New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2016/17. Crystal Palace
We still aren’t quite sure what exactly it was that Pardew and his team had for Christmas dinner, but whatever it was, it disagreed with them massively. Prior to the festivities they’d won 9 games out of 17. Post turkey and sherry they didn’t win another until April. Yes, April! And they won 2 in total after Christmas, out of 21. Quite how they didn’t get relegated probably says more about those that did. But matter not, Pardew excused it all with a run to the FA Cup Final. A quick jig after a brief 2 minute lead said the final was pretty much the highlight of their season then.
Clearly they need to invest, even if it’s just to tread water, and they have so far made a few shrewd moves on the face of it. Well three, to be exact. Townsend, Tomkins and Mandanda. They’ve binned ten players in the process, most on frees or just released but did somehow manage to convince Rafa to fork out £10m for Dwight Gayle. Although in fairness that’s probably his level and he may well thrive there.
We must confess we have held this particular article back. And back. And back. We were waiting for Benteke to arrive but it looks like that one will drag on a bit. It’s worth noting that when / if he eventually does arrive that it will impact on their current starters. Feels obvious to say but one of them will miss out and it could very well be a Zaha or a Puncheon type but it very much depends on how they would then intend to line-up. You’d have to think that the likes of Townsend and Bolasie would still be safe though. Given how long we’ve waited though it’d be sods law that he completes his move an hour after publishing. But hey, you all know who he is and what he does by now so no biggie.
For Palace’s pre-season games, line-ups and general musings here is their link on the Pre-season hub we have created Crystal Palace Pre-season info
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Andros Townsend £6.5m
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Andros had a brief but ultimately successful spell at Newcastle at the end of last season, albeit one that involved being relegated! Granted, that’s not usually a measure of success, but for him personally it was a good spell. He managed 4 goals and 2 assists in just 13 games for the Magpies having been previously ostracised at Spurs despite his early career form there and forcing his way into the England squad as a result. So good in fact that he made Woy’s initial Euro squad this summer but didn’t make the final cut. Much to his relief we imagine, as it turned out. A few good performances at his new club to mirror his impressive Newcastle form and he will surely be back in the reckoning for Sam’s first squad.
For those unaware of him, he’s an attacking winger who can play either side, he’s very direct and quick, likes a shot on sight and will take on some free-kick duties too, probably sharing the direct ones with Cabaye. He could and should be an exciting cut-price fantasy prospect this season. With the early Palace schedule looking kind we would highly recommend taking a look at him or indeed his team-mate Bolasie who is £0.5m cheaper. Either could thrive.
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James Tomkins £5.0m
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The next two signings are both defensive ones and that fact may be significant given that Palace face West Brom and Stoke at home and Sunderland away as well as newly promoted Middlesbrough in 5 of their first 6 games. Palace only conceded 5 less at home than eventual champions Leicester last season and had comparable records to other top six sides like Southampton and Man City, no less. On that basis we’d expect many will be grabbing one of their less expensive options to begin with.
Tomkins comes in at £5.0m so isn’t quite as cheap as Souare at £4.5m but his PPM (points per minute) last season is superior as he only managed 8 less points having played 12 games fewer, if you pro-rata minutes played into 90’s. In all honesty though there’s not a lot we can see that would set him aside as a must have pick over anyone of his colleagues or indeed anyone else. He got exactly zero goals and zero assists last season. And just 3 bonus points. Yeah sure enough he got 8 clean sheets but that was for a different team so it doesn’t really hold water in the ‘arguments for’ camp. Souare got 7, just for the record.
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Steve Mandanda £4.5m
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After being so ‘positive’ about their first defensive recruit we will begin the next with a big warning about the second! Mandanda comes in as a very experienced top flight keeper having been first choice for Marseille for the best part of nine seasons and we fully expect that he will eventually become the Eagles number one choice between the sticks. That’s where the warning comes into play though. Not being avid Palace fans or followers ourselves we asked a trusted source, who is indeed both of the above, about the keeper situation over there and his response was that he expects Mandanda to be first choice but that GW1 may come too soon as he only began training with them on Tuesday this week. If you were thinking of including a Palace keeper then that sounds like a situation which needs monitoring closely in the coming week. Our take on this is that unless he’s arrived 3 stone overweight then a week and a half should be more than enough time to get a keeper ready to go and if he is indeed their intended No1 then we don’t see the need in holding him back but let’s see what the Lord says on the situation this week.
