New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16. Depay, Darmian, Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin
Manchester United moved early to secure their marquee signing of Memphis ‘don’t call me Depay’ Depay and he’s someone who many fantasy managers will have a keen eye on and some / most will probably take a chance on the new guy early doors given his obvious talent and pedigree. Elsewhere they needed a right-back and despite rumours of a move for Eveton’s Seamus Coleman they have splashed the cash on the slightly less exciting, but maybe more functional in a ‘Gary Neville style’, Mateo Darmian. It’s perhaps a sign of tightening up at the back as it’s always helpful to have at least one of the back four that’s capable of actually defending. United have, in more recent days, secured the services of Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger, two transfers which will clearly improve United in the middle of the park and ease some of the pressure on United’s fitness coach, who it seems spends most of his time trying to get Michael Carrick back to full fitness.
Memphis Depay
Manchester United
Age: 21
Position: Winger
Signed from: PSV
Fee: €27.5mln[three_fourth padding=”0 20px 0 0″]
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Memphis, as he now wishes to be known as, (he dropped the Depay to spite his estranged father) could emerge as one of the more exciting transfers of this window. A right-footed winger, he is generally deployed on the left and therefore is known more for cutting inside than beating the defender on the outside. He is a pacey and tricky player, making him a nightmare for defenders and has a fearsome shot, both from open play and set pieces. His transfer to United was confirmed in early May as United were forced to act quickly to counter interest from PSG and also Liverpool. His 22 goals for PSV last season made him Eredivisie’s leading scorer as PSV marched to their 22nd league title.
One criticism of Memphis is he is too selfish and shoots from all angles rather than playing an easier pass for a team mate in a better position – this is evidenced in his lack of assists – just five last season from 30 matches. Whether LVG will attempt to change this remains to be seen. The player describes his new manager as “a father figure” and it was LVG who took Memphis to the 2014 World Cup Finals in Brazil, where the winger scored against both Australia and Chile and was nominated alongside Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane on the three-man shortlist for the tournament’s Best Young Player award, which Pogba went on to win.
Memphis will clearly feel very much at home at Old Trafford under the tutorship of LVG, his Dutch entourage of coaching staff and Daley Blind.
We suggest he is a definite on your watchlist and to keep an eye on his pre-season form for United – we have seen many foreigners take time to adapt to the Premier League, but with United rumoured to be strengthening at the back and midfield, it may well be that we see a more solid United this season, giving them a base to attack and create with more pace and endeavour than they did last season. If this is the case, expect Memphis to feature heavily and to gain his share of goals – if he can add creating assists for this new team mates then he could well become an exciting and profitable addition to your FPL squad.
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Matteo Darmian
Manchester United
Age: 25
Position: Defender
Signed from: Torino
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After failing to show any interest in Nathaniel Clyne and seemingly believing Seamus Coleman was overpriced, United have signed Italian full back Matteo Darmian from Torino. Darmian is a right footed full back who can play on either side, but with Shaw and Blind battling for the left berth, it’s likely the Italian will slot into the right back role initially. United, of course, used Antonio Valencia as a make-shift right back for the majority of last season – natural full back Rafael appears not to be favoured by LVG, even in those brief moments he is fit.
Darmian is 25 years old and started life at AC Milan where he made his Serie A debut at the age of 17, but after only 4 appearances was transferred to Palermo after a brief stint on loan at Padova. He then went on to make 133 appearances for Torino and was called up to the full Italian side in 2014 and went on to play in all three of Italy’s matches in their unsuccessful World Cup campaign in Brazil.
If historical facts are anything to go by, Darmian is not the sort of full back to provide much in the way of attacking points – he scored twice and made just one assist in the league last season, despite him being occasionally deployed as both a midfielder and wing back. The Italian is a tough tackling and tactically aware defender, who should prove a reliable acquisition for the Reds and at 5.5mln he is a decent option especially if United buy the world class centre back that has been well rumoured for a while now. Darmian is also benefitted from facing little and less obvious competition at right back, which cannot be said on the left hand side where Rojo, Blind and Shaw could all play.
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United have moved to strengthen their midfield by signing German World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger from Bayern Munich and French international Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton. Both names should of course be very familiar with you, but are they worth consideration for your fantasy team? Well, the answer to that very much depends on how they are deployed by LVG, so with any luck we will learn more when the players join United on their pre-season tour of the US soon. A fit again Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini are all vying for midfield roles and some have suggested that Schweinsteiger and Carrick cannot play effectively together. Whether this is true or not, only time will tell, though with Carrick’s injury record, some may joke this won’t be an issue!
