New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16. Richards, Johnson, Okazaki, Wijnaldum
Newton’s 3rd law of Fantasy Football. For every expensive player you have there is an equal and opposite cheap player. Like it or not, FPL managers are going to have to fill out their squad with some pretty unfashionable players. For every Eden Hazard there must be a Graham Dorrans. Spent £7m on Ivanovic? Here, have this bench warming Reece Oxford. You’re welcome. It’s buy one get one cheap. Balancing the budget is one of the most frustrating, yet ultimately fascinating aspects of the game. So roll up, and take a gander at today’s car boot sale featuring Micah Richards, Glen Johnson, Shinji Okazaki and Georginio Wijnaldum. Offer ends August 8th.
Micah Richards (Aston Villa 4.5m)
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[/three_fourth]In 2006 an 18 year-old Micah became England’s youngest ever defender. The following year, he became Manchester City’s youngest ever captain against his future employees Aston Villa. Manager Stuart Pearce declared Richards the future of the club and no-one had any reason to dispute it. So it is one of football’s great mysteries that Gary Neville’s heir apparent made only 13 international appearances. In fact his record of 189 club games in the last decade, latterly in the shadow of Pablo Zabaleta, gives him a hugely undeserving CV. One can only imagine how his career may have progressed away from the Etihad, given a fair run in the Premier League. Lest we need to be reminded, the powerful right-back not only has the physique of a welterweight, but also the nous to provide from advanced areas. His 5 assists in 2011-12 were the most of any Premier League defender. This is a good thing, of course, as few will be relying on Tim Sherwood’s Villa for clean sheets.[divider_1px]
Glen Johnson (Stoke City – 5.0m)
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Unlike Richards, Glen Johnson has had little trouble holding down his right-back position at club and international level. However, last year saw many of Liverpool’s players have their least inspired in a red shirt to date and Johnson was no exception. Quickly becoming a scapegoat for frustrated Kopites, he’s found himself usurped both domestically and internationally by Nathaniel Clyne. And so on to Stoke, a club evolving quickly under Mark Hughes. The aerial bombardments have been replaced by calculated possession, and Stoke fans no longer arrive at the Britannia in World War 2-era helmets, but adorning top hats to doff in confused admiration. That being said, they still have an 8 foot beanpole up front, so if Glen can launch a few towards Crouchy, all the better for FPL managers.
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Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City – 6.0m)
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His 27 goals in 65 Bundesliga appearances made him the most prolific Japanese player in the history of Germany’s top flight. He also arrives at Leicester with an impressive international pedigree, netting 43 times in 93 games for the Samurai Blue. Okazaki’s 12 goals last season with Mainz were all inside the area, so if Claudio Ranieri’s men can supply the 5ft 8 poacher with decent service, he could prove to be a bona fide ‘Fox’ in the box for Leicester. With Vardy, Ulloa and Kramaric for company, competition for the frontline will be fierce, but Okazaki can also play wide and in the ‘False 9’ slot. Aged 29 and costing the club £7m, the former Shimizu S-Pulse star has clearly been brought in to make an immediate impact, and one would expect him to get a fair crack at the Premier League this season.
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Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle United – 7.0m)
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After winning a transfer tug-of-war with their Mackem rivals, it’s the Newcastle fans who welcome PSV’s Eredivisie winning captain to the North-East. The 24 year-old followed an injury ravaged 2013-14 with an impressive 14 goals and 2 assists in last season’s 32 appearances. These figures naturally pale in comparison with those of compatriot Memphis Depay, another leaving Eindhoven for Premier League shores, but then most players’ stats do. In Wijnaldum, Mclaren has brought in a young yet experienced Dutch international who has all the credentials needed to slot into England’s top tier. How this translates to FPL may well depend on those around him, but having already impressed in his first training session, the Geordies have a class act on their hands.
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Thoughts on latest draft?
@Smash, looks like a good team there. If it definitely lloks like Kun won’t play then go Costa as a placeholder. Sure you know Baker is unlikely to start, but I assume that is just a 4.0 need. Double CFC is not bad, but if you want AFC cover in the back you could always drop either Courtois or Azpi for a Gooner. Good team though, In particular if Kun is ready to go.
Thanks. No Hazard is a concern for me. Also tempted by Depay and Sterling instead of Yaya and Fab?
Hi Smash -nice team but maybe a bit light on the bench.
I dont expect Yoshida or Baker to play once transfers are finalised.
Yeah Baker and Yoshida are both pretty useless so I would be surprised if Villa and Saints don’t sign a CB. If season started tomorrow I think they would both play
I like smash. Maybe you could swop azi for clyne or mert and then use the 0.5 to upgrade yoshida to a 5
I like baked beans. With Pearson and Cambiasso gone I’m not sure Leicester are gonna do that well this season, so I’d be wary of Huth. Also, like Mito said, starting with Aguero might be a waste of a place if he gets rested as is expected.
Thanks for another great article Bryan, much appreciated! It’s just a shame this wasn’t published before Fabian Delph put pen to paper at City. I have a feeling that’s not going to work out so well for him either.
Completely agree Red.
If i was on that much money, i think i’d stay where i can play. There should’ve been enough cases now of players rotting on the city bench to warn players off.
I guess it’s the arrogance of players at that top level where they think they will be the ones that make it to a regular starting spot.
Time will tell, but i bet you’re right.
Hey Chins, you’d think guaranteed playing time and the chance to steadily advance your career would trump everything else.
I guess the pay packet and the ‘prestige’ for playing (or not) at a club like City is enough to turn a young footballer’s head. But he’s just about the only one watching who might not think he’ll be riding the bench for the majority of his stay there.
It’s funny, everybody was so impressed when he initially decided to stay at Villa, and then BOOM. He’s off. Oh well, I guess time will tell but I can’t see him breaking into that starting 11 anytime soon.
Ta Bryan, already looking at Richards for GW4-6.
Whazzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Fab of an article Byran.
Thanks Bry, much enjoyed as ever. Love your writing style. I know I say this every time but it’s brilliant!
It’s because half of it you don’t understand, it’s Japanese. 😉
If it was so I wouldn’t understand 100% of it! I’d probably spot that flaw though whilst editing and send it back for a re-draft
Thanks for the article. Could I please have a RMT on this rabble:
Adrian / Butland
Koscieiny / Ivanovic / Martin / O’Shea / Ward
Fabregas / Sterling / Depay / Henderson / Richie
Rooney / Benteke / Deeney
Ta very much.
Rick, love how well your name and grav go together 😉
Strong spine to that team, but I think you must have a bit left in the bank?
Haha, yes, from an earlier incarnation. I actually have nothing left in the kitty with that line-up. Having Richie as M5 and running with Ivanovich costs me. I have no real strategy in regards to getting in Ageuro, just gonna aim for two trades available for game week 4 and decide then.
Let’s see if that Gravatar has updated…
Ah that’s better Walt 😉 And I didn’t realise Ritchie cost so much. Assume you’ll be rotating him and Deeney? Could end up leaving some decent points on the bench there.