Krul>Adrian and Sakho>Austin resulting in a 4pt hit. My other keeper is Mannone, so I need to change one of them.
2) Krul>Fabianski and play 4-4-2, but not enough budget to bring Austin in next week
3) Is Adrian a better choice as goalie than Heaton
Thanks.
1. Seems like a reasonable move, even for a hit.
2. Depends on your fourth defender and midfielder.
3. Yes.
redmecca – Option 1 sounds like your best bet. Option 2 is good too but it would depend on what team you would field this week, and what price range you’d be working off for a replacement for Sakho next GW.
Thanks guys.
I implemented (1)
My other goalie is Mannone, and I’d have preferred to have changed him, but “budgetary constraints” mean that I can’t afford Adrian if I do that.
I’ve gone with Neil Taylor in defence over Clyne, meaning Tadic is in my midfield. Although I could opt to play Hutton allowing me to bench Tadic.
I think I prefer Tadic in midfield to Hutton in defence, what do you think?
I’d be tempted by hutton, but burnley have just started scoring so i think id go with tadic too…
option 1 for me…
Gents,
This is currently my team – as you can see I have a few injuries – two of them will be going tonight
Krul and sakho are the ones I’m looking to shift.
I have 2.3m ITB. Your suggestions would be appreciated.
Sakho>Austin
Krul>Fabi/Heaton
B – Yep been thinking of fab and Austin all day!! Great minds and all that.. What about courtois??
If you have the money, then definitely go for him. since you dont have Baines, it makes sense to have one big hitter at the back, but I dont really like buying expensive GKs myself.
Just done fab in for krul!! Getting in courtois would screw up my transfer plans
Fabianski&Austin/Berahino for me Mitro.
How do NIN – Yep leaning towards fab and Austin!!
Who’s your cappo?? Keep on switching between aguero and sanchez!!!
Aguero perma-cap. I’m not changing it until his hammy goes pop 😉
Mitro – that’s funny – dos I keep switching between Di Maria and Costa! So many options this week… Aguero and Sanchez both in great form.
I think Sigurdsson could be a solid punt this week too. With all these super fixtures, we’re guaranteed a shite week! Average of 30 or some such BS
I hope not!!! I Need some serious points to win my works manager of the month again!!!
Haha damn right we are! Last week was immensely disappointing… here’s to less of the same
Thoughts on a 5th mid worth 4.7m or less? I won’t be making the move yet as i’m set this week, but going forward, i need to bin King as he’s just arsing about on my bench. Despite their woeful fixtures, i’m contemplating bringing in Robbie Brady as he’s finally back in the Hull team and takes a decent set-piece. It’s a really poxy price range so options are limited. Any thoughts on the matter? Ta.
Get Boyd and save the 0.2M over Brady.
I have more chance of scoring with Kelly Brook than Boyd does of getting 3 points or more. Also have Duff so my bench would be 2/3 Burnley. No ta.
I’m a fan of Brady too, but I wouldn’t buy him untill he starts getting points…
there really aren’t many options atm unless you can afford wanayama…
Cheers Bob. Yep, that’s my dilemma! Feck all options and cant afford Wanywama unless i took a hit! Now that would be a crazy move!
I really need to get rid of King so maybe Brady is the only option. Some set pieces may bring points but to be honest, i would hope for him to stay on the bench as backup to my main 4.
yea well i mean, you’re players on our bench dont get you any points unless they come on for someone, so yea – definately dont take a hit!!
Brady will come good eventually, only a matter of how long…
Heaton, Guzan or Green?
I already have Duff. Currently inclined towards Guzan.
Guzan, better fixtures until January.
+1
Cheers lads, confirmed my thoughts.
Hoping for a dull 0-0 tomorrow with Duff playing!
Yea – villa should keep some clean sheets with those fixtures even with their defence and no Bearded second in command!
There’s also martinez – Arsenal’s 3rd keeper – if you’re a risk taker, but it looks as if shezney could make the next game…
I hope so! Ahhh too late mate, haha, that’s an interesting idea but far too risky as you say. Reckon Arsenal will shut out West Brom? I’ve got Chambers but am never confident these days. Kosc might be back though… :thumbup:
I think they should do but yea, you can never be sure with this Arsenal team. There’s just no solidity – really inconsistent…
If i were wenger, I’d have recalled Jenkinson to play right back and have Chamers as centerback – anyone’s better than monreal!!
Switched from Rooney captain to Costa . I really hope this doesn’t backfire on me.
I like the Rooney pick! Nice differential, but boy is that an expensive front 3!!! midfield looks a little thin imo because of that but looks a good team otherwise.
I’d acually choose aguero in his form but costa isnt a bad pick at all!
Final team for this GW then.
Open to suggestions B)
Oops, its actually Hutton in place of Wisdom.
Hmm, looks pretty crap, in fact I’d actually consider wildcarding that lot.
lol !!!
Evening all :satansmoking:
Harsh.