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)
[three_fourth padding=”0 20px 0 0″]
[/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.
[divider_1px]
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!!
[divider_1px]
Fixture Tracker – the first 6 games
[divider_1px]
[alert style=”2″]
We are running the main public FF247 League which anyone is welcome to join by using the following code 1147-701 (auto-link below). This one has a prize pool of £250 which is sponsored by @FootballFanager and will be paid into your account on their website. The top 5 places are paid out.
Join Our League – Quick Link
League Code: 1147-701
View league standings – COMING SOON
[/alert]
[alert style=”3″]
New for the 2016/17 we are delighted to announce we are running a Regulars League which has a cash prize pool of £300 paid directly to the winners from the FF247 management team.
To enter this one you need to be an active and recognised site member and you need to e-mail us for the league code – Elleffcee@fantasyfootball247.co.uk *terms and conditions apply and are available upon request. Management reserve the right to review membership of this league on an ongoing basis.
[/alert]
[divider_1px]
Vote on our Captain Poll Now
Morning all
This is what i have so far – obviously keeping an eye on transfers and likelyhood of some players starting but I’m getting there.
Thoughts?
MH , you mighta just solved my dilemma ( thread above ) with Friend and Smith .
Friend seems more nailed to me
Hatter I’m guessing you’re going with an early WC? It’s just that if/when Stones goes to City you’ll have 3 of their players and I would prefer to spread the team coverage a bit.
Hello mate im quite confident of having 3 from this seasons champs 😉
Haha I remember people saying that about Chelsea last year and we all know how that turned out. 😉
I’d still be looking at spreading the cover but Stones could be good at City.
Hats, you ain’t got any from Liverpool never mind 3.
Stones is a shite centre half.
He’ll be a great player under the right coach.
Fair few everton mates reckon he’d be a better mid. Not talking about his ability, just where on the pitch he should play.
Next Bobby Moore
Nah.
Morning Mad I’m thinking of putting Roo in KDB worries me this season is going to be big for him & with Pep in charge I thk they will finish 1st or 2nd really good team like it a lot 😉
Not having Ibra is worrying but not having high end MIDs to swap in and out worries me more. Might just get burnt though!
Hey hatters
I see Cookie’s Rooney experiment is catching 😉 (unless you already had Rooney and if so, I apologise).
Aina is taking a chance but you have Friend covering if that doesn’t work out.
Looks good.
Hello mate
Already had Shrek/Lukaku as decided against Ibra.
Will keep my eye on Aina
Hatters
I thought you were one of Cookie’s converted
Yeah Aina is an easy switch to Gabriel/Williams etc. if you need to.
GP, you are my prized disciple 😉
*brainwashed tone*
I am your prized disciple.
All hail . . . .
…..Wazza
So I assume Rooney is back up front then? Havent seen any of United preseaon.
Kind of the no.10 role Migs, linking up well with Ibra.
MH , Ive never commented on anyones team selecion , but as so many have on my few shares I thought I would baptise you . IMHO I dont like Rooney upfront , am reluctant about your double Everton coverage , I would KDB and not sure about Fab . Now I could say that that is a bril side and hopefully u keep it , so that I can get some distance between us lol , but there are far more dynamic strikers and safer bet defenders ( CS’s ) to start off with . Look at my side for example ….. Oh I forgot that I wont reveal that just yet .
Hazard vs De Bruyne is the real dilemma for me … Answers on a postcard
I’ve gone with Haz and Kun instead of doubling up with KDB.
Mad I thk KDB will outscore Haz this season but you could toss a coil either will get big points & it depends how Che set up 😉
Hatter, Hazard for me, no European football = no rotation. Saying that, KDB is always a good option and you can’t really go wrong with either.
first time posting,
good website thanks for the info
heres my team, let me know what you think.
…….Heaton…….
Van Dijk Shaw Friend
Lamela Fischer Mahrez Mkitryaryan
Ibra Aguero Gray
subs: Foster, Lenihan, Souare, Hojberg
spurslad, welcome to the site mate.
Miki and Ibra combo is too much for me – personally I think one is enough. The rest looks pretty good to me.
spurslad welcome to the site this is a good team , not sure Len is a starter maybe Smith or Kingsley also might be worth having a look at Snoddgrass over Fischer the later on free kicks ect everything goes though him agree with Cookie maybe change Mki to Mahrez good effort.
Quick ? do you think Lamela will outscore Erik 😉
Or there is this option?
Similar to my team but I have Courtois + Shaw instead of DDG + Aina – I don’t feel comfortable taking so many chances at the back given that I have Smith already! And for some reason, I prefer Long as my 6.5m striker even though most here have gone with Gray
+1 experienced proven scorer in the PL versus possible fly by night Championship level
The step up has been a step too far for all too many.
Ok so I’ve never been sold on Ibra, my original team had luka but i’m not convinced on him either. Call it peer pressure but i give in and put Ibra in my team, posted it and found it was essentially the same team as everyone else on here (could be a good thing!) Anyway i digress, I was already debating Rooney after reading an article indicating he would be back up front and then Cookie mentioned having him and i started having a tinker… this is where i’m at..and it looks pretty good…i think!
I like this team Rosco77 it would be very similar to mine if I get rid of Ibra not a done deal yet , going to wait after C/Sheild very well balanced team not many with Erik in but he is in mine & you have copied my 5th MF player tough fixtures to start but after approx. 5/6 games good run if needed looks good 😉
Cheers Silvers I do like it and i think i’ll do the same re the charity shield. I think not having Ibra allows more balance elsewhere, if i do go without i’ll watch him and the players I have replaced and see how they score against the ones i’ve brought in, essentially its Ibra-rooney and Townsend to Firmino and an upgrade in defence. I can get him back in two transfers if he kicks off and it all goes to shit! and I’m not scared of a hit in week one if ultimately it will pay off. I’ll leave him in for now but think this is where my heart is at present!
I need some advice on Mikhatarian and Xhaka, just afraid these two are not odds on starters. some thoughts on who would be better placed to get the nod in my team at that value?
charlcupido think Mik should start he starts this wknd he will from then on would have Xhaka in my team maybe one of Feghouli , Snodgrass or Albrighton good stuff 😉
I like the team mate and I would keep Mick he’s nailed on in my book as for Xhaka I’d sell him. At 5.5 there is Ibe then you can change Wilson to Carroll/Gray/Long
Sorry missed the Wilson one agree with Matt