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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Barcelona have agreed to sell Manchester United target Pedro this summer with reports in Spain suggesting the deal is a case of when rather than if.
Awesome! ASAP please.
What do you guys think about Nasri?
Just at 7£
Not a hope would i have him in my squad. £7m wasted, for me.
Best forward for no more than 7.5? Looking to upgrade Vardy. Already got J-Rod and was thinking Falcao?
Falcao could be good now that Costa has a hamstring injury.
If i remember correctly, the £6m-£7.5m range of forwards is pretty dodgy. You’re probably as well to get a £5.5m forward and invest elsewhere.Wilson/Deeney/Defoe seem the better choices down there.
Best forward at 5.5 mil? currently have Wilson but I’m liking Sunderland’s starting fixtures so Defoe is on my mind
Same, Defoe is in my team at the moment. Can change at any given moment though. :dance:
FFS, this new windows 10 sucks. PC was already slow, now my f-ing eyes hurt. YAY! And have to install office quick because I have still got loads of shit to do. FFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ye that’s what I’m thinking might put him in.
Haven’t upgraded to that yet and by the sounds of it I won’t 😛 haha
Hey MattX is your doubles team ready to send 7 tonight cheers mate
Hey Silver it is indeed mate I did make a few changes to the money spread we sorted out though.
I must admit, my pc is a bit faster as it stands now. Downside is that it makes a lot of noice when busy. :p
haha put on some music and you won’t notice.
Get a better computor Raz ???? Mine is actually faster now with Windows 10 ….
Defoe.
Cheers NIN. Are you making this decision based on fixtures or the fact that Sunderland/Defoe have PL experience and Bournemouth don’t?
Based on 1) Sunderland buying a wide player meaning Defoe is back up front as the main striker (He found himself in some odd positions last season), and 2) He’s better than Wilson and the schedule is a lot lighter than B’mouth’s.
Who did they buy? That is one of the factors that is making me think of Defoe.
They bought Lens. Lens is a very usefull wide player. He scores a lot, assists. More of a teamplayer than for instance Depay.
Oh I thought Lens was a central mid my mistake.
Hi can some rate my 2nd draft of my team. Unsure on the Watford forward and still got 1.5m in the bank. Trying to balance the team out.
Not too sure about Villa defence this season so Richards might be better off gone. Also I think Lescott can be changed as he’s a lot at 5 mil and there is better players at that price.
You could raise and extra .5 by changing Butland to a 4 mil GK because realistically your not going to choose Butland over Cech. This could be used to upgrade Wanyama.
^^ Yup.
Gents thoughts on this team? Think Im almost there…
Courtois/Hennessey
Mings/Wisdom/Cedric/Baker/Toby
Hazard/Milner/Walcott/Cabaye/Anya
Aguero/Wilson/Rooney
I like this team mate. Only thing I don’t like is Baker don’t know if he’ll start. Also maybe downgrade Kun to a player that will play but keep the money to bring him back in when he returns.
Matt unfortunately the only way I can avoid Baker is downgrading Toby and getting 2 4.5m defenders.
Aguero will be monitored and see the story about him before we begin. But will come back ASAP
Ah right I get you well if your okay with a player that might not play then Toby should make up for it but if not then I’d downgrade and upgrade Baker.
Ye that’s my plan too I’ve saved a mil to aid in bringing Kun back when he’s a definite.
MattX
im literally about to toss a coin haha.
if i get 2 4.5m def in for baker and toby… who would you suggest?
Hahahah I keep a coin specifically for FPL as sometimes I just have to flip it to decide for me.
I asked that earlier I think Huth and a Bournemouth defender Francis,Mings, Cook would be your best options right now.
Just realised you already have Mings so maybe O’Shea???
MattX
so huth and o’shea instead of toby and baker?
Definitely Huth not 100% on O’Shea but I can’t think of any right now maybe Wisdom but Sunderland do have some good fixtures.
MattX
Have wisdom already haha
Then O’Shea haha
MattX
Mings, wisdom, cedric, o’shea and ? (4.5m def)
Huth
Pretty risky defensive selection. If it were me i would sort that out as i reckon it’s a £1m-£2m investment short of being stable.
Agreed NIN
but to have that attack some sacrifices need to be made unfortunately.
Only solution is downgrading toby and baker for 2 4.5m defenders.