New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2016/17. Leicester
Regardless of who else they sign this summer the current champions arguably made their most important signing already by convincing Jamie Vardy to pen a new deal with them, snub Arsenal and spearhead not only an unlikely title defence but also their great European adventure as they seek to rock the Champions League world, much as they did ours last season. And good on the lad too. In this age of instant gratification, easy money, fame and fortune there’s something almost wholesome and just plain fundamentally good about this decision. If Graziano Pelle and his Chinese money move tells you everything you need to know about the modern football mercenary then Vardy staying put tells you everything you need to know about a player who is almost an 80’s throwback. Don’t get us wrong, he didn’t re-sign for a pittance, of course, but more importantly it may well have a galvanising effect and an influence on any of their other players who were suddenly thinking about bigger and better things outside of Leicester. Apart from Kante, obviously. And maybe Mahrez, although he’s rumoured to be re-signing as we speak. Screw it, you’re getting relegated Jamie. On your own.
One thing is for sure though they need extra bodies this season as they will suddenly have to cope with two games a week at times, as is the rigour of being in the elite bracket, and Claudio has wasted no time bringing in the reinforcements. And money isn’t an issue it seems as they have managed to break their transfer record fee twice in the space of one week! No sooner was £13m midfielder Nampalys Mendy introduced as their record signing then £16m striker Ahmed Musa was likewise. Joining them so far are goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler and central defender Luis Hernandez. For the purposes of this article we are just going to look at the two more forward players simply because Ron-Robert is surely just back up unless Schmeichel junior suddenly ups and leaves, and as highly rated as Hernandez is, then he may have to wait his turn as Ranieri will surely keep faith with Huth and Morgan, at least to begin with. Pre-season may well reveal more.
For Leicesters pre-season games, line-ups and general musings here is their link on the Pre-season hub we have created Leicester Pre-season info
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Nampalys Mendy (£4.5m)
A quick glance at his career stats would suggest that Mr Mendy won’t be making his way easily into anybody’s fantasy team! That’s unless they change the scoring drastically and award more points for defensive play, tackles, blocks etc. His attacking career stats so far looks like this – 213 games…. and 1 goal. He’s basically your archetypal defensive midfielder. So much so in fact that he’s been referred to as a ‘carbon copy’ of Claude Makelele. The best we can offer on him then really is that should he secure a DM spot alongside Kante, and that’s if Kante stays, then he may well simply allow Kante even more freedom to get up and down as a box to box midfielder. So in short we’ve basically written this bit just to warn you not to bother with him!
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Ahmed Musa (£7.5m)
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If our first guy was a waste of fantasy money and time then our next guy could very well be the exact opposite. The Nigerian international has plied his trade in Russia with CSKA for the past 5 seasons making 164 appearances for them and scoring 54 goals in the process, last season being his best so far with a near 1 goal in every 2 games ratio with 44 appearances and 18 goals, along with 6 assists. He’s no stranger to title winning teams either having done so three times already with CSKA. He’s lightning quick and will fit in perfectly with Leicester’s counter attacking style. He usually plays on the wing for Nigeria for whom he’s scored 11 goals in 58 games which includes a famous double against Argentina at the World Cup in 2014. Just as a side note to those concerned about the ACON particpants – Nigeria haven’t qualified.
Much will depend on his FPL classification and price. If he’s a reasonably priced midfielder then add him to your watch list immediately. If he is, as is more likely, a mid priced forward then maybe wait and see where exactly Claudio intends to use him. The ideal combo is that he’s classed as a mid and Leicester pair him up top with Vardy in a devastatingly fast paced attack duo.
Fixture Tracker – the first 6 games
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Rank these defenders in order:
Terry
Baines
Shaw
Stones (if goes to City)
Gabriel
Baines, Shaw, Stones, Terry. Gabriel about 50 miles down the road.
Baines Shaw terry stones gab
I have Baines currently. He has really low ownership at the moment which I find strange
Can only assume it’s going off last season but as Init has said he expects him to get a lot more game time and probably be back on set pieces and penalties. Koeman also liked playing really attacking full backs at Southampton which is why he’s in my team
He won’t just get more he’ll be the first choice left back end of story, he fell out with Martinez on a personal level and it was him who started the downfall of Martinez as he was the first to publicly criticise him. And that’s not like Baines. That’s why people took notice, ‘if he’s saying something then sh1t must be bad’!.
Init have uz had any penalties preseason? Has baines been on fks do u know?
That’s good thanks. I’m sticking with him. I have Stones as well currently but if he does not move I’ll have to change Townsend to Bolasie and go with Shaw
No we haven’t had a pen yet but one would help for sure. No idea on his FK involvement in all honesty.
Baines, Shaw, Stones, Terry, Gab. That’s based upon their opening fixtures. Baines tops it because of set-pieces.
hello gents. thoughts on this lot?
De Gea Jakupovic
Koscielny Ward (Palace) Evans Francis Paredes
Hazard Ozil Shaqiri Albrighton Fletcher (WBA)
Kun Kane Negredo
cheers
Think Kos and Ozil might have extended breaks after the euros mate
Bin it. Kos, Ozil and Negredo stand out as iffy to me. I’m very surprised to see so few picking Mahrez / Vardy. Even if it’s for a week vs this abomination of a Hull team.
thanks gentlemen. will come up with something better again.
Is Gabriel nailed? saves me a million.
Same for Souare. is he nailed ?
I think Gabriel is at the min but papers are saying they’re looking to sign another CB. Whether or not any of them actually want to sign for Arsenal is another matter
Wouldn’t mind the Gunners signing a strong CB.
If they sign a new defender I’d expect him to start instead of Gabriel whoever it is
Thoughts on Mata under Mou at 7.5mn?
Pretty much no chance he starts unless Martial or Miki are out of form.
Copy that Sir
Ibrahimovic just scored for United 4 minutes into his debut… now just watch and see as his selected % rockets in the next 2 weeks!
It did not take Zlats long..
Zlat’s goal https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/75944493936516300
?!
And me. ?!