New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16. Bamford, Lens, Mitrovic, Kaboul
Popular Eurovision beat combo, Bucks Fizz, once sang, “Don’t let your indecision take you from behind”. Wise words indeed. With barely a week left until the first ball of a new season is kicked, most FPL gaffers will be fairly settled with their squad. And judging by Twitter, everyone has pretty much the same squad anyway. But it’s landing on those final 2 or 3 places that cause the most anguish. Tick. 5 days left, and that 3rd striker slot is obviously Deeney’s. But wait… Patrick who? Oh. Well he’s the one. Tock. 2 days left, Mitrovic. Mitrovic! Maybe. Tick. Then those final minutes; the painfully slow logging in as the Premier League website grinds to a Berbatov-like jog. It’s not enough time. It’s not enough time! Tock. Time up. Don’t let your indecision take you from behind.
Here are some words about footballers.
PATRICK BAMFORD (Crystal Palace – Forward – £6.0mln)
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Selhurst Park’s new recruit is so defined by his perpetually nomadic existence that he may be better served changing his name to ‘On loan from Chelsea’. It’s not the most shirt-friendly name to have on one’s back, but why should Jan Venegoor of Hesselink have all the fun? ‘OLFC’ joined the Blues in 2012 and has chalked up 43 goals in just shy of a century of games, taking in the sights of Milton Keynes, Derby and Middlesbrough. Unbelievably, he’s yet to play a single minute for Chelsea. But then, one can’t expect Jose to find room for a promising young English striker when (and this is just an example picked at random) he can pay £140k a week for a 29-year-old who scored 4 goals last season. On the bright side, at least Bamford can finally move to London now, and all the pre-season signs indicate his growth will continue along it’s parabolic path. A few more repeats of his tidy triple against Bromley last week and a return to the deed poll may be in order. ‘Hat-trick’ Patrick anyone?
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JEREMAIN LENS (Sunderland – Midfielder – £6.5mln)
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The arrival of Jeremain Lens gives the Black Cats some welcome balance, and now have genuine attacking width on either flank. We all know about the threat Adam Johnson poses, especially to [comment removed by legal team], but on the other wing it seems Advocaat has found talent to mirror the Englishman perfectly. A left-winger that likes to cut inside and look for goal certainly possesses the qualities to pique FPL interest. Coming from a mixed couple of seasons at Dynamo Kyiv, the Mackem masses will hope the Dutchman can recreate his PSV form which peaked in 2012/13, finding the net 15 times in 30 games. Furthermore, the Dutch Eredivisie saw him regularly register double figure assists. That the Sunderland manager’s brought him to the Stadium of Light is no great surprise, having worked with him at AZ Alkmaar then PSV. By all accounts Lens was the only positive to take from Sunderland’s recent woeful 2-0 defeat at Doncaster. If Dick’s boys can get their act together, his team’s kind start to the season could see fantasy managers soon switch their focus to Lens.
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ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC (Newcastle United – Forward – £6.5mln)
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At £12m, the 20 year-old Serbian international is the Magpies 4th most expensive ever capture. Admirably swatting away interest from both Roma and Porto, Newcastle have managed to secure a striker boasting a bumper 20 goal campaign in Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League (Nope, me neither). In fact, over his two seasons with Anderlecht he’s scored 36 times in 69 games. Impressive for someone so young, and it suggests McClaren has made a very shrewd investment. Self-styled on personal idols Didier Drogba and Alan Shearer, the 6ft 2in Mitrovic will hope to follow the latter into Geordie folklore, and not go the way of, say, Obafemi Martins or Michael Owen. Or Mark Viduka. Or Antoine Sibierski. Or Marlon Harewood. Or Emmanuel Riviere. Described by the new manager as “a real warrior” the Serb does currently lack match fitness and one wonders whether he’ll be thrown into the starting lineup straight away. But he’s definitely one for the Toon Army to get excited about.
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YOUNES KABOUL (Sunderland – Defence – £4.5mln)
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“Younes wouldn’t join Sunderland even if there was an earthquake. We have more interesting options than Sunderland. Don’t even think about it.” Yes. Those were the words of Younes Kaboul’s agent in 2008. Well, 7 years on and despite there being no earthquake, Kaboul clearly no longer had ‘more interesting options’. Not since Pascal Chimbonda, has a player’s arrival stirred such shoulder-shrugging apathy. In fact, this is probably the first most have heard about it. It’s hard to make a case for Kaboul as a fantasy option, when even teammates Van Aanholt and O’Shea have more appeal, and with only 3 goals in 5 years you don’t get much added value, even at £4.5m. He did however get given the armband in the second half of their Doncaster friendly, so one could argue that Advocaat trusts him and is likely to be a somewhat reliable fixture in his eleven. Barrel scraped. Straws clutched. Job done.
