New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16. Sterling
Manchester City have been relatively busy over the last couple of weeks bringing in Fabian Delph & Patrick Roberts, although it remains to be seen if they join the likes of Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell on the list of players who have ruined their careers by moving to the Etihad. One player who is highly unlikely to join that list is Raheem Sterling. Having had their first two bids rebuffed by Liverpool they finally got their man, breaking the transfer record for an English player in the process. In all likelihood there will be another couple of arrivals at The Ethiad but even if there’s not, the arrival of Sterling and his hippy crack has significantly improved the City squad.
Raheem Sterling
Manchester City
Age: 20
Signed From: Liverpool
Fee: £49m
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It has been suggested that young Raheem would have been better served staying at Liverpool for at least one more season because this would have helped his development as he was assured of playing every week, unless he was feeling tired! However City have not spent £49m on him for him to sit on the bench and therefore I expect him to play a significant role over the coming months as City endeavour to reclaim the title. Despite what some might say, they haven’t signed him just because he’s English, the lad can play.
Having signed for Liverpool back in 2010 at just 16 years of age, he came to the attention of the masses in the 2012/13 season making 24 league appearances, scoring twice and picking up six assists. The following season saw him link up to devastating effect with Messrs Suarez and Sturridge, finishing the season with nine goals and seven assists. Much was expected of him last season, but like his teammates he struggled without Suarez and endured a rather disappointing season. However he still finished the season seven goals and 10 assists and was probably Liverpool’s best player over the course of the season.
There’s no denying that at £49m Sterling is overpriced but he has improved season on season, the problem he faces now is that he’ll be expected to do it every week. So where will he fit in at The Etihad? At Liverpool he played everywhere from right wing-back to centre forward so he’s certainly versatile and while he’s unlikely to be played as a wing-back at City his arrival undoubtedly provides Pellegrini with options. With more arrivals likely at the Etihad I expect City to play a 4-2-3-1 system this season with Sterling on the right of the 3, cutting in to support Aguero. Although he could also play in a more central role closer to Aguero.
As I’ve stated above I expect Sterling to be a regular in the City side with his dribbling and pace complimenting the vision and technique of David Silva and the firepower of Sergio Aguero. This should see him improve on the seven goals and 10 assists in registered last season, and with a starting price of just £9.0m he could very well offer some early season value.
Finally, it’s worth noting that young Raheem’s City career got off to a great start this morning scoring inside three minutes of his debut. It was a typical Sterling goal as he ran onto a pass behind the defence before slotting past the keeper, I suspect we’ll see plenty more over the coming weeks and months!
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Thanks Kop! Not sure why Sterling got the Juanmi treatment but :whatever:
All fooling aside, good stuff mate, really appreciate it you being all professional and such. Well maybe with the exception of a remark…or four. 😉
Cheers Miti, I’m professional in everything that I do 😉
Rate out of 10 please gents, would be much appreciated.
Ruddy / Hennessey
Ivanovic Cédric Clyne (O’Shea, Francis)
Fàbregas Carles Gil Payet Walcott (Wanyama)
Benteke Rooney Costa
Lacks any Citeh coverage which is worrying, Citeh are likely to score well again this season and we all know that goals equal points in this game, I think it’s a mistake not taking one from Aguero, Silva, Sterling and Yaya(?) at this stage no matter how hard their opening fixtures may be.
Thanks Kop, Not a fan of him for what he did or how he did it but he’s in my team regardless! Reckon he suits them down to the ground. They were lightening quick on the break before and this just enhances that. In that respect he’s one you can play week in, week out, home & away. Top & tail if you like. Wrap around. Call it whatever 😉 He’ll be a hit.
Cheers Init, yeah he’s perfect match for their football.
Thanks Kop. I think he’ll be great at City no matter how much I want him to crash and burn. Haha
And hurt him?! 😉
No no it wasn’t me that wanted to hurt him. I believe that was Elle. I just want to see him ruin his career by sitting on the bench or losing his international place. Don’t see it happening though haha
#evilelle
Wasn’t him but let’s run with that!
Ye evilelle just sounds right
Kop
I watched the re-run of this mornings match earlier tonight. The first thing he did was stand on the ball, fall on his @rse, get back up on the same move and hit the byeline. One minute later and he was through and scoring with a cool finish under the GK. He’s going to be a massive hit there.
Thanks for the writeup sir.
That sounds more like comedy Walcott!
I thought that too Init.
Did you see my idea earlier to play 2-5-3 on the first week?
Flirted briefly with the idea a couple of weeks ago them left it. Cookie brought up the subject again earlier which had given me the week to explore it again.
This . .
But with Cabaye instead of Yoshida. Yoshida planned to be someone else come ‘go’ time.
Not the final team but an idea how I could do it.
Any thoughts on it?
Yes I saw it all. Helped me go back to sleep this morning if nothing else :hippo:
No idea if it’s a goer in all honesty. Think it needs more research. Seems good on the face of it. I imagine the same plan can be affected following the half season break too? Assuming you haven’t done it in half 1. When I first saw the chips my immediate reaction was that they’d come into play mainly in half 2 due to the DGW’s.
The other two chips are defintely kept for DGWs. This one just seems a bit of a pain as to when to play. You obviously aim for when your front eight have good fixtures but you could be waiting on the ‘right’ time all season and it still might not pay off. At last with the others you can set your team up based in who has doubles.
Cheers GP
Awesome article, it has 1 huge mistake in it though. :dance:
Nevermind, it seems there is no mistake to be found.
English-born” means born with English nationality. “England-born” means born in England.
Sterling was born in Jamaica, which is English-born. Which is correct. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Please point it out Raz and I’ll edit it straight away.
Already said there was no mistake. English-born is a conventional expression. 😉
Hmmm, I’m not sure. I think that is wrong 😉
He could be born in Macau for all I care, he’s in my team!
It’s not wrong. If only he was born in Liverpool, he wouldn’t have turned his back on yall. :p
It would’ve been wrong if it said England born. Owww ffs, you’re just messing with me. Well, even if so you might as well help me out.
Who would you prefer? Benteke or Kane? Is United coverage important?
Raz I’m running with Rooney and Kane for now I think. Depends on what happens ref the other convo obviously but that’s where I am at. Tekkers is a wait and see for me.
Tekkers will be great for Pool, no doubt. At one of hte worst team of the EPL he managed to score goals week in, week out.
I’ve got Rooney at the moment Raz and he’s likely to remain there. Still don’t know who’ll be joining him.
Hmmm I have both Kun and Haz, will be rather hard trying to work in a 10.5m striker. Means I either have to pass on Kun the first 3 GW”s (which is a good option) or weaken my team. IT’s a hard one. Feel more at ease with Kun starting in my team, you never know what might happen, might be very hard to buy later without a WC.