Morgan Schneiderlin
Manchester United
Age: 25
Position: Midfield
Signed from: Southampton
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[/three_fourth]Schneiderlin is the latest Saint to jump ship as he was granted his wish for a move to a Champions League club. He is priced at 5.5mln by FPL which is clearly cheap for a United midfielder and will instantly attract interest in that regard. But can he deliver the goods to make the Frenchman a bargain midfielder at low cost? His three seasons in the top flight with Southampton have generated 108, 84 & 90pts – last season, which was affected by injury saw Schneiderlin play just 25 matches, scoring four goals, two assists, collecting twelve bonus points, receiving five yellow cards and one red card. That works out at around 3.6pts per game, which placed him on a level of returns with the likes of Puncheon and Brunt and just below Tadic, Herrera and Coutinho. His price of 5.5mln places him alongside Ki of Swansea, Mahrez of Leicester and Zaha of Palace. On that basis, he may just be worth a punt – he clearly won’t score every week, but will likely be a solid performer for a team that will dominate possession more often than not and may just be presented with more goal scoring opportunities than came his way at Southampton. Schneiderlin’s particular strengths are tackling and winning back the ball, which leads him to committing his fair share of fouls – he has picked up 22 yellow cards over the course of the last three seasons. He is certainly a punt but his price makes him less of a risky one.
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Bastian Schweinsteiger
Manchester United
Age: 30
Position: Midfield
Signed from: Bayern Munich
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[/three_fourth]Schweinsteiger has clearly been bought by LVG to bring experience, class and a brain to a midfield which has never really recovered from the loss of Paul Scholes – some would say they have never replaced Roy Keane. The German is not a like-for-like replacement for either, but has world class pedigree and will undoubtedly improve United both on the pitch and the training ground and also provide some much needed nous as United look to undertake both a successful Champions League campaign and a challenge for the Premier League. The German is reunited with LVG after playing under him at Bayern from 2009-11. A great reader of the game, in his younger days Schweinsteiger was certainly a terrific box to box midfielder though he is now more likely to be deployed deeper due to his age restricting the forward runs that were his trademark. He is likely to play in a midfield three and still possesses a tremendous shot, while his greatest asset will be his passing, where his stats eclipse even those of Carrick, who was pivotal to United last season, when he managed to stay fit.
Schweinsteiger has been priced at 7mln, so already at a premium to Schneiderlin. It’s difficult to advise to select the German now due to the uncertainty of his role in the midfield, while there are other more attacking options available at a similar price, Siggy and Chadli spring readily to mind amongst others.
It is quite likely that both Schneiderlin and Scweinsteiger, while they are excellent signings for United, may well be more influential for other United players than for themselves in fantasy terms. Because of their high quality of passing, we would expect the likes of Rooney, Memphis, Di Maria (if he stays) and Mata (if he plays) to be the particular beneficiaries of the two new additions to United’s engine room and we would advise to sit and watch United’s opening few games before taking the plunge on either Schneiderlin or Schweinsteiger.
In the “unveiling” of Darmian, Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin, LVG gave some clues as to some personnel changes and also the system he will be using this season. He said Darmian would have to fight for the right back role with Valencia and that Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin would be battling with Carrick and Blind for the holding midfield role. This points to a 4-2-3-1 system.
He said Valdes will be sold after he refused to play for the reserves last season. No mention either of Rafael, so expect him to go also. When asked about Di Maria, LVG said he was expecting him to join the preseason tour on 25 July and when asked if ADM was leaving, the response was, “We shall see. In football, it is a process. It’s a process for Di Maria and Man Utd. We shall see”. The chat is PSG are very interested, as is the player and that United won’t stand in his way, if they receive a decent bid and if the player says he wants to go, although LVG wants him to stay.
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Really considering having Hart over Courtouis. Hart got 2 more CS last year and city had a bad year, I’m not overly sure to be honest, I think you want an actual Chelsea defender like Terry as opposed to CT. Thoughts?
|I was looking at the schedule Chelsea got and they start it with pretty damn hard fixtures. First 6 GW’s they have City away, Everton away and Arsenal at home. I have Ivanovic and Hazard, not afraid for the second player and I guess the first will get his fair share of CS and goals/assists. I hope.
Pretty expensive there Raz! Whats your attack looking like?
Hazard-Sterling-Depay-Lens
Kun-JRod-Deeney
Ooh Deeney, I’m not sure on him, I know he’s watford’s main man but I cant see them doing all that well. Rest looks nice however
IF they have several tough fixtures, that just means Mourinho will park the bus 😉
Whos Lens?
