New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2016/17. Chelsea
Oh how we chuckled last season when Chelsea stumbled from one embarrassing defeat to another. It really was hard to believe that this was the same team who had won the league in the previous season by 8pts losing just three games. It turned out that Jose wasn’t so special after all and he departed in mid-December having lost nine out of 16 league games. Guus Hiddink was appointed manager until the end of the season and he somewhat steadied the ship with the club finishing the season in 10th position. Roman Abramovich didn’t hang about in appointing yet another manager and appointed the then Italian international boss Antonio Conte back in April, with the Italian taking over after the Euro’s. Given his chequered past Conte should fit in well at the Bridge and he’s bound to get on like a house on fire with Roman. Whatever you think about Conte he’s undoubtedly a manager of the highest quality although all of his successes have come with Juventus. He is known to be obsessed with tactics and is not afraid to change his formation until he understands which system best suits his players. Roman has once again been quick to open the cheque book with the signings of Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante for a combined fee in excess of £60m!
For Chelsea’s pre-season games, line-ups and general musings here is their link on the Pre-season hub we have created Chelsea Pre-season info
Michy Batshuayi (£9.0m)
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[/three_fourth]Having scored just 59 goals last season it came as little surprise that Conte’s first signing was a striker. Not only did Chelsea struggle for goals last season they had no backup to Diego Costa with neither Loic Remy nor Radamel Falcao impressing during their limited opportunities. Having scored 26 goals for Marseille over the last two seasons the Belgian had become one of Europe’s hottest properties and had offers from West Ham & Crystal Palace but in the end opted for Chelsea which was hardly a surprise. Standing 6ft tall and weighing in at 78kg he’s no shrinking violet and comparisons have already been drawn with Didier Drogba who also moved to the Bridge from the Stade Velodrome. So is the youngster likely to be a fantasy option? That all depends on Conte and how he sets up his team. Should he decide to play with one up top you would have to assume that Costa will be given first crack. There are however growing rumours that Costa will be on his way back to Atletico and if this happens Batman will become a far more intriguing prospect. Should Costa remain and Conte choose to play two up top it will be hard to pick Batshuayi over Costa as the Spaniard is only £0.5m more expensive and is a proven Premier League striker. For now I’d suggest you take note of how Chelsea line-up in pre-season as well as keeping an eye on the Costa situation.
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N’Golo Kante
Leicester paid just over £5.5m for the French international last summer and he turned out to be one of the signings of the season. Chelsea have in turn paid Leicester a fee reported to be in the region of £32m and once again he could prove to be one of the signings of the season. Last season he scored just the one goal and picked up four assists, and he is highly unlikely to significantly improve upon these returns this coming season. Therefore I wouldn’t see him as a fantasy asset. However he is likely to have a significant bearing on the Chelsea defence. Last season he made more tackles and interceptions than any other midfielder and this saw Leicester keep 15 clean sheets. Chelsea fans and FPL managers alike will be hoping he has a similar impact on the Chelsea defence. Should this prove to be the case Terry & co are likely to become quite appealing. So to speak!!
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Fixture Tracker – the first 6 games
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Vote on our Captain Poll Now
After a good break, its FPL time again, hope everyone is having fun putting their teams together.
What does everyone think of the new web site? Good that the official app is free this year and they have stopped taking the p*ss making people pay every year.
Hey gay. Site needs getting used to, personally I preferred the old one but this one just has minor issues. At least it’s not as bad as the UEFA fantasy sites. 😉
Sorry, was playing hints. K sounds like gay…………………. and all……………………
Plus it’s 2 weeks of homo in my country, the gay parade. >.<
Hey Raz is that you with the pink umbrella that’s me on the other side nk to the girl in pink :smiling:
LMAO Raz at first when I read that I was 😮 haha
Its all good, at least the app is much better this time around.
Web site is HUGE for some reason, oh well. Its FREE, no point complaining. 😉
Silvers, Raz: How are your team selections going?
special just about to leave so I will put my team up again tonight but really want to see all the line ups this wknd cheers mate 😉
I’m good, SpecialK, you? Team is coming around but I noticed my team pretty much looks like everyone elses here, just a few players that are different. WHich in the end will make your season or not. You can lose the comp in the first week, not win it.
Hmmm.I think not Silver. THe girl in the pink? YOu made her gay? Good for you.
How we doing specialK good break mate I’ve been here all along , yes I thk web site is good , others don’t we cant all agree. Haven’t looked at the app yet but I will get it just saves time good to see you back mate .
Hi chaps.
Good luck for the new season. Was really hoping to be in a position to pick Fernando Forestieri for the owls this year but after our playoff final defeat this will have to wait another year, hopefully!
Anyway, this is what I’ve gone for, 4th and 5th defenders seem a bit risky but hey how got to fund the attacking options somehow.
Any advice appreciated.
Who’s Aina?.
Che def playing RB & has played in most of Che pre season games 5m but Ivan has a slight injury so could be back soon 😉
gabriel and aina are the one that u have to monitor.
doesnt fancy with feghouli?
Additionally. Anyone know how long cresswell is out for at West ham. And whether Watmore at Sunderland will be a likely starter?
up to 4 months if this is to be believed: http://www.espnfc.com/west-ham-united/story/2917645/west-hams-aaron-cresswell-out-up-to-four-months-with-knee-injury
which could run into 6 with these kinds of injuries. :/
Hi LJY, Cresswell is out for about 4 months. As for Watmore he’s had decent minutes in pre-season and even been used up front a bit. Defoe is touch and go for GW1 so he may be in contention for that slot along with Borini but I’d expect him to start out wide after that if he nails down a place.
KdB says he is unlikely to be 100% fit for GW1
that’s interesting, thanks Cookie. tbh i wouldn’t be that sad if he won’t play in the first 1-2 GWs
there’s go my watchlist..
any suggestion
valdes jaku
terry friends baines wimmer kingsley
hazard barkley townsend ayew capoue
zlatan kun gray
LaBy, why the double up with Valdes and Friend? Wimmer could be good for a couple of weeks but Vertonghen is back training
+1 I’d change Valdes and Wimmer to other players and you should be alright.
tq Matt..
will change this valdes and absolutely wimmer
cant wait to watch charity shield this weekend
zlatan doesnt look worth at everton game but zlatan is zlatan
damn..
will also try to look musa
Yeah the shield will be an important match I feel.
thats what im tinkering.
would like to have brunt but have no idea whether he will be fit for 1st game
any suggestion?
wimmer is the one that i need to think as would like to have fuchs in my team
maybe go from baines to stones and wimmer to fuchs
LaBy, as we stand I wouldn’t buy Stones personally. He’s still at Everton and if he does go to City will he defo play?
any 5.0 everton def
since their fixtures looks yummy