New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16. Cedric, Stekelenberg, Fuchs
Before we get into previewing the latest batch of international superstars joining our beloved Premiership, I want to say first how great it is that the new fantasy season is nearly upon us. The excitement is really building.
It’s been brilliant reading the boards over the last couple of weeks as the regular names/faces return to the site after their long break. And some new faces too! It’s like spring time. The snow has gone and the little green shoots are starting to appear. The little baby rabbits are emerging from their holes. What’s this? A wonderful new world? A time to start a fresh? Such a wonderfully positive time. Do I dare to dream that this could be the year? The year I’ve been laying in my hole thinking about all winter (summer).
So full of optimism. What will the season hold? Will this be the year I make it across the road to that wonderful field of lush green grass? Will this be the season I win my mini league? What to do first? Eat some grass? Pick my team? Eat some more grass? Study the fixtures? The possibilities seem endless and the optimism sky high. The planning. The hope. It’s beautiful.
Statistically, however, that rabbit will be dead within a month and most of us will never see the top 1,000. But we can dream dammit. We can dream.
Let’s talk football. .
The Southampton Two.
Cedric Soares
Southampton
Age: 23
Position: Defender
Signed from: Sporting
Fee: £4.7mln
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With Nathaniel Clyne following the well-trodden path up the road to Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers has already taken the unusual step to announce that the player he sees as Clynes long term replacement at Anfield is Cedric Soares, a promising young German born Portugal international from Sporting Lisbon.
Whilst the £4.7m fee Southampton have paid for Soares won’t turn heads, the right back looks to be the starting option in one of last season’s best defences.
Priced at 5.0m, he’s 0.5m cheaper than the two remaining defenders from last season, Bertrand and Fonte. If we assume that 4.5m Yoshida isn’t going to claim the starting spot alongside Fonte, and that Alderwiereld’s replacement will be priced as at least 5.0m, then Soares will most likely start the season as the most attractive route into the Southampton backline.
The alternatives at this 5.0m price range include the likes of Janmaat, Lescott, Shawcross and Alderweireld himself. It may be a close call choosing between Tottenhma and Southampton, but I definitely fancy a Southampton clean sheet over Newcastle, West Brom or Stoke.
There are a couple of concerns with Soares however. His stats last year (1 assist and 0 goals in 34 games) aren’t in line with the attacking full backs we’ve grown accustomed to over the last few years at St Marys. He also appears to be somewhat of a yellow card magnet. Cedric picked up a booking in every 3 games he played last season, including 3 bookings in 5 Champions Leagues games and a red card in the domestic Cup Final. You have been warned.
Fantasy view: Potentially a cheap route into a historically good defence. Disciplinary concerns. Possible anger issues linked to the fact he’s called Cedric. (Apologies to any Cedrics reading this).
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Maarten Stekelenberg
Southampton
Age: 32
Position: Goalkeeper
Signed from: Fulham
Fee: Season-long loan
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Former Dutch international (and World Cup finalist) Stekelenberg has signed on a season long loan from Fulham, to provide cover for Fraser Forster who is currently expected to be out until March 2016.
Although on paper he faces competition for the number 1 shirt from Kelvin Davis, you’d have to expect that given his pedigree and his history with manager Koeman (he gave Steky his debut at Ajax), he’s a strong favourite to start at least until Forster returns. As mentioned above, if last season is any sort of guide, this could prove to be a decent defence to invest in, with a CS in every 3 games played.
The “But”….. It’s early days in pre-season, but his ownership currently stands at just 1.4%. A sign that fantasy managers are perhaps nervous that with three out of five from the Southampton backline either leaving or injured, the defence might not be as solid as last year.
Add to that, the fact that keepers are priced lower this year. For an extra 0.5m you can have Courtois or Hart.
Fantasy view: Doesn’t offer the value of previous years. Better keepers for the money elsewhere.
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The Leicester One.
Christian Fuchs
Leicester
Age: 29
Position: Defender
Signed from: Schalke
Fee: Free transfer
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F*** off!!! I beg your pardon?! I said Fuchs’ off. Off to Leicester. Oh. Well that’s alright then.
Leicester City have made their first signing of the summer with the free-transfer capture of defender Christian Fuchs on a three-year deal.
The 29-year-old Austria international left-back, has 66 international caps and made 99 career league appearances for Schalke With 2 goals and 4 assists in 20 starts last season, he appears to offer some pretty good attacking potential. The problem is that last season he was part of a 6th place team pushing for a place in the Champions League, whereas this season he’ll be part of a team near the bottom, pushing Paul Konchesky for picking-the-ball-out-of-the-net duties.
The downside (as well as the fact he plays for Leicester) is that he’s priced at a ball busting 5.0m! How did they come up with that?! Rumours are that the early ownership of 0.7% consist entirely of managers who either live in Leicester, and /or want a player with a rude sounding word in their team.
Fantasy view: Monitor pre-season. If he gets the nod to start every game, to play as a striker, take freekicks, and penalties, I might be tempted.
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Benteke has passed his medical, announcement soon that he is now a Liverpool player.