New SUnderland signing, Ant. When I just saw him I was 100 percent convinced but after looking at his stats I’m kind of disappointed.
Will really have to take a second look. I do know Advocaat really likes Lens, this is the third team Lens will be playing under Advocaat, before AZ and PSV. His staats @ Ukraine were a bit disappointing but I can’t imagine how hard that country must be, to play football at. 😉
The girls in Ukraine are def. better looking than the English ones. 😉
And cheaper by the hour probably also, Raz?
LOL Cookie. Didn’t just hurt your pride did I? :p
Tbh Raz, when I was in Amsterdam the girls didn’t look pretty there either. But the pothead we ran into in the coffee shop told us that the prettier girls often went out at night, so maybe that’s why :/
LMAO. Initially I wasn’t talking about ho’s though. Was talking about the girls in general, fuck ho’s. No literally, you fuck ’em. :p
And shrugs, don’t care how they look in Amsterdam, England or Ukraine. To be honest, I bet half of them in Amsterdam are semi-illegal and from Ukraine. 😉
Lens played football in Ukraine, I meant the girls there look better than Geordies, in general (also better looking than Dutch girls by the way). Even when an English girl is decent looking they tend to cover themselves in spraytan and start looking like the Oompa Loompas. 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APj2ArUy6v4
Raz – could you not have posted a video of hot girls instead of the the Oompa Loompas?
You’re an oompa loompa :kissheart:
Would I be racist if I said I figured the guy in your avatar was? Less racist since he penetrated Liverpool in the ass though. And even less racist since I have him in my fpl drafts? :alert: :ban: :alert:
Naaah, just messing about. Take it easy. Don’t hate me because I have bad taste in comedy.
I think it’s Raz trying to tell us he prefers the Oompa Loompas Dreamer 😛 haha
@ dreamers
Posting vids of hot girls is sort of a waste of time. I mean the internet is filled with that crap, if you don’t have internet you just put on ya tv. I bet there used to be a time (very long ago) when I thought half nekkid ladies on cars was sexy, but hell, I don’t anymore. F- that shit. Rap, Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus f-ing killed sexy.
Well, I got a video for you guys with some nice looking ladies in it for ya. Watch it, best music video ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MBaEEODzU0
fair point Raz – but surely a monkey would be better
OI! Just noticed what I said wasn’t funny at all. Sort of pissed at Sterling but no way I should have said that, wasn’t even funny. SHITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rant: Anyway, sorry, forgive me. Please block the comment or whatever I don’t want to hurt anyones feelings. Really bad. Sorry guys.
Watch the vid dreamers, the second one that is. If you want to be disgusted in every way. That’s the way to go. HAHA. Seriously, so bad. I remember having nightmares from that music video. Apex twins. ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the hell are you on about, Raz? No one’s getting offended by you sayinh Liverpool got penetrated in the ass by an oompa loompa aka Sterling lol.
If you weren’t the reincarnation of cartman I probably would’ve felt much better now. 😉
went over my head if I was supposed to be offended.
To be fair, Im fairly loaded at the moment
Raz, which comment in particular would you like deleted?! There are at least 3 there that could be candidates! :p Seriously though, none are bad. If we didn’t know you and your sense of humour that’d be a different matter but I agree with Tekkers.
The Apex Twins video is probably the worst and most horrific thing I ever posted.
Just censoring myself Innit. Next time I don’t want to make a joke like that again. In all honesty, I’m for freedom of speech, blablabla. But I do limit the things I say if it could hurt anyone else in any kind of way. Also, don’t want to disrespect history or the things that have happened. And though it’s okay to make jokes about the pale skin of the English, the spraytan and shit, I usually don’t get mixed up in stuff beyond my comprehension (if you know what I mean). Quite serious. Not so long ago a few mates of mine were making jokes about this Turkish dude that just left, usually I’m the first one to say ”STFU”, that ain’t funny.
Anyway, off for bed. 😉
Hey Burnsy. Cech played about 5 league games last season i think, and kept a CS in all those games so Courtois’ stats are a little skewed.
Oh yeah, forgot about that NIN.
Just getting round to reading this – Great write up Cookie.
It’s nice to see a well researched thorough review of the new players unlike that thrown together rubbish with cheap shit jokes that we’ve been seeing on here lately.
Despite your obvious bias and love for the guy, i think i’m going to give Depay a while to settle in before i bring him in. Yep, he’ll probably have to wait until my week 2 wildcard.
