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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Any news on Harry Kane? Played any preseason yet?
Thoughts on having him for 9.5m?
My thoughts are not having him for 9,5m. 😉
His not in my plans Raz, cost too much. But if he gets back on last seasons form how can you not have him?
PP
Not played yet. They had a late end to season in the far east in which he played.
They play the MLS all star game and the audi cup in Germany soon.
morning everyone,
any changes needed for the team,will upgrade rooney to aguero when he starts playing again
M7mdb
Not bad. But risky banking on both Berahino and Deeney each week. I’d change Morgan to Huth.
Louis van Gaal revealed that Manchester United are in the market for a “mystery” striker this summer during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States to leave fans in suspense at who could be on their way to Old Trafford in the next few weeks, and it appears that the identity of the secret signing has been revealed.
The Mirror report from the US that United have held preliminary talks with Italian champions Juventus over Fernando Llorente and have asked to be “kept informed” over his future after struggling to tie-down a place in the starting line-up due to the form of Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata.
Interesting. I though Bendtner was his mystery striker????
Tevez is already back in Argentina, so Llorente won’t have competition from him. So dude wants to be second striker @ United instead?
On that note, I think it would be better for Unitd to have a second striker behind Rooney than one that replaces Rooney. WTF to do with that midfield? Rooney has to be in the team? Depay brings something different at the flanks. You have Herrerra/Schweini/Schneiderlin/Carrick/Rooney/Mata and co fighting for a spot. Blind and FEllaiini I won’t mention since they’re not good enough.
Now LvG has said that he doesn’t know if he wants to sign a striker.
I assume many are having the same issue. Yaya and Walcott or Sterling and Cazorla?
Yes, I certainly am. I’m definitely leaning towards Sterling and Cazorla
Yaya and Walcott at the moment
RMT –
Ruddy / Rudd
Azpililecueta / Alderweireld / Mings / O’Shea / Huth
Hazard / Mata / Cazorla / Chadli / King
Aguero / Benteke / Wilson
Yeah I like it. Not convinced by Bournemoth defender.
Solid team although I’d downgrade a 4.5 def to 4.0 and then look to upgrade king or Wilson depending on what formation you want to play.
Watford have signed centre back Miguel Britos from Napoli
Watford looks like a lottery on who is going to play apart from strikers