Aaaah cool. For which team in Liverpool?
Once Sterling was sold, it was always going to happen and Villa got good money for him. What I don’t like (pool fan) is that he said he’d prefer a champions league club to come in for him b4 he made the move. Shows he doesn’t see Liverpool as a ‘great’ club but rather as a stepping stone to something better. I’m a little worried as to how he’ll fit in to the system, but im sure Rogers will be able to find a way.
For me I’m all about Studz and if the latest Op has cleared up these injury problems I’ll be a happy bunny (related to rabbits in the article )
Try again
Anybody have any news on Cambiasso coming back to play with Leicester, I heard Raineiri wants him to come back. I’d love for him to come back was a cheap player last year and was still brilliant.
Also Silva or Sterling? I seen Sterling scored but I haven’t yet seen the match report yet.
Hi Matt, they’re waiting for an answer. All he has said is that he’s weighing up all of his options.
I’m in the Sterling camp – I think he’ll thrive there but I can see the argument too.
Ah right Cheers Init that kind of makes me think he won’t be coming back as a player but more as a coach.
Ye I think he’ll be a great signing for them (sadly) but I just fear he could get rotated every couple of games.
I’ll prob go for Sterling. I know a lot of ppl are saying he might not start and get rotated, but you don’t buy a player for 49mil and bench him. Plus in FPL he’s basically a 4th striker, his pace will suit City to the ground and offer them an extra attacking option. For me Silva is all about the assists. Im a Liverpool fan and although I hate that sterling’s gone (and want to hurt him for the way he did it), he’ll do well at city. That plus the extra 1mil can be used.
Just my opinion. Anyone else?
YNWA
You ‘want to hurt him’?! :say-what:
Ye I’m leaning towards Sterling just because of that extra 1 mil but I really don’t want him to play well and have an absolute horrid time in Manchester but I don’t see that happening. Don’t really want to hurt him though
YNWA
Hi Matt,
I’m unsure on Cambiasso just read similar to what you have from Ranieiri..
Watched the first half of the City match this morning and both looked quite lively and dangerous. I think they’ll continue to link up well and it’ll be hard to choose between them tbh.. For me Sterling is just edging it at the moment but things could change!
Cheers Peetza
I’ll give it a bit more time to see how he does in the next few preseason games but sadly I think i’ll just end going with him to save that extra mil.
I kinda like this team now, sacrificed defence but still have 0.5 in back. Could do a 4.5 to toby r Cedric to mert possibly. Thoughts??
Any takers?????
Hi Sledge,
I’d say that your defense is low cost but quite capable… assuming S.Taylor is a placeholder for a future playing 4.0 defender.
On the other hand, double Bournemouth may test your patience during gw2 and gw3, especially with Walcott and Behrami not being nailed-on starters.
Wilson is a gamble but allows for Walcott who I think will start without Sanchez. He’s my preferred arsenal midfielder.
Sledge
I see Behrami picking up more bookings than anything else but I know choices are slim at that price. I support the rest of the midfield completely.
Goalkeepers rotate very well and I wouldn’t swap them. Steven Taylor is a risk but you can take that at the start of the season but be prepared to spend that extra money in the bank on a guaranteed playing defender at 4.5M.
Strikers I like very much. Good effort :thumbup:
What you guys think of this team?.
Decent team but no Kun or Haz, you’re a braver man than me.
Guys my first draft ——-a quick 5 minute one…….Though there might be many changes done till first GW
Please can you people give your opinions.
Preferred formation 4-3-3 tested and trusted
Ings wont get a look in.
think i’d have cabeye over bolasie,
can’t see ings getting a lot of time now they have bentekkers for 32 mil
Kaumil
Agree with the lads, Ings must go. Far too much traffic in the Liverpool attack.
Bolasie is a very good prospect based on last season’s performances. Not many on here have taken him this season which surprises me.
Continue to watch J-Rod closely this pre-season to see how fit he is and how much he plays.
1 – Depay or Mata? (Currently on Mata)
2 – Which Arsenal 8.5 mid? (Currently on Ozil)
3 – Which 4.5 mid? (Currently on Wanyama)
Ruddy – Rudd
Azpi – Toby – Huth – Mings – O’Shea
Haz – Ozil – Mata – Chadli – Wanyama
Aguero – Benteke – Wilson
1. Mata
2. I’d go with Cazorla
3. The only worth while I think is Wanayama
Team looks good mate can’t really see anything wrong with it.
Cheers, MattX. What makes you go Cazorla? Penalties? Only thing I fear with Wanyama is that with high ownership if loads of people get him out if he doesn’t score or assist his price will decrease. What you think to King / Drinkwater at Leicester for 4.5?
I’m not sure I think it’s just that Caz is more consistent than Ozil and he will take his fair share of penalties. I think King could be a good shout I personally hate the 4.5 mid but I think I may have to just go for it this year as there isn’t anyone at 5.0 mil and then 5.5 is a bit too much when everyone else is expensive.
Depay
Carzola
Anja is worth a look at Watford
Star
Really close but I think Memphis
Cazorla
Surman for me but its a punt.