I’d like to think Init, GP & myself researched our articles 😉
You’d like to think that wouldn’t you? :winktongue:
GP, that’s what we need others to think 😉
Sorry Kop,
i absolutely didn’t mean to imply that Init and GP don’t research their articles.
😉
Touché
Howdy chins. The closer it gets to the start of the season, the further Depay is getting from my team. Still really want him in there though but, cant fit everyone in.
NiN
Hi pal. That same thought crossed my mind earlier. Not that I don’t think he can’t be amazing but I need money for other areas.
Whole lot of thinking to be done.
Hi GP. I’m slowly but surely getting toward the usual premium-player layout of 1-2-2 again. If Walcott is expected to be in the first 11 for one or two games then it’s bye-bye Memphis. Brace/hat-trick potential is too high to refuse Walcott i think.
Hi NIN,
I’ve only looked briefly, but it seems harder than ever this year to pick a decent team.
If you dare to pick two biggies, you really can’t afford much else.
That night before the season is going to be a really stressful one.
chins – It could well be. It’s the 7-9m mid’s that are the toughest to choose between i think. Which three are best to go with Hazard is a tough call.
Thank you Chins, praise indeed. However, I sense little bunny springtime sarcasm – so you can Fuchs right off 😉
Honestly Cookie. Your posts should come with a spoiler alert warning!
Kaboul for 7m Euros to Sunderland might make them a bit better defensively? FPL wise he’s also cheap, just 4,5m. Only problem is injuries and not enough play time. If he does play he tends to get his fair share of goals/assists.
If he does move then that might be the end of O’Shea and Brown. And all the fun at Sunderland
Now that Benteke is leaving Villa and Agbonglahor will be their main man is he a good buy at 5.5?? Could be a great way to bag some goals and save money??
And who will be on penalty duty? I think they will attract another replacement.
Right now I’d say Agbonglahor but I don’t know who they would buy.
Matt, i would suggest avoiding all things Villa if they lose Benteke. Gabby could have been a good shout as a 3rd striker but without Benteke i really don’t fancy them to score that many. See who they bring in i suppose.
Ye that is true just thought he’s good on his day you know. Don’t know who Villa will go for to be honest?
Hard to see them attracting someone of Benteke’s quality. Austin is a possibility but it seems Newcastle are favorites for him just now.
Ye I think hes about to sign for Newcastle so he’s a no go.
Matt
Wouldn’t be the first time a seemingly done deal has been hijacked at the last minute.
True it’s happened to us a fair few times haha
I think he’ll do better at Newcastle than Villa anyway.
Kosac will be their striker this year, maybe.
I’m on board with the Agbonlahor love for the third striker role, even better news is that he costs only 5.0, I guess a lot could boil down to who they are able to replace Benteke with but I can see Gabby getting 10 goals this season which is all you can ask for from your third guy.
That’s what my thinking was aswell.
I have noticed that theres still a few regulars who have not been in Touch with me yet, so heres another post of this. I am starting a new classic league this season for regular posters on the site, there will also be a cup competition aswell. So, can you e-mail me please giving your regular site name, your real name and the name of your fantasy football team, so when people ask me who someone is i can tell them, cheers.
E-mail address is :- Elleffcee@fantasyfootball247.co.uk
For those who have already e-mailed me, the code has been sent back to you. Cheers.
Elle is this a hidden message for me? :hippo:
Mito my friend, not at all. Come the big kick-off, if your in your in, if your out, tough titty. :p
How rude!
Couple questions and a comment :
1- JRod & Ritchie or Benteke & Wanyama?
2- Depay or Sterling?
3- Not a ManU fan but would be too bad if Ashley Young gets squeezed out in that midfield. Thought he was coming on end of last season.
Hi Colriles. Young will be coming on this season too, just as a sub 😉 It is unfortunate for him, but hey. Based on the strength of City’s attack -and it may get stronger yet- then Sterling, for me. Really not sure on the other two combo’s but, at a push, Rodriguez and Ritchie. Really not sure on the latter though.
1. If J.Rod plays I’d got for him and Ritchie just don’t like the 4.5 mid and Wanyama is a defensive mid and now that Schneirderlin is gone he’ll have even less oppurtunities to roam forward.
2. I would say Sterling but will really need to see more preseason to see how Man U and City line up and see if they can nail places.
3. I think with all the United midfield signings the only place Young will get is a bit part role unless Shaw or Rojo get injured then he could be played as left wingback.
Cheers guys.