New Fantasy Premier League Transfers 2018/19 – Riyad Mahrez and Ben Foster
Welcome to New Fantasy Premier League Transfers 2018/19 – Riyad Mahrez and Ben Foster. Two familiar faces and yet their transfers create uncertainties that must not be ignored. Well, I guess Foster’s could be but I just do what I am told. Mahrez’s £60m move is an indicator of his quality and whilst Ben Foster joins Watford for a relatively tiny £4m, his guaranteed route into a once solid West Brom backline will be fondly remembered by many a fantasy manager. Pre-empting that many of you are here to read about Mahrez, I have put him first.
Riyad Mahrez
Manchester City
FPL Price: £9.0m
I just love watching Mahrez play. Do not worry though, this article won’t take a weird ‘Rosco turn’. Mahrez’s tricky playstyle juxtaposed Jamie Vardy’s directness almost poetically at Leicester. There is one major negative about the transfer from a fantasy perspective though. It is an obvious one, but then you are not reading this as a result of paying me on Patreon and clicking on the article did not throw a barrage of unwanted video adverts and betting pop-ups at your computer screen, so it could be worse!
Anyway, I digress. The negative: whilst I cannot wait to see how he links up with Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, and the rest of Manchester City’s hyper-talented squad, picking him would also leave me a nervous wreck waiting for the line-up to be announced every weekend to see if he is even in the hyper-talented squad that day and disappointed when he is sometimes (inevitably) not there. Perhaps for the first few gameweeks at least, with Raheem Sterling sunning it up somewhere for almost bringing football home, Mahrez might offer a decent route into the thereafter unpredictable City attack.
Excluding goals scored whilst he was not on the pitch, Mahrez scored or assisted 46.9% of Leicester’s goals last season. Leicester only scored 56 goals. City scored 106. I am not suggesting that Mahrez will score or assist 50 goals next season, of course, but even 30% would do! If the game had been released a week later, after City had signed Mahrez, I would have been surprised to see the Algerian listed for £9.0m.
Leicester’s title-winning season saw Mahrez rack up 17 goals and 10 assists which he replicated to an extent last season with 12 goals and 11 assists given that he was not on penalties last year, which accounted for four of his title-winning tally. The 2016/17 season was a difficult one for a Kante-less Leicester and Mahrez in which he only managed six goals – three of which were penalties – and four assists. However, more promisingly, his shots and key passes were not significantly different to the other two seasons.
With a current record of nine penalties scored out of 13, I highly doubt the newcomer will oust both Aguero and Jesus from penalty duties. Indeed, it might be better if he does not! Mahrez had a large role in corners for Leicester and so, given that De Bruyne is De Bruyne, this must be factored into the newcomer’s value. However, only two of his assists came from corners last year despite taking over 80 of them, and he has only ever assisted one other goal from a corner.
Ultimately, any City attacker is a risk this year except Kevin De Bruyne. £9.0m is a lot of money if it is used to warm the bench with (although, rather amusingly, City’s substitues/professional bench warmers cost a lot more than that!) but, as Mito pointed out in his Ramblings article, City’s fixtures after the Arsenal game are too good to miss. I will be taking the rough with the smooth – and the rotation is pretty rough – but last season’s promoted teams along with this season’s in a GW2-7 multipack is as smooth as it gets (no weird imagery in the comments, please). Let us hope that the Community Shield sheds some light on Pep’s plans. We can but hope.
Ben Foster
Watford
FPL Price: £4.5m
Watford Player of the Season 2007 Ben Foster returns to the club, seemingly to replace loanee Orestis Karnezis who has returned to Italy. Heurelho Gomes appears to be looking for a move away from Vicarage Road which would leave Foster to battle it out against 19-year-old Pontus Dahlberg for the starting berth. It is an apprenticeship rather than a battle that Javi Gracia has in mind though with Dahlberg expected to learn from Foster from the sideline and in training whilst the latter wears the gloves week in week out.
Although Watford’s first three fixtures look okay on paper, Watford conceded 64 goals last term, a figure only beaten by West Ham and Stoke. Watford fans are expecting/hoping that the club fork out for an established centre-back, which could increase the appeal of Foster from a clean sheets point of view.
