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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Morning all OK just going to put this out there RMT
Speroni Butland
Fonte (could swap Cedric) Darmain , kos , Oshea , Simpson or pick up any 4m def that starts
Depay , Haz , Caz , (or Ozil) stuck on this call Payet (could put Milner in there) but believe WHU have better fixtures to being with & Surman just because every one has gone for Wany
Kun (will swap for Costa if doesn’t look like he will start & put Sterling in for Caz . Sako Wilson
Fwd line poor I know but only looking @ 1st 6-8 GW pull this apart if you will
The team looks good mate all I’d say is you could swap Fonte to Cedric to make Simpson a 4.5 def. This will (hopefully) eliminate any worries over starting.
Silver,
Id go Cedric and personally id have at least Azpi at the back (Id sacrifice Kos personally). Mid is similar to me but I have sterling and Walcott for Depay and Caz. You have summarised the problem up top but it is only short term. J-Rod may work for you.
I agree. you need some Chelsea coverage in defence. Down Kos and up Fonte to azip
Morning GP chk my team out below couple of decisions to make Ozil or Caz leaning towards Ozil as I thk he will play No 10 & also Fonte or Cedric not sure on this Ced fellow after Chins write thoughts please
Cedric has looked very attacking pre season with 4 assists and a goal.
I’m really considering going without Haz for Sterling I thk he could out score him this yr any thoughts anyone
Silver, morning pal. I think Sterling will go well this year and I have to admit I’m tempted to go without, makes building your squad so much easier
Simple answer; don’t know mate!
Hey NZ chk my team out below appreciate your comments .
Hey Silver. Im not sure about outscoring him but I think Sterling will be upthere as one of the highest scores this year.
MattX The problem we all have is to have a balanced team we can only have I thk 3 premium MF players so who do you have obviously we can swap & change depending on fixtures Haz / Caz / Silva / Depay / Ozil / Sterling / Fab pick 3 out of them to start I’m starting to lean towards Sterling (especially if Kun doesn’t start) Ozil and Depay but I don’t thk it would matter. You also have Hendo/Erik/Chadli/Mata/Mann / Siggy/Yaya all not far from same price who knows I’ll se if I can get hold of a Crystal Ball 😉
If you do let me know haha
Evening all, hows the teams going? Thanks for the article Kop, I have to confess he’s in my current draft
Please, some advice.
Mignolet (Fabianski)
Clyne, Mertesacker, O’Shea (Fonte, Morgan – not sure about Morgan)
Wanyama, Henderson, Mata, Sterling, Hazard
Giroud, Rooney, Emnes
or, my original team:
Courtois (Hamer)
Clyne, Mertesacker, Cedric (Huth, O’Shea)
Milner, Chadli, Cazorla/Mata, Hazard, Wanyama
Costa, Rooney (Deeney)
Patrick,
Team 1: Too much spent on GK’s IMO. Id also go with Kos over Mert. I like the midfield but not keen on forward line (other than Rooney)
Team 2: Id downgrade the defence, midfield is solid again and much prefer this forward line.
Hope this helps pal.
I’ll try combine the two! Back in a bit
What kind of keeper duo do you suggest? Pick one, such as Courtois, and then the cheapest starting keeper available?
Patrick, thats up to you pal. I go two from one team and keep it as cheap as possible but Court is a great keeper
Current draft. Off to dinner:
Mignolet (Hamer)
Koscielny, O’Shea, Cedric (Mings, Hoban – no idea if he will start)
Wanyama, Hendo, Walcott, Sterling, Hazard
Aguero (Rooney in until Kun is back), Benteke (4.5 mil in the bank)
I feel this is quite midfield heavy. But, if they fire, which I think is likely, should bring me enough points to make up for my back line I’m hoping. Mignolet and Kos should be strong enough anyway I hope
Morning Alex,
He’s in mine as well and I reckon he’ll still be there come the deadline!
Hows your team looking Kop? Did you decide on playing ‘all out attack’ week 1?
It’s looking great, so far I’ve got Sterling & Rooney
I’ll get back to you on the 2nd question!!
Two players, going well Kop! Auto-complete will be having a field day with you!
Guys I think I’ve settled on this team with 1.5 mil left over to upgrade Rooney to Ageuro but ill need another mil so I’m thinking of also downgrading Benteke to J.Rod this will give me an extra .5 to mess around with, whats your thoughts?
Matt, I like this team a lot. its very similar to mine (except I have J-Rod instead of Wilson, Payet instead of Milner and a few different defenders). Do you know if Hoburn will be a starter?
Isn’t Rodwell a midfielder?
Cheers Alex. Don’t know about Hoban but I’m hoping he does, I could use .5 and make him Prodl. I could use the 1.5 to make Wilson to J.Rod but this means it’ll be harder to get Ageuro.
Patrick Rodwell is a midfielder.
I’m guessing Walcott is the best Arsenal mid to go for, other than Sanchez? I was thinking Ramsey would do well
Patrick, J-Rod is the nickname of the Southampton forward Jay Rodriquez
General thinking is Walcott could be fantasy gold if he can start regularly. Sanchez is excellent but to get him, Haz and Kun into your team is difficult if not impossible (with a balanced team!) Did you merge your teams you put up before?
Oh sorry Patrick I misunderstood. Yes J.Rod is Jay Rodriguez from Southampton. I don’t think Rodwell even plays for City anymore. Haha.
I think Arsenal Midfield has some great players. Sanchez is best but like Alex says it’s impossible to have a balanced team with him, Haz and Kun. I think then it’d be Walcott,Caz and Ozil last is Ramsey, in my opinion.
Yes Alex, I did.
Mignolet (Hamer)
Koscielny, O’Shea, Cedric (Mings, Hoban – no idea if he will start)
Wanyama, Hendo, Walcott, Sterling, Hazard
Aguero (Rooney in until Kun is back), Benteke (4.5 mil in the bank)
I feel this is quite midfield heavy. But, if they fire, which I think is likely, should bring me enough points to make up for my back line I’m hoping. Mignolet and Kos should be strong enough anyway I hope
Perhaps Azpilicueta for Koscielny
Mata could go in for Walcott, for United coverage. That’d give me 5 mil for a third striker
do you think walcott will start up top or is giroud still the main striker ? if theo starts upfront he will be great value at 9m.Other than that the team looks good and well balanced.
Well I’m hoping he does. He seems to be playing upfront with Giroud from what I’ve seen but this could change I think he’ll play though.
Depay is playing way too central, more as a striker. Wish they used him as a wide player. Anyway, he did score last night.
Evening Raz, so you don’t think this is his best position?
Think United will score more goals if they let him alternate between the wide role (which he should use primarily) and the striker role. Use his speed and tricks on the flanks.