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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hi guys
im hesitating between 2 teams, can u advice me plz?
1: heaton
azpi walker francis
hazard siggy mkhitaryan coutinho
gray kun janssen
bench: jakupovic fiend fly marney
2: heaton
azpi valencia francis
hazard barkley(or siggy) firminho ibe
kun ibra gray
bench: jakupovic friend fly marney
any advices plz?
There’s problems in both teams mate. I’d probably lean towards the second one. I would have Shaw instead of Valencia until we know he starts every game also I would try improve your bench a bit.
hi nauj..I like the first one more with all the players nailed. not sure about janssen and coutinho though. you can find better starting replacements in the same price range. Also, your bench needs some consideration
I am stuck between this 2 teams.
In fact perhaps i need to move marney out. But i took friend as a backup because of middlebrgh’s defencive record last year..
But i cant decide between these 2 teams..:/
Afternoon Everyone, which of these two teams are better?
Or this?
Hey Matt. No. 2 for me.
Hey Constant, Yeah I like the second team aswell but I’m thinking of doing Firmino to Ayew for the first 2 weeks and then switching back after the 2 weeks?
This is my current team though I just feel the defence is a bit iffy.
Matt, All the teams that I’ve seen with ibra have one of the weaker positions. Def in your case. Its practically impossible right now to build a alanced team with 25% of your budget going into two players. I have personally gone with Mkhi for Utd cover. for def, I’d suggest Foster/Heaton for Courtois to release an extra 1m and use that money to fund lenihan to a decent 4.5m and other 0.5m to upgrade baines to Azpi for Chelsea cover. just my opinion.
Cheers Smash and Constant, I had Mick but decided that it’s better to sell Ibra than to bring him in later so I’m going to start off with Ibra and then possibly downgrade to Mick. Will look at Courtois to Heaton but I’m not sure I want to sell Baines especially with his fixtures.
Yeah I think Baines could go well. I’d swap J Rod to Redmond and have Baines instead of schupp
Yeah that move is a definite for me. Redmond has been playing well and Baines is more nailed on to play than Schlupp.
Yeah I like the 2nd one. I can see Ayew moving
Yeh the 2nd one is better
Perhaps go for a 5,0keeper and upgrade ur midfild..
Who would you suggest at 5 mil not sure I like the keepers at that price.
What do you guys think of Mahrez for the first 2/3 games then sell to Firmino?
Forster, Butland and Schmeichal are prob best options but not sure how much better they are to 4.5 options and 5.5 ones are certainly better. Yeah really torn on those two. Liverpool fixtures are just so bad but I know they will still score
Yeah I don’t fancy the 5.0 mil Gks doing much and I think theres better value at 4.5.
That’s whats making me consider Firmino so early on. It’s a big gamble though because if Liverpool don’t score much if anything in their first 6 then we’ve gone for a player that could have been a Mahrez or a Barkley.
Matt, i’ve gone cheap with GKs. Foster and jakupovic. WBA has some decent starting fixtures and Pulis may fetch us some cleanies..
Yeah that’s why I’ve gone with McAuley as one of my defenders because I think he’ll get CS points and he may get the odd goal or assist. Heaton has decent fixtures as well so he could come in with Jakupovic to spread the cover.
cheers buddy.. 😛
Had a bit of a shuffle. Several hundred shuffles probably, but this is what I’m with for now!
Moreno needs to go I think. Can’t see any Liverpool clean sheets any time soon
+1 sell Moreno mate!!!
That’s a very nicely balanced squad. Agree with Smash on Moreno. Maybe replace him with Schlupp if he does genuinely look like being an OOP player and you fancy Leicester defensive cover. I’d then lose Schmeichel for maybe Courtois or someone.
Thoughts on Sakho. Looks like he’s going to West Brom. Scores goals and is only 6 million
Could be a shout but WBA don’t score many goals so I don’t know about it just yet I would wait to see what happens.
Yeah probably wise. Trying to trim costs
Agreed. They could have Aguero up top there and it wouldn’t matter much as the Pulis philosophy is always to defend first. If they somehow score it’s a bonus.
Still undecided on ibra, whilst I fathom that one out I’m still messing with my current line-up so is it team 1 or team 2? Origi had a good game against AC by all accounts and may get the striker spot over studge. Could be a way of getting Haz into my team?
Rosco, team two. suggestions: Morgan to a 4.5m and Stones to Baines.
Stones is more an ‘if he goes to city’ but then I guess he might not be first choice but surely that’s the aim for the figures they’re talking!?
Even if he goes to City I don’t see him playing all games, to be honest.
I’d still take Baines over him. I’d put City on a par with Everton in terms of CS value and Baines offers up so much more upside. The irony in Stones moving is that he makes Everton a better prospect for CS’s and City a little less so. Until they can get their hands on him and teach him anyway.
INNIT! Will DEAULOUAFUEAAAAAAAAAAAA start more games this season? Was a bit shitty last season. Think I asked the q before but not sure where.
Raz, I had answered that question. reposting it here.
i believe deulofeu will start many games under Koeman. He’s been seen praising deulo and has given a hint that he may be his consistent no. 9. that’s only what I know. He’ll be in my team ahead of Barkley once this is true..
Cheers
Thanks constatine. It is as I’ve said, forgot where I posted it.
Thanks for the repost though.
Sorry Raz. Kids, Pokemon. Enough said…. Yes he will start and yes he’s a viable option. Very viable in fact at that price and with those fixtures.
Team 1 is more nailed on mate. I still think Sturridge gets the top spot then when he gets injured it will be between Origi and Firmino but I don’t know if Origi will start much.
Yeah you’re right I don’t want to make any risky moved early doors!
Dayummmmmmmmmmm, PSG destroyed Leicester. This was the big fear I had, this season not touching their players. Will wait the first few games for sure.
+1..have only Fuchs for now..fluctuating over the final decision..may do fuchs to baines finally.