The visit of Brighton in Gameweek 1 is a promising induction for the goalkeeper though given that Chris Hughton’s men only managed to score 10 goals on the road all last season. This dismal figure was even bettered by Huddersfield who seemingly spent much of last season just trying not to lose. This opening day generosity continues into the following two gameweeks; Burnley only managed to score 16 at home last season and Crystal Palace 16 away (although, like a good ‘friend’ on FIFA, Palace only started trying halfway through (the season)!).
After that they have visits from Spurs and Manchester United followed by Arsenal away in Gameweek 7 before a relatively kind string of fixtures up until the third international break after Gameweek 12. At least against the two North London clubs, Foster’s points are more likely to come from saves. Foster recorded 99 saves in 37 matches last season, 16 fewer than the previous season. The Watford duo of Karnezis and Gomes chalked up 93, which was 24 fewer than Gomes managed the year before that. Six of one and half a dozen of the other, really, but not all too close to Lukasz Fabianski’s 137 of last season. Last year, Watford’s keepers faced 2.7 fewer shots per game than the number Foster and Boaz Myhill were exposed to behind the Baggies backline (although that was still an average of 10.9).
Thanks for reading New Fantasy Premier League Transfers 2018/19 Riyad Mahrez and Ben Foster. This article was written by AT
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PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
Usually we run an article and ask people to get involved and cover the friendlies with any info they can gather. And it’s usually fun but in all honesty it’s usually also a bit messy and difficult to refer back to. This season we have one link that you will need need for all such info, courtesy of Mito –
Here you will find all the pre-season info you could ever wish for in one place – line-ups, scorers, assists, match info, sarcastic comments…
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It’s been a busy summer already with Arsenal, Everton, West Ham and Chelsea appointing new managers, Manchester City adding to their already dominant squad, Man Utd continuing to splash the cash and Liverpool trying to protect Karius by beefing up their midfield. Spurs may even have a new home soon.
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So be sure to get involved in the discussions, the RMTs and the banter as we look forward to another season of Fantasy fun!
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In your e-mail could you please supply:-
Your name.
Your site username.
Your team name from last season and your new team name if it has changed,
How are you all distributing funds in respective positions?
@GoalMachine, that exact question was addressed in an article Cookie did for the site about a week ago, that and several other questions. If you haven’t read it, check it out https://fantasyfootball247.co.uk/fpl-interview-plans-strategies/
My answer is in there.
Will Laca play up top and PEA play out wide?
If so, Laca is appealing being 1.5m cheaper
Arsenal fans are begging for the new manager to either:
play a 4-4-2 to get Auba up front or
buy a winger so Auba can play up front!
You notice that also.
#UnaiOut
Mourinho on the right back position early season… care of Ben Dinnery on twitter:
Valencia out of the Leicester game: “He is injured,” Mourinho said. “He will be injured for the beginning of the PL, Dalot is also in a recovering phase, he will not be ready. Young is a possibility, but is on holiday [and] I don’t know if he fancies to be back for that.”
“Lindelof is a possibility, he is not a RB but he starts training next Monday. I will send people to train with Victor, it makes no sense for him to come to the USA. So if Matteo leaves, he leaves because the right offer arrives and if he stays, he can be important for us.”
“Young is a possibility, but is on holiday [and] I don’t know if he fancies to be back for that” haha 😆
Hope Young stays on vacation, Darmian leaves and Lindelöf refuses to play RB. In a week Jose will be calling Shaw his toughest only indispensable defender.
#BringBackJohnOShea
#BringBackGaryNeville
He’ll soon coach them anyway :hippo:
Good afternoon all!
I hope everyone is keeping well and not stressing too much over their teams
Here is my first RMT of the new season, any advice will be taken on board and greatly appreciated. Planning an early WC given the return of the world cup holiday takers
Will Kun and Mahrez all start?
It’s definitely a gamble on Kun after the WC as he’ll be battling with Jesus, but it’s one I’m willing to take
With Mahrez on the other hand I’d be very confident of him playing in the first 2-3 GW’s given the absence of KDB and Sterling, after that I’d like to get KDB in via wildcard
Bernardo Silva is also there in right wing…got an assist in pre-season vs L’pool.
You might have a point GM, but I personally don’t think Bernardo Silva is good enough to lace Mahrez’ boots, I’m hoping Pep will think the same!