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Fixture Tracker – the first 6 games
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Vote on our Captain Poll Now
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Hi Guys
Could do with some feedback on my team, any thoughts
Decent looking team, never get the Kante or Dier picks though. Dier was interesting as a defender, not as a midfielder. Like last season Blind would have been interesting if he was rated as a defender, but he was a mid.
Cheers I will have a re-think
Hi Dazza. Not sure where to start here, lots of players i wouldn’t start with myself but it’s a very different team to the ones that have been posted on here the last while that’s for sure. Here goes; Personally i cant see Walker being worth the dosh over the likes of Shaw or even Scott Dann so i’d lose him. Dier and Kante would be out for me too, both DM’s who are highly unlikely to go off big – more sit back for the most part and be defensive. Rambo is always interesting but again i wouldn’t pick him myself, unsure if he’s even a starter anymore to be honest. No preseason for Payet means he could well be left out for a game or two and may not be even close to 100% if they do start him. Lastly, Watford have one of the more difficult start to the season. I think it’s their first five games that are shockers but could be wrong there, maybe it’s four. Deeney out, for me. Yikes, yeah, i’d scrap it and start over :shiftyeyes:
Oh Dear, Might have a re-think then, lol
Can someone have quick look at my teams please?
Here they are
Hmm, freakishly expensive defences are kinda killing your forwards. Build from the front and then balance it out i reckon. Aguero = absolute must have.
You need Kun in my humble opinion, more than Ibra or Rooney. Also, these teams aren’t really fixture proof. Anyway, it can work out, but will be hard with players like Defoe and Wilson. You need 2 high level strikers, 2nd striker at lowest should be Rooney or Lukaku.
I think Shane Long is a better bet then Defoe, and I would swap ozil for mahrez, dont trust Ozil or Arsenal til I see them going. I prefer Baines to either Shaw or Walker tbh
Tou are going to have minimum 14.5 benched in defence – thats wasteful.
For CS potential any 3 of those (except Williams) are enough to get to gw6, and the others one should be 4.0 and the other emergency filler, any 4.0 who plays or a 4.5 from Bur,mid, or another WBA
Also you not going to play Boruc, so why waste 0.5 on him.
Thats poss up to 2.5m to replace Defoe, with Costa/Lukaku/Benteke/Bony all depends who transfers all of them hopefully.
Thoughts on my team?
First advice on this draft
Just want a brief review at how my team is looking
Thanks in advance
I like most of the players you have. Problem is there is too much spent on the defence. You need to downgrade there to upgrade a midfielder. Clyne being the most obvious one to go.
Hey guys,
Who do you guys reckon I should go with?
1. Rooney and Lukaku
OR
2. Ibra and Negredo
I’m not sure anyone can answer that with confidence
Hahaha yeah that’s what I was thinking tbh. Might have to flip a coin before the season starts and hope it works
That is tough, why do that to yourself?
I’d go Ibra + another – There are better options than Negredo.
Yeah I’m on Zlats and Gray currently
Same here
With only 1 week or 7 days to go let’s get this fun rolling.
Pick a number from 1 – 20
First come first serve so when all 20 number’s have gone this will be a wrap and then I’ll post what Team you got landed with later.
Ok who’s going first?
3…..2…..1
Start
Potty
Hey Potty, how you going fella?
No.9 for me please boss!
Been struggling but my infection markers are dropping
Potty
hi Potty, hope youre doing well…
I pick number 11
11 the number of many a great striker
Potty
Get those number’s flooding in
Potty
No 10 for me – are you on the mend? I do hope so
ill take 3
17
6 for me
7 please Potster.
Morning Pot, no.8 for me please mate.
1
Ola Potty. I’ll take number 19
Hi Potty
Hopefully you are feeling better for kickoff.
Number 4 for me please
I’ll take 16
I will take number 10 Potty
Stewy, Colonial says 10 up above.
take 12 then
13 for me
Good afternoon Potty!
I’ll take 2 please.
what is this actually..
damn im really behind on this
Pottys PL Sweepstakes
Still a few numbers to fill
Scroll below and name your digit
Potty
20 please for me Potts
Hi, lots of people looking at Feghouli as 5th mid but Kouyate is same price and scored twice the other day, anyone think he is a better option? Though if Ayew signs the appeal of both diminishes
Feghouli plays a lot further forward than Kou though Kou is definitely more nailed on.
Thanks Web
He has signed , adios Feghouli.
Noble on pens and similar price??