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
I’m quite surprised by the lack of Harry Kane in these pre season squads but….
1. Kane and Miki/Martial
OR
2. Ibra and Silva
I really like the look of Kane but maybe it is best to start with Ibra…
Hey Burnsy how was your summer mate?
The main reason people aren’t going with Kane is because he usually takes a while to get in the groove and with the Euros this summer it may take him longer so I’m personally avoiding him until he warms up.
On the basis of what I’ve just said I have to go with number 2.
Yeah that does seem to make sense all things considered!
It’s been really good so far Matt. Literally just got home about 4 hours ago from a 2 week trip to Canada and have really bad jet-lag but trying to stay up haha. Now just working and waiting till the ominous results day in two weeks!!
How has yours been?
Hopefully he starts firing at the same time Liverpool’s fixtures ease up so you can do Ibra to Kane and upgrade a mid to a Pool mid
Oh that sounds like fun!! haha. You still waiting on your results? Damn I’d go mental having to wait that long. My summer has been alright got my results back in June so thankfully didn’t have to torture myself over whether I passed or not after that it’s been job searching and I’m still searching so a quiet summer overall!
I guess, I also like the look of Ramsey this year to be honest but it depends on formations… I really don’t fancy Liverpool but it’s form dependent :d What do you think of feghouli or the 5.5-6m mids? that’s the toughest pick for 4th midfielder so far.
And yeah, I’m looking to go Southampton Uni and need to get AAB this year for my course (History) so am feeling pretty terrified, many nightmares have been had haha.
Back in June, Is that for uni results then? good luck with the job hunting, what you looking to do?
Yeah Ramsey could be an option but like you say it’s formation dependent. Liverpool always score goals and with all the mids Klopp has brought in I see a few goals. 5.5 mid could be Ibe, Snodgrass or Redmond at 6 Mil.
Ah I’m sure you’ll get it mate. Best of luck with it.
Yeah I finished first year of Uni and results came out a month later. Basically I’m looking for anything haha 😉
Thoughts on this team?
Seems I am finally setting on my team just wary of Ibra, don’t know what to expect from him but should be easily able to jump ship if he fails rather than climbing it once he gets going !
Team looks good Snook very similar to my own with the exception of one or two. I’m the same as you where I prefer to sell Ibra then to try and get him after the fact haha.
Yea dont think he will hit the ground running but it’s like investing for Sanchez for me and keeping his money safe till he returns and starts scoring 😉
Yeah I’m just keeping him and then will use the money elsewhere if he’s shite. Haha
Seeing a few teams with Schlupp, feel like I’m missing something as is it likely he’ll retain his midfield spot come the start of the season? If he does and plays in midfield it will be a superb bonus! Other than that solid team, pretty similar to how many currently looks but I’ll make and Ibra-call next week which will likely change things a bit!
Mat’s aboive analysis nade ne go for him, and if not him Morgan would also be good for 5.0 so….
Yeah i currently have Morgan but i’ll keep and eye on Schlupp and make a call next week… I have a lot of calls to make next week!
Yeah keep an eye on the community shield this weekend and we will see where and if he plays.
I don’t see him starting
is anybody going with 5 4.5s in defence to start the season? for example:
Pieters, Friend, Fernandez, Kone and McAuley?
In a word no! Seems to be taking things to the extreme as it will require expert rotation and will need serious tinkering if you decide to upgrade if you don’t have a least a couple of 5.0/5.5 s!
Nope, I don’t particularly spending on defenders as they get less points if someone else makes mistake and try to spend as less possible on them but this year there are really good options at 5.0 and 5.5 so for me 2 5.0 or 5.5’s are must and other 3 can be 4.5’s rotating.
I’m not going with 5 4.5 mil players anyway haha
No,no,no,no.
Clean sheet chances for all those except WBA are abysmal start of this season.
You would need to be extremely lucky to do better than going for 2x 5,5.5 from ARS,MUN,LEI,TOT +WBA
& if you do that you don’t have to be tossing coins at the last minute every week
Ayew->WHU, Lukaku->Chelski
Hoping those transfers go through and couple players are starters OOP.
Then I have this team, which could be like 1-5-4 (fingers crossed)
Otherwise I’m struggling to balance it to my liking.
Hey Takashi, this is a good team one suggestion I’d make it downgrading Alder and upgrading Mendy a bit. Also maybe changing Long to Carroll to cover Hammers since you already have Redmond as Southampton cover.
I prefer keeping a 4.5 mid as a cash enabler at the start. Alder at 6.5 is a bit over top but its the same argument as having Ibra. He is easy to change to whoever.
Long to Carroll looks a good one, though I wanted to see who WHU bring in and if sicknote makes it through the new stadium entrance without twisting a muscle
Sorry Tak I completely forgot about the 4.5 mid. I would still change Mendy to another 4.5 mid as Mendy won’t get many points and I’m sure there are more attacking 4.5 mids that could have more potential. Yeah I just switched on the TV hoping to watch the game but I don’t think it’s being showed sadly.
The midfield is too strong for me. You’re going to have to bench someone or Long each week which is a lot of money to have not playing
Ahhh didn’t see mendy. Looking on my phone and assumed it was mahrez
So, Wenger is apparently looking at playing Alexis up front at the start of the season – does that change anyone’s plans?
:cuss:
Sonofabitch!!!!
Actually never mind I’ll just stay as is and if Ibra doesn’t fire sell him and upgrade Mahrez to Sanchez. I thought Wenger was giving Ozil and Sanchez a week break?
They have 2 friendlies over in Sweden over the next few days. Alexis has travelled as has Ramsey. Reports are that Wenger wants to see if Alexis is fit enough to start the season centrally.
Ah right okay then so it looks like he plans on benching Giroud then. You plan on changing plans thanks to that news?
Cookie have ya got a link to these quotes please mate?
I’ll see what the weekend brings. Apparently Mahrez was shite last night, but was played central.
Rooney and Mahrez could become Alexis and Musa…..
Milburn, there weren’t quotes, it was paper chat. In the Daily Mail!!
Had u more down as a daily sport type bloke cookie haha
Yeah I heard that. That’s why I’m trying to decide which combo is better: Mahrez, Jakupovic and Friend –> Firmino, Mannone and Schlupp. Then after the first 3 games Ibra and Townsend become Sanchez and a 7.0 or below Striker.
But it all depends on Mahrez to be honest.
Is that still going Milburn?!
Yeah Matt, I think Sunday will reveal much to us from both Utd and Leicester.
In honesty I couldn’t tell ya. Katie Hopkins probably stopped it
Who is she?
Basically wants parents with fat children to be sent to prison and doesn’t want her children to associate with kids named after places…. her child is named India
Ah that Katie one needs shooting!! She wrecks my bloody head
Silly tart
Nope.
Anyone think Sane will be a starter?
That’s insane
Har har…
Think Nolito will partner Silva and KdB behind Kun?
At least for GW1 that is how they will probably start.
Agree on that Mito
Not a chance!
Matt,
So you rate Nolito will get the spot?
Sane 1st sub…
Sterling watching them play all game?
Sane a rotater for Silvas many rest days perhaps?
Sterling only If they let the U21 squad behind the bench on matchdays.
Yeah I think so PP. I doubt Sane will play and Sterling won’t get anywhere near the pitch. I’d say Nolito will be given the nod for the first while until Sane proves he’s worth the big price tag.