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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Any thoughts on Ighalo? Will he play, or are Deeney and Vydra the two main attackers? He’s scoring for fun at the moment.
Wesley
The way he is scoring it will be hard for Quique to ignore him. Deeney is the most solid choice. But I wouldn’t criticise anyone for taking on Ighalo (and saves you (0.5M as well)
That’s what I’m thinking. Could be great value! I was set on an attacking trio of Costa, Benteke and J-Rod, but Inghalo instead of J-Rod would allow me to get Yaya instead of Cabaye. Hmm….
Wesley
All depends on how Southampton treat J-Rod. Interested to see their Europa League line-up. If J-Rod plays the league matches, I think he’ll be in my side.
Suggestions please
yash
I’m unsure on Yoshida but can’t rule him out. You have good cover in Aldereireld and Migs I suppose so you can take a risk but I’d monitor Southampton in case they bring in another defender.
I like the midfield and strikers. A bit different and there is no doubting the potential for points from Fab, Ozil and Silva.
As long as you consider you may need Hazard, Aguero or both at some point and have a plan in place to get to them, then that’s a decent squad. Grabban could be a surprise bargain striker.
I will be getting Aguero after some time depending on who flops among Rooney and Costa, I think Costa is going to be a flop but let’s see
yash
Get Aguero then and don’t waste transfers on Costa if you don’t fancy him. Start with the players you think will do best.
Yash
Like that mate, I really do. Concerns: Mert and Yosh’s game time. And the big elephant in the room: not having Kun and Haz.
I will be getting Aguero in GW 3rd or 4th for sure. I really don’t think Haz is going to hit the ground running from GW 1 as now he will be marked and studied more and fabby has always been superb in 1st half of season, so for now I don’t have any plan of getting Haz.
@Alex I have option of playing Bellerin or Mart, previoiusly I had posted pic selecting Bellerin but someone commented there are already 3 Lb’s so it’s tight so got Mart and now your’e again creating doubts in my mind 😛 Also I am quite sure Yoshida will play as Clyne has gone, Bertrand doesn’t look to start from GW1 that leaves only Fonte so Yoshida will be a sure starter even last season probably Bertrand got injured or red card he played 2-3 Gw’s and was good so will definetly play him 😉
LVG stating on there on the verge of signing a surprise striker that even the media havent got wind of, hmmmmm.
Evening all hows things? been a bit of a stranger lately what with children and a new puppy (not to mention a spot of snowboarding!) So how are our teams looking? Any must haves people think? If anyone wants a RMT I’m kicking around for a little while
Hey Alex, good to see ya back.
I would stick up a rmt but Nin will only shoot it down because it still has Sakho in it
hows your team coming along
Hey Pho, Im well thanks pal. How are you? Hows the rest of your team? Nothing wrong with Sakho, where is young NIN, i’ll jump in your corner over him 😉
Team not too bad will stick up for a RMT in a sec!
Ok, do your worst! Plan is kun to Costa if he is out and then upgrade Ritchie with the spare cash and downgrade when I need kun in. Thanks.
Well that’s the 1st team i’ve seen with Kun, Haz and Rooney in, I like the Payet pick i think he’s going to go well. I just read he bossed their last friendley win with 2 goals and his ball got the OG too so off to a good start.
Bit concerned with double Bournemouth in your starting 11 and i personally prefer Caz / Rambo over Wally but it looks decent
Thanks Pho, I hear you about Bournemouth and also Watford/Norwich! Rooney could be downgraded but all of LGV’s talk seems to be about how he will be the central figure. I could go him to Teke and use the money to upgrade Ritchie?
I like that team mate. So you plan on playing Deeney every week? My only worry is Baker I don’t think Villa will be any good this year.
Alex
I love the sneaky cheap goalies. Brilliant.
Bench is weak but as long as they all play which I think is likely, then you should be OK. Nice strikeforce.
Hey Matt, yup that is the plan. Id rather have JRod or a ‘bigger hitter’ but I like the balance of the rest of the team. Baker is just a 4mil last ditch player, i’ll keep my eyes open for another likely starter.
GP, thanks pal. A bit too weak IMO and I think will change. This is draft 34 of probably 1028!
Ye that is true. It’s a good plan than mate.
Thanks for this Chins, very humourous, i guess you won’t be going with Fuchs
but i can see what you mean about his ownership by people building a team with funny names
Thanks Chins, great little read! Are you well pal?