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
[three_fourth padding=”0 20px 0 0″]
[/three_fourth]
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).
[divider_1px]
Maarten Stekelenberg
Southampton
Age: 32
Position: Goalkeeper
Signed from: Fulham
Fee: Season-long loan
[three_fourth padding=”0 20px 0 0″]
[/three_fourth]
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.
[divider_1px]
The Leicester One.
Christian Fuchs
Leicester
Age: 29
Position: Defender
Signed from: Schalke
Fee: Free transfer
[three_fourth padding=”0 20px 0 0″]
[/three_fourth]
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.
[divider_1px]
My new squad tweaked a bit to allow for the inclusion of Sterling. Sterling and possibly Rooney goes in GW4 to allow for Aguero and Milner or Hendo. What do you guys think?
Gunnerluf
I wouldn’t have two Bournemouth at the back – split the odds and go for Ruddy of Norwich instead of Boruc or Martin instead of Mings
I dont think Senderos will get a look in, but plan is to upgrade him after i see some growth in the kitty.
Been working on another draft came up with. Any players that should be definite replacements.
Also whats peoples thoughts for the possibility of Mitrovic.
Cech – Hennessey
Merts – o’shea – Cedric – Huth – Mings
Hazard – Silva – Cazorla – Ki – Wanyama
Costa – Kane – Deeney
Rogue, this looks a good team. Do you plan to Play 3-4-3? As Wanyama would not get much Fantasy points but will play. you
Yeah was aiming for a 3-4-3 with Wan mainly just a 5th rotation can always jiggle around and will possible downgrade some players GW3 to try and get Kun in.
Double arsenal defence? I’d go courtois personally as you’ve meet already.
A ) Sterling
B ) Walcott
C ) Other
Who and why please?
Villan
Can you get both? Might see not very much difference in total points at the end of the season.
Hello you wonderful people.
Here’s my “first” draft, feel free to critique.
I know Newcastle’s fixtures aren’t great but if you’ve seen Mitrovic before, i fully expect Jaanmat to get a hatful of assists because of him this season.
Hey Milburn Gk good MF & Att good Barker might not start & your right New def isn’t great but you have pick Jam for his Att potential this is a good solid team any plays to get Kun also keep an eye on R Rod might be eased in
Obviously want Kun in but saw someone posts stats how he hardly featured in the 1st 2 games last season following tornament football. He’s going to be an essential no doubt but i think I’m going to wait till he gets going.
Milburn
Hi mate, good summer?
I’m interested, how do you think Janmaat will come on for his first season? I looked at him already but unsure on how Newcastle will do under the new manager. No doubt he is fullback I really like and his potential for attacking points is there. Do you really think McClaren can tighten this defence up?
If J-Rod plays, then I only see Baker as a potential worry on game time. A decent squad you have there. I get Ozil, but personal preference is either Caz or Ramsey but that’s your call.
Good luck for the long road ahead!
Hi mate, aye summer’s been decent but nothing to shout about.
Janmaat was one of our best players last season. He was getting assists despite how poor we were.
All the sounds coming put the club are great. We’ve signed our 3rd and 4th biggest signings in the same window but to be honest it’s just nice to buy ANYONE.
It seems like next year we’re going to be applying a high pressure philosophy similar to Poc at Southampton so i expect Janmaat to be pushing higher up field. If he gets the balls in the box Mitrovic looks like he has the quality to put them in.
McClaren’s also trying to focus on keeping possesion rather than Pardew’s “lump it upto Perez” tactics.
We’re also looking to sign a 10mil CB to replace the disease that is Mike Willamson so that should help tighten things up.
Milburn
Cheers for that. Any idea who the mystery defender could be?
A lot of talk about Mbamba also from Anderlecht.
Rooney says 20 goals this season is his target.
Ant
That would do. I liked LVG comments on playing him centrally. Let’s hope he keeps to his word.