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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Afternoon all, any thoughts on this team.
too much of everton and BMouth there. you may change smith+stones to a 4.5m boro def and McAuley and use 0.5m for Ibe to Bolasie?
Yeah I agree with too much of Bournemouth and Everton. The Cherries only scored 45 goals last season, that is not a lot of points to go around for both Ibe and Wilson. Probably too many weeks of them combining for 5-8 points. Maybe just Wilson or just Ibe if you are really high on him, not both. Everton could turn out well, but it is a risk. They have great fixtures and if Koeman gets them working well they could reel off a couple of Clean sheets in a row. Koeman got 8 of his 12 clean sheets last season against bottom 10 teams and that is what Everton faces at the beginning of the season, so it is a gamble, but you never know.
If the thought is that Stones will be at City….
Or that Baines is basically a mid again….
That is a whole different argument
No1
Assuming that’s John Stones of Manchester City you have there? 😉
I would split the Bournemouth cover and that’s not a bad squad.
I’m guessing that will be Stones going to City which I think might happen this week. Ibe and Wilson is too much Bournemouth and one needs to go. I would not be surprised to see them go down this year. Pretty decent on the whole though
Willimas to everton makes that look certain now.
Stones = 40m + Williams short term that’s a golden deal for Everton, think they both could be appearing in my team.
Cheers guy’s for the input I have replaced Wilson with gray and yes stones only in because of city move .
Is gray the best option at 6.5mil ?
No1
I think so yeah.
How about this? thinking Arnie to Barkley after gw1
I think if you are going with Barkley you might as well start with him
Thinking McAuley over Evans just due to durability reasons. Hate to waste a transfer on a 4.5 defender because he has a broken nail.
Butland did well last season and I think he is quality, his opening fixtures are rough and with Jaku on your bench is not like you can turn to him for help as his fixtures are just as bad.
I lost a lot points & finally took a 4 hit to get rid of Evans last season.
Rumours of him joining sick note central at Highbury where he will fit in perfectly
ah think i will go with Mcauley and i really want Curtoais instead of Butland might need to dump Ibra after all
Guys,why no love for Azpilicueta this time?Am I missing something.
uncertainty over the defensive package there.
With Zouma injured & Baba going on loan just leaves the old slow pokes, Kante not really enough to make up for that.
Better value elsewhere,especially with Stones->City & Williams->Everton both at 5,
MUN & eve full backs at 5.5,
Spurs solid at the back & same price of 6
Tiger. I just know that Conte would come with a better plan of strengthening the defence. As mentioned by Mito, Azpi could get a more frontal role under him. Then his 6m tag wont be much of an issue i believe. Anyhow just keeping him into consideration for the final draft. thanks a lot for your views
Guessing many prefer the .5 less for CFC cover through Terry or Courtois. Would be interesting if Conte played 3 at the back and Azpi got a more advanced role, how many would go running to him.
Mito, thanks mate. If that happens, that’d be great. just feel sad for Ivanovic though.How has he lost his value since the last season.
Word on Bojan> If he is played behind the striker is at looks like he will, think he could be really good value. As far as I know he is still on Pens, he will have some indirect stuff to possibly assist on also. I looked at his numbers over the last 2 years and when combining his minutes and points, I found that he is basically a good 7.5-8.0 mid dressed in 6.0 clothing. So if we believe he will stay healthy and get the minutes, he might not be the worst investment, in particular if you are struggling for some cash to strengthen other parts of your team.
Decent shout that, not sure on his competition. Worried about his rotation. Guess we will find out where Berahino goes this week. If they are signing Sakho guess he’s going shortly .
Hello,team 1 or 2? Any thoughts? Thanks
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Manutd12345,No.2 for me. Strong front seven there but very weak defence. Double Utd defensive cover could pay well, but i’d downgrade one of the two and strengthen the other player in the position.
hello gentlemen.
which team for you?
Team A
Hart Jakupovic
Shaw Friend Pieters Mc Auley Lenihan
Hazard Mkhitaryan Deulofeu Eriksen Whelan
Aguero Giroud Gray/Wilson
Team B
De Gea Jakupovic
Baines Friend Souare Mc Auley Lenihan
Hazard Eriksen Mkhitaryan Townsend Whelan
Aguero Likaku Gray/Wilson
Team C
Lloris Jakupovic
Shaw Friend Pieters Mc Auley Lenihan
Hazard Eriksen Siggy Deulofeu Whelan
Aguero Ibrahimovic Hernandez (HULL)
Open to suggestions guys. thank you
@Nishant, Probably team B for me of those.
Thank you Mito.
Team C I think. I’d change Siggy and Hernandez. So Hernandez can go to Gray, Long or Betahino (if he moves)