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Özil 8.5 or Walcott 9.0
No idea. I can’t decide either
NIN, if you’re about, drop me a doubles email to settle up our gwk1 team.
Evening!!
Had a few hours to spare earlier and I think I have managed to finalise my team.
Thoughts? (Ozil may be replaced by either sterling or YYT)
Mitro, hey mate, nice midfield!
Tadic is on pens again it seems, but Mane seems to be the man to have based on form, liking the Ritchie pick. He’s been in most of my drafts.
Walcott (c) vs West Ham (H) looks great but do you think it’s risky? I have Wally but am leaning towards Ozil as he’s 99% nailed on to start and looks good…
…unfortunately I can’t have both like you!
Front 2 are quality of course. Gives you the choice of who to upgrade for Aguero when the time comes. Nice squad :thumbup:
How do james!, I hope you are well mate?
I have been keeping an eye on mane during pre-season and there isn’t much between them! Tadic being on pen duties aswell as set pieces has swayed it for me, plus I would have to downgrade either Cech or azpillicueta to get him in.
With Walcott I’m expecting a big season off him! 20 goals plus
I have also just put a bet on him for tomorrow for first goal scorer which is 17/2.
All is well here thanks yeah!
That’s interesting. Hadn’t heard much of Tadic’s performances… that extra 1.0m would come in very handy.
Huge call on Theo there! Not your bet though… I think those odds are great value. Gonna go for a 2-1 win for us!
Bihom’s idea for PvA and Turner sounds good to me. Not much else I can argue with other than the lack of Hazard – but a fit Costa could make up for that – during the opening few gameweeks at least…
I’ll be posting my team looking for similar feedback soon. Would be good to get your thoughts
Nice team, how about downgrading PvA and changing Turner to a 4.5?
I think Walcott could be a good captains pick as he has a decent record against west ham.
That was my thinking aswell! I had him as captain just under two years ago when he scored two goals against West Ham !! Everyone went with Suarez that week against man city
I remember that week. I had Walcott but captained Suarez out of pure fear.
I like it Mitro – No Haz? Big captain call that,
Hi dreamers – hazard will be in my team before October if not sooner!
Mitro, crackin team, not so sure about some aspects of the bench..
Not well read on Norwich but don’t think Turner is a starter is he? McCarthy neither but you have Cech so..
Ighalo and PVA are great bench plays, nice template!
Hi AT – my bench is always poor to start off with. It will get better as the season progresses
Not sure on which team. Seem to be tinkering a lot today
So…
Hazard, Benteke and Jerome OR Fab, Rooney and Wilson? Tough call that..
Hazard probably sways it if Benteke is fit although Jerome in your starting eleven isn’t ideal
Yeah Jerome is not ideal could keep Wilson and change Walcott to Ozil.
Hi all, a few thoughts on my latest draft would be much appreciated.
My latest edit has seen Kos, Depay and Ighalo (bench) changed to Cedric, Ibe and Kane
It will see Ibe and Aarons rotate for fixtures so the trade is essentially Kos to Cedric and Depay to Kane, could trade?
Cedric’s fixtures work well with my other four defenders so not too concerned about dropping Arsenal defence…although if they keep Chelsea out tomorrow that will change for sure!
Thanks for your time, AT.
Sorry, that should read as ‘good trade’ not ‘could trade’ haha
Hey guys, just a thought on the 5th midfielder spot. I’ve seen lots of drafts with Cedric in them (mine included!), and also Mane/Pelle seem like wise choices with Southampton’s pre-season form and decent schedule. Be careful throwing Wanyama in there as a 5th mid, as that will take up your last Southampton spot and who knows? Pelle and Mane might continue their form into the season and you may want to bring them both in for a few weeks as they are relatively budget friendly for their positions. Also, Wanyama is going to have pretty high ownership as he’s looking to be the best pick available at 4.5, so if people end up selling him as better options show themselves and with some early wildcards, he could drop in price relatively quickly too.
good point that Red – hows your team looking?
Hey Dreamers, good to see you on the boards. I have a new draft each day it seems, lol. How about you, you getting anywhere?
No mate. One step further two back
I was having similar thoughts Red. Are there any other decent 4.5 nailed-on midfielders around to fill the void? Fletcher perhaps… certainly worth looking into.
I had Lucas last year – I still think it was a good decision. I think you can have one dud anyway but two is too much