Given the early fixtures and your plan to an early WC I like it. It’s obviously very dependent on Liverpool, City and Everton – I think for Liverpool and City you’ll be fine – I’d maybe consider Zaha instead of Tosun just to break things up a bit and / or try and turn Cairney into Jota for another decent attacker.
But overall very good.
I’m happy with the City Liverpool dependency, but I am concerned with my reliance on Everton! I’ve been in the balance with the choice of Arnie/Zaha/Tosun, but Arnie’s opening fixtures are very tough and I’m worried about Zaha playing wide, it’s quite the predicament!
I’ll look into Jota, I just don’t know that much about him haha.
Thanks Cookie, it’s much appreciated!
I think Zaha is a wait until last minute job to see who is fit etc and also if he is still there! If he stays at the club I think he is excellent value.
Chelsea are my other team to keep a close eye on and it’ll be a late decision as to what coverage to have, if any. I’m thinking Azpi right now but transfers may change my view.
I think so too. I completely agree. I just wish he was a midfielder still being honest! But his early fixtures should pay dividends.
I’ve been contemplating the Azpi situation also. He is Chelsea’s best defender and if he moves to RB in a 4 back formation he’ll be the first player I’ll have in using my WC.
I’m a Chelsea fan and I hope we don’t sell Courtois for footballing purposes, but for FPL purposes if Schmeichel replaces him it would be a god send
I thought you are buying Reina not Schmeichel?
There’s plenty of rumours flying around. But I thought Reina had signed with AC Milan?
Some Italian press reporting that Chelsea representatives have flown to Milan fir negotiations with the club.
Still you have Rob Green just in case :big-lol:
Traditional question: The 5th Midfielder (4.5m) with 1% ownership vs 10% ownership – which is better from price fall perspective?
I’d say 1% as there as less managers who are going to fire sale when he doesn’t start (you talking about 4.0m defenders by the way?)… But who knows how the price algorithms are gonna be this time around…
Most nailed defenders for Arsenal/Chelsea at 5.5m?
Chelsea is a tough one as I’d class Azpi and Alonso as the only nailed defenders. I’m hoping for a Courtois-Schmeichel (I may have butchered that spelling) exchange.
Arsenal for nailed on defenders I would say Bellerin. However if past history is anything to go by Unai is fond of rotating his wing backs, so once again it’s a risk.
To be honest I’ve just stayed clear of both for my initial drafts given the risk that comes with new managers. I’m using a Coleman place holder until we know more.
Cheers Hippo
No problem mate
If Sarri opts for four at the back, I think Alonso’s days are numbered. All aboard the Emerson train.
The four back won’t suit Alonso at all, but Emerson was absolutely trash when he came on as a sub against Perth on Monday, he was duped 2-3 times by average footballers and only played 30 mins
Which is why I have Azpi
Mito made a post yesterday about Emery’s rotation policy. Seems most rife among the full backs. I’d back Bellerin to play more than Lichsteiner though. Haven’t been looking at the centre backs tbh. Mustafi and Holding started today.
Cheers AT.
Currently have Bellerin and prefer him over Coleman for clean sheet potential.
Fingers crossed he doesn’t rotate too much
if Emery is so obsessed with rotating full backs, surely that greatly lessens the appeal of Bellerin or any Arsenal full back?
Surely he would only do that in a team where the rotating fullbacks were as good as each other?
That’s not the case with Arsenal though. He’s gotta stick with Bellerin on that side most of the season surely?
Unless they buy someone else…
That’s exactly my train of thought for early doors at least Cookie. It’d be a right kick in the teeth to have Bellerin for 2 X 2 pointers in the first two GW’s against strong opposition (Chels and City if I’m not mistaken) only to warm the bench against weaker opposition
I feel like Lichsteiner is being underestimated, he put in a shift for Juve against Madrid about 3 months ago and was coined “the running man” by the commentators, I reckon he could pull play 10+ league games easily
That’s my fear, Hippo. Lichsteiner is good enough to be considered for rotation with Bellerin.
Litchsteiner will play a lot I think. He’s not left Juve to just sit on the bench. Bellerin was not that great last season either
I’ve got a feeling Luiz might be back in