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
Hey Guys, have two drafts right here but can’t screenshot so sadly I have to type them out. First team is the template that seems to have developed and the second draft is one with some different names. Which one is better and why?
Team 1:
Heaton (Jakupovic)
Baines Shaw McAuley (Smith, Friend)
Mahrez Townsend Redmond Hazard (Maloney)
Gray Kun Ibra
Team 2:
Heaton (Mannone)
Baines Shaw Schlupp (McAuley, Smith)
Redmond Haz Firmino 6.5 mil mid (Capoue)
Kun Ibra Gray
I feel with the second team there is more scope to change. Schlupp seems to be playing in midfield and can change to Gab, Williams, Stones, Aina. Smith seems to be playing at LB. Redmond seems to be playing behind the striker instead of J.Rod. The 4.5 mid is still up in the air as Maloney has experience but no ICT index where as Leko and Capoue does. Also with Firmino he can change to Couthino,Wijnaldum or even Eriksen and that 0.5 can be used to upgrade the 6.5 mid. I’m thinking of changing the 6.5 mid from Townsend because Palace haven’t bought a new striker yet so Del is in my thinking or I bring in a 5.5 mil mid and do Gray to Musa?? Thoughts?
Matt thk I like team 1 I thk you can afford to run with Townsend as there fixtures are good if he does nothing in 1st 2 or 3 games other option will show them self’s you have a balanced mf with two big hitters in there easy to change , your def are solid in good teams with good fixtures.
Fwd top picks maybe Kane would be worth looking at if Ibra doesn’t kick on. Change Mal to Capoue job done looks really good , Oh I didn’t mention the GK worth the sacrifice I thk Heaton is a very good GK we just hope Jak starts.
Hey Silvers, Cheers for your thoughts mate. I like both teams it’s just with team 1 its a template and starting with a template is kind of annoying me haha. I like Townsend I was just hoping Palace would sign Benteke so he would have someone to aim crosses at.
Would you have Friend or Nsue? I read on here earlier someone saying Nsue is a mid/striker who plays wingback or something.
Yeah I’m thinking Ibra to Roo/Lukaku/Kane depending on who is playing better.
I like Heaton he has always been in a poor team when in the PL but always does the job and with save points I think he could be the Pantillimon of a few seasons ago.
Hey Matt, both teams are very strong and only slight changes but I think the 2nd one for me as it seems that you have a better plan with that one if anything had to be changed. Which 5.5 mil mid would you consider? I like Musa and have him in my team. you could also look at Bolasie for midfield cover.
Hey Migs how are you mate? I think with the first team the plans for the second would be fairly similar but it will probably take some moves to get a team that hasn’t got a ton of dough left in the bank. I like the second team as it has some different names to others but that could be a problem as well. The 5.5 mil mid would probably be Ibe maybe even Snodgrass until someone showed themselves to be the best. Townsend to Bolasie I had looked at but 0.5 doesn’t let me upgrade Gray to Musa and I don’t think there are many forwards at 7 mil?
Don’t see Palace not signing a striker being an issue regarding Townsend. 90% of the time he’ll be wanting to cut inside and shoot himself. With no ‘key’ striker to focus their tactics on it’ll be down to him and Bolasie. Its a positive if anything.
Cheers Milburn. So then do you prefer team 1 or 2 as Townsend can fit into both teams?
There’s not much between them. Probably 2. I wouldn’t be happy with Heaton as my only real gk
Cheers Milburn that’s the main thing I don’t like about team 1. Will need to see the community shield to finalise my plans I think.
Current team atm:
Heaton (Foster)
Baines, Nsue, Jones (Friend, Robertson)
Feghouli, DeBruyne, Ozil, Fabregas (Fletcher)
Valencia, Aguero, Kane
There are going to be tons of changes come gw 1.
But what are your thoughts so far?
Hey Hoof, honestly I don’t like this team too many worries in it. Jones may not start for United, The double Boro defence, Ozil possibly being rested for GW1 and 2. I think Valencia could be changed as well as I don’t like him too much. Rest of the team looks okay though.
Also no united attacking cover could be a problem
Much thanks mate! I am still considering Man U attack options. I wonder if Mou will make this Man U team an attacking one.
Hi, could I have your opinions on this team please. I’m just not sure about Erikson but thought I should have Spurs attacking cover.
Also what are people opinion on the early wildcard to build funds has that proved worthwhile in the past? The year before last I made subs early on in the week and seemed to have a much higher team value than last year when waiting until the end of the Friday I am planning to sub early this year and pray for no mid week injuries, aargh!!!
Hi Joanne, I can’t really help with the WC question as I usually prefer to play it around Xmas madness. I can help with your team though
Firstly for some reason Daniels hasn’t been playing LB during preseason and nobody has been able to say why with Brad Smith in the LB position for a mil less. Also you don’t have any Chelsea cover at all!! I’d be looking for cover somewhere so either Haz or a defender. Rest of the team looks okay but I would change Pieters to Souare maybe and I think Foster is WBA no.1 not Myhill so a change is probably needed there.
When playing TV do them early season, and do them the same night they play.
The math is roughly this. A base team for 800 points costs 65m so we spend 35m to get +1400
That’s 4 points per 0.1m
So early season a 4 hit for in form +.02 rise player is a win. Injuries you just have to factor in.
WK1 WC lets you play a special team and then change everyone. Its a gamble
Wk2 WC lets you catch some team changes and cash in on the early panics
Wk 5 WC lets you know all the changes but the panic has died down some.
Alternately you just do TFs until you have a week where its a 16 hit and play the WC then
This season wks 1-5 look very lopsided in fixtures so might need a seismic shift in team around gw5
or maybe not – be flexible.
Hi all. Best £4.5m defenders out there in your opinion?
Already got Friend and McAuley so need one more (nailed on – like these two?).
Looking at Holding but not sure that’s particularly prudent.
Also, would you rather start with Deulofeu or Townsend? (have no one from either currently)
Deulofeu’s pre-season and their fixtures are tempting me but he didn’t gel well with Lukaku last night (hopefully that means dropping Lukaku and leaving Deu lone striker but can’t see that happening haha)
Had Rooney in for a while now – good punt with Mkhi/Martial or overkill?
Thanks in advance.
Hey AT. Souare by a mile! I don’t think Holding will even make the bench mate
I have Townsend and I’m still unsure whether I’m keeping him or going with Del so don’t want to point you in either direction right now, sorry.
The double Utd mid is overkill mate so I’d pick one and sell the other.
Hi Matt – I don’t need to change anything then as Souare is already sitting comfortably. Cheers!
Equally undecided on that one.
I think Rooney has to go then – that may help my Deu/Townsend dilemma if I bring in Lukaku. Although Mkhi to Firmino could prove a decent move.
Sorted then!
Oh I got that wrong then. I thought you meant you sold Roo and went with Mkhi and Martial
either way I would only go with one United attacking cover and out of the 3 lads I’d pick Mkhi until we can see what Roo is like and It’s an easy switch to make Mkhi to Roo anyway.
Good point Matt!
Wollschied is a good pick at 4.5m and will go with Miki over Martial and Lukaku over Rooney. Definitely Deulofeu over Townsend but take a look at Redmond also.
Cheers ChrisOllie. Interesting how set everyone is on Mkhi over Martial; he took a while to settle in at BVB. Warning signs are flashing at me to pick MArtial haha
Nowhere near finalised but something to ponder…
Ibra, Haz, Ayew
OR
Kane, Mkhiti, Firmino
It’s impossible this year this game!
Top
1st for me
Erm I have no idea how the screenshot came on again!! ?
First until Kane warms up then you can change to the second one.