New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16. Benteke
Liverpool strikers managed a total of just eight goals between them last season, so the Merseysiders were always going to dip into the transfer market for a new striker this summer and it hardly came as a surprise that that striker turned out to be Christian Benteke. Liverpool’s transfer policy over the past 25 years has been questionable at best and one look at the signings made by Brendan Rodgers since his arrival at the helm would leave anyone scratching their head. It wouldn’t have come as a surprise had Liverpool’s owners dispatched with the services of Rodgers over the summer, and one thing is for sure, if Benteke isn’t a success over the coming season Rodgers will be sent packing next May!
Christian Benteke (Liverpool 8.5)
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The Belgian arrived in Birmingham as an unknown quantity back in August 2012 but soon made a name for himself finishing the 2012-13 season with 19 leagues goals from 34 appearances. He missed large chunks of the following two seasons through injury, but he arrives at Anfield having scored a total of 42 league goals from just 88 appearances over the three seasons. Clearly he knows where the net is but that’s not the issue, the issue is whether or not he fits into Liverpool’s style of play. Some will say that he doesn’t as he scores goals!
Villa undoubtedly played to Benteke’s strengths i.e. they got plenty of crosses into the box. As Tim Sherwood said prior to the FA Cup final, “We cross more balls into the box than any other club in the league and Christian has said he feeds of those crosses…there’s no point going to a club where they don’t cross the ball”. The stats certainly back up Sherwood, last season Benteke won more headers than any other forward in the league while the previous season he won the second most. To put this into context, Liverpool have ranked the lowest and second lowest for crosses over the last two seasons. After reading this most of you have probably decided that Benteke in no longer an FPL option, but before you make such a decision I should point out that of his 42 league goals only 13 of these have been scored with his head.
The arrival of Benteke at Anfield will undoubtedly bring comparisons with one Andy Carroll and while both are devastating in the air and have the ability to bully defences, there are differences between the two. Carroll failed because he lacked pace & movement, Benteke should have no such problems. Granted his recent injuries have probably robbed him of some pace, but compared to Carroll he is Usain Bolt. Despite this, however you look at it. something has to give, either Benteke’s style or that of the team and with the likes of Philippe Coutinho and new signing Firmino in the team I would suggest that Benteke will be asked to somewhat alter his style of play. If this is the case I would be very surprised if the Belgian can break the 20 goal barrier this season, rather he will be asked to bring others into play and thus the goals could be spread around the team. This of course will be good for Liverpool but perhaps not so good for those FPL managers with big hopes for the Belgian.
Liverpool have a mixed bag of fixtures throughout August, September & October. Home games against Bournemouth, West Ham, Norwich & Villa are counterbalanced by away games to the likes of Arsenal, United, Everton, Spurs & Chelsea. So if you’re waiting for Liverpool to have a decent run of fixtures before bringing Benteke in you’ll be waiting a while. My advice is that if you fancy Benteke jump on early to take advantage of those home games and hope that both he & Liverpool pick up a few results in those tough away games.
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Rickie Lambert is currently having his medical at West Brom ahead of his proposed move.
Good move that. Might be one to look at for us a bit later in the season.
Ye I think he’ll be able to perform like he did back in his Southampton days. Could end up being a good 3rd striker.
Indeed. He’ll suit the Pulis way you’d imagine.
You’d imagine so Pulis always seems to get the best out of what he’s got best example is going from 2nd last with Palace to 11th? 12th? Really like him as a manager.
As do i. His style can be bludgeoning at times but, as you say, he gets the job done. Nobody likes coming up against his teams, be it home or away. Once their fixtures ease a bit, i’ll be diving straight in for one of their CB’s for sure. Lescott was marvelous for me last season.
Ye same here I had Wisdom for some of the season before switching to Lescott. That’s why I was interested in Chester. Just read though that Villa are looking into signing Lescott so he could be gone by the time their fixtures ease up.
They’re probably barking up the wrong tree there. It would come as a surprise if Pulis was willing to let his best defender go.
It would indeed don’t think it’ll be up to him though.
Hi All, Please find my New and improved version. I will be grateful for any suggestions. I know Hoban might not play and plan to get him upgraded later ( i.e after i get Kun). I have 2M in the bank
Morning Gunner. Looks a good squad there. I’d probably get Kane in for Falcao with the £2m and when “Aguero-time” comes around, choose one of Ozil/Sterling (probably Ozil) to downgrade for fund raising.
Gunner
Sound advice from NiN.
Falcao is a risk whichever way you look at it.
Hi NIN,
Morning to you too and thank you. I am considering taking a gamble with Falcao for the first game as it seems Costa is injured and Chelsea usually have very good results against Swansea. Also i dont feel too confident about Kane against a massively boosted Man U defence ( Especially the the two new holding/ defensive midfielders). So i am still thinking about what to do. lol
Could work as a short term thing i suppose. Need to keep a close eye on that situation though, it’d be a nightmare if Costa was back fit for GW1.
Yes i will, otherwise i will be completely screwed. hehehe
:thumbup:
Is there one place where we can get all the pre-season stats from? Who scored the most goals, who got the highest assists and clean-sheets etc?
https://fantasyfootball247.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-2015-16-pre-season-round-up/
TGP has been tirelessly posting the lineups, scorers and assisters in this article. Shouldn’t take long to go through it and get whatever info you need :thumbup:
Thanks Nin!
I would like to see what people think of my team. I feel the front is bit on the cheap side but I’m planning to sell one of the under performing 8.5m+ midfielders (if I have one) to get kun in once he’s back.
morbo86 – I reckon your midfield is over-spent on by about £2m ish. It is very strong having said that so who to downgrade there will be your call but i would certainly get an Arsenal attacker in there and upgrade a striker to Aguero. If Aguero is set to miss GW1 totally then you could just replace him with someone like Rooney and bank the Aguero cash for GW2. Also, i’m not sure triple L’pool is necessary. One would do, for me.
Looks like Costa is available for this weekend.
Fit and ready for a fight 😉
And f-ck up his hamstring so he can’t start the first 10 EPL GW’s. HOORAY! Falcao 7.5m ideal replacement. :dance:
Hmmmmmmmmm. On that note. Clasie just pulled out with an hamstring injury, which is really bad news for Soton. Dude was the only one capable of filling in the Schneiderlin role.
Yeah i heard that too. Hopefully it’s only a minor strain. I’m looking forward to seeing him in action this season, solid player from what i’ve seen.
Bigger talent than Wijnaldum, in my opinion.
Really? I haven’t seen enough of the kid, really looking forward to seeing him in action now.
Nice