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 The aerial bombardments have been replaced by calculated possession, and Stoke fans no longer arrive at the Britannia in World War 2-era helmets, but adorning top hats to doff in confused admiration.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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Ok who would you drop out of Caz or Depay for Kun leaning towards Caz but not sure , take either out and I have no cover in team for Ars or MU but not sure I can go Kun less.
Cheers Silverback! I’d lean towards ejecting Caz. Only because Arsenal’s midfield is such a rotation minefield. Feels like Depay’s place is more secure week in week out.
Morning all,
Thanks Bry, some of the above offer some FPL potential and then there’s GJ!
I threw him in as a bonus. Seemed only fair for the £85 fee.
Who would be defo starter in Arsenal defence except for Koscienly?
Should I downgrade Koscienly to Monreal and upgrade Yoshida to Cedric?
I think Mertesacker will be the best defender, with only perhaps Cech doing better than him. Koscielny is solid. What I want to know is if Bellerin will start. If he does, I’m hopeful he will do well and his price will go up (from 5.5), so I can cash in on him later. Perhaps Joe Gomez from Liverpool is a better investment though? Much more room for growth from 4.5 mil.
Don’t know much about Yoshida, but many people (including myself) have Cedric in their teams.
I have already got Clyne from Liverpool, but Martesacker is a starter for sure? Except Koscienly I don’t see any confrimed starter
Sorry, I was more considering Gomez for my own team, which also has both Bellerin and Mert at the moment, which I want to change.
I’m not 100% sure about Mert, but I’d say I’m 90% sure he’ll be a starter
Azpil & Walters or Ivan & Aarons ??????
Morning Silvers. Azpi&Walters, for me. Stoke are signing quite a few players this summer though so Walters’ game-time might take a hit.
Hi Silvers. Great question.
I think it really depends on what you’re asking for.
If it’s for some new Thomas the tank engine characters then i think i like Ivan and Aarons.
If It’s for FPL defenders then i prefer Azpil and Walters.
You’re welcome.
:big-lol:
Any suggestions on either of these teams, which one do you prefer? Also not sure on my 5th midfielder if there are any better options for 4.5m. Thanks!
I think Hazard is a must.
If you can shave 0.5mil from somewhere in defence (keeper, defender), I think a 7 mil mid like Henderson would be great, to replace Cabaye. I very much like your frontline.
Wanyama, from Southampton, is a popular 4.5 mil choice
Having another look I could get this team…
Krul Boruc
Morgan Alderweireld Azpilicueta Mings Clyne
Henderson Walcott Hazard Sterling Wanyama
Benteke Deeney Rooney
I’d put more thought into the keepers, as there are other pairs that would be better, but I like it! Very solid 3-4-3
Some advice on my ever-changing team would be great, please
Speroni (Schmeichel)
Bellerin, Azpilicueta, Mertesacker (Gomez, Bassong)
Sterling, Mata, Henderson, Hazard (Wanyama)
Costa, Benteke, van Wolfswinkel
Would Ruddy be better than Schmeichel?
Not sure who to pick out of Mert and Bellerin. Will they both start? And who would be a good 5.5 mil replacement; Trippier?
I think Gomez has a fair shot at starting for Liverpool. Perhaps not yet, but a few games in. Hoping to cash in on him when he improves. However, I should take him out until he starts playing, right?
Quite happy with midfield. Mata vs Caz vs Eriksen, Sterling vs Walcott are my only thoughts here
Happy with Costa and Benteke, but not sure how Wolfswinkel will go. Would prefer Deeney, and so half a mil would need to be shaved from defence. 5 mil defender = Alderwield/Janmaat/Lescott?
Morning/evening Pat, i’ve got Ruddy/Butland as my keepers for now, theres talk of Hennessey starting if he stays at Palace. Think Mert is probably more nailed than Bellerin. Wouldn’t stick Gomez in there just yet, hes playing well on tour against weak opposition, the prem is a different story. I’ve got Caz and the little shit in midfield for now. You have Haz so why not stick Shrek up top instead of Costa, Deeney/Igahlo has to be better than Wolfswinkel i reckon.
That was my other choice for keepers. Sort of just left them alone for a bit. Easily swapped.
Is O’Shea any good? Compared to other 4.5 mil anyway.
I swapped Bellerin for Janmaat.
I can vouch for what you said about Gomez; I saw him play live!
I fit in Costa, Benteke and Deeney. Still want to get Aguero in when he comes back. Not sure how I’ll do that. Mids will suffer a bit.
Was thinking Sanchez could be a viable replacement for Haz, but you’re right: Shrek in for Costa would be better. Shrek > Sanchez, hopefully. If Shrek goes in, I’ll swap Caz in for Mata.
I think that sounds good! haha
You could get Alderwaird (5.0) or Clyne (5.5) or Cedric (5.0) all are good
Speroni & Schmeichel/Ruddy rotate horribly, as far as h/a goes. Do they pick up nice fixtures or something? You probably need to downgrade a mid + Arsenal defender to raise funds to upgrade your 3rd striker.
Isn’t Deeney a good enough third striker?
van Wolfswinkel is in the draft, not Deeney 😉
Sorry. I said somewhere a bit below my original post that I’d tweaked the team a little.
Currently Deeney, Rooney, Benteke
Current backline is:
Mertesacker, Azpilicueta, Alderwield (Janmaat, Bassong)
Would you change anything?
Cedric for Janmaat perhaps
Patrick_YNWA – Unless Janmaat is part of a rotation that keeps him out of your team more often than not, for the first month or two anyway, then i’d avoid him. You could get Martin for 0.5m cheaper than Bassong and maybe wait and see with Spurs defence. I like their two defensive signings but still, they were atrocious at the back last season so there’s still big ?’s